British Army chief's call to 'mobilise the nation' in the event of war 'should be listened to', Tobias Ellwood says - Sky News

A warning from the head of the British Army that the UK would not be prepared in the event of a war should be "listened to carefully", a former defence minister has said.

Tobias Ellwood told Sky News there was a "1939 feel to the world" and that Britain was not equipped to deal with "what is coming over the horizon".

He was responding to a report in The Daily Telegraph, which said that later on Wednesday, General Sir Patrick Saunders was due to give a speech warning the British public would have to be called up to fight if the UK goes to war because the military is too small.

Politics Live: Tory infighting breaks out after PM faces call to quit

Mr Ellwood, who has served alongside General Sir Patrick, said he was "one of the most cerebral thinkers that we've got" and a "strategist".

"We need to listen and listen carefully, we've been too complacent," Mr Ellwood said.

"What's coming over the horizon should shock us. It should worry us and we are not prepared."

The MP for Bournemouth East said that following decades of post-Cold War peace there was a growing sense authoritarian states could "exploit our timidity, perhaps our reluctance to really put fires out" - pointing to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"So Patrick Saunders is saying prepare for what's coming over the horizon - there is a 1939 feel to the world right now," he said. "These authoritarian states are rearming.

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"There's a risk averseness about the West in wanting to deal with that and our global institutions such as the United Nations aren't able to hold these errant nations to account."

According to The Daily Telegraph, General Sir Patrick would not support conscription but wants the government to "mobilise the nation" in the event of war with Russia.

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1:38

British Army numbers to be '73,000'

Read More:
Minister rejects claims army will shrink after danger warning
Critical' for NATO allies to grow defence budgets

He has previously been outspoken about the need to rebuild the UK's warfighting capability in the wake of Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine, saying Britain's combat power has been hollowed out by consecutive governments since the end of the Cold War.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment, but earlier this week, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps denied the size of the army was "shrinking" and said under the Conservatives, it would not dip below the current level of around 73,000.

However, Mr Ellwood said he agreed with General Sir Patrick that the army is "overstretched", in part because of issues to do with pay and accommodation.

He said the army, as well as the navy, is about "half the size of what it should be" while the RAF is lacking the equipment it needs.

"In the Cold War, we had 36 fast jet squadrons, we're down to about six today. And that's just an illustration of just how small our armed forces are," he said.

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2:21

Will defence spending hit 2.5%?

The senior MP said the defence budget needed to be upped from its current level of 2% of GDP to at least 3%.

The government's target is 2.5%, but Mr Shapps told Sky News on Sunday that "we're not there yet".

Mr Ellwood said that during the Cold War, defence spending "was about 4%".

He added: "Our world is no longer at peace. We're moving to a world at war. Britain absolutely has a role to play, but we need to upgrade our defence posture."

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‘This is getting silly’: senior Tories criticise Simon Clarke after he calls for Sunak’s resignation – UK politics live - The Guardian

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Last night Simon Clarke posted messages on X responding to the criticism he was getting from colleagues over his Telegraph article. He said “emphatically” that his call for Rishi Sunak to go was not motivated by a desire to secure the party leadership for himself, or for someone else.

I know I will be attacked for saying this.

Perhaps even accused of positioning myself or on behalf of another — emphatically neither of which I am doing.

I am speaking out because the stakes for our country and my party are too high to stay silent

Every Conservative MP will need to live with the decision they make in the coming days for the rest of their lives.

Failing to act would itself represent a decision.

Look at the polls.

Personal insults don’t change the facts.

I have no further comment to make.

No 10 has not responded to the Simon Clarke article, but Kevin Hollinrake, the postal services minister, and someone who has had a friendly relationship with Rishi Sunak for years, was doing the broadcast round this morning and he said Conservative MPs overwhelmingly disagreed with what Clarke said. He told Times Radio:

I don’t think [Clarke’s] right. I think the parliamentary party and the wider party is overwhelmingly in support of the prime minister. Quite rightly too. I don’t agree, I don’t think Simon’s right on this …

Of course, some people panic at a difficult time, but this is not the overwhelming view of the party.

As Eleni Courea reports, in private Conservatives have been even more critical of Simon Clarke than the former ministers who have been criticising him on X. She says:

Speaking privately, other Tory MPs were even more forthright. “Not sure we should be taking top tips on leadership from Liz Truss’s right hand,” one minister told the Guardian.

“What the bloody hell is Simon Clarke doing?” said a Tory MP who backed Truss in the 2022 leadership contest.

Another Tory MP said: “Simon Clarke hasn’t helped himself, the party, his country or any of his colleagues tonight – only [Keir] Starmer. He needs to go home, have a lie down in a dark room and repeatedly say ‘I must take the fight to Labour’ until it finally sinks in.”

A senior Tory official said of Clarke: “If he wants to help Sir Keir become the next PM he should just cross the floor.”

Good morning. Until last night, the only Conservative MP publicly calling for Rishi Sunak to resign was Dame Andrea Jenkyns, a Boris Johnson acolyte who spent three and a half months as a junior minister. Even lobby correspondents would draw the line at calling her a “senior Tory” and no one paid much attention. But last night Sir Simon Clarke, who has served in cabinet under two prime ministers and who is not widely viewed as a crank, joined in, publishing an article in the Daily Telegraph saying the Tories should ditch Sunak before the general election.

Potentially, this takes the Conservative leadership crisis into new territory. Clarke is close to Liz Truss, the former PM, who is about to launch a new group called Popular Conservatism (sic), or PopCon. It does not seem committed to supporting Sunak’s leadership. Perhaps more importantly, Clarke seems to have the backing of an even more important player in Tory politics: the Daily Telegraph.

But … the early indications are that this could fail just as dismally as the Geoff Hoon/Patricia Hewitt “coup” against Gordon Brown in 2010. Clarke does not seem to have any Conservative MPs clambering out of the trenches behind him, and some proper senior Tories have lined up to attack him.

Priti Patel, the former home secretary, has accused him of “facile and divisive self-indulgence”.

At this critical time for our country, with challenges at home and abroad, our party must focus on the people we serve and deliver for the country. Engaging in facile and divisive self indulgence only serves our opponents, it’s time to unite and get on with the job.

Liam Fox, the former international trade secretary, says Clarke’s initiative makes a big defeat more likely.

This is not the time for self indulgence and tribalism in the party. Those who have an agenda to destabilise the government in an election year should understand the consequences. Having been on the front bench for all 13 years in opposition, it is a miserable place. Be warned.

David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, says Clarke is just being silly.

This is getting silly.

The Party and the country are sick and tired of MPs putting their own leadership ambitions ahead of the UK’s best interests.

It is really about time that these people realise they have a duty to the country that is greater than their personal leadership ambitions.

And Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, said:

My colleague Sir Simon Clarke MP is wrong. The way to win the next election is to tackle inflation and grow the economy.

Rishi is doing just that. Division and another PM would lead to the certain loss of power. We need to focus on delivering for the public not divisive rowing.

And the opposition parties can’t believe their luck. This is from Pat McFadden, Labour’s national campaign coordinator.

Labour will focus on serving the British people whilst the Tories form another circular firing squad.

There are many good reasons for getting rid of this clapped out Conservative government and liberating the British people from endless bouts of Tory infighting is certainly one of them.

Here is the agenda for the day.

Noon: Rishi Sunak faces Keir Starmer at PMQs.

After 12.45pm: MPs debate all stages of the Northern Ireland (executive formation) bill, which gives more time for a power-sharing executive to be formed before elections have to be held because it has not happened.

Afternoon: MPs hold a general debate “on the situation in the Red Sea”.

If you want to contact me, do try the “send us a message” feature. You’ll see it just below the byline – on the left of the screen, if you are reading on a laptop or a desktop. This is for people who want to message me directly. I find it very useful when people message to point out errors (even typos – no mistake is too small to correct). Often I find your questions very interesting, too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either in the comments below the line; privately (if you leave an email address and that seems more appropriate); or in the main blog, if I think it is a topic of wide interest.

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UK weather: Storm Jocelyn arrives in UK with 97mph gusts - BBC

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By Simon King, BBC Weather & Oliver Slow

BBC

Storm Jocelyn has been moving across the UK - days after Storm Isha hit and left at least two people dead.

Tuesday was marked by heavy rain in parts, with strong gusts across much of the country on Wednesday morning.

The strongest gust so far, 97mph, was recorded in Capel Curig, north Wales, while in Scotland trains stopped running at 19:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, thousands of homes have been affected by power cuts, and parts of York have been flooded.

Also on Tuesday evening, eight flights were cancelled at Dublin Airport and four were also cancelled at Glasgow Airport.

Tuesday night saw gusts of 60-80mph in north Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, which may have led to some trees, branches or debris falling on roads, said BBC Weather.

While Storm Jocelyn will continue to move away from the UK during Wednesday, strong to gale force winds will still affect many northern areas, especially through the morning - winds will only gradually ease off through the day.

The Met Office has issued warnings for wind covering much of the country until Wednesday afternoon.

The strongest winds were expected in exposed parts of northern and western Scotland, and the area was covered by a Met Office amber wind warning until 08:00 on Wednesday.

The Met Office has issued the following weather warnings:

• An amber warning for wind for the fringes of western and northern Scotland in place until 08:00 on Wednesday
• A yellow warning for wind across the whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern Wales and north-west England until 13:00 on Wednesday
• A yellow warning for wind for south Wales, the Midlands and north-east England from 12:00 on Tuesday until 15:00 on Wednesday

Storm Jocelyn has arrived shortly after Storm Isha left two people dead and one seriously injured on Monday.

• UK weather: Why has it been so stormy this year?
• Storm Jocelyn: How do new storms get their names?
• Storm Isha leaves two dead and thousands without power

Elsewhere, a search involving coastguard crews, a helicopter and RNLI lifeboats, for a person reported to be in the sea at Porthcawl, south Wales, was suspended early on Wednesday.

The coastguard said a decision on further action would be made at first light.

Both Isha and Jocelyn have disrupted the journeys of many road, rail and air travellers.

Suspended ScotRail trains will not restart until later on Wednesday morning, or into the afternoon, the operator said.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail's customer operations director, said the company was aware of some damage overnight and that the picture would become clearer as inspections were carried out in daylight.

"When it's safe to do so routes will open and any remedial work that's required they will carry out this morning," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, urging customers to check for updates before travelling.

The train company said each route would need to undergo a safety inspection before trains are able to run due to the risk of trees and other debris falling onto the track.

TransPennine Express, which runs services between northern England and Scotland, is advising customers not to travel until noon on Wednesday on its Preston to Glasgow and Preston to Edinburgh routes.

Avanti West Coast's last London to Glasgow service departed at 15:30 on Tuesday. The train company said its services to and from Scotland would be cancelled until at least midday on Wednesday.

In Northern Ireland, power has been restored to 50,000 homes, impacted by Storm Isha, leaving 3,000 customers without electricity, according to NIE Networks.

Elsewhere in the UK, Electricity North West said power has been restored to 96% of customers affected by Storm Isha.

"Fallen trees, branches and debris have caused widespread damage and 185 separate sites of damage have been reported," the firm said.

"There is risk that some customers may be impacted until Wednesday as the weather has continued to be a challenge."

As of 07:00 on Wednesday there are also 38 flood warnings in place across Scotland as well as 21 in England.

In York, parts of the city have flooded with water levels on the River Ouse already very high, and set to rise further.

PA Media

Motorists are being urged to reconsider making journeys where the weather is expected to be the worst, including western and southern Scotland and north-west England.

"With so much heavy rainfall and debris on the roads, driving conditions will be very challenging," RAC spokeswoman Alice Simpson said.

"We also suggest drivers avoid parking underneath or near to trees," she added.

• Trains stop across Scotland as Storm Jocelyn arrives
• Fear Storm Jocelyn could hamper power repairs

PA Media

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Related Topics

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Simon Clarke challenges Rishi Sunak’s authority as former minister calls for new leader - The Independent

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A former Tory cabinet minister has launched a blistering attack on Rishi Sunak calling him to stand down as prime minister.

Sir Simon Clarke warned “extinction is a very real possibility” for his party if Mr Sunak remains the leader when voters next go to the polls.

Sir Simon, who was Liz Truss’s levelling up secretary, said: “Rishi Sunak has sadly gone from asset to anchor.”

He added: “It is time to strip away illusion, and stop tolerating any indulgence of it… [and] his uninspiring leadership is the main obstacle to our recovery.”

Sir Simon Clarke has called for a change in leadership (UK Parliament)

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Writing in The Daily Telegraph, the senior Tory said Mr Sunak was not solely to blame for the party flagging in the polls during an election year, but insisted “his uninspiring leadership is the main obstacle to our recovery”.

“The unvarnished truth is that Rishi Sunak is leading the Conservatives into an election where we will be massacred,” he wrote.

However, he came under fire from other senior Tories. In a withering assessment, one former cabinet minister: “Simon Clarke kicking off is not anything”.

However, the intervention does suggest no let up in the attacks Mr Sunak will face from within his own party in the run up to the election.

Sir Simon was among 11 Conservative MPs who voted against the prime minister’s Rwanda Bill at its third reading earlier this month, despite Mr Sunak seeing off a wider Tory rebellion.

The legislation survived the Commons hurdle after dozens of backbenchers demanding amendments to toughen the draft law largely backed down.

Following the news former Brexit secretary Sir David Davis told Sky News: “This is getting silly.

“The party and the country are sick and tired of MPs putting their own leadership ambitions ahead of the UK’s best interests.

“It is really about time that these people realise they have a duty to the country that is greater than their personal leadership ambitions.”

Tory grandee David Davis reminded colleagues that their “duty to the country is greater than their personal leadership ambitions”

Senior Tory and former Secretary of State, Liam Fox, also warned colleagues: “This is not the time for self indulgence and tribalism in the party.

Those who have an agenda to destabilise the government in an election year should understand the consequences. Having been on the front bench for all 13 years in opposition, it is a miserable place. Be warned.

Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel added: “At this critical time for our country, with challenges at home and abroad, our party must focus on the people we serve and deliver for the country. Engaging in facile and divisive self-indulgence only serves our opponents, it’s time to unite and get on with the job.”

This morning, Conservative backbencher Tobias Ellwood MP called Mr Clarke’s comments “dangerous, wreckless and selfless” and said “more and more colleagues are openly distancing themselves from Simon Clarke”.

Labour’s national campaign coordinator has said the Tories are forming “another circular firing sqad”.

Pat McFadden MP, Labour’s national campaign coordinator, responding to Sir Simon Clarke calling on Rishi Sunak to resign, said:

“Labour will focus on serving the British people whilst the Tories form another circular firing squad.

“There are many good reasons for getting rid of this clapped out Conservative government and liberating the British people from endless bouts of Tory infighting is certainly one of them.

“Whilst the Conservatives fight among themselves, Labour will fight for a better future for the country, where economic growth is felt in every part of Britain, where we generate the wealth we need for the NHS, good schools and safety on our streets and where we renew the country after 14 years of Tory failure.”

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper MP said: “It is utterly ludicrous that the Conservative Party is even discussing installing a fourth Prime Minister without giving voters a say.

“The Conservatives are once again fighting like rats in a sack while families face soaring bills and an NHS crisis.

“People are sick and tired of this never-ending Conservative Party soap opera. It’s time for Rishi Sunak to give voters the chance to put an end to this farce and call a general election.”

Downing Street has been contacted for comment.

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Nottingham attacks: 'Monster' who killed two students and school caretaker will be sentenced for manslaughter - Sky News

A man who killed three people in a stabbing spree in Nottingham in June last year will be sentenced for manslaughter. 

Valdo Calocane, 32, also known as Adam Medes, denied three counts of murder but admitted three counts of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility in November 2023.

The judge accepted his plea today.

His victims were two 19-year-old university students, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates.

Image: Grace O'Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates

The three were randomly targeted and stabbed to death by Calocane on 13 June 2023.

Peter Joyce KC, defending, said Calocane committed the attacks while suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

The families of the victims had hoped for a murder trial, but prosecutors decided he should be sentenced for the lesser charges.

Calocane will also be sentenced for three counts of attempted murder after he tried to run over three pedestrians with a van on the same day he killed Ms O'Malley-Kumar, Mr Webber and Mr Coates.

One of the pedestrians he targeted, Wayne Birkett, ended up in hospital in a critical condition with severe head injuries.

Calocane could face life imprisonment. The judge will also have to consider whether a hospital order is appropriate.

University of Nottingham students Ms O'Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber had been celebrating the end of their exams when Calocane knifed them as they walked home from a night out in the early hours of the morning.

Calocane, who was himself a former student at the university, then targeted caretaker Mr Coates on his way to work at Huntingdon Academy. He stabbed Mr Coates to death and stole his van.

Calocane then hit the three pedestrians, Mr Birkett, Marcin Gawronski and Sharon Miller, while driving Mr Coates's van in the city centre.

He was arrested on the day of the attacks.

Image: A vigil was held at the University of Nottingham after the attacks

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0:44

Suspect's church in mourning

Speaking to Sky News, Ms O'Malley-Kumar's family paid tribute to her as a talented hockey player and cricketer.

Mr Webber, a history student from Taunton in Somerset, was also a gifted sportsman.

The family of Mr Webber, a keen cricketer, said he was "an extraordinary 'ordinary' person".

Speaking at a memorial cricket match for her son and Ms O'Malley Kumar in September 2023, Emma Webber said she misses his "beaming smile".

Image: Emma Webber misses her son's 'beaming smile'

Ian Coates' sons also paid tribute to their dad at a vigil in the city shortly after he was killed.

"My dad was an avid fisherman. He loved his family and he also loved his [Nottingham] Forest [football team]," said James Coates.

His sons also said his death had "rocked everyone's world", adding: "Nobody deserves this but he definitely didn't."

Read more:
Timeline of how attacks unfolded
Fans at cricket match pay tribute to victims

'Painful' for friend to see 'monster' in court

Ollie Chaplin, 20, became close friends with Mr Webber, through the university's cricket club.

"We spent a lot of time together, he was just very funny and a very caring person," said Mr Chaplin.

"He was just a really nice guy, you could get along really easily with him. He was always up for a night out spontaneously."

Mr Chaplin also knew Ms O'Malley-Kumar, from Woodford, in east London, well.

"She was always someone you could go to when something was troubling you, and she would come up with really good advice that you could take and be like 'yeah that's made me feel a lot better about it'."

Speaking to Sky News before sentencing, Mr Chaplin spoke of facing Calocane in court.

"I think just to see him and realise he's not going anywhere, he's very firmly under protection, I think that would be quite good to see," he said.

"But also, I'll be seeing this monster who's done these things to my really good friends and they're not here because of his actions so that will be quite painful."

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Storm Jocelyn: Travel warnings as strong winds expected in Wales - BBC

Getty / Howard Kingsnorth

By Catherine Evans

BBC News

More strong winds could be on the way, as Wales braces for Storm Jocelyn.

Two overlapping yellow warnings for high winds have been issued by the Met Office.

One is in place from midday on Tuesday until 15:00 GMT on Wednesday, while another is from 16:00 on Tuesday until 13:00 on Wednesday.

Gusts of up to 70mph (112 km/h) are expected, leading to power cuts and more disruption to travel, forecasters have said.

• Flood alerts as Storm Isha brings 90mph winds

The first warning covers Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan.

Peak gusts of 45-55mph (162-198 km/h) are "likely" inland, according to forecasters, with up to 65mph (234 km/h) on some exposed coasts.

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The second warning applies to Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Powys and Wrexham.

These areas could see gusts of up to 70mph (252 km/h), with the Met office warning that "power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage".

"Any remaining recovery efforts off the back of Storm Isha are likely to be hampered," it said.

The Met office also warned there could be closures of some roads and bridges, "blocked by fallen trees and other debris, among other potential travel disruption.

"Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible," it said.

Storm Jocelyn will be the 10th named storm in five months.

It follows hot on the heels of Storm Isha, which left thousands of homes across Wales without power and brought gusts of up to 90mph (144km/h).

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Related Topics

• Wales
• Met Office
• Weather forecasting
• Severe weather

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2024-01-23 08:06:39Z
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Blow for Sunak as Rwanda plan suffers first defeat in Lords - The Independent

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Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation plan suffered its first parliamentary defeat as peers voted through an unprecedented move seeking to delay the treaty with the east African nation.

The House of Lords backed by 214 votes to 171 – a majority of 43 – a motion to delay the controversial deportation agreement until the government can prove the country is safe.

The chamber supported a call by Tony Blair’s former attorney general Lord Goldsmith that parliament should not ratify the pact until government ministers can demonstrate Rwanda is safe.

The government agreed a legally-binding treaty with Kigali in December – arguing that it addressed concerns raised by the Supreme Court about the possibility of asylum seekers deported to Rwanda being transferred to a country where they could be at risk.

But Lord Goldsmith’s cross-party agreements committee said promised safeguards in the agreement are “incomplete” and must be guaranteed before the pact can be endorsed.

The initial blow delivered by peers signals a potential rough ride for the legislation in the Lords, despite Mr Sunak urging peers not to block the “will of the people”.

While the government insists that the defeat will not delay the PM’s bill moving through the Lords, there is now a risk that ignoring the new demand by peers could later be used in a legal challenge aiming to stop flights.

Sunak had warned peers not to frustrated the ‘will of the people’

The treaty underpins Mr Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill which compels British judges to regard the country as safe.

Nigel Farage immediately lashed out at the result. “We must sack all current members of the House of Lords,” the hard-right figure tweeted on X. “It is beyond parody.”

Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson earlier said the Archbishop of Canterbury – a peer who has spoken out against the Rwanda plan – should put up small boat arrivals in the “spare rooms” of Lambeth Palace.

Lord Goldsmith explained that government now had until the middle of March to address 10 flawed areas of the treaty and show Rwanda is safe.

“We are not saying the treaty should never be ratified, but we are saying that parliament should have the opportunity to scrutinise the treaty … before it makes a judgement about whether Rwanda is safe.”

In a worrying sign for No 10, several Tory peers spoke out against Mr Sunak’s bill and the plan to put failed asylum seekers on one-way flights to Rwanda.

Conservative Lord Balfe even questioned if anywhere in Africa is “particularly safe”. He said he could not think of “any country in Africa that I would wish to go and live in”.

The Liberal Democrats’ Lord Razzall said the reason for the plan to send people to Rwanda was to suggest it was “such a hellhole that nobody would want to get on a boat”.

Sunak with Rwanda president Paul Kagame

(PA Archive)

The peer mocked the government for now trying “so hard to demonstrate what a wonderful, safe place Rwanda is”, adding: “This might just be a moment for them to reflect on the purpose of their policy.”

Defending the plan in the Lords, junior Home Office minister Baron Sharpe said it was “offensive” to refer to Rwanda as a “hellhole”.

And Conservative peer Lord Howell, a former cabinet minister, questioned the move to demand the government demonstrates the country is safety.

“What does safe mean? It is an entirely subjective concept and always will be. In our own judicial system, is that safe? I don’t know. I am not sure all our postmasters would agree about the safety of our own judicial system.”

Last week the PM urged the Lords not to frustrate the “will of the people” over his plan to stop the boats, saying the public had enough of the “merry go round”.

Labour former shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti criticised Mr Sunak for suggesting that he had some sort of “telepathic connection” will the “will of the people”.

The second reading debate on the Rwanda bill is due to be held in the Lords on 29 January.

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