UK Politics

Foreign secretary Liz Truss vowed to push Russia’s economy “back into the Soviet era”, as she urged the UK’s European allies to step up sanctions and hasten the end of dependence on Moscow’s fossil fuels.Ms Truss announced on a trip to Poland that the west had now frozen out more than $350bn from Putin’s “war chest”, making around 60% of the regime’s $604bn foreign currency reserves unavailable.She said sanctions had already a “crippling impact” on the Kremlin – but urged EU allies to commit to a new wave of action ahead of meetings with G7 and Nato foreign ministers this week.Ms Truss said she wanted Britain’s partners to go further in sanctions by “cracking down on more Russian banks” and agreeing “a clear timetable to eliminate our imports of Russian oil, coal and gas”.The call for action came as European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposed a EU ban on coal imports from Russia, a full transaction ban on four major Russian banks, and a ban on Russian ships accessing EU ports.Ms von der Leyen said a ban on coal imports would be worth around £3.3bn a year and revealed that the EU has already started working on additional sanctions – including on oil imports.But the Brussels chief did not mention gas, with consensus among the 27 EU member countries on targeting the fuel used to heat millions of homes across the continent proving more difficult to secure.While the UK and US have said they were cutting off Russian oil and gas, EU countries had previously only announced efforts to gradually draw down their energy reliance on Russia.The Irish premier Micheal Martin said he would back a proposed EU ban on coal, saying it was vital to keep adding pressure on Moscow to stop its “appalling and immoral war”.Italian prime minister Mario Draghi also backed the sanctions proposals, saying the “atrocities” carried out in Ukraine must be punished as he called on Putin to halt the “massacre of civilians”.Ms Von der Leyen said new sanctions imposed on four Russian banks – among the second-largest ban VTB – would mean they would be “totally cut off from the markets”, adding: “This will further weaken Russia’s financial system.”The European Commission president added: “To take a clear stand is not only crucial for us in Europe but also for the rest of the world … A clear stand against the massacre of civilians. And a clear stand against the violation of the fundamental principles of the world order.”The UK is understood to be keen for Germany to set a clear date for ending its Russian gas dependence as part of a “new wave” of punishment against Russia.Though Berlin has agreed to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels by mid-2024, the German finance minister Christian Lindner said earlier this week that “at the moment it’s not possible to cut the gas supplies”.Speaking alongside Polish minister of foreign affairs Zbigniew Rau on Tuesday, Ms Truss praised the country for agreeing to step up both economic sanctions and weapons supplied to Ukraine.“Poland has always been clear eyed about Russia. You have understood Putin’s malign intent. You were right,” she said.The foreign secretary also condemned the alleged Russian massacre of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha – saying “these are appalling acts of the kind that we thought we left in the 20th century”.She added: “We will hold those responsible to account for what they’ve done, in particular the reports of rape.”She praised the work Mr Rau had done as chair of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), saying the body had “shone a vital spotlight on the atrocities committed across Ukraine by Russian forces”.Ms Truss called for Russia to be suspended from the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, and pledged a £10m civil society fund for Ukraine – including support for organisations dealing with sexual violence. More

Rishi Sunak has donated more than £100,000 to the exclusive private school he attended, in the latest evidence of the chancellor’s vast personal wealth.The gifts to Winchester College – which have placed him in a special “benefactors” club – are revealed in the latest magazine of the £43,335-a-year school in Hampshire.Mr Sunak’s spokesman said the cash is to “help fund scholarships for children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to go to Winchester”.But the donations are revealed amid continued criticism of the funding of state schools, which has fallen sharply since the Conservatives came to power in 2010.It means private schools are now spending almost twice as much per pupil as those in the state sector – despite sums being almost the same when Labour left office.The respected Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that the £44bn extra for state schools by 20204 will only take spending back to its level in 2010.“Whilst this will reverse past cuts, it will mean 15 years with no overall growth in spending. This squeeze on school resources is effectively without precedent in post-war UK history,” it warned recently.Mr Sunak is a millionaire in his own right, while his wife Akshata Murthy is the daughter of a billionaire who founded the tech consultancy Infosys.The couple own a property in California and it emerged last week that the chancellor owns four cars – rather than the modest family hatchback he said he drives.Mr Sunak also famously displayed a £180 smart mug, which allows him to set an exact drinking temperature for his coffee for up to three hours.More seriously, his wife was accused of collecting “blood money” in dividends from a family company that, initially, refused to pull out of Russia, despite Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.Mr Sunak’s donations put him in the “Wykeham Benefactors” club, the name given to old boys because the schools founder was the bishop William of Wykeham.“Rishi and his wife have donated to numerous charities and philanthropic causes for many years and will continue to do so,” his spokesman said.“These donations are made to help fund scholarships for children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to go to Winchester.”The chancellor has been buffeted by criticism of last month’s mini-budget, in which he rejected pleas to give further help to families in favour of storing up a pre-election war chest for tax cuts. More

Tory minister says Boris Johnson shouldn’t resign because after Partygate scandalA senior Conservative MP has suggested that the government’s move to privatise Channel 4 was done in “revenge” for the station’s “biased” coverage of Brexit.Writing on Twitter, Mr Knight said: “Is this being done for revenge for Channel 4’s biased coverage of the likes of Brexit and personal attacks on the PM?“Undoubtedly, across much of the party – there is a feeling of payback time and the word privatisation tickles the ivories of many.”However Mr Knight said he would support the Media Bill as a way of reforming public service broadcasting – saying Channel 4 “will have greater freedom to compete once privatised and if managed well”.The government is facing a growing backlash from Conservatives MPs over the plan, announced by Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, last night.Meanwhile, Labour has stretched its lead over the Tories to seven points, according to a new poll. Savanta ComRes has the opposition on 40 per cent (+1) versus the Conservatives 33 per cent (-2).The polling company surveyed 2,220 people between 1 and 3 April.Show latest update

1649169042Liz Truss wants Russian economy pushed ‘back to Soviet era’ as 60% of Putin war chest frozenForeign secretary Liz Truss vowed to push Russia’s economy “back into the Soviet era”, as she urged European allies to go further on sanctions and end dependence on Moscow’s oil and gas.Our politics reporter Adam Forrest has more details below: Matt Mathers5 April 2022 15:301649167542We must ensure Ukraine doesn’t lose war, former Tory leader saysThe West must ensure Ukraine does not lose the war, Conservative former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has said.In a speech on the threats posed to the free world by dictatorial regimes, including China and Russia, hosted by the Heritage Foundation, senior Conservative MP Sir Iain argued that since the ending of the Cold War, there has been “every reason to doubt the West’s resolve”.He said: “They must win and we must help them do it. What defines winning the war is much more difficult but they mustn’t now lose.“Sadly, I suspect as Putin heads east it will become a protracted process, a war of attrition. But we must stay the course.”Matt Mathers5 April 2022 15:051649166642Fracking not the answer to energy crisis, says business secretary, as he orders reviewThe business secretary says fracking is not the answer to the UK’s energy crisis, as he orders a quickfire review into the danger of earthquakes.The British Geological Survey will investigate whether the risks have altered since the government was forced to slap a moratorium on drilling for shale gas in 2019.But Kwasi Kwarteng made clear his clash with Tory MPs demanding the ban is lifted, saying “the pause will remain in place” unless the scientific evidence has changed.Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick reports:Matt Mathers5 April 2022 14:501649165742What is behind the Tory backlash against Channel 4 privatisation?If the government is to get its way, it will have to work hard to assure MPs that jobs – especially those outside of London – will somehow be protected during the process, writes Adam Forrest.Read more of his analysis here: Matt Mathers5 April 2022 14:351649164796Government’s LGBT business champion resignsThe Government’s LGBT business champion, Iain Anderson, has resigned in a letter to Boris Johnson, criticising the “deeply damaging” move to exclude trans people from protection from conversion therapy.Mr Anderson wrote: “It has been the honour of my life to serve as the UKs first-ever LGBT+ business champion. However, I feel I have no choice but to tender my resignation from this role.”I do this with a very heavy heart. As a young gay man I lived through fear and oppression under the backdrop of Section 28. I could never have dreamt then that a government – any government -would appoint an LGBT+ champion later in my lifetime.”However the recent leaking of a plan to drop the Government’s flagship legislation protecting LGBT+ people from conversion therapy was devastating. Conversion therapy is abhorrent.”Only hours later to see this plan retracted but briefing take place that trans people would be excluded from the legislation and therefore not have the same immediate protections from this practice was deeply damaging to my work.”Matt Mathers5 April 2022 14:191649163638We need more defence aircraft, Ukraine MP saysOleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian MP representing Odesa, said his country’s armed forces need weapons that can help defend against Russian air and battleship attacks.Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme, he said: “We need air defence, aircraft – that is the most important.“We also need anti-ship missiles – we are thankful of the UK Government for Harpoons, but we need more.”The politician said he thought it was Moscow’s mission to take the south of the country and cut Ukraine off from the Black Sea.He added: “They still want to attack Odesa, to take Odesa, to cut Ukraine from the sea and to go to the border of the European Union, because Romania is already there – and (there are) Russians in Transnistria, an occupied part of the Moldovan republic.“That is their strategic aim to go there. For the moment, they are unsuccessful but they will try again.”Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian MP representing Odesa, said his country’s armed forces need weapons that can help defend against Russian air and battleship attacks.
Matt Mathers5 April 2022 14:001649162404The French elections are a test for Emmanuel Macron – and his politics of moderationReactivating his centrist base and reconnecting with ‘left behind’ voters will be vital if the success of ‘Macronisme’ is to survive Macron himself, writes Vince CableRead his full piece here: Matt Mathers5 April 2022 13:401649160342ICYMI: Stonewall and 80 LGBTQ groups pull out of government conference over trans conversion U-turnLGBTQ charity Stonewall and 80 other organisations have pulled out of a UK government conference over its transgender conversion therapy U-turn.The LGBT+ Consortium, an umbrella body for charities working in the UK, said the government’s plans to scrap planned legislation to outlaw conversion practices was “abhorrent”.My colleague Joe Middleton reports: Matt Mathers5 April 2022 13:051649160042ICYMI: Leaving drinks for official who wrote Covid rules sees ‘more fines issued’Metropolitan Police fines are believed to have been issued to staff who attended a leaving drinks party for the top government official who helped write Covid rules.Staff who joined Kate Josephs’ “boozy” farewell bash at the Cabinet Office on 17 December 2020 have been handed Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), according to The Telegraph.Our politics reporter Adam Forrest has more details below: Matt Mathers5 April 2022 13:001649158542Expel Russian ambassador and set up tribunal to prosecute Putin for war crimes, Labour saysBoris Johnson is being urged to toughen his stance amid worldwide revulsion at the brutality unleashed by Russian forces, revealed as its troops pull back from around Kyiv.Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick has more details below: Matt Mathers5 April 2022 12:35 More

The business secretary says fracking is not the answer to the UK’s energy crisis, as he orders a quickfire review into the danger of earthquakes. The British Geological Survey will investigate whether the risks have altered since the government was forced to slap a moratorium on drilling for shale gas in 2019. But Kwasi Kwarteng made clear his clash with Tory MPs demanding the ban is lifted, saying “the pause will remain in place” unless the scientific evidence has changed.“It remains the case that fracking in England would take years of exploration and development before commercial quantities of gas could be produced for the market, and would certainly have no effect on prices in the near term,” the business secretary said.Boris Johnson raised the hopes of pro-fracking Tories by agreeing an “energy security strategy” – to be set out this week – will consider lifting the current ban. But many other Conservative MPs, including ministers, are opposed, believing the technology is far more unpopular with voters than onshore wind farms.Mr Kwarteng has called for the latest scientific evidence – asking for a report by June – to “assess if any progress has been made” over the last three years.But handing the controversy over to the scientists could make it less likely that the government will bow to pressure from pro-frackers on the Tory benches.The business secretary said: “In light of Putin’s criminal invasion of Ukraine, it is absolutely right that we explore all possible domestic energy sources.”But he warned the technology’s supporters: “We have always been, and always will be, guided by the science on shale gas.”The British Geological Survey will be “a desk-based exercise”, Mr Kwarteng said, so “no drilling of any further test wells or seismic monitoring will take place”. The prime minister appears likely to throw his weight behind a big expansion of offshore – but not onshore – wind in his energy strategy, plus controversial new North Sea oil and gas licences.He also wants to revive nuclear power, including smaller modular reactors, but has been locked in a battle with the chancellor Rishi Sunak over cost. Experts have strongly criticised the view that fracking can meaningfully contribute to diversifying energy sources, given the difficulty of extracting the UK’s reserves. Ministers were forced to impose the moratorium in 2019, because of warnings that it is not possible to predict accurately the danger of earth tremors.Drilling was blamed for minor earthquakes, including a 2.9 magnitude tremor near Blackpool, in August 2019, which led to the suspension of operations.Scotland and Wales had already turned their backs on fracking, which involves releasing natural gas from deep underground by blasting a mixture of water and chemicals into shale rock deposits. More

The government’s LGBT+ business adviser has quit his role in protest at the contentious decision to exclude transgender people from a conversion therapy ban.Iain Anderson, who was appointed to the role in 2021 by the equalities minister, Liz Truss, also accused the government of attempting to wage a “woke war” on the community.“I was LGBT business champion not LGB or T, and that’s why I’m walking away,” he told ITV News, suggesting ministers were trying to “drive a wedge” among trans and lesbian, gay and bisexual people.His announcement comes after officials and ministers were blindsided by Boris Johnson’s plan — leaked last week — to U-turn on a pledge to introduce a legislative ban on so-called conversion therapy.After promoting outrage, No 10 partially backtracked, insisting legislation would be introduced, but only for gay conversion therapy — a discredited practice which seeks to change or suppress an individual’s sexual identity.“This came as a complete bolt out of the blue. Not just to me but to Liz Truss and the government’s LGBT envoy. It came on the very day of International Transgender Visibility. I was completely shocked,” Mr Anderson added.Mr Anderson also held a key role in work for the UK’s first global LGBT conference — Safe To Be Me — which is scheduled to take place in June, but is now in doubt over the government’s plans.Last night it emerged the LGBT+ charity Stonewall and over 100 organisation pulled out of the conference following the U-turn on a trans conversion therapy ban.The LGBT+ Consortium, an umbrella body for charities working in the UK, said the government’s plans to scrap planned legislation to outlaw conversion practices was “abhorrent”.In his resignation letter on Tuesday, Mr Anderson said: “It has been the honour of my life to serve as the UKs first-ever LGBT+ business champion. However, I feel I have no choice but to tender my resignation from this role.“I do this with a very heavy heart. As a young gay man I lived through fear and oppression under the backdrop of Section 28. I could never have dreamt then that a government — any government — would appoint an LGBT+ champion later in my lifetime.But, he added: “The recent leaking of a plan to drop the government’s flagship legislation protecting LGBT+ people from conversion therapy was devastating. conversion therapy is abhorrent.“Only hours later to see this plan retracted but briefing take place that trans people would be excluded from the legislation and therefore not have the same immediate protections from this practice was deeply damaging to my work.” More

The government is facing a backlash from senior Conservatives over its plan to privatise Channel 4, as Boris Johnson was warned that Margaret Thatcher would not have attempted such a move.The contentious decision to sell off the public-owned broadcaster has sparked outrage from opposition parties, top Tory backbenchers and leading media figures.Channel 4’s former head of news and current affairs said the move was designed to “throw a bit of red meat to Tory supporters of a very right-wing nature at a time that the government is in trouble”.Dorothy Byrne told Times Radio: “I think the political agenda is to show that the government is doing something radically right-wing to please people. It’s the same agenda as attacking the licence fee.”Senior Tory figures Jeremy Hunt, Baroness Ruth Davidson, Damien Green and Tom Tugendhat were among those speaking out against the plan, confirmed by culture secretary Nadine Dorries on Monday.Baroness Davidson, the former Scottish Tory party leader, pointed out that Channel 4 is “publicly owned, not publicly funded” and “doesn’t cost the tax payer a penny”.She said Channel 4 had helped create a thriving independent sector outside of London. “This is the opposite of levelling up,” the Tory peer said of the plan.Former cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt said he had never considered privatising the channel during his time as culture secretary: “I’m not in favour of it,” he told Sky News.He added: “Channel 4 provides competition to the BBC on public service broadcasting, the kinds of programmes that are not commercially viable. And I think it would be a shame to lose that.”Senior Tory backbencher Tom Tugendhat told Times Radio he was “pretty doubtful” about controversial the move. “I remain to be convinced this is going to achieve the aim the government has set out.”Tory MP Sir Peter Bottomley said he also opposed the privatisation since it would be “bad for the diversity of television, bad for viewers and bad for independent producers”.Former cabinet minister Damian Green said the idea was “very unconservative” – pointing out that “[Margaret] Thatcher, who created it, never made that mistake”.Ms Byrne said Ms Dorries “doesn’t know very much about the broadcasting sector”. The former Channel 4 news boss also said Ms Thatcher “invented Channel 4 in order to invent the independent production company sector which has made billions for this country”.The sell-off is expected to form part of a draft Media Bill to be unveiled at the Queen’s speech – setting out the forthcoming agenda for Boris Johnson’s government – next month.Ms Dorries added in a tweet that she wanted the broadcaster to remain a “cherished place in British life” – but felt that government ownership was “holding Channel 4 back from competing against streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon”.A government source told The Independent that the sale would form part of reforms “to modernise and sustain” the public service broadcasting sector – but was met with dismay by Channel 4.A spokesperson for the broadcaster said it was “disappointed” with the decision but would “continue to engage” with the government to ensure Channel 4 “continues to play its unique part” in Britain’s creative life.Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon said “there will now be a long process ahead”, writing to staff in an internal that it could take 18 months or more for the required legislation to pass through parliament.Labour described the plan as “cultural vandalism” and warned it would cost the sector jobs in the north of England. Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It doesn’t make any sense – I can’t find many people are in favour of it.”Another senior Tory MP Julian Knight – the chair of the digital, culture, media and sport select committee – questioned the motivation behind the planned sell-off.“Is this being done for revenge for Channel 4’s biased coverage of the likes of Brexit and personal attacks on the PM? … there is a feeling of payback time.”However, Mr Knight said he would support the Media Bill as a way of reforming public service broadcasting – saying Channel 4 “will have greater freedom to compete once privatised and if managed well”.He added: “Privatisation – even for some wrong reasons – can work for C4, but must be part of a thorough overhaul of all public service broadcasting.”However, former Tory leader William Hague said Channel 4’s privatisation could be a good thing, following reports that the government is seeking £1bn from the sale.“It partly depends what you do with the money,” he told Times Radio. “If this raises a billion pounds, and it’s meant to go to support creative industries, as part of our levelling up agenda. Well, if that’s spent effectively, that will be a good thing.” More

Metropolitan Police fines are believed to have been issued to staff who attended a leaving drinks party for the top government official who helped write Covid rules.Staff who joined Kate Josephs’ “boozy” farewell bash at the Cabinet Office on 17 December 2020 have been handed Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), according to The Telegraph.Ms Josephs, former chief of the government’s Covid taskforce, has admitted and apologised for gathering with colleagues for drinks while strict curbs on socialising were in force in London.She said in January that she had gathered with colleagues “with drinks” in the Cabinet Office to mark her departure from the civil service.Ms Josephs added: “I am truly sorry that I did this and for the anger that people will feel as a result. Sheffield has suffered greatly during this pandemic, and I apologise unreservedly.”It is not known whether Ms Josephs, currently chief executive of Sheffield City Council and on discretionary leave, is among those to have been fined.Sheffield City Council brought in an independent investigator to examine the situation and a cross-party committee is looking at the findings.A council spokesman said: “The committee will need to meet again once they have had time to properly consider the contents of the investigator’s report. Until then, the committee needs to focus on its work.”Ms Josephs has not commented on The Telegraph report, and is under no obligation to tell the council if she has received an FPN.Fines have now been given to staff attending three of the 12 events under investigation, it is understood – including a No 10 leaving event on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021 and a leaving do in the cabinet secretary’s office in June 2020.The government’s former ethics chief Helen MacNamara apologised after being fined for the June 2020 event – having reportedly brought a karaoke machine to the leaving bash.Ms MacNamara said: “I am sorry for the error of judgement I have shown. I have accepted and paid the fixed penalty notice.”An initial round of 20 fixed penalty notices have been issued by Scotland Yard in connection with the Partygate scandal, with more expected.It comes as civil service chiefs are said to be “braced” for severe criticism of top officials when the full Sue Gray report is published at the end of the police probe.There is fear the report from the Cabinet office official would cast some of the leading Whitehall figures in a “bad light” and could potentially lead to disciplinary action, according to The Guardian.The 20 police fines issued in the first wave of FPNs have reportedly varied from £50 to £200, depending on the nature of the event and Covid rules in place at the time.Cabinet minister Simon Hart claimed on Monday that the “world has moved on” from Partygate, while his colleague Jacob Rees-Mogg insisted that Boris Johnson had been given “incorrect” information about social gatherings.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Johnson had “misled the public” over parties and presided over “widespread criminality” at No 10 – repeating his claimed that the PM is “unfit for office”.The identities of people issued with FPNs will not be disclosed by the Metropolitan Police, although Downing Street has said it will confirm if either Mr Johnson or cabinet secretary Simon Case are handed a fine. More