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Sep 9 2024

Labour backs new ‘respect orders’ to fight anti-social behaviour – but isn’t yet sure how they will work | Politics News

Labour has defended the concept of new ‘respect orders’ for fighting anti-social behaviour – but admitted the details are still unclear.

In its manifesto, the party said it would give powers to “ban persistent adult offenders from town centres, which will stamp out issues such as public drinking and drug use”.

The Blair government previously spearheaded ASBOs – anti-social behaviour orders – now regarded by many as a failure.

Half were breached, two-thirds were breached more than once, and Labour never reached its target on reducing re-offending. They were scrapped in 2014.

Respect orders appear to have a very similar remit to ASBOs – and policing minister Dame Diana Johnson told Sky News the process of how they will work is still being developed.

She instead restated the general ambition of the new scheme.

“[They] will be about preventing those prolific offenders who are causing anti-social behaviour in our communities up and down the land from going into areas like town centres, or other public spaces like parks,” said Dame Diana.

“There’ll be consequences for their actions,” she added. “It’s likely that will lead – if they are breached – into criminal sanctions.”

Dame Diana admitted the last Labour government didn’t get everything right on the issue, but said it “identified a problem and tried to deal with it” through more police on the streets and legislation to take people to court.

The MP for Hull North said the situation had become “a lot worse” under the Tories.

She told Sky News: “The focus that Labour had on neighbourhood policing, on providing the powers for policing, that wasn’t a priority for them for the last 14 years.”

Following criticism from the victims’ commissioner, Dame Diana said many who suffer with anti-social behaviour are still being let down by police and councils.

She said it was “depressing” that progress appeared not to have been made over the last few decades and that a more coordinated approach was vital, with better support for victims.

“I’ve had constituents say to me, ‘I’ve rung the council or I’ve rung the police, nobody comes and nothing is done’,” said Dame Diana.

“So I think it is about recognising we need to get much better at this joined-up approach to dealing with what’s going on in communities and tackling the individuals who are causing the problems to families.”

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The new government has also promised to bring 13,000 more neighbourhood police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs) and special constables to the streets.

The minister denied that PCSOs are often ineffectual at combatting anti-social behaviour.

Dame Diana said their presence “walking the beat, engaging with local communities, talking to people, [is] a presence that is really welcomed”.

However, she couldn’t yet say how many of the promised 13,000 will be full-time police officers with comprehensive powers, and how many will be PCSOs.

“I don’t know the exact figure yet,” she said. “But I obviously want to see that 13,000 on our streets as soon as possible,” said the minister.

“And it will be a mix, because we recognise that PCSOs have a very valuable role to play on the streets, in communities, as do the warranted officers as well.”

She said she had only been in the job two months and establishing the precise figures was one of her priorities.

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Aug 3 2024

Southport protests: Starmer backs police to ‘keep streets safe’ from ‘thugs’ who ‘sow hate’ – as home secretary issues warning | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer has told the police they have ministers’ full backing to take “all necessary action to keep our streets safe” from “thugs” who “sow hate” as violent protests erupted across the UK following the stabbing of three girls in Southport.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister had met senior ministers including the deputy prime minister, home secretary, justice secretary and the policing minister to discuss the public disorder and unrest seen in towns and cities in recent days.

After thanking police who responded to the violence in Sunderland on Friday night, which saw four officers injured, Sir Keir said officers “have our full support to take action against extremists on our streets who are attacking police officers, disrupting local businesses and attempting to sow hate by intimidating communities.

“The right to freedom of expression and the violent disorder we have seen are two very different things,” he said, adding that “there is no excuse for violence of any kind”.

Mr Starmer reiterated that the government backs the police to take “all necessary action to keep our streets safe.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said those engaging in violent disorder “will pay the price”, telling broadcasters “criminal violence and disorder has no place on Britain’s streets”.

Ms Cooper said: “We’ve been clear to the police that they have our full backing in taking the strongest possible action against perpetrators, including making sure that there are more prosecutors, there are sufficient prison places and also that the courts stand ready because anyone who engages in this kind of disorder needs to be clear that they will pay the price.”

She promised to work with forces to help ensure “consequences, arrests and prosecutions” for those responsible.

Protesters threw bottles, chairs and bricks at police during clashes in towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland on Saturday.

A number of officers were injured during “serious disorder” in Liverpool city centre, Merseyside Police said, with one being hit on the head by a chair.

Bricks, bottles and a flare were also thrown at officers as they lined The Strand in the city centre.

Another officer was kicked and knocked off his motorcycle by a demonstrator and others tried to kick riot shields.

In Hull, four people have been arrested as three officers were hurt during a protest in which a group of people targeted a hotel which houses asylum seekers.

Humberside Police Chief Superintendent Darren Wildbore said officers have “faced eggs and bottles being thrown” as windows were smashed at the hotel which has housed migrants.

Four men were arrested after bricks were thrown at officers in Stoke-on-Trent and fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Islamic group and an anti-racism rally in Belfast.

At least three people were arrested in Nottingham as scuffles broke out as opposing groups who faced each other in the city’s Market Square.

Bottles and other items were thrown from both sides, and chants of “England till I die” and “Tommy Robinson” were drowned out by boos from counter-protesters.

In Leeds, around 150 people carrying St George flags shouting “You’re not English any more” and “Paedo Muslims off our street” were greatly outnumbered by hundreds of counter-protesters shouting “Nazi scum off our streets”.

Saturday’s incidents followed violent protests earlier this week, which saw more than 100 people arrested outside Downing Street on Wednesday and 10 arrests in Sunderland on Friday night after a building next to a police station was set on fire and objects thrown at officers.

The widespread disorder follows a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at a community centre in Southport on Monday, which left three girls dead.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, died in the attack and other children and adults were injured.

The assault was followed by a wave of online misinformation about the background of the suspect, Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, from Lancashire.

False claims included that he was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.

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Jul 2 2024

Second Reform candidate quits and backs Tories over ‘racism and misogyny’ | Politics News

A Reform candidate has suspended her campaign and defected to the Tories, saying the “vast majority” of others standing for Nigel Farage’s party are “racist, misogynistic, and bigoted”.

Georgie David, who was the Reform candidate for West Ham and Beckton, said she did not think the senior leadership of the party was racist.

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But she said: “As the vast majority of candidates are indeed racist, misogynistic, and bigoted, I do not wish to be directly associated with people who hold such views that are so vastly opposing to my own and what I stand for.

“I also have been significantly frustrated and dismayed by the failure of the Reform Party’s leadership to tackle this issue in any meaningful way, and their attempts to instead try to brush it under the carpet or cry foul play.

“As such, I have now suspended my campaign with Reform, and I am endorsing the Conservative Party – I would encourage all of my fellow patriots to do the same.”

Ms David said she was leaving the party and standing down from her constituency “with immediate effect”.

It comes two days after Reform’s candidate in Erewash also defected to the Conservatives over racism concerns.

Liam Booth-Isherwood said he had become “increasingly disillusioned” with the behaviour of the party and accused leader Mr Farage of not taking it seriously.

The other candidates in West Ham and Beckton are:

James Edward Asser – Labour
Lois Austin – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Emily Bigland – Liberal Democrats
Rob Callender – Green Party
Sophia Naqvi – Newham Independents Party
Holly Alice Ramsey – Conservative and Unionist Party
Kayode Shedowo – Christian Peoples Alliance

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Jun 22 2024

Emma Thompson backs Just Stop Oil at London march as protesters boo ‘all politicians’ | Climate News

Dame Emma Thompson has backed Just Stop Oil, just days after the climate action group attacked Stonehenge with orange paint.

The actress led thousands of people on a Restore Nature Now march in London on Saturday, aimed at persuading politicians to put nature and climate first.

Asked if she supported Just Stop Oil, whose supporters have also targeted private jets, the Magna Carta and the Duke of Westminster’s wedding this year, she said: “I think I support anyone who fights this extraordinary battle.”

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Dame Emma added: “We cannot take any more oil out of the ground. I mean, there’s much argument about it. And I know there’s a lot of very complicated economic arguments about it.

“We have to leave all the resources in the ground, we cannot bring them out of the ground.”

More than 350 charities, businesses and direct action groups joined Dame Emma on the protest, along with renewable energy tycoon and Labour donor, Dale Vince, and naturalists Chris Packham and Steve Backshall.

Mr Packham said it was the first time organisations across the entire spectrum of campaigning and conservation have united, from the National Trust to Just Stop Oil.

Reflecting on the long campaign to achieve action on climate change, Dame Emma called it “extraordinary”, as “we have known about this for decades and government after government have completely ignored the advice”.

“All the scientists are saying we are in deep, deep trouble,” she added.

The UK, she said, is “one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world”.

She added: “But we are also one of the most rich, so this is not good for anybody.

“Anyone who has ever written about our country [has written] about the beauty of these islands and they are being despoiled, polluted and destroyed at an unprecedented rate.

“We have to take action now. There is not enough discussion about this. It has to come to the forefront of our politics at every level.”

Protesters marched from Hyde Park to Parliament Square, staying in a line, led by Dame Emma and Mr Packham who held a banner reading Restore Nature Now.

Other banners carried different messages, including There’s No Life Without Wildlife and There Isn’t A Reset Button.

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Some of the crowd booed and gestured as they walked past Downing Street.

Gary Smith, a 64-year-old ex-veteran, said: “The booing was because they’re useless in acting against any policies to do with wildlife. It’s the booing of all politicians.”

While wildlife rescuer Sally Burns, 58, said: “The state of this country… it’s politicians that run it and look at the state of it, a mess in many many ways. It’s the people in power that have caused all this.”

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Apr 2 2024

PM backs JK Rowling as row over Scotland’s new hate crime laws escalates | UK News

Rishi Sunak has said people should not be criminalised “for stating simple facts on biology” as he backed author JK Rowling in her criticism of new Scottish hate crime laws.

The Harry Potter author, who has become a fierce critic of the Scottish government’s stance on transgender rights, dared police to arrest her as the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act came into effect yesterday.

The new measures aim to tackle the harm caused by hatred and prejudice, extending protections from abusive behaviour to people on grounds including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity.

Appearing to defend the author, Mr Sunak promised that his party will “always protect” free speech in a statement.

“People should not be criminalised for stating simple facts on biology,” he said.

“We believe in free speech in this country, and Conservatives will always protect it.”

In a social media post criticising the new laws, Rowling insisted that the “legislation is wide open to abuse by activists who wish to silence those of us speaking out about the dangers of eliminating women’s and girls’ single-sex spaces”.

The 58-year-old argued: “It is impossible to accurately describe or tackle the reality of violence and sexual violence committed against women and girls, or address the current assault on women’s and girls’ rights, unless we are allowed to call a man a man.”

Reacting to comments made by Siobhan Brown MSP, a Holyrood minister who said people “could be investigated” for misgendering someone online, Rowling said: “I’m currently out of the country, but if what I’ve written here qualifies as an offence under the terms of the new act, I look forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment.”

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It came as a group of protesters staged a demonstration outside Holyrood against the new laws.

One of the organisers, Stef Shaw, told Sky News there is “great cause for concern” over the new legislation.

Mr Shaw, also known as the Glasgow Cabbie, said he saw no positives to the act, saying it will only cause major problems.

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has maintained that he is “very proud” of the new laws, saying they will help protect against a “rising tide” of hatred.

He insisted that he is “very confident in Police Scotland’s ability in order to implement this legislation in the way it should”.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said recently that the new laws will be applied “in a measured way”, promising there will be “close scrutiny” of how the legislation is enforced and what reports are received.

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Feb 17 2024

Scottish Labour unanimously backs immediate ceasefire in Gaza | Politics News

Scottish Labour has unanimously backed an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with MSPs calling for “unequivocal” support and putting pressure on the rest of the party.

All delegates backed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s calls for an immediate end to the Israel-Hamas war at the party conference in Glasgow.

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He said on X that he was “proud” the party had passed the motion, and told delegates during his speech at the conference that “the fighting must stop now”.

The unopposed Labour motion calls for an end to rocket fire in to and out of Gaza, the unconditional release of hostages taken by Hamas, the restoration of essential supplies and a pathway to peace.

It also condemned Hamas’s attacks on Israel on 7 October and noted Israel’s right to protect its citizens, but said there was “no justification for the collective punishment of 2.2 million citizens in Gaza”.

The vote came as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through Glasgow to protest outside the conference.

Neil Bibby, the party’s constitution spokesman, said ahead of the vote: “It is simply heartbreaking that countless children in Gaza are currently dying, and there are heartbroken parents in Israel too.

“That is why we have a moral obligation to be unequivocal. There must be an end to the fighting now and a sustainable ceasefire. An end to the terror and end to the violence.”

Scottish Labour’s support for an immediate ceasefire puts the party at odds with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has been calling for a “sustainable ceasefire”.

Party delegate Nairn McDonald told the conference that Sir Keir must stop “equivocating”, before adding: “We demand that Scottish Labour MPs vote for a ceasefire in the Commons when they are given the opportunity.”

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The SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn also called for Scottish Labour’s two MPs to support their motion for a ceasefire in the House of Commons next week

“Questions must also be asked of Scotland’s two Labour MPs,” he said. “Will they follow their Scottish leader, or their leader in London? That decision will tell you exactly where Scottish Labour MPs’ loyalties truly lie.”

While Sir Keir also said that “the fighting must stop now” at the Munich Security Conference, his decision not to back a ceasefire in November sparked a rift in Labour.

Last November, 56 Labour MPs defied a three-line whip and voted for the SNP’s motion calling for a ceasefire. Ten shadow frontbenchers stood down over the row.

Mr Sarwar has however downplayed a rift between him and Sir Keir over calls for a ceasefire, telling BBC Radio Scotland: “I don’t think there’s as much distance in this as people now believe.

“Keir Starmer has said he wants the fighting to stop right now and for that to be a sustainable ceasefire. I think we ultimately have the same position.”

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Jul 20 2023

‘Regrettable choice of words’: EU backs down after calling Falklands by Argentine name – PM | Politics News

Rishi Sunak has criticised the EU for a “regrettable choice of words” after it appeared to endorse the Argentine name for the Falkland Islands.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said his view was it would have been “entirely unacceptable for the EU to question the Falkland Islanders’ right to decide their own future”.

A diplomatic row risked breaking out after the EU referred to the disputed territory as Islas Malvinas in a declaration that was agreed at a recent summit.

The declaration – agreed at the European Union and the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean states (Celac) earlier this week – read: “Regarding the question of sovereignty over the Islas Malvinas/Falkland Islands, the European Union took note of Celac’s historical position based on the importance of dialogue and respect for international law in the peaceful solution of disputes.”

Mr Sunak’s spokesman said the EU had now “clarified that their position on the Falklands has not changed”.

“To be clear, the Falkland Islands are British, that was the choice of the islanders themselves,” they said.

“The EU has rightly now clarified that their position on the Falklands has not changed after their regrettable choice of words.

“And just as a reminder, in the 2013 referendum, 99.8% of islanders voted to be part of the UK family. It’s a position supported by international law and the UN Charter which is binding on all UN members.

“And we will continue to defend the Falklands’ right to self-determination in all international forums and have called on the EU to respect the democratic rights of the Falkland Islands.”

He added: “The concern is any suggestion that EU states would recognise Argentina’s claims on the Falklands, which they have now clarified is incorrect.”

Both the UK and Argentina lay claim to the Falkland Islands, fighting a war in 1982 that culminated in the deaths of 255 British service personnel and 649 Argentines .

The 40th anniversary of the war was marked last March.

The Falkland Islands is officially classified as a British Overseas Territory, a position the EU reaffirmed in the 2009 Lisbon Treaty.

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Mar 26 2023

Michael Gove backs Ofsted inspections in face of criticism after death of Ruth Perry | Politics News

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has said Ofsted plays a “vital role” in assessing school performance.

Mr Gove, a former education secretary, gave his backing to the schools inspector despite there being renewed calls for it to be reformed, and even abolished following the death of a headteacher.

Ruth Perry, who ran Caversham Primary School in Reading, took her own life while waiting for a critical Ofsted report that downgraded her school from outstanding to inadequate due to “safeguarding” issues.

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Inspectors gave the school the lowest possible rating despite the fact it was judged as “good” in every category bar leadership and management, where it was rated “inadequate”.

Ms Perry’s family have said her death was the direct result of the pressure put on her by the “deeply harmful” inspection.

Asked by Sophy Ridge whether Ofsted inspections were placing too much stress on teachers, Mr Gove said: “Well, the first thing is obviously when you’re talking about circumstances where a clearly public-spirited, talented, passionately committed person has taken their life, you have to have respect for her example and her family.

“So it’s important not to be too political when we’re reflecting on her passing.

“I do think, however, that Ofsted plays an vital role in providing information about how schools are performing well, which we can learn from, and which schools are not performing well, and therefore need help and intervention.”

Pressed on whether the four grades used by Ofsted (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate) were a “blunt instrument”, the Cabinet minister said he thought they were “important”.

However, he said “we do need to reflect and look at” so-called “limiting judgements”, whereby a school can be found to be inadequate overall because it is rated as such in the safeguarding category.

Following the death of Ms Perry, Ofsted has faced calls to halt inspections.

A petition calling for an inquiry into the inspection of Caversham Primary School has gathered more than 110,000 signatures.

Ofsted’s chief inspector Amanda Spielman said Ms Perry’s death “was met with great sadness at Ofsted” but declined to halt inspections, saying they played an “important part” in maintaining standards in education.

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Schools have also been removing logos and references to Ofsted ratings from their websites in solidarity with Ms Perry and headteachers have said they planned to stage peaceful protests – including wearing black clothing and armbands and displaying photographs of Ms Perry around buildings – when Ofsted inspections take place.

The National Education Union has also called for Ofsted to be replaced with a new agency.

Mr Gove said he believed Ofsted did a “great job” and that Ms Spielman was “committed to supporting teachers to do better”.

“One of my worries is that some of the people who are attacking Ofsted object to transparency, are anti-high standards, and what we need to do to is recognise that education has improved in the last 13 years and the role of Ofsted under successive chief inspectors has been absolutely central to that,” he said.

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Jan 31 2023

Mr Blobby costume buyer ‘backs out of £62,000 bid’ | Ents & Arts News

The buyer of an original Mr Blobby costume – who was set to pay £62,000 for the item – has reportedly backed out of the sale.

An eBay auction for the piece of TV memorabilia, which is more than 25 years old, attracted huge interest last week.

The costume sold for £62,101 but it has now emerged the buyer pulled out of the sale within an hour of placing the large bid.

The anonymous seller told the BBC: “I thought it would get to a level of £100 perhaps – and so I was shocked really that it reached the level it did.

“I think it was one of those things that was driven by social media.

“Ironically, it was being sold not to make money but to make space.”

The Mr Blobby suit was made by the BBC’s costume supplier and was due to be used for Noel’s House Party but the TV show was cancelled before it could be delivered.

Running from 1991 to 1999, Noel’s House Party was a BAFTA-winning light entertainment show.

Earlier, the seller said the costume was in need of a new home after they claimed that neither the broadcaster nor the BBC’s production team wanted it.

The costume needed some attention due to its age, with one of the plastic eyes cracked.

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While eBay’s terms and conditions rule that winning an auction means the user has committed to buy the item, it cannot enforce this by law.

According to the BBC, the seller has decided to keep hold of the Mr Blobby costume for now.

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Dec 8 2022

Government backs making public sexual harassment a criminal offence | Politics News

Calls to make public sexual harassment a criminal offence have been backed by the government.

Priti Patel launched a targeted consultation in July when she was home secretary to see if women’s charities, the legal sector and the police thought the move was necessary.

And after five months, the Home Office has concluded it should be introduced after “the significant majority” of respondents were in favour.

A number of charities have campaigned for street harassment to be outlawed, with Plan International saying 75% of girls, some as young have 12, have experienced some form of public sexual harassment in their lifetime.

‘Strong support’

The Home Office announced its decision on the government website, saying the option it supported would see higher sentencing for behaviour that falls within section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986 – namely when a person uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour – when done because of the victim’s sex.

The statement said: “We note the significant majority of respondents in favour of an offence, and the strong support given to some of the possible reasons in favour of one, such as the deterrent effect of a new law and its ability to raise awareness, and its ability to provide clarity to the law and encourage reporting.

“We also note the other arguments put forward, such as its ability to help drive cultural change.”

Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said “any action to tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls is welcome”, but she urged the government to “go further and faster”.

She added: “Labour has a plan to put rape and domestic abuse specialists in every police force in the country, introduce fast-track rape courts and a domestic abuse register, and overhaul police training so that every victim gets the best possible support.”

Sky News has contacted the Home Office to find out the next steps.

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