UK Politics

Labour’s Chris Bryant has said he believes that a “culture war” waged by the British government has made him “feel less safe” as a gay man for the first time in three decades.The MP for Rhondda in south Wales said that he does not believe Boris Johnson is homophobic, but said that his government policies have made him “feel more nervous”.Speaking to Nick Robinson for the Political Thinking podcast, he said: “I now feel more nervous as a gay man in Britain than I have for 30 years. I’ve discussed this with people who work in Downing Street. “It’s because they’re very happy to have culture wars. They’ve learned this trick in America from Trump and in the end culture wars will always pick on those who are slightly different.”Mr Bryant left the priesthood in 1991 to pursue a career in politics. He entered a civil partnership with his partner in 2010 – the first ceremony of its kind ever held in the Houses of Parliament – before the couple later married.The Labour MP is also chair of the Commons standards committee.He added: “There’s a world where people who think it’s politically advantageous to stir that pot and that makes me genuinely fearful.“I’m not accusing the prime minister of being homophobic but I do feel less physically safe as a gay man than I did 30 years ago.“It’s a very strong part of people’s experience of modern Britain and I just worry about some of the language.”When questioned about examples of problematic policies, Mr Bryant mentioned the government’s position on issues relating to trans people, and added that ministers did not seem willing to put an outright ban on “conversion therapy”.A No 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister is proud of this government’s record on LGBT issues and we continue to make progress in areas such as banning conversion therapy and extending same-sex marriage to all parts of the UK.“He is also absolutely clear there is no place for homophobic abuse.”No10 also said that the UK “continues to be recognised as one of the top 10 most progressive countries in Europe for LGBT rights by ILGA-Europe,” with one of the “world’s strongest legislative frameworks to prevent and tackle discrimination”.The government has been criticised in the past for its stances against “woke” practices and beliefs, such as the taking of the knee as an anti-racism gesture during the Euro 2020 football tournament. More

No 10 has refused to share details of staff parties set to be held at Downing Street in the run-up to Christmas, insisting that any “private events” would not be publicly revealed.The Independent understands that staff Christmas parties will go ahead across Whitehall departments during the festive period – despite growing concern about the spread of the Covid omicron variant.The Home Office, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Department for Education are among those in which individual teams will hold smaller parties – but there will be no departmental-wide events.A government source said there were no plans to cancel all the festive gatherings organised across Whitehall in light of the latest data on omicron, saying in-person events would be within current rules.It comes as Professor Peter Openshaw, a member of the government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said he would not feel comfortable attending a party as the “chances of getting infected were too high”.Asked by reporters if Downing Street would share plans for any staff Christmas party, the prime minister’s spokesperson said: “Obviously, events that happen in No 10 that are private events – we wouldn’t inform you.”The No 10 spokesperson added: “We obviously wouldn’t set out details of private functions in No 10 but, as I say, there will be festive events in the run-up to Christmas.”Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said the Tories had no intention of cancelling their own Christmas drinks event for staff, and encouraged others to continue with their celebrations.“I don’t intend to cancel it as chairman of the Conservative Party,” he told Sky News. “The message to people, I think, is fairly straightforward… keep calm, carry on with your Christmas plans.”Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said the Parliamentary Labour Party had cancelled its Christmas party. “We’ve decided not to do that now,” she said.She said Labour had been “reviewing our Christmas get-togethers” following the rise of the omicron – though the party is not urging businesses to do the same.The Liberal Democrats said individual teams were holding their own Christmas parties, but there would not be a big event at party HQ.A spokesperson told The Independent: “A decision was taken some time ago to have smaller sit-down dinners instead of larger parties. We will continue to review this.”The debate over gatherings comes as scientists and medical groups continue to study the possible threat posed by omicron this winter.The British Medical Association (BMA) has said people should be encouraged to “avoid large groups” and meet outdoors where possible over the festive period.A study in South Africa has suggested that the variant has “substantial” ability to cause reinfection in people who have previously had Covid. But a CovBoost study found that booster jabs may well offer good protection in the face of the variant.Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has been asked to launch an investigation into Christmas parties held at Downing Street during last year’s lockdown while strict lockdown rules were still in place.In a letter to the force’s commissioner Labour MP Barry Gardiner said officers “should investigate the matter further to establish the facts and see if any laws might have been broken”.Met chief Cressida Dick had said earlier on Friday that she was not aware of any complaints against the prime minister’s office. “If I get a letter, I’ll read a letter,” she told LBC – shortly before Mr Gardiner shared his letter online. More

Sophie Raworth has been announced as the interim presenter of BBC One’s flagship Sunday morning programme, currently known to viewers as The Andrew Marr Show.The BBC said Raworth, 53, will present the temporarily-titled Sunday Morning programme from January 9.The news follows Marr’s recent announcement that he is leaving the BBC after more than two decades.The BBC said in a statement that Raworth will front the popular show for a “short period” while a recruitment process for a permanent presenter takes place.Once a permanent appointment is made, the programme will relaunch with a new presenter, title and a new look, the BBC said.Raworth has covered for Marr in the past and is one of the main presenters of the BBC News At Six and Ten, which she has worked on since 2003.She joined the BBC regional trainee scheme in 1992 and went on to report for Greater Manchester Radio, and later moved to Brussels as a BBC Regions correspondent.In 1995, she moved to Leeds for BBC Look North, which is where she first presented the news. She joined BBC Breakfast News in 1997 as a co-presenter.Raworth has also presented for the broadcaster from the Oscars in Los Angeles, in Washington for Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial, and during a special programme for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002.She hosted BBC Breakfast alongside Jeremy Bowen from its launch in 2000 and has also presented election night coverage, Watchdog, Crimewatch and the Chelsea Flower Show.Marr’s last show will air on December 19. More

The Metropolitan Police have been asked to launch an investigation into Christmas parties held at Downing Street during last year’s lockdown.In a letter to the force’s commissioner Labour MP Barry Gardiner said officers “should investigate the matter further to establish the facts and see if any laws might have been broken”.It comes after claims that No.10 staff drank into the early hours and played party games in contravention of Tier 3 lockdown rules last year.Metropolitan police chief Cressida Dick had said earlier on Friday that she was not aware of any complaints against the prime minister’s office for allegedly breaking the rules.“You asked if we are investigating – the answer to that is no,” said told LBC radio.”And, as far as I’m aware, we have had no complaints and therefore I really can’t comment on what did or didn’t happen thereAsked what would happen if she received a letter, she said: “If I get a letter, I’ll read a letter.“This is the Met. We are professional. We are impartial. We act without fear or favour. We follow evidence. That’s what we do.”Mr Gardiner sent the letter following the interview and said he was “surprised to hear” that no investigation had yet been launched.”It is alleged that over 50 people were in attendance at the event at that this may have been a breach of the then Covid rules,” he wrote.”At the time such large gatherings were banned. It has also been alleged that there was a separate large event on 27 November 2020.”The MP said if the events took place it implied that “there is one rule for the government and another for everyone else”.Some repeat offenders who held parties during lockdown were issued with £10,000 fines.The Covid-19 Bereaved families group on Thursday said they were “sickened” to hear of the revelations. And the ex-head of the government’s legal service hinted the law may have been broken – noting that he had cancelled his own leaving party around the same time “for legal reasons”.A No 10 spokesperson refused to deny parties had taken place and said only that rules had been followed.“Covid rules have been followed at all times,” they said. The government issued similar statements in relation to the affair of Matt Hancock, and Dominic Cummings’ trip to Barnard Castle. More

The government will not be outlawing snogging under mistletoe this Christmas, Sajid Javid said in revealing that the kiss is an annual tradition for him and his wife.The health secretary said it is a “Javid family tradition” for the pair to kiss under mistletoe when he said it was none of the government’s business if people choose to kiss strangers.The discussion comes after reports of Christmas parties being cancelled amid concerns over the omicron variant of coronavirus.Some scientists have also warned that the risk of a fourth wave of Covid is too large for people to be attending big Christmas celebrations.The British Medical Association has said people should be encouraged to “avoid large groups” and meet outdoors where possible.As the true threat of the variant has yet to be fully known, work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey said earlier this week that “snogging under the mistletoe” is something that should be avoided with “people you don’t already know”.But Mr Javid said that Ms Coffey’s views were not shared by the rest of the government.He told ITV News: “People can snog who they wish. I’ll certainly be kissing my wife under the mistletoe – it’s a Javid family tradition.“It’s got nothing to do with the government who you kiss or anything like that. But the only thing is just – there’s guidance already out there – just be cautious and enjoy yourselves.”Earlier, business minister George Freeman had let it be known that he hadn’t been kissed under the mistletoe “for years”.Speaking to LBC he said: “We’re trying not to tell everyone who they should kiss or where they should go.“I think Therese Coffey was making the point that we’re all going to have to exercise some common sense and I think the British public know that, in the end, it is up to all of us.“If we can prevent the virus from spreading, we’ll all be able to enjoy more freedoms and that’s why we have taken the steps we have.”Before that, Ms Coffey’s comments had attracted criticism from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who said that the government was confused over their own ministers’ stances on Christmas Covid policy.He said: “I don’t think it’s the role of government to dictate who people can kiss or not kiss, and I was quite surprised to see that suggestion come out of government.“I think it just demonstrates how they’re [at] sixes and nines if that’s what they’re now discussing.”On Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson had said it was unnecessary to cancel Christmas events or change their normal behaviour, but that people ought to follow mask-wearing and self-isolation rules.He said “we don’t want people to feel that they need to start cancelling things” and insisted that “Christmas this year will be considerably better than Christmas last year”.On Wednesday, he did not deny – in face of criticism – that government officials held many Christmas events last year in Downing Street at a time when the rest of the country were told to limit the number of people in one indoor space to six. More

The Conservatives have held onto their safe seat of Old Bexley and Sidcup in a closely watched by-election, but with a majority slashed by more than half following a low voter turnout.Conservative councillor Louie French becomes the country’s newest MP, in a victory that was hailed as “almost unheard of” for a sitting government by the Conservatives.Mr French won 11,189 votes, more than 50 per cent of a low turnout that saw only a third of eligible voters taking part in the seat previously held by the former cabinet minister James Brokenshire, who died in October from lung cancer aged 53.The closest challenger was Labour’s Daniel Francis, who secured 6,711 as the Tory majority was slashed from nearly 19,000 to 4,478, the equivalent of a vote share swing of 10 per cent to Labour.Mr French used his acceptance speech to pay tribute to his “good friend” Brokenshire. He said: “This has been a tough contest, which has been fought with dignity and respect.” “My focus will now be delivering on those promises that I made during the campaign – get our fair share of London’s police officers, securing more investment for local schools and hospitals, protecting our precious green spaces,” he added. More

Conservative peer Michelle Mone has denied being racist after she was accused of calling a man of Indian heritage a ‘waste of man’s white skin’ in a Whatsapp exchange. The message was allegedly sent in June 2019 during a disagreement about a fatal yacht crash off the coast of Monaco. It was part of series of messages, seen by The Guardian newspaper, which are reported to be between entrepreneur Michelle Mone and an unidentified man of Indian heritage.The paper reported that the exchanges have been sent to the House of Lords commissioner for standards as part of a formal complaint. In the messages, it is alleged that Michelle Mone describes the man’s partner as a “mental loony” and a “nut case bird” for making claims about being traumatised by the yacht incident. A representative of the Conservative peer responded to the reports by saying: “Baroness Mone is 100 per cent not a racist. Baroness Mone and her husband have built over 15 schools in Africa in the past three years.”Lingerie Tycoon Michelle Mone was elevated to the House of Lords in 2015, a year after she sold 80 per cent of her bra business Ultimo. Originally from the East end of Glasgow, she earned an OBE in 2010 for her contribution to business.Her yacht, Minx, which she owns with her billionaire husband Douglas Barrowman, was involved in a crash in May 2019. The man who has made the complaint against Mone claims that he and his partner were guests on another yacht, Vision, which crashed into the Minx off the coast of Monaco. The messages between the pair were allegedly sent in the weeks after the boat crash in May 2019.Her lawyers said that Michelle Mone has no “detailed memory of them”. They added: “She is not prepared to comment on the messages unless and until their authenticity has been confirmed but Baroness Mone, in any event, very strongly denies that she is a racist, a sexist or that she has a lack of respect for those persons genuinely suffering with mental health difficulties.”They also said that, at the time, Michelle Mone had no knowledge that the complainant “was anything other than white British, as his appearance is 100 per cent white, with a cut-glass English accent.” The statement said that it was “as illogical as it is inconceivable that she could or would have made such a comment or made it with the slightest racist intent.”The complainant, who describes his appearance as brown-skinned, alleged that Michelle Mone had queried whether his partner had genuinely suffered after the yacht accident. Michelle Mone allegedly sent a message saying that the woman had been partying “only a few days after”. The man then reportedly replied to this saying that his partner had been seriously traumatised and told Mone: “I would prefer you back the f*** off”. According to reports, the Conservative peer then replied saying “you and your mental loony of a girlfriend have been parting [sic] like made!”. She continued: “Your [sic] a low life, a waste of mans [sic] white skin so don’t give us your lies.”Representatives of Michelle Mone have been approached for comment. More

Labour has accused Michael Gove of hypocrisy after he criticised a Formula One team for accepting sponsorship from a company linked to the Grenfell tower disaster. The communities secretary said he was “deeply disappointed” in Lewis Hamilton’s F1 team Mercedes for doing a deal with the firm that made combustible insulation used in the tower.But in a letter sent on Thursday Labour Mr Gove’s opposite number Lisa Nandy said the Tories should examine their own financial links to cladding firms and developers.Mr Gove spoke out after Grenfell survivors branded the deal with Kingspan, which made some of the inflation used in the tower refurbishment, “truly shocking”. The tower caught fire on 14 June 2017 killing 72 people.The Cabinet minister said he would be “writing to Mercedes to ask them to reconsider” their decision, adding that “the Grenfell community deserves better”.But in a letter to Mr Gove, Ms Nandy said: “I am writing to ask that you take the same principled stance in relation to the decision by the Conservative Party to take millions of pounds in donations from property developers responsible for flats that have been covered in the same dangerous ACM cladding since the fire in 2017.”This includes European Land and Property which put Grenfell style ACM cladding on the Paddington Walk development in London, and donated 200,000 to your party in 2019. The development was supported by investors the Reuben brothers. “Jamie Reuben, son of David Reuben, personally donated £628,000, as well as another £294,000 via Investors in Private Capital. It also includes personal donations to the Prime Minister, including a donation of nearly £25,000 from a major shareholder in Arconic, the company that made Grenfell Tower’s combustible cladding in 2017 – the year the fire took place.”In a statement announcing the sponsorship deal, the Mercedes F1 team said: “Kingspan’s products, systems and technologies address critical challenges in the built environment, including improving energy efficiency, reducing embodied carbon, driving circularity and conserving water. “They have been used to help create high-performance buildings around the world for the team’s parent company, Mercedes-Benz.”Kingspan said in a staement: “Kingspan played no role in the design of the cladding system on Grenfell Tower, where its K15 product constituted approximately 5 per cent of the insulation and was used as a substitute product without Kingspan’s knowledge in a system that was not compliant with the building regulations. “The new partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team reflects the ambitious sustainability targets of both organisations.” More