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The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill entered parliament last week, and will be debated by ministers on Monday and Tuesday. It contains a number of proposals which the government itself has conceded will have a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in equality assessments.The government has justified this inequality as “a proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aim of protecting the public”. However, in another official document, the government admits there is “limited evidence that the combined set of measures will deter offenders long term or reduce overall crime” and therefore cannot be guaranteed to actually benefit society.The organisations call for the ministers to withdraw the elements of the bill it acknowledges will increase racial inequality and launch a public consultation around the changes to avoid discrimination.Nina Champion, Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance, said: “These unnecessary and discriminatory changes to sentencing and police powers will deepen existing racial inequalities, sweeping more Black, Asian and minority ethnic people into the criminal justice system for increasing periods of their lives.Read more:“They will also miss out on the more positive proposals in the Bill. Initiatives to divert people from the criminal justice system into community rehabilitation will depend on a guilty plea, and we know Black, Asian and minority people are less likely to plead guilty due to distrust in the system. Rather than reducing racial inequality, as the government has committed to do, this Bill does the complete opposite.”In a policy paper relating to the the bill, the Ministry of Justice admitted: “By virtue of the overrepresentation of these groups in the cohort of offender to which this policy applies, we acknowledge that any adverse impacts arising from these changes will be more likely to affect male and Black offenders.”“While the available data shows that Black children are disproportionately represented in the youth custodial remand population, the evidence that BAME offenders may be perceived as a higher risk suggests they may be less likely to benefit from these changes,” it added. More

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will make a bold attempt to oust SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon from her constituency seat at the upcoming Holyrood election.The newly-elected leader has decided to run against Scotland’s first minister in her Glasgow Southside stronghold ahead of May’s Scottish parliament vote.“It may well be her constituency, but it’s my home,” said Mr Sarwar. “I was brought up on the south side of Glasgow, I live here and it’s where I bring up my children. I’m not doing this because I think it’s brave, I’m doing it because I believe in it.”It marks the first time two major party leaders anywhere in Britain have contested the same seat at any election.Although Ms Sturgeon has a commanding majority of almost 10,000 in the constituency, Mr Sarwar is still likely to be elected to the Scottish parliament in the event he is defeated.He is second on his party’s list for the Glasgow region, so anything short of a collapse in the Labour vote would give him a seat through the proportional representation system used in the Holyrood election.In his first major speech as party leader on Monday, Mr Sarwar set out his “education comeback” plan and attacked the SNP for wanting to “go back” to divisive arguments about independence.Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekday“We can’t rely on the SNP to focus on the recovery, because they’ve already made clear they will prioritise a referendum this year,” he said.Commentator Duncan Hothersall, editor of the LabourHame blog, thinks Mr Sarwar has made a “strong start” since winning the leadership last month – and praised his bold move to take on Ms Sturgeon directly.“I think it’s smart and it sends an ambitious message,” he told The Independent. “I don’t think it matters that it’s a hell of a tall order to dislodge her – though one never knows [if he could win], given the internal volatility in the SNP. I think people will see it as gumption, something that has been missing from us for too long.”Kenny Farquharson, commentator for The Times, said the decision to stand in Ms Sturgeon’s seat was “such a smart move” – pointing out that it will help “frame the whole Holyrood election as Sturgeon versus Sarwar.”In his most controversial move since taking charge, Mr Sarwar dropped Labour candidate Hollie Cameron after she claimed the party would, at some point, support a fresh independence referendum.“We shouldn’t underestimate how important it was to be clear that deviating from the agreed party line on independence is not going to be tolerated,” said Mr Hothersall. More

Governments of whatever party seem to come up with a new “law and order” bill almost every year, and these often turn into great caravans of minor legal changes, many of which are uncontroversial. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will be debated by MPs on Monday and Tuesday, is the latest of its kind – and it has suddenly become intensely topical because of the debate over the policing of the vigil for Sarah Everard on Saturday.The bill was originally intended to fulfil the promise in the 2019 Conservative manifesto to “back our police”, by increasing sentences for assaulting workers in the emergency services and by introducing “tougher sentencing for the worst offenders and [ending] automatic halfway release from prison for serious crimes”.But it also gave Priti Patel, the home secretary, and Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, the chance to legislate for changes to police powers that Cressida Dick, the Met Police commissioner, had asked for after the Extinction Rebellion protests in April 2019. Dick said her officers needed new powers “specifically to deal with protests where people are not primarily violent or seriously disorderly but, as in this instance, had an avowed intent to bring policing to its knees and the city to a halt”. More

The UK has imposed sanctions on six allies of Syria’s ruler Bashar Assad a decade after the country’s brutal civil war began.The asset freezes and travel bans are a response to the Assad regime’s “wholesale assault” on the Syrian people, foreign secretary Dominic Raab said, as the country marks 10 years of conflict.“The Assad regime has subjected the Syrian people to a decade of brutality for the temerity of demanding peaceful reform,” said Mr Raab. “Today, we are holding six more individuals from the regime to account for their wholesale assault on the very citizens they should be protecting.”Those sanctioned include foreign minister Faisal Miqdad, presidential adviser Luna al-Shibl, and financier Yassar Ibrahim – who the Foreign Office claimed acts as a front for Assad’s hold on the Syrian economy.Businessman Muhammad Bara’ al-Qatirji and military officers major general Malik Aliaa and major general Zaid Salah will also be hit by the asset freezes and travel bans.It marks the first measures taken in relation to Syria under the UK’s new, autonomous sanctions regime, which came into force following the end of the Brexit transition period. The British government has joined allies in the UN Security Council in pushing the regime to engage in peace talks in Geneva and release those held in arbitrary detention.Monday marks the 10th anniversary of the peaceful protests against Assad’s government, which erupted in March 2011 and touched off a popular uprising that quickly turned into a full-blown civil war.Despite a decade of fighting and a broken country, Assad remains firmly in power, having been propped up by Russia and Iran.Syria is economically devastated and divided. An al-Qaida-linked group dominates the northwestern Idlib province, with Turkey-backed rebels controlling small stretches along the Turkish border.US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces hold around a quarter of the country in the north-east, while the Assad regime controls the rest. More

Brussels has launched legal action against the UK government after Boris Johnson announced he would renege on parts of the deal he signed last year.Earlier this month the UK moved to unilaterally change parts of the deal to better suit British businesses – provoking anger on the other side of the channel.Describing the move as a “serious” violation of the agreement, the European Commission on Monday fired the starting gun on legal proceedings by sending two formal letters.European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, who leads on the issue for the bloc, said: “The EU and the UK agreed the protocol together. We are also bound to implement it together. Unilateral decisions and international law violations by the UK defeat its very purpose and undermine trust between us. “The UK must properly implement it if we are to achieve our objectives. That is why we are launching legal action today. I do hope that through the collaborative, pragmatic and constructive spirit that has prevailed in our work so far on implementing the withdrawal agreement, we can solve these issues in the joint committee without recourse to further legal means.”Read more:Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayThe UK sparked the row when it announced it was going to unilaterally extend grace periods relaxing controls on British supermarket suppliers and businesses trading in Northern Ireland – amid concerns that the terms negotiated last year would cause more food shortages if implemented as agreed.Some shops in the territory have struggled to stay stocked since 1 January when the new arrangement came in, but the situation is expected to significantly worsen when the grace periods on checks end. This was due to happen at the end of this month before the UK’s unilateral extension.The UK says changing the grace period is not a breach of the agreement and that it is necessary because the EU is not agreeing to an extension.Under the agreement signed by the prime minister, the UK could be fined for the violation, or face retaliatory trade sanctions. Asked what such sanctions could consist of, one EU official said: “That bridge we will cross if and when we reach it.”The decision by the government is the second time the UK has said it will breach the agreement in its short life: last year Mr Johnson threatened not to impose certain checks on trade required under the arrangement.The EU official said: “We’re being firm. What we see if the UK violating its international obligations for the second time in six months on the same issue.”The official said the fact there would be checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland was “crystal clear to all sides, and it was the working assumption of the talks at the time”.”We acknowledge that the UK says it wants to implement the protocol in full, but so far this is not reflected in the facts,” they said.They added: “We believe that these unilateral measures are a violation of the duty of good faith under Article 5 of the withdrawal agreement.”The UK must stop acting unilaterally and stop violating the rules that it has signed up to. “What we need to implement the protocol is mutual trust and this kind of unilateral action that we’ve see from the UK does not build trust.”
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The head of the Trades Union Congress, Frances O’Grady, has called for a “Biden boost” for Britain’s Covid-battered economy, along the lines of the US president’s ambitious $1.9tn (£1.4tn) stimulus plan. In an exclusive interview with The Independent to mark the anniversary of the job-protecting furlough scheme, which she played a key role in constructing, Ms O’Grady said: “We need the ambition of the US scheme but also the values. “It’s not just morally right; it’s economically literate. If I’ve learned anything in life, if you give to the rich, they’ll hold on to the money. If you give to ordinary people, they’ll spend it and boost demand.”Visibly frustrated, Ms O’Grady pointed out that, in proportion to GDP, the Biden package is three times the size of what the UK is spending on its recovery plan. “Why can’t the government think big like the US, where the president is injecting real, hard cash into the pockets of working people?“Not only was the budget unambitious, but so much was hidden in the small print, including cuts to public services, and it wasn’t long before the chancellor got headlines he didn’t want around NHS pay.” She also hailed Mr Biden’s “backing for workers’ right to organise”, referring to the president’s recent support of Amazon workers in Alabama who have been trying to unionise in the face of opposition from management at the internet retail giant. Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayThe US president wrote on Twitter: “Workers in Alabama – and all across America – are voting on whether to organise a union in their workplace. It’s a vitally important choice – one that should be made without intimidation or threats by employers. Every worker should have a free and fair choice to join a union.”Mr Biden’s administration has several members who have close links to the American labour unions or have previously worked for them. This could yet complicate relations with the UK, given the British government’s less-than-friendly stance towards unions, and at a time when it is seeking US support over Northern Ireland in its battle over trading arrangements with the EU. The TUC was notably snubbed when it was putting together its Build Back Better council, despite Ms O’Grady cultivating a productive working relationship with employers’ groups such as the CBI. She recently participated in a video call with its new director general, Tony Danker. Ms O’Grady said: “We are always ready to work constructively and I think we have proved that throughout this crisis. Whoever is in power, we want to be there, and the door is never closed. It’s just for others to open up.“I believe in working people having a voice; that’s what unions are there to do. We have ideas, we have expertise, and we have real life experience. There is a lot of wisdom in the shop floor. Here was a chance for the government to recognise that.” However, Ms O’Grady went back on the offensive when it came to NHS pay, describing the mooted 1 per cent rise as “an insult” and saying she was minded to “bang a couple of saucepans together” during the slow handclap that Unison planned for last Thursday. “I’m not sure the government gets it, even though the vast majority of people get that it’s an insult. It’s not just about the money; it is what you’re saying about the value of the work people have done, people who every time they put on a uniform are putting their health and their lives at risk. “How can you keep thanking people and then treat them in that way? To me, it’s astonishing. Is it because it’s a majority female workforce? Is it taken for granted that they will be dedicated and put their vocation first? We’re talking about a real-term pay cut on the basis of predicted inflation. They deserve a rise, and this is not just the nurses. “The nurses I know will be the first to say, we’re a team, this is about all the staff as a whole.” Ms O’Grady said that should extend to workers in social care, who are typically employed by private companies and are paid what she describes as “peanuts”. “Many of us are learning the true value of people who work in public services. This is something I think we are all beginning to understand. If anyone calls them unskilled… I think my blood pressure will go through the roof if I hear that again. These are skilled and dedicated workers who deserve recognition for their contribution.” More

More than 1,000 civil service jobs are to be relocated to Scotland in the coming years, the government has announced.Alongside a previously announced secondary Cabinet Office headquarters in Glasgow with 500 staff by 2024, officials said more than 500 civil servants from the Foreign Office would be stationed north of the border by the middle of the decade.Forming part of Boris Johnson’s long-awaited integrated review of security, defence and foreign policy – published this week – Dominic Raab will confirm the relocation of staff to his department’s office in East Kilbride, taking total number of civil servants there to 1,500.The foreign secretary said civil servants in Scotland “are at the forefront of delivering the UK’s diplomatic clout” as the government prepares to host the crucial climate change summit – Cop26 – in Glasgow this autumn.He claimed: “There can be no clearer demonstrations of the commitment to our joint HQ in East Kilbride than today’s announcement that an extra 500 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office jobs are coming to Scotland.“This will further ensure the civil service represents all parts of the UK and will be a boost to the Scottish economy”.However, GMB union Scotland secretary Gary Smith said that while the jobs and investment were welcome, they “won’t resolve the many deep rooted problems that exist”.Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekday“It makes sense for the civil service to be spread out,” he said. “You can’t level up the country if its jobs and wealth are concentrated in a few areas, and Glasgow and the west certainly needs levelling up.”The move also comes amid concern in government over the future of the union, with Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP expected to demand a second independence referendum if her party emerges victorious in May’s elections, with a majority at Holyrood.Michael Gove added that the Cabinet Office’s secondary HQ in Glasgow would “co-locate the engine room of the UK government in Scotland, bringing decision makers closer to the communities they serve”. The cabinet minister added the move will ensure “closer collaboration between Scotland’s two governments as we tackle the Covid-19 pandemic together and work to build a sustainable recovery”.“Not only will this bring new jobs and investment to Scotland, it will strengthen the diversity of the UK civil service, ending the Westminster knows best approach to policy-making and ensuring Scottish voices shape everything we do,” he said.Alex Chisholm, chief operating officer for the civil service and Cabinet Office permanent secretary, said: “The civil service needs to draw on the talents and skills of individuals and communities across the UK.“With the Cabinet Office establishing our second headquarters outside of London, we are opening up opportunities for our existing staff to develop their careers, while also drawing on a new and diverse talent pool. More

Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the government’s crime and justice taskforce on Monday to discuss what more needs to be done to stamp out violence against women and girls.The meeting will be attended by ministers, senior police officers and representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).Read more: Cressida Dick ‘more determined’ to lead Met and not considering resigningAhead of the meeting, Mr Johnson said: “Like everyone who saw it, I was deeply concerned about the footage from Clapham Common on Saturday night.“I have spoken with the Metropolitan Police commissioner who has committed to reviewing how this was handled and the home secretary has also commissioned HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to conduct lessons learned review into the policing of the event.Inside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekdayInside Politics newsletterThe latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox every weekday“Tomorrow I will chair a meeting of the government’s crime and justice taskforce to look at what further action we need to take to protect women and ensure our streets are safe.“The death of Sarah Everard must unite us in determination to drive out violence against women and girls and make every part of the criminal justice system work to protect and defend them.”Mr Johnson will meet with Priti Patel, justice secretary Robert Buckland, Max Hill QC, the director of public prosecutions, and Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick. They will discuss strategy on violence against women and girls, government work on securing safer streets, and rape prosecutions and the criminal justice system. On Sunday night, hundreds of people attended a demonstration in response to Saturday’s policing of the Sarah Everard vigil, and also to call for more action to protect women. Some also protested against the government’s plans to push through a new policing bill which would crack down on peaceful protests. The legislation would give Ms Patel powers to define “serious disruption” protests might cause to communities and organisations, which police can then rely on to impose conditions on the demonstrations.
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