Babak Belurs

Senin, 26 Februari 2024

Sunak says Anderson comments 'wrong' but denies party has 'Islamophobic tendencies' - The Independent

Rishi Sunak has said offensive comments by former deputy chairman Lee Anderson are ‘wrong’ but has denied the Conservative party has “Islamophobic tendencies”.

Mr Anderson has faced fierce backlash after he said ‘Islamists’ had control of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and was suspended by the party over the weekend.

When asked if the party has a problem with Islamophobia on Monday morning, the prime minister told the BBC: “Of course it doesn't.”

He added: “I think it's incumbent on all of us, especially those elected to Parliament, not to inflame our debates in a way that's harmful to others. Lee's comments weren't acceptable. They were wrong, and that's why he's had the whip suspended.”

The former deputy chairman’s comments have received condemnation from several senior Conservatives. Sir Robert Buckland, former justice secretary, called Mr Anderson’s comments “repugnant”, while former chairwoman under David Cameron, Baroness Warsi said his comments revealed the “rot at the heart” of the party.

Lee Anderson has faced criticism for comments made on Friday

Over the weekend, deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden refused to say whether the former deputy chairman’s comments were Islamophobic and told BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that Mr Anderson was not "intending to be Islamophobic".

Former Conservative MP, Anna Soubry condemned Mr Downden for his refusal to condemn Mr Anderson’s comments. Talking to Sky News, Ms Soubry said Mr Dowden’s refusal to call the comments Islamophobic was “quite extraordinary”.

“Oliver Dowden, the deputy Prime Minister of our country said if he apologised he would not have lost the whip. I cannot believe the state the Conservative party has got itself into" she added.

The Telegraph has since reported that some Conservative MPs have voiced concerns about the party’s decision to let Mr Anderson go as they said their constitunents have rallied around the former deputy chairman.

Chairwoman of the Labour party Anneliese Dodds said she has written to the Conservative Party chairs seven times over the past three years calling for them to take action against Islamophobia in the party.

“This isn’t something that popped up five minutes ago, it is a continuing concern”, Ms Dodds said.

She also said that Labour is calling for the government to adopt an official definition of Islamophobia.

Lee Anderson accused Mr Khan of giving the capital ‘away to his mates’

Ms Dodds said Lee Anderson’s remarks about Sadiq Khan were “appalling” and were “clearly not to do with who Sadiq Khan is, it was a slur that was directed at him because of Islamophobia”.

The Muslim Council of Britain has written to the chair of the Conservative Party demanding an investigation into “structural Islamophobia” in the party.

In a letter to Richard Holden, the organisation said it welcomes the removal of the whip from Mr Anderson, but alleged that Islamophobia “persists” in the party.

Zara Mohammed, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “Our view is that the Islamophobia in the [Conservative] Party is institutional, tolerated by the leadership and seen as acceptable by great swathes of the party membership.”

The Conservative Muslim Forum also released a statement condemning the remarks made by Mr Anderson, stating:

“The Conservative Party is a natural home for Muslim voters, we cannot let a few individuals ruin the excellent work carried out by our MPs over the last decade.”

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2024-02-26 08:36:31Z
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Lee Anderson's comments against Sadiq Khan 'weren't acceptable, they were wrong', says Rishi Sunak - Sky News

Rishi Sunak has broken his silence to condemn Lee Anderson's attack on Sadiq Khan as not acceptable and "wrong".

Mr Anderson, the MP for Ashfield and former deputy party chair, was suspended at the weekend after he refused to apologise for claiming "Islamists" had got "control" over London and that Mr Khan had "given our capital city away to his mates".

Speaking on BBC Radio York, the prime minister denied that the party has "Islamophobic tendencies" and said: "I think it's incumbent on all of us, especially those elected to parliament, not to inflame our debates in a way that's harmful to others."

Asked about Mr Anderson specifically, Mr Sunak said: "Lee's comments weren't acceptable, they were wrong. That's why he's had the whip suspended."

He added: "Words matter, especially in the current environment where tensions are running high. I think it's incumbent on all of us to choose them carefully."

Politics latest: Tory MPs label Lee Anderson suspension the 'final nail in the party's coffin'

Mr Sunak's statement to local radio was the first time he has directly addressed the comments made by Mr Anderson, who told GB News last week: "I don't actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they've got control of Khan and they've got control of London... He's actually given our capital city away to his mates."

His comments sparked condemnation from across the political divide, including from Tory peer Baroness Warsi who said she was "really disturbed by where the Conservative Party has gone" and that "anti-Muslim racism is being used as an electoral campaign tool".

However, a cabinet minister this morning appeared to leave the door open to Mr Anderson regaining the Tory whip, which allows him to sit as a Conservative MP in the Commons.

Asked what Mr Anderson needed to say to be welcomed back, Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Kay Burley on Sky News that he should "reflect on what he said" and "retract those comments and apologise".

"I'm not going to tell the chief whip how to do his job, that's for him," he said.

"He's contributed a lot in the past. I'd like to see him be able to contribute to the Conservative Party in the future."

"I'd like to see him be able to contribute to the Conservative Party in the future."

While a number of senior Tories have criticised Mr Anderson for his comments, Mr Harper was the second cabinet minister to refuse to say whether the remarks were "racist".

Yesterday Mr Dowden backed the decision to suspend the Ashfield MP but refused to say whether he was racist.

And this morning, Mr Harper also repeatedly declined to say whether Mr Anderson's remarks were racist but said they were "untrue" and "wrong".

"Well it was wrong, and I'm not going to get into arguing about the rights and wrongs of what he said.

"Wrong is a very strong word in my book."

Mr Harper also rejected the assertion made by Baroness Warsi yesterday that there is a hierarchy of racism within the party and that anti-Muslim racism is being used as an electoral campaign tool.

"I don't agree with that," he said. "And the fact that we took such robust action so quickly against what Lee Anderson said, I think, rather shows exactly why she's wrong."

Mr Harper's words come as WhatsApp messages leaked to Sky News reveal that some Tory MPs regard Mr Anderson's suspension as a mistake.

The WhatsApp forum is called the "109 group" of Tory MPs elected in 2019.

Julie Marson, the MP for Hertford and Stortford, shared a news story showing Nigel Farage calling on "cancelled" Mr Anderson to join the rivals Reform party and "destroy" the Tories.

Jill Mortimer, the Conservative MP for Hartlepool, shared messages from constituents saying they would not vote Tory again and that "Lee Anderson's suspension is the final nail in the party's coffin".

On Sunday evening Mr Anderson tweeted a picture of a pint of beer from a London pub with the caption: "So I have just arrived in London and due to all the positive comments earlier I've decided to have another pint to get me ready for a long week."

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2024-02-26 08:23:22Z
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Minggu, 25 Februari 2024

Tory minister suggests Lee Anderson could return despite 'repugnant' Sadiq Khan rant - The Independent

The deputy prime minister has refused to rule out Lee Anderson having the Tory whip restored despite a senior Conservative calling Mr Anderson’s remarks “repugnant”.

Oliver Dowden said on Sunday that he “certainly would not rule out” the possibility of Mr Anderson returning from his suspension, which was imposed in response to an anti-Muslim rant on GB News.

But Robert Buckland, the Tory former justice secretary, said Mr Anderson had “crossed a line” and that his comments were “repugnant”.

In an appearance on GB News, Mr Anderson said: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they’ve got control of [Sadiq] Khan and they’ve got control of London... He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”

Lee Anderson has been accused by Sadiq Khan of making Islamophobic comments

A Conservative source initially backed Mr Anderson, but after intense media pressure and the controversial MP’s refusal to apologise, the party suspended him. He will now sit as an independent MP.

Rishi Sunak has so far failed to address Mr Anderson’s comments, made on Friday, or the surging Islamophobia across Britain, despite having spoken publicly about a rise in “prejudice and antisemitism”.

And on Sunday Mr Dowden said Mr Anderson, who was deputy Tory chair until last month, had simply “used the wrong words”.

“I don’t believe that Lee Anderson said those remarks intending to be Islamophobic,” Mr Dowden told the BBC.

Mr Buckland was among several senior Tories who were critical of Mr Anderson’s remarks, telling BBC Radio 4 on Sunday that they were “racist and repugnant”.

“This man has clearly crossed a line,” Mr Buckland added.

Rishi Sunak has so far failed to address Anderson’s comments

Labour said it was “concerned” about Mr Dowden’s suggestion that the Tories could give Mr Anderson the whip back.

Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth has called on Mr Sunak to confirm that no “deal or undertakings” have been offered that would see Mr Anderson sit as a Tory MP again.

In a letter to the prime minister, Mr Ashworth said: “The removal of the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson was the correct decision after his disgusting racist and Islamophobic remarks aimed at the mayor of London.

“I was so concerned to see your deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden tell GB News this morning that he ‘certainly wouldn’t rule that out’ when asked if Mr Anderson could have the whip returned.

“This extraordinary suggestion comes less than 24 hours after his removal from the Conservative Party and with no apology or retraction having yet been offered. It will inevitably lead to concerns that the withdrawal of the whip was merely a temporary measure taken in response to media criticism, and that the possibility of Mr Anderson being allowed back into the Tory party is being kept on the table.”

He added: “Can you confirm that no deal or undertakings have been offered to Mr Anderson by you or anyone speaking on behalf of the Conservative Party that would see him have the Tory whip returned?”

In a statement on Saturday night, Mr Sunak highlighted “recent” events, including the pro-Palestinian protests that have been held across the country since the 7 October attacks.

“The events of recent weeks are but the latest in an emerging pattern which should not be tolerated,” Mr Sunak said. But Mr Sunak has not yet responded to Mr Anderson’s comments.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was right that Mr Anderson had been suspended from the party over his “appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst”. The Labour leader also challenged Mr Sunak on the wider matter of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.

“What does it say about the prime minister’s judgement that he made Lee Anderson deputy chairman of his party?” Sir Keir asked.

He added: “Whether it is Liz Truss staying silent on Tommy Robinson or Suella Braverman’s extreme rhetoric, Rishi Sunak’s weakness means Tory MPs can act with impunity.

“This isn’t just embarrassing for the Conservative Party, it emboldens the worst forces in our politics. Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip and take on the extremists in his party.

“The Tories may be getting more and more desperate as the election approaches, but Rishi Sunak has a responsibility to stop this slide into ever more toxic rhetoric.”

Khan condemned the ‘moral rot’ of anti-Muslim hatred in the Conservative Party

It came as Mr Khan condemned the “moral rot” of anti-Muslim hatred in the Conservative Party. The London mayor said Mr Anderson’s “belated” suspension showed that “Muslims are fair game as far as the Conservative Party is concerned”.

On Sunday the Muslim Council of Britain wrote to the chair of the Conservative Party demanding an investigation into “structural Islamophobia” in the party.

In a letter to Richard Holden, the organisation said it welcomes the removal of the whip from Mr Anderson, but alleged that Islamophobia “persists” in the party.

The letter also criticised the Conservatives for removing the whip from Mr Anderson only after he had refused to apologise.

It said: “We note that he [Mr Anderson] was only censured for refusing to apologise, not for making the racist remarks in the first place. We also note that the whip was withdrawn only after there was widespread condemnation across the board, while the prime minister and the rest of the cabinet remained silent.”

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2024-02-25 19:12:11Z
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Oliver Dowden declines to say whether Lee Anderson's comments Islamophobic - BBC

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The deputy prime minister has declined to say whether Lee Anderson's comments were Islamophobic and said the MP would have kept his role had he apologised.

On Saturday Mr Anderson was suspended as a Conservative MP after refusing to apologise for saying London Mayor Sadiq Khan is controlled by "Islamists".

Oliver Dowden told BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that Mr Anderson was not "intending to be Islamophobic".

Labour has renewed its criticism of the Tory party's response.

In a letter to the prime minister, Labour said it was right to suspend Mr Anderson "after his disgusting racist and Islamophobic remarks".

Mr Khan, mayor of London, has already said the comments were "Islamophobic, anti-Muslim and racist" and that they "pour fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred."

On Friday Mr Anderson prompted fury after he said: "I don't actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they've got control of Khan and they've got control of London, and they've got control of Starmer as well."

He later added: "People are just turning up in their thousands, and doing anything they want, and they are laughing at our police. This stems with Khan, he's actually given our capital city away to his mates".

On Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Dowden was asked repeatedly whether he would say those comments were Islamophobic. He declined to do so, but said: "I share concerns about how it could be taken that way."

He went on to say: "The fact it could be taken that way is the reason why the [Conservative] chief whip asked for an apology".

He added that he understood that Mr Anderson's comments "have caused offence".

But he defended how the party had handled the situation, adding that asking him to apologise for the remarks was "the appropriate step to take".

Mr Anderson said he had accepted the party had "no option" but to suspend him, given the "difficult position" it put the government in. However, he has not apologised for what he said.

On Sky News, Mr Dowden said while Mr Anderson's comments were "wrong", he declined to be drawn on whether they were racist.

Fellow Tory MP and former Conservative cabinet minister Sir Robert Buckland told the BBC Mr Anderson's remarks were racist.

"It crosses a line. It was repugnant," he told Radio 4's Broadcasting House programme.

On Laura Kuenssberg's programme, former cabinet minister Therese Coffey denied there was a "hierarchy of racism" within the Conservative Party, when asked by Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester.

Ms Coffey added that "swift action" had been taken against Mr Anderson, and the party had taken steps in this area following a review published in 2021.

Appearing on GB News, also on Sunday, Mr Dowden said he could not rule out that Mr Anderson could be restored as a Conservative MP if he does apologise, but said it was a matter for the party's chief whip.

Labour's Jonathan Ashworth, who wrote to the prime minister on Sunday, called this "extraordinary" and said it suggested the Conservatives were "not taking the threat of Islamophobia seriously".

'Deafening silence'

On Saturday, Mr Khan not only criticised Mr Anderson for his comments but also condemned Mr Sunak and his Cabinet for what he called a "deafening silence" on the matter.

Following the MP's suspension, the mayor of London said he was still unclear why the prime minister had not yet condemned the remarks.

Mr Sunak released a statement on Saturday evening saying there had been an "explosion in prejudice and antisemitism" since the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel adding that protests in recent weeks had been "hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism".

However, he did not specifically address the comments made by Mr Anderson nor his suspension.

Mr Anderson, who has been the MP for Ashfield since 2019, will now sit as an independent MP in the Commons.

The former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party resigned from that role last month to rebel against the government's legislation to revive its Rwanda deportation scheme.

Mr Anderson made his original comments on GB News on Friday during a discussion about how the Metropolitan Police has handled pro-Palestinian protests in London.

During the interview, he was also asked about former home secretary Suella Braverman saying in the Telegraph that the demonstrations showed Islamists were "in charge" of the country.

In his BBC interview, Mr Dowden told Laura Kuenssberg Mrs Braverman's comments were "in a different category" to Mr Anderson's.

"I don't believe that what Suella has said crosses the line in the way that Lee Anderson's comments do," he said.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it welcomed Mr Anderson's suspension, but raised concerns the action was taken "for refusing to apologise, not for making the racist remarks in the first place".

Writing to Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden, the MCB secretary general called for an internal investigation.

Zara Mohammed said: "Our view is that the Islamophobia in the party is institutional, tolerated by the leadership and seen as acceptable by great swathes of the party membership."

On Sunday, Mr Khan posted again on social media criticising Mr Sunak's statement, saying it had failed "to mention anti-Muslim hatred at all".

"These are just the two most recent examples of enabling anti-Muslim hatred in the Conservative party," he wrote. "In recent months we've seen a terrifying spike in hate towards Jewish and Muslim communities.

"Racism is racism. There should be no hierarchy. Now, more than ever, we should be seeking to bring our country together. There must be zero tolerance for the politics of division."

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2024-02-25 15:55:54Z
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Angela Rayner rejects hypocrisy accusation after selling council house for profit - Sky News

Labour's Angela Rayner has rejected accusations of hypocrisy after she personally benefitted from a housing policy developed by Margaret Thatcher that she has since criticised.

The party's deputy leader and shadow levelling up secretary insisted she was not "ashamed" to have brought her council house at a discounted rate in 2007 under the late former prime minister's right-to-buy scheme - despite wanting to review it if her party gets into power at the next election.

The Labour frontbencher issued the response after the Mail on Sunday revealed she had made a £48,500 profit on her ex-council house under right-to-buy, which she has previously criticised for giving some tenants "loads and loads of discount".

The newspaper reported Ms Rayner bought her own former council house in Stockport, Greater Manchester, with a 25% discount in 2007 and realised the increased return when she sold it at the market rate eight years later.

Politics live: No senior Labour figure 'would dream of threatening Speaker', Nandy insists after Commons chaos

The revelation about Ms Rayner's house sale - due to be published in Lord Ashcroft's biography of the Labour deputy leader, Red Queen - comes after she promised to review the high discounts introduced by the coalition government in 2012, as well as a review to stop newly-built social homes from being sold off.

Tory MP Mark Jenkinson posted a link of the article on X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: "So Angela Rayner is a massive hypocrite, who knew?"

But in her own post on the social media platform, Ms Rayner said being able to buy her council house in 2007 was a "proud moment for me".

"I worked hard, saved and bought it by the book," she said.

"I'm not ashamed - but I am angry that the Tories have since put the dream of a secure home out of reach for so many others."

She added: "It's clear that Lord Ashcroft and his friends not only take an unhealthy interest in my family - but want to kick down at people like me who graft hard in tough circumstances to get on in life. I won't let them."

The right-to-buy scheme was brought in by Baroness Thatcher as part of the Housing Act of 1980 and allows council tenants to buy their properties at a big discount.

Under the system, councils can only keep a third of the receipts from each sale to build a replacement home, with the rest going to the council and government for other purposes.

Councils are also prevented from borrowing to make up the shortfall.

In 2012, David Cameron increased discounts offered by the right-to-buy scheme after they were reduced by Tony Blair's Labour government in 1997.

Ms Rayner said Labour believed those who live in a council house "should have the opportunity to own their own home".

"Working people should be able to buy the social home they rented for a reasonable discount," she added.

"We've said we'll review the unfair additional market discounts of up to 60% the Tories introduced in 2012, long after I was able to exercise the right to buy (25%) under the old system. That's not hypocrisy, it's the right thing to do.

"But the problem with the right-to-buy was never ordinary people's dreams of owning their own home - it was that council housing stock was sold off and then not replaced. It's helped fuel the housing crisis."

In an interview with i newspaper last year, in which she promised to review right-to-buy, Ms Rayner said while she believed council tenants should be able to purchase their homes through the policy, it should be reviewed to ensure it did not have a negative impact on affordable housing.

"If someone's lived in their property for a long time, they've been paying rent and it's their home, then, yes, right-to-buy it," she said.

"But that right isn't that you get loads, loads of discount and we can't replace the stock."

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2024-02-25 14:09:37Z
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Hundreds of teens descend on seaside home for out-of-control house party - The Independent

Police swooped in to shut down an out-of-control house party in West Sussex on Friday night, after hundreds of uninvited teenagers caused chaos with locals reporting their cars punched and kicked.

The house party in Worthing is said to have spiralled out of control after an invite to the party was shared on social media, in scenes reminiscent of the movie ‘Project X’.

Neighbours reported their cars being kicked and punched during the chaotic scenes, while police launched an appeal after an 18-year-old was assaulted at around 10.30pm in South Street.

Pictures taken at the scene show large crowds of teenagers surrounded by police, while others show officers making arrests.

Locals took to social media to complain about the disruptive incident in the seaside town, with Facebook user, Zoe Hannah Ellett, posting online: “Just drove through and had the side of my car kicked.”

Another user, Lucie Ann, posted: “I had mine punched.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Officers were called to reports of a group of around 100 to 200 people causing anti-social behaviour following a party at an address in Poulters Lane, Worthing at 8.30pm on Friday (23 February).

Police were quickly on scene and a Section 34 Dispersal Order was authorised, giving officers and designated police staff the power to disperse individuals behaving in an anti-social manner.

The party was dispersed and the area was cleared.

As a result of his injuries, he was taken to hospital and enquiries are ongoing to identify the suspect.

Witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to contact Sussex Police online or call 101 quoting serial 1474 of 23/02.

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2024-02-25 12:21:37Z
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Sabtu, 24 Februari 2024

Plymouth WW2 bomb found in garden detonated at sea - BBC

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By Chloe Parkman & Chris Ellis

BBC News

A 500kg (1,102lb) German World War Two bomb that forced the evacuation of thousands of people in Plymouth has been detonated at sea.

The unexploded device was found in a garden on St Michael Avenue on Tuesday, sparking four days of disruption.

On Friday police closed roads and rail and bus services were stopped as the bomb was transported 1.4 miles (2.3km) through the city's streets.

The device was taken by boat beyond the breakwater and detonated at 21:51 GMT.

No further details of the disposal have been given.

Earlier on Friday, Lt Col Rob Swan said the bomb would be taken to a depth of at least 14 metres (46 feet) before a diver would place a charge on the bomb to ignite it.

Map showing disposal route through Plymouth and it's location in the city

The disposal of the device marks the end of huge disruption for t housands of people living in Plymouth, with the Ministry of Defence describing the evacuation operation as one of the largest since the end of World War Two.

A temporary 300m (984ft) cordon was put in place on Friday afternoon to allow experts to transport the bomb from the Keyham area of the city in a military convoy to the Torpoint Ferry slipway.

Plymouth City Council said 10,320 people and 4,300 properties fell within the cordon.

Residents in the area were asked to leave their homes for about three hours from 14:00 GMT as a safety precaution.

A number of roads were closed and rail and bus services were stopped as the bomb was transported through the city.

The cordon was lifted shortly after 17:30.

The explosive device found in a garden on St Michael Avenue, in Keyham, Plymouth

Resident Vicky Brotherton said it had been "a very anxious time for us" and she was "very relieved" to be home after spending the past four days in a caravan in Cornwall.

"Just a massive thank you to everyone who has been involved to end this safely - really impressed with His Majesty's forces."

Resident Jeannette Ssentongo said she was glad the bomb had been moved.

"Every morning I was at work checking my phone," she said. "It's been a worry."

Police and bomb disposal experts at the scene near St Michael Avenue, Plymouth

Keyham resident Christine Jolley, who lives on St Aubyn Avenue, said the past few days had been "very stressful".

"It's been terrible - we were one of the first ones out Tuesday morning and we just left the house, we didn't bring anything with us.

"We were allowed back in the evening to get my husband's tablets and that's it really."

Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans thanked everyone involved in the removal of the bomb.

He said it had brought out a "war-like spirit" in the city.

"I think it is fair to say that the last few days will go down in history for Plymouth," Mr Evans said.

"This war-time bomb has really brought out war-time spirit, people coming together to really support each other and whilst it has been really tough - we got through it."

The council said the Life Centre leisure centre had been used as an emergency rest centre for people who had been evacuated.

'Bravery and fortitude'

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps praised the "bravery and fortitude" of those involved in the "highly complex operation" and the "patience and cooperation" of members of the public.

In a statement on Friday, he said: "I would like to express my thanks to all our personnel... who worked both night and day this week to keep the public safe and minimise the risk of damage.

"The success of this operation is testament to the level of skill and expertise across our Armed Forces, as well as the bravery and fortitude of our personnel when faced with high-risk situations and working under extreme pressure."

The MoD said about 30 of the Armed Forces' most experienced bomb disposal specialists worked around the clock since Tuesday to assess the condition of the bomb.

Staff at The Box, a cultural space and museum in the city, believe the explosive fell during one of the heaviest nights of bombing in World War Two.

Using "bomb maps" from the war, the museum said it was dropped on 22 or 23 April, 1941. According to the museum, some 1,362 bombs exploded in the city during the war.

Former army bomb disposal expert Kim Hughes told Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday that there are many reasons why the bomb would not have exploded in all this time, including "faulting fusing systems" and "the way in which the airdrop munition impacted the ground".

Mr Hughes said the MoD experts would probably have assessed the fusing systems on the item, using X-ray, to gain a better understanding of the risks before transporting the bomb to sea.

He says the army, the navy and other first-responders "smashed it [the disposal operation] out of the park".

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