UK

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA Home Office pilot scheme to place ankle tags on up to 600 migrants on immigration bail to track their location breached UK data protection law, a watchdog has said.The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said the Home Office had failed to sufficiently assess the risks posed by the electronic monitoring of people, including the privacy concerns around the continuous collection of a person’s location.The data protection regulator said it had now issued an enforcement notice and a warning to the Home Office over the pilot, which orders the department to update its privacy policies and warns that data collection on a similar basis would spark enforcement action by the regulator.The pilot had been evaluating whether electronic monitoring was an effective way to maintain regular contact with asylum claimants, while reducing the risk of absconding and offering a potential alternative to detention.The ICO said it had been in discussion with the Home Office about the scheme since August 2022, after concerns about the pilot were raised by Privacy International.The pilot scheme ended in December 2023, but the ICO said the Home Office continues to have access to data gathered during the trial.Having examined the scheme, the data protection watchdog said the Home Office had also failed to assess the potential impact on people who may already be in a vulnerable position because of their immigration status, for reasons such as the conditions of their journey to the UK, or English not being their first language.The Home Office did not assess those risks sufficiently, which means the pilot scheme was not legally compliantInformation Commissioner John EdwardsThe ICO said the Home Office did not sufficiently consider how to mitigate against those risks, for example by providing clear information about why people’s location data was being collected and how it would be used.The regulator added that throughout its enquiries, the Home Office had also been unable to adequately explain why it was necessary or proportionate to access the data it collected.Information Commissioner John Edwards said: “Having access to a person’s 24/7 movements is highly intrusive, as it is likely to reveal a lot of information about them, including the potential to infer sensitive information such as their religion, sexuality, or health status.“Lack of clarity on how this information will be used can also inadvertently inhibit people’s movements and freedom to take part in day-to-day activities.“If such information were to be mishandled or misinterpreted, it could potentially have harmful consequences to people and their future.“The Home Office did not assess those risks sufficiently, which means the pilot scheme was not legally compliant.“We recognise the Home Office’s crucial work to keep the UK safe, and it’s for them to decide on what measures are necessary to do so.“But I’m sending a clear warning to the Home Office that they cannot take the same approach in the future. It is our duty to uphold people’s information rights, regardless of their circumstances.”In response, a Home Office spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that the ICO has issued this notice and whilst acknowledging improvements to documentation could be made, we reject the claim that the privacy risks of the scheme weren’t sufficiently addressed.“The pilot was designed to help us maintain contact with selected asylum claimants, deter absconding and progress asylum claims more effectively.“We will now carefully consider the ICO’s findings and respond in due course.”Under the enforcement notice issued, the Home Office has been ordered to update its internal policies, access guidance and privacy information in relation to data it retained from the pilot scheme.The formal warning issued alongside the notice states that any future data processing on the same basis by the Home Office would breach data protection law and would see the ICO take enforcement action. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRochdale voters will go to the polls today for a by-election unexpectedly besieged by political controversy and media scrutiny.In the run-up to polling day, both Labour and the Greens have withdrawn support for the candidates they originally put forward over disputes relating to the Israel-Gaza conflict. This leaves Labour with no real way to win the seat which they have held since 2010.Controversial candidates George Galloway and Simon Danczuk will also appear on the ballot.Here’s your guide to all eleven candidates standing in Rochdale:Azhar Ali, “Labour”Although Azhar Ali’s name will still appear as a Labour candidate on the ballot, the party has withdrawn its support for him. Following Mr Ali’s high-profile suspension, he would be considered an independent MP in parliament should he win today’s by-election.Mr Ali was suspended from the party following allegations of anti-semitism. At a meeting of other Labour members, Mr Ali said that Israel had “allowed” the 7 October attacks to mandate the country’s invasion of Gaza. He later apologised for the comments. Labour moved to withdraw support on 12 February, after being criticised for inaction, but this was too late for them to stand another candidate.However, should Mr Ali win it is unlikely he would remain in this position much longer than 6-10 months. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has indicated his intention to call a general election towards the end of the year when the seat will go to the polls once more.This gives Labour the opportunity to select a new candidate for Rochdale.Mr Ali is originally from Brierfield, a town in Pendle, Lancashire – 45 minutes away from Rochdale. He joined Pendle Borough Council in 2000 at 24, becoming council leader in 2003. In 2013, Mr Ali joined Lancashire County Council, becoming leader in 2017.In 2015 and 2019, he stood as Labour’s parlimentary candidate for Pendle. In 2020, Mr Ali was awarded an OBE for his services to the community in the North West.Mark Coleman, IndependentReverend Mark Coleman is a long-time climate campaigner and Just Stop Oil activist, who has twice been jailed for non-violent direct action. The 64-year-old worked as a vicar in Rochdale until his retirement due to Parkinson’s disease.Rev Coleman continues to serve as a Church of England priest and is running on a platform of climate-related policies.Simon Danczuk, Reform UKOn 1 February it was revealed that former Labour MP for Rochdale Simon Danczuk would stand as a candidate for Reform UK, aiming to regain the seat he held from 2010 to 2017.In 2015, Simon Danczuk was suspended from the Labour party after allegation he exchanged sexually explicit text messages with a teenager. He was barred from reselection by the party for the 2017 general election.Mr Danczuk nevertheless stood as an independent candidate, coming fifth with 1.8 per cent of the vote.“He had an unwise relationship with a young lady but nothing illegal and he accepted what he did was daft and unwise,” said Reform UK leader Richard Tice.“He has an excellent track record of integrity and being brave enough to call out the grooming gangs in Rochdale”.Iain Donaldson, Liberal DemocratsIain Donaldson is a retired administrator for the University of Manchester, and has 19 years of experience as a councillor in the area. He hopes to regain Rochdale for the Lib Dems, who held the seat from 2005 to 2010.Paul Ellison, ConservativeThe Conservative’s candidate for Rochdale, Paul Ellison, is a businessman and campaigner who owns and operates a landscaping company in the area. His campaign messaging emphasises his local roots, stating that he has been a political campaigner in the area for over 30 years.George Galloway, Workers PartyGeorge Galloway is a former Labour and Respect Party MP, who is now leader and founder of the Workers Party of Britain. He has said he is running to “teach Labour a lesson”.His party, formed in 2019, aims to build a “new working class politics in Britain”. Its 10-point programme includes bringing an end to imperialist wars” and rebuilding British industry. Mr Galloway has said the main focus of his campaign will be to acheive a resolution to the conflict in Gaza.Mr Galloway has been a mainstay in the UK political landscape since the late 80s, first becoming a Labour MP for Glasgow Hillhead in 1987. He was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 by Tony Blair for prominent opposition to the Iraq War.In 2004 he joined Respect, winning the seat of Bethnal Green and Bow for the party in the 2005 general election. Mr Galloway remained in this seat until 2010. He was Respect MP for Bradford West for one term from 2012 to 2015, and has not been an MP since – despite various campaigns.Michael Howarth, IndependentMichael Howarth is a businessman from Rochdale who owns several bars in the borough, as well as living and working in the town. He is running on a platform of local town and business improvement, vowing to open empty shops and improve street safety.William Howarth, Independent“Billy” Howarth is a local campaigner and co-founder of the support group Parents Against Grooming UK. His campaign is centred on tackling issues around grooming in the wake of Rochdale’s grooming gang scandal. He raised his £500 registration fee by fundraising.“After 30 years of child abuse cover-ups, two tired leaderships accompanied by failures to protect the town’s constituents, I have decided that this town needs to be independently represented,” reads Mr Howarth’s GoFundMe campaign.Guy Otten, “Green”Like Labour, the Greens have also withdrawn support for their Rochdale candidate, Guy Otten over comments made on Twitter.The retired solicitor called the posts “regrettable,” confirmed he had “decided to leave the stage” and halted his campaigning efforts from 7 February. His name will still appear on the ballot as a Green Party candidate.Ravin Rodent Subortna, Monster Raving LoonyCandidate for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, Ravin Rodent Subortna has made a raft of unusual promises on the campaign trail, as has become tradition for the party.His policies include the introduction of a 99p coin, fairground carousels on roundabouts, and hedgehog homes to “prevent hedgehog homelessness”. Mr Subortna has said his aim is to get “zero votes”David Tully, Independent“Born and raised in Rochdale,” David Tully operates a vehicle repair centre in the area. He is running on a platform of community-focused pledges, aiming to halt the “decline” of Rochdale town. He is an avid rugby and football fan, and the only candidate to meet with the local club, Rochdale AFC, on the campaign trail. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailCapital punishment may be required for those involved in “crimes against humanity”, according to an MP accused of pushing “conspiracy theories” over Covid-19.In a bizarre speech Independent MP Andrew Bridgen, who was expelled from the Tories after appearing to compare Covid-19 vaccines to the Holocaust, told business questions: “I’ve always opposed capital punishment on the principle that it’s wrong to take a life so it can’t be right for the state to take a life in revenge.“Events have caused me to reconsider my position.“So can we have a debate on crimes against humanity and the appropriate punishment for those who perpetuate, collude and cover up for these atrocities, atrocities and crimes so severe that the ultimate punishment may be required?”Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt replied: “I think (Mr Bridgen’s) incredibly subtle question is not lost on anyone in this House on where he might be taking it.“It is appropriate that the finale of this session, which has featured so heavily conspiracy theories, should fall to the honourable gentleman.“I would just caution him also just to reflect with the things that have been said about his own behaviour, what he does on social media, the security measures that have had to be stepped up for honourable members in this place in the wake of some of his social media tweets and questions in this House.“Whatever my disagreements are with (Mr Bridgen), I will always stand ready to get answers from departments and assist him in his work.“But I’m going to call out on every occasion when he is doing things that are, I think, a danger to our democracy and also the safety and security of members of this House.”Mr Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) and Ms Mordaunt have had several run-ins at business questions in recent months.In March last year, Ms Mordaunt criticised Mr Bridgen for repeating “conspiracy theories” about Covid, adding that they include “falsehoods” originating in Russia and China.The criticism came days after Mr Bridgen used a debate in the Commons to call for the Government to “immediately stop the mRNA vaccine booster programme and initiate a full public inquiry into not only the vaccine harms but how every agency and institution set up to protect the public interest has failed so abysmally in its duties”. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailLabour would inherit the worst economic situation of any incoming government “since the Second World War” if the party comes into power at the next general election, Rachel Reeves has said.The shadow chancellor pointed to “debt interest payments, growth, living standards and taxation” as she accused the Conservative Party of “burning the whole house down” during its time in government.She told Sky News: “This is the worst inheritance any incoming government will have had since the Second World War in terms of debt interest payments, growth, living standards and taxation.I want taxes on working people to be lower. But it has to be affordableShadow chancellor Rachel Reeves“(Former chancellor) George Osborne said in 2010 that they were going to fix the roof. What they’ve done is smash the windows, broken the door down and are burning the whole house down.Rachel Reeves warned Labour will inherit the worst economy since the Second World War “That is the reality for whoever is prime minister and chancellor after the next election – that’s the inheritance that whoever forms the next government is going to have to deal with.”Her comments come ahead of next week’s spring Budget, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said to be considering a squeeze on public spending plans in order to deliver tax cuts in the fiscal event on March 6.Mr Hunt faces continued pressure from Conservatives to cut taxes when he delivers what is likely to be his final Budget before the next election, as the overall tax burden approaches record levels.Ms Reeves signalled she would potentially replicate any impending tax cuts, but they would need to be in line with her fiscal rules.She said: “Fiscal responsibility is non-negotiable for me. The sums have to add up.“Everything will be subject to the fiscal rules I’ve set out.“I want taxes on working people to be lower. But it has to be affordable.”If Labour does emerge victorious in the election, Ms Reeves said there would be a “relentless focus” on economic growth.“I am not going to be able to turn everything round overnight,” she said.“We are going to have to grow the economy. There will be a relentless focus on what we need to grow the economy.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailJeremy Hunt is considering scrapping the non-dom tax loophole in a bid to fund national insurance or income tax cuts.The chancellor is looking at the move ahead of next week’s Budget, in what would be a major blow to Labour’s post-election spending plans.Sir Keir Starmer’s party has promised to pay for NHS reform and school breakfast clubs with the money it would raise by scrapping the tax break, which lets foreign nationals living in Britain avoid paying tax on overseas earnings.It believes the move would raise around £2bn, but if Mr Hunt scraps or drastically alters the non-dom regime, Labour will have to find the money to fund the pledges elsewhere.Jeremy Hunt is considering scrapping the non-dom loophole Mr Hunt has reportedly been handed a “secret project list” of revenue-raising measures that would help him fund further pre-election giveaways to win over voters.He is prepared to take the move if pre-budget forecasts deteriorate in the run-up to next Wednesday’s statement. But a Treasury source told The Independent Mr Hunt would not do anything that risked undermining the competitiveness of the City. The non-dom loophole was thrust into the spotlight when The Independent revealed that Akshata Murty, Rishi Sunak’s wife, had used it to save potentially millions of pounds.Ms Murty, whose family business is estimated to be worth around £3.5bn, later said she would no longer claim the status on her worldwide earnings. At the time she said she did not want her tax status to be a “distraction for my husband or to affect my family”.But Labour has ruthlessly attacked the PM over The Independent’s revelation, with Sir Keir accusing Mr Sunak of desperately holding onto his “beloved non-dom status”.Mr Sunak has been dismissive of Labour’s plans to scrap the loophole, describing Sir Keir’s attacks on the status as “this non-dom thing”.And Mr Hunt has said abolishing the tax break does not “make sense” and would be the “wrong thing” to do.Asked about the idea, he told BBC Radio Four: “These are foreigners who could live easily in Ireland, France, Portugal, Spain. They all have these schemes. All things being equal, I would rather they stayed here and spent their money here.”Labour mocked the potential u-turn on the tax status, with a source saying: “We will wait and see whether the chancellor manages to get this past Rishi Sunak given his family finances.”Labour has said it will not reverse Mr Hunt’s tax cuts if it comes to power after the election, expected this autumn, meaning the party may have to find other ways to fund its existing spending pledges.It has committed to spending £1.1bn on NHS operations, scans and appointments, £171m for health scanners, £111m for dental appointments and £365m for primary school breakfast clubs.The remainder would be spent on additional funding for the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments.Rachel Reeves has warned Labour will inherit the worst economic outlook since the Second World War The plans emerged as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves warned Labour is set to inherit the worst economic situation of any incoming government “since the Second World War” if the party comes into power at the next general election.Speaking with Sky News, Rachel Reeves pointed to “debt interest payments, growth, living standards and taxation” as she accused the Conservative Party of “burning the whole house down” during its time in government.She told the broadcaster: “This is the worst inheritance any incoming government will have had since the Second World War in terms of debt interest payments, growth, living standards and taxation.“(Former chancellor) George Osborne said in 2010 that they were going to fix the roof. What they’ve done is smash the windows, broken the door down and are burning the whole house down.“That is the reality for whoever is prime minister and chancellor after the next election – that’s the inheritance that whoever forms the next government is going to have to deal with.”Ms Reeves signalled she would potentially replicate any impending tax cuts, but they would need to be in line with her fiscal rules.She said: “Fiscal responsibility is non-negotiable for me. The sums have to add up.“Everything will be subject to the fiscal rules I’ve set out.“I want taxes on working people to be lower. But it has to be affordable.”Next week’s Budget is one of the last major set pieces for the government before voters head to the polls.With the Conservatives facing a heavy defeat, Mr Hunt is under pressure to find the cash for a cut to income tax or national insurance.He is said to prefer a national insurance cut, following a reduction in the tax announced in November’s budget, as well as a vape tax.It is thought he may introduce a “vaping products levy” to be paid on imports and by manufacturers to try to make the habit unaffordable for children. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has claimed the UK is descending into “mob rule” as he warned police must take urgent action or risk losing public confidence.The prime minister demanded a crackdown on protests as he pledged to do “whatever it requires to protect our democracy”. During an extraordinary meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon he told police chiefs they had to demonstrate they would “use the powers you already have”, saying it was “vital for maintaining public confidence in the police”.In a startling assessment of the state of modern Britain, he added: “There is a growing consensus that mob rule is replacing democratic rule. And we’ve got to collectively, all of us, change that urgently.”He said that he would “do whatever it requires to protect our democracy and our values that we all hold dear”.He hailed a new policing protocol, which “provides clarity that protests at elected representatives’ homes should be treated as intimidatory”. The protocol also warns protests at democratic venues, like parliament, or political events should not be allowed to “cause alarm, harassment or distress” to attendees. Forces will provide additional patrols in communities at risk of “potential flashpoints”.Earlier, he rejected calls that fearful MPs should work from home as he sought to defend security measures which critics say fail to tackle the root cause of attacks on politicians. No 10 said the prime minister believed the WFH idea was “appalling” and “we shouldn’t be closing down parliament” because of extremists.Tensions have been heightened by protests over the war in Gaza, as MPs come under intense pressure to back calls for a ceasefire.Mr Sunak has previously condemned an “aggressive mob” of pro-Gaza protesters at the home of Tory MP Tobias Ellwood. There were also angry and chaotic scenes at Westminster last week after the Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was accused of ripping up the parliamentary rule book over a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza, because of concerns about “threats” against MPs.But the government is facing a backlash from one of its own ministers, who said a new £31m security package for MPs was “missing the point”.Justice minister Mike Freer, who has started to wear a stab vest at public events and will stand down at the next election because of threats to his safety, said the measures would “not actually [go] to the root cause” of why people felt emboldened to target MPs.He also warned a “ring of steel” around politicians would fundamentally alter democracy. The security package came as: Sir Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of indulging in conspiracy theories and said they had become the “political wing of the flat earth society”The Labour leader also called on Mr Sunak to block Liz Truss from standing at the general election after she “remained silent as right-wing thug Tommy Robinson was described as a hero”Pro-Palestinian protesters vowed to continue marches, despite government calls for a halt The new funding, announced by home secretary James Cleverly, followed “frightening” threats to MPs and their families. Under the plans, MPs will be given greater police protection, while those at higher risk could have private security guards. The level of protection will be decided by the police and could apply to controversial figures like George Galloway, if he is elected in this week’s Rochdale by-election. All elected representatives and candidates will also have a dedicated police contact to liaise with on security matters.But Mr Freer, who represents a predominantly Jewish constituency in Finchley and Golders Green in north London, said the extra funding did not address the underlying problem.“I kind of think it’s missing the point,” he told Times Radio. “More security is always welcome, but that’s only dealing with the symptom.“It’s not actually going to the root cause. Why do people now feel emboldened to attack members of parliament, to demonstrate outside their homes where they’re intimidating their family? Not necessarily the MP, but their family.“Why should their partners and their children have to put up with being frightened in their own home?“So, security is welcome. But frankly, unless you get to the root cause, then you’re just going to have a ring of steel around MPs. And our whole style of democracy changes.”Mike Freer says he received a series of death threats as well as an arson attack at his officeShadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the government “rightly needs to ensure that democracy is protected and that no one faces security threats either for themselves or their family because of the job they do or their democratic role”.Just hours after the new measures were unveiled, Just Stop Oil, which has defended protests at the homes of MPs, tweeted Sir Keir “we’ll be with you in a few hours. Put the kettle on for us”.Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian protesters vowed to continue marches despite calls for a halt. Mr Cleverly told marchers they had made their “point”. But Chris Nineham, vice chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, accused ministers of creating a “social panic” around pro-Palestinian protests. Labour MP Harriet Harman has suggested that MPs should be able to speak and vote from their constituencies because of concerns about security at Westminster. More

Sunak takes aim at Starmer: ‘We expel antisemites, he makes them Labour candidates’Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailGeorge Galloway is confident of becoming the next MP for Rochdale as voters go to the polls in the town’s by-election.The Workers Party of Britain candidate, who was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003, is the bookies’ favourite, following the implosion of Labour’s campaign.Labour withdrew its support from its candidate, Azhar Ali, over his suggestion Israel was complicit in the massacre of its own people on 7 October. The party no longer has a candidate.Rishi Sunak used Mr Galloway and Mr Ali to accuse Keir Starmer of making “antisemites” Labour candidates at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.The prime minister said voters in the Greater Manchester town would have the choice of “three former Labour candidates, two of which are antisemites”.“We expel antisemites, he makes them Labour candidates,” he said. Mr Galloway and Mr Ali deny being antisemitic.Simon Danczuk, an ex-Labour MP for Rochdale who is standing for the right-wing challenger party, has accused Mr Galloway’s campaign of “whipping people into a frenzy”.Other candidates are Iain Donaldson (Liberal Democrats), Paul Ellison (Conservatives), Michael Howarth (Independent), William Howarth (Independent), Ravin Rodent Subortna (Official Monster Raving Loony Party) and David Tully (Independent).Show latest update 1709160126Key timings in the Rochdale by-electionVoters go to the polls tomorrow in a by-election called after the death of Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd. Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 10pm, with the result expected early on Friday morning. We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates throughout the day and into Friday morning. Katy Clifton28 February 2024 22:421709143359Why Lee Anderson is accused of IslamophobiaJane Dalton28 February 2024 18:021709137821Rochdale by-election: Chaotic contest overshadowed by antisemitism row and Gaza war leaves voters frustratedOnce a Labour safe-seat, Rochdale is facing a chaotic byelection this week where the party isn’t represented at all, writes Zoe Grunewald.Read the full report here: Matt Mathers28 February 2024 16:301709135980Reform candidate blames George Galloway for ‘whipping up division’ in Rochdale after receiving death threatFull report: Matt Mathers28 February 2024 15:591709135912ICYMI: Has Labour’s Rochdale debacle gifted George Galloway an open goal?What was set to be a straightforward contest to replace the late Labour MP Tony Lloyd, who died of blood cancer aged 73, has been mired by a series of scandals. Archie Mitchell asks how we got here, and what will happen next.Full report below: Matt Mathers28 February 2024 15:581709135763What could happen if George Galloway wins the Rochdale by-election?This Thursday’s vote in a deprived town in Greater Manchester has generated something of a circus in recent weeks. Sean O’Grady looks at what a Galloway win could mean, not just for Rochdale but for British politics as a whole.Read the piece in full here: Matt Mathers28 February 2024 15:561709133321Scheme to insulate 300,000 homes over 3 years helps just 2,900 in first 8 monthsA government scheme aimed at insulating 300,000 homes in three years in a bid to reduce energy bills has only helped 2,900 homes in its first eight months.Ministers are now assessing whether the programme – the £1bn Great British Insulation Scheme – is viable, The Times reports.“The government knows that the scheme isn’t working and isn’t going to work in its current form,” an industry source told the paper. “The question they still haven’t answered is what they’re going to do instead.” More