Integrated review: UK to lift cap on nuclear stockpile - BBC News

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The UK is set to reverse plans to reduce its stockpile of nuclear weapons by the middle of the decade, as part of a foreign policy overhaul.

The cap on the number of warheads will now increase to 260, having been due to drop to 180 under previous plans from 2010.

The UK will shift focus towards Indo-Pacific countries, described as the world's "growth engine".

And it pledges the UK will do more on the "systemic challenge" of China.

Outlining the strategy to MPs, Boris Johnson said after Brexit the UK would have to "relearn the art" of competing against countries with "opposing values".

But he added the UK would remain "unswervingly committed" to the Nato defence alliance and preserving peace and security in Europe.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of overseeing an "era of retreat," with armed forces cuts "every year for the last decade".

• Defence reforms 'will help make UK match-fit'
• PM launches review to 'overhaul' foreign policy
• UK to shift foreign policy focus after review

The integrated review of foreign and defence policies, which runs to over 100 pages, has taken over a year and sets out UK priorities until 2030.

It says the decision to lift the overall cap on the UK's nuclear warhead stockpile is justified by the "evolving security environment" since 2010.

The document says the UK will not give exact figures on the size of its operational stockpile, to maintain "deliberate ambiguity" for adversaries.

But it pledges the UK will maintain the "minimum destructive power needed to guarantee that the UK's nuclear deterrent remains credible".

The document, which indentifies Russia as the "most acute threat" to UK security, also says:

• It is "likely" that a terrorist group will launch a successful chemical, biological or nuclear attack by 2030
• The UK will set up a new counter-terrorism operations centre to improve the response to terror attacks
• The government wants the UK to become a "science and tech superpower" by the end of the decade

The review also pledged to reverse cuts on foreign aid, from 0.7% of national income down to 0.5%, when "the fiscal situation allows".

The government has previously faced criticism for the cuts, which it said were necessary in the wake of financial challenges posed by the Covid pandemic.

The review argues the UK should refocus its foreign policy towards countries such as India, Japan and Australia in the "Indo-Pacific" region.

It said the region's shipping lanes were vital to maintain UK trade with Asia, whilst the region is also on the "frontline of new security challenges".

PA Media

Mr Johnson said: "The review describes how we will bolster our alliances, strengthen our capabilities, find new ways of reaching solutions and relearn the art of competing against states with opposing values."

He said the UK had led international condemnation of China's "mass detention" of Uighur people in Xinjiang, and its actions in Hong Kong, adding: "There is no question China will pose a great challenge for an open society such as ours."

In response, Sir Keir said UK policy towards China had been "inconsistent" and the government had "turned a blind eye" to the country's human rights abuses.

He said Labour remained committed to retaining nuclear weapons, but said the document had failed to detail the "strategic purpose" for increasing the warhead stockpile.

Speaking to the BBC, Beatrice Fihn - head of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons - described the UK's decision to increase its nuclear arsenal as "outrageous, irresponsible and very dangerous".

She said it went against international law and didn't address the real security threats faced by Britain such as climate change and disinformation.

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2021-03-16 13:52:57Z
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Integrated review: UK nuclear stockpile to increase - BBC News

PA Media

The UK is set to reverse plans to reduce its stockpile of nuclear weapons by the middle of the decade, as part of a foreign policy overhaul.

The cap on the number of warheads will now increase to 260, having been due to drop to 180 under previous plans from 2010.

The UK will shift focus towards Indo-Pacific countries, described as the world's "growth engine".

And it pledges the UK will do more on the "systemic challenge" of China.

Outlining the strategy to MPs, Boris Johnson said after Brexit the UK would have to "relearn the art" of competing against countries with "opposing values".

But he added the UK would remain "unswervingly committed" to the Nato defence alliance and preserving peace and security in Europe.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of overseeing an "era of retreat," with armed forces cuts "every year for the last decade".

• Defence reforms 'will help make UK match-fit'
• PM launches review to 'overhaul' foreign policy
• UK to shift foreign policy focus after review

The integrated review of foreign and defence policies, which runs to over 100 pages, has taken over a year and sets out UK priorities until 2030.

It says the decision to lift the overall cap on the UK's nuclear warhead stockpile is justified by the "evolving security environment" since 2010.

The document says the UK will not give exact figures on the size of its operational stockpile, to maintain "deliberate ambiguity" for adversaries.

But it pledges the UK will maintain the "minimum destructive power needed to guarantee that the UK's nuclear deterrent remains credible".

The document, which indentifies Russia as the "most acute threat" to UK security, also says:

• It is "likely" that a terrorist group will launch a successful chemical, biological or nuclear attack by 2030
• The UK will set up a new counter-terrorism operations centre to improve the response to terror attacks
• The government wants the UK to become a "science and tech superpower" by the end of the decade

The review also pledged to reverse cuts on foreign aid, from 0.7% of national income down to 0.5%, when "the fiscal situation allows".

The government has previously faced criticism for the cuts, which it said were necessary in the wake of financial challenges posed by the Covid pandemic.

The review argues the UK should refocus its foreign policy towards countries such as India, Japan and Australia in the "Indo-Pacific" region.

It said the region's shipping lanes were vital to maintain UK trade with Asia, whilst the region is also on the "frontline of new security challenges".

PA Media

Mr Johnson said: "The review describes how we will bolster our alliances, strengthen our capabilities, find new ways of reaching solutions and relearn the art of competing against states with opposing values."

He said the UK had led international condemnation of China's "mass detention" of Uighur people in Xinjiang, and its actions in Hong Kong, adding: "There is no question China will pose a great challenge for an open society such as ours."

In response, Sir Keir said UK policy towards China had been "inconsistent" and the government had "turned a blind eye" to the country's human rights abuses.

He said Labour remained committed to retaining nuclear weapons, but said the document had failed to detail the "strategic purpose" for increasing the warhead stockpile.

Speaking to the BBC, Beatrice Fihn - head of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons - described the UK's decision to increase its nuclear arsenal as "an outrageous, irresponsible and very dangerous".

She said it went against international law and didn't address the real security threats faced by Britain such as climate change and disinformation.

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2021-03-16 13:05:43Z
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Prince Philip: Duke of Edinburgh leaves King Edward VII's Hospital - Sky News

Prince Philip has left King Edward VII's Hospital after his longest ever stay.

Earlier, police had blocked vehicle access to the private hospital in central London, where the Duke of Edinburgh had been recovering from a heart procedure.

Four police officers had arrived on motorcycles to join a dozen officers at the entrance of the hospital.

Image: The Duke of Edinburgh has left King Edward VII's Hospital in central London after a month's stay. Pic AP

Prince Philip was first admitted to hospital on 16 February before moving to St Bartholomew's Hospital two weeks later, where he underwent a procedure for a pre-existing heart condition.

He was moved back to King Edward VII's Hospital days later.

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The duke spent 28 nights in hospital as an in-patient - his longest ever stay.

The exact reason for his initial admission was not disclosed, but it was not related to coronavirus.

More from Prince Philip

He was visited by his eldest son Charles, the Prince of Wales, who made a 200-mile round trip to see his father last month and stayed for around 30 minutes.

The duke, the nation's longest-serving consort who turns 100 in June, left hospital in the back of a black BMW on Tuesday morning.

Image: The Prince of Wales made a 200-mile round trip to visit his father in hospital

Prince Philip has been treated for heart problems in the past.

In 2011 the duke was rushed to hospital by helicopter from Sandringham after suffering chest pains as the Royal Family was preparing for Christmas.

On that occasion he was treated for a blocked coronary artery at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire and underwent a minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting.

He has spent most of lockdown residing at Windsor Castle with the Queen for their safety, alongside a reduced household of staff dubbed HMS Bubble.

The 94-year-old monarch has continued to carry out her official duties by video.

The couple, who have been married for 73 years, received their first COVID-19 jabs in January.

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2021-03-16 11:15:00Z
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Police officer charged with murder of Sarah Everard appears in court - Sky News

A serving Metropolitan police officer will face trial on 25 October, charged with the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard.

PC Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared via video link from prison for the hearing in court number 10 at the Old Bailey, his first crown court appearance.

He wore a wine coloured top and grey tracksuit and spoke only to confirm his name and his date of birth.

A scar was visible on the officer's forehead and around his left eye.

The Independent Office for Police Complaints is investigating how he received those injuries in two incidents in his police cell last week.

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Members of Ms Everard's family also joined the proceedings by video link.

In a short hearing, Tom Little QC for the prosecution said that it was anticipated the trial could span up to four weeks.

Ms Everard disappeared on 3 March while walking back to her home in Brixton, south London.

She was last spotted on a doorbell security camera, walking alone and heading towards Tulse Hill.

Her boyfriend reported her missing the next day.

Ms Everard's body was found a week later inside a builder's bag in woodland in Ashford and was identified through dental records.

A post-mortem has been carried out but no cause of death has been released.

Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service agreed last Friday to charge PC Couzens, an armed officer with the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command.

Kent County Council has confirmed that an inquest into Sarah Everard's death is likely to be opened later this week.

At today's crown court hearing, there was no application for bail the defendant was remanded back into custody.

He will appear at crown court again for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 9 July.

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2021-03-16 10:25:51Z
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New children's commissioner pledges to 'rebuild' childhood - BBC News

Children's Commissioner

The new children's commissioner for England wants to "rebuild childhood" after the disruption of the pandemic.

Dame Rachel de Souza says the scale of the challenge is like reconstructing the social security system in the wake of World War Two.

She also wants short-term measures - such as free school meals - being extended into the summer holidays, and not "dropping" Universal Credit levels.

Dame Rachel says she will be "fearless" in representing children's interests.

The new children's commissioner is launching what is claimed to be England's biggest survey of children - the "Big Ask" - which will gather children's views on the impact of the pandemic, and what they think are the barriers to children's ambitions

'Once in a generation'

The online survey, to be sent to all schools and also children in youth custody, children's homes and mental health units, will provide information for a "once-in-a-generation" review of how children's lives might be improved.

It takes its "spirit and the ambition" from William Beveridge's 1942 report, which laid the foundations for the post-war welfare state, identifying the five great challenges as "want, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness".

• How will generation Covid catch up?
• First steps back to normality as schools return
• Children's lives have faced huge disruption

"Our response to the trauma of the Second World War was to create a blueprint for a social service system and a National Health Service that improved our lives. We have the chance to do the same again now for children," says the children's commissioner.

Dame Rachel wants a 10-year plan to emerge from her review - with the promise of tackling a political system which can "often short-change children".

Jane Barlow

For more immediate challenges, on whether free school meals should run across the summer holidays, she told the BBC: "I absolutely want to see free school meals extended.

"And I'm very concerned about suggestions of dropping Universal Credit. If it was dropped down again, I'd like to see services provided in its place, but I'd rather it wasn't dropped."

A former teacher, head teacher and chief executive of a school academy trust, Dame Rachel promised to be an "independent voice, there to fight to protect and promote the rights of children".

If government was "doing something wrong", she said, "I will be fearless in exposing that and challenging them".

840 million missed days in school

The review will consider how children will recover from so much disrupted education - calculating that collectively pupils in England have lost 840 million days of in-person schooling since the start of the pandemic, representing about 19 weeks each.

It will address the "social fault lines" and inequalities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, between generations, the wealthy and the disadvantaged, by ethnicity and geography.

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This includes how the gulf between rich and poor and young and old has widened, with older, higher earners increasing their savings in the lockdown, while poorer families and younger people have faced job losses and increasingly fragile finances.

Today's young people are the first post-war generation to be less well-off than their parents, says the report launching the children's commissioner's review.

Catch-up funding

"As we emerge from the Covid pandemic, this is the moment for something big, for children to recognise the sacrifices they have made," said Dame Rachel.

"I have seen first-hand the effect of this crisis on young people's hopes and dreams, and sometimes our answers simply have not been good enough."

Labour's Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green said: "Over the last decade the Conservatives have overseen record numbers of children being pushed into poverty, a worsening mental health crisis and an 18-month gap in learning between disadvantaged children and their peers at GCSE."

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We know that children and families have faced unprecedented challenges during the pandemic.

"We've expanded frontline charity support and provided new resources for schools and teachers to support children and young people's mental health.

"Our £1.7bn investment in recovery support will help tackle the impact of any lost learning and we are investing an additional £79m to increase the number of mental health support teams working with schools and colleges."

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2021-03-16 09:46:04Z
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New safety measures after Sarah Everard death - bbc.co.uk

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"Immediate steps" aimed at improving safety for women and girls in England have been announced by Downing Street after Sarah Everard's death.

Among them is an additional £25m for better lighting and CCTV as well as a pilot scheme which would see plain-clothes officers in pubs and clubs.

Labour said the funding would replace only a fraction of cuts the government has made previously.

It comes after hundreds of people protested in central London on Monday.

Ms Everard went missing while walking home from a friend's house on 3 March.

Her body was later found in woodland in Kent and Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with the marketing executive's kidnap and murder.

• How a woman's death sparked UK soul-searching
• 'All I wanted was to stand with other women'
• How many attacks on women are there?

Following a meeting of the government's Crime and Justice Taskforce on Monday evening, Downing Street said it would take "immediate steps" to give "further reassurance" to women and girls in the wake of Ms Everard's death.

No 10 said it would be doubling the size of the Safer Streets fund - which provides local measures such as better lighting and CCTV - to £45m.

Undercover police will be sent to clubs, bars and popular nightspots to relay intelligence about predatory or suspicious offenders to uniformed officers, in pilots of so-called Project Vigilant, rolled out across the country.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson - who chaired the meeting - said the government was bringing in "landmark legislation" to toughen up sentences and put more police on streets.

He said: "Ultimately, we must drive out violence against women and girls and make every part of the criminal justice system work to better protect and defend them."

But Labour's shadow domestic violence minister Jess Phillips told BBC Breakfast that in her years of experience, she had not come across experts or victims calling for more CCTV in public spaces.

She accused ministers of being "caught on the hop" and rolling out plans involving "police officers in skinny jeans" rather than meaningful changes to legislation regarding street harassment, or a detailed review of how rape is prosecuted in England and Wales.

The shadow home secretary, Labour's Nick Thomas-Symonds, said the measures were "nowhere near good enough" and called for "urgent action" on issues like harassment of women, domestic homicide sentencing and more support for victims of rape.

'Structural changes'

A spokeswoman for organisation Reclaim These Streets said it welcomed additional funding but did not believe funding alone would create the structural changes which were "so important".

"Women won't be able to trust that they are safe until misogyny and racism are tackled at an institutional level within government, police and the criminal justice system," she said.

Safeguarding minister Victoria Atkins said Project Vigilant would see undercover officers working in the night-time economy, feeding in intelligence to uniformed officers so "if there is someone they are suspicious of they can go in and deal with them".

She said the government would work with businesses and police to ensure as the industry reopened following the coronavirus lockdown "we are sure that women can feel safe in our streets".

PA Media

Home Secretary Priti Patel had warned against holding vigils, and has launched a review into the policing of a gathering over the weekend in south London in memory of Ms Everard.

During that event, officers handcuffed and removed several women after crowds gathered on Clapham Common to lay flowers and pay their respects.

On Monday, hundreds marched across central London in what was said to be a meeting by Sisters Uncut, which describes itself as an "intersectional feminist direct-action collective", with many of those in attendance carrying placards.

Four people were arrested - three on suspicion of breaching coronavirus regulations and a fourth on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. A further two people were issued with fixed penalty notices, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police took a hands-off approach at the main demonstration in Parliament Square on Monday evening.

After that broke up, a few hundred protesters moved off and started randomly following a route through Westminster towards London's West End.

At first they tried to sit down and occupy roads - including outside Scotland Yard - but every time they stopped, they were told by police they needed to move on because of Covid regulations.

And so what began as a vigil in Parliament Square became a somewhat chaotic parade through Theatreland and the quiet, locked-down London streets.

Eventually teams of police officers began trying to pick off stragglers, instructing them to go home in line with the lockdown rules - or face fines.

Some left, some appeared to get tickets.

They wanted to make their voices heard against these proposed police powers to curtail demonstrations.

But the way they acted tonight is exactly the type of disruption that may in future be targeted.

Meanwhile, MPs will continue debating the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill later, which would change how protests are managed, including allowing police to impose conditions such as start and finish times.

Labour has criticised the bill saying it did "nothing to help women feel safer", and imposed "disproportionate" controls on freedom of speech.

Ms Patel said the bill would end the halfway release of those convicted of sexual offences such as rape and also said the Domestic Abuse bill was on track to receive royal assent by the end of April, which she said would "transform our collective response to this abhorrent crime".

• WHEEL OF MISFORTUNE: Comedians Alison Spittle and Fern Brady confess their funniest and freakiest experiences with religion
• 16 TRACKS TO ESCAPE WITH: SG Lewis handpicks rejuvenating songs to help you zone out from lockdown life

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2021-03-16 08:28:34Z
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New safety measures after Sarah Everard death - BBC News

Getty Images

"Immediate steps" aimed at improving safety for women and girls in England have been announced by Downing Street after Sarah Everard's death.

Among them is an additional £25m for better lighting and CCTV as well as a pilot scheme which would see plain-clothes officers in pubs and clubs.

Labour said the funding would replace only a fraction of cuts the government has made previously.

It comes after hundreds of people protested in central London on Monday.

Ms Everard went missing while walking home from a friend's house on 3 March.

Her body was later found in woodland in Kent and Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with the marketing executive's kidnap and murder.

• How a woman's death sparked UK soul-searching
• 'All I wanted was to stand with other women'
• How many attacks on women are there?

Following a meeting of the government's Crime and Justice Taskforce on Monday evening, Downing Street said it would take "immediate steps" to give "further reassurance" to women and girls in the wake of Ms Everard's death.

No 10 said it would be doubling the size of the Safer Streets fund - which provides local measures such as better lighting and CCTV - to £45m.

Undercover police will be sent to clubs, bars and popular nightspots to relay intelligence about predatory or suspicious offenders to uniformed officers, in pilots of so-called Project Vigilant, rolled out across the country.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson - who chaired the meeting - said the government was bringing in "landmark legislation" to toughen up sentences and put more police on streets.

He said: "Ultimately, we must drive out violence against women and girls and make every part of the criminal justice system work to better protect and defend them."

But Labour's shadow domestic violence minister Jess Phillips told BBC Breakfast that in her years of experience, she had not come across experts or victims calling for more CCTV in public spaces.

She accused ministers of being "caught on the hop" and rolling out plans involving "police officers in skinny jeans" rather than meaningful changes to legislation regarding street harassment, or a detailed review of how rape is prosecuted in England and Wales.

The shadow home secretary, Labour's Nick Thomas-Symonds, said the measures were "nowhere near good enough" and called for "urgent action" on issues like harassment of women, domestic homicide sentencing and more support for victims of rape.

'Structural changes'

A spokeswoman for organisation Reclaim These Streets said it welcomed additional funding but did not believe funding alone would create the structural changes which were "so important".

"Women won't be able to trust that they are safe until misogyny and racism are tackled at an institutional level within government, police and the criminal justice system," she said.

Safeguarding minister Victoria Atkins said Project Vigilant would see undercover officers working in the night-time economy, feeding in intelligence to uniformed officers so "if there is someone they are suspicious of they can go in and deal with them".

She said the government would work with businesses and police to ensure as the industry reopened following the coronavirus lockdown "we are sure that women can feel safe in our streets".

PA Media

Home Secretary Priti Patel had warned against holding vigils, and has launched a review into the policing of a gathering over the weekend in south London in memory of Ms Everard.

During that event, officers handcuffed and removed several women after crowds gathered on Clapham Common to lay flowers and pay their respects.

On Monday, hundreds marched across central London in what was said to be a meeting by Sisters Uncut, which describes itself as an "intersectional feminist direct-action collective", with many of those in attendance carrying placards.

Four people were arrested - three on suspicion of breaching coronavirus regulations and a fourth on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. A further two people were issued with fixed penalty notices, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police took a hands-off approach at the main demonstration in Parliament Square on Monday evening.

After that broke up, a few hundred protesters moved off and started randomly following a route through Westminster towards London's West End.

At first they tried to sit down and occupy roads - including outside Scotland Yard - but every time they stopped, they were told by police they needed to move on because of Covid regulations.

And so what began as a vigil in Parliament Square became a somewhat chaotic parade through Theatreland and the quiet, locked-down London streets.

Eventually teams of police officers began trying to pick off stragglers, instructing them to go home in line with the lockdown rules - or face fines.

Some left, some appeared to get tickets.

They wanted to make their voices heard against these proposed police powers to curtail demonstrations.

But the way they acted tonight is exactly the type of disruption that may in future be targeted.

Meanwhile, MPs will continue debating the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill later, which would change how protests are managed, including allowing police to impose conditions such as start and finish times.

Labour has criticised the bill saying it did "nothing to help women feel safer", and imposed "disproportionate" controls on freedom of speech.

Ms Patel said the bill would end the halfway release of those convicted of sexual offences such as rape and also said the Domestic Abuse bill was on track to receive royal assent by the end of April, which she said would "transform our collective response to this abhorrent crime".

• WHEEL OF MISFORTUNE: Comedians Alison Spittle and Fern Brady confess their funniest and freakiest experiences with religion
• 16 TRACKS TO ESCAPE WITH: SG Lewis handpicks rejuvenating songs to help you zone out from lockdown life

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2021-03-16 07:16:20Z
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