Markus Andrews

Nicola Sturgeon has denied a series of SNP newspaper adverts which claimed Scotland was “a nation in waiting” were about Scottish independence.The first minister and SNP leader claimed the ads were merely designed to “welcome” leaders and campaigners to Scotland for the crucial Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow.Opposition parties in Scotland expressed outrage over the ads marking the Cop26 talks and quoting Ms Sturgeon as saying: “A nation in waiting welcomes the nations of the world.”The advert also stated: “While not yet an independent nation, we’re more than ready and able to play out part on the global stage at Cop26.”Asked on Tuesday if they were aimed at boosting the party’s campaign for independence, Ms Sturgeon said: “We didn’t launch a campaign. We had adverts in a couple of newspapers welcoming people to Scotland.”The first minister added: “I think there is a difference. This conference is about climate change and I don’t think anybody hearing or listening or speaking to me over the course of yesterday or today would think I’m focused on anything other than that.”Scottish Conservatives accused Ms Sturgeon of pursing her own “obsession” during a summit focused on action to tackle the climate crisis. The party’s constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said the ads were “disappointing, but very predictable”.The Tory MSP added: “Even when world leaders are in Glasgow to focus on the future of the planet, the first instinct of the SNP is to push their divisive independence obsession.”Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also accused the party of being “obsessed with independence” at a time when “the world is coming together with the mission of solving the biggest problem humanity has ever faced”.Ms Sturgeon was asked during an interview with CNN at the Cop26 summit if she still planned on pushing ahead with a second independence referendum in 2023. “Absolutely – that’s my plan,” the first minister replied.The Independent revealed in September how Downing Street had been plotting how to cut Ms Sturgeon and her team out of Cop26 talks to prevent the first minister stealing the limelight.Advisers at No 10 and the Cabinet Office had discussed how to prevent this autumn’s landmark Glasgow summit becoming an “advert” for Scottish independence, according to meeting notes and WhatsApp messages.Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon said on Tuesday that the steps taken in the first days of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow have been “positive”, bit it was important to see the detail of various announcements being made.“I think yesterday there was a sense of momentum but where that momentum will take us over the next couple of weeks remains to be seen,” she said.The first minister also told journalists she had briefly spoken to US president Joe Biden during a lavish reception at Kelvingrove Museum after the first day of the talks.“I spoke to [Mr Biden] briefly last night at Kelvingrove,” she said. “I welcomed him to Scotland, we had a very brief conversation about the importance of the climate discussions.”Ms Sturgeon also said she has “concerns” about a police operation which saw some women attending the conference having to walk through Kelvingrove Park in the dark while part of Cop26 cordoned off.“I’ll certainly speak to the police about the circumstances of that,” she said. “It won’t surprise you to hear that I would have concerns about any suggestion that women were put into, what even they would feel was a position of not being safe.” More

Downing Street has rejected India’s call for rich countries to hand over $1 trillion to help poor nations meet the climate emergency – arguing they are getting a “massive sum” already.Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, made the demand at the Cop26 summit, hinting his country would then agree to hit net zero carbon emissions earlier than 2070.The help, from the industrialised nations responsible for the climate crisis, must be much greater than a 2015 promise of $100bn a year – which will arrive three years late in 2023.“The ambitions of the world over climate finance cannot be kept standing at the point where they were at the time of the Paris Agreement,” Mr Modi told the summit.“India expects developed nations to make climate finance of $1 trillion available at the earliest. Today, it’s important to track climate finance just like we track the progress of climate mitigation.”The UK is donating around £2.3bn a year to that $100bn pot, but has been criticised for taking the money from an aid budget that been slashed by around £4bn a year.But Boris Johnson’s spokesman rejected the idea of a much bigger climate fund – to enable developing countries to move faster to cut CO2 – making clear $100bn a year is still the target.“That’s what is forecast by experts to be what’s required to help get to those targets to keep 1.5°C alive,” he told The Independent.Over the five-year period agreed, it meant £500bn would be handed over, which “would be a massive sum to help out developing countries”.It is unclear whether Mr Modi was calling for $1 trillion a year, or over several years, but other countries are pushing for a £1.5bn annual target.The climate finance is seen as crucial in winning the trust of developing nations to make their green transitions, also helping them adapt to the consequences of global heating.In the run-up to Cop26, a report by Germany and Canada confirmed the target of $100bn by 2020 had been missed, but expressed “confidence that it would be met in 2023”.In his summit speech, Mr Modi disappointed Downing Street by naming 2070 as its target date to go net zero – 20 years later than Cop26’s aim.But the announcement is widely seen as a bargaining chip and there is a widespread expectation that India, the world’s 3rd biggest carbon emitter, will get there sooner.In his speech, Mr Modi said: “When India has resolved to move forward with a new commitment and new energy, then the climate finance and transfer of low-cost technology transfer become even more important.“We know the reality – that promises made so far over climate finance have proven to be hollow.” More

Boris Johnson is to hold a press conference at 5pm at the climate summit Cop26 summit in Glasgow, No 10 has said.It comes after a series of gloomy remarks from the prime minister in recent days about the ability to thrash out an agreement at the conference to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.Ahead of the event, Mr Johnson warned fellow leaders that if the summit failed “the whole thing fails” and the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement would have “crumpled at the first reckoning”.However, on the second day of the summit, ministers struck a more upbeat tone, hailing a “significant breakthrough” on a deforestation agreement, with more than 100 leaders pledging to end the “great chainsaw massacre” of the world’s forests.Representing countries that are home to 85 per cent of the planet’s forests – including Brazil – the leaders committed to “halt and reverse” deforestation by the end of the decade at an event convened by the prime minister on Tuesday.Mr Johnson told delegates: “Today is not just a vital win in the struggle to contain global temperature increases, it is also a huge economic opportunity.“This is the long-term sustainable path to maintaining to ending the loss of our forests, protecting our sacred biodiversity and helping to keep alive the ambition of 1.5 degrees by the end of the century.”Earlier, a No 10 spokesperson suggested the prime minister will also highlight other announcements at the summit so far, including commitment by almost 100 countries to cut back on the potent greenhouse gas methane.Nations agreed on Tuesday to slash emissions from methane by 30 per cent by 2030, when compared to levels in 2020, in what was described as a “game-changing commitment” by the US president Joe Biden.The prime minister’s official spokesperson also claimed: “I think we are starting to see some significant momentum over the past day and a half.” “The prime minister will remain closely involved in that work over the next couple of weeks,” they added.“This is not a foregone conclusion. What we have seen are some very early signs that we are beginning to make progress, but we are not complacent. There is a huge amount to do.” More

A new plan to help deliver clean and affordable technology across the world by 2030 is being hailed as another Cop26 milestone by Boris Johnson.A total of 40 nations are backing the ‘Glasgow Breakthroughs’, to give developing countries access to the innovation and tools needed to make the shift to net zero carbon emissions.Downing Street believes the initiative can create 20 million new jobs globally and add over $16 trillion to the economies of both emerging and advanced economies.It will cover: clean power, zero emission road vehicles, near-zero emission steel production, low carbon hydrogen and climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture.By “sending strong signals to industry”, governments believe they can stimulate green investment, join up research efforts and mobilise private finance.On Monday, Mr Johnson launched a £3bn ‘Clean Green Initiative’ in Glasgow, to help fund infrastructure and green technology in developing countries.“By making clean technology the most affordable, accessible and attractive choice, the default go-to in what are currently the most polluting sectors, we can cut emissions right around the world,” the prime minister said.“The Glasgow Breakthroughs will turbocharge this forward, so that by 2030 clean technologies can be enjoyed everywhere, not only reducing emissions but also creating more jobs and greater prosperity.”The announcement comes after a deal was announced aiming to save the world’s forests, by halting and reversing deforestation over the next decade.China’s Xi Jinping, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro and Joe Biden, the US president, all backed the declaration to protect vast areas, ranging from the Amazon to eastern Siberia and the Congo basin.Australia, India, Japan, Turkey, the US, South Korea and EU nations are among the 40 committing to the Glasgow Breakthroughs.Their leaders will also commit to discuss global progress every year in each sector, with annual reports by the International Energy Agency and a United Nations body.It may be the first step towards annual reporting of the real-world progress each country is making towards their carbon-cutting promises made in Glasgow, to prevent backsliding.Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general, told the presidents and prime ministers gathered that a gap of five years before they reported would be too late.Mr Johnson also announced small pots of money – £40m and £10m respectively – to help island states most threatened by rising oceans, caused by global heating.At an event with Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, he said: “They have done virtually nothing to cause the problem.“They didn’t cause the huge volumes of CO2 to be pumped into the atmosphere. So I would encourage every country that has contributed to pumping CO2 into the air over the last 250 years to join this campaign.” More

Britain today played down suggestions that it is planning new concessions to France, after President Emmanuel Macron put plans for retaliatory action over fishing rights on hold for 72 hours while further talks take place.Mr Macron’s Europe minister Clement Beaune said the last-minute delay to sanctions due to take effect on Tuesday morning was prompted by indications from the UK that it was ready to accelerate the process of finding a settlement to the dispute over licences for French boats to fish off the Channel Islands. Mr Beaune said a response to French proposals was expected from London by the end of Wednesday.But Downing Street today insisted there was no change to its position on the handling of applications for fishing permits as set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) governing UK/EU relations following Brexit.And a No 10 spokesperson said that Brexit minister Lord Frost would use a meeting with Mr Beaune in Paris on Thursday to raise the separate problem of the Irish border, in a further indication of the UK seeking to bypass the European Commission and speak directly to member states on the issue.A source close to Lord Frost told The Independent: “We’re happy to keep talking to them and we may respond, but it’s not going to be a change in position. We stand by our methodology on fish.”Meanwhile, the Jersey government suggested that Mr Macron’s climbdown was triggered by its willingness to reconsider about five or six of the 55 applications to fish it has previously rejected. The cases relate to vessels said to be replacements for boats which formerly fished off the island.“I think that would be quite a good way to move things forward and allow more time,” said Jersey minister of external affairs Ian Gorst.“The French have taken the view that it is better to try and to deal with the individual vessels than trigger counter-measures whereby everybody will become entrenched.”Downing Street said that the UK welcomed Mr Macron’s decision to step back from threats to close French ports to British boats, impose tighter checks on goods lorries and target electricity supplies to the Channel Islands. The spokesperson said that Britain was ready to seek a “consensual” resolution to the dispute, which relates to only a few dozen boats but is regarded as a “life or death” issue by the French fishermen involved.Asked if Mr Beaune was right to suggest the UK would respond to French proposals by Wednesday, the spokesperson said: “In terms of the process as it as it stands, we will continue to look at applications for fishing licences as set out in the TCA and we will continue to work with any fishermen to look at their application and where they are valid and we can grant fishing licences, we will continue to do so.“Our process remains the same, based on the methodology… as per the TCA with regard to what evidence and data licences need to be supported by in order to be granted. Of course, we will listen to what France have to say. And we are we are open to find consensual solutions together if we can.”Speaking late on Monday, Mr Beaune said that Paris had received “the first indications from the British authorities that the process can be sped up”. After talks with Lord Frost, he said that “a response to the most recent French proposals is expected by Wednesday”.Mr Beaune said that Thursday’s meeting would involved an “in-depth discussion on the difficulties relating to the application of the agreements between the UK and EU”.And he said: “In order to allow the dialogue to proceed freely, the measures announced and prepared by France will not be applied before this meeting and before the consideration of Britain’s new responses on fishing licences.”The development came amid confusion over the fate of a Scottish-registered scallop vessel seized by French authorities and detained at the port of Le Havre.Environment secretary George Eustice claimed on Tuesday that the Cornelis Gert Jan had been released.But the director of the vessel’s owner Macduff Shellfish said the firm expects the boat to remain in the hands of the French authorities until another court hearing on Wednesday.And a prosecuting source in Le Havre confirmed the Scottish vessel was still “subject to legal negotiations” and would have to pay a deposit of just over £125,000 before she could return home.Jeremy Lhomel, a fisherman based in the coastal town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, said the inability to access British waters was catastrophic for those earning a living from fishing in the Channel.He told the PA news agency: “This situation with the licences, we think there’s a lot of bad faith because we are small family boats, we have three, four people on board, we don’t empty the sea, we deal with very few fish, and for us the situation is catastrophic because we can no longer access these waters.“For us it’s vital to get these licences so that we can fish; it’s a matter of life or death.”The UK has granted more than 1,700 licences to EU vessels wishing to fish in its waters since Brexit, which London says is around 98 per cent of the total. The dispute revolves around a limited number of smaller boats which do not stray far from the French coast. More

The British vessel at the centre of a furious post-Brexit row over fishing rights remains in the hands of the French authorities – despite a UK cabinet minister claiming it had been released.Environment secretary George Eustice claimed on Tuesday that the scallop vessel Cornelis Gert Jan, seized by French and detained in the port of Le Harve, had been released.“I understand that vessel has now been released and I think there’s going to need to be some further discussions, clearly there was an administrative error at some point,” he told Sky News.But the director of the vessel’s owner Macduff Shellfish said it had not been released, and the firm expects the boat to remain in the hands of the French authorities until another court hearing on Wednesday.Andrew Brown told The Independent: “As far as we are aware the vessel remains held at Le Havre at least until the hearing tomorrow.”Macduff Shellfish said a hearing on Wednesday would determine the conditions under which the Cornelius Gert Jan would be released.A prosecuting source in Le Havre said the Scottish vessel was still “subject to legal negotiations” and would have to pay a deposit of just over £125,000 before she could return home.Despite Mr Eustice’s comments, the government also later confirmed that the vessel remains in Le Havre where it is subject to detention by the French authorities over licensing enforcement matter. Irish skipper Jondy Ward was arrested along with his seven crew members in off the Normandy coast last Wednesday by the French Maritime Gendarmerie. The boat and crew were escorted to the quayside at Le Havre, where they have been ever since.Mr Brown said: “The charge of fishing illegally was revoked by the judge at an emergency hearing in Rouen on Friday. But this decision was appealed by the French authorities. A hearing on Wednesday will determine the conditions under which the Cornelius Gert Jan will be released.”Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Eustice suggested that the British vessel had been impounded during the diplomatic storm because of “administrative confusion”.The environment secretary said the government has welcomed France having “stepped back” from threats to impose punitive action in a dispute over fishing licences, as talks to settle the row continue.On Monday night, just hours ahead of the deadline set by Paris, president Emmanuel Macron said France would hold off on the action against British boats that he had warned could have been implemented on Tuesday.Mr Macron said the UK now has until Thursday to license more French vessels to fish in British waters or face consequences. France has threatened to bar British boats from some of its ports and tighten checks on boats and trucks carrying British goods if no solution is found.Britain says it has granted 98 per cent of applications from EU vessels – a figure that the French authorities have questioned.Mr Eustice said a meeting between Brexit minister Lord Frost and France’s Europe minister Clement Beaune in Paris on Thursday would be “very important” in trying to resolve the row.Mr Beaune said a British response to the most recent French proposals is expected by Wednesday, before an “in-depth discussion” with Lord Frost on Thursday. The French minister added: “In order to allow the dialogue to proceed freely, the measures announced and prepared by France will not be applied before this meeting and before the consideration of Britain’s new responses on fishing licences.”Bruno Bonnell, a leading French MP from the president Emmanuel Macron’s party, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Mr Johnson had been “bluffing all along”. He said Johnson has been “continuously pretending that Brexit will have no impact, no effect, on the UK lifestyle”.Additional reporting by Peter Allen in Paris. More

Parliamentary authorities have cancelled events, including tours and banquets, on the estate for the next two weeks amid a rise in Covid cases.The move comes after the UK Health Security Agency determined that the risk of transmission within the Palace of Westminster “is now greater”, according to a parliamentary spokesperson.Outlining a tightening of measures, an email to staff made clear that “non-parliamentary business” such as tours and banqueting activity would be cancelled, as MPs were also urged to wear face coverings.Commons authorities have also urged people on the estate of maintain social distancing where possible while urging the chairs of committees to ensure compliance with face coverings during hearings on the estate.Just last week, masks were made mandatory again for all staff and contractors working in parliament except MPs — although not MPs, leading to accusations they were “above” the rules other pass holders are required to follow.It was added in a note to staff last week that “all face-to-face meetings with colleagues should be avoided, unless there is a business need”.“The House’s priority is to ensure that those on the estate are safe while business is facilitated,” a parliamentary spokesperson said.“There have been recent increases in Covid-19 across the country and these are also being reflected in Parliament.“The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has determined that the risk of transmission on the parliamentary estate is now greater.“As a consequence, some further action is being taken to ensure that case numbers do not continue to rise. The measures will be reviewed in two weeks’ time.”The move by parliamentary authorities contrasts with the government’s resistance to impose “plan B” measures, including the mandatory use of face masks and guidance for the public to work from home.And just last week, the Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, defended not wearing a face mask by arguing that regular testing shows he is not “spewing Covid” in the chamber.He has previously claimed that Tory MPs’ “convivial, fraternal spirit” meant they did not need to mask up because the advice to wear a covering only applied in crowded spaces with people you do not normally mix with. More

George Eustice has apologised to a disabled Israeli minister for being unable to access the Cop26 climate summit, but appeared to place blame on the country’s failure to communicate “particular” access needs.The environment secretary’s remarks came after Karine Elharrar, an energy minister, suggested it was “sad” the United Nations event did “not provide accessibility” after she was she was left unable to participate in proceedingsAccording to Reuters, Ms Elharrar told Israeli media she could not reach the conference grounds because the only options to get there from the gathering area were to walk or board a shuttle that was not suited for a wheelchair.The incident occurred on the first day of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow, with global leaders gathering in an attempt to thrash out an agreement to keep prevent global temperatures rising more than 1.5C degrees above pre-industrial levels.“We deeply regret that incident,” Mr Eustice told the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme,But he added: “What would normally happen in this situation is that Israel would have communicated that they had that particular need for their minister — there was obviously something went wrong in this instance and they weren’t aware of that and so they hadn’t made the right provisions for the particular entrance she was coming to.”Pressed on disabled access in general to the Cop26 summit, Mr Eustice said at “most of the other entrances… wheelchair access is there.“It was because she came to an entrance where they didn’t have that provision, but we obviously deeply regret that was the case and she should have been taken to sort that out.” More