Minggu, 21 Mei 2023

Rishi Sunak to consult independent ethics adviser over Suella Braverman speeding fine - Sky News

Rishi Sunak is set for talks with Suella Braverman and his independent ethics adviser over the home secretary's speeding fine.

Ms Braverman, 43, had been caught speeding last summer - and prior to paying a fine and accepting points on her licence, reports suggest the home secretary allegedly asked civil servants to arrange a private one-to-one speed awareness course for her.

The prime minister is under mounting pressure to order an inquiry into her conduct, and the issue is at the top of his agenda after arriving back from the G7 summit in Japan this morning.

Downing Street has said Mr Sunak will consult his ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, and he is also expected to hold discussions with Ms Braverman and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has demanded that he go one step further and launch an independent investigation - as he did over Nadhim Zawahi's tax affairs - "without delay".

In a written letter to the prime minister, she said he must "show some backbone".

Home Secretary Suella Braverman arrives at 10 Downing Street, London, for a Cabinet meeting. Picture date: Tuesday May 16, 2023.

Ms Rayner also questioned whether the home secretary "encouraged or asked civil servants, officials or special advisers to breach the civil service code by supporting her to further her own private interests" and whether the prime minister himself "knew about the alleged attempts by the home secretary to involve her civil servants".

"Rishi Sunak was too weak to deal with Suella Braverman the last time she broke the ministerial code, and his reluctance to order an investigation right away speaks volumes on how seriously he takes his promise to bring integrity to government," she said.

A spokesman for the home secretary said Ms Braverman "accepts that she was speeding last summer and regrets doing so".

"She took the three points and paid the fine last year," they added.

But The Sunday Times reported that instead of signing up for an in-person course with other motorists, or completing one online that would show her name and face to other participants, Ms Braverman allegedly asked civil servants to arrange a private one-to-one course.

Read more:
Suella Braverman's speeding row | Therese Coffey and Andy Street react
Popcorn at the ready, Suella Braverman's going to have a bad week

When the civil servants refused, she reportedly sought help from a political aide, who requested the private course organiser provided a private session, or allowed her to use an alias or turn her camera off.

When the provider refused, Ms Braverman opted to take the three points on her licence, the paper reported.

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Sunak asked if he has full confidence in Home Sec

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Sunak refused to back the home secretary when asked about the row at the end of the G7 meeting by a reporter.

"I don't know the full details of what has happened, nor have I spoken to the home secretary," he said.

"I think you can see first-hand what I have been doing over the last day or so, but I understand that she's expressed regret for speeding, accepted the penalty and paid the fine."

However, a No 10 spokeswoman later insisted he does "of course" have full confidence in her.

Speaking on the Sky News Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said it was "perfectly normal" if people are given points for speeding, but maintained that she was unaware of all the details referred to in the newspaper.

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Coffey pressed for details on accusations

Meanwhile, the incident was called "shocking" by Ms Braverman's opposite number, the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper.

"We've had 13 years of the Tories trying to dodge the rules for themselves and their mates. Enough is enough," said Ms Cooper.

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2023-05-22 04:30:00Z
2050483471

Ulez-style zones could pop up across Britain under Starmer - The Telegraph

Labour would support the rollout of clean air zones akin to London’s ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) if it is elected next year, new plans being considered by the party have shown.

An internal Labour document revealed that one of the key transport policies being looked at that could be part of next year’s manifesto was to support the principle of clean air zones in cities.

The plan stated that these would be supported only “if they were phased in carefully” and there was a “just transition” plan to accompany it.

The details were revealed in an 86-page draft policy handbook that was leaked to the Labour List last week and reveals a number of transport policies being considered by the party.

Clean air zones have sprung up in a number of Labour-led councils across the country, including Birmingham, Bristol and Bradford, with vehicles which do not meet emissions standards being charged to drive in certain zones.

The most well-known clean air zone is in London, where Sadiq Khan, the capital’s mayor, is set to expand the Ulez to cover all 32 London boroughs from August. 

Drivers in London have to pay £12.50 if they drive a diesel vehicle more than seven years old, or 17 years if it runs on petrol.

The expansion has been met with widespread criticism by residents and politicians, with five Conservative-led councils set to try and stop the rollout in the High Court in July.

Tory MPs have criticised the inclusion of the policy in the draft document and urged Labour to drop the stance.

Greg Hands, the MP for Chelsea and Fulham, said: “Khan’s cash-grab Ulez expansion is hugely unpopular here in London. Labour need to rule out these unpopular moves on hard-working residents of our great cities.”

Craig Mackinlay, the chairman of the Fair Fuel for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers all-party parliamentary group, warned that Mr Khan’s “war on motorists” would be replicated across the country if Sir Keir Starmer entered Downing Street.

“Sadiq Khan has paved the way for new taxes on motorists, stifling business, interfering with normal people’s lives – particularly the lower-paid,” he told The Telegraph.

“This is all merely a foretaste of what would happen to towns and cities around the UK on the back of so-called clean air zones but will, in reality, be new taxes in disguise.”

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Howard Cox, the founder of the FairFuelUK campaign group and Reform UK’s candidate for Mayor of London, said: “It is now clear that voting Labour means more anti-driver policies being introduced across the UK.

“Their misguided belief that the motor car is to be demonised, yet at the same time the perfect conduit to raise more and more tax revenue, is nothing short of stomach-turning and duplicitous.

“Starmer, alongside Sadiq Khan, is out of touch with voters, low-income drivers and small businesses who are hit hardest by their draconian Ulez, low-traffic neighbourhoods and 20mph zones.”

Mr Cox questioned the health data used to justify implementing the policies, which he claimed were “massively immoral”.

A Labour source stressed that the contents of the document were not agreed policy, but just ideas that would be considered at the national executive committee meetings later this year. 

He also added that reducing nitrogen dioxide was part of government policy too.

Delivering HS2 and Northern Powerhouse

In January, Sir Keir told LBC Radio that he supported Mr Khan’s Ulez expansion, calling it a “difficult decision that had to be made”. 

Last week, he doubled down on this, telling LBC that the expansion was needed to curb lung cancer.

Clean air zones vary across the country, with some applying to all vehicles, while others apply to just some commercial vehicles. 

For example, Sheffield charges heavy goods vehicles £50 per day to travel in the centre of the city, and taxis and smaller commercial vehicles pay £10. In Birmingham, all cars must pay £8 a day.

Among the other key transport policies being considered was a pledge to deliver both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, while also a plan to bring each railway service into public ownership as private rail operator contracts expire.

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2023-05-21 06:00:00Z
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Rishi Sunak says Suella Braverman has 'expressed regret' for speeding scandal as he's told to launch investigation - Sky News

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he hasn't spoken to the Home Secretary about her speeding fine but understands that she's "expressed regret" for the offence and accepted the penalty.

It comes as Labour is demanding an investigation into reports Suella Braverman asked civil servants to help her avoid a group speeding awareness course to dodge a fine.

When asked about her speeding fine at a G7 news conference this morning, Mr Sunak asked the reporter whether he had any questions about the summit before answering.

"I don't know the full details of what has happened nor have I spoken to the Home Secretary," he said.

"I think you can see first-hand what I have been doing over the last day or so but I understand that she's expressed regret for speeding, accepted the penalty and paid the fine."

He did not state whether he will launch an investigation into the Cabinet minister.

Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called it "shocking" that Ms Braverman had reportedly tried to bend the normal process for speeding drivers.

More on Suella Braverman

"As home secretary, Suella Braverman is responsible for upholding the law, yet this report suggests she has tried to abuse her position to get round the normal penalties," said Ms Cooper.

"We've had 13 years of the Tories trying to dodge the rules for themselves and their mates. Enough is enough."

She called for an "urgent investigation," starting with the prime minister's independent adviser on ministers' interests, Laurie Magnus, assessing whether the home secretary's behaviour breached the ministerial code.

It's up to Mr Sunak to order an ethics investigation, as he did over Nadhim Zawahi's tax affairs.

Ms Cooper's response came after a Sunday Times report that Ms Braverman, 43, had been caught speeding last summer and opted to attend a driving awareness course rather than accept a fine and points on her licence.

A spokesman for the home secretary said she "accepts that she was speeding last summer and regrets doing so".

"She took the three points and paid the fine last year," they added.

But The Sunday Times reported that instead of signing up for an in-person course with other motorists, or completing one online that would show her name and face to other participants, Ms Braverman allegedly asked civil servants to arrange a private one-to-one course.

When the civil servants refused, she sought help from a political aide, who requested the private course organiser provided a private session, or allowed her to use an alias or turn her camera off.

When the provider refused, Ms Braverman opted to take the three points on her licence, the pape reported.

The paper's sources close to the home secretary dispute that she breached the ministerial code and say the case was settled by her taking the points.

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Sunak investigated over rules requiring MPs to declare interests

Ms Cooper said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak should explain how much he knew when he reappointed Ms Braverman as home secretary.

Ms Braverman had resigned in the last days of Liz Truss's tenure as PM after sending an official document from her personal email to another MP.

Mr Sunak had promised "integrity, professionalism and accountability" when he became prime minister last October, in an apparent attempt to contrast himself with his predecessor Boris Johnson, who resigned after a series of scandals.

Since becoming prime minister, he has lost two ministers and close allies, deputy prime minister Dominic Raab and minister without portfolio Gavin Williamson, following bullying allegations.

He was also forced to sack Nadhim Zahawi, the Tory chairman, following an investigation into his tax affairs.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP also called for Ms Braverman to be "urgently investigated", saying her name should be added to the "nearly endless list of Ministers who have had to undergo the same".

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2023-05-21 06:33:45Z
2050483471

Sabtu, 20 Mei 2023

Northern Ireland Local Elections 2023: Results day two - 100 seats to go as Sinn Fein charge continues - Belfast Telegraph

UUP leader Doug Beattie admits election has been ‘brutal at times' for his party, while SDLP leader Colum Eastwood vows to battle on

At 2.20pm on Saturday they had 128 seats, well ahead of the DUP (109) and on track to be the biggest party.

Ms O’Neill said Sinn Fein were on course for a "momentous result" that reflects a "positive campaign" by its candidates and activists.

Speaking at the Foyle Arena, she told the BBC: "We have work to do but it's been a very positive result for the party so far.”

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says his party’s vote has held up “extremely well” throughout Northern Ireland, adding: “It’s a strong performance, in very difficult and challenging circumstances.”

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says his party’s vote has held up “extremely well” throughout Northern Ireland

Speaking in Belfast, Sir Jeffrey said unionism had to take a “long, hard look” at how it manages elections, citing the “splintering” of the unionist vote and turnout in some unionist heartlands.

“These are issues that we do need to address and I am happy to sit down with my fellow unionists and examine these issues and look at how greater cooperation can beat a pathway towards more success for unionism in general,” he said.

'It was brutal at times' - Doug Beattie reflects on the election results for the UUP

It came as UUP leader Doug Beattie admitted the election had been “brutal” for his party at times.

Mr Beattie and the SDLP’s Colum Eastwood have been reacting to a series of losses, but both said they remain optimistic that they can turn things around going forward.

Speaking to this newspaper in Bangor, Mr Beattie admitted the election has been difficult, and some “truly outstanding” councillors have lost their seats.

“You can see it within that difficult result that we’ve got - and I’ve said this is brutal at times - but within that difficult result you can see where we need to go.

“One of the key things I wanted to do in this election was to get some new faces back into the Ulster Unionist Party as councillors and we are getting it now.”

He said the UUP had to be “representative of the society that we want to vote for us” – which meant more female, younger members.

Meanwhile, Mr Eastwood conceded the SDLP is having a "difficult" election and says he takes "responsibility" – but stressed he has no plans to leave his position as leader.

Counting is entering its final stages at the various count centres as the make-up of Northern Ireland’s council chambers takes shape.

The UUP’s Alan Barr was the first to claim a seat for Braid in Mid and East Antrim on Saturday, followed by independent candidate Gary Donnelly and Sinn Féin’s Aisling Hutton in The Moor in Derry & Strabane.

Three of the 11 councils finished counting overnight. Lisburn and Castlereagh was first to finish, followed by Mid Ulster. Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon went on to 4.30am with a nail-biting finish between Sinn Fein and Alliance for the last seat in Portadown.

Voter turnout was up slightly on 2019’s local election, with 755,263 people placing their vote compared to 687,734. It appears that share is up in areas which would be regarded as predominantly nationalist/republican and down slightly in areas viewed as unionist majority.

It is the first electoral test for the parties since last year's Assembly election and takes place against the backdrop of the Stormont stalemate, with the powersharing institutions not operating as part of a DUP protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements.

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2023-05-20 12:50:00Z
2024037729

Jumat, 19 Mei 2023

Cost of living: This mum used to travel the world for work - now she even needs to get soap from a foodbank - Sky News

Chantel Graham never thought she would need to rely on donated toothpaste and soap to keep her two daughters and her house clean.

But when the pandemic grounded her job as cabin crew for a major airline, she went from a comfortable existence to barely making rent.

"My life changed drastically," the 39-year-old told Sky News. "I went from flying around the world and visiting different countries to being at home with two kids, alone, with little income.

"I was trying to make things, make cleaning products myself, my toothpaste myself, make baking soda.

"And I've got two children, at the time they were two and seven.

"But it wasn't going very well. The smell of white vinegar as a cleaning product wasn't something they enjoyed, and baking soda wasn't something they could tolerate."

Eventually, she sought help from a foodbank, where she could get soap, toothpaste and washing-up liquid.

More on Cost Of Living

'You don't want to admit you've failed'

But it was a difficult step for someone who had earned a living since she was 16.

"You don't want to admit you've failed, you don't want your children to know how bad things are," Ms Graham said.

The experience was isolating and lonely, but she is far from unique in her struggle.

Nine million people in the UK live in hygiene poverty, according to research by In Kind Direct charity, which says that number tripled on last year.

Among them, 56% are in work, and 38% live with children.

Paul Buchanan, the charity's interim CEO, added: "We hear examples of families using washing up liquid as shampoo and shower gel, children sharing toothbrushes.

"It feels like a pretty basic human right that people should have access to those things."

Read more:
Thousands too ashamed to go to work because they can't afford soap and deodorant

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How much more do shoppers pay?

'It was shocking to me'

Many families have little choice but to turn to foodbanks, some of which have seen a huge increase in demand for toiletries.

Marie Henry, a volunteer for Breadline London foodbank, said: "In the last two months we've seen more than, almost an 100% increase in demand for hygiene products.

"Hygiene products are the first thing that goes when families are struggling, especially parents when they're struggling, because it's easier to use washing up liquid for everything, for your hair, for your clothes, everything."

Marie Henry
Image: Marie Henry

Her foodbank tries to ration supplies so everyone who needs them gets them - but when they run out, people resort to desperate measures.

"It was shocking to me, when they come to an organisation like Breadline London, they're asking for period products especially, because they are using newspaper," Ms Henry said.

"Ladies have got newspaper that they've stacked up just in case they can't have anything.

"I just feel so, so sad."

For Chantel Graham, the end of pandemic restrictions meant she could go back to her job as cabin crew, slowly rebuilding her life.

But for so many others, campaigners say choosing between keeping clean and eating remains a daily struggle.

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2023-05-20 03:56:46Z
2049326623

Kamis, 18 Mei 2023

First picture of Scots boy, 4, murdered by dad in Paisley flat - Daily Record

A four-year-old boy murdered by his dad at a property in Paisley can be named as Kayden Frank. Officers rushed to an address on Argyle Street in the Renfrewshire town at around 8pm on Monday, May 15, following a report of concern from a member of the public.

Kayden was found dead at the scene and following a post mortem examination, his death is being treated as murder.

A 38-year-old man, named locally as Kayden's dad Steven Frank, was also found dead at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious, and police say they have no information to suggest anyone else has been involved.

Enquiries are ongoing into the full circumstances of the incident, which has shocked local residents. A report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and police have vowed to "get answers" for his grieving family.

Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Thomson, of the Major Investigation Team, said: “Our thoughts are with Kayden’s family and friends, along with everyone affected by this tragedy.

“We are providing his family with specialist support at this incredibly difficult time and officers are continuing enquiries to try and get some answers for them. Kayden’s family have requested that their privacy is respected at this time.”

Steven Frank has been named locally as the man who died
Steven Frank has been named locally as the man who died

Locals reported hearing "screaming and shouting" in the minutes before emergency services arrived on Argyle Street on Monday evening. Police rapidly erected a cordon and a forensics tent to screen the investigation from public view.

One neighbour told the Record: "We heard shouting and screaming, like a domestic. We never thought anything of it. But then it went quiet for a bit, about half an hour.

"Then suddenly there were police and ambulances and a forensic tent. There was a private ambulance and we saw the bodies being taken out to it.”

Police at the scene on Argyle Street, Paisley
Police at the scene on Argyle Street, Paisley

Police maintained a visible presence on the street on Wednesday. Plainclothes CID officers wearing Police Scotland lanyards were seen entering multiple closes throughout Wednesday, questioning locals.

Uniformed officers were understood to be guarding the top floor of the building where the tragedy occurred. Family members have paid tribute on Facebook, asking people not to speculate over the deaths.

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2023-05-18 09:41:24Z
2035752719

English water companies offer apology and £10bn investment for sewage spills - The Guardian

Water companies in England have apologised for repeated sewage spills and pledged to invest £10bn this decade in an attempt to quell public anger over pollution in seas and rivers.

The companies will triple their existing investment plans to plough funds into the biggest modernisation of sewers “since the Victorian era” to reduce spills of overflowing sewage into England’s waterways.

Industry body Water UK said the plans will cut the number of overflow incidents by up to 140,000 each year by 2030, compared with 2020.

Environment Agency figures earlier this year showed there were a total of 301,091 sewage spills in 2022, an average of 824 a day.

The spending on more than 350,000 miles of sewer comes on top of the current £3.1bn being spent between 2020 and 2025.

Shareholders in water companies will initially fund the investments. However, the costs will be recouped from customers through unspecified increases in their bills determined by regulators, in a move which threatens to add further pressure to household costs.

The investment will see new facilities built to hold surges in rainwater, increased capacity for sewage treatment works, measures to reduce rainfall entering sewers and fixing misconnected pipes from properties.

An online hub will launch next year, giving the public almost live information on overflows and the state of rivers and coastal waters. The companies also pledged to support up to 100 communities in creating new protected water for swimming.

The move comes after intense criticism of water companies from politicians and campaigners.

Water UK, which represents 25 companies across the UK, issued an apology on behalf of its English companies and said the public was “right to be upset about the current quality of our rivers and beaches”.

There have been calls for greater fines for breaching environmental laws and The Environment Agency has even suggested that water company bosses should be jailed for serious pollution.

Ruth Kelly, the chair of Water UK, said: “The message from the water and sewage industry today is clear: we are sorry. More should have been done to address the issue of spillages sooner and the public is right to be upset about the current quality of our rivers and beaches.

“We have listened and have an unprecedented plan to start to put it right. This problem cannot be fixed overnight, but we are determined to do everything we can to transform our rivers and seas in the way we all want to see.”

Privatised water and sewage companies in the UK paid £1.4bn in dividends in 2022, up from £540m the previous year. Annual bonuses paid to water company executives rose by 20% in 2021, as water bosses paid themselves £24.8m, including £14.7m in bonuses, benefits and incentives, in 2021-2022.

Last week the chief executives of Yorkshire Water and Thames Water and owner of South West Water declined their bonuses in an acknowledgment of the public anger over companies’ dumping of sewage in Britain’s rivers.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, said: “This apology and plan just don’t go far enough. For years water companies have arrogantly dismissed the public’s fears of rivers, lakes and coastlines being damaged by sewage discharges.

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“This announcement does nothing to match the billions water firms have paid out in dividends to overseas investors, or stop their CEOs being handed multimillion pound bonuses.”

Davey also called on the environment secretary, Thérèse Coffey, to apologise.

In a letter apologising to its customers, Yorkshire Water said it is investing £180m in reducing discharges from storm overflows over the next two years.

Its chief executive, Nicola Shaw, said: “Tackling overflows, which were designed into the system as a relief valve, is a priority for us, but it is also a significant task … further investment from our shareholders is helping us tackle this issue.”

Last month, Coffey said the government would introduce legislation to put plans to reduce storm overflows on a “new legal footing”.

Stuart Singleton-White, head of campaigns at the Angling Trust, said, “This must be only the beginning. The problems our rivers face will not be solved by sorting out overflow spills, chucking in some money for swimming, and putting nature-based solutions on the end of pipes.”

A spokesperson for Ofwat, the water regulator, said: “We welcome the apology from water companies and this now needs to be turned into action.

“We have been pushing water companies to do more, faster, for their customers and for our waterways and beaches. We look forward to seeing the plans and how companies will step up performance.”

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2023-05-18 09:12:00Z
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