UK Politics

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has issued an apology after being reminded by police “of the importance of wearing a face covering when there is a legal requirement to do so”.It comes after leaked footage appeared to show Ms Sturgeon breaching Scotland’s Covid face mask laws over the weekend – days before they were dropped.“Local officers have spoken to the first minister,” Police Scotland said in a statement on Monday, before adding the politician would not be fined. “Given the circumstances of this incident, Police Scotland is satisfied that no further action is necessary. This is in line with our proportionate approach throughout the pandemic.”Ms Sturgeon was reported to the force after being filmed, on Saturday, visiting the Iconic Gents Hair barber shop in East Kilbride without a mask on. She was campaigning at the time. Until Monday, it was legally required for people to wear face coverings in many indoor settings in Scotland, including shops, hairdressers and public transport. The law has now become guidance.Responding to the news that police had been in touch with her, the first minister apologised but claimed she noticed after only “a few seconds” that she had forgotten to put a mask on and rectified this “immediately”. “After a few seconds of being in the shop, I realised I had forgotten to put my face covering back on. I then immediately put it on,” she said. “However, I accept that not wearing a face covering even for a few seconds was an error on my part and I am sorry for that.”Ms Sturgeon said it was “absolutely right” that police had treated her “no differently to any other citizen”, but insisted: “I explained that the error was inadvertent and the police have confirmed that the matter is closed.”She added that while the law no longer required face coverings to be worn, “I will continue to do so in circumstances where this can help reduce the risk of infection, and I encourage everyone to do likewise”.In the video, which was posted to social media, Ms Sturgeon can be seen without a face covering as she mingles with customers and pats the head of a man in a barber’s chair while mimicking the sound of an electric razor.A separate video, which she uploaded to her own Twitter account, showed the first minister inside the same shop and shaving a man’s beard – while wearing a tartan mask. In its own statement regarding the incident, Ms Sturgeon’s party, the SNP, said: “The first minister was invited into the barbers during an outdoor visit on the street.“Within a few seconds, she realised she hadn’t put her mask back on and immediately put it on.” More

Powerful spyware used by hackers to snoop on communications and steal data has been found on a devices at Downing Street, researchers have said.Specialists at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab said the notorious “Pegasus” trojan horse appears to have been used to target both the prime minister’s office and the Foreign Office.The researchers said they had identified “multiple suspected instances of Pegasus spyware infections” on devices used by UK government officials.Several No 10 mobile phones, including Boris Johnson’s, were tested after the 2020 breach – but UK officials were apparently unable to locate the infected device nor the nature of any stolen data.The researchers believe the cyberattack targeting Boris Johnson’s office came from the United Arab Emirates – while the identified FCO infections appear to be linked to Pegasus “operators” in the UAE, India, Cyprus, and Jordan.Ron Deibert, director of the Citizen Lab and Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy said: “During the course of our investigations into mercenary spyware, we will occasionally observe cases where we suspect that governments are using spyware to undertake international espionage against other governments. “The vast majority of these cases are outside of our scope and mission. However, in certain select cases, where appropriate and while preserving our independence, we decide to notify these governments through the official channels, especially if we believe that our actions can reduce harm.”We confirm that in 2020 and 2021 we observed and notified the government of the United Kingdom of multiple suspected instances of Pegasus spyware infections within official UK networks.”Approached for comment by The Independent on the matter, a government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on security matters.”The claims were first revealed in the New Yorker magazine. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the Citizen Lab told the outlet: “When we found the No 10 case, my jaw dropped.”Once the software, which was developed by Israeli company NSO Group, finds its way onto a person’s device it can copy messages, harvest photos, record phone calls, and even secretly film the user through the phone’s camera. Real-world conversations can be secretly recorded by switching on a phone’s microphone. Both Android and iOS devices are vulnerable to the technology. Pegasus was first identified in 2016 after a botched installation attempt against an Emirati human rights activist. Boris Johnson visited the UAE in March in a bid to boot trade ties with the country and persuade Gulf state to boost oil and gas production in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.The prime minister has previously been criticised for taking a lax approach to his personal data security after it emerged that he had not changed his phone number for years and that it was readily available online. Pegasus and other spyware can be installed on devices through sending a text message to a user, sometimes exploiting loopholes that do not even require a user to click a link. More

Eddie Marsan talks about John Darwin role and makes veiled jab at Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson will “have his say” on the Partygate scandal in Parliament this week, a minister said today, as Labour tore into fresh revelations that a gathering at Downing Street turned into a leaving party only after the prime minister allegedly started pouring drinks.The Sunday Times reported the prime minister’s official photographer had captured Mr Johnson holding a beer at the gathering, and chancellor Rishi Sunak with a soft drink, at the event on 13 November 2020.Energy minister Greg Hands confirmed Mr Johnson will be speaking to Parliament this week about the scandal and “will outline his version of events and face questions from MPs.”It comes as a poll today revealed that Mr Johnson is widely regarded as liar by British voters.A public opinion poll by JLPartners found that just 16 per cent of people would use positive language to describe the prime minister with more than 70 per cent characterising him in negative terms.Voters were asked to describe the prime minister, with the most frequent description being that he is a ‘liar’ – followed by ‘incompetent’ and ‘untrustworthy’.Show latest update

1650292961Every day Boris Johnson remains ‘tarnishes his party and office of prime minister’, says former ministerFormer Cabinet member Rory Stewart has said the removal of prime minister Boris Johnson from office is an “ethical” matter for the Conservative party.Tweeting today, the former Tory minister said: “Every day that Boris Johnson remains tarnishes his party and the office of the Prime-Minister. “Removing him is not only the ethical thing for Conservative MPs to do. “It is also profoundly in their long-term interest.”Emily Atkinson18 April 2022 15:421650291906Former archbishop calls Rwanda scheme ‘sinful’The former archbishop of Canterbury has dubbed the government’s Rwanda migrant plans “sinful” after Justin Welby yesterday described the scheme as being “against the judgement of God.”Rowan William reportedly told Times Radio: “Policy itself seems to me to be not in accord with what I understand about God.”He then went on to describe Partygate as something to put prime minsiter Boris Johnson’s “position in doubt.”He added: “A breach of the law, which has damaging consequences for society, which damages trust which damages the integrity and credibility not only of an individual but of the government seems to be perfectly appropriate for the confessional.”“It’s appropriate to take that kind of offence to the confessional, to lay it out to ask for, as the formula of confession says, penance, advice and absolution.”Emily Atkinson18 April 2022 15:251650290685Watch: Tory minister laughs on GMB after being asked if he would ‘send Jesus to Rwanda’Tory minister laughs on GMB after being asked if he would ‘send Jesus to Rwanda’Emily Atkinson18 April 2022 15:041650289610No 10 and FCDO fall foul to Pegasus spyware infectionsTwo UK government departments have been infected on multiple suspected instances by Pegasus spyware, Citizen Lab has revealed.The infections were found in both 10 Downing Street – the heart of government – and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development office (FCDO) between 2020 and 2021.Citizen Lab today said it could confirm that the suspected infections relating to the FCDO were associated with Pegasus operators linked to the UAE, India, Cyprus, and Jordan, while those at No 10 were associated with an operator linked to the UAE.Developed by the Israeli cyber-arms company NSO Group, Pegasus can be covertly installed on mobile phones (and other devices) running most versions of iOS and Android.It is capable of reading text messages, tracking calls, collecting passwords, location tracking, accessing the target device’s microphone and camera, and harvesting information from appsEmily Atkinson18 April 2022 14:461650288325‘War cabinet’ could be established if leadership contest occurs, senior Tory suggestsA veteran Conservative MP has said a “war cabinet” could be created in the event of a possible leadership contest should the prime minister resign or be desposed, so as not to detract attention from efforts to aid war-torn Ukraine.Sir Roger Gale said the “interim administration” could be led by the deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab.“I don’t actually know whether what I’m proposing is possible legally,” he said.“But if Johnson were to resign – he probably won’t – but if he were to resign, then … if the deputy prime minister led a ‘war cabinet’ to deal with the crisis and get us through to the point when we could then have a proper leadership election, that is a possible way forward.“What I don’t know is what the situation is if the prime minister refused – suppose it was necessary for the prime minister to go but he won’t resign, then insofar as I’m aware the only way of doing that is by getting the 50 letters … and then hope that you can win a no-confidence motion, which is not certain.”He added: “What I don’t know under the rules is if you have a no-confidence motion and the prime minister goes, do you then have to have a leadership contest?“Or could you have what I’m suggesting, which would be an interim administration – a Conservative administration, but an interim administration – to see us through?”Emily Atkinson18 April 2022 14:251650286538Watch: Boris Johnson ‘will have his say’ on Partygate scandal, says ministerBoris Johnson ‘will have his say’ on Partygate scandal, says ministerEmily Atkinson18 April 2022 13:551650285338Opinion: ‘There are bleak days ahead for the economy – but don’t give up hope’These are confusing and troubling days, but the Easter break gives us all a moment to reflect on what is happening and hopefully pick a path through the gloom, writes Hamish McRae.Emily Atkinson18 April 2022 13:351650284138Watch: Historian says Boris Johnson has become ‘great debaser’ of decencyHistorian says Boris Johnson has become ‘great debaser’ of decencyEmily Atkinson18 April 2022 13:151650282878‘Immoral trade in human beings’: UK slammed for deporting asylum seekers in return for Rwanda refugeesPriti Patel has been accused of taking part in an “immoral trade of human beings” after it emerged the UK will take in a number of refugees from Rwanda in return for deporting thousands of asylum seekers to the country.Around 50 of the “most vulnerable refugees” in the African nation are to be resettled in Britain as part of a multi-million-pound deal agreed between the two countries last week, under which thousands of UK asylum seekers are set to be deported to Rwanda to have their claims considered there.It has also emerged that modern slavery victims will be among those removed from Britain under the deal, despite the fact that the UK government condemned Rwanda for its failure to protect and support survivors of trafficking less than a year ago.Our social affairs correspondent May Bulman reports:Emily Atkinson18 April 2022 12:541650281816A brilliant thread by our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden on the reasons why people seeking asylum in the UK cross the Channel in small boats and lorries.“We are seeing the consequences of governments trying to mitigate the effects of unevidenced and ideological immigration and asylum policy, with more unevidenced and ideological policies,” she writes.“Rwanda is just part of a long trend, and there’s no evidence it will be any more effective.”Click here to read her thread in full:Emily Atkinson18 April 2022 12:36 More

Boris Johnson is widely regarded as liar by British voters, a new survey of public opinion has found.A poll by JLPartners found that just 16 per cent of people would use positive language to describe the prime minister with more than 70 per cent characterising him in negative terms.Voters were asked to describe the prime minister, with the most frequent description being that he is a ‘liar’ – followed by ‘incompetent’ and ‘untrustworthy’.The poll, a nationally-representative sample commissioned by The Times newspaper, comes after the prime minister was fined for breaking Covid rules at a lockdown birthday party.Mr Johnson had previously insisted he knew of no parties in Downing Street and claimed he was furious when he found out.Of those people polled, one said: “He was the right person to get Brexit done but now he needs to go. He is a liar and has broken the law. We need a change.”And another added: “At first, I really liked him and felt he would be good for the country, but now he has been in power he has been one of the worst prime ministers ever… he is so out of touch and has no idea how the majority of people live their lives.”Other words used regularly by voters to describe the PM include “idiot” and “buffoon”, while one voter described him as an “utter anus”.James Johnson, a former No10 pollster who runs JLPartners said: “Overall, partygate dominates views of Boris over Ukraine.”Fury has not receded. Many negative comments are by people who liked him previously but have now changed their minds. “When Johnson first took power, only Labour voters would call him a liar. It is now widespread.”Boris Johnson cannot be removed from office by voters until the next general election, which will come in 2025 at the latest.But Tory MPs could choose to vote not confidence in his leadership and replace him with another Conservative. A handful of Tory MPs have publicly called on Mr Johnson to go, while dozens have said it would be the wrong time to remove him.The PM’s chances of staying in office appear to have surged after a damaging series of revelations surrounding Rishi Sunak, who has previously widely regarded as his obvious successor. Mr Johnson has repeatedly been accused of serious lying before and during his political career. He was sacked as a journalist from The Times newspaper in 1988 for making up a quote, and sacked from Michael Howards’s shadow Cabinet in 1994 for lying about an affair. More

Boris Johnson’s upcoming India visit will be viewed as a “vanity trip” designed to distract from his domestic troubles on the Partygate scandal, unless key commitments are secured, Labour has claimed.It comes as the prime minister prepares to travel to New Delhi and Gujarat later this week for talks with India’s leader, Narendra Modi, in an attempt to drive progress on a free trade agreement.Ahead of the trip on Thursday, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow international trade secretary, said Mr Johnson must secure commitments on climate change and labour standards in supply chains.“Otherwise, people will — rightly — see this as a vanity trip to distract from the prime minister’s law-breaking and failure to tackle the cost-of-living crisis,” the Labour frontbencher insisted.Before travelling to India, Mr Johnson will face MPs for the first time since being issued with a fixed penalty notice, and fresh allegations he led leaving event celebrations for a former No 10 spin doctor.Energy minister Greg Hands confirmed on Monday, Mr Johnson, who last week became the first sitting prime minister to have found to have broken the law, will deliver a Commons statement on Tuesday and “have his say” on the scandal.He said Mr Johnson “will outline his version of events and face questions” from MPs after he was forced to issue a “full apology” last week after being fined for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet room of Downing Street in June 2020.Close allies of the prime minister told The Times that Mr Johnson accepts that “mistakes were made”, but predicted he would tell MPs there was “always an exemption for work and people working in close proximity in No 10 for very long hours”.But Mr Johnson’s planned message of defiance on the Partygate scandal follow fresh reports that he not only participated in, but in fact led the celebrations, at a leaving do for his former director of communications, Lee Cain, on 13 November 2020, and during England’s second lockdown.“This wasn’t a leaving drinks — until the prime minister arrived,” a source told The Sunday Times.“This was the usual press office Friday evening wash-up drinks. Boris came fumbling over, red box in tow, and he gathered the staff around the press office table, which did have bottles of alcohol on it.“He said he wanted to say a few words for Lee and started pouring drinks for people and drinking himself. He toasted him”.A No 10 source denied the prime minister had led or instigated the event when approached by The Independent.The event is one of 12 being investigated by the Metropolitan Police as part of Operation Hillman, with the prime minister facing the prospect of further fines for his involvement in the gatherings.Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “While the British public was making huge sacrifices, Boris Johnson was breaking the law.“If the latest reports are true, it would mean that not only did the prime minister attend parties, but he had a hand in instigating at least one of them. He has deliberately misled the British people at every turn.“The prime minister has demeaned his office. The British people deserve better. While Labour has a plan for tackling the cost-of-living crisis, Tory MPs are too busy defending the indefensible actions of Boris Johnson.” More

A minister has rejected claims from Justin Welby that Britain is “sub-contracting” its responsibilities, hailing the widely condemned deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as “bold” and “innovative”.The energy minister, Greg Hands, also echoed comments from Priti Patel, that critics of the plan, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, needed to “show what their solution would be” to Channel crossings.The remarks come as some Conservative MPs criticised the head of the Church of England for “sharpening political divisions” while cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg claimed he had misunderstood the policy.In a scathing intervention during his Easter Sunday sermon, Mr Welby suggested the plan — signed by the home secretary with the Rwandan government last week — would not stand the “judgement of God”.The Archbishop of Canterbury accused the government of “sub-contracting” its responsibilities, and claimed there were “serious ethical questions about sending asylum seekers overseas”.“The details are for politics. The principle must stand the judgment of God, and it cannot,” he added.Pressed on whether it was wrong for Mr Welby to describe the asylum plan as “ungodly”, Mr Hands told Sky News: “I think what others, the critics of this plan, need to do is show what their solution would be.”He added: “We have a position now where last year 28,500 people crossed the Channel illegally into this country — this is a growing problem. We’ve taken a bold and innovative measure with Rwanda to take action here.”Despite a poll last week showing more people were opposed to the proposals than supported — 42 per cent versus 34 per cent — the minister said: “I think the British people are in support of that”.Quizzed on the Archbishop’s claim that the UK is outsourcing its responsibilities by sending migrants on a one-way ticket to Rwanda, over 4,000 miles away, Mr Hands replied: “No, we’re not.“This is an agreement between two sovereign countries: the UK and Rwanda, where Rwanda with its very good track record on taking refugees, asylum seekers, it’s an innovative solution.“It’s not entirely without precedent, other countries have done similar things in the past, and it’s the government taking action here”.Writing a joint article in The Times with Rwandan foreign minister Vincent Biruta, the home secretary also described government plans as “bold and innovative”, adding: “It’s surprising that those institutions that criticise the plans fail to offer their own solutions”.But shadow Labour minister Sarah Jones suggested it would be “madness” to expect migrants to stay in Rwanda after attempting to reach the UK, adding: “We are just moving the people smuggling problem, we are not fixing it, which is what the government claims to try and do.”Speaking to Times Radio, she added: “The government hasn’t even said how much this is going to cost – the £120 million is just an upfront payment to the Rwandan government. “The actual admin of the scheme, they don’t even know how much that’s going to cost.” More

Boris Johnson maintains that he did not break coronavirus rules despite being fined by the Met police over Partygate, according to reports. The prime minister will be forced to address the issue of his fine and lockdown parties in No 10 in front of his MPs when Westminister returns on Tuesday.Close allies of the prime minister have told The Times that MrJohnson accepts that “mistakes were made”, but predicted that Mr Johnson would tell MPs there was “always an exemption for work and people were working in close proximity in No 10 for very long hours”.Explaining the prime minister’s view, the source told the paper: “If you’re going from meeting to meeting and it’s something at 2pm in the afternoon, people wouldn’t particularly call that a party.”They added that from Mr Johnson’s “point of view it’s his place of work” and that he was “going to events in a work capacity”.“That is the way he will present it, and a lot of people understand this,” the source claimed. Mr Johnson’s statement to MPs is also expected to emphasise the work the government is doing to support the Ukrainian government. It will also update parliament on the government’s new energy strategy.Mr Johnson’s planned message of defiance on Partygate will follow fresh reports that he not only participated in, but in fact led the celebrations at one of the events in Downing Street. He is said to have served up drinks at a leaving do for his former director of communications, Lee Cain, on 13 November 2020. A source told The Sunday Times the gathering had started off as the press office having drinks to finish off the week, but turned into a party once the prime minister arrived. More

Nicola Sturgeon has been reported to police after footage showed her apparently breaching Scotland’s Covid face mask law on the council election campaign trail.A video posted on social media appears to show Scotland’s first minister not wearing a mask during a visit to a barber’s in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, on Saturday.There is currently a legal requirement to wear a face covering in most indoor public places in Scotland, including shops, public transport and hairdressers.In the video, Ms Sturgeon appears to be seen without a face covering as she mingles with customers and pats the head of a man in a barber’s chair while mimicking the sound of an electric razor.The first minister is wearing a tartan face mask in a different video of her visit to Iconic Gents Hair posted on her official Twitter account, in which she can be seen shaving a man’s beard.A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have received a complaint which is currently being assessed.”The legal requirement to wear a face mask in indoor settings in Scotland moves into guidance on Monday, however the Scottish Government has strongly recommended that people continue to wear them where appropriate.An SNP spokesman said: “The first minister was invited into the barber’s during an outdoor visit on the street.“Within a few seconds, she realised she hadn’t put her mask back on and immediately put it on.”Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “The video clearly shows Nicola Sturgeon isn’t practising what she preaches on face masks.“She’s happy virtue signalling for official photos but behind closed doors it’s clear she doesn’t believe in her own rules so why should anyone else.“This is blatant hypocrisy from the first minister who has now shown her true colours.“The public, who have been under these legal Covid restrictions for over two years, deserve an apology for this rule break.”A Scottish Liberal Democrats spokesperson said: “It’s incumbent on all politicians to set a good example. It looks like Nicola Sturgeon has lost track of what her own rules are.”In December 2020, Ms Sturgeon apologised after she breached Covid rules by taking off her face mask at a funeral wake.She described it as “a stupid mistake”, and said: “I’m really sorry.”The Scottish government said the incident on Saturday was an issue for the party. More