Sir Keir Starmer has sacked Rebecca Long-Bailey from the shadow cabinet after she praised Maxine Peake following an interview with The Independent, in which the actor claimed Israeli secret services taught US police the tactic which led to George Floyd’s death. The claim has been denied by Israel, and Ms Peake later said it was wrong.
The Labour leader, who met with left-wing MPs on Friday morning, said he did not believe Ms Long-Bailey was antisemitic but thought her sharing of the article had not furthered the cause of rebuilding trust with the Jewish community. Ms Long-Bailey said she could “understand the difficulties of [his] position” but said there is “a valid concern about police practices across the world”, as socialist MPs called for her reinstatement, seemingly to no avail, citing “significant disagreement” within the party.
Some voiced anger that Sir Keir had not directly called for Boris Johnson to remove housing secretary Robert Jenrick, whom Labour has referred to the sleaze watchdog over a £1bn property development involving billionaire Tory donor Richard Desmond. A spokesperson rebuffed fresh questions over an alleged meeting with Israeli mining heir Idan Ofer, saying Mr Jenrick “disclosed his ministerial interests on appointment in the usual way”.
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Our political correspondent Lizzy Buchan has more on the meeting between socialist MPs and Keir Starmer after his sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey from the shadow cabinet, which risked exploding the fragile truce between different wings of the party.
Around 30 members of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group challenged the Labour leader about Ms Long-Bailey, while some sought reassurances that they could speak out over the actions of the Israeli government without being reprimanded.
One MP present told The Independent that concerned remained about Ms Long-Bailey and little had been resolved in the meeting, but described the exchange as “calm and focussed”, adding: “No abuse. No name calling. No shouting. Some of the PLP [parliamentary Labour party] could learn much from this.”
Our chief political commentator writes for Independent Voices: “[Rebecca] Long Bailey was an awkward fit in [Keir] Starmer’s shadow cabinet, where she took the education brief vacated by her friend Angela Rayner. Rayner had used it creatively to build herself up to the point where she became deputy leader. Long Bailey seemed unable to make anything of such an important post.
“Recently she caused Starmer problems when she welcomed the government “rowing back from full school reopening plans before summer”. The Labour leader wanted to attack the government for failing to deliver a good education to pupils.
“Whether it was a forced choice or not, Starmer has suddenly solved two problems at a stroke. He has removed an underperforming member of his shadow cabinet. But more importantly he has delivered decisive leadership, making clear that when he says “restoring trust with the Jewish community is a number one priority”, as he put it in the statement sacking Long Bailey, he means it.
“Any party member or member of the front bench who thinks they can argue over whether something is or is not antisemitic, or whether they did or did not approve of it, knows where they stand. Party discipline has just tightened a notch.”
Andy Burnham has warned the public to stay cautious as the country emerges from lockdown after the region received pillar 2 test results – swabs of the wider population – for the first time across its 10 boroughs.
Previously the authorities in Greater Manchester had only been able to release pillar 1 test data in which swabs are taken at Public Health England labs and NHS hospitals for those with a clinical need, and health and care workers. This week, Mr Burnham said the number of positive pillar 1 positive cases was 78 – a continued decrease – but leapt to 465 when combined with the pillar 2 data.
“Finally we have been able to put pillar 1 and pillar 2 together and get much more of a truer picture in terms of what’s going on with the spread, the circulation of Covid-19 in Greater Manchester,” he said at his weekly press conference.
“It represents a significant number of new cases and while the overall numbers are coming down and transmission is reducing, nevertheless there is still a significant amount of Covid-19 circulating within Greater Manchester. For the first time we are seeing the true picture.”
Referencing packed beaches in the south, he added: “Clearly it can’t be the case we are back to normal, we are not. There is a large amount of this virus circulating in Greater Manchester and people need to know that and they need to take precautions.”
The advice, which is outlined in a summary of a discussion on ethnicity and Covid-19 risk and was endorsed by Sage on 4 June, said that in general the virus has increased all health inequalities.
Published on Friday, the Sage summary said: “Work was discussed that highlighted the importance of faith practices, differences in patterns of healthcare usage, willingness of communities to engage with prevention, and other factors such as access to outdoor space.
“Different messaging, including health messages tailored specifically for different ethnic groups was highlighted as being particularly important.”
Sage noted that tailored messaging alone cannot overcome all structural obstacles and fundamental sociological factors that may contribute to increased risk.
“Important issues to understand include health-seeking behaviours within Bame groups; discrimination within occupations and healthcare roles (eg differential access to PPE); and trust, social stigmatisation and their behavioural impacts during and after the epidemic (including for social cohesion, inclusion, job seeking, in employment),” the document said.
“In general, Covid-19 has increased all health inequalities – of which those related to ethnicity are one important example.
The prime minister has warned people against “taking liberties” with social distancing rules as he said it could lead to the danger of a “serious spike” in coronavirus infections.
Speaking during a visit to a restaurant in east London ahead of an easing of lockdown on 4 July, Mr Johnson said: “If you look at what’s happening elsewhere in the world where people have been coming out of lockdown, I’m afraid what you’re also seeing is people taking too many liberties with the guidance, mingling too much, not observing social distancing.
“So in some parts of the world – I won’t name them – you have got spikes, really serious spikes, in the instance of the disease, so it is crucial that people understand that on July 4 we get this right, we do this in a balanced way.”
Matt Hancock had threatened that the government has the power to close beaches and public areas after huge crowds turned out in Dorset, but Downing Street suggested he was referring to localised lockdowns.
Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson has confirmed that a lone suspect was shot by armed officers in Glasgow city centre, and that a police officer was also injured.
Home secretary Priti Patel said the reports are “deeply alarming”.
Scottish justice secretary Humza Yousaf urged people to heed police advice and said: “Please do not circulate rumours or hearsay of the incident in Glasgow, Police Scotland will share information publicly as and when appropriate.”
The Scottish Police Federation says a police officer has been stabbed in an incident in Glasgow city centre. The officer’s family has been notified and is being supported, the service says.
There are various unconfirmed reports of multiple victims at the West George Street incident, where the situation appears to be contained.
Refresh our breaking story on the incident for updates:
Former Jeremy Corbyn adviser James Mills has compiled reports that allege the Labour leader initially refused to meet with socialist MPs, into a “play of three parts”.
The park in the capital’s centre has been left covered in rubbish for the past two days after crowds turned out to enjoy the sun. The Edinburgh Evening News reports that there was a “massive brawl” yesterday evening.
A group of volunteers decided to make a statement with the detritus.
Socialist Campaign Group issues statement on Starmer meeting
The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs has issued a statement on its meeting with Sir Keir Starmer this morning, noting “significant disagreement” over the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey.
The statement said members of the group raised the need for the Labour Party to speak out against ongoing human rights abuses by the government of Israel, among other issues.
You can find the full statement below:
“The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs met this morning with Labour leader Keir Starmer.
On the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey from the Shadow Cabinet, it was clear that significant disagreement remains on this point. The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs made it clear that Rebecca Long-Bailey should not have been sacked and should be reinstated.
The imminent annexation of the West Bank by Israel’s government was discussed and the need for the Labour Party, MPs, Party members and supporters to speak out against Israel’s illegal annexation and ongoing human rights abuses by the government of Israel was raised.
Concerns were also raised about the Party response to the review into leaks and the 2017 electoral sabotage and especially the treatment of black MPs.
Ministers have no plans to shut down beaches ahead of the expected arrival of crowds of people enjoying the warm weather, Downing Street has said.
“Everyone should be able to enjoy the sunshine, and we understand that people want to enjoy public spaces, but it is important we don’t undo the hard work of the British public in reducing the transmission of this virus,” a spokesperson told a Westminster briefing.
The No 10 spokesperson also urged Liverpool fans to observe social distancing rules if they go out to celebrate their Premier League title win this week.
Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has the full story below:
Labour calls for review of ‘lone actor’ terrorism following Reading stabbings
A judge-led review must be launched to tackle the “highly dangerous and growing threat of lone attackers” following stabbings in Reading last week, the Labour Party has said.
The Reading incident was the fourth alleged terror attack to hit the UK in the seven months since authorities lowered the threat level in November.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labour’s shadow home secretary, has written to Priti Patel calling for a review to examine the role of prisons, probation, mental health services and local authorities at “critical points”.
Public must take ‘more personal responsibility’ when lockdown eases, police chiefs say
Police chiefs have said people must take “more personal responsibility” when lockdown measures are further eased on 4 July.
“As restrictions ease further from 4 July in England, it is important for everyone to take more personal responsibility for their safety by continuing to follow official advice and government regulations,” Martin Hewitt, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) chairman, said.
“Limiting the spread of the virus should still be everyone’s priority.
“I would like to again thank the vast majority of people for abiding by the lockdown measures and government advice.”
Mr Hewitt’s comments came as fines for lockdown breaches dropped to their lowest level this month.
Tickets handed out in the two weeks to 22 June fell to just 189 from a high of 5,280 in the fortnight to 27 April, according to provisional data released by the NPCC on Friday.
A total of 18,439 fixed penalty notices (FPNs), including 15,856 in England and 2,583 in Wales, were recorded by forces up to 22 June, the data showed.
Members of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs have finished their meeting with Sir Keir Starmer today on the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey, according to The Times’ Eleni Courea.
Boris Johnson has turned to Germany for help to rescue the UK’s troubled plans for a contact-tracing app to curb coronavirus – despite claiming it’s technology does not work properly, our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports.
Berlin’s ambassador in London has revealed his government had “discussed possible cooperation” with Matt Hancock, the health secretary.
“Germany’s corona app has been up and running since 16 June,” Andreas Michaelis tweeted, adding: “Experts have intensified contacts and look into moving forward together”.
The move comes despite the prime minister refusing to retract a much-ridiculed claim that “no country currently has a functioning track and trace app”.
The former education secretary said that she was removed from the shadow cabinet before having a chance to hold discussions she had requested with Keir Starmer.
Ms Long-Bailey said that Sir Keir made his decision to ask her to stand down despite her posting a statement agreed with his office clarifying an earlier expression of support for actor Maxine Peake.
Labour have referred housing secretary Robert Jenrick to the parliamentary commissioner for standards to seek an investigation into his dealings with billionaire developer Richard Desmond, our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports.
In a letter to commissioner Kathryn Stone, shadow housing secretary Steve Reed urged the sleaze watchdog to investigate whether Mr Jenrick had breached the code of conduct requiring MPs to behave with “probity and integrity” in relation to his approval of Mr Desmond’s application for a £1bn property development in Westferry, east London.
An explosive cache of correspondence released earlier this week showed that Mr Jenrick was “insistent” that the Westferry case should be completed before the introduction of new planning regulations which would have cost the developer more than £40m. The housing secretary overruled the local council and planning inspector, but later quashed his own approval of the scheme after accepting it was “unlawful”.
“The prime minister has yet again shown woefully poor judgment by not referring clear breaches of the ministerial code to the cabinet secretary and he must now come clean himself about his own involvement in this case.
“The government must publish all the remaining secret documents in this case to show the public what Mr Jenrick and the prime minister were really up to and prove that this is not the start of a new era of Tory sleaze.”
Speaking after officers faced attacks in London for the second night in a row, Dame Cressida Dick condemned aggression towards police at illegal parties as “utterly unacceptable”.
The Scotland Yard chief said the force has a “duty” to stop unlawful music events during the coronavirus pandemic and vowed: “We will be prepared this weekend.”
The Labour Party’s new leadership has said it could drop the ambitious 2030 climate crisis target it adopted under Jeremy Corbyn, our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports.
A spokesperson for Keir Starmer said that he had supported the plans included in Labour’s last manifesto, but that the party had lost the election.
The Green New Deal policy adopted under the previous leadership included the aim of a path to net zero carbon by the year 2030, based largely on massive public investment in green technology.
The suggestion that the commitment could be dropped has prompted an outcry from MPs on the left of the party and concern among activists.
Twenty-four MPs from the left of the party, including Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell, and Diane Abbott, have written a letter endorsing the proposal, arguing that it amounts to “necessary and urgent action”.
