Sabtu, 02 Juli 2022

Chris Pincher: Disgraced MP 'incredibly drunk' on the night he is alleged to have groped two men - Sky News

Chris Pincher was "incredibly drunk" on the night he is alleged to have groped two men, MPs present at the Carlton Club that evening have told Sky News.

"He was beyond the limit when he should have been socialising," one MP claimed.

"He was slurring and mumbling some nonsense and came back in saying he needed the loo after he was asked to leave."

And asked if he had seen Mr Pincher, who has been MP for Tamworth in Staffordshire since 2010, drunk before, the MP said: "Not that bad. He was incredibly drunk."

In his first public statement since his suspension from the Tory whip, Mr Pincher, the former deputy chief whip, admitted he "drank far too much on Wednesday night" and is now seeking medical support.

And another MP present at the Carlton Club, where Tory MPs and supporters had been attending a Conservative Friends Of Cyprus reception, told Sky News it was around 1am when Mr Pincher eventually left the club, after the bar had closed.

The latest revelations about the events in the elite club on Wednesday coincide with increasing pressure on Boris Johnson over his decision to appoint Mr Pincher to such a sensitive government post in his reshuffle in February this year.

More on Conservatives

The Sunday Telegraph reports that the PM "turned a blind eye" to sex pest warnings about Mr Pincher.

The Sunday Mirror says he was warned twice, and The Independent claims a Conservative MP alleges he was groped twice by Mr Pincher.

Analysis: PM shamed into disciplining close ally accused of groping

'He's handsy. That's a problem'

The Mail on Sunday, reporting a claim first made by the PM's former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, says Mr Johnson was aware of concerns about Mr Pincher's behaviour two years ago and told aides: "He's handsy. That's a problem. Pincher by name, pincher by nature."

Downing Street did not deny that there had been concerns about Mr Pincher before his appointment, but insisted Mr Johnson "was not aware of any specific allegations".

Boris Johnson and Chris Pincher
Image: Boris Johnson and Chris Pincher

One of the MPs present at the Carlton Club on Wednesday, asked if he was aware of Mr Pincher's reputation, told Sky News: "There have been rumours for a while, but there's a difference between rumours and hard facts."

Conservative MPs who were present praised the actions of two members of the 2019 intake, Sarah Dines and Mark Fletcher, in helping to calm things down after a man complained to Ms Dines about being groped twice by Mr Pincher.

It is understood that Ms Dines, a family law barrister who is MP for Derbyshire Dales, witnessed the incident involving one of the two men and later reported it to the government chief whip, Chris Heaton-Harris.

'She handled herself extremely well'

Describing the actions of Ms Dines in the Carlton Club, an MP who was present told Sky News: "She was trying to get Pincher to leave. She went out of her way to make the situation better. She handled herself extremely well."

When Mr Pincher did not leave, Mr Fletcher - MP for Bolsover - offered to help and took the 52-year-old former Tamworth MP outside into St James's Street in Piccadilly, but he came back in to use the lavatory before eventually leaving at around 1am, escorted by Mr Fletcher.

Pincher and Johnson powerless over by-election threat

Jon Craig - Chief political correspondent
Jon Craig

Chief political correspondent

@joncraig

Chris Pincher's statement breaking his silence on allegations of drunken groping was both contrite and defiant.

It was contrite because he pledged cooperation with the inquiry now being undertaken by the Commons sleaze watchdog, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.

But it was defiant because he served notice that he has no intention of quitting as an MP and hopes to return to his constituency duties "as soon as possible", he declared.

That, however, is almost certainly out of his hands. The investigation may take some time, depending on the number of complainants and witnesses.

And if the outcome is a suspension from the Commons, there is likely to be a recall petition in Tamworth which could trigger a by-election which he and Boris Johnson - after his bungled attempt to save Owen Paterson - would be powerless to prevent.

Read full analysis here

Government sources have strongly defended Ms Dines after she was criticised in The Sunday Times by one of the men accusing Mr Pincher of groping. The man said he was "taken aback" when she asked him if he was gay.

Sky News understands that Mr Heaton-Harris has confidence in her and believes she acted promptly and correctly when witnessing inappropriate behaviour and ensured the matter was reported.

'We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously'

Describing the incident, government sources said she was approached on Wednesday by an individual who made a complaint to her about inappropriate behaviour.

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Ex-Tory MP: Double standards over Pincher

Responding to the claim that she asked if the man was gay, sources said she asked a series of questions to get a better understanding of what had happened and to establish if the individual knew Mr Pincher and if there was any prior relationship.

And it is claimed by government sources that the very fact that Ms Dines was approached about this matter and followed up on it with the chief whip shows how seriously she took it.

Responding to the latest criticism of the prime minister, a government spokesperson told Sky News: "We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously and would encourage anyone with any allegations to come forward to the relevant authorities."

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2022-07-03 00:28:18Z
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Airlines 'to announce new wave of cancellations next week' as holidaymakers face more disruption - Sky News

Holidaymakers are facing more travel disruption as airlines prepare to announce a new wave of cancellations next week and new strikes are planned in Spain.

Ryanair crew based in Spain plan to strike for 12 days this month to demand better working conditions, unions have said.

The announcement came on the final day of the crews' current strike, which began on Thursday and forced Ryanair to cancel 10 flights on Saturday.

It comes as Britain's busiest airport Heathrow has to tell officials about any further flight cancellations by Friday - just as some schools begin breaking up for the summer holidays, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The upheaval is in response to an amnesty announced last month that will allow airlines to cancel flights while still retaining take-off and landing slots next year.

In other developments:
• Flights were delayed at Heathrow Airport on Saturday after a technical fault with the airport's fuelling system
• A technical breakdown left at least 1,500 bags stuck at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport
• A passenger travelling through Heathrow described the scene at baggage claim as looking like "a disaster movie"
• The government reportedly ruled out drafting in the military to help at UK airports after Ireland put the army on standby to assist in case of further disruption at Dublin

Ryanair's next industrial action in Spain will see cabin crew strike on 12-15 July, 18-21 July and 25-28 July across the 10 Spanish airports where Ryanair operates, according to unions.

Spain-based cabin crew at easyJet are also striking for nine days this month for higher pay.

Heathrow delays

On Saturday, flights were delayed at Heathrow Airport after a technical fault with the airport's fuelling system.

The system was closed down for an hour while engineers fixed the fault.

A Heathrow spokesman told Sky News: "A technical fault with the airport's fuelling system has now been resolved.

"We are working with all airport partners to minimise disruption, however flights out of Heathrow this afternoon may be subject to delays.

"We apologise for any impact this has on people's journeys."

Passengers queue inside the departures terminal of Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, June 27, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Image: There were long queues at Heathrow Airport this week

A passenger travelling through Heathrow described the scene at baggage claim as looking like "a disaster movie".

Adam Kent had arrived at Terminal 3 from Orlando, Florida, and said the sight "made a horrendous first impression of chaos" for international visitors.

The 59-year-old said: "(There was) lost luggage everywhere, stacked between baggage belts everyone stepping over it and no one doing anything about it.

"Being brutally honest, it looks like a serious health and safety issue.

"No one visible on the ground to explain the carnage or sort out the mess, it seems like lots of luggage has not arrived with passengers and just been dumped."

Passengers wait at Madrid–Barajas Airport. Pic: AP
Image: Passengers wait at Madrid–Barajas Airport. Pic: AP

Flying is 'too cheap', says Ryanair boss

The boss of Ryanair has claimed flying has become "too cheap" and warned fares will rise for the next five years.

Michael O'Leary told the Financial Times that high oil prices and environmental charges were expected to push the average Ryanair fare up from €40 (£35) to between $50-60 (£43-£52) over the medium term.

"I find it absurd every time that I fly to Stansted, the train journey into central London is more expensive than the air fare," he told the newspaper.

Read more:
What are my rights if strikes hit the summer holidays at Heathrow?
Airlines and airports unable to say when threat to summer holiday getaways will end

Travellers have already been hit by months of cancellations, delays and missing baggage.

Staff shortages in ground handling, airports, and flight crew, have presented major challenges as the aviation sector struggles to move into the peak season after two years of coronavirus pandemic-related turbulence.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled across various airlines over recent weeks, as capacity fails to keep up with demand - a problem also being seen across Europe.

At France's Charles de Gaulle airport, airlines have been working to deliver luggage to passengers around the world after a technical breakdown left at least 1,500 bags stuck at the Paris air hub.

It comes as some airport workers are on strike in France demanding the hiring of more staff and higher wages to keep up with soaring global inflation.

Ryanair and EasyJet airline workers rally at the gates of the Costa del Sol airport in Malaga. Pic: AP
Image: Ryanair and EasyJet airline workers rally at the gates of the Costa del Sol airport in Malaga. Pic: AP

The Department for Transport has temporarily relaxed rules around airport slots to help airlines avoid last-minute cancellations due to staff shortages.

It said airlines will be given a short window, described as an "amnesty", to hand back take-off and landing slots they are not confident they will be able to operate for the rest of the summer season.

It is hoped that being able to freely adjust schedules will allow airlines to run only the flights they can fully staff, ending the reports of passengers arriving at the airport to find their flights cancelled at the last minute.

On Thursday, Heathrow asked airlines to remove 30 flights from the morning peak schedule, saying that it was expecting "higher passenger numbers than the airport currently has capacity to serve".

Many passengers have also had luggage delayed or missing.

There is also the looming threat of industrial action, with hundreds of Heathrow-based check-in staff and ground handling agents voting last month for industrial action over pay.

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts,  Google Podcasts,  Spotify, Spreaker

A spokesperson for British Airways said the slot amnesty and consequent cancellations will "help us to provide the certainty our customers deserve by making it easier to consolidate some of our quieter daily flights to multi-frequency destinations well in advance".

They said that the airline "welcomes these new measures", adding: "Slot alleviation allows airlines to temporarily reduce their schedules but still retain their slots for the next year to maintain networks and provide consumers with certainty and consistency."

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2022-07-02 18:00:22Z
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More flight cancellations as airlines re-work schedules in line with slot amnesty - Sky News

Frustrated travellers face more flight cancellations over the coming weeks, as airlines rush to re-work their schedules.

The upheaval comes in response to last month's announcement that an amnesty will allow airlines to cancel flights while still retaining take-off and landing slots next year.

Airlines buy slots to operate their schedules but can lose them to rivals if they fail to maintain their obligations to the airport and passengers by failing to fly.

It is hoped that being able to more freely adjust schedules will allow airlines to run only the flights they can fully staff, ending the reports of passengers arriving at the airport to find their flights cancelled at the last minute.

British Airways flights from Heathrow are likely to see the highest number of cancellations, according to a report.

The Daily Telegraph said that the airline had planned to carry 1.8 million passengers on more than 9,000 flights from Heathrow in July alone.

A spokesperson for British Airways told the PA news agency that the slot amnesty and consequent cancellations will "help us to provide the certainty our customers deserve by making it easier to consolidate some of our quieter daily flights to multi-frequency destinations well in advance".

More on British Airways

They said that the airline "welcomes these new measures", adding: "Slot alleviation allows airlines to temporarily reduce their schedules but still retain their slots for the next year to maintain networks and provide consumers with certainty and consistency.

Read more:
What are my rights if strikes hit the summer holidays at Heathrow?
Airlines and airports unable to say when threat to summer holiday getaways will end

"Allocating slots according to the (World Airport Slots Guide system) means airlines can offer the consistent services and efficient connections that consumers are looking for and protect jobs and create growth in the UK."

Staff shortages in ground handling, airports, and flight crew, have presented major challenges as the aviation sector struggles to move into the peak season after two years of coronavirus pandemic-related turbulence.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled across various airlines over recent weeks, as capacity fails to keep up with demand - a problem also being seen across Europe.

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts,  Google Podcasts,  Spotify, Spreaker

On Thursday, for example, Heathrow asked airlines to remove 30 flights from the morning peak schedule, saying that it was expecting "higher passenger numbers than the airport currently has capacity to serve".

Many passengers have also had luggage delayed or missing.

There is also the looming threat of industrial action, with hundreds of Heathrow-based check-in staff and ground handling agents voting last month for industrial action over pay.

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2022-07-02 03:31:40Z
1478969681

Jumat, 01 Juli 2022

'Sex pest' Tory Chris Pincher faces fresh claim by activist - The Times

Boris Johnson bowed to pressure to suspend a former Tory minister accused of drunkenly groping two men as a fresh claim emerged about his behaviour.

Chris Pincher, who resigned as the deputy chief whip on Thursday, will face an investigation by a parliament watchdog after one of the men made a formal allegation.

The prime minister was alerted to the complaint by a Conservative MP who said he had witnessed the incident and was in contact with the alleged victim.

Downing Street sources said that having heard the first-hand account, Johnson immediately moved to suspend the whip from Pincher pending the outcome of the investigation.

They defended Johnson’s failure to act earlier, saying that the prime minister had wanted to follow “due process”.

Alice

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2022-07-01 20:00:00Z
1487432988

Covid in Scotland: One in 18 people had virus last week - BBC

woman wearing a face maskGetty Images

Scotland again saw a rise in Covid cases last week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It estimates about 288,200 people - one in 18 - had the virus in the week ending 24 June and is the highest figure since early April.

That was up on the previous week when about 250,700 (one in 20) had Covid.

The latest ONS Infection Survey data compares with one in 30 for England and Wales and one in 25 for Northern Ireland.

It said the increase in the number of people testing positive was likely being driven by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants.

They are not thought to be more lethal than any other form of Covid but they do appear to be spreading more quickly.

Responding to the figures, Scotland's national clinical director Prof Jason Leitch told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme: "Let's be concerned but let's see what we can do as individuals to help."

He added that the numbers were "worrying", especially for groups such as the elderly or immunosuppressed, but added: "There's no suggestion we should go backwards."

Asked about the risks posed by mass events, such as next weekend's TRNSMT music festival in Glasgow, Prof Leitch urged those planning to attend to ensure they were vaccinated and not to go if they are sick.

The ONS survey said Covid infections in the UK had jumped by more than half a million in a week and hospital numbers were continuing to increase.

There are also early signs of a rise in intensive care admissions among older age groups.

A total of 2.3 million people in private households are estimated to have had the virus last week, up 32% from a week earlier.

This is the highest estimate for total infections since late April, but is still some way below the record high of 4.9m seen at the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave at the end of March.

'Continued increase'

Sarah Crofts, ONS head of analytical outputs for the Covid-19 infection survey, said: "Across the UK we've seen a continued increase of over half a million infections, likely caused by the growth of BA.4 and BA.5 variants.

"This rise is seen across all ages, countries and regions of England.

"We will continue to monitor the data closely to see if this growth continues in the coming weeks."

On Wednesday, the latest Public Health Scotland weekly Covid-19 statistical report said there were 14,500 reported virus cases last week.

That was down slightly on the previous seven days when 15,541 virus cases were reported.

ONS chart

But the latest figures, for week ending 26 June, show the average number of patients in hospital with Covid rose by 32% to 1,148.

The ONS sampling is considered a better indicator than the PHS data as so few people are now reporting test results.

Prof Hugh Pennington, of the University of Aberdeen, said Omicron was "good at getting about" but not as effective as causing serious harm to people.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live he was not surprised by the current surge in cases as less was being done to control the spread of the virus.

But he said it was not clear why case rates were higher in Scotland.

'No simple explanation'

Prof Pennington said: "There's a fair amount of chance involved; it depends on super-spreader events, where the virus was a few months ago and all these kind of things.

"There's no simple explanation. You could say it's bad luck we've got higher figures than the rest of the UK.

"A lot of people don't have any symptoms but are still infectious."

The microbiologist said people were less likely to pass on the virus if they wore masks in crowded places.

He added: "I think there should be a bit more public encouragement to wear them.

"Not necessarily to go back to the compulsory rules we had but really have quite a good publicity campaign explaining why mask wearing is a good thing."

Covid sign in Scotland
PA Media

Prof Pennington also hailed the vaccines as a "great success story" and added that they reduced the risk of hospitalisation.

Dr Christine Tait-Burkard, an infection expert at the University of Edinburgh, described the latest figures as "more comforting than alarming".

She believes the vast majority of cases in Scotland are people who have been infected for the first time.

Dr Tait-Burkard also told the Drivetime programme that Scotland appeared to be "just past the peak" or "hovering around a plateau".

She added: "At the moment these numbers still look relatively positive.

"In terms of the wider community, Covid has lost a lot of its ferocity and it is not as severe as it used to be in any way."

The expert said the country was now moving to a different stage of dealing with the virus, which involved protecting the most vulnerable.

'Not panicking'

Holyrood's Covid-19 Recovery Committee was told on Thursday that the recent spike in virus cases had left public health officials "concerned, but not panicking".

Prof Leitch told MSPs that the spike was not unexpected.

He said the public should consider making use of previous preventative measures.

Prof Leitch added: "Our advice remains pretty much the same, but you can tell our tone has changed in the last few weeks.

"It's about staying off if you're sick, whether that's college or work or school, certainly reintroducing or thinking about face coverings, handwashing, surfaces - all of those anti-viral things - and, of course, the key intervention remains vaccination."

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2022-07-01 16:56:02Z
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Tory MP Chris Pincher suspended by party over 'drunken groping' claims - Sky News

Boris Johnson has bowed to pressure and suspended former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher from the parliamentary party over an allegation that he drunkenly groped two men.

Mr Pincher had already been forced to quit his role in the Tory whips' office - in which he was responsible for party discipline and the smooth running of government business at Westminster - after the claim emerged this week.

Now, after a formal complaint was made against him to parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), he will be forced to sit as an independent outside the Conservative group.

Politics Hub: Boris Johnson agrees to withdraw whip from Tory MP

A spokesperson for Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris said: "Having heard that a formal complaint has been made to the ICGS, the PM has agreed with the chief whip that the whip should be suspended from Chris Pincher while the investigation is ongoing.

"We will not pre-judge that investigation. We urge colleagues and the media to respect that process."

Former housing minister Kelly Tolhurst has been appointed as the new Tory deputy chief whip.

More on Conservatives

Earlier, Mr Johnson's official spokesman had said that the PM "does think he's [Mr Pincher] done the right thing in resigning and has accepted that resignation".

Downing Street rejected claims that the prime minister was not taking the allegations seriously enough, as Labour and some Tory MPs insisted the whip must be removed.

A Number 10 source later said that Mr Johnson had been prompted to take further action after he had "taken soundings" and been told of the formal complaint.

Mr Johnson was also under pressure to explain why he gave Mr Pincher such a sensitive post earlier this year amid reports that he had been advised not to do so. The PM's spokesman said it would not have been appropriate "to stop an appointment on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations".

Boris Johnson and Chris Pincher

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said the prime minister had been "dragged kicking and screaming into taking any action at all" and that the scandal was "yet more evidence of his appalling judgement".

Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said: "It should never have taken Boris Johnson this long to act and withdraw the whip.

"Once again it seems Johnson has had to be forced into doing the right thing."

Earlier, Tory MPs Karen Bradley and Caroline Nokes - the only two Conservative female chairs of backbench select committees - criticised what they called the "inconsistent and unclear approach" by their party to such incidents.

Read more: PM shamed into disciplining close ally accused of groping

In a letter to Mr Heaton-Harris, they said the current approach risked causing "serious reputational damage" to the party and the government and urged him to introduce a code of conduct for all Conservative MPs.

The MPs urged that in the meantime the party should adopt a "zero tolerance" stance.

"Once an investigation has been completed, a decision should be taken about returning the whip, but in the meantime anyone subject to such an investigation should not be allowed to sit as a Conservative MP and represent the party in any capacity," they said.

Mr Pincher, 52, resigned from his role as deputy chief whip on Thursday and apologised after admitting he had drunk "far too much" and "embarrassed myself and other people" on a night out.

Mr Pincher "groped two men in front of others" at the Carlton Club in the St James's area of central London, a government source told Sky News.

One of those groped is an MP, and the second one may also be a member of parliament, the source added.

Sky News has been told that the episode had added to the number of Tories who have lost faith in the PM - on top of the 148 who delivered a no-confidence verdict in a bruising revolt last month.

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Ex Tory MP: Double standards over Pincher

Meanwhile, Neil Parish - whose resignation as an MP after he admitted watching pornography in the Commons chamber resulted in the Tories' by-election mauling by the Liberal Democrats in Tiverton and Honiton, accused the party of "double standards".

Mr Parish told Sky News that after Mr Pincher had helped to organise the PM's survival of a no confidence vote "the chief whip, the prime minister and everybody was involved in trying to save Christopher Pincher whereas Neil Parish was entirely expendable".

At the last election, Mr Pincher was returned to his Tamworth seat with a majority of more than 19,000 and this could be vulnerable if he were to step down, coming after two recent bruising by-election defeats for the Tories.

This is the second time the MP has quit the whips' office.

In November 2017, Downing Street said he had "voluntarily referred himself both to the party's complaints procedure and the police".

The Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Pincher had been accused of making an unwanted pass at Conservative activist and former British rower Alex Story.

Mr Pincher told the newspaper: "If Mr Story has ever felt offended by anything I said, then I can only apologise to him."

Theresa May reappointed him to the whips' office the following year.

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2022-07-01 16:32:37Z
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Zara Aleena: Man in court accused of murdering 35-year-old - BBC

Zara AleenaMet Police

A man accused of murdering a woman in a street attack in east London has appeared at the Old Bailey.

Zara Aleena, 35, was walking in Cranbrook Road, Ilford, 10 minutes from her home, when she was attacked in the early hours of Sunday.

Jordan McSweeney, 29, from Church Elm Lane, Dagenham, east London, did not enter a plea to the charge of murder.

He is also charged with attempted penetration without consent and robbery.

Mr McSweeney, who appeared via video link from HMP Thameside wearing a green jumper, is set to appear again at the Old Bailey on 27 July.

'She thrived'

Ms Aleena had hoped to practise as a solicitor and had completed her Legal Practice Course. She had recently begun working at the Royal Courts of Justice, to complete her two-year work placement in order to become a fully qualified solicitor, her family said.

In a statement, they described her as "fierce: she didn't just survive, she thrived".

Zara Aleena
Sherit Nair

"Zara was happy and at a point in her life that she had worked hard for," they said.

"She was a joy to all of us, her sparkling eyes and the curly, jet-black hair. Her glorious laughter and her sweet, smiling voice. Her tiny frame embodied a passionate spirit and indomitable energy."

A post-mortem examination revealed she had "multiple serious injuries".

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2022-07-01 09:20:07Z
CBMiNWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLWVuZ2xhbmQtbG9uZG9uLTYyMDA3MDYw0gE5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstZW5nbGFuZC1sb25kb24tNjIwMDcwNjAuYW1w