Dalian Atkinson: PC guilty of former footballer's manslaughter - BBC News

Crown Prosecution Service

A police officer has been found guilty of the manslaughter of ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson.

The former Aston Villa striker died after a stand-off with West Mercia police officers outside his father's home in Telford, Shropshire in 2016.

PC Benjamin Monk, 43, was cleared at Birmingham Crown Court of an alternative charge of murder.

Mr Atkinson's family said justice had been done and hoped he would be remembered for his life, not his death.

Monk's trial had heard he tasered Mr Atkinson for 33 seconds and kicked him twice in the head.

He denied any wrongdoing and said he believed there was a danger to life for him and his colleague.

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Mr Atkinson began his career at Ipswich Town before moving to Sheffield Wednesday, Real Sociedad and Aston Villa.

Following a six-week-trial, jurors took 18 hours and 48 minutes to reach unanimous verdicts on Monk, who has 14 years' service.

In a statement, Mr Atkinson's family said he was "much missed" by his family and friends and the footballing communities of the clubs he played for.

"The past five years have been an ordeal for Dalian's family," they said.

"We are hugely relieved that the whole country now knows the truth about how Dalian died.

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"While it has been hard for us not to be able to talk about the details of Dalian's death, it has been even harder to sit through this trial and to hear PC Monk try to justify the force he used."

They said his footballing talent "led him to achieve great things in his life".

"Our sincere hope is that now that the truth about his death is known, and justice has been done, we can start to remember him not for the manner in which he died, but for the way in which he lived," the statement added.

Ipswich Town

Jurors are still deliberating on an assault charge relating to Monk's colleague and former girlfriend, PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, 31.

The trial heard how the two officers were called to Mr Atkinson's father's house in Meadow Close in the early hours of 15 August, where the the sportsman had been acting erratically.

Monk told the court he ran in fear after Mr Atkinson, who appeared to be having a mental health crisis, made death threats and smashed a glass door pane.

• The fast life of Dalian Atkinson
• Latest news from the West Midlands

The trial heard Monk had discharged his Taser three times at Mr Atkinson, twice unsuccessfully, but on the third time he overrode the system, holding down the trigger for 33 seconds - more than six times the standard deployment.

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The officer claimed to have no recollection of placing his foot on Mr Atkinson's head as colleagues arrived at the scene.

However he conceded he must have kicked the ex-footballer twice in the forehead, because bootlace prints proved he had.

Monk maintained his actions were lawful self-defence, made necessary when the former Premier League star tried to get up.

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Mr Atkinson, who had a number of underlying health conditions, went into cardiac arrest after being taken from the scene in an ambulance, and was pronounced dead in hospital at 02:45 BST - about an hour after he was tasered.

According to the charity Inquest, no police officer has been found guilty of murder or manslaughter over a death in custody or following police contact in England and Wales since the 1980s.

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2021-06-23 12:24:19Z
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Dalian Atkinson: PC guilty of former footballer's manslaughter - BBC News

Crown Prosecution Service

A police officer has been found guilty of the manslaughter of ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson.

The former Aston Villa striker died after a stand-off with West Mercia police officers outside his father's home in Telford, Shropshire in 2016.

PC Benjamin Monk, 43, was cleared at Birmingham Crown Court of an alternative charge of murder.

Mr Atkinson's family said justice had been done and hoped he would be remembered for his life, not his death.

Monk's trial had heard he tasered Mr Atkinson for 33 seconds and kicked him twice in the head.

He denied any wrongdoing and said he believed there was a danger to life for him and his colleague.

PA Media

Mr Atkinson began his career at Ipswich Town before moving to Sheffield Wednesday, Real Sociedad and Aston Villa.

Following a six-week-trial, jurors took 18 hours and 48 minutes to reach unanimous verdicts on Monk, who has 14 years' service.

In a statement, Mr Atkinson's family said he was "much missed" by his family and friends and the footballing communities of the clubs he played for.

"The past five years have been an ordeal for Dalian's family," they said.

"We are hugely relieved that the whole country now knows the truth about how Dalian died.

PA Media

"While it has been hard for us not to be able to talk about the details of Dalian's death, it has been even harder to sit through this trial and to hear PC Monk try to justify the force he used."

They said his footballing talent "led him to achieve great things in his life".

"Our sincere hope is that now that the truth about his death is known, and justice has been done, we can start to remember him not for the manner in which he died, but for the way in which he lived," the statement added.

Ipswich Town

Jurors are still deliberating on an assault charge relating to Monk's colleague and former girlfriend, PC Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith, 31.

The trial heard how the two officers were called to Mr Atkinson's father's house in Meadow Close in the early hours of 15 August, where the the sportsman had been acting erratically.

Monk told the court he ran in fear after Mr Atkinson, who appeared to be having a mental health crisis, made death threats and smashed a glass door pane.

• The fast life of Dalian Atkinson
• Latest news from the West Midlands

The trial heard Monk had discharged his Taser three times at Mr Atkinson, twice unsuccessfully, but on the third time he overrode the system, holding down the trigger for 33 seconds - more than six times the standard deployment.

PA Media

The officer claimed to have no recollection of placing his foot on Mr Atkinson's head as colleagues arrived at the scene.

However he conceded he must have kicked the ex-footballer twice in the forehead, because bootlace prints proved he had.

Monk maintained his actions were lawful self-defence, made necessary when the former Premier league star tried to get up.

Getty Images

Mr Atkinson, who had a number of underlying health conditions, went into cardiac arrest after being taken from the scene in an ambulance, and was pronounced dead in hospital at 02:45 BST - about an hour after he was tasered.

According to the charity Inquest, no police officer has been found guilty of murder or manslaughter over a death in custody or following police contact in England and Wales since the 1980s.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

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2021-06-23 11:54:59Z
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COVID-19: Minister defends allowing visiting officials and VIP fans to attend latter stages of Euro 2020 at Wembley - Sky News

A minister has defended allowing UEFA officials and VIP fans to attend games in the latter stages of Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium.

John Whittingdale told Sky News there will be "some people coming in" for the semi-finals and final of the tournament, but they will be under "strict restrictions as to what else they can do and we have measured those things very carefully".

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Image: More than 60,000 fans will be able to attend the matches as part of the government's trial of mass events. Pic: AP

"We're talking about a very limited number of people coming in and they're also subject to quite significant restrictions," the media minister said.

"They're not just able to come in and travel around Britain. They come in to attend a match and go away again.

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"We wouldn't have been able to host the tournament at Wembley if we hadn't allowed the players and people associated with the teams to come in to do so."

More than 60,000 fans will be able to attend the matches as part of the government's trial of mass events, which is moving to its next stage.

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Other events in the summer sporting calendar, including Wimbledon, the rugby league Challenge Cup Final and men's international cricket involving England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will "also go ahead with greater capacities", the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said.

It comes after it was reported that visiting VIPs could be exempted from self-isolation rules to allow them to attend the matches.

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According to the Times, the government is close to a compromise deal that will require UEFA and FIFA officials, politicians, sponsors and broadcasters to agree to only attend the games, in a move that would effectively place them in "bubbles".

UEFA is believed to be lobbying for 2,500 VIPs to go to the final on 11 July without having to quarantine like other international travellers.

Labour's John Healey told Sky News the development was an example of there being "one rule for them and one rule for the rest".

"We have seen this time and again from ministers," the shadow defence secretary said.

Mr Whittingdale said the decision to increase the capacity at Wembley was based on scientific advice and the government "won't do anything" to put at risk the gains made in the fight against coronavirus.

Image: Wimbledon will be held from June 28 to July 11

He said ministers were moving to the next stage of its trial of mass events "where for a number of events we will increase the capacity".

Mr Whittingdale added: "But at every stage we're obviously listening to the scientific advice.

"We won't do anything that will put public health at risk.

"Even though the capacity is going up, people will still be required to demonstrate that they've either had two vaccinations or that they've had a negative COVID test."

The World Health Organisation told Sky News on Tuesday it is "concerned about the easing of restrictions in some of the host countries".

David Nabarro, a special envoy on COVID-19 for the World Health Organisation, said speaking as a public health doctor, there were "real questions to be asked" about the move because of rising cases in the UK.

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COVID-19: How likely is a third wave?

He went on: "But as a citizen I am also thinking that it is time for us all to work out how we are going to get on with our lives.

"We can't just stop doing everything because we are scared.

"Instead we have to learn how to pick up signs this virus is picking up in an area."

Mr Whittingdale said the government would publish the results of its trials before step four of England's roadmap out of restrictions, which is currently due to take place on 19 July.

"It's a complicated exercise, it needs a lot of analysis, and obviously we want to be absolutely confident of the findings before we publish," Mr Whittingdale said.

He continued: "I think that people will expect us to carry out a very thorough analysis, we've always made plain that we will publish and we will publish before we announce the next steps."

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2021-06-23 08:02:08Z
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Alan Turing £50 banknote enters circulation - as LGBT-inspired artwork unveiled at GCHQ to honour wartime hero - Sky News

The Alan Turing £50 banknote has begun to enter circulation - as a giant artwork of the wartime hero has been installed at the heart of GCHQ.

The new polymer Bank of England note depicting the famed mathematician, who is often considered to be the father of computer science, will be issued on Wednesday, coinciding with his birthday.

Image: The new £50 note which features wartime hero Alan Turing

Marking the occasion, a 10-metre by 10-metre rainbow canvas inspired by the LGBT Pride flag has been unveiled at the centre of the GCHQ hub in Benhall, Gloucestershire - known as the doughnut.

Mr Turing played a pivotal role in cracking the Enigma code during his time at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire - GCHQ's wartime home - which is thought to have shortened the Second World War by at least two years, saving millions of lives.

Used by the German armed forces to send messages securely, the Enigma enciphering machine was believed to be unbreakable, but the first wartime messages were cracked in 1940.

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The artwork, created by 3D artist Joe Hill in collaboration with GCHQ's Pride network, features Mr Turing inside the wheels of the British Bombe - the machine he designed to crack the Enigma code - and lies flat facing the sky.

It also contains 15 hidden codes for viewers to decipher, and will later be donated to organisations chosen by GCHQ's Pride Network.

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Image: Unveiled on Turing's birthday, the work at GCHQ was created by 3D artist Joe Hill and features 15 hidden codes

GCHQ director Sir Jeremy Fleming said: "Alan Turing was a genius who helped to shorten the war and influence the technology that still shapes our lives today.

"He was embraced for his brilliance but persecuted for being gay.

"Turing's legacy reminds us every day that diversity is essential and inclusion is mission critical to our organisation."

He added: "Turing was and remains a beacon of hope for all who dare to live and think differently."

Born on 23 June, 1912, Mr Turing studied mathematics at King's College, University of Cambridge. He gained a first-class honours degree in 1934 and was elected a Fellow of the College.

His 1936 work On Computable Numbers is seen as giving birth to the idea of how computers could operate.

His "Turing test" also explored the behaviour necessary for a machine to be considered intelligent and became the foundation for artificial intelligence.

But the mathematician's later life was overshadowed by a conviction for homosexual activity, which was later considered unjust and discriminatory.

Image: Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey holds up the new £50 note

Celebrating Mr Turing's life, the Bank of England was also flying the Progress Pride flag above its building in London's Threadneedle Street on Wednesday.

The new polymer £50 note contains advanced security features and joins the Sir Winston Churchill £5, the Jane Austen £10 and the JMW Turner £20 - meaning all Bank of England banknotes are now available in polymer.

Speaking at Bletchley Park, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said: "Our banknotes celebrate some of our country's most important historical figures.

"That's why I am delighted that Alan Turing features on the new polymer £50 note.

"Having undertaken remarkable codebreaking work here at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, he went on to pioneer work on early computers, as well as making some groundbreaking discoveries in the field of developmental biology.

"He was also gay and was treated appallingly as a result. Placing him on this new banknote is a recognition of his contributions to our society, and a celebration of his remarkable life."

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2021-06-23 06:35:40Z
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Double-jabbed parents 'could take unvaccinated kids abroad from August' - Metro.co.uk

At the moment it is difficult to travel abroad (Picture: Getty)

The prospect of summer holidays could be back on the horizon, with parents who have been fully vaccinated potentially able to take their children on holiday to amber list countries without having to quarantine.

Plans are due to be announced ‘within days’ to allow it to happen from August, according to reports.

Matt Hancock confirmed ministers are ‘working on’ plans for quarantine-free overseas trips.

The Health Secretary said the Government is looking at how to scrap the requirement for people to isolate for 10 days on their return to England from an amber list country.

He claimed he is ‘in favour of moving forward in this area’ and replacing quarantine with daily testing.

‘This hasn’t been clinically advised yet – we’re working on it,’ he told Sky News.

At the moment, people entering England from most countries have to quarantine (Picture: Metro.co.uk)

Asked if these plans could be in place as soon as August, Mr Hancock said: ‘We’ll get there when it’s safe to do so.’

The Sun reported that unvaccinated children would have able to travel with parents who have had both doses of a coronavirus jab.

They would have to have had the second dose two weeks earlier for the protection to have developed, they said.

At the moment, people returning from a green list country are not required to enter quarantine, but there are no major viable tourist destinations in that tier following the removal of Portugal.

Many of the countries currently restrict entry to UK arrivals or require quarantine.

The amber list includes summer hotspots such as Spain, Italy, France and Greece, though other popular holiday countries like Turkey and the UAE face stricter restrictions as they are on the red list.

The Government is scheduled to update the lists on Thursday, before a ‘checkpoint’ review of the rules takes place on Monday.

Andrew Flintham, managing director of Tui, claimed Whitehall ‘does not understand’ how the travel sector works.

He told a conference organised by travel trade association Abta it is ‘inexplicable’ that destinations such as Malta, the Greek islands and the Balearic islands are on the amber list.

Mr Flintham warned that many travel companies are ‘perilously close to failing’, adding that ‘every week that goes by just pushes those people closer to that very sad outcome’.

Travellers arrive at the Heathrow airport on June 8 (Picture: EPA)

Amid claims that the Government’s restrictions are based on political rather than health motives, Abta boss Mark Tanzer urged ministers to ‘put aside any misguided prejudices against outbound travel’.

He said that the amount of state support given to travel firms is ‘way behind’ what has happened in other countries.

Mr Tanzer issued a ‘heartfelt plea for political change’, stating that the sector is not content to be ‘a political orphan’, and calling for the creation of a dedicated minister with responsibility for the industry.

Speaking on LBC radio, Mr Hancock said the Government is being ‘cautious about international travel’ in order to protect the progress made at home.

But he added: ‘Having said that, the whole point of the vaccine programme is to be able to remove restrictions, and for people to be able to be kept safe by the vaccine, rather than by these rules.’

The Health Secretary also said the Government is ‘on track’ for the July 19 easing of restrictions in England, but acknowledged that opening up travel abroad is ‘more difficult’.

Caroline Lucas, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, said scrapping quarantine requirements now would be ‘reckless and risks squandering the hard-earned freedoms of the British public again, just like they did last summer’.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said a number of destinations should be moved to the green list due to low infection rates, such as the US, Croatia, Italy, Germany, Malta.

But he does not expect significant movement this week because of ‘political jousting’.

He said: ‘I’m not sure they’re going to open things up very much at all until August.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2021-06-22 17:03:00Z
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Euro 2020: More than 60,000 fans allowed in Wembley for semi-finals and final - Sky News

The World Health Organisation is "concerned" about lockdown restrictions easing in countries hosting Euro 2020 games, with fears around the number of fans allowed into stadiums.

The comments from an official came after it was announced that the number of fans permitted to attend the semi-finals and final of the competition at Wembley has been increased to 60,000.

They will be the largest crowds at UK sporting events in more than 15 months.

It is not clear exactly how many fans will be let through the turnstiles, but the culture department (DCMS) said attendance would be increased to "75% capacity", which is 67,500.

WHO official Robb Butler told Sky News: "WHO is concerned about easing of restrictions in some of the host countries."

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He added: "A few of the stadiums hosting the tournament are now increasing the number of spectators allowed in the stadium to watch a game. In a few of the host cities, COVID-19 cases are already on the rise in the area where matches will be held.

"And he went on: "Learning from experience, we must act fast on signals showing increasing cases - expanding testing and sequencing; stepping up contact tracing; and building very high vaccine uptake fast among those vulnerable and most at risk."

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Image: Wembley will vibrate to the noise of over 60,000 fans

All ticket holders for the matches on 6, 7 and 11 July must be able to show a negative COVID-19 test or proof of full vaccination - 14 days before each fixture.

Those registered with a GP in England will be able to display their proof of two jabs via the NHS App, or through a printout for people from Scotland or Wales.

A negative lateral flow test can be shown via email, a text message or the NHS App. Further details - including on ticket sales - will be given by UEFA in due course, DCMS said.

Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of the Zoe symptom-tracker app and an epidemiologist, told Sky News it "doesn't make a lot of sense" to allow 60,000 fans at Wembley - but ban travel to red list countries.

"We've got this strange travel policy where people can't go abroad, but we can have 60,000 people at Wembley," he said.

"It's okay if you're happy to have a few extra cases of COVID, but I think people need to be honest about the risk.

"Because the Delta (Indian) variant is more transmissible, it's really hard to avoid getting it in big crowds, even if you've been vaccinated."

The DCMS said other events in the summer sporting calendar, including Wimbledon, the rugby league Challenge Cup Final and men's international cricket involving England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will "also go ahead with greater capacities".

It is part of the government's Events Research Programme (ERP) as the UK gradually emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

Up to 20 indoor and outdoor events are also being planned that will "allow audience numbers to return close to full capacity", DCMS said.

It will "continue to trial the use of COVID status certification" and the pilots "will involve the ramping up of trialling the use of the NHS App and lateral flow testing, as proof of a person's COVID-status".

Trials of the NHS App "will be run to assess whether it can also be used to display a user's natural immunity status".

There have been reports suggesting the Euro 2020 final could be moved to Budapest, Hungary, following controversy over potentially allowing 2,500 international VIPs to attend without having to quarantine when arriving in the UK.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has said Rome could be an alternative venue.

But UEFA said there are "no plans to change the venue" for the semi-finals and final.

Image: Increased capacities are also being promised at Wimbledon

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said "rigorous and tight public health measures remain in place" while allowing "more fans to see the action live".

He added: "The finals promise to be an unforgettable moment in our national recovery from the pandemic."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the matches will "show that when it comes to great sporting events, London simply cannot be beaten".

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2021-06-22 13:21:28Z
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COVID-19: Nicola Sturgeon accused of 'contempt' of parliament as row over Scotland-Manchester travel ban continues - Sky News

Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of "discourtesy bordering on contempt" after announcing a Manchester travel ban without consulting Members of Scottish Parliament first.

Both the Scottish Parliament's presiding officer and members of the Scottish Conservatives criticised Ms Sturgeon over the matter, with the first minister being reminded that announcements should first be made in Holyrood.

It is understood that Deputy First Minister John Swinney signed off the legislation last Thursday ahead of First Minister's Questions, where MSPs would have had the chance to quiz Ms Sturgeon on the policy, but that details of the change were not announced until the following day at a press conference.

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Sturgeon 'insulting' Mancunians - Burnham

It comes as Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham accused the Scottish Government of "straightforward arrogance" over the travel ban which.

Enforced from Monday, it stops anyone from Bolton, Manchester, Salford or Lancashire travelling to Scotland and vice versa.

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On Sunday, Mr Burnham accused Scottish officials of being discourteous by not contacting him to discuss the measure being imposed against his region, adding that Ms Sturgeon is treating the north of England with "contempt".

Writing to the first minister, he said his northern constituents deserve "respect".

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But responding to the mayor, Ms Sturgeon accused Mr Burnham of "generating a spat" and noted her "duty to keep Scotland as safe as possible" during the pandemic.

"If he wants a grown-up conversation, he only has to pick up the phone," she told Sky News on Monday.

Mr Burnham said accusations of political posturing were unfounded and that he too is only acting in the interests of his residents as part of a devolved administration.

But there were signs of peace on Tuesday when during a press conference the mayor said he would be in discussions with the first minister on Wednesday over the ban.

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'I'm not interested' in Burnham having spat

"We just want to seek resolution and a better way of doing things going forward. The political route is the route to pursue," he said.

Announcing the new policy last Friday, Ms Sturgeon said the decision was made based on areas of England emerging as coronavirus hotspots.

"Anyone travelling elsewhere in the Greater Manchester or Lancashire area, I'd ask to think carefully about whether your journey is really necessary, because we do see cases rising across that region," the first minister said.

But fellow Scottish politicians including Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton have pointed out that there are some communities in Scotland "with transmission rates equal to that of Manchester".

But the political fallout from the travel ban continued on Tuesday as points of order were raised in Holyrood on the matter.

Scottish Tory Stephen Kerr said policy changes must be announced to the Scottish Parliament first.

"The first minister said nothing to parliament about these new restrictions, the deputy first minister whose name was on the amendment sat a few feet away from the first minister - and the next day, at approximately 12:15, the first minister appeared on television at a staged event to announce the travel ban," he said.

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'Scottish Govt should have picked up phone!'

"Would you, presiding officer, take this opportunity to underline again, to make clear to parliament and all members of this parliament - especially members of the government - that these acts of discourtesy bordering of contempt by the first minister must stop."

Fellow Scottish Conservative Graham Simpson said the travel ban rules are "unworkable and unenforceable" and requested compensation for individuals and businesses who have been financially impacted by the policy.

"How does (Mr Swinney) answer the very fair point that infection rates in part of Greater Manchester like Bolton are lower than Dundee?", he said.

Deputy leader of Scottish Labour Jackie Baillie also echoed the calls for compensation for those with trips to Manchester and Salford arranged.

Mr Swinney replied: "In relation to Manchester and Salford, Manchester was sitting at 348, Salford at 337 - in excess of any case rates within Scotland and well above the Scottish average.

"So we took those decisions based on trying to minimise the contact that we know enables the spread of the virus. That is what the whole restrictions have been about and that was the basis of our decision - to protect people in Scotland from the spread of the virus."

Image: MSPs said the first minister should have made the announcement in Holyrood first

On compensation, Mr Swinney said: "The government does not believe that would be appropriate.

"Travel to the north west of England has previously been prohibited last year, before local levels regulations were introduced and no compensation was offered.

"We are all responsible for putting in place, in our respective parts of the United Kingdom, the financial support to arrangements for business and that's exactly what the government will continue to do here in Scotland."

Earlier, at the opening of the day's business, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone made a short statement on the matter.

"Concerns have been raised regarding the use of a Government Initiated Question (GIQ) to announce the addition of Manchester and Salford to the list of areas where common travel restrictions apply," she said.

"I understand this mechanism has been used on earlier occasions to make such announcements.

"Notably, in this case the announcement was made by GIQ on Thursday, 17 June, a sitting day when there may have been an opportunity for members to scrutinise the decision in the Chamber.

"I would therefore ask the minister for parliamentary business to reflect on whether GIQs are an appropriate method to use for these announcements on days when parliament is sitting.

Later speaking in Holyrood on Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon announced plans for the easing of restrictions in Scotland on 28 June have been pushed back by three weeks to 19 July.

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2021-06-22 16:20:37Z
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