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      Top civil servant accused of misleading officials over Christmas party knowledge

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      Britain’s top civil servant has been accused of misleading officials over what he knew about Christmas parties in his own department during lockdown. Simon Case stepped down last week as head of an investigation into claims of parties in Downing Street, after it emerged there had been a quiz – registered in work calendars as ‘Christmas party!’ – in the Cabinet Office on December 17 last year. He also faced allegations of an impromptu drinks for 15-20 people held in and around his office in the second week in December, after an investigation by The Independent and Politico. Before being removed from the investigation, Mr Case assured colleagues that he had no knowledge of any parties or social gatherings of any kind at the Cabinet Office in the run up to Christmas 2020, the Independent understands. The revelation comes after the Independent was initially told by a Cabinet Office spokesperson that any allegation of a party or social gathering in 70 Whitehall was “categorically untrue”. It was also suggested nothing that could possibly be considered as a party occurred or appeared in calendars, emails or other messages throughout the entire month of December. Mr Case recused himself from the Downing Street party investigation last Friday following publication of Independent’s report of “waiting room drinks” and the separate December 17 quiz.This was in order to ensure the investigation retained “public confidence”, a Downing Street spokesperson said. Sue Gray, second permanent secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was appointed as Mr Case’s replacement. Sources had described an event in mid-December with prosecco and wine in the waiting room of the Cabinet Secretary’s office. Mr Case was seen carrying a glass as he wandered “in and out” of the event and greeted staff, they alleged. Civil servants scrutinised these claims of social gatherings in 70 Whitehall during December in order to ensure Mr Case did not need to step away from the party investigation.Mr Case provided officials with assurances that he had not participated in and had no knowledge of any social gatherings, the Independent understands, despite being later forced to admit that he was aware of at least one gathering.The civil service code requires all officials to behave with integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. Mr Case’s conduct had fallen short compared to the high standards of transparency and openness required of officials by misleading fellow officials, the Independent has been told. A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said: “Staff in the Cabinet Secretary’s private office took part in a virtual quiz on 17 December 2020. A small number of them, who had been working in the office throughout the pandemic and on duty that day, took part from their desks, while the rest of the team were virtual. “The Cabinet Secretary played no part in the event, but walked through the team’s office on the way to his own office. No outside guests or other staff were invited or present. This lasted for an hour and drinks and snacks were bought by those attending. He also spoke briefly to staff in the office before leaving.” Fresh questions over the Cabinet Secretary’s behaviour come as pressure mounts on Boris Johnson to explain his and others’ conduct at Number 10 during the pandemic. A photo published on Sunday by the Guardian, showed wine and cheese being consumed by the Prime Minister, his wife, Carrie, and advisers and a person identified as Matt Hancock, former health secretary in the Downing Street Garden. The garden gathering was held amid tight restrictions in May 2020. The photo emerged after a joint investigation by the Independent and Guardian revealed a party on that date. Downing Street has described the event as a work meeting though deputy prime minister Dominic Raab yesterday undermined that suggestion by saying the drinks took place after work. The matter of gatherings whilst restrictions were in place has become especially sensitive given the government move to impose fresh ‘Plan B’ measures, and amid fears of a fresh lockdown to curb the spread of the omicron variant.Labour’s shadow paymaster general, Fleur Anderson, has written to her counterpart Michael Ellis MP asking him to correct the Parliamentary record that said he was confident in the impartiality of the Cabinet Secretary when asked if he could lead the investigation into Downing Street Parties with no personal interests. Ms Anderson has also asked for confirmation on when Ms Gray will share the findings of her investigation.One Conservative backbencher – a member of the Covid Research Group (CRG) – told The Independent stories about alleged parties had made the public question the rules: “The photos and reports of gatherings in government make it more difficult to get compliance. They haven’t helped at all.” “The government’s authority to bring in restrictions undoubtedly been weakened. The backbenchers frustration is that No 10 is supposed to be a slick operation – but they’re coming across as incredibly amateurish. Where were the senior figures making sure everyone inside government complied with the rules?” The Tory MP: “It really hasn’t helped when there is some fatigue about rules out there already.” Meanwhile, another conservative MP, Marcus Fysh said the photos and reports of gatherings in government last year “have annoyed people for sure”, adding: “Everyone is annoyed – of course they’re annoyed at the thought public servants are making rules in one direction and doing something else. But I don’t think we know the full details. With most people, I don’t think it will affect their thinking too much.”The lockdown sceptic added: “The important thing is the policy – if the government is open and realistic about the data they will still be trusted. If they’re not, I don’t think they will.” More

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      Energy bills set to soar to £2,000 a year, threatening Boris Johnson with cost-of-living crisis

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      Household energy bills are tipped to soar to a record £2,000 a year, threatening Boris Johnson with a cost-of-living crisis just as taxes soar.The price cap – which eases the pain for families – may have to be hiked by more than 50 per cent in April, experts are warning, because of unprecedented wholesale costs.The energy regulator authorised suppliers to increase bills by 12 per cent from October, to £1,277 a year for a typical household on standard tariffs.A further announcement is due in February for a second rise in April, with an increase already inevitable to pay for the collapse of more than two dozen UK energy companies in recent months.“With wholesale commodity prices remaining elevated, we suggest that the tariff cap could jump by 56 per cent reaching £2,000 [a year] for the summer 2022 period,” Martin Young, an analyst at the investment bank Investec said.Higher wholesale costs would account for £560 of the increase and supplier failures a further £72 per household, he told The Times.The increase would come as “a shock to many, with implications for discretionary spend, inflation and fuel poverty”, Mr Young added.It is set to arrive at the worst moment for the beleaguered prime minister, in the same month as big council tax hikes and his National Insurance rise to pay for higher health and care spending.Inflation is predicted to leap to 6 per cent next year, far outstripping wage increases and leaving workers worse off – despite his misleading boast that Brexit is boosting pay packets.The following month could also be crucial to whether Mr Johnson faces a leadership challenge from unhappy Tory MPs, with many focused on feared local election losses in May.There have been similar forecasts for the soaring price cap after April. The business analysts Cornwall Insight predicted £1,925 a year, while Citizens Advice suggested bills could rise to £1,891.Cold weather and low gas exports from Russia have been blamed for wholesale gas and electricity prices across Europe reaching fresh highs in recent days.UK gas prices rose by 8 per cent to close at an all-time high of 370.25 pence per therm on Monday night, according to Icis, the price reporting agency – more than seven times the typical price over the past decade.The failure of more than two dozen UK energy firms has led to multibillion-pound costs that are expected to be recouped from energy bills.The price cap was introduced in 2019 to protect customers from “rip-off” prices and is updated twice a year by Ofgem, the regulator.It limits bills for 11 million households on standard tariffs and four million households with prepayment meters. More

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      Will there be a Christmas lockdown as Omicron cases rise?

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      The emergence of the Omicron variant is causing concern around the world, not least because it is thought to be highly transmissible and because the 32 mutations of its spike protein suggest it might be able to resist current vaccines.The UK has recorded 12 deaths from the new variant so far and 45,145 confirmed cases, prompting fears that further social restrictions could be imposed on the British public in the final days leading up to Christmas, dashing the festive plans of millions. However, the government has so far resisted implementing any new measures this side of 25 December. Following a special meeting of the Cabinet on Monday afternoon, the prime minister said he had to “reserve the possibility” that further action would be needed at some point but said there were “still some things that we need to be clearer about before we decide to go further”.Mr Johnson said ministers were monitoring the data “hour by hour” and that the arguments for taking further action were “very, very finely balanced”.“Unfortunately I must say to people that we will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public, to protect public health, to protect our NHS,” he added. “We are looking at all kinds of things to keep Omicron under control and we will rule nothing out.”The prime minister is understood to be waiting for more data on Omicron to become available before he makes a decision, a stance that has already seen him accused of “dithering” by scientists and his political opponents.At the weekend, London mayor Sadiq Khan declared a major incident over the extent of the outbreak in the capital while NHS England has announced a return to its highest level of emergency preparedness, level four national incident, meaning that the health service’s response will be coordinated as a national effort, rather than led by individual trusts. Overall, the UK added another 91,743 infections in 24 hours on Monday 20 December plus a further 44 fatalities, a slight fall from the pandemic high of 93,045 recorded the preceding Friday.To put that in perspective, case numbers were at 27,052 on 19 December 2020, the day Mr Johnson “cancelled” Christmas with “a very heavy heart”, abandoning a restrictions amnesty on household mixing and imposing severe tier 4 restrictions on much of the south east of England.Asked on Sunday by the BBC’s departing Andrew Marr about the possibility of further new restrictions being introduced before Christmas, health secretary Sajid Javid declined to rule it out, saying instead that there are “no guarantees in this pandemic” and that the “fast-moving” situation was being kept under review.Chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance is said to have led the call for fresh measures to drive down infection rates and ease the pressure on the NHS.Sir Patrick’s fellow advisers have been equally outspoken, with Professor Stephen Reicher, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), warning that Omicron is “coming at us like an express train” and insisting that the government must give the public a “good, clear message” about how “serious the crisis is”.The prospect of introducing a two-week circuit-breaker lockdown after Christmas has been mooted – and appears likely to be broadly popular with the public – with plans made available to ministers for consideration and apparently including a ban on meeting others indoors except for work purposes and limiting pubs and restaurants to outdoor service only. Both Mr Johnson and Mr Javid have repeatedly declined opportunities to definitively rule out tougher measures of this sort and transport secretary Grant Shapps did say last week that Parliament would be recalled over Christmas to vote on new restrictions should they become necessary, suggesting they are very much in the air.It is clear that the PM hopes encouraging the takeup of booster vaccines and the “Plan B” restrictions he recently introduced will be enough to see off the threat, at least until after Christmas, although the rising case numbers continue to cast considerable doubt on that contention.As preventative measures against Omicron under “Plan B”, Britons are currently again being ordered to wear face masks in shops, cinemas, theatres and places of worship and on public transport, to work from home order where possible and to show an NHS Covid pass in return for entry to nightclubs and other large venues and for outdoor events where there are more than 4,000 people, measures voted through the House of Commons despite a significant Tory revolt.The government has further revised its approach to boosters, planning to make them available to all over-18s by the end of December and halving the amount of time between second and third injections from six months to three, all in the hope of staving off the feared “tidal wave” of infections we are already beginning to see.Some form of “Plan C” – be it a circuit-breaker or something else – could well materialise should the Omicron outbreak worsen over the festive season and into the new year but, as for imposing a fourth national lockdown as seen earlier in the pandemic, that is considered the most extreme measure that could be taken, given the brutal economic toll it takes, hence the reluctance from Whitehall.But the Sage advisers have been unambiguous in calling for stricter curbs, with the influential Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London openly entertaining the possibility for several weeks.Even before Omicron began to cast its sinister shadow across the globe, many Britons were already glancing anxiously towards the continent as Austria and the Netherlands reintroduced lockdowns in response to spiking cases of Covid-19.The World Health Organisation (WHO) had said it was “very worried” about the spread in Europe and warned 700,000 more deaths could be recorded by March unless urgent action is taken, bringing the total to 2.2 million since the pandemic began.Prior to the latest worrying developments sparked by Omicon, Mr Johnson’s government had been reluctant to reimpose restrictions at all, despite consistently high case numbers, preferring to pass the responsibility for personal safety onto the public and pursue its “Plan A” of promoting vaccine take-up and boosters to counter the waning of the country’s currently impressive level of immunity.While the vaccines have consistently kept death rates low since the spring, the UK’s infection level has remained consistently high, typically hovering around the 40,000-per-day mark but are now at more than double that.But the prime minister nevertheless doggedly refused to bend to scientists’ calls for the implementation of “Plan B” until it became unavoidable, no doubt out of fear that such a step could jeopardise Britain’s stumbling economic recovery.He might also have been keen to ward off the inevitable anger it would provoke, having seen anti-lockdown protests – some of them violent – erupt in Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy and Croatia.Londoners were certainly unhappy about the initial return of the mask mandate, accusing the PM of hypocrisy for declining to wear one himself at several public engagements.However, in other quarters, there appeared to be a clear appetite for new restrictions even before Omicron, at least according to the polls.A recent survey of 900 managers and 1,200 employees carried out by Hack Future Lab found 53 per cent would welcome a “festive lockdown” for the sake of their own well-being after struggling to come to terms with the return to ordinary working conditions, often finding themselves forced to take on extra tasks to cover for absent colleagues.Another poll by Savanta ComRes revealed 45 per cent of adults would be in favour of a selective lockdown targeting only those who had declined to get their Covid jabs and therefore could pose an ongoing risk to othersBut, until Omicron threw a fresh spanner into the works, there was a credible case for believing that the UK was in such a strong position that it could avoid the worst of the outbreak marauding across Europe.Omicron variant shows just how ‘perilous’ Covid situation is, WHO saysAlthough Britain’s infection rate has remained high for months, it has also been highly stable, lingering at a seven-day average of around 600 daily cases per million people, whereas Austria and the Netherlands have suddenly spiked to 1,500 and 1,250 respectively from well below that starting point since the beginning of October.Part of the reason for this is that the UK was hit by the more infectious Alpha and Delta variants of the coronavirus sooner and was therefore able to tackle them ahead of its European neighbours and unlock earlier.As always with this pandemic, so much remains unknown and nothing can ever be definitively ruled out.Many will be haunted by memories of Christmas 2020, when plans had to be changed at the last moment to rein in climbing case numbers, and families were left frustrated, disappointed and unable to see vulnerable loved ones.While the festive television adverts might have been busy encouraging reckless spending and promising a bumper Yuletide to compensate for last year (while stocks last, that is), many would do well to temper their excitement by recalling the haunting words of public health professor Gabriel Scally from last December.“There is no point having a very merry Christmas and then burying friends and relations in January and February,” he said. 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      Boris Johnson more distrusted than social media as source of Covid advice, poll finds

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      Boris Johnson is distrusted as a source of guidance on Covid by almost six out of 10 Britons (59 per cent) – more than distrust information from social media – according to a new poll.And almost three in 10 (28 per cent) said that they are less likely to follow Covid rules as a result of reports of Christmas parties at 10 Downing Street – including 37 per cent of the younger 18-34 age groups who are most likely to cram into pubs and clubs to party in the next few crucial weeks.The Savanta survey for The Independent was published as the nation waited to see if Mr Johnson will order fresh curbs over the festive period, after cabinet rejected scientific advice for swift action to stop the Omicron variant overwhelming the NHS.It found that many Britons are acting before being told to by the government.One in 10 (10 per cent) said they have already cancelled their plans for Christmas Day and a further quarter (25 per cent) say they have scaled them back because of concerns about Omicron.And it showed significant levels of appetite for far tougher restrictions than the government has so far imposed.Some 50 per cent of the 2,096 people questioned said they would back a two-week “circuit-breaker” lockdown of the type backed by prominent scientists, against just 26 per cent opposed. Opinion on a total stay-at-home lockdown of indefinite duration was split 38-38 per cent for and against.And 65 per cent said they would support vaccine passports – with no option to show evidence of a recent negative test – for entry to crowded venues, 70 per cent favour compulsory face-coverings in all indoor public spaces and 55 per cent mandatory working from home except for key workers.Some 55 per cent said they would back a ban on indoors gatherings of people from different households, with just 27 per cent opposed. But opinion was more evenly divided on schools, with 37 per supporting closure and 35 per cent saying they should stay open.The scale of damage done to the prime minister’s credibility on Covid by a series of revelations about lockdown-breaching parties and after-work drinks at Downing Street was laid brutally bare by the survey.In a week when darts and football fans were filmed singing scornful chants about the PM, some 40 per cent of those questioned by Savanta said they distrust Mr Johnson “a lot” as a source for guidance on how to respond to the Omicron variant, and 20 per cent distrust him “somewhat”.Just 9 per cent – fewer than one in 10 of those questioned – said they trusted the PM “a lot” and 21 per cent trusted him “somewhat”.Mr Johnson’s credibility score was worse than that for “people on your social media feed”, who were distrusted “a lot” by 21 per cent and “somewhat” by 24 per cent, but trusted “somewhat” by 23 per cent and “a lot” by 7 per cent.By comparison, 56 per cent said they trust chief medical officer Chris Whitty, against 25 per cent who distrust him. The figures for scientists generally were 71 per cent trust and 19 per cent distrust and for politicians generally 24 per cent trust and 64 per cent distrust.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was trusted by 42 per cent and distrusted by 40 per cent – of whom 19 per cent distrusted him “a lot”.Most trusted for advice on Covid were friends and family (77 per cent trust and 12 per cent distrust).There were indications that a substantial proportion of Britons are uncertain what they should do.Despite 18 months of advice from scientists, medics and politicians, almost one in five (19 per cent) said they were less confident than in previous waves that they knew how best to protect themselves and their loved ones.Hospitality industry fears about the financial catastrophe facing pubs, restaurants and nightclubs, even without new restrictions, were borne out by the survey.Just 43 per cent of those questioned expect to go ahead with festive plans for New Year’s Eve, with 19 per cent scaling them back and 18 per cent dropping celebrations altogether.And one-third (33 per cent) said they had dialled down festivities and 14 per cent written them off altogether in the run-up to Christmas Day, a financially crucial period for venues hosting office parties and friends’ nights out, as well as theatres and shows. Just 42 per cent said they were partying as planned pre-Christmas.Chillingly, there was little sign that Britons see much light on the horizon, despite the successful rollout of three waves of vaccinations and boosters.Some 23 per cent said they expected disruption to their lives from Covid to be worse in 2022 than 2021 – 8 per cent significantly worse and 15 per cent slightly – and a further 46 per cent said they believed next year would be about the same as this year.Only 21 per cent were expecting a lower level of disruption in 2022, including just 5 per cent who think next year’s Covid situation will be significantly better than it has been this year.• Savanta questioned 2,096 adults in Britain from 17-19 December. More

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      Cabinet having ‘robust’ argument about whether Covid curbs needed, admits minister

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      Boris Johnson’s cabinet remains divided over whether the government should bring in further Covid restrictions after Christmas, a senior minister has suggested.Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay admitted that the cabinet had a “full and robust” argument over whether fresh measures were necessary – as he pointed to the “very significant economic cost” curbs would have.It is understood that ministers are split between those wanting swift action to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant, and others, led by chancellor Rishi Sunak, who argued that new controls would inflict huge economic damage.Asked on LBC about reports that he was against restrictions, Mr Barclay did not deny he sided with Mr Sunak. “I think it’s right cabinet has a full and robust discussion,” he said. “I think that’s what people would expect.”The former Treasury minister added: “I think it’s right that we look at the balance between protecting lives and livelihoods. These are hugely significant decisions, in terms of the real-world economic consequences for people, in terms of the impact on their businesses, in terms of the impact on theatres and music venues.”Mr Johnson was accused of “dither” and stoking uncertainty after he delayed a decision on the introduction of new Covid restrictions in England following a cabinet session lasting almost three hours on Monday.Those thought to be in favour on fresh restrictions include health secretary Sajid Javid and levelling up secretary Michael Gove.But others – including Mr Sunak and Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg – are said to have argued that decisions causing billions of pounds-worth of economic damage should not be taken until the severity of illness caused by Omicron became clearer.Mr Johnson is reportedly deliberating over whether England should be place under restrictions resembling “step two” measures seen earlier this year – including restrictions on mixing between households indoors – for a period of between two weeks and one month after Christmas.Asked about the possibility of so-called “circuit breaker” restrictions after Christmas, Mr Barclay did not deny the government was considering curbs before New Year.“We’re still looking at the data,” he replied. “We don’t think the case is there for further restrictions at this stage. But as the prime minister set out last night, we reserve the possibility that further action will be needed.”The Cabinet Office minister said people should “continue with Christmas but do so in a cautious way”, adding: “We’re not saying people can’t meet at Christmas.”MPs at Westminster said they expected to be recalled next Tuesday or Wednesday to approve any curbs brought in ahead of New Year’s Eve, though some did not rule out an emergency sitting before Christmas.One backbencher told The Independent: “I think [Johnson]’s going for a compromise in cabinet which is do nothing before Christmas and then bring in restrictions after Christmas. The recall would probably for Tuesday and Wednesday next week – that’s my best guess. There will be a lot of frustration about it.”Labour said the prime minister was “too weak to stand up to his own backbenchers” following the rebellion of almost 100 Tory MPs against limited plan B restrictions last week.Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said “infighting” and “jockeying” for the Conservative leadership has taken over from clear Covid decision-making.“Most of the read-outs from those meetings and the rumours that have spread since suggest that really this is about disagreement within a group of senior Conservatives … rather than actually soberly looking at the evidence both health and economic evidence and taking a decision,” she told Times Radio.Mr Barclay said the chancellor would talk later today about his discussions with the hospitality industry demanding more government support. “He was in calls with industry leaders last night and he will be saying more about this shortly,” the Cabinet Office minister told BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday. More

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      Darts fans chant ‘Stand up if you hate Boris’ at world championship

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      Boris Johnson was on the receiving end of vitriol from hundreds of fans chanting their dismay at the prime minister at a major sporting event on Monday evening.The rowdy crowd at the World Darts Championship in London’s Alexandra Palace chanted: “Stand up if you hate Boris!”One member of the darts audience held up a picture of some cheese and wine with the message: “This is a business meeting.” Another held a sign which said: “All round to Boris’s later.”The prime minister is facing growing frustration at the uncertainty over restrictions this Christmas, and mounting anger at revelations about government gatherings held during Covid curbs last year.Mr Johnson is under fire over a picture of himself and his staff with cheese and wine in the No 10 garden at a time of tight restrictions last May – which Downing Street has insisted was a work meeting.Questioned on Monday about what they were doing in the garden, the prime minister insisted that the photograph showed: “Those were people at work, talking about work.”Mr Johnson’s explanation appeared to contradict comments made earlier by deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, who suggested that the gathering was held “after” work had finished.The darts crowd chant follows a viral clip in which Leeds United fans were heard singing “Boris Johnson is a c***” at the club’s match with Arsenal on Saturday.Mr Johnson’s approval rating as prime minister has dropped to an all-time low, according to a YouGov poll from earlier this month. The pollster found the PM’s net favourability rating now stood at -42, with 66 per cent of the public having an unfavourable opinion of Mr Johnson.Labour have been ahead in voting intention polls for the past fortnight. The latest monthly ‘cabinet league table’ survey by ConservativeHome showed the prime minister second from bottom in net satisfaction ratings among Tory supporters, with -17.And a new Savanta ComRes poll for The Independent shows Mr Johnson is distrusted as a source of Covid guidance by almost six out of 10 Britons (59 per cent) – more than distrust information from social media.The slump in his poll numbers follows a series of self-inflicted wounds building since the Owen Paterson scandal, and outrage over gatherings held at No 10 and government departments when the rest of the country faced severe restrictions last year. More

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      Government must ‘move closer’ to gender self-identification for trans people, say MPs

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      Boris Johnson’s government should “move closer” to a system of self-declaration of gender for transgender people, according to cross-party group of MPs.A new report from the Women and Equalities Committee said trans people should be allowed to declare their own gender without “unfair and overly-medicalised” scrutiny.Transgender people should no longer be required to have a gender dysphoria diagnosis from doctors in order to have their gender legally recognised by a Gender Recognition Certificate, the report said.And the committee also said trans people should not have to live in their acquired gender for two years before they can obtain legal recognition because this “entrenches outdated gender stereotypes”.Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, the committee chair, claimed the government “has spectacularly missed its opportunity” to modernise the process of gender recognition.The committee said trans people should still be required to make a formal statutory declaration – a safeguard which ensures “genuine intent” – and called for “robust guidance” on how this would work in practice.MPs urged the Government Equalities Office and Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to urgently produce guidance – including practical examples – on how to apply single-sex exceptions under the Equality Act.The committee’s report noted that some service providers, such as women’s refuges, are “unclear as to whether the exclusion of trans people from certain spaces is in violation of the law”.In July 2018, the Government Equalities Office launched a consultation into reform of the 2004 Gender Recognition Act, and set out last September 2020 what steps it would take.These included making the process available online, reducing the certificate fee from £140 to £5, and opening three new gender clinics that year to cut waiting lists.The following month, the Women and Equalities Committee launched its inquiry into whether the proposals were enough. Its report, Reform of The Gender Recognition Act, notes that debate in this area has “become extremely toxic at times”, with many stakeholders disagreeing.But it states that there are areas of greater agreement, such as removing the requirement to live in the acquired gender for two years, which the government should enact “immediately”.Ms Nokes, the committee chair, said the government’s response to the 2018 consultation “amounted to little more than administrative changes” and suggested “a lack of willingness to engage”.The Tory MP said: “This is an area of reform which has attracted strong opinions and debate, but there are areas – such as the removal of a time period for living in an acquired gender – which many can agree on.“Being trans is not an illness. It is imperative that the government de-medicalise the process of gender recognition by removing the outdated requirement for a gender dysphoria diagnosis.” More

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      Modern slavery victims may face barriers to justice under Priti Patel’s immigration bill, MPs warn

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      Modern slavery victims may face barriers to seeking justice while criminal gangs “evade punishment” under Priti Patel’s immigration bill, cross-party MPs have warned.The Joint Committee on Human Rights has said the Nationality and Borders Bill could see government support removed from survivors of exploitation based on criminal acts they have been compelled to carry out.Part 5 of the bill includes a series of changes to modern slavery support, which home secretary Priti Patel claims will prevent people from being able to “frustrate immigration action” by disclosing late in the process that they have suffered abuse.The changes would mean any victim who has been sentenced to prison for more than 12 months anywhere in the world would be disqualified from modern slavery support in the UK, and that survivors would be given a defined period to disclose the abuse they have suffered.The bill, which recently passed through the House of Commons and is due to go through the House of Lords next month, has already been criticised by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and senior police, as well as backbench Tory MPs including Iain Duncan Smith.The Joint Committee on Human Rights warns in its new report that requiring victims to submit evidence of the abuse and exploitation they suffered within a defined period is “unfair” and risks the UK “failing to meet its obligations to combat slavery and human trafficking”.It states that the new rule will “needlessly cast doubt on the credibility of potential victims of trafficking or slavery based on how quickly they can submit evidence”, and calls on ministers to issue guidance setting out the timescales and what might be reasonable grounds for missing a deadline.The MPs also said it was “wrong” for victims of trafficking or slavery to be prevented from accessing protection due to past criminality, warning that this would act as an “invitation to the gangs responsible to target those with a criminal past”.“Prosecuting trafficking victims is wrong because it punishes them for something they were compelled to do as victims. The government should provide further clarity on how the new measures will apply in such cases and what it is doing to ensure victims are not prosecuted, in line with its human rights obligations,” the report states.Harriet Harman, chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said: “We are concerned that there is a lack of clarity in this bill that could instead see victims prosecuted, while the criminal gangs evade punishment.“The bill must be there to support victims in coming forward, not add further barriers that needlessly throw doubt on their character or remove support based on criminal acts they have been compelled to do.”The Home Office has been approached for comment. More