Oliver Dowden ‘can’t be certain’ Tories didn’t pay hospital fees of rape complainant
Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden has denied that rape allegations were “covered up” while he was running the party.
The former Tory chairman said the Conservative Party takes any claims of sexual offences “exceptionally seriously” and that complainants should “go to the police”.
It comes after reports that that Sir Jake Berry, also a former Tory Party chairman, told police that an internal “failure” to act on allegations of rape allowed an unnamed MP to “continue to offend”.
According to a copy of a letter obtained by the Mail On Sunday, Sir Jake said he found out about a number of suspected assaults when he discovered the Tories had covered the cost of treatment for one of the alleged victims at a hospital.
He told the BBC on Sunday that he does not “recognise in any form the idea that we covered up”, saying the party takes the claims “exceptionally seriously”.
Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said she could not “comment on the specifics of the case” and did not think it was right for “politicians to provide a running commentary” on such serious claims.
Home Office was worried about ‘social unrest’ caused by ‘survival of fittest’ in pandemic
The Home Office believed a “survival of the fittest” scenario might unfold during the pandemic, with potential public unrest as services became overwhelmed.
The Covid-19 Inquiry has been shown minutes from a planning exercise in February 2020 dubbed operation Nimbus, in which attendees were warned to expect 840,000 deaths in a “reasonable worst case scenario”.
The meeting minutes said that in the scenario, Matt Hancock who was chairing asked what “key decisions” would need to be made about care. A representative from NHS England said decisions would have to be made about “whether to expand the intensive care capacity at the consequence of stopping treatment to others.
The Home Office said the social consequences would amount to a “survival of the fittest” situation which could lead to “social unrest”.
One of the recommendations after the meeting was that those involved in strategic decision-making during the pandemic be offered mental health support.
Reporting by Archie Mitchell
Sunak says Tory MP rape allegation complainant should ‘go to the police’
Boris Johnson referred to Treasury as ‘pro-death squad’, Covid inquiry hears
Boris Johnson referred to the Treasury as the “pro-death squad” during the pandemic, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has heard.
The former prime minister reportedly used the phrase at a meeting in January 2021 when he wanted the ministry to back him in arguing for a path to eased restrictions.
Giving evidence to the inquiry on Monday, Mr Johnson’s pandemic-era deputy principal private secretary, Stuart Glassborow, said he did not recall hearing the term.
Reading from former chief scientific adviser to the Government Sir Patrick Vallance’s diary, where the phrase was noted, Mr Keating went on: “There is an entry… at meeting on 25 January 2021 the PM is recorded saying he wants Tier 3 March 1, Tier 2 April 1, Tier 1 May 1 and nothing by September.
“And he ends it by saying the team must bring in the pro-death squad from HMT”.
“I think (this) refers to a meeting from a couple of years ago. I don’t recall that specific phrase,” Mr Glassborow said.
“I see that this is from Patrick’s notebook. I wouldn’t dispute what he’s recorded, but I don’t recall the phrase at all.”
Suella Braverman under fire after vowing crackdown on tents and claiming rough sleeping is ‘lifestyle choice’
Suella Braverman has prompted outrage after she vowed a crackdown on tents used by the homeless and described rough sleeping as a “lifestyle choice”.
The home secretary claimed streets risked being “taken over” and that without action British cities would see “an explosion of crime, drug taking, and squalor”.
She added that many of those living in tents were “from abroad”. Those who were genuinely homeless would always be supported, she said.
Majority of Tory members want Nigel Farage back in the party, poll reveals
More than seven in 10 Tory members want Nigel Farage to be readmitted to the party, a poll has revealed.
The former Brexit Party leader’s popularity among the Conservative grassroots is laid bare in the Conservative Home survey, which shows the rank and file overwhelmingly back his membership.
Mr Farage quit the Conservative Party in 1992 after John Major signed the Maastricht Treaty, but has increasingly hinted at a return, even joking he would be surprised if he wasn’t Tory leader by 2026.
Tory minister distances herself from Suella Braverman’s comment on rough sleeping
Reasons for homelessness are ‘complex’, say No 10
A spokesman for Rishi Sunak could not say whether the government had evidence to back up the Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s claim that some people are rough sleeping as a “lifestyle choice”.
“The reasons are complex, I think mental health and addiction are drivers of homelessness,” he said.
Asked if the prime minister ever gets tired of having to defend Ms Braverman, he said: “The Prime Minister continues to work closely with the Home Secretary, not least on this issue of protests… and of course on small boats.”
Energy secretary admits Rishi Sunak’s north sea oil expansion plans ‘won’t bring bills down’
The energy secretary has admitted that Rishi Sunak’s flagship energy policy will not bring household bills down.
Claire Coutinho was quizzed about the government’s plans to expand North Sea oil and gas exploration expected to be announced in the King’s Speech tomorrow.
The prime minister will declare the drive, which would invite annual applications for new licences to drill for oil and gas, will protect jobs and boost energy security “without adding undue burdens on households”.
Rishi Sunak shares thoughts on homelessness
More than a hundred British citizens have left Gaza, say No 10
More than a hundred British citizens have left Gaza through the Rafah crossing so far, Downing Street said.
No 10 did not without confirm how many more are trapped inside the territory.
The prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “It’s more than a hundred who have made it through the crossing.
“We are in contact with those who still remain, the British nationals who still remain in Gaza to update on the latest information we have.
“And we’ve got UK teams forward-deployed to receive those as they do make it through.
“I don’t have an update on the Rafah crossing as of right now, but obviously it’s disappointing it has been closed recently. It is obviously a complex situation and we will use all diplomatic options available to us to press for its reopening in co-ordination with our partners.”
Some 200 British nationals and their dependents were registered with the authorities to leave Gaza, meaning around half have made it out.
