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Sir Keir Starmer has said he understands public concerns after footage of police officer emerged appearing to show a police officer kicking a man in the head at Manchester Airport.
The prime minister said home secretary Yvette Cooper has met with Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, to discuss the harrowing scene that prompted the suspension of one police officer.
It came after Sir Keir said the “hard graft of rebuilding this country has truly started” as he accused the previous Tory government of leaving a “rot of short-sightedness and self-service” for Labour to clear up.
Giving a speech in Runcorn alongside Ed Milliband, the prime minister launched the government’s plan for a state-owned energy firm to “drive down bills”.
The Conservative party has started a three-month leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak after the general election defeat.
Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat were the latest to submit their papers to challenge James Cleverly to become the new leader of the opposition.
Other former cabinet ministers expected to announce bids include Kemi Badenoch, Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Suella Braverman.
Who will be the next Conservative leader? The Tory frontrunners
Possible candidates must win the support of 10 Conservative MPs before the Monday deadline in order to make it onto the ballot paper.
With the shortlist to be whittled down gradually until a final four are paraded in front of the party faithful at October’s Tory conference, The Independent looks at the runners and riders to take the reins from Mr Sunak.
School children unwittingly smoking spice-spiked vapes, study finds
School children in England may be unwittingly smoking vapes spiked with the synthetic street drug spice, according to new research.
Professor Chris Pudney, from the University of Bath, tested 596 vapes confiscated from schools in England and found 16.6% contained spice, which has a range of dangerous side effects including cardiac arrest.
It is believed the substance is being substituted into vapes which are sold as containing cannabis oil, as it is cheaper.
In total, 38 schools from across London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire took part in the research.
Results from a device than instantly detects synthetic drugs found spice was present in vapes from 28, or 74%, of these schools.
The device also revealed 1.17% of the vapes tested contained THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.
Prof Pudney said: “Teenagers think they are purchasing vapes or vape fluid containing THC or nicotine when, in fact, they are laced with spice.
“We know children can have cardiac arrests when they smoke spice, and I believe some have come quite close to death.
“Headteachers are telling me pupils are collapsing in the halls and ending up with long stays in intensive care.”
Starmer bids to reset Britain on world stage with trade, defence deals
Post-Brexit ties with Europe take a leap forward with defence pact between Britain and Germany, as Lammy lands in India for trade negotiations.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Cooper urges GMP to launch ‘fair’ investigation into Manchester police violence
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has urged Greater Manchester Police to launch a “fair and independent” investigation into police violence.
It comes as footage emerged of a police officer appears to kick a man in Manchester Airport.
Following a meeting with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Ms Cooper said in statement: “This morning I have spoken to Greater Manchester Police and the Mayor of Greater Manchester about the urgent steps they are taking in response to the incident at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening, and the video that circulated online yesterday.
“I share the deep concern surrounding the video and understand the widespread distress it will have caused. I welcome the initiation of an independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following a referral from Greater Manchester Police. It is extremely important that the IOPC are able to begin the investigation swiftly and conduct it thoroughly, examining all of the evidence, with clear and transparent ways for all those affected to be able to raise their concerns with the IOPC.
“I welcome the engagement by the Mayor of Greater Manchester with local communities. It is essential that the police have the trust of communities and the public rightly expect high standards from those in charge of keeping us safe.
“I am continuing to receive updates from Greater Manchester Police. It is vital that we now allow this investigation to proceed fairly and independently.”
Reform criticise ‘unfair’ committees in call for more representation
MPs from smaller parties including the SNP and Reform UK have criticised “unfair” committee selection and called for greater representation.
On Thursday the Government proposed a motion to establish a modernisation committee that would consider reforms to House of Commons procedures, standards, and working practices.
The party balance of committee membership is intended to reflect the balance of seats in the House, and membership elections are held within each party.
SNP MP Kirsty Blackman proposed an amendment to the motion that would require one member from each party to be represented on the 14 person committee, that went unselected by the Speaker.
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson (Ashfield) intervened to say: “This for me seems a little bit unfair. We have a political party represented in this House that got over four million votes at the last election and we will have no representation whatsoever on the committees.
“Yet we’ve got a party (the Liberal Democrats), they’ve got three and a half million votes that will have plenty of representation on the committees, does the Leader think that’s fair?”
The Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice kept pressure on Ms Powell, telling her: “(Mr Anderson) has just made a very good case and asked you a specific question. Is it fair?
“And by your lack of reply, you I think implicitly agree. It’s not fair.
“And you have it in your power to change this in the matter of fairness and listening to smaller parties and I think constituents all over the country, if you don’t agree with that, will find that absolutely astonishing.”
Ian Lavery claims MPs make ‘an absolute fortune’ while constituents are on benefits
Labour MP Ian Lavery said MPs make “an absolute fortune” while their constituents are on benefits and using food banks.
Speaking in the Commons, the MP for Blyth and Ashington said: “I never thought in a million years when I was working at the pit that I would be on a salary of £91,346, it’s a fortune you know, it’s an absolute fortune, and you’ve got to work for it, you’ve got to work for your constituents.
“That £91,346, when you look at the average UK salary, which is £35,828, in the North East where I live it’s under £30,000 – we’re paid fortunes, man, we’re nearly millionaires, I know that’s not true, however I make a point.”
Mr Lavery added: “Sky News reported that MPs earned £17 million from second incomes last year, that’s a lot of money, mind, a lot of money when a lot of people who we represent are actually using food banks, are actually claiming benefits in work, and they’re suffering greatly as a consequence of the cost-of-living crisis caused by 14 years of disruption of the Conservative government.”
Labour MP blasts ‘being an MP is not a hobby’
Labour’s Ian Lavery has claimed that MPs who have time for a second job are not doing their job as an elected representative properly.
Speaking in the Commons, he said that “being an MP is not a hobby” before adding: “This is like a full-time job plus, and if it’s not a full-time job plus, I’m afraid my view is: you’re not doing your job. If you’re elected as a Member of Parliament, with 70,000-odd constituents, then that’s a full-time job.
“I cannot for the life of me understand how other people have had and have been able to take up other jobs, other occupations, and see this as basically something that tops up their massive salary elsewhere, that’s what’s happened, and it continues to happen.”
Mr Lavery, the MP for Blyth and Ashington, said he was called a “liar” during the election campaign but that he believes most MPs are “genuinely decent people” who are “there to make life better”.
He went on to say: “That’s the perception of the general public, that MPs are greedy, they’re liars, are all the same, they want to make as much money as they can and not bothered about the people they represent, and that’s what I think we’ve got to try and clean up.”
David Lammy hails ‘UK-India partnership’ during trip to New Delhi
Tories back Labour proposals to tighten rules on second jobs for MPs
Shadow Commons leader Chris Philp said the UK is “fortunate” because its standards for public life are higher than in other countries, but welcomed proposed improvements.
It comes as Labour is pushing ahead with the plan to restrict rules on second jobs for MPs.
Mr Philp said his party is “nervously embracing” the “new spirit of cross-party working” as he confirmed the Tories will not be opposing the proposed changes to guidelines on MPs having second jobs or the establishment of a modernisation committee.
He told the Commons: “Standards and integrity are critical to this House of Commons, we are the crucible to our nation’s democracy, our constituents have sent us here to represent them, and our constituents are entitled to expect the very highest standards of behaviour from us as Members of Parliament.
“Now, we’re fortunate, I think, that in this country our standards in public life are higher than they are in many countries, but there is no room for complacency and we should constantly strive to improve and perfect the standards in this House, it’s a duty I think we owe the public.
“So, in broad terms, I welcome the initiative the Leader of the House has taken in this area.”
Tugendhat, Jenrick and Cleverly locked in Tory leadership battle
Robert Jenrick was the third Tory MP to announce his bid to become the next leader of the Conservative party after Tom Tugendhat submitted his papers.
The two contenders will challenge James Cleverly and other MPs hoping to replace the outgoing Rishi Sunak after the election defeat.
Mr Tugendhat, seen as a candidate from the moderate wing of the party, indicated he would be prepared to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if needed to regain control of UK borders.
Shadow home secretary Mr Cleverly is currently leading the leadership race with three endorsements from Tory MPs, including Gagan Mohindra, Peter Fortune and Simon Hoare.
Kemi Badenoch could be throwing her hat in the ring soon after her leadership website was spotted under maintenance.
Other former cabinet ministers expected to announce their bids include Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Suella Braverman.
The Conservative Party will appoint a new leader on 2 November and contenders have until Monday to win the support of the 10 MPs they need to make it onto the ballot paper.
