UK Politics

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRussia is believed to have jammed the GPS signal on an RAF aircraft carrying Grant Shapps during a trip to Poland.In what has been called a “wildly irresponsible” act of electronic warfare, the GPS signal of the plane was said to have been interfered with for half an hour while passing the Russian territory of Kaliningrad, which sits between Poland and Lithuania.The attack left phones unable to connect to the plane’s WiFi and the plan forced to use other means of navigation available to the pilots, The Times reported.The defence secretary was aboard an RAF Dassault 900LX Falcon jet, named Envoy. It is unclear if Mr Shapps himself would have been deliberately targeted, though his flight path was visible to trackers.Mr Shapps was assured the attack did not threaten the safety of the plane.A defence source said: “While the RAF are well prepared to deal with this, it still puts an unnecessary risk on civilian aircraft and could potentially endanger people’s lives. There is no excuse for this and it’s wildly irresponsible on Russia’s part.”It is not the first time that British planes have faced likely jamming by Russia. In 2021, planes flying in and out of RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus wre also thought to have had their GPS signals jammed by Moscow. The aircraft affected were believed to have been F-35 and Typhoon fighter jets, A400M transport aircraft and Voyager troop planes. No serious incidents were reported at the time, but the singal was thought to have been coming from Syrian territory, where Russia has had a presence. Mr Shapps was returning from a visit to a military training site in Orzysz, northeast Poland, about 100 miles from Kalinigrad. He watched troops taking part in the Steadfast Defender, Nato’s largest military exercises since the Cold War. The exercises, taking place until May includes around 90,000 troops from across the alliance.During the trip to Poland, Mr Shapps hit out at Vladimir Putin’s “sabre-rattling” after the Russian leader used an interview with state media to claim that his nation was “ready” for nuclear war if the need arose. It is a threat that he has used repeatedly since invading Ukraine, with Western allies – including the UK – having rallied around Kyiv as it has defended itself. Mr Shapps called such rhetoric “irresponsible” and that Putin should “drive back east and get out of the democratic country he decided to invade two years ago”.More follows on this breaking story… More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailWatch live as Michael Gove shares a statement on the government’s new extremism definition on Thursday 14 March. The government has unveiled its new definition amid rising concern about threats to social cohesion and British democracy.Groups covered by the extremism definition, which is designed to include conduct that falls short of criminality but is still deemed “unacceptable”, will be denied access to government funding and prevented from meeting ministers and officials or gaining a platform that could “legitimise” them through association with the government.The definition describes extremism as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance” that aims to “negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others” or “undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights”.It also includes those who “intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve” either of those aims.Mr Gove, the communities secretary, who has overseen the formulation of the new definition, said it would “ensure that government does not inadvertently provide a platform to those setting out to subvert democracy and deny other people’s fundamental rights”. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailCommunities secretary Michael Gove has declined to say whether the business tycoon who allegedly said that Diane Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” would be considered “extremist” under a new definition, and that he is exercising “Christian forgiveness” toward the Tory donor. Extremism is now defined as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance” that aims to “negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others” or “undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights”. It also says the new version of extremism will “clearly articulate” how extremism is “evidenced” through the public behaviour of extremists.But speaking ahead of a speech to the Commons on Thursday, Mr Gove has declined to say whether alleged remarks from the Tory donor who called for Ms Abbott to be “shot” would be considered “extremist”. He told Times Radio he was exercising “Christian forgiveness” towards Mr Hester who he understands is “deeply sorry” for his remarks.Michael Gove has announced a new definition of extremism The communities secretary said: “Different people will have different views… It is important that any decision of about individuals and organisations is taken after a rigorous assessment of evidence and a consistent pattern of behaviour.”The cabinet minister seemed to go further when talking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, suggesting that the Tory donor would not be referred to the Government’s new extremism task force.Mr Gove said: “We have to be clear, we’re looking at organisations with a particular ideology.“The individual concerned said something that was horrific. And as someone who was themselves targeted by an extremist who wanted to kill me and then went on to kill a friend of mine, I take these issues incredibly seriously.He added: “I wouldn’t want to conflate those motivated by extremist ideology with an individual comment, however horrific, which has quite rightly been called out and which has quite rightly led to an apology.”The government have come under fire over the last few days after the Guardian revealed that Frank Hester – who donated £10m to the Conservative party in 2023 – allegedly made “racist” comments about the former Labour MP and further incendiary comments about Indian and Malaysian people.The cabinet minister told Sky News: “I haven’t spoken to Mr Hester, but I think that when someone says that they are sorry, and I understand he’s deeply sorry for these remarks, then my natural inclination is to exercise Christian forgiveness.”Mr Gove also said he believes Mr Hester’s apology was “sincere”. Frank Hester is alleged to have said MP Diane Abbott made him ‘want to hate all black women’The government have condemned the reported comments made by Mr Hester as “racist” but have refused to return the donation despite calls from both the opposition and from within their own party.After the publication of the remarks, a statement from the healthcare technology firm the Phoenix Partnership (TPP), which Hester runs, said he “accepts that he was rude about Diane Abbott in a private meeting several years ago but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”. The statement added: “He rang Diane Abbott twice today to try to apologise directly for the hurt he has caused her, and is deeply sorry for his remarks. He wishes to make it clear that he regards racism as a poison, which has no place in public life.”In a later post on Mr Hester’s personal social media site, the buisnessman said that people “should have the confidence to discuss our differences openly and even playfully without seeking to cause offence”.Ms Abbott said the views were “frightening”.Asked whether the Conservative party has a racism problem, Mr Gove said: “I think there are individuals who’ve certainly said things that are unacceptable and racist and that needs to be called out. “But again, I also think that if individuals repent, apologise, show contrition, then the right thing to do is to accept that.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster email The U.K. government said Wednesday it will back legislation banning foreign state ownership of British newspapers and magazines, a move that could upend a planned takeover by a United Arab Emirates-led consortium of the Telegraph Media Group.The development comes after numerous lawmakers from across the political divide urged an explicit ban, rather than using a regulatory approach to ensure that publications don’t parrot views of state actors.The minister in charge of media, Stephen Parkinson, said the government will introduce an amendment to the “Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill” currently making its way through Parliament. The bill, which is expected to pass easily, will prevent the takeover of British publications by foreign governments. However, foreign individuals and firms will continue to be able to own papers and magazines.“Freedom of the press is fundamental to a functioning democracy,” said Parkinson. “What freedom of the press means is freedom from government.”The legislation stems from concern about the proposed takeover of the right-leaning and publications by RedBird IMI, which is backed by U.S. financial firm RedBird Capital Partners and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, who is also the UAE’s vice president. Sheikh Mansour has been a prominent figure in Britain since his 2008 takeover of soccer club Manchester City. His wealth has transformed the fortunes of City, taking the club from an also-ran in the English Premier League to a dominant force.The proposed takeover of the Telegraph Media Group — The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph as well as The Spectator magazine — has also been subject to a separate investigation, ordered by the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, due to its possible impact on press freedom. The Telegraph papers are closely allied to the governing Conservative Party.The takeover has been opposed by Spectator’s editor Fraser Nelson, who welcomed the government’s decision to introduce the ban. “If governments start to own newspapers, whether they’re British governments, European governments or an Arab government, you end up with press freedom compromised fatally,” he told Sky News.“In journalism, one of the maxims is follow the money and if that money leads to the Abu Dhabi government, then you’ve got a pretty big problem when it comes to press freedom,” Nelson added.In a statement, RedBird IMI, which has made six investments in the U.S. and the U.K., said the company was “extremely disappointed” by the government’s decision as it believed the U.K.’s media industry was worthy of more investment.“As with each of our deals, we have been clear that the acquisition of The Telegraph and The Spectator has been a fully commercial undertaking,” it said. “We will now evaluate our next steps, with commercial interests continuing to be the sole priority.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailThe Conservative candidate to become mayor of London is facing calls to reveal if any funding for her campaign comes from the donor at the centre of a racism row. Frank Hester is alleged to have said Labour MP Diane Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.Rishi Sunak is resisting calls to hand back the money, despite calling the remarks “racist”, saying Mr Hester had shown “remorse”. Now Dawn Butler, the chair of Labour’s London MPs, has written to Susan Hall to ask if her campaign has received donations from Mr Hester and if she will pledge to return them. In a letter, Ms Butler also asks Ms Hall if she will “condemn Mr Hester’s alleged comments as racist.” And she notes reports the campaign is being “funded by the Conservative Party – who recently received Hester’s £10m donation”. The donor row has caused a crisis within Mr Sunak’s already embattled Downing Street. For most of Tuesday ministers and No 10 refused to describe Mr Hester’s comments as racist. But the Prime Minister’s spokesperson did finally label them as such that evening. However, the row intensified again following revelations of further comments from the top donor. The chief executive of The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), which has won more than £400m in government and NHS contracts, is alleged to have called a meeting of his “foreign” workers to address allegations of racism in 2019.The tycoon asked if there was “no room for Indians, then?” as he addressed staff members on a crowded balcony in the company’s headquarters, according to The Guardian.In response to the letter, a spokesperson for Ms Hall said that she agreed with the PM’s official spokesperson that ‘the comments allegedly made by Frank Hester were racist and wrong. He has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and where remorse is shown it should be accepted.”The Conservative Party referred queries to Ms Hall’s campaign team. Mr Sunak is facing increasing pressure from opposition parties – and senior Tories – to return the donation. Former Conservative party chairman Chris Patten said it was an “open and shut case” that the party should pay the £10m donation back to Mr Hester. The Scottish Conservatives have also criticised the decision to accept Mr Hester’s money and called for a review. As Labour called for the money to returned, Sir Keir asked Mr Sunak how low a donor would “have to sink? What racist, woman-hating threat of violence would he have to make before the prime minister plucked up the courage to hand back the £10 million that he’s taken from him?”But chancellor Jeremy Hunt said Mr Hester should not be “cancelled” for “despicable” remarks “made in the past” and for which he has apologised. More