Major Tory donor steps down as party treasurer as Starmer accuses Sunak of leaving a ‘mountain of mess - live

A major Tory donor has said that he will step down from his post as party treasurer mere days after Rishi Sunak’s election defeat.

Sir Mohamed Mansour had donated £5m to the party and was a key player in raising other funds. The Egyptian-born billionaire has told The Independent that he had decided to step aside after Mr Sunak said he would depart as party leader.

Sir Mohamed said: “A new leadership team will bring fresh talent and thinking to the task ahead”.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer warns that he has uncovered a “moutain of mess” created by the Tory government in his first week in power. He has said that the task of fixing Britain “won’t be easy”, adding: “Our public finances are in their worst state since the second world war. Our prisons are in crisis. And the last government held its nose while sewage flooded our seas and streams.”

Key Points

• Labour set out emergency plans to tackle collapsing prisons

• Starmer says ‘unforgivable' prison overcrowding crisis ‘worse than we thought’

• Justice secretary: ‘Sunak and his gang in Number Ten are guilty men’

• Health minister Wes Streeting to ban puberty blockers permanently

• Suella Braverman blasts Labour’s early release prison plan

Jeremy Corbyn vows to build new movement ‘from below’ to challenge Labour

Friday 12 July 2024 10:49 , Salma Ouaguira

The ex-Labour leader, who defeated his former party candidate in Islington North, has vowed to challenge “those at the top” after his landslide victory in the general election.

The left-wing politician claimed he will build a new movement “from below” by “planting the seeds for a new way of doing politics”.

Writing on The Guardian, Mr Corbyn added: “That starts with our first People’s Forum. It will be a monthly opportunity for residents to hold me, their elected representative, to account. It will be a chance for local people to ask me anything about the month gone by and give me instructions for the month ahead.

“It will be a shared, democratic space for local campaigns, trade unions, tenants’ unions, debtors’ unions and national movements to organise, together, for the kind of world we want to live in. Listening to the voices of those who elected me. Discussing the concerns and hopes of our community. Empowering each other to do something about it. That is what real democracy looks like.”

Greens urge Labour to create safe and legal routes for asylum seekers

Friday 12 July 2024 10:59 , Salma Ouaguira

Green co-leader Carla Denyer has called for Sir Keir Starmer to “immediately create safe and legal routes” for asylum seekers after the reported deaths of four people trying to cross the Channel.

Taking to X, the newly elected MP for Bristol said: “I am horrified to hear of the deaths of four people who risked their lives crossing the Channel last night. My condolences go out to their families. I, and all the Green Party MPs, urge Labour to immediately create safe and legal routes for people in desperate need of seeking asylum.”

In full: Mercer faces jail as appeal to withhold names from Afghan probe denied

Friday 12 July 2024 11:08 , Salma Ouaguira

A former veterans’ minister is facing jail over his refusal to reveal the names of whistleblowers who told him about alleged special forces murders to a public inquiry.

Johnny Mercer has repeatedly refused to hand over the names of “multiple officers” who told him about allegations of murder and a cover-up during his time as a backbench MP while giving evidence to the Afghanistan Inquiry in February and has reiterated his vows to “keep my word” to those who confided in him.

However, the former Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View could now be handed a prison sentence or a fine if he fails to disclose the names within two weeks after his application to withhold them was rejected by the probe’s chairman.

Johnny Mercer facing prison as request to withhold names denied by Afghan inquiry

Jeremy Corbyn: ‘People-power led to my re-election’

Friday 12 July 2024 11:15 , Salma Ouaguira

The former Labour leader was re-elected by the people of Islington North after scooping a whopping 24,120 votes on 5 July, beating his former party’s candidate Praful Nargund.

The independent MP said local communities like the Congolese Community Council helped him hold onto his seat.

Revealing the behind the scenes of his landslide victory, he told The Guardian: “This election wasn’t about me. It was about our community, and there was only one way we could win this election: together.”

Mr Corbyn added his campaign was a “people-power led” movement, writing: “Thousands of people who gave up their time to support our campaign in a variety of ways: knocking on doors to speak to voters, offering posters to residents and shops, sending messages in family or street WhatsApp groups, stewarding rallies, creating art, or making cups of tea for those entering data late into the evening.”

Latest figures on prison overcrowding released

Friday 12 July 2024 11:20 , Salma Ouaguira

The Ministry of Justice’s latest weekly figures on the the prison population – including both male and female inmates – shows it stood at 87,505 out of a “usable operational capacity” of 88,956, as of Friday.

That indicates 1,451 spaces are available.

Watch: ‘Britain belongs on world stage,’ says Starmer

Friday 12 July 2024 11:25 , Salma Ouaguira

‘Britain belongs on world stage’ says Starmer at end of first summit as PM

Met Police chief says prisoner release plan needed to avoid danger to public

Friday 12 July 2024 11:31 , Salma Ouaguira

Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said the Government was being forced to release prisoners early to avoid a scenario that would be “really dangerous for the public”, as the Justice Secretary prepared to announce plans to address overcrowding after the number of available places in men’s jails fell to 700.

Shabana Mahmood is expected to set out emergency measures that could include reducing the time before some prisoners are automatically released, following a tour of HMP Bedford and HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire on Friday.

Ahead of her visit, figures released by the Ministry of Justice showed the adult male prison population stood at 83,755 out of a “usable operational capacity” of 84,463, with only 708 spaces available.

For the prison system to run smoothly and effectively, officials ideally want to keep a buffer of 1,425 cell spaces free in men’s prisons at all times to make sure there is enough space to hold sudden influxes of inmates.

Sir Mark said ministers’ expected plans to release some prisoners early were “the least worst option”, amid fears that no action could lead to a scenario where criminals believe they can act with impunity and turn to opportunistic crimes such as lootings if police officers cannot use their powers to detain dangerous offenders because they have nowhere to hold them.

Met Police chief says prisoner release plan needed to avoid danger to public

Streeting urges ‘bear with’ government on controversial two-child benefit cap amid backbench rebellion

Friday 12 July 2024 11:43 , Salma Ouaguira

Health secretary Wes Streeting has called people to “bear with” the government on controversial two-child benefit cap as Sir Keir Starmer faces a rebellion from backbenchers.

The prime minister is under growing pressure from several party MPs to scrap the “wrong” policy after he refused to commit to dropping it.

Despite the backlash, Mr Streeting has defended Sir Keir after voting against the cap when it was introduced claiming work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall is working “at pace” on a plan to tackle child policy.

He told Sky News: “Now, we said before the election we wouldn’t make promises unless we could keep them - we wouldn’t make promises unless we knew the country could afford them.

“I think people are going to have to bear with the government on a whole range of fronts, as we try and clean up the terrible mess the Conservatives have left.”

Refugee campaigners urge Starmer to stop ‘tragic deaths’ after four people drown in Channel

Friday 12 July 2024 11:51 , Salma Ouaguira

Campaigners have called the new Labour government to act after four people died during a migrant crossing attempt in the English Channel.

Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said: “This devastating loss of life in the Channel highlights the scale of the challenge facing the new government. Preventing more deaths which are now happening too often is a critical and urgent task.

“We need to bring an end to men, women and children who have fled war and oppression in countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Iran being driven into the arms of the smuggling gangs by opening safe routes so refugees wanting to be with their families are not forced to take deadly risks. We also need to put in place cooperation agreements with our European allies to provide safe passage from France and trial the use of refugee visas. At the same time there is much more the UK can do to to address conflict and oppression in refugee producing countries.

“There are no quick fixes but over time with the right combination of policies it is possible to stop these tragic deaths. We stand ready to support our new government in this.”

Plaid Cymru call Keir Starmer to end two-child benefit cap

Friday 12 July 2024 11:57 , Salma Ouaguira

As Sir Keir Starmer faces growing pressure to scrap the two-child benefit cap, Plaid Cymru has urged the Labour government to tackle child poverty across the UK.

In a post to social media, the party said: “Keir Starmer won the general election on a ‘change’ ticket. The most powerful change would be to lift millions of children out of poverty across the UK by ending the two-child benefit cap.”

Newly elected Plaid Cymru MP for Caerfyrddin Ann Davies added: “As the joint owner of a children’s nursery, I have seen the devastating impact of child poverty on families in Carmarthenshire”.

Pictured: Victoria Starmer met First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska during Nato

Friday 12 July 2024 12:03 , Salma Ouaguira

Greens urge government to focus on ‘restorative justice’ to tackle prison crisis

Friday 12 July 2024 12:15 , Salma Ouaguira

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer has urged the government to focus more on “prevention, rehabilitation and restorative justice”, ahead of the justice secretary’s announcement on plans to reduce prison overcrowding.

Ms Denyer said in a statement: “The Labour government’s welcome appointment of James Timpson as prisons minister is a chance to set a new tone on criminal justice.

“Now they need to work to reduce the number of people being sent to prison in the first place, starting by immediately publishing the expert drug policy advice sent to the Home Secretary in 2016, and heeding its advice to decriminalise possession.

“Prison is demonstrably an ineffective way of reducing reoffending. We know that short prison sentences have devasting effects on people’s lives by losing jobs, homes and even relationships. And ultimately, we know it leads to higher rates of reoffending.

“James Timpson previously said that ‘we’re addicted to punishment’. He is right. Now is the time for the Government to take the bold action necessary to place a much bigger emphasis on prevention, rehabilitation and restorative justice.

“But this means resourcing the frontline services that have been decimated under 14 years of Conservative rule. It means restoring funding to youth services, rebuilding people’s lives through investment in probation and prison services, and diverting people away from the criminal justice system that drags their lives into an endless downward spiral and towards support services instead.”

Tom Tugendhat slams Labour’s early release plan

Friday 12 July 2024 12:23 , Salma Ouaguira

The former security minister has criticised Labour’s plan to release prisoners early to ease pressure from overcrowded jails.

The Tory MP for Tonbridge said:

Home minister to make decision on crossbow laws ‘soon’

Friday 12 July 2024 12:30 , Salma Ouaguira

Dan Jarvis said the home secretary is set to make a decision on whether to change laws around crossbows  after Bushey triple murder. Under current laws, everyone over the age of 18 can own or buy one.

Mr Jarvis told Sky News: “I know that the home secretary is seized by the importance of all of this, but she’s got to consider these matters in the round,” he said.

“She will take a view as to whether there is a requirement to meet legislative changes. And I know that she will do that incredibly thoroughly.”

He added: “We will not stop at anything to ensure that the public is safe.”

Labour: Tories triggered early election because ‘things were even worse than they were letting on’

Friday 12 July 2024 12:38 , Salma Ouaguira

Labour’s Pat McFadden has claimed the Rishi Sunak triggered the general election early because he knew issues like prison overcrowding “were even worse than they were letting on”.

Asked about the prison crisis, he told the BBC’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast: “This isn’t a question of policy, this is a question of legacy and necessity. I have never been quite sure why the election was called in July, I don’t think we had a satisfactory answer to that during the campaign.

“But when you take that prisons issue and the awful decisions facing the new Secretary of State [Shabana Mahmood], the new Lord Chancellor, and the new Ministry of Justice head when she came in, and other things too, I think we are beginning to discover why the election was called and it certainly wasn’t because the plan was working but was because the Conservatives knew that things were even worse than they were letting on.”

Watch: Tory MP blasts own party and reveals biggest downfall in Question Time rant

Friday 12 July 2024 12:48 , Salma Ouaguira

Tory MP blasts own party and reveals biggest downfall in Question Time rant

Number of early prisoner releases under Tory government revealed

Friday 12 July 2024 12:56 , Salma Ouaguira

Over 10,000 prisoners were freed up to 70 days early under the Tories to tackle the jail overcrowding crisis.

The Ministry of Justice’s figures revealed that 10,083 people were released between 18 days and 70 under the previous government’s scheme as of the end of June.

The number is greater than expected as Rishi Sunak attempted to prevent prisons running out of spaces.

Sir Keir Starmer said the scale of the problem was “worse than I thought” and showed “gross irresponsibility” from Mr Sunak’s Tory government.

A senior prison source said: “We have been running at over 99% occupancy for the best part of two years.

“That puts huge pressure on our ability to reduce re-offending, to deliver purposeful activity, and obviously on our staff. It definitely exacerbates issues like safety in terms of violence, it makes the estate much more tricky for us to run.

“We’re very vulnerable to shocks in the estate. That can be big, high-profile shocks, like the 2011 civil disorder, like a prison riot or it could actually be much more mundane things like an outbreak of bedbugs that would require us to close the wing, and fumigate it for two or three weeks.”

Labour’s prisoner release plan a ‘dangerous gamble’, warns aunt of murdered Zara Aleena

Friday 12 July 2024 13:06 , Salma Ouaguira

Labour’s plans to release thousands of prisoners early is a “dangerous gamble with public safety”, the aunt of Zara Aleena has said.

Farah Naz, whose niece was murdered by a man who had been out of prison on licence for nine days, warned of the potential consequences if the probation service was unable to cope.

She said that in the case of Ms Aleena’s killer Jordan McSweeney, the probation service was “not fit to deliver supervision” or “act in a timely way” when he broke his licence conditions.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full story:

Labour’s prison release plan a ‘dangerous gamble’, warns aunt of murdered Zara Aleena

Ex-justice secretary warns Labour not to release domestic abusers and stalkers

Friday 12 July 2024 13:15 , Salma Ouaguira

As we wait for Shabana Mahmood to announce her emergency plan to tackle overcrowded prisons, former Tory minister Robert Buckland has warned Labour against releasing high risk prisoners.

Mr Buckland said the Tories created only 6,000 of the 20,000 new places promised and the prison building programme “which I started with Rishi Sunak is coming forward, but not at a pace that is quick enough I think to meet demand”.

He told Sky News: “My advice to the new justice secretary – and I wish her well, she’s just come into post – is to make sure that we aren’t releasing people who could pose a risk, particularly domestic abusers, stalkers, those types of offenders. I think it would be wholly inappropriate to release them.

“I think we do need to be absolutely iron on our commitment to protect the public. And the new government would be best advised to make that clear from the outset. Because sending mixed messages about punishment is not a good way, frankly, to start a penal policy when you’ve just taken office.

Exclusive: Starmer has no option but to reduce prisoner sentences or risk justice system collapse, unions warn

Friday 12 July 2024 13:23 , Salma Ouaguira

Sir Keir Starmer’s new government has “no other alternative” but to release prisoners 40 per cent of the way into their sentence to ease the overcrowding crisis behind bars and avert the collapse of the criminal justice system, unions have warned.

The new justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is expected to announce such measures, with exemptions for more serious offenders, after Sir Keir described his shock at the extent of the mess he has inherited from the Conservative government.

Rishi Sunak’s administration is understood to have drawn up similar plans before abandoning them prior to calling the general election in June. He had already been forced to release prisoners progressively earlier since October, reaching up to 70 days early in May.

Describing the bringing forward individual prisoners’ release dates as having caused “absolute mayhem” for the probation service, Napo union chief Ian Lawrence said he hopes the new move of a more blanket recalculation of sentences will ease some of the pressure.

Our reporter Andy Gregory has the full story:

Starmer ‘can either reduce prisoner sentences or risk justice system collapse’

Refugee campaigners urge Starmer to set out ‘safe routes’ for asylum seekers

Friday 12 July 2024 13:33 , Salma Ouaguira

Campaigners have urged Sir Keir Starmer to set out “safe routes” to allow asylum seekers into the UK after the death of four people attempting to cross the channel.

Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais said: “It is deeply upsetting that more lives have been lost in the English Channel this morning. Our immediate thoughts go to the victims and their families.

“Every life lost in the Channel is avoidable, and politicians have the power to end these tragedies. Channel crossings are fuelled by a lack of safe routes to claim asylum in the UK, and as a refugee charity that operates in both northern France and the UK we know the only way to stop crossings and save lives is to open safe routes.

“I hope the new government acts, creates safe routes and saves lives.”

Nigel Farage to restart GB News show next week after election win

Friday 12 July 2024 13:47 , Salma Ouaguira

Nigel Farage to restart GB News show next week after election win

Tories accused of leaving ‘toxic legacy behind with overcrowding prison crisis

Friday 12 July 2024 14:04 , Salma Ouaguira

George Georgiou, national officer for the GMB Union, has said the overcrowding crisis in prisons is a “toxic legacy” from the last Tory government.

He said: “GMB is clear: probation workers need better pay and conditions. This need is magnified as they deal with the overcrowding chaos – another toxic legacy of the Tory government.

“The Justice Secretary was very receptive and seems to grasp things have got to change if we want a prison service that’s fit for purpose.”

Labour to permanently ban puberty blockers

Friday 12 July 2024 15:28 , Salma Ouaguira

Wes Streeting is planning to make the ban on puberty blockers permanent as Labour takes a harder stance on transgender issues.

The medication, which is used by under 18s to halt elements of physical puberty, has been in force since the publication of the Cass Report banning its use until 3 September.

But the health secretary has suggested the ban could be made permanent under the new Labour government.

It comes as the former health secretary overruled officials and acted on her “personal views” of a review into gender services when she used emergency legislation to ban puberty blockers, the High Court has been told.

Campaign group TransActual, and a young person who cannot be named, are making a bid to challenge the decision of now-shadow health secretary Victoria Atkins to impose a so-called “banning order” on puberty blockers, which suppress the natural production of sex hormones to delay puberty.

Exclusive: The real reason Rishi Sunak held his disastrous snap election

Friday 12 July 2024 14:24 , Jabed Ahmed

The prospect of hundreds of thousands of voters suffering a steep rise in their mortgage bills drove Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a snap general election.

Read the full report from our Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin:

The real reason Rishi Sunak held his disastrous snap election

Shabana Mahmood warns overcrowding crisis could see ‘total breakdown of law and order'

Friday 12 July 2024 14:30 , Salma Ouaguira

The Labour justice secretary has unveiled new plans to tackle the overcrowding crisis that has engulfed jails across the country.

In a speech at HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire, Ms Mahmood said failing to ease pressure on prisons could cause a “total breakdown of law and order”.

She said: “When prisons are full, violence rises – putting prison officers on the front line at risk. When no cells are available, suspects cannot be held in custody. This means vanloads of dangerous people circling the country, with nowhere to go.

“The police would have to use their cells as a prison overflow, keeping officers off the streets. Soon, the courts would grind to a halt, unable to hold trials.

“With officers unable to act, criminals could do whatever they want, without consequence. We could see looters running amok, smashing in windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight.

“In short, if we fail to act now, we face the collapse of the criminal justice system. And a total breakdown of law and order.”

Labour set out emergency plans to tackle collapsing prisons

Friday 12 July 2024 14:32 , Salma Ouaguira

Thousands of prisoners are to be released earlier than planned as the government attempts to avert the “collapse” of the prisons system.

The plans set out by Ms Mahmood would see a temporary reduction in the proportion of their sentence many prisoners must serve in jail from 50 per cent to 44 per cent.

This would not apply to violent offenders serving more than four years, sex offenders or those in prison for crimes connected to domestic abuse. Dangerous offenders serving extended or life sentences would also be exempted from the scheme.

The change is expected to come into force in September, with the Justice Secretary also announcing the recruitment of 1,000 additional trainee probation officers by March and an end to the previous government’s early release scheme, which saw 10,000 prisoners released up to 70 days early.

Ms Mahmood said there was now “only one way to avert disaster”, adding that the measures would “give us the time we need to address the prisons crisis”.

Justice secretary: ‘Sunak and his gang in Number Ten are guilty men’

Friday 12 July 2024 14:35 , Salma Ouaguira

Labour’s justice secretary has branded Rishi Sunak’s cabinet the “guilty men” behind the state of overcrowded prisons.

In a bruising speech, Shabana Mahmood said: “Those responsible – Sunak and his gang in Number Ten – should go down in history as the guilty men. The guilty men who put their political careers ahead of the safety and security of our country. It was the most disgraceful dereliction of duty I have ever known.”

Hitting out at the former prime minister, she said: “We now know that the former Lord Chancellor tried to address this challenge. He tried to warn the then prime minister. But, instead of taking responsibility, Rishi Sunak called an election. He tried to hoodwink the electorate. And he was punished at the ballot box.”

Ms Mahmood accused the Tories of putting “their political careers ahead of the safety and security of our country”.

She added: “Time and again, they ducked the difficult decisions that could have addressed this challenge. Instead, they kept the public in the dark about the state they had left this country in. They were too weak to heed the warning signs that were flashing. They chose instead to put the country at risk.”

Shabana Mahmood : Tories have left a ticking time-bomb behind

Friday 12 July 2024 14:40 , Salma Ouaguira

The justice secretary has described the state of prisons left by the Tory government as a “ticking bomb” of a “total breakdown of law and order”.

Speaking from HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire, she said: “The last government left us with a time-bomb, ticking away. So let me explain what happens if that bomb goes off. Soon, the courts would grind to a halt, unable to hold trials. The police would have to stop carrying out arrests. With officers unable to act, criminals could do whatever they want, without consequence.

“We could see looters running amok, smashing in windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight.  In short, if we fail to act now, we face the collapse of the criminal justice system. And a total breakdown of law and order. This is not the plot of some dystopian film. This is the legacy of the last Conservative Government. This is the legacy of the guilty men.”

Cleverly jokingly dispels rumour – by admitting he is a Warhammer fan

Friday 12 July 2024 14:50 , Salma Ouaguira

Cleverly jokingly dispels Westminster rumour – by admitting he is a Warhammer fan

Jeremy Corbyn brands Labour’s victory ‘loveless landslide’

Friday 12 July 2024 15:00 , Salma Ouaguira

The former Labour leader has branded Sir Keir Starmer’s victory in the general election a “loveless landslide”.

Writing on The Guardian, the independent Mp for Islington North said the election result was a reflection of voters’ discontent with the Tories and Labour.

Mr Corbyn wrote: “The general election did not allow for the full expression of people power. Rather, we saw a rejection of the political establishment, leading to a loveless landslide; this election saw the second-lowest turnout since 1918 and the smallest combined vote share for the two main parties since 1945. Public discontent with a broken political system will only grow as the government fails to make the real change that people expect.”

He added: “That energy needs somewhere to go. It needs to be channelled. It needs to be mobilised. That’s why our campaign will organise with those who have been inspired by our victory to build community power in every corner of the country. Once our grassroots model has been replicated elsewhere, this can be the genesis of a new movement capable of challenging the stale two-party system.

“A movement that offers a real alternative to child poverty, inequality and endless war. A movement that provides a real opposition to the far right – one that doesn’t concede ground to divisive rhetoric, but stands by its principles of anti-racism, equality and inclusion.”

Labour will drive ‘disappointed’ Scots to independence, claims defeated MP

Friday 12 July 2024 15:10 , Jabed Ahmed

A Labour Government will disappoint Scots and push them to supporting independence, an ousted MP has claimed.

Tommy Sheppard was among the wave of SNP MPs ousted at last week’s election, losing his Edinburgh East and Musselburgh seat to Labour and sparking what he said has to be a “time of reflection” for the party.

But despite the SNP dropping to just nine seats at Westminster – down from 48 at the last election – Mr Sheppard assured voters “we will be back”.

“For the SNP comes a time of reflection on what has been our worst result for 14 years,” he wrote.

“A very, very bad result. But we will learn from the experience.

“We will regroup and redeploy in the service of our country. We will do better, and we will be back.”

Victims’ commissioner welcomes plans to exclude domestic abusers and stalkers from early release

Friday 12 July 2024 15:32 , Salma Ouaguira

Baroness Newlove, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, said the decision to exclude domestic abusers and stalkers from the prison early release measure “is a welcome and necessary step, reflecting the concerns raised by victims and those who advocate for them”.

In a statement, she said: “Public safety must remain the top priority as these changes are implemented. We must acknowledge these exclusions have limitations and cannot address every potential risk.

“Clear communication with victims is essential to building trust throughout the process. It is important victims are informed if release dates are brought forward and are given the opportunity to request protective measures. Thorough risk assessments are essential, as are robust release plans.”

The said the probation service “plays a critical role” in this and “must be properly resourced to effectively manage licensing conditions and exclusion zones, which are vital for public safety and victim reassurance”.

Transparency and rigorous oversight are “crucial to ensure this new regime effectively prioritises victim safety while putting our justice system on a more sustainable footing”, she added.

Food bank launches campaign to end subsidised ‘fine dining’ for MPs

Friday 12 July 2024 15:34 , Salma Ouaguira

The largest food bank in Westminster, home of the Houses of Parliament, has called for an end to subsidised “fine dining” for MPs, suggesting funds be redirected to combating poverty. 

The North Paddington food bank (NPFB) has launched the campaign “No Food in The House” urging Parliament to use the millions spent on subsidised catering for MPs to tackle food insecurity across the country.

Politicians could enjoy a full three-course meal for as little as £10.41 last year, according to the charity, costing the taxpayer a reported £7million a year.

Catering services in the Houses of Parliament run at a loss, so public money is effectively spent bankrolling politicians’ lunches.

As well as MPs, there are around there are 14,000 parliamentary pass-holding staff who can eat and drink in parliament’s bars and restaurants.

Our reporter Jabed Ahmed has the full story:

Food bank launches campaign to end subsidised ‘fine dining’ for MPs

New Reform deputy leader Richard Tice out and about in Skegness

Friday 12 July 2024 15:40 , Salma Ouaguira

The newly appointed Reform deputy leader Richard Tice has been out and about in his constituency.

The MP for Boston and Skegness has been pictured with local councillors after Ben Habib was sacked from the role.

Suella Braverman blasts Labour’s early release prison plan

Friday 12 July 2024 15:45 , Salma Ouaguira

Former home secretary Suella Braverman has accused Labour of copying the Tories with its plan to tackle overcrowding with the early release scheme.

The Tory right-winger said she and her MP colleagues had managed “to stop the government doing it”.

She tweeted: “Labour is picking up Tory ideas & putting the public at risk.”

She added: “Everyone and his mother should run to be leader. But we’ve all got to start taking responsibility for what we did. And for the things we shamefully left undone. Such as not building enough prisons.”

Probation chief raises concerns about released prisoners’ risk to public

Friday 12 July 2024 15:55 , Salma Ouaguira

Chief inspector of probation Martin Jones questioned whether there is “enough time” to get probation processes “right” ahead of the early release of some prisoners under Government plans.

He told Times Radio: “The probation service has a caseload nearly three times the number of those in prison.

“Now, they need to ensure that they identify the risk that those people represent and that they identify what their needs are when they leave prison. Do they have accommodation? Do they have jobs to go to? Do they have, for example, drugs and mental health support in the community?

“Now, my concern is, is there enough time to get that right, to ensure they get the right information and that they can then deal with those people effectively when they leave prison.

“Our recent inspection programme has found that there’s some real problems at the front line with the probation service at the moment, particularly in relation to staffing. Some areas that we inspect have fewer than 50% of the probation officers they need. So how are they going to have the capacity to ensure that they safeguard the public when they’re being released from custody?”

Voters: Five years of Tories ‘terrible, rubbish and in shambles’

Friday 12 July 2024 16:04 , Salma Ouaguira

Polling company Omnisis have published a survey with wordcloud of the words voters would use to describe the last five years of the Conservative government.

Labour’s Wes Streeting to ban puberty blockers permanently

Friday 12 July 2024 16:06 , Salma Ouaguira

Wes Streeting has suggested a ban on puberty blockers could be made permanent, The Telegraph reports.

The health secretary could be taking a harder stance on transgender issues and extend the ban on the NHS prescriptions.

The medication, which is used by those under the age of 18 to halt elements of physical puberty, was put under an emergency ban after the publication of the Cass Report.

The ban will last until 3 September, but Mr Streeting could seek to pass a law to make it permanent.

It comes as the published Cass Review by Dr Hilary Cass into children’s gender services in the NHS said children have been let down by a lack of research and evidence on the use of puberty blockers and hormones.

Chief of prisons claims Labour plan could lead to ‘early release of risky offenders’

Friday 12 July 2024 16:14 , Salma Ouaguira

Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor has claimed a decision to tackle the overcrowded prisons crisis “needed to be taken and none would have been without risk”.

Responding to the emergency plan to release prisoners early, Ms Taylor said in a statement: “This is a critical point for prisons, with barely any places left and the effects of existing measures such as ECSL (End of Custody Supervised Licence) being exhausted.

“While we therefore welcome recognition of the seriousness of the situation, and swift action to manage the prison populations to relieve the immediate strain many jails are under, this latest measure will inevitably lead to the early release of some risky offenders, and will add to the workload of already stretched prison OMUs and probation services.

“How these men are prepared for release and how prisons and probation are supported in managing them will be vital.

“We will be watching this very closely as well as any plans that are developed once the immediate pressure is relieved that seek to make prisons places of genuine purpose, help people to break the cycle of reoffending and protect the public from future harm.”

UK plans to release more prisoners early to tackle overcrowding

Friday 12 July 2024 16:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Britain’s new Labour government plans to expand the early release of prisoners from September to tackle a jail overcrowding crisis which justice minister Shabana Mahmood said threatened to create “a total breakdown of law and order”.

Prisons in England and Wales have space for only 700 more male inmates and are likely to be full within weeks, after which cells in police stations would need to be used, preventing officers from patrolling the streets.

“We could see looters running amok, smashing in windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight,” Mahmood said in a speech at a prison in central England, blaming the crisis on her Conservative predecessors.

Under the plan, which is subject to parliamentary approval, most prisoners will become eligible for release after serving 40% of their sentences behind bars, down from 50% currently.

Prisoners who are let out can be returned to jail if they reoffend or break other terms of their release.

The early release plan would be reviewed in 18 months’ time, Mahmood said. Asked how many would be freed, she said the figure was in the “low thousands” in the short term.

Suella Braverman says Tories ‘shamefully’ did not build enough prisons in bizarre attack on own party

Friday 12 July 2024 17:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Suella Braverman launched a bizarre attack on her own party’s policies, urging the Conservatives to admit they “shamefully” did not build enough prisons while in office.

As Labour announced a series of measures to ease the overcrowding crisis facing UK jails, the ex-home secretary said the Tories needed to “take responsibility for what we left undone”.

Sir Keir Starmer’s newly appointed justice secretary Shabana Mahmood warned on Friday that without immediate action to address overcrowding, prisons would run out of space within weeks leading to “a total breakdown of law and order”.

Suella Barverman admits Tories ‘shamefully’ did not build enough prisons

Food bank launches campaign to end subsidised ‘fine dining’ for MPs

Friday 12 July 2024 17:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The largest food bank in Westminster, home of the Houses of Parliament, has called for an end to subsidised “fine dining” for MPs, suggesting funds be redirected to combating poverty.

The North Paddington food bank (NPFB) has launched the campaign “No Food in The House” urging Parliament to use the millions spent on subsidised catering for MPs to tackle food insecurity across the country.

Politicians could enjoy a full three-course meal for as little as £10.41 last year, according to the charity, costing the taxpayer a reported £7million a year.

Food bank launches campaign to end subsidised ‘fine dining’ for MPs

Keir Starmer gives verdict on bank holiday if England win Euros

Friday 12 July 2024 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer would not commit to an extra bank holiday if England win Euro 2024.

The Labour leader said the UK should “certainly mark the occasion” but said he did not want to “jinx anything” by pre-empting the result of Sunday’s final.

The Liberal Democrats led calls for an extra bank holiday after England claimed a last-minute 2-1 victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday. Gareth Southgate’s side will now play Spain in the finals.

Keir Starmer gives verdict on bank holiday if England win Euros

Starmer says ‘Britain belongs on world stage’ at end of first summit as PM

Friday 12 July 2024 18:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Keir Starmer declared the UK was back playing a leading role on the world stage at the conclusion of his first international summit as Prime Minister.

Sir Keir said he would “reset” the UK’s relationship with Europe, “return to leadership” on climate change and “engage more deeply” with developing countries in the southern hemisphere.

His comments came at the conclusion of Nato’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington, where the Prime Minister said the allies had united behind Ukraine and the idea that a Russian victory is “unthinkable”.

Starmer says ‘Britain belongs on world stage’ at end of first summit as PM

Inspector of prisons: Decision to address prisons crisis ‘needed to be taken’

Friday 12 July 2024 19:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A decision to address the prisons crisis “needed to be taken and none would have been without risk”, chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor said.

“This is a critical point for prisons, with barely any places left and the effects of existing measures such as ECSL (End of Custody Supervised Licence) being exhausted,” he said in a statement.

“While we therefore welcome recognition of the seriousness of the situation, and swift action to manage the prison populations to relieve the immediate strain many jails are under, this latest measure will inevitably lead to the early release of some risky offenders, and will add to the workload of already stretched prison OMUs and probation services.

“How these men are prepared for release and how prisons and probation are supported in managing them will be vital.

“We will be watching this very closely as well as any plans that are developed once the immediate pressure is relieved that seek to make prisons places of genuine purpose, help people to break the cycle of reoffending and protect the public from future harm.”

Prisoners to serve shorter sentences until 2026 to avert ‘total breakdown of law and order’

Friday 12 July 2024 19:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Emergency plans to cut prisoner sentence lengths to ease the overcrowding crisis and avert “a total breakdown in law and order” will last until 2026 at least, the justice secretary has announced.

In a furious speech at HMP Five Wells, Shabana Mahmood lambasted the decision by Rishi Sunak’s government to delay the new measures announced by Labour on Friday to release thousands of prisoners 40 per cent of the way into their sentences – as opposed to halfway through – until after the election.

And it was also revealed that the emergency early release scheme brought in by the previous government in October had seen 10,000 inmates freed early, but had barely put a dent in the soaring prison population.

Prisoners to serve shorter sentences until 2026 to avert ‘breakdown of law and order’

Friday 12 July 2024 20:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Tory MP blasts own party and reveals biggest downfall in Question Time rant

Friday 12 July 2024 20:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The early release of prisoners will include inmates convicted of assault and “relatively serious violent offences,” the head of the Prison Governors Association warned, but he said it was the best possible option.

The Government has said no one serving a sentence of more than four years for violent offences will be released early, but Tom Wheatley said ones serving shorter sentences would be freed at the 40% mark rather than 50%.

Asked whether the early release was the best possible option, he told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “Yes, it’s the best we can do now.

“Had the previous government acted earlier, we might have been able to do something different.”

Asked which violent prisoners could be released early, Mr Wheatley said: “There will be offences of assault, there will be relatively serious violent offences, and it will include those people.

“The fact is though, those people are going to get out of prison, and whether they get out at the 40% point or 50% point, we stand a reasonable chance of them making a success of their release and not going on to commit further offences.”

Food bank launches campaign to end subsidised ‘fine dining’ for MPs

Friday 12 July 2024 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The largest food bank in Westminster, home of the Houses of Parliament, has called for an end to subsidised “fine dining” for MPs, suggesting funds be redirected to combating poverty.

The North Paddington food bank (NPFB) has launched the campaign “No Food in The House” urging Parliament to use the millions spent on subsidised catering for MPs to tackle food insecurity across the country.

Politicians could enjoy a full three-course meal for as little as £10.41 last year, according to the charity, costing the taxpayer a reported £7million a year.

Food bank launches campaign to end subsidised ‘fine dining’ for MPs

Hunt’s children left notes in Downing Street for young Starmers

Friday 12 July 2024 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s children were left notes from outgoing chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s offspring in the Downing Street flat that will become their home.

Mr Hunt’s children Jack, Anna and Eleanor moved out of the No 11 flat after the Labour landslide swept the Tories from office.

Sir Keir said it was “very special” that they left messages for his own 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.

Hunt’s children left notes in Downing Street for young Starmers

Miliband vows ‘no stone unturned’ in finding green future for Grangemouth

Saturday 13 July 2024 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said he will leave “no stone unturned” in trying to find a future for workers at Grangemouth, after ministers from the Scottish and UK governments met its owners.

It is understood a report called Project Willow, worth around £1.6 million and funded by both governments, will seek to chart a future in low-carbon energy for Grangemouth.

Hundreds of jobs are thought to be at risk after owner Petroineos – a joint venture between PetroChina and Ineos – announced the oil refinery at Grangemouth would be shut after spring next year.

Miliband vows ‘no stone unturned’ in finding green future for Grangemouth

Food bank launches campaign to end subsidised ‘fine dining’ for MPs

01:00 , Salma Ouaguira

Food bank launches campaign to end subsidised ‘fine dining’ for MPs

Exclusive: The real reason Rishi Sunak held his disastrous snap election

02:00 , Salma Ouaguira

The prospect of hundreds of thousands of voters suffering a steep rise in their mortgage bills drove Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a snap general election.

The former prime minister feared the wrath of homeowners forced to pay an average of £240 more a month.

Households would have to pay even more eye-watering sums in many of the so-called “blue wall” Conservative seats in the south of England Mr Sunak was desperate to save.

But the early poll failed to avoid disaster– as the Tories crashed to the worst general election defeat in their history.

Our Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin has the full story:

The real reason Rishi Sunak held his disastrous snap election

Suella Braverman says Tories ‘shamefully’ did not build enough prisons in bizarre attack on own party

03:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Suella Braverman launched a bizarre attack on her own party’s policies, urging the Conservatives to admit they “shamefully” did not build enough prisons while in office.

As Labour announced a series of measures to ease the overcrowding crisis facing UK jails, the ex-home secretary said the Tories needed to “take responsibility for what we left undone”.

Sir Keir Starmer’s newly appointed justice secretary Shabana Mahmood warned on Friday that without immediate action to address overcrowding, prisons would run out of space within weeks leading to “a total breakdown of law and order”.

Suella Barverman admits Tories ‘shamefully’ did not build enough prisons

James Cleverly seeks to jokingly dispel Westminster rumour – by admitting he is a Warhammer fan

04:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

James Cleverly has jokingly sought to dispel a rumour he says has been making its way around Westminster for years, by admitting he is fan of the game Warhammer.

The Conservative MP and former foreign secretary posted a selfie on X, formerly Twitter, with a freshly painted Warhammer 40k figurine much to the amusement of many social media users.

“There have been some rumours about me floating around Westminster for some time. There is no point in trying to hide this any longer. It’s true”, the Lewisham-born father-of-two and MP for Braintree in Essex wrote.

Cleverly jokingly dispels Westminster rumour – by admitting he is a Warhammer fan

Labour’s prisoner release plan a ‘dangerous gamble’, warns aunt of murdered Zara Aleena

05:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Labour’s plans to release thousands of prisoners early is a “dangerous gamble with public safety”, the aunt of Zara Aleena has said.

Farah Naz, whose niece was murdered by a man who had been out of prison on licence for nine days, warned of the potential consequences if the probation service was unable to cope.

She said that in the case of Ms Aleena’s killer Jordan McSweeney, the probation service was “not fit to deliver supervision” or “act in a timely way” when he broke his licence conditions.

Labour’s prison release plan a ‘dangerous gamble’, warns aunt of murdered Zara Aleena

06:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

‘Britain belongs on world stage’ says Starmer at end of first summit as PM

Readers have their say on reforming Britain’s electoral system – from PR to compulsory voting

07:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

for electoral reform – from both sides of the political spectrum.

The Liberal Democrats have long advocated for proportional representation, arguing it would make “seats won match votes cast” and facilitate “politicians having to work together”.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is also calling for change, as his party’s dispersed voter base meant that 14% of the national vote share only translated into five seats. Meanwhile, the Lib Dems’ 72 seats were won with just 12% of the vote.

Readers have their say on electoral reform – from PR to compulsory voting

Nigel Farage to restart GB News show next week after election win

08:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Nigel Farage is set to return to GB News next week after being elected as an MP on his eighth attempt, the channel has confirmed.

The Reform UK leader, 60, formally took his seat in the House of Commons as the representative for the Essex seaside constituency of Clacton after he was sworn in on Thursday.

He cancelled his GB News show, which he hosted Monday to Thursday each week, in May to free up time to help with the general election campaigning for Reform UK.

Nigel Farage to restart GB News show next week after election win

Ousted SNP MP says his party needs ‘reset’ to avoid further defeat

11:55 , Holly Bancroft

A former SNP MP, who was beaten in Glasgow South by a resurgent Labour party in the recent election, has said that the SNP needs a major reset if it is to avoid further defeat.

Stewart McDonald said that SNP leader John Swinney would need to be a “ruthless bastard” to succeed in turning the party’s fortunes around. Mr McDonald said that the recent results, which saw the SNP drop from 48 to just nine MPs, show that voters had put a pause on the independence agenda.

He added: “The hard pause is here, and we need to think about what we do with that time.”

He said: “I think we have a cultural problem within the SNP and that cultural problem is about seriousness.”

He cited examples of this as being the de facto referendum policy, introduced by former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon which set out how the SNP would fight the election as a “de facto” referendum on independence, in the wake of the refusal of successive prime ministers to permit a second vote on Scotland’s place in the UK.

Mr McDonald also criticised the SNP’s insistence on having a policy of removing Trident nuclear weapons from an independent Scotland within two years, when he as the then defence spokesperson “didn’t think it was possible”.

He said: “This is what needs to go, this is what needs to be a part of our history.

“And if we are to be successful, if we are to not get horsed in 2026 and enjoy a long spell in opposition, this kind of culture cannot last.”

UK to contribute £2m in support of Sudanese refugees

12:51 , Holly Bancroft

The UK will contribute £2 million in support for Sudanese refugees who are fleeing escalating violence in Darfur, the development minister has announced.

According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), an estimated two million-plus people have fled Sudan due to the violence which erupted following a coup in April last year, including more than 1,200 people entering Libya daily.

Development minister Annaliese Dodds says the funding will go towards the humanitarian response in the hard-to-reach Alkufra region, where the United Nations estimates up to 45,000 refugees are in desperate need of support.

Ms Dodds said in a statement: “The UK is committed to delivering life-saving aid to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, including children, as they flee violence in war-torn Sudan.

“Alongside our international partners, this support in Libya will deliver much-needed water and emergency health, sanitation and hygiene services to these displaced refugees.”

Tory government have left behind a ‘mountain of mess’, PM says

13:46 , Holly Bancroft

Sir Keir Starmer has said that he has uncovered a “moutain of mess” created by the Tory government in his first week in power.

The new prime minister has written an op-ed in The Guardian warning people that the task of fixing Britain “won’t be easy”.

He wrote: “As the chancellor warned this week, our public finances are in their worst state since the second world war. Our prisons are in crisis. And the last government held its nose while sewage flooded our seas and streams.”

He continued: “Like a Downing Street party, they’ve left a mountain of mess for this government to clean up.”

Government preparing packed King’s speech on Tuesday

14:36 , Holly Bancroft

The government is reportedly preparing a packed King’s speech containing at least 30 bills on Tuesday.

Labour ministers have drawn up a hefty legislative programme including plans for housebuilding, green energy, crime and voter registration, according to a report in The Guardian.

The speech will be delivered by King Charles at the state opening of parliament on Thursday and sets out the agenda for the government.

It is reported that the speech will include a democracy bill that would introduce automatic voter registration. There will also be a “take back control” bill that devolves powers over energy, transport, skills and more to mayors and councils.

A proposed ‘energy independence bill’ could also see plans for the new publicly owned GB energy, and plans for the eventual nationalisation of the railways.