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Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailWatch live as MPs and Lords hold a one-off session on arms exports to Israel at the Business and Trade Committee on Wednesday, 24 April.Expert witnesses will speak about the relevant legal, political, and military issues impacting UK arms exports to Israel.The UK has licenced arms worth over £574m to Israel since 2008, according to analysis of Government export data by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), a UK based pressure group that seeks an end to the global arms trade, referenced in the House of Commons Library.CAAT has highlighted UK industry contributions to F-35 combat aircraft, which it says are “currently being used in the bombardment of Gaza” following Hamas’ October 7 attack in Israel.It comes after three members of a family from Rafah died and four others were injured following an Israeli military strike on their home in southern Gaza, according to Al Jazeera, which cited information from Civil Defence personnel.Earlier, the UN expressed “horror” over reports of mass graves being discovered outside two Palestinian hospitals.The organisation said it was corroborating Gazan officials’ reports that 283 bodies were found at Nasser hospital and 30 at Al Shifa. More

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UKSign up to our Brexit email for the latest insightLeaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is not “necessary” to prevent small boat crossings, David Cameron has said amid Tory divisions over the UK’s membership in the treaty.And while he said he would “love” to reinstate a pre-Brexit returns agreement for migrants from the EU, the foreign secretary appeared to concede such a deal is “simply not possible”.It comes as Rishi Sunak’s bill aimed at blocking further setbacks to the Government’s controversial Rwanda deportation scheme passed through Parliament following months of wrangling between MPs and peers.Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said leaving the ECHR is ‘not necessary’ (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailPupils have less access to interactive science practicals as video demonstrations are being used instead, a report has suggested.A survey, commissioned by the Royal Society and EngineeringUK, found that just over a quarter (26%) of GCSE pupils reported doing hands-on practical work in science at least fortnightly.This was lower than in 2019 (37%) and 2016 (44%) when Year 10 and 11 pupils were surveyed on the frequency of practical work, according to the report.There has been a “marked shift away” from more interactive forms of practical work as videos of practicals are increasingly being used as a replacement – and the Covid-19 school lockdowns may have contributed to the trend, it said.Access to effective hands-on learning that students can tangibly connect to the real world will help make science feel more relevant and meaningful and provide valuable skills for life and workProfessor Ulrike Tillmann, Royal SocietyA poll of 7,256 pupils aged 11–18 in state schools and colleges in England suggests nearly half (46%) of GCSE pupils surveyed said they watched a video of a practical at least fortnightly.This was higher than those surveyed before the pandemic in 2019 (41%) and in 2016 (39%).Among all students surveyed in Years 7–11, the most common form of exposure to practical science was via video, the report said.The survey, carried out by Verian between July and September 2023, suggests that 68% of Year 10 and 11 students want to do more practical work in science – and the figure is higher among all the pupils surveyed (71%).There has been a “negative shift” in young people’s engagement and participation in science at school since 2019 and it is “likely” that disruption from the pandemic may have contributed, the report said.Addressing the increasing use of videos of practicals, it added: “While it is possible that these changes are symptomatic of a longer–term shift towards using digital technology as a replacement for hands–on work, it is likely that the pandemic has accelerated any such shifts and could mean that digital teaching practices introduced during lockdowns have now become more embedded.”The evidence of a declining interest in science is a serious wake-up callDr Hilary Leevers, chief executive of EngineeringUKThe report, commissioned with support from Wellcome, also suggested young people are less interested in science and computing than in 2019.It said experience of hands-on practical work is “key to motivating students in science” – especially among the least engaged in science.Professor Ulrike Tillmann, chairwoman of the Royal Society’s education committee, said: “The wonderful thing about science is that it has a practical side. It is not just in your head, you can touch and feel it, whether in the classroom or as part of everyday life.“Access to effective hands-on learning that students can tangibly connect to the real world will help make science feel more relevant and meaningful and provide valuable skills for life and work.“The present situation means many young people may emerge from school without a sound appreciation of scientific methods, which are crucial for understanding how science works and being able to engage with scientific issues.”Dr Hilary Leevers, chief executive of EngineeringUK, said: “We need hundreds of thousands more people entering STEM (science, engineering, technology and mathematics) careers to get on track to meet net zero, to improve sustainability, and for the UK to prosper.“The evidence of a declining interest in science is a serious wake-up call.”Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “The equipment necessary for experiments, including chemicals in some cases, can be prohibitively expensive for schools battling exceptionally tight budgets.“Practical work often requires the help of a specialist technician as well as additional planning and risk assessment from the teacher, who will already be working within the confines of a timetable that is likely bursting at the seams.“All of this can lead to teachers taking the difficult decision to use video demonstrations as opposed to their preferred option of enabling students to experience experiments first hand.”Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said the Government’s “obsession” with exams may be contributing to the decline.She said: “In part, this decline in students having the opportunity to take part in experiments may be due to shortages of specialist science teachers or technicians at a time when schools are facing a severe recruitment and retention crisis.“But it may also reflect government reforms which saw a new approach of assessing practical work using written exam questions rather than through controlled assessment.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailMore than half of IT professionals have said they fear deepfakes generated by artificial intelligence (AI) could affect the result of the general election, according to new research.A survey of workers in the sector by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, found 65% said they are concerned an election result could be affected by misleading AI-generated content.The study found that 92% believe political parties should agree to be transparent and declare how and when they use AI in their campaigns, and that more technical and policy solutions need to be forthcoming to address the issue.We need to increase public awareness of how to spot deepfakes, double-check sources and think critically about what we’re seeingRashik Parmer, BCS, The Chartered Institute for ITLast year, Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan told MPs the Government is working with social media platforms on measures to combat deepfakes, saying “robust mechanisms” will be in place by the time of the general election, which is due by January 2025.According to the poll of 1,200 IT professionals, public education and technical tools such as watermarking and labelling of AI content are seen as the most effective measures for limiting the impact of deepfakes.A number of senior politicians, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan have been the subjects of deepfakes in the past.BCS chief executive Rashik Parmar said: “Technologists are seriously worried about the impact of deepfakes on the integrity of the general election – but there are things politicians can do to help the public and themselves.“Parties should agree between them to clearly state when and how they are using AI in their campaigns.“Official sources are just one part of the problem. Bad actors outside the UK and independent activists inside can do even more to destabilise things.“We need to increase public awareness of how to spot deepfakes, double-check sources and think critically about what we’re seeing.“We can support that with technical solutions, and the most popular in the poll was a clear labelling consensus where possible – and it would be ideal if this could be done globally with the US election coming too.”Alongside our Defending Democracy Taskforce, the Digital Imprints Regime requires certain political campaigning digital material to have a digital imprint making clear to voters who is promoting the contentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyA spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “We are working extensively across Government to ensure we are ready to rapidly respond to misinformation.“Alongside our Defending Democracy Taskforce, the Digital Imprints Regime requires certain political campaigning digital material to have a digital imprint making clear to voters who is promoting the content.“Once implemented the Online Safety Act will also require social media platforms to swiftly remove illegal misinformation and disinformation – including where it is AI-generated – as soon as they become aware of it.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailReform MP Lee Anderson has raised eyebrows with a new video about St George’s Day, which he posted on social media with a bizarre warning to fans of “advacado” and supporters of the Palestinian cause.The MP for Ashfield, who recently joined Reform UK after being suspended from the Tory party over racist remarks about London mayor Sadiq Khan, marked the annual feast day with a post showing off a pair of cufflinks bearing the St George’s Cross.“Look at these here, the flag of St George,” Rishi Sunak’s former Tory deputy chair told viewers, pointing to his cufflinks. “It’s St George’s Day today and this country of ours has been a gift to the world. Look at the industrial revolution, culture, arts, music, sport – everywhere you look on this planet, you see some of that. Oh, by the way, happy birthday William Shakespeare.”In a caption for the post, he wrote: “Trigger Warning. If you are a Guardian reading, advacado eating, Palestinian flag waving, Eddie Izzard supporting Vegan then this clip is probably not for your consumption.”His remarks drew amusement from on X/Twitter, where critics picked up on his misspelling of the word “avocado”, and noted the connection between Palestine and St George, who is celebrated not just in England, but in parts of Africa, the Middle East, Caucuses and South America.Comedian Shaparak Khorsandi wrote: “Who is going to tell him about St George’s connection to Palestine? (His mother was Palestinian, they too have a St George’s day/feast. Though, to be fair, it is not known if he was related to Eddie Izzard).”While Mr Anderson’s reference to Izzard is unclear, Mr Anderson has previously been criticised for “vile” remarks about the transgender actor and Labour candidate.Reform MP Lee Anderson has revealed he will not be campaigning in certain Tory constituencies due to his friendships with the current MPs More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA girl aged seven was among five migrants who died as they tried to cross the English Channel hours after parliament passed Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda bill.The tragic deaths prompted senior figures in the United Nations to urge the prime minister to reconsider his controversial plan to send asylum seekers who arrive on small boats on a one-way flight to Rwanda. The victims were caught up in a panicked crush when their small craft, vastly overloaded with 112 people, ran aground on a sandbank shortly after setting off from the French coast.French navy sailors found them and took them ashore as they rescued 47 survivors from the stricken vessel. More than 50 others left on board managed to get the engine working again and continued towards Britain.Mr Sunak said the tragedy underscored the need for his Rwanda plan, which he hopes will create a deterrent effect. But leading lawyers, a former national security adviser, and opposition MPs said the plan was doomed to fail as it would not stop migrants from making the journey. Hours after the tragedy, boats similarly packed with asylum seekers were photographed leaving French shores.Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, said the legislation “marks a further step away from the UK’s long tradition of providing refuge to those in need, in breach of the Refugee Convention”.The human rights arm of the Council of Europe – whose institutions include the European Court of Human Rights, whose oversight Mr Sunak has threatened to withdraw from over the policy – said it raised “major issues about the human rights of asylum seekers and the rule of law”.Lawyer and crossbench peer Alex Carlile told The Independent that Mr Sunak should “think again” and “drop the politics and the boasts”.“There is no evidence that this scheme will do more than remove about 1 per cent of the unresolved refugees,” he said. Former national security adviser Peter Ricketts, who is also a crossbench peer, said he did not think the Rwanda bill would make the “slightest difference to the number of desperate people risking their lives to get here”.Sir Keir Starmer said there is “no doubt that we have to stop these small boat crossings” but he added that he would “build up our border security, to take down the gangs that are running this vile trade and stop those boats arriving in the first place. Not a gimmick which nobody thinks is going to work.”Labour also made clear that it does not plan to send any asylum seekers to Rwanda if it enters Downing Street, not even as an interim measure while it scraps the scheme. Prime minister Rishi Sunak addresses a press conference in Downing Street this week More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailAsylum seekers on the Bibbly Stockholm have said they feel like prisoners, are searched every time they go outside, and are unable to see friends because of detention-like conditions on the barge.A cleaner who worked on the controversial barge has also claimed that she was unfairly dismissed for being too friendly to residents, a new report on the asylum accommodation reveals. A report into the Bibby Stockholm, published by local refugee support groups and charity Care4Calais, found that asylum seekers are being extensively searched when they come off and on the barge – leaving them feeling trapped and unable to get support from friends outside. Campaigners are concerned about the ongoing isolation of the asylum seekers on board, which is berthed at Portland port in Dorset, and the detention-like conditions they are in. The report comes after an Albanian asylum seeker, Leonard Farruku, died on the barge in December 2023. His family have called for an independent investigation into his death and raised concerns about the conditions on the barge, including the vulnerability and complex mental health needs of those on board. Leonard’s sister Jola Dushku said: “He was a lovely person who came to the UK to build a new life full of hope. We feel the UK government should be held responsible for Leonard’s death.”Leonard Farruku died on the Bibby Stockholm barge in December 2023 More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has awkwardly stepped in to prevent the head of Nato from answering a reporter’s question about the military alliance’s preparations for how the upcoming general election could affect Britain’s defence commitments.During a joint press conference in Warsaw with Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg, the prime minister promised to boost Britain’s defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 in a pledge costing taxpayers £75bn over the next six years.Mr Sunak warned that the world is “the most dangerous it has been since the end of the Cold War”, and pledged to put Britain’s defence industry “on a war footing”, in what marked the latest flurry of activity by the PM as he seeks to close the polling gap with Labour ahead of this year’s election.( More