Emergency move to avoid jail overcrowding may be used soon as rioters sentenced August 18, 2024 The government could trigger an emergency plan to avoid prison overcrowding “at some point next week” as rioters are sentenced, according to the Prison Officers’ Association. It followed reports in The Observer that the government could be about to trigger Operation Early Dawn. The long-standing contingency measure allows defendants to be held in police cells [...]
Yvette Cooper pledges crackdown on ‘hateful beliefs’ to counter extremism August 18, 2024 Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has pledged to crack down on people “pushing harmful and hateful beliefs” and to “kickstart” a new approach to fighting extremism. The Home Office has commissioned a “rapid sprint” to drive a new practical approach to countering extremism. The project is being carried out to provide analysis and recommendations on how [...]
ULEZ: Sadiq Khan to shut scrappage scheme as London drivers scramble to apply August 16, 2024 London Mayor Sadiq Khan will close the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) scrappage scheme next month as drivers in the capital scramble to make last-minute applications. The announcement comes after Khan expanded the controversial scheme to more areas of greater London shortly before his re-election earlier in the year. The scrappage scheme, which drivers can apply to [...]
Infected blood scandal: Compensation for some victims by end of the year after review August 16, 2024 The government has published its report into the infected blood scandal, saying it will pass legislation this month and expect compensation by the end of the year for victims. The long-running scandal saw thousands given infected blood, leading to infections and diseases which killed many. It has been reported that 30,000 have been infected with [...]
Tata Steel: Ministers pledge £13.5m to protect jobs as ‘all options on the table’ August 15, 2024 The government has pledged £13.5m to help workers amid Tata Steel job losses, as a minister vowed “all options are on the table”. Funding will go to supporting supply chain businesses and workers affected by job losses in connection with the Indian-owned manufacturer changing its production systems. Tata is switching to a greener form of [...]
Met Police ‘inadequate’ at managing risk of sex offenders August 15, 2024 The Met Police is not managing the risks posed by registered sex offenders and online child abusers “effectively”, a report from the police inspectorate has found. It also found the force’s crime investigations also suffer from “inconsistent decision-making” and arguments, with inexperienced officers trying to manage more than 25 crimes at once. His Majesty’s Inspectorate [...]
Workers rights: Ministers meet unions but warned on ‘unintended consequences’ of reform August 15, 2024 Unions and employers have met with the government to discuss new plans for workers rights but it comes as ministers are warned against “unintended consequences” of reforms. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds met unions and businesses on Wednesday to kick-start Labour’s work on employment rights. Rayner hailed the meeting as [...]
Dear Keir Starmer and Labour, please double down on funding Team GB athletes August 15, 2024 Sport columnist Ed Warner reflects on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Team GB medal haul and UK Sport funding. Dear Sir Keir, Ms Reeves and Ms Peacock, How do you feel about Team GB’s medal tally at the Olympics? More medals, 65, than last time out in Tokyo and equal to the London 2012 [...]
‘Annoying’: Nancy Pelosi slams Liz Truss for saying ‘world was safer’ under Trump August 14, 2024 Nancy Pelosi has criticised Liz Truss for claiming the “world was safer” under Donald Trump’s presidency, saying the former Prime Minister’s words were “annoying”. Pelosi, the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, also said Truss, who spent just 50 days in No10, “doesn’t know what she’s talking about, once again”. The former South [...]
Therese Coffey: Former Tory deputy PM applied for Labour Treasury job August 14, 2024 Former Conservative deputy prime minister Therese Coffey reportedly applied for a senior role in the Treasury under Labour. The ex-MP – who lost her Suffolk Coastal seat at the general election among some 200 Tories who failed to secure re-election – put herself forward for the role of UK director at the European Bank for [...]