UK Politics

Public opinion has shifted dramatically in support of rail strikes by the RMT trade union, a new poll has found.Pollsters Opinium found 45 per cent of the public now say they support the stoppages, with just 37 per cent opposed.The shift in views by a net 12 points comes after RMT general secretary Mick Lynch took to television and radio studios last week to make his union’s case to the public.His frank and direct appearances won plaudits from across the political spectrum on social media, though it was at the time unclear whether the polls could shift.Yet the new figures, polled on Sunday after the dust settled on round one of the dispute, show support for the strike rising +7 percentage points from the same poll question on Thursday, and opposition falling by -6 percentage points.Polling ahead of the strike was mixed, with pollsters suggesting that people believed the walk-outs were justified, but stopping short of full support.Yet that ambiguity appears to have disappeared in the wake of the three days of action, which saw workers from over a dozen operators and the infrastructure manager Network Rail walk out over job losses and a below-inflation pay deal.In a statement, the RMT said: “It takes time to change public opinion. It is no easy task. However, day by day and hour by hour more people see through the Tory lies about ‘modernisation’ and realise just how vital it is to support rail workers.”The government was widely criticised for refusing to intervene ahead of the strike, failing to sit down with unions and employers to strike out a deal.The RMT has said more strikes could take place if the dispute is not resolved.But since the stoppages transport secretary Grant Shapps has upped the rhetoric against the rail workers, accusing them of outdated work practices. Labour leader Keir Starmer banned his frontbenchers from supporting the strike on picket lines during the dispute, in an attempt to impress hostile voters and pundits.But impressed by the latest poll showing widespread public support, Labour MP Jon Trickett said: “The RMT union has shown what strong leadership and clarity of message can do to public opinion. Good leadership is about being a signpost, not a weathervane.” More

Britain’s policing minister has claimed that Sadiq Khan should “share responsibility” for the Metropolitan Police’s slide into special measures.Kit Malthouse suggested that, as police and crime commissioner (PCC) for the force, the mayor of London should “consider his position”.But four of the six police forces currently in special measures have Conservative PCCs.The elected role was created by the Tory-Lib Dem coalition government to replace policing boards previously tasked with controlling regional forces’ finances and holding them to account.Of the six forces currently in a process akin to special measures instigated by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), four are headed by Tory PCCs. Staffordshire Police and Wiltshire Police have had Conservative PCCs since the post was created a decade ago, while Cleveland and Gloucestershire have had Tory incumbents since last year’s elections.The Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police have Labour politicians in the post, as it is rolled into the responsiblities of elected mayors.Mr Malthouse said PCCs were “designed to provide a focus point of accountability for the electorate”, adding: “If I had been in that job I would consider my position.”He accused Mr Khan of “falling asleep at the wheel” and said he had to “get a grip”.“We expect him to provide an urgent update explaining how he plans to fix this as soon as possible,” the policing minister added.“Now is not the time for the mayor to distance himself from the Met, he must lean in and share responsibility for a failure of governance and the work needed to put it right.”Ministers have not made the same call in parliament to the PCCs of the other forces in special measures.In a statement posted on Twitter in response to the killing of Zara Aleena, Mr Khan said: “I’m utterly determined to make our city the safest it can possibly be for everyone.”Following the announcement that Scotland Yard was being put in special measures, the mayor said: “Unlike many others, I have long been clear that wide-ranging reforms are urgently needed for the Met to regain the trust and confidence of Londoners.”Sadiq Khan welcomes decision to reinvestigate Met Police over Stephen Port case handlingA dispute about necessary changes sparked the resignation of Dame Cressida Dick in February, which saw Mr Khan criticised by Conservative MPs as Priti Patel triggered an inquiry into the circumstances of her decision.Shadow home office minister Sarah Jones said Mr Malthouse shared a version of his statement with the opposition that did not include his “political attacks” on the London mayor.The deputy speaker of the House of Commons, Dame Eleanor Laing, said the move was “unusual” and she had also been handed an incomplete statement by the policing minister.“It is expected that the opposition should have the statement that is actually being given,” she added.Mr Malthouse said he made last-minute amendments because he felt “strongly about the issue” as London’s former deputy mayor for crime, who served under Boris Johnson.“The whole idea [of PCCs] is that they should be the voice of those people that elect us and share accountability with the force that they govern,” he added.HMIC confirmed that Scotland Yard had been put in its “engage” monitoring process, which is used where a force is not responding to concerns or succeeding in managing, mitigating or eradicating them.It will be ordered to develop an “improvement plan” to address the issues identified by the inspectorate and a “policing performance oversight group” will then consider the progress made. More

Dominic Raab refuses to add women’s right to choose on abortion to Bill of RightsA bid by Tories to block a Labour MP from charing an investigation into whether or not Boris johnson misled parliament over Partygate has failed.Harriet Harman has been confirmed as the lead on a Commmons probe into Covid lawbreaking parties in Downing Street during lockdown.The prime minister will not face the committee until the autumn, it was revealed as the inquiry was formally launched on Wednesday afternoon.Earlier, Dominic Raab ruled out enshrining women’s right to abortion in law, as he stood in for Boris Johnson at prime minister’s questions.Mr Raab, the deputy PM and justice minister, said the legality of abortion in the UK was settled, when he was asked to support an amendment on the issue to his proposed Bill of Rights.He was filling in for the prime minister, who is at the Nato summit in Madrid.Show latest update

1656513913Nordic Nato invitations a ‘great step forward’ – PMBoris Johnson has described the invitation granted to two Nordic countries to join Nato a “great step forward” for the military alliance, No 10 says.Following a meeting with Swedish prime minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish president Sauli Niinisto at the Nato summit in Madrid, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The prime minister reiterated his staunch support for Sweden and Finland’s Nato membership aspirations.“He described their accession as a great step forward for Nato and welcomed the progress made since his visits to Sweden and Finland last month.“The prime minister said that the membership of two more pro-peace democracies will permanently strengthen our defensive alliance, helping to keep us all safe.“The prime minister updated on his recent visit to Kyiv. The leaders discussed the need to oppose Russian threats and intimidation in all its guises.“That includes by ensuring that the people of Ukraine have the tools they need to turn the tide in Putin’s futile war of aggression – they agreed that (Vladimir) Putin is offering Ukraine no other option.”Emily Atkinson29 June 2022 15:451656513008Downing Street staff told they can give evidence anonymously to PM ‘lies’ probeNo 10 staff have been told they will be able to submit evidence anonymously to the committee investigating whether Boris Johnson lied to the Commons over Partygate.Subject to Privileges Committee chair Harriet Harman being able to identify the individuals in discussions with committee staff, the panel determined it would be willing to take written or oral evidence from people who wish to remain anonymous.The MPs gave until 29 July for witnesses and evidence to come forward, saying it can be submitted to the committee website.Emily Atkinson29 June 2022 15:301656511333Harriet Harman will lead probe into whether PM misled parliament on PartygateLabour grandee Harriet Harman has been selected to lead the Commons investigation into whether Boris Johnson lied to parliament over Partygate.The privileges committee issued a call for witnesses to come forward with evidence of the prime minister’s knowledge of rule-breaking gatherings in No 10.Ms Harman, a former acting leader of the Labour Party, was unanimously elected to chair the committee, which will be advised by Sir Ernest Ryder, a former lord justice of appeal.Our politics editor Andrew Woodcock will have more on this story as it comes in:Matt Mathers29 June 2022 15:02165651036016% of public still believe Brexit is going well, poll findsA full 16 per cent of the British public still believe Brexit is going well, a new poll has found.A new survey by pollsters YouGov found a significant majority of people, 54 per cent, think Britain’s EU exit is going badly, with 20 per cent saying neither.A policy correspondent Jon Stone reports: Matt Mathers29 June 2022 14:461656508515More than half of voters support Brexit’s NI protocolA majority of voters in Northern Ireland support the Brexit protocol, according to a new poll.Some 55 per cent said they viewed the new trading arrangements as appropriate for managing the impact of being outside of the EU.Meanwhile, some 53 per cent said, overall the trading arrangements are a “good thing for Northern Ireland.38 per cent and 37 per cent of respondents respectively are of the opposite view, according to the survey by Lucid Talk and Queens University Belfast.Matt Mathers29 June 2022 14:151656507509Boris Johnson says he won’t boycott G20 even if ‘pariah’ Putin goesThe prime minster has ruled out a British boycott of the forthcoming G20 summit, indicating that he would go even if Russian president Vladimir Putin chose to turn up.The prospect of an extraordinary showdown between western leaders and the Russian president was raised after the Kremlin said Mr Putin would go to November’s conference in Indonesia.Jane Dalton29 June 2022 13:581656505949Boris Johnson keen on forging ‘Roman Empire’ of wider EuropeBoris Johnson says he is keen to forge a loose political alliance of European and north African leaders – comparing it to the Roman Empire in its pomp.French president Emmanuel Macron raised the idea of a new “European political community” with the prime minister when the pair met at the G7 summit in Germany.Jane Dalton29 June 2022 13:321656505352It’s no wonder the PM has fled the country, claims RaynerAngela Rayner said it was no wonder Boris Johnson had fled the country after Labour’s victory in Wakefield, as she clashed with Dominic Raab over strikes, taxation and the prime minister’s job.She said she would “revel in the opportunity” to have more than just by-elections , adding: “Call a general election and see where the people are.”She added: “This is the man who once said a high level of Government taxation was hurting UK competitiveness. Now he is backing the Prime Minister who wants to put taxes up 15 times. At this rate, working people will be paying £500 billion more in tax by 2030.“How high does he think the burden on working people should get before he says enough is enough?”Dominic Raab replied the Government were “the ones helping working people with a tax cut of £330”, and listed a series of other measures the Government has taken to help with the rising cost of living.He added: “We are the ones with a plan for low unemployment, a high-wage, high-skill economy, and Labour – it is back to year zero.”The full exchange: Angela Rayner and Dominic Raab clash over tax risesJane Dalton29 June 2022 13:221656504782Raab attack ‘champagne socialist’ RaynerAs Dominic Raab an Angela Rayner clashed over striking railway workers, he criticised her as a “champagne socialist” for going to the opera.He asked where she was when the Labour frontbench were on picket lines last week, he asked.Dominic Raab criticises ‘champagne socialist’ Angela Rayner for going to operaJane Dalton29 June 2022 13:131656504540Abortion laws in the UK: what’s allowed and what is notOnly women in Northern Ireland have a legal right to an abortion in the UK. But abortions may legally be carried out within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales.As the deputy prime minister rules out changing UK abortion laws, here’s a run-down of what abortion laws in the UK state:Jane Dalton29 June 2022 13:09 More

Boris Johnson will not face a grilling by the committee investigating whether he lied to Parliament over Downing Street parties until the autumn, it was revealed as the inquiry was formally launched today.A Conservative bid to block Harriet Harman from leading the investigation failed, after the senior Labour MP was confirmed as chair at the inquiry’s formal launch today.But no decision has yet been taken over whether oral evidence sessions of questioning by the Commons Privileges Committee will be held in public and before the TV cameras.The Commons voted in April for the committee to conduct an investigation into whether Mr Johnson’s repeated denials that Covid lockdown rules were broken at No 10 amounted to a contempt of parliament.A finding of contempt could put the prime minister’s position in doubt, by allowing MPs to vote on a suspension from parliament, which could itself trigger a recall petition in his Uxbridge constituency.And the PM would be in peril simply for being found to have lied to parliament, something which the ministerial code of conduct treats as a resigning offence. If he resisted pressure to resign in those circumstances, Tory backbenchers have made clear they would attempt to force a second no-confidence vote.At a meeting today to confirm Ms Harman’s chairmanship, it was agreed to appoint former Appeal Court judge Sir Ernest Ryder as an adviser. Sir Ernest recently completed a review of the fairness and natural justice within the House of Commons standards system.In a move seemingly designed to encourage potential No 10 whistle-blowers to come forward, the committee confirmed that it is willing to take both oral and written evidence from witnesses who wish to remain anonymous.The committee has an in-built Conservative majority, with four Tory MPs, two from Labour and one from the SNP. All eyes will be on the Tory members, who are expected to come under intense pressure to spare the prime minister by voting along party lines.Minister Michael Ellis earlier this month offered his support to Tory MPs who were trying to block Harman as chair on the grounds that the Mother of the House had previously tweeted her belief that the PM lied.Speaking from the despatch box, Mr Ellis agreed with an MP who asked whether it was right that “those placed in a position of judgment over others must not have a previously stated position on the matter in question”, saying it was a “very good point”.As reports of lockdown-breaching parties at Downing Street first emerged last December, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that “all guidance was followed in No 10” and that “I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken”.After aide Allegra Stratton resigned for joking about parties, he told MPs that he was “sickened myself and furious about that”, but had been “repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken”. He said that “the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times”.A police inquiry later issued 126 fixed penalty notices for lockdown breaches to 83 people at No 10, including the prime minister.The committee issued a call for evidence about the PM’s knowledge of activities in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office during Covid regulations and about any briefings given to, or inquiries made by, Mr Johnson relating to those events.The committee announced that it will spend the coming weeks finalising details of the procedure for the inquiry – including the question of whether evidence sessions will be held in private – before starting hearings in the autumn. More

A full 16 per cent of the British public still believe Brexit is going well, a new poll has found.A new survey by pollsters YouGov found a significant majority of people, 54 per cent, think Britain’s EU exit is going badly, with 20 per cent saying neither.The number of people saying Brexit is going badly has ticked up steadily since the end of the transition period in January 2021.At that point fewer than 40 per cent were prepared to say things were not going well, with a majority giving the project the benefit of the doubt.But the tide of public opinion has turned as setbacks become more clear and obvious benefits fail to materialise. Lord Frost, who negotiated the Brexit agreements with the EU, last week said in a speech that Brexit was going well and accused critics of having an “axe to grind”.But issues attributed to the government’s flagship manifesto policy include food rotting in fields, problems for British exporters, and a meltdown at UK airports over the summer holiday period.Other problems include a shortage of lorry drivers, fishermen crying betrayal, and the reintroduction of mobile phone roaming charges for British travellers. Official figures suggest trade and economic growth are both being hit by the policy.The survey comes as Boris Johnson reignites a running battle with Brussels over the Northern Ireland border, with new legislation that would give ministers powers to ignore parts of the Brexit deal.The prime minister says the deal he signed is not working for Northern Ireland, where some loyalists are angry at new checks imposed by the protocol. A breakdown of the new poll’s results show Tory voters were the most optimistic about Brexit, with a full 33 per cent keeping the faith and saying the project was going very or fairly well.28 per cent said it was going very or fairly badly, while 33 per cent hedged their bets and said neither.But Leave voters in general were split down the middle, with 31 per cent saying Brexit was going well and 31 per cent saying badly.Both Lib Dem and Labour voters thought leaving was going badly by significant margins. Just 3 per cent of each thought it was going well at all, and over 70 over cent badly in both cases.Six per cent of 2016 remain voters have since come around to the idea of leaving and say Brexit is going well.Boris Johnson this year appointed Jacob Rees-Mogg as the minister for “Brexit opportunities” in a bid to help find positives to the UK’s departure. More

The government has refused a call to guarantee the right to abortions in its forthcoming new “British bill of rights”. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, who is steering the proposed charter through parliament, on Wednesday told MPs he did not see a case for the protection.The issue of access to abortion care has jumped up the agenda following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn legal protections across the Atlantic.Millions of women in the US are losing their right to abortions, with over half of US states expected to restrict or ban the medical procedure. Speaking at prime minister’s questions Labour MP Rosie Duffield asked the government to “send a clear signal” that “Britain respects the rights of women”.”Will he accept the cross-party amendment to his forthcoming Bill of Rights, which enshrines a woman’s right to choose in law?” she said.The cross-party amendment, expected to the tabled by Labour MP Stella Creasy, would enshrine the right to the medical procedure in British law.But Mr Raab, who was deputising for Boris Johnson at the session, said: “The position as she knows is settled in UK law in relation to abortion.”It’s decided by members across this house. It’s an issue of conscience. I don’t think there is a strong case for change. “What I wouldn’t want to do is find ourselves with a greatest respect to the US position where this is being litigated through the courts rather than settled, as it is now settled, by honourable members of this house.”Mr Raab abstained in a vote on decriminalising abortion in March 2017, and again in 2020 abstained on the introduction of buffer zones around abortion clinics to prevent protesters from harassing patients.Abortions are still by default deemed a criminal act in England, Scotland and Wales under the 1967 Abortion Act. Pregnancies may only be terminated under the terms of the act with the confirmation of two doctors, who must agree that continuing with the pregnancy would be riskier for the physical or mental health or the woman than aborting it.Terminations can legally be carried out within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales.But they can only be performed after the 24 week cut off point in a highly limited number of contexts – such as when the mother’s life is at risk or the child will have a severe disability. For years, abortion providers, charities, medical bodies, and MPs have been calling for abortion to be decriminalised in the UK. They want to see abortion law extricated from criminal law and monitored in a same way to other medical practices – with the British Medical Association in favour of the decriminalisation of abortion in the UK.The right to abortion is mentioned in some national constitutions. The Irish constitution in 2018 was amended by referendum to state that “provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy”. This replaced an earlier amendment banning abortions.In France over the weekend politicians representing the governing majority expressed support for amending that country’s law to include abortion protections. Prime minister Elisabeth Borne said the government would support the constitution amendment bill “wholeheartedly”, adding: “For all women, for human rights, we must set this gain in stone. Parliament must be able to unite overwhelmingly over this text.” More

Boris Johnson has said he is keen to forge a loose political alliance of European and north African leaders – comparing it to the Roman Empire in its pomp.French president Emmanuel Macron raised the idea of a new “European political community” with the prime minister when the pair met at the G7 summit in Germany.Mr Johnson said he welcomed the idea of a wider European partnership involving Turkey and the “Maghreb” of north-west Africa – before claimed he had come up with the idea before Mr Macron.“Emmanuel has an idea, which I actually claim paternity of this idea,” the PM told reporters. “I had this idea back when I first became foreign secretary.”He added: “I think that Turkey should be there, I think that Maghreb should be there and I think we should basically be recreating the Mare Nostrum of the Roman Empire.”Mare Nostrum, the Roman name for the Mediterranean Sea, was used by Italian fascists in the 1930s under dictator Benito Mussolini – who saw Italy as the successor to the Roman Empire’s command over north Africa.French officials had briefed that Mr Johnson had been “enthusiastic” about Mr Macron’s plan for the UK and Ukraine to be offered a closer relationship with Brussels at their G7 meeting.However, Mr Johnson told reporters that he was not interested in any formal structure for a wider European club, although he did say Mr Macron’s idea was “worth looking at”.The PM said: “I think possibly rather than inventing new structures, let’s look at building up relationships.”He added: “I think Turkey is crucial. I think the north African littoral is also a very important area for the wider European debate.”Asked whether his idea of a loose alliance stretching beyond Europe was too wide, the PM compared it to Israel’s participation in Eurovision.Brexiteers, frightened by the idea of any new European structure that could involve freedom of movement, are unhappy about the idea of UK forging a Macron-inspired pact with Europe.Former Brexit minister David Jones said: “Macron is obsessed with building a new political vehicle in Europe to counteract what he sees as the dominance of the Anglosphere … we must make clear we are not disposed to particpate in what looks like an EU 2.0.”Foreign secretary Liz Truss distanced herself from any links to Mr Macron’s mooted project. Questioned by foreign affairs committee, Ms Truss said that the UK had not agreed to any proposal.“I don’t know the exact words that president Macron has used, but we have not agreed to that,” she told committee chair and senior Tory MP Tom Tugendhat.Meanwhile, it emerged that Mr Johnson and Mr Macron drank whisky together at the G7 summit in Bavaria on Sunday night, according to a UK government source.“The PM is not a big drinker, nor a late-night party animal,” said the official, revealing that Mr Johnson was up early on Monday morning for a swim. More

David Lammy has apologised for condemning a strike by British Airways check-in staff as unjustified – admitting he got his facts wrong.The shadow foreign secretary sparked anger in Labour circles for his weekend criticism, with Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, saying: “Supporting bad bosses is a new low for Labour.”Now Mr Lammy has pulled back, arguing he “misheard” a question on the BBC and wrongly believed the BA staff were striking to try to win a 10 per cent pay increase.In fact, unions are seeking to reverse a 10 per cent pay cut imposed on workers during the pandemic, when global lockdowns grounded flights – not a pay rise.In a letter to a constituent, Mr Lammy wrote: “Last Sunday, in a live interview with the BBC, I misheard Sophie Raworth’s question about BA workers.“When she said that workers wanted to reverse a previous pay cut of 10 per cent, I mistakenly understood it to mean that they were seeking an above-inflation pay rise.“I was not across the details of the case. It is right that those of us in public life admit when they have made a mistake. With this in mind, I apologise to all BA workers.”In his weekend comments, Mr Lammy appeared to toughen Labour’s stance ahead of a “Summer of Discontent”, saying: “I don’t support strikes,” before adding “I support the right to strike of course.”On the rail strikes, he said: “It hurts working people who need to get to work by using the railway. And of course, those within the union are hurt as well.”Keir Starmer has since backed down on a threat to sack Labour frontbenchers who joined picket lines, after an internal party revolt.In his leaked letter, Mr Lammy added that he supported Labour’s call for shameful “fire and rehire” tactics – used against BA workers during the pandemic – to be banned.Mr Lammy was also criticised by John McDonnell, Labour’s former shadow chancellor, who said striking rail workers were right to seek “protection against the cost of living”.The chair of Young Labour, Jess Barnard, attacked the party leadership for “sending out its senior politicians to attack 50 of its own MPs and thousands of workers on national television”.The respected backbencher Jon Cruddas, an adviser to Tony Blair on unions, said Labour must back families facing a historic slump in their incomes.“The rail strikes are arguably the canary down the coalmine. You cannot dodge this. Labour has to be supportive of those seeking to defend their living standards,” Mr Cruddas said. More