UK Politics

The government has refused to say how many Russians sanctioned because of their links to the Kremlin benefit from UK non-dom tax status, as calls grow to scrap the perk.Ministers claimed they were trying to “protect taxpayers money” by not revealing the extent of the breaks, an excuse opposition MPs described as “absurd”.Opposition MPs have sent a series of parliamentary written questions to ministers but were told it would be too much work to provide an answer.The information is held by HMRC because they know the nationality of people with non-dom status and the identity of people hit by sanctions – but ministers say they could only put it together for release at “disproportionate cost”“The extensive work that would have been needed to provide the information requested would have greatly exceeded the disproportionate cost threshold for parliamentary questions, as set out in government guidance. This threshold is rightly in place to protect taxpayers’ money,” a government spokesperson told The Independent. It comes as the Liberal Democrats bring forward a bill which would force the Chancellor and other government ministers to reveal whether they or any member of their household has ever claimed the tax break.The Independent reported earlier this month that Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty had the status, a revelation that caused a storm and led to her giving it up.Under non-domiciled status people resident in Britain do not have to pay UK tax on their overseas earning, but the perk is only available to wealthy people willing to drop a £30,000 fee on the privilege. As a result it only makes financial sense for people with very high incomes.Labour has called for the status to be scrapped and replaced with a less extensive scheme more in line with other European countries.Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine told The Independent: “It’s crucial that the government comes clean on how many sanctioned Russian oligarchs previously benefited from non-dom status. “The lack of transparency over whether Putin’s cronies were allowed to use these loopholes is staggering.“It’s also absurd for the government to claim it would be too costly to provide this information, when this is about ensuring people pay their fair share of tax.”Sunlight is the best disinfectant – the Conservative Government must provide clarity on how non-dom status is being used, and by who.” More

The Government’s social mobility tsar has been criticised for comments implying that girls do not study A-level science because they dislike “hard maths”.Katharine Birbalsingh told a meeting of the Science and Technology Committee to discuss diversity in Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects that girls do not seem to “fancy” physics as much as other subjects.She said that in chemistry, biology and maths at her school, the Michaela Community School in Brent, girls make up the majority of students at A-level apart from in physics, where 16% study the subject.She told MPs: “Physics isn’t something girls tend to fancy – they don’t want to do it, they don’t like it. It wouldn’t be something here that they don’t choose because they feel it’s not for them, that would certainly not be the case, and it wouldn’t be the case here that they wouldn’t choose it because they didn’t have a good physics teacher.“I just think they don’t like it. There’s a lot of hard maths in there that I think that they would rather not do, and that’s not to say that there isn’t hard stuff to do in biology and chemistry.”Asked about why girls specifically would not do physics, she said: “In research generally people say it’s a natural thing – I mean I don’t know, I’m not an expert in that sort of thing, but that’s what they say.“I don’t think there’s anything external – when it comes to our kids… they’re being taught very well, they are doing well at GCSE and they choose the subjects that they want to do.“We’re certainly not out there campaigning for more girls to do physics; we wouldn’t do that and I wouldn’t want to do that because I don’t mind that there’s only 16% of them taking [it], I want them to do what they want to do.”Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson said Ms Birbalsingh should apologise for her comments.The MP said: “Sadly, stories like this are all too common nowadays. The Conservatives have been dragging their feet and failed to challenge the culture of misogyny and unconscious biases in our education system for years.“Every child deserves the chance to thrive and follow their passions during their time at school. However, without a dramatic culture shift, so many young women will be continually undervalued and demotivated.“The Government must finally step up to the plate and act. We need new measures to challenge these biases, backed up by legislation, and Katharine Birbalsingh should apologise for her remarks.”Meanwhile, Ms Birbalsingh said there is no issue with the number of ethnic minority pupils taking Stem subjects but rather a shortage of those choosing subjects such as philosophy, theology and history.“If you come from an immigrant background, and especially if you’re coming from a poorer background and you’ve managed to do well in school, you’re more likely to want to pursue a career that brings more certainty with it,” she said.“So when you’re doing sciences you think ‘Oh I’m going to become a doctor’, ‘I’m going to work as a lab assistant’ – those are more certain professions.”Those from a more privileged background might decide to become a poet, actor or writer, she said, “professions that are less secure and far less obvious in their financial reward, and in the eyes of success from family members or community members and so on, you become a poet, people think, ‘What?’ whereas if you become a doctor that’s something people would admire”.She said this is why her school is not persuading pupils to do physics but is trying to urge them to do philosophy or history.She also told the committee that rather than addressing a lack of ethnic minority women in science, “we need to address good teaching and good schools generally”.She said improved schools would see an increased uptake in science from underrepresented groups “because those vulnerable groups are the ones who are hit hardest by perhaps poor discipline, poor teaching and so on”. More

Rishi Sunak has defended his block on spending to ease the cost of living crisis, arguing it would force up mortgage bills which would be wrong for “our kids”.Government borrowing would rise, which would mean higher interest and mortgage rates, if he gave way to pressure to turn on the spending caps, the chancellor insisted.Mr Sunak has been accused of refusing to help families hit hardest by soaring inflation and everyday bills, in order to store up pre-election tax cuts for voters in 2024. More

Keir Starmer calls Boris Johnson the ‘Comical Ali’ of the cost of living crisisIt would be a “sackable offence” for MPs to watch pornography in the Commons, a Labour spokesman has said following the news that the Conservative Party is investigating claims one of its own MPs watched adult content while in the chamber.On Tuesday night, a group of around 12 female Tory MPs reportedly met Chris Heaton-Harris, the Tory chief whip, to complain about sexism in parliament, with one claiming she was sat next to a male colleague when he began watching porn in the Commons.Various Tory MPs have since called for swift action on the matter. Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns said “decisive action” would be taken “if the facts are established”. Meanwhile, Pauline Latham suggested any MP found to have committed such an act would have to resign. “It’s just not excusable in any way,” she told GB News.The revelations come amid an ongoing misogyny row in Westminster, sparked by the publication of a Mail on Sunday article in which a Tory MP suggested deputy labour leader Angela Rayner crossed and uncrossed her legs in parliament to distract Boris Johnson. Show latest update

1651071186Watching porn in Commons ‘sackable offence’, says Labour Following my earlier post about Labour’s response to the investigation into a Tory MP watching porn in the Commons (2.22pm), here’s Adam Forrest with more detail:Sam Hancock27 April 2022 15:531651070607Tories criticised for allowing convicted Tory paedophile place on sex abuse panelMoving away from the Tory misogyny row for a moment, a survivor of the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal has criticised the Conservative Party for asking an MP found guilty this month of molesting a teenage boy to review a Home Office research paper on child sexual exploitation.This is the same allegation Boris Johnson refused to apologise for during PMQs earlier (see post from 12.43pm). Sammy Woodhouse said she was “disgusted” that she was put in the position of working with Imran Ahmad Khan on an expert panel while he was under police investigation. Ms Woodhouse, who was targeted, groomed and abused as a teenager in Rotherham, said on Wednesday: “This was important work that I undertook in good faith, but I am disgusted to have been put in a position where I was working with a man later convicted for child sexual assault.“Knowing now that the Conservatives had already received complaints from a victim about this man, it is gut-wrenching for me as a survivor that they could possibly have allowed him to be considered for this role.”Khan, 48, was found guilty earlier this month of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old in 2008 before he was elected as the Tory MP for Wakefield. He reportedly attended several online meetings of sexual exploitation experts in 2020 and peer-reviewed a research paper entitled “Group-based child sexual exploitation characteristics of offending”.The victim, now 29, told a court he contacted the Tory Party press office days before the December 2019 general election to tell them what Khan had done to him, and made a complaint to police days after the poll.A Home Office spokesperson insists that neither home secretary Priti Patel nor the Home Office were aware of the allegations against Khan before they became public last year, and that he never directly advised the department on policy related to child sexual exploitation. More

Labour leader Keir Starmer believes watching pornography in the Commons is a “sackable offence”, as the Conservatives investigate claims a Tory MP was viewed porn in the chamber.The Tory chief whip is probing allegations that a Tory MP watched an adult video on his mobile phone in the chamber after two female colleagues raised the matter on Tuesday evening.Asked if Sir Keir had any views on the matter, a Labour spokesman said: “Yeah – it’s a sackable offence.”Tory MP Pauline Latham said any MP found to have watched porn in the House would have to resign, while Tory minister Conor Burns said “decisive” action would be taken if the facts were established.Chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris is looking into the allegations of “wholly unacceptable” action, with a spokeswoman vowing on Wednesday that “action will be taken”.Reports indicate that the female Tory MP who claimed she was sitting next to a colleague watching porn is a government minister. Another MP is said to have corroborated the minister’s claim.But it has not been established whether the male MP at the centre of the allegations is a frontbencher.Tuesday evening’s meeting on sexism was attended by between 40 and 50 Tory MPs, including Mr Heaton-Harris, Tory party chairman Oliver Dowden and Commons leader Mark Spencer, according to The Mirror.It followed outrage over the Mail On Sunday publishing “sexist” and disputed claims from unnamed Tory MPs that deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner tried to distract Boris Johnson with her legs during PMQs.Former prime minister Theresa May also attended the meeting, but was understood not to have been present when the porn allegations were made.Asked about porn claims and possible disciplinary action, Mr Burns, the Northern Ireland minister, told the BBC: “The chief whip is investigating. It is wrong … I’m not going to even attempt to defend that.”Mr Burns added: “The chief whip’s job is to establish the facts. And if facts are established then action should be taken decisively, and will be.”Ms Latham suggested any MP or minister found to have watched porn in the chamber would have to resign. “They should go,” the Tory MP told GB News.She added: “That will mean their ministerial career is absolutely shot and their parliamentary career probably. It’s just not excusable in any way. It’s totally shocking.”Labour MP Pat McFadden suggested on BBC Politics Live there would be a “kicking out” if someone from his party was found to have watched porn in the chamber.SNP MP Kirsty Blackman added: “The level of entitlement that you have to sit in the chamber and watch porn – I mean that is taking everything for granted. They’ve been elected to represent their constituents not to sit in the chamber and watch porn.”Asked whether watching pornography at work was a sackable offence, Mr Johnson’s press secretary said: “I am not aware of the disciplinary action. Obviously, it is wholly unacceptable behaviour and it is being looked into.”It follows a report in the Sunday Times that 56 MPs who have been referred to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) in relation to about 70 separate complaints, it reported.No 10 would not be drawn on reports three cabinet ministers are under investigation by the IGCS over sexual misconduct claims, and would not say whether the Tory party was looking into the claims separately.“We obviously take all such allegations extremely seriously but there is an independent process in place and it is right not to speak on its behalf,” the PM’s press secretary said.Do you think MPs should be suspended over misogyny? Cast your vote in our reader poll below and let us know what you think in the comments. More

Independent readers have given their verdict on Priti Patel’s plan to send asylym seekers to Rwanda, with overhwelming disapproval. The Home Secretary’s scheme has been met with criticism from all sides including Labour, Tory MPs including former prime minister Theresa May, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and even Home Office staff.And the majority of readers agree, with 86 per cent opposing the plan. In a poll, readers were asked: Do you back the Home Office’s Rwanda plan? There were 605 entries; 86 people said yes, 518 said no and one person chose the option ‘Not sure’.The story sparked fierce discussion in the comments section.One user with the name Annuka02 said the policy was “highly disturbing”, “repulsive” and “totally shocking revealing no respect or value for human life. They added: “A scary insight into the mindset of this Government. People are not commodities who can be deported and exiled on a one way ticket. At this present moment in time I find it shameful to be British! This policy is absolutely not in my name.”However, another commenter, HONESTDAVE, appeared to back the policy. He said: “We should only take genuine refugees not those coming just because they feel like it. The British way of life is being seriously destroyed by uncontrolled imigration, it must be stopped.”Ms Patel previously called her plan “bold and innovative”, challenging those against her plan to send migrants to Rwanda to come up with a better idea to tackle small boat crossings in the Channel.Commenter Christoper Painter offered his own idea. He said: “The solution is as follows and it is not so complicated: At the moment the UK has a need for labour in all areas. There are 1.1 million job vacancies. “Rather than sending these young men to disused oil rigs in the North Sea, the Ascension Islands or wuanda (at exorbitant financial and ethically dubious costs ) the UK government should establish hostels where these young men are trained in jobs that that the country needs. “Only after they have been trained, can speak English, and have worked and contributed to the system for at least three years do they have the right to access the normal services our welfare state provides – including the NHS – and choose another profession, if they wish.“ Our welfare state was conceived as a generation concept; it does not allow for excessive rates of immigration.”What do you think? Let us know in the comments below. Here’s how to join the conversation. More

David Frost has claimed that Brexit has gone “remarkably smoothly”, one day after fresh evidence of rising food costs and firms abandoning trade with the EU.The negotiator of Boris Johnson’s trade deal – who quit the government last year – claimed there are “lack of things to talk about”, other than the controversy over the Irish Sea trade border it created.“Occasionally, another issue like fishing or touring performers gets a look in,” he told an event about the future of the Northern Ireland protocol.“But, generally, it’s actually quite remarkable how smoothly the total reordering of this country’s relations has gone.”The comments come despite Lord Frost disowning his own agreement for breaking a promise to spare touring musicians and other performers new punishing costs and red tape.Border bureaucracy also means the UK has “stopped selling” many products to smaller EU countries, according to new evidence of the impact of leaving the EU single market and customs union.And food prices have leapt by 6 per cent, with grocery bills containing products such as fresh pork, tomatoes and jams rising most sharply, because of the end to frictionless trade.Speaking to the Policy Exchange think-tank, Lord Frost admitted the government had forced through the protocol while planning to “sort out the necessary detail with the EU later”.He repeated his call for it to be torn up – by invoking Article 16, to suspend parts of the treaty if necessary – as the government plots new legislation in next month’s Queen’s Speech.The peer also dismissed warnings that rewriting it unilaterally would damage the UK, because it would be breaking international law, claiming “the protocol is different” because it was “imposed under duress”.But he conceded that abandoning it “will of course require domestic legislation”, setting up a clash with the House of Lords and Tory rebels in the Commons, if the government presses ahead.Lord Frost also claimed the protocol is “explicitly temporary”, despite it being an international agreement that the EU has insisted the UK must abide by.And he argued it will be thrown out by the Stormont Assembly in a “consent” vote due in 2024, although that would not, by itself, end the legal obligations entered into.Asked if he is responsible for the crisis, Lord Frost replied: “I think Unionist criticism is best directed at the EU and the commission who put us in this position in the first place.”He admitted the protocol had “much earlier than we expected, and in ways we had not foreseen, started to come apart”.But, Lord Frost argued: “I note that much recent debate about Brexit is really about the pros and cons of the protocol. In a way, that’s a good thing. It reflects the relative lack of other things talk about.” More

Boris Johnson has declined to apologise after it emerged that a Tory MP who molested a 15 year-old boy was advising the government on child sexual exploitation.Imran Ahmad Khan, the then Conservative MP for Wakefield, was sitting on a Home Office-backed expert panel in December 2020, a year after his victim says he had complained to the Conservative party.Khan was expelled from the Conservatives after his conviction this year and his Wakefield constituency will get a new MP at by-election.At prime minister’s question on Wednesday Jeff Smith, the Labour MP for Manchester Withington said: “Last night we learned that the Home Secretary put the member for Wakefield on an expert panel offering advice on sexual exploitation.“At the time he was under a police investigation following allegations he assaulted a minor, for which he has since been found guilty.“He sat on this panel long after the Conservative party had received a complaint from his victim.“Isn’t the prime minister ashamed that his party didn’t take the victim seriously and put someone who abused a minor in such an important position, and would he like to take the opportunity to apologise to them?”But Mr Johnson brushed aside the suggestion, and replied: “I believe the Home Office has already made a statement about it and if there’s any further comment to make they will be making a statement.” Khan said earlier this month that he is appealing against the conviction. He has said he will formally quit as an MP, though by-election in his seat may be pushed back until June.A Home Office spokesperson has said that neither Home Secretary Priti Patel nor the Home Office itself were aware of the claims against Khan prior to them being made public in 2021.“In his role as an MP, Khan was asked along with several others to peer review a Home Office research paper,” the spokesperson said.“The Home Office was not aware of the allegations against him at the time and he no longer has any involvement with the department.”Priti Patel told MPs on December 2020 that Khan was part of “an external reference group, consisting of independent experts on child sexual exploitation” which “reviewed and informed” a paper on “the characteristics of group-based child sexual exploitation”. More