Markus Andrews

‘Unforgivable’ online racist abuse of England players condemned by boss_m196939.mp4Boris Johnson will urge social media firms to take tougher action over racism in a meeting today after the abuse of England football players, which he described as being “from the dark spaces of the internet”.Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka have been the target of racist hate online after England’s defeat in the Euro 2020 final, which saw all three players miss penalties. While ministers have condemned the abuse, England football star Tyrone Mings has accused Priti Patel of “stoking the fire” by criticising the team for taking the knee against racism as “gesture politics”.Meanwhile, a long-brewing Tory rebellion over the government’s £4bn foreign aid cuts will come to a head in the Commons today as MPs are granted a crucial vote – after weeks of dismissal by Downing Street – on whether to reverse the cuts in January, with Sir Keir Starmer among those warning that failure to defeat the government on Tuesday would make the cuts “not temporary but indefinite”.Read more: Show latest update

1626187533Downing Street reception for England players ‘shelved’, journalist reportsPlans to host England’s players at Downing Street this week have been “shelved”, according to The Guardian’s political correspondent.Downing Street is yet to respond to a request for comment from The Independent and no other outlets have yet confirmed the report.On LBC, host Shelagh Fogarty asked Tory MP Simon Hoare whether No 10 had “bottled it”. While unable to shine any further light on the matter, Mr Hoare said he feared that any “misinterpretation” that the government only rolls out the red carpet in the event of total victory would send “the most frightful message” to young people that “if you don’t win, don’t bother taking part”.Andy Gregory13 July 2021 15:451626186343The abuse of black players has been fuelled by some politicians who had “in effect encouraged fans to boo the national team”, according to the former chair of the government’s Race Disparity Unit’s advisory group, Lord Woolley of Woodford.Andy Gregory13 July 2021 15:251626186239Ban online racists from football grounds for life, former FA chair saysRacists who abused England players online should be given a lifetime ban from football grounds nationwide if convicted, a former Football Association chairman has said,Pressing for a “one strike and they are out” approach, Lord Triesman told parliament there should be “no excuses, no second chances”.He was among a number of peers at Westminster to condemn the racial hatred directed on social media at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka Euro 2020 final.Digital, culture, media and sport minister Baroness Barran said the government was aware that football banning orders (FBOs) – which currently last a maximum of 10 years – can have “a great effect on those implicated and it is one of the things we are looking at”.Andy Gregory13 July 2021 15:231626184258Government’s conditions for reversing foreign aid cuts ‘will never be met’, says Tory MPA Conservative MP has warned the conditions proposed by the government for reversing its foreign aid cuts – said to have assuaged more than a dozen Tory rebels – “will never be met”.The Treasury has pledged to recommit to previous levels of foreign aid contributions once Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts indicate underlying UK debt is falling and the country is not borrowing for day-to-day spending.But Andrew Mitchell warned: “This is no compromise at all. It is a fiscal trap for the unwary. “It is quite possible that these conditions will never be met, and you don’t need to look in the crystal ball, you can read the book. It is indisputably the case that there has only been one occasion in the last two decades, in 2001, when these conditions would have been met.”Andy Gregory13 July 2021 14:501626183513Boris Johnson is to host social media representatives at Downing Street to discuss online abuse.Representatives from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are expected, alongside those from TikTok, Snapchat, Microsoft and Amazon Kids UK, according to No 10.Andy Gregory13 July 2021 14:381626182042PM ‘opened Cabinet meeting by condemning racist attacks on England players’, Downing Street saysAccording to his spokesman, Boris Johnson began a meeting of his Cabinet today by condemning the racist attacks England players were targeted with after the Euro final.“He said the abuse was utterly disgraceful and had emerged from the dark spaces of the internet,” the prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters.“He said he would use today’s meeting with social media firms to reiterate the urgent need for action ahead of tougher laws coming into force through the Online Harms Bill.”The spokesman added that social media companies should “do everything they can to identify these people”, including handing over details of those who posted racist content.Andy Gregory13 July 2021 14:141626181727Theresa May ‘to defy three-line whip for first time in nearly 25 years’ over foreign aidHere’s more detail from Theresa May’s attempt to use her clout and insight as former prime minister to urge fellow Tories to rebel against her successor in Downing Street.“I have been in this House for nearly a quarter of a century,” Ms May told MPs. “During that time I have never voted against a three-line whip from my party.“As prime minister I suffered at the hands of rebels, I know what it is like to see party colleagues voting against their government.”But she added: “We made a promise to the poorest people in the world. The government has broken that promise. This motion means that promise may be broken for years to come.”Andy Gregory13 July 2021 14:081626181164Foreign aid cuts could be ‘indefinite’ if government wins crucial vote, Starmer warnsTory rebels and Sir Keir Starmer have warned that failure to defeat the government in a crucial Commons vote today could end forever the UK’s pledge to meet the United Nations target of spending 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid.As our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports, Boris Johnson told MPs that plans set out by the Treasury would “provide certainty for our aid budget and an affordable path back to 0.7 per cent, while also allowing investment in other priorities, including the NHS, schools and the police”.But the Labour leader warned that conditions set by Rishi Sunak meant the cut to 0.5 per cent would remain in place at least until the next election in 2024, meaning that the £4bn reduction in aid spending is “not temporary but indefinite”.Andy Gregory13 July 2021 13:591626180809Theresa May to vote against government on foreign aidFormer prime minister Theresa May has said she will vote against Boris Johnson’s cuts to international aid plans today, accusing the government of “turning its back on some of the poorest people in the world”.Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has the full story here:Andy Gregory13 July 2021 13:531626179749Boris Johnson ‘called for nation to cheer and not to boo’, Downing Street saysDowning Street has defended Boris Johnson and Priti Patel after England star Tyrone Mings accused the home secretary of “stoking the fires” of racism.“The prime minister called for the nation to get behind and support the players, to cheer and not boo, before England had played a game in the tournament,” Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said.“The home secretary is working every day to clamp down on hate crime, racism and violence. There is no place for racism in this country and she is backing the police to hold those responsible for this abuse accountable.”The spokesman also indicated that Mr Johnson would be comfortable with England footballers taking a knee at a No 10 reception if one was held for them, saying: “I think the prime minister made his feelings clear. People should feel free to show their respect and show how much they condemn racism in this country in any way that they choose.”He added: “We are speaking to the FA about how best to celebrate and honour the work of the players and the coaching staff in that tournament.”Andy Gregory13 July 2021 13:35 More

The £4bn-a-year overseas aid cuts will become permanent if the government wins a crucial vote today, the leading Tory rebel is warning – urging MPs not to be “hoodwinked”.Andrew Mitchell poured scorn on a new Treasury plan that, ministers claim, would restore the cuts when the economy improves, branding it “a fiscal trap”.One analysis has concluded the tests – no unsustainable borrowing for day-to-day spending and falling underlying debt – will not be passed before the next election, scheduled for 2024.Mr Mitchell said: “Any of my colleagues who are satisfied by that, frankly, are being hoodwinked. The terms the Treasury have set are a fiscal trap“Frankly, if the government get their way today that we can kiss goodbye to the 0.7,” he said – referring to the legal commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on aid.Aid has been slashed by around £4bn a year – breaking a Tory manifesto pledge and, potentially, the law – with no date for restoring the “temporary” reduction, which could be years away.In a major U-turn, MPs have been granted a binding vote, on Tuesday, to reverse the cuts from next year, but threatened with tax hikes and other spending cuts if they defy the government.Around 50 Tory MPs are thought ready to rebel – enough to win the vote – but Mr Mitchell stepped back from expressing confidence that they will win, saying: “We will see what will happen today.”Some potential rebels are believed to have jumped sides – but there are also allegations of dirty tricks and suggestions that some were never expected rebels in the first place.Mr Mitchell pointed out that every MP had been elected on a manifesto of spending 0.7 per cent of income on aid, a proportion that has now been slashed to 0.5 per cent.“It is frankly staggering, that the government’s only cut – the only cut the government has made – is to spending to help the poorest people on the planet.“In the middle of a pandemic, when this amounts to approximately 1 per cent of the borrowing on Covid in the last year.”Peter Ricketts, the former Foreign Office permanent secretary, backed the rebels, saying: “If MPs accept the Treasury’s conditions for restoring 0.7 per cent, it would mean that the only part of government spending that is dependent on the performance of the economy is the part that goes to help the world’s poorest in the middle of a pandemic.”And Daniel Willis, campaigns manager at the campaign group Global Justice Now, said: “Despite this government’s repeated attempts to deny MPs a vote on aid cuts, democracy has finally won out.“But ministers are using every trick in the book to avoid a humiliating defeat in the Commons, rushing this debate through the House with virtually no notice on the same day as major health legislation – and with no clarity on whether it will be amendable.” More

Boris Johnson will tell social media companies at a meeting this afternoon the the government expects them to do “everything they can” to identify those responsible for racist abuse of England football players, Downing Street has said.The prime minister told a meeting of cabinet that the attacks on Euro 2020 penalty-takers Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Buyako Saka were “utterly disgraceful” and had emerged “from the dark spaces of the internet”.He said he would use today’s long-planned meeting with social media firms to reiterate the urgent need for action to deal with hatred on their platforms ahead of legislation in his Online Harms Bill, currently going through parliamentThe PM told ministers that there was “no question” that the kind of abuse directed at the England players needs to be “stamped out”, said Mr Johnson’s official spokesperson.He said attendees at today’s meeting – thought to include giants like Facebook and Twitter – will be told to “up their game to prevent online abuse now”.The spokesperson defended home secretary Priti Patel, who has been accused by England squad member Tyrone Mings of “stoking the fire” of racism by dismissing the team’s decision to take the knee ahead of games as gesture politics.“The home secretary has been clear there is no place for racism in our country and that’s why she is backing the police to hold those responsible accountable,” said the spokesperson. “The home secretary is working every day to clamp down on hate crime, racism and violence.”Asked if social media companies should hand over details of the identities of those responsible for racist abuse, the spokesperson said: “Yes, we expect the social media companies to do everything they can to identify these people.”The spokesperson said the government was in discussions with the FA on the “most suitable way” for the PM to thank the team and England staff for their efforts, but was unable to say whether this might involve a reception at 10 Downing Street.Asked whether Mr Johnson would be happy for the players to take the knee at No 10 if invited, the spokesperson replied: “The prime minister has made his feelings clear that people should feel free to show their respect and show how much they condemn racism in this country in any way that they choose.” More

Boris Johnson has been challenged to apologise for failing to condemn the booing of footballers who “take the knee” ahead of games.The issue is at the heart of an escalating row in the wake of England’s Euro 2020 final appearance on Sunday, as squad member Tyrone Mings accused home secretary Priti Patel of “stoking the fire” of racism by dismissing taking the knee as gesture politics.Now Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has written to the prime minister urging him to commit to offering his “full support” to players who make peaceful protests against racism.“Many have seen you wearing the England shirt, and seen your home decorated in England flags, but you’re hardly a supporter when you refuse to support our players in their fight to end the injustice of racism in our country,” wrote the Lib Dem leader.“Our country needs leaders who will unequivocally condemn racism in all its forms, and give their full support to those who, having experienced it, challenge it. Leaders like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Buyako Saka, Raheem Sterling and Gareth Southgate. We need a prime minister who will take the lead on it too.”Ms Patel sparked controversy ahead of the Euro 2020 tournament by refusing to condemn the boos from some sections of the crowds which have greeted players taking the knee before games.Asked whether fans had a right to boo England’s national team, she said in a TV interview on 14 June: “That’s a choice for them quite frankly. I’ve not gone to a football match to even contemplate that.”Downing Street sought to distance itself from the comment at the time, saying Mr Johnson would rather “see fans cheering and not booing” the team, but Mr Johnson did not slap down the home secretary on the issue.After Ms Patel on Monday said she was “disgusted” by racial abuse directed at England penalty-takers Rashford, Sancho and Saka, Aston Villa centre-back Mings responded in a tweet: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.”In his letter, Sir Ed said that the “vile racist abuse” directed at “national heroes” Rashford, Sancho and Saka was precisely the sort of problem which players have been protesting about by taking the knee.The Lib Dem leader told the PM: “I hope that you can now understand why their protest is so important, and why they deserve our wholehearted support for it.“I hope that you and the home secretary can both now understand why you were wrong to withhold that support and refuse to condemn those who booed our players for protesting racism.“I urge you to apologise for that, and to commit now that England players and all others who peacefully protest against racism will have your full support in the future.” More

A Conservative MP has backed England footballer Tyrone Mings after he accused Priti Patel of “stoking the fire” of racism, saying he is “completely right”.Johnny Mercer broke ranks with his party to reveal his deep unease about the home secretary supporting fans who booed the team for taking the knee at the start of games.In a fierce attack on Ms Patel, Mr Mings has poured scorn on her condemnation of the racist abuse suffered by some players after the Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy on Sunday.“You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens,” the centre-back tweeted.Ms Patel has declined to comment, while the Treasury minister Stephen Barclay insisted she had “repeatedly taken a stand against racism”.But Mr Mercer, a former defence minister who quit describing the government as “a cesspit”, tweeted of Mr Mings: “The painful truth is that this guy is completely right.“Very uncomfortable with the position we Conservatives are needlessly forcing ourselves into. Do I fight it or stay silent? Modern Conservatism was always so much more to me. We must not lose our way.”After the match on Sunday, Mr Mercer also laid into the home secretary directly for her inflammatory dismissal of the anti-racism stance the England team had adopted“Priti and others completely wrong on objecting to taking a knee,” he tweeted.“Racism pervades some of our communities and it abhors your average bloke like me. Do whatever it takes to take a stand. I’m with you.”The escalating row also threatens Boris Johnson’s reported plan to host the England team at a reception in Downing Street, or at another venue.It raises the prospect of some of the players boycotting the event, or using it is an opportunity to criticise the government in public.Both Mr Johnson and Ms Patel have been branded “hypocrites” for condemning the racist abuse of England’s footballers, after their previous stances on tackling racism.Former footballer Gary Neville accused the prime minister of having “promoted” racism, in his notorious newspaper article about Muslim women looking “like letterboxes”.Sayeeda Warsi, the former Conservative party chairman, also accused her own party of reaping what it had sowed – pointing to its fighting of “culture wars”.“If we “whistle” & the ”dog” reacts we can’t be shocked if it barks & bites,” she tweeted. “It’s time to stop the culture wars that are feeding division. Dog whistles win votes but destroy nations.”But Mr Barclay said: “The home secretary herself has been the subject of appalling online racist abuse.“She has consistently condemned racist abuse online and she has taken action as Home Secretary against some of the extreme right-wing groups that are responsible for this.” More

The £4bn-a-year overseas aid cuts will become permanent if the government wins a crucial vote today, the leading Tory rebel is warning – urging MPs not to be “hoodwinked”.Andrew Mitchell poured scorn on a new Treasury plan that, ministers claim, would restore the cuts when the economy improves, branding it “a fiscal trap”.One analysis has concluded the tests – no unsustainable borrowing for day-to-day spending and falling underlying debt – will not be passed before the next election, scheduled for 2024.Mr Mitchell said: “Any of my colleagues who are satisfied by that, frankly, are being hoodwinked. The terms the Treasury have set are a fiscal trap“Frankly, if the government get their way today that we can kiss goodbye to the 0.7,” he said – referring to the legal commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on aid.Aid has been slashed by around £4bn a year – breaking a Tory manifesto pledge and, potentially, the law – with no date for restoring the “temporary” reduction, which could be years away.In a major U-turn, MPs have been granted a binding vote, on Tuesday, to reverse the cuts from next year, but threatened with tax hikes and other spending cuts if they defy the government.Around 50 Tory MPs are thought ready to rebel – enough to win the vote – but Mr Mitchell stepped back from expressing confidence that they will win, saying: “We will see what will happen today.”Some potential rebels are believed to have jumped sides – but there are also allegations of dirty tricks and suggestions that some were never expected rebels in the first place.Mr Mitchell pointed out that every MP had been elected on a manifesto of spending 0.7 per cent of income on aid, a proportion that has now been slashed to 0.5 per cent.“It is frankly staggering, that the government’s only cut – the only cut the government has made – is to spending to help the poorest people on the planet.“In the middle of a pandemic, when this amounts to approximately 1 per cent of the borrowing on Covid in the last year.”Peter Ricketts, the former Foreign Office permanent secretary, backed the rebels, saying: “If MPs accept the Treasury’s conditions for restoring 0.7 per cent, it would mean that the only part of government spending that is dependent on the performance of the economy is the part that goes to help the world’s poorest in the middle of a pandemic.”And Daniel Willis, campaigns manager at the campaign group Global Justice Now, said: “Despite this government’s repeated attempts to deny MPs a vote on aid cuts, democracy has finally won out.“But ministers are using every trick in the book to avoid a humiliating defeat in the Commons, rushing this debate through the House with virtually no notice on the same day as major health legislation – and with no clarity on whether it will be amendable.” More

A key government adviser has attacked the decision to make mask-wearing voluntary even in crowded spaces, warning it “probably won’t do any good”.Graham Medley, who chairs the SPI-M modelling group, said the Covid-fighting benefits would be lost if 30 per cent of people now refuse to put on face coverings.“There is evidence to suggest that it does good, but only if everybody does it,” Professor Medley warned.He said he understood the government’s “reluctance” to continue with the legal requirement, but added: “On the other hand, if it’s not mandated it probably won’t do any good.”Professor Medley also predicted that the third wave of coronavirus now underway – and with almost all Covid legal rules to be removed – could last six weeks and heap a “considerable burden” on the NHS.New modelling from the Sage advisory group suggests between 1,000 and 2,000 hospital admissions a day in England, with up to 200 daily deaths now thought to be likely.And experts from the University of Warwick estimate around 33,700 deaths by June next year, depending on how the public responds to curbs being lifted next week.“We’ve never seen a peak before that hasn’t been controlled,” Professor Medley told BBC Radio 4, stressing the uncharted territory ahead.“The intention is not to introduce a lockdown for this peak. Then we are going to see a natural peak and that may well be long and disseminated.“So, even if we don’t get up to very high numbers, the numbers that we get up to might last for several weeks, six weeks or so, in which case there’s still a considerable burden on healthcare.“Although we might not get over 2,000 [hospital] admissions a day, if that lasts six weeks, then that’s a lot of people.”The government has stepped back from its triumphant talk of ‘Freedom Day’ next Monday, which saw some ministers vowing to rip off their masks as soon as they were allowed.Instead, face coverings will still be recommended – but not legally required – in enclosed and crowded spaces, on buses and trains and indoors, where there is poor ventilation.“We expect and recommend that people wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with those you don’t normally meet, such as on public transport,” Boris Johnson said.Labour has attacked the shift to voluntary face coverings, despite supporting the rest of the decision to complete the roadmap by moving to step 4.It criticised Sajid Javid, the health secretary, for “a high risk, indeed fatalistic approach,” claiming that “instead of caution, he’s pushing his foot down on the accelerator while throwing the seat belts off”. More

A Tory minister has refused to say whether it was wrong for the home secretary to suggest that England players taking the knee before matches had been engaging in “gesture politics”.Stephen Barclay, the North East Cambridgeshire MP and chief secretary to the Treasury, defended Priti Patel during an interview on Tuesday morning. He said that Ms Patel has “consistently condemned” racist abuse online and was taking steps to find and root out those responsible for the criminal behaviour, but would not be drawn on her comments about taking the knee.Mr Barclay’s remarks came after England international Tyrone Mings lashed out at the home secretary after she said she was “disgusted” by the racist abuse of players following Sunday night’s final. Responding directly to Ms Patel on Twitter, the Aston Villa defender said: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ and then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.”A minority of fans oppose England taking the knee to protest systemic racism and have booed the players over the decision.In June, Ms Patel said the protest, which is associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, amounted to “gesture politics” and declined to say if she would boo herself, adding: “I’ve never gone to a football match to even contemplate that”. England manager Gareth Southgate, his players and the Football Association (FA) made clear before the Euros that the move to take the knee was to protest against discrimination, injustice and inequality and not a show of support for any political organisation or ideology.Prime minister Boris Johnson, who initially refused to condemn the booing, has come under fire over the issue, with Labour accusing him and Ms Patel of being “hypocrites”.Appearing on BBC Breakfast earlier, Mr Barclay dodged questions on the home secretary’s stance on the issue, when pressed on whether she on the “wrong side of the argument” on the England players’ decision to take the knee.”The home secretary has repeatedly taken a stand against racism and has herself has been the subject of appalling online racist abuse,” he said.”She has consistently condemned racist abuse online and she has taken action as Home Secretary against some of the extreme right-wing groups that are responsible for this.”He later added that legislation will seek to fine social media companies if they fail to act against online racism.The symbol of anti-racism solidarity gained attention in American football in 2016 as players protested against police brutality and racism in the US.The act has since spread further and was adopted by footballers in the UK, partly to demonstrate that racism should not be tolerated in the sport.Asked about taking the knee, the home secretary told broadcaster GB News in June: “I just don’t support people participating in that type of gesture, gesture politics, to a certain extent, as well.”On whether England fans were right to boo the national team, she said: “That’s a choice for them, quite frankly.”Former Tory Party chairwoman Baroness Warsi also criticised Ms Patel after her tweet earlier this week, suggesting she and the government are guilty of “dog whistle” politics.”It’s time to stop the culture wars that are feeding division,” the Conservative peer tweeted. “Dog whistles win votes but destroy nations.”Dame Heather Rabbatts, the first person from an ethnic minority to serve on the board of the FA, called on the public to back the players.”Ultimately it is for the overwhelming majority of the fans who don’t subscribe to those (racist) views to stand up and make their voice heard: This is our club and we will not stand for this abuse of our players,” she told the BBC.”And the voice of the many needs to drown out the voice of the few.” More