Rabu, 03 Agustus 2022

Tory leadership ballot papers delayed due to security fears - Sky News

Security fears have led to delays in Conservative members receiving their postal ballots for the party's leadership contest.

In a letter sent to Tory members - seen by Sky News - the Conservative Party's head of membership confirmed postal ballots will arrive "a little later than we originally said" as "we have taken some time to add some additional security" to the process.

Members were previously due to receive their postal ballots to vote for their next leader - and new UK prime minister - this week, but the email says they should now receive their ballot by Thursday 11 August.

Politics Hub: Sunak allies attack Truss public sector pay plan

The party's headquarters described it as a slight delay and were unable to give any further guidance.

A spokesperson added: "We have consulted with the NCSC [National Cyber Security Centre] throughout this process and have decided to enhance security around the ballot process. Eligible members will start receiving ballot packs this week."

An NCSC spokesperson said: "Defending UK democratic and electoral processes is a priority for the NCSC and we work closely with all parliamentary political parties, local authorities and MPs to provide cyber security guidance and support.

More on Liz Truss

"As you would expect from the UK's national cyber security authority, we provided advice to the Conservative Party on security considerations for online leadership voting."

The correspondence from the party also warns voting more than once in the ongoing leadership contest will be treated as "an offence", saying any member found to have voted multiple times will "have their party membership withdrawn".

Tory members can either vote by post or online, but the party confirmed the security fears have forced it to abandon plans to allow members to change their vote for the next leader later in the contest.

The rules of the leadership contest, set by the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs and the Conservative Party board, stated members should only vote once but if a "duplicate" vote is recorded, the second one will be counted.

Allies of leadership hopeful Liz Truss were believed to have been concerned this rule would work to her rival Rishi Sunak's advantage, so may be pleased at the change - though the ballot paper delay could aid Team Sunak by giving him more time to make his case.

Earlier on Tuesday, a new poll suggested Ms Truss has extended her lead over Mr Sunak in the leadership race as he battles to make up ground during a key week in the contest for the keys to Number 10.

The latest YouGov survey of Conservative members for The Times newspaper shows the foreign secretary's lead has stretched to 34 points in the leadership race, with 60% of party members now saying they will vote for Ms Truss to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister.

This is compared to just 26% for former chancellor Mr Sunak.

But the poll was carried out over the last five days, ahead of a major U-turn by Ms Truss on a public sector pay policy that sparked fury in the party.

On Monday night, the frontrunner said she would save £8.8bn by introducing regional pay boards instead of national ones to set salaries for civil servants, reflecting where they lived.

But experts warned that to reach the sum, the plan would have to branch out further than government departments, with the likes of teachers, nurses, and police officers also receiving lower pay than workers in the South.

After outrage from Conservative MPs, opposition parties and unions - and less than 24 hours later - Ms Truss' team released a statement saying the policy would not be taken forward.

Tory MP David Davis said Team Truss announced the policy "without thinking it through".

A former leadership candidate himself, he told Sky News he "didn't make a big deal of U-turning", adding: "If you make a mistake, back off, don't do it…. that's a good thing."

But Mr David said: "This is a dress rehearsal for being a prime minister, you can't afford to make those sorts of judgemental errors.

"When you are prime minister… you don't have time to deliberate, your instincts and judgements are incredibly important. And that is what is being judged in this process."

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, who is backing Ms Truss, disagreed yesterday's events were damaging to his candidate, and insisted she had proved in her cabinet roles she is "determined to do the right thing".

He told Sky News: "[She is] someone who is looking at how do we improve our country, how do we grow our economy, create more jobs, improve our education, level up across the country.

"And she is somebody who, even when things are difficult, will get on and get things done."

Other figures in the YouGov polling showed Ms Truss is now ahead of Mr Sunak among all age groups, across different parts of the country and with men and women.

The only category where he beats Ms Truss is among Tory Remain supporters.

It also found almost nine in 10 Conservative members have now made up their minds how they will vote ahead of ballot papers going out this week.

But it will concern both potential leaders that more than 50% of party members believed whoever was elected to succeed Mr Johnson would lose the party its majority at the next election.

Just 19% of members thought Mr Sunak could lead the Tories to victory, while 39% thought Ms Truss could see off a challenge from Labour.

Voting will close on 2 September, with the winner expected to be announced on 5 September and to replace Mr Johnson the following day.

Battle for Number 10

As the leadership race continues to heat up, Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will once again face the cameras this week on Sky News.

Taking place on Thursday 4 August at 8pm at Sky Studios in west London, The Battle for Number 10 will see the candidates take part in back-to-back questioning from the live studio audience made up of Conservative Party members who remain largely undecided on who to vote for.

This will then be followed by an in-depth interview with Kay Burley.

The programme will be broadcast live for 90 minutes and for free on Sky News channel 501, on Freeview 233, on Sky Showcase channel 106, and across Sky News' digital channels.

The pair also continue to face hustings across the country, with the latest set to take place in Cardiff tonight.

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2022-08-03 07:18:12Z
1522511111

Archie Battersbee: Parents to take case to European Court of Human Rights - BBC

Archie BattersbeeHollie Dance

Archie Battersbee's parents have submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in a bid to postpone the withdrawal of his life support.

Life-sustaining treatment for the 12-year-old has been in place since April and was due to be withdrawn later.

An appeal against the decision to end treatment was refused by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Archie's mother said she was "relieved" the new application was made.

Hollie Dance said: "We are very relieved, we are having to battle every decision with the hospital.

"We now hope and pray that the ECHR will look favourably on the application. We will not give up on Archie until the end."

Archie was found unconscious at home in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, on 7 April.

He has never regained consciousness and his mother believes he may have been taking part in an online challenge when he suffered brain damage.

Hollie dance with her son Archie
Hollie Dance

Court of Appeal judges had previously ruled his life-sustaining treatment should not continue beyond 12:00 on Tuesday.

But this was delayed while the Supreme Court heard an appeal application from Archie's parents.

The family had asked that court to assess whether more time should be given for the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to look at the case.

But it said the Court of Appeal had "made the correct decision".

Doctors treating Archie have said they believe it is "highly likely" he is brain-stem dead and argued it is in his best interest for life support to end.

A previous High Court ruling heard "every bodily function [of Archie's] is now maintained by artificial means", while another heard he had not "regained awareness at any time".

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2022-08-03 07:35:07Z
1511371699

Selasa, 02 Agustus 2022

Liz Truss extends poll lead over Rishi Sunak after public sector pay plan U-turn - Sky News

Liz Truss has extended her lead over Rishi Sunak among Tory members, according to a new poll, after the foreign secretary U-turned on a plan to link public sector pay to regional living costs.

On Monday night, the leadership race frontrunner said she would save £8.8bn by introducing regional pay boards instead of national ones to set salaries for civil servants, reflecting where they lived.

But experts warned that to reach the sum, the plan would have to branch out further than government departments, with the likes of teachers, nurses, and police officers also receiving lower pay than workers in the South.

It led to outrage from Conservative MPs, and by lunchtime today - less than 24 hours later - Ms Truss' team had released a statement saying the policy would not be taken forward.

Politics Hub: Sunak allies attack Truss public sector pay plan

A statement insisted "current levels of public sector pay will absolutely be maintained", adding: "Our hard-working frontline staff are the bedrock of society and there will be no proposal taken forward on regional pay boards for civil servants or public sector workers."

Team Truss also claimed there had been a "wilful misrepresentation" of the policy, but former Tory whip Mark Harper said they should "stop blaming journalists" for reporting on the details in her own press release.

More on Liz Truss

A Team Sunak source pointed to comparisons made between Ms Truss and former PM Margaret Thatcher, twisting her famous phrase for today's events: "The lady is for turning."

While the influential Tory mayor of the Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, told reporters the policy would be "a sure-fire way to lose the next general election".

The first major error from Ms Truss's campaign came as Mr Sunak battles to make up ground during what is a key week in the contest for the keys to No 10.

But the day ended on a high for Ms Truss following the publication of the latest YouGov poll of Conservative members, which shows she has extended her lead over Mr Sunak to 34 points in the Tory leadership race.

The survey, carried out for The Times, finds that 60% of party members are now saying they will vote for the foreign secretary to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister.

This is compared to just 26% for former chancellor Mr Sunak.

Analysis: Sunak supporters will fear the game is up

Jon Craig - Chief political correspondent
Jon Craig

Chief political correspondent

@joncraig

After a day in which Liz Truss' Tory leadership campaign took a battering over her regional pay blunder, suddenly it's Rishi Sunak who's on the ropes, according to a shock new poll.

What's surprising is not just the massive lead the YouGov poll suggests Ms Truss now has over Mr Sunak, but the claim that almost nine in 10 Tory members have already made up their mind.

At 26%, the level of support for the former chancellor is dismal, and the 60% predicted to back the foreign secretary will calm nerves in her camp after her embarrassing public sector pay U-turn.

Although it's only one poll and opinion polls are just a snapshot, YouGov's findings suggest Ms Truss could be heading for a victory as decisive as Boris Johnson's over Jeremy Hunt in 2019.

Then Mr Johnson polled 66.4% of the votes of party members and Mr Hunt 33.6%, a winning margin of nearly 33%, similar to the 34-point lead YouGov now gives Ms Truss over Mr Sunak.

The YouGov poll also suggests only 14% of party members are undecided or say they won't vote, and it fiercely contradicts an earlier private poll suggesting the gap had narrowed to just five points.

YouGov's last poll before this one was carried after the five rounds of voting by MPs, when Penny Mordaunt was eliminated, and suggested a 24-point lead for Ms Truss over Mr Sunak, by 62%-38%.

The apparent widening of the gap, in the week party members receive their ballot papers, will delight Truss supporters – and, no doubt, those of the ousted Mr Johnson who want to see Mr Sunak crushed.

But it is likely to plunge the Sunak camp into gloom, panic and despair and spread fears in his team that the game is up for the former chancellor, even before most Tory members cast their vote.

The poll, carried out over the last five days, shows that Ms Truss is now ahead of Mr Sunak among all age groups, across different parts of the country and with men and women.

The only category where he beats Ms Truss is among Tory Remain supporters.

The YouGov survey published today also found that almost nine in 10 Conservative members have now made up their minds how they will vote ahead of ballot papers going out this week.

But it will concern both potential next leaders that more than 50% of party members believed that whoever was elected to succeed Mr Johnson would lose the party its majority at the next election.

Just 19% of members thought Mr Sunak could lead the Tories to victory, while 39% thought Ms Truss could see off a challenge from Labour.

As the leadership race continues to heat up, candidates Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will once again face the cameras this week on Sky News.

Taking place on Thursday 4 August at 8pm at Sky Studios in west London, The Battle for Number 10, will see the candidates take part in back-to-back questioning from the live studio audience made up of Conservative Party members who remain largely undecided on who to vote for.

This will then be followed by an in-depth interview with Kay Burley.

The programme will be broadcast live for 90 minutes and for free on Sky News channel 501, on Freeview 233, on Sky Showcase channel 106, and across Sky News' digital channels.

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2022-08-02 20:05:41Z
1514337165

Liz Truss extends poll lead over Rishi Sunak after public sector pay plan U-turn - Sky News

Liz Truss has extended her lead over Rishi Sunak among Tory members, according to a new poll, after the foreign secretary U-turned on a plan to link public sector pay to regional living costs.

On Monday night, the leadership race frontrunner said she would save £8.8bn by introducing regional pay boards instead of national ones to set salaries for civil servants, reflecting where they lived.

But experts warned that to reach the sum, the plan would have to branch out further than government departments, with the likes of teachers, nurses, and police officers also receiving lower pay than workers in the South.

It led to outrage from Conservative MPs, and by lunchtime today - less than 24 hours later - Ms Truss' team had released a statement saying the policy would not be taken forward.

Politics Hub: Sunak allies attack Truss public sector pay plan

A statement insisted "current levels of public sector pay will absolutely be maintained", adding: "Our hard-working frontline staff are the bedrock of society and there will be no proposal taken forward on regional pay boards for civil servants or public sector workers."

Team Truss also claimed there had been a "wilful misrepresentation" of the policy, but former Tory whip Mark Harper said they should "stop blaming journalists" for reporting on the details in her own press release.

More on Liz Truss

A Team Sunak source pointed to comparisons made between Ms Truss and former PM Margaret Thatcher, twisting her famous phrase for today's events: "The lady is for turning."

While the influential Tory mayor of the Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, told reporters the policy would be "a sure-fire way to lose the next general election".

The first major error from Ms Truss's campaign came as Mr Sunak battles to make up ground during what is a key week in the contest for the keys to No 10.

But the day ended on a high for Ms Truss following the publication of the latest YouGov poll of Conservative members, which shows she has extended her lead over Mr Sunak to 34 points in the Tory leadership race.

The survey, carried out for The Times, finds that 60% of party members are now saying they will vote for the foreign secretary to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister.

This is compared to just 26% for former chancellor Mr Sunak.

Analysis: Sunak supporters will fear the game is up

Jon Craig - Chief political correspondent
Jon Craig

Chief political correspondent

@joncraig

After a day in which Liz Truss' Tory leadership campaign took a battering over her regional pay blunder, suddenly it's Rishi Sunak who's on the ropes, according to a shock new poll.

What's surprising is not just the massive lead the YouGov poll suggests Ms Truss now has over Mr Sunak, but the claim that almost nine in 10 Tory members have already made up their mind.

At 26%, the level of support for the former chancellor is dismal, and the 60% predicted to back the foreign secretary will calm nerves in her camp after her embarrassing public sector pay U-turn.

Although it's only one poll and opinion polls are just a snapshot, YouGov's findings suggest Ms Truss could be heading for a victory as decisive as Boris Johnson's over Jeremy Hunt in 2019.

Then Mr Johnson polled 66.4% of the votes of party members and Mr Hunt 33.6%, a winning margin of nearly 33%, similar to the 34-point lead YouGov now gives Ms Truss over Mr Sunak.

The YouGov poll also suggests only 14% of party members are undecided or say they won't vote, and it fiercely contradicts an earlier private poll suggesting the gap had narrowed to just five points.

YouGov's last poll before this one was carried after the five rounds of voting by MPs, when Penny Mordaunt was eliminated, and suggested a 24-point lead for Ms Truss over Mr Sunak, by 62%-38%.

The apparent widening of the gap, in the week party members receive their ballot papers, will delight Truss supporters – and, no doubt, those of the ousted Mr Johnson who want to see Mr Sunak crushed.

But it is likely to plunge the Sunak camp into gloom, panic and despair and spread fears in his team that the game is up for the former chancellor, even before most Tory members cast their vote.

The poll, carried out over the last five days, shows that Ms Truss is now ahead of Mr Sunak among all age groups, across different parts of the country and with men and women.

The only category where he beats Ms Truss is among Tory Remain supporters.

The YouGov survey published today also found that almost nine in 10 Conservative members have now made up their minds how they will vote ahead of ballot papers going out this week.

But it will concern both potential next leaders that more than 50% of party members believed that whoever was elected to succeed Mr Johnson would lose the party its majority at the next election.

Just 19% of members thought Mr Sunak could lead the Tories to victory, while 39% thought Ms Truss could see off a challenge from Labour.

As the leadership race continues to heat up, candidates Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will once again face the cameras this week on Sky News.

Taking place on Thursday 4 August at 8pm at Sky Studios in west London, The Battle for Number 10, will see the candidates take part in back-to-back questioning from the live studio audience made up of Conservative Party members who remain largely undecided on who to vote for.

This will then be followed by an in-depth interview with Kay Burley.

The programme will be broadcast live for 90 minutes and for free on Sky News channel 501, on Freeview 233, on Sky Showcase channel 106, and across Sky News' digital channels.

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2022-08-02 20:05:37Z
1514337165

Treason Act charge after Windsor Castle crossbow incident - BBC

Windsor CastleGetty Images

A man allegedly found with a crossbow in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day has been charged under the Treason Act.

Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, has also been charged with threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon.

Mr Chail, from Southampton, is in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 17 August.

The charges were brought after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command.

Mr Chail was arrested at about 08:30 GMT on Christmas Day. The Met said he was stopped "within moments" of entering the grounds and he did not enter any buildings.

He has been charged with an offence under section 2 of the 1842 Treason Act, namely "discharging or aiming firearms, or throwing or using any offensive matter or weapon, with intent to injure or alarm her Majesty", said Scotland Yard.

The Queen had been staying at Windsor Castle for Christmas, rather than spending it as usual on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Her Majesty was due to be joined for lunch by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Under the 1842 Treason Act, it is an offence to assault the Queen, or have a firearm or offensive weapon in her presence with intent to injure or alarm her or to cause a breach of peace.

In 1981, Marcus Sarjeant was jailed for five years under the section of the Treason Act after he fired blank shots at the Queen while she was riding down The Mall in London during the Trooping the Colour parade.

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2022-08-02 15:48:43Z
1522198150

Man charged with intending to injure or alarm the Queen on Christmas Day at Windsor Castle - Sky News

A man has been charged with intending to injure or alarm the Queen under the Treason Act following an incident at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day last year, the Metropolitan Police said.

Officers were called at around 8.30am, and a man was arrested in the grounds of the castle on 25 December 2021.

Jaswant Singh Chail, 20 from Southampton, has today been charged with:

- An offence under section 2 of the Treason Act, 1842;
- Threats to kill (contrary to section 16 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861);
- Possession of an offensive weapon (contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953).

He is currently in custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 17 August.

Nick Price, head of the Crown Prosecution's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said it has authorised the Met to charge Chail "after he was arrested in the grounds of Windsor Castle on 25 December 2021 carrying a crossbow".

He added: "Mr Chail, 20, has been charged with making threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon and an offence under the 1842 Treason Act.

"The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Chail are active and that he has the right to a fair trial."

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2022-08-02 14:27:02Z
1522198150

Tory leadership: Pay public sector workers in regions differently, says Truss - BBC

Liz TrussReuters

Liz Truss has said she wants to save taxpayers' money by ending national pay deals for civil servants' pay.

The Tory leadership candidate wants to link civil servants' salaries to living standards where they work, meaning similar jobs could have different salaries depending on location.

Ms Truss says the scheme could be rolled out to other public sector areas, saving £8.8bn a year.

Labour called her plan "a fantasy recipe for levelling down".

The party's deputy leader Angela Rayner said it would reduce "the pay of Northerners, worsening the divide which already exists".

The FDA - the union for senior civil servants - said it was "astounding" Ms Truss was planning to move jobs out of London while at the same time cutting regional pay.

And a source close to the Rishi Sunak campaign said the plans would mean "stretching the NHS to breaking point and fewer police fighting crime as we head into a general election".

The Truss camp has argued that introducing regional pay would stop the public sector crowding out the private sector in places where private businesses can't compete with public sector pay.

Ms Truss has also proposed scrapping jobs aimed at increasing inclusion and diversity in the public sector.

Alex Thomas of the Institute for Government think tank said the idea of regional pay "comes around every few years".

"The reason why chancellors and prime ministers have previously tended to abandon it is the benefits are pretty marginal - both in terms of the cost you can save and the benefits to the local economy."

Ms Truss has also been criticised for describing Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as an "attention-seeker".

Scotland's deputy first minister John Swinney said he was "absolutely horrified" and described the comments as "obnoxious".

Ms Truss is competing with former Chancellor Rishi Sunak to become the next Conservative leader, and prime minister.

The party's 160,000 or so members are voting on which of the two they want to replace Boris Johnson, and the winner will be announced on 5 September.

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Analysis box by Ione Wells, political correspondent

There are bits of tinkering here and there in Ms Truss's plans, like saving £12m a year from cutting civil service diversity officers.

But the only way these plans will save "billions" is if they not only pay civil servants less in poorer areas - but other public sector workers too.

Ms Truss says she'll only do this if it "works" when they introduce it for civil servants.

Economically, the argument is that it's harder for private companies to hire people where public pay is higher and harder to compete with.

But politically - it's very hard to see how she sells this.

To save billions, she's arguing you'd need a situation where nurses, police, teachers - for example - would be paid less in Sunderland than ones in Surrey.

Lots of policy has been pumped out in this campaign with headlines like 'Whitehall waste' to appeal to members.

But dig in to the detail, and there are loads of questions about how some of these would work in practice.

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At a question session on Monday evening Mr Sunak told party members he was the candidate for change.

He was introduced to the stage in Exeter by former International Trade Secretary Liam Fox who said Mr Sunak had the "character, courage, experience intellect and downright decency" to win over swing voters.

Ms Truss received her own campaign boost when she received the endorsement of trade minister Penny Mordaunt.

Ms Mordaunt - who was knocked out of the race after finishing third in the polling among MPs - described Ms Truss as the "hope candidate".

Tax policy has become the main battleground in the contest, while both candidates have announced a string of competing policy proposals to woo Conservative members.

In addition to introducing regional pay, Ms Truss has said she would save £137m by banning union representatives from getting paid time off to focus on union work.

The foreign secretary also wants to reduce average civil service annual leave from 27 days to 25 and scrap Whitehall's diversity officers - something her team estimates could save £12m a year.

Along with the proposed reforms to public sector pay, she says the total savings to the taxpayer would be up to £11bn.

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2022-08-02 08:50:27Z
1514337165