UK

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailOne of Hong Kong’s youngest pro-democracy activists has fled the city and formally applied for political asylum in the UK after completing his jail term.Tony Chung, 22, breached a supervision order to seek asylum due to constant scrutiny in Hong Kong, which put him under an “enormous amount of stress”.Chung was arrested under the Beijing-imposed national security law following the democracy protests in 2019 in Hong Kong. He was sentenced to 43 months in prison in November 2021 on charges of secession and money laundering.Critics of the government say the draconian law, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, has been weaponised to stifle protest and used to arrest nearly 300 people since its implementation in 2020.In a Facebook post on Thursday, Chung announced that he had arrived in the UK earlier this week seeking political refuge after being put under “stringent surveillance” following his release from prison in June.Chung was reportedly granted permission from the Correctional Services Department to travel to Japan for Christmas. He took a flight from Japan to reach the UK on Wednesday.”After making the decision ‘my heart sank’,” Chung wrote, adding: “I dedicated my life to social movements since age 14″.“We shouldn’t be the ones leaving.”He said the police were monitoring his bank account information and banned him from accepting a summer job, saying he wasn’t allowed to work in that “specific business”.”In the past six months with no income from any work, the national security police officers kept on coercing and inducing me to join them,” he wrote.”From October onwards until the present day, I have intermittently fallen ill. During this period, I sought medical consultations from both Western and Chinese doctors, all of whom diagnosed my condition as a result of significant mental stress and psychological factors, leading to a weakened immune system,” he added.Chung told the Washington Post that he was made to take part in a compulsory “deradicalisation” programme in detention where guards said to those who had been detained that they were “manipulated” by the US.He is the second pro-democracy activist to leave the Asian finance hub in December after former student leader, Agnes Chow, announced she had moved to Canada and would not return to Hong Kong to meet her bail conditions.Several other activists, including Nathan Law, Anna Kwok and Finn Lau, have fled abroad fearing arrest and now have bounties placed on them.Meanwhile, a Hong Kong court sentenced three activists to up to six years in prison for their involvement in a foiled plot to bomb public buildings.The activists, aged between 20 to 23, were part of the pro-democracy “Returning Valiant” group. The trio was arrested in July 2021 and subsequently charged with “conspiracy to commit terrorism” under the security law.The court heard that Ho Yu-wang, Kwok Man-hei, and Cheung Ho-yeung had planned to make bombs using the explosives and place them in various public buildings.Ho, who was arrested at the age of 17, was “primarily responsible for making the explosives”, according to prosecutors. He was sentenced to six years in prison.Kwok was handed two-and-a-half years in prison, while Cheung received six years for being the first to raise the idea of “targeting government offices, court buildings and police quarters”. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailPrime minister Tony Blair was warned that the No 10 press office had lost “all credibility” under his combative communications chief Alastair Campbell, according to newly released official files.Papers released by the National Archives show Mr Blair’s private secretary, Jeremy Heywood, advised him that his authority was being undermined because Downing Street was seen as a “politically-dominated spin machine”.The warnings followed a series of bruising rows between the Labour government and the BBC over its coverage of the US-UK invasion of Iraq in 2003.After Mr Campbell announced he was standing down after nine years as one of Mr Blair’s most trusted aides, Mr Heywood urged the prime minister to take the opportunity to carry out a complete overhaul of the No 10 press operation.“The No 10 press office has lost all credibility as a reliable, truthful, objective operation. Even respectable journalists treat it with caution – part of a relentless politically-dominated spin machine,” he wrote.“Although we all know this is monstrous, it has become the settled view of the entire British media and political establishment. This is disastrous for the authority of your own office.”Mr Campbell’s departure came after months of increasingly acrimonious relations between the government and sections of the media amid the failure to uncover Saddam Hussein’s supposed weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which had been the justification for the invasion.On 19 March, the day the invasion began, Mr Blair sent BBC chairman Gavyn Davies a blistering letter complaining about the corporation’s coverage.“I believe, and I am not alone in believing, that you have not got the balance right between support and dissent; between news and comment; between the voices of the Iraqi regime and Iraqi dissidents; or between the diplomatic support we have, and diplomatic opposition,” he wrote.“I have never written to you or your predecessor in this way before, but I have heard and seen enough to feel I should do so now.”Anji Hunter, another of the prime minister’s close aides, suggested Mr Davies – a former Labour Party member – probably thought Mr Blair “has a point” but would feel compelled to respond with a “magisterial rebuke” because BBC director general Greg Dyke had been copied into the letter.“GD clearly feels in a difficult position viz this – think he would have preferred a quiet phone call from you,” she wrote.The papers also show Mr Campbell suggested threatening the BBC with legal action over a Radio 4 Today programme report that the government had “sexed up” an intelligence dossier on Iraqi WMD issued in the run-up to the conflict to strengthen the case for war.“If the BBC remain belligerent, I think the rhetoric has to be stepped up, up to and including the threat of putting the issue in the hands of lawyers,” he wrote. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailHousing asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge is discriminatory, according to the Home Office’s own review of the policy.The department’s equality impact assessment found that the policy breaks the 2010 Equality Act on the grounds of sex and age, and that changes may be needed.It said the policy is “directly discriminating in relation to age and sex” because it is only suitable for men between 18 and 65 years old.The Bibby Stockholm migrant accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset (James Manning/PA)But the assessment, published on Wednesday, added that the act allows discrimination “if treatment is justified as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim”, arguing that this condition is met.It comes just weeks after 27-year-old Albanian Leonard Farruku was found dead onboard the vessel. There were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances, an inquest heard. His sister claimed that he had been treated like “an animal” on board and that he was heard shouting the night before he died.Around 70 asylum seekers are now living on the barge at Portland port, Dorset, after it was finally given the all clear after a series of health scares.Previously 39 migrants had to be moved off the vessel following the discovery of legionella bacteria in the water supply.The Bibby Stockholm was initially supposed to house about 500 people but the Home Office has now reduced this to a maximum of 425. Ministers hope the barge will help cut the huge bills associated with housing asylum seekers in hotels while their claims are processed.The Home Office’s impact assessment of the policy said: “As only those between the ages of 18 and 65 would be accommodated at Portland, the policy gives rise to direct discrimination on the ground of age as those under 18 and over 65 are precluded.”And it says there is “differential treatment” between men and women because the Bibby Stockholm is only being used for single adult males.But it added: “As there are far more male asylum seekers than females and many of the female claimants have children, it has been decided that it is appropriate to use the site for male asylum seekers only.”The assessment found that the policy was not discriminatory on the basis of race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.Charity bosses have repeatedly warned against housing asylum seekers on the barge, arguing it will have a detrimental impact on asylum seekers’ wellbeing.Charlotte Khan, head of advocacy and public affairs at Care4Calais said: “Placing humans in prison-like barges and camps, held behind barbed wire fences and segregated from the rest of society, is discriminatory by its very nature and it’s telling that the Government’s own equality impact assessment accepts that’s the case for certain groups.“People on the Bibby Stockholm have consistently told us that they feel that the Government are treating them like animals by putting them on the barge. “It’s no wonder then that the Bibby Stockholm has become a symbolic illustration for this Government’s proxy-war against asylum seekers. It needs closing down before the survivors of torture and persecution are put through more suffering.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA communications firm has deployed “world-first engineering” as part of its efforts to connect residents on a remote Scottish island with “life-changing ultrafast broadband”.Fair Isle has been described as the most remote inhabited island in the UK, and is the most southerly island in Shetland.Businesses there have now been connected to full-fibre broadband almost two years ahead of schedule, with the local post office and shop  among those benefiting from the technology.The project represents the greatest distance that Openreach has transmitted a continuous full-fibre signal anywhere in the UK.And the telecoms company said it had to “get creative” to connect the island – which is home to about 60 people.A spur cable, which comes off a 68-mile-long subsea cable between Shetland and the Orkney Islands, was used to connect Fair Isle – which lies 24 miles south of the main island of Shetland and 27 miles from North Ronaldsay, the most northerly island in Orkney.The work was funded as part of the Scottish Government’s £404.1 million Reaching 100% (R100) North contract, which seeks to expand broadband connectivity to remote parts of Scotland, along with £17.4 million of funding from the UK Government.Regular fibre signals just couldn’t go the distance, so we had to get creative with some world-first engineering to transmit life-changing ultrafast broadband over 100km to islanders Fraser Rowberry, OpenreachIn what is believed to be a world first, Openreach deployed innovative engineering to boost the signal strength – using a super-powered adaption of the technology currently used in many homes – because of the distance between the islands.With Fair Isle, which has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland for almost 70 years, an important breeding ground for rare birds, work to connect the island also had to be planned around nesting seasons.Openreach chief engineer for Scotland Fraser Rowberry said: “Regular fibre signals just couldn’t go the distance, so we had to get creative with some world-first engineering to transmit life-changing ultrafast broadband over 100km to islanders.“We had to do everything differently on Fair Isle, from planning around bird-nesting seasons to setting up flat-packed cabins for our crew.”Mr Rowberry praised the islanders for “being so welcoming to our team”, adding: “They’ve been amazing. Now they’re connected to the world in a whole new way.“This will make Fair Isle an even better place to be – for residents, visitors and future generations – and we’d encourage people on the island to upgrade to full fibre.”Stackhoull Stores and Post Office was connected to full fibre before Christmas, with postmistress Fiona Mitchell saying she hoped having broadband would encourage more people to live on Fair Isle.She said: “We are a small population and want to grow and encourage people to be a part of our community.“Getting a full-fibre connection so that people can more easily work and live here is a major part of that. We need all hands on deck to make the island run.”Through our R100 commitment to tackle some of the hardest-to-access terrain in the country, we are improving the educational and life opportunities available to young people across ScotlandWellbeing Economy Secretary Neil GrayNeil Gray, the Wellbeing Economy Secretary in the Scottish Government, said: “I am delighted that we have achieved digital connectivity for Fair Isle almost two years earlier than planned.“Through our R100 commitment to tackle some of the hardest-to-access terrain in the country, we are improving the educational and life opportunities available to young people across Scotland.“This innovative step forward for engineering ensures children on Fair Isle are not left behind.“Internet speeds rivalling the best in the country are helping create a more attractive place for families and young people to live.”Mr Gray continued: “We committed to invest further in our digital connectivity, despite powers being reserved to Westminster, because we know that by supporting remote working and rural businesses – from Fair Isle jumpers to tourism – we can help to build an island economy which is fair, green and prosperous.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailLabour is considering a scheme that would see asylum seekers’ claims processed elsewhere, according to reports. Sir Keir Starmer’s party is considering “detailed plans” for a so-called offshoring scheme, as he seeks to deter Tory attacks on Labour’s alternative to the Rwanda plan.The Labour leader has previously dismissed the bid to deport some asylum seekers to the African nation as a “gimmick” and made clear his party’s opposition.But The Times reports that shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock have been speaking to asylum experts, former home secretary Lord David Blunkett and other European countries to draw up an alternative proposal to tackle small boats crossings in the Channel.The plan would see migrants having asylum claims processed overseas, with successful applicants allowed to come to the UK.While explicit backing for an offshoring scheme would mark a significant shift for Labour, Sir Keir did signal earlier this month that he would not be opposed to considering such an approach.“Other countries around the world do have schemes where they divert people on the way and process them elsewhere. That’s a different kind of scheme.“And, look, I’ll look at any scheme that might work,” he told reporters after a speech in Buckinghamshire.Labour has been contacted for comment about the report, which claims that the party has drawn up “three tests” for any such scheme – that it is cost-effective, credible enough to deter migrants, and would avoid the legal challenges that have delayed the Rwanda plan.Prime minister Rishi Sunak and home secretary James Cleverly are hoping fresh legislation, currently in the Commons, will be enough to revive the flagship policy after it was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court earlier this year.According to The Times a Labour “red line” would be any scheme that would automatically block migrants being granted asylum in the UK, with British officials also required to be in charge of processing claims.This is not the first time the party has looked at such an approach.In the early 2000s, Lord Blunkett and the Blair government were believed to be in talks with Tanzania about the possibility of housing asylum seekers in the country while claims were processed in the UK.Lord Blunkett told the paper: “What’s absolutely crucial is who is doing the processing and that they’re allowed back into the country. Without it, you’re merely transferring the problem on to somebody else. But if British officials are doing the processing, then you’ve got a scheme that fits with the conventions.”It comes as Sir Keir and his frontbench team enter a crucial period, with a general election likely to be less than 12 months away.The Conservatives have sought to make tackling illegal migration a crunch issue, with stopping the boats one of Mr Sunak’s “five priorities”. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailReform UK has said it plans to stand against the Tories in every seat at the next election in a move which could spell electoral trouble for Rishi Sunak.The party, which contested the 2019 general election as the Brexit Party, has given “cast-iron guarantees” to top figures that it will not do a deal with the Tories.In the 2019 contest, former leader Nigel Farage stood down hundreds of candidates to help Boris Johnson beat Jeremy Corbyn to No 10.Nigel Farage, the former Reform UK party leader with Tice, his successorBut Richard Tice, who took over as leader in 2021, has told senior figures including former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe that he will not repeat the move, The Sunday Times reported. The development will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street, with Reform threatening to split the Tory vote in key seats across the country – boosting Labour’s chances.Luke Tryl, director at pollsters More in Common, said Reform could see the Tories lose more than 30 additional seats.He told The Independent: “Reform could well be the difference between a hung parliament and a Labour majority.”The party’s support has been boosted by growing discontent at Mr Sunak’s record on immigration and asylum, with around one-tenth of voters currently supporting Reform.And while it has so far failed to live up to the poll rating in a series of by-elections, in two recent contests – Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth – its vote share was larger than the amount by which Labour won.Prime minister Rishi Sunak is already facing a difficult general election campaign “The Tories can take some hope to date that Reform’s by-election performances haven’t been as good as those poll ratings, meaning upcoming contests in Blackpool and Wellingborough will be a good test of how real that reform threat is,” Mr Tryl added.Reform could also be boosted by the return of Mr Farage from his stint on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here. He has spoken regularly to Mr Tice since his return and the pair are expected to discuss his “future role” in the coming days.Mr Tice told The Sunday Times: “In the 2024 election year we will be ready whenever it comes, spring, summer or autumn. We will be standing in seats everywhere in England, Scotland and Wales.“Many, including Tory MPs and commentators, still don’t believe us, but I have news for them: you are seriously underestimating our intent to have a massive impact in this coming election.”A senior party figure meanwhile said the “toxic Tories are done and finished… we will attack them mercilessly”. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailDavid Cameron has warned that Britain will not tolerate the escalation of Iran’s “malign” activities on the world stage.The former prime minister described Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah as proxies for Iran and said they are contributing to an “extremely high” level of danger and insecurity around the world.Lord Cameron, who was made a peer in order to become Rishi Sunak’s foreign secretary last month, said Iran must be sent a clear message escalation will not be tolerated.Foreign secretary Lord David Cameron has made two visits to the Middle East since returning to government And he promised that Britain would work with allies to develop a strong set of deterrent measures against Tehran.After a trip to France, Italy, Jordan and Egypt, Lord Cameron told the Telegraph: “Iran is a thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world – there’s no doubt about that. You’ve got the Houthis, you’ve got Hezbollah, you’ve got the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq that have actually been attacking British and American bases, troops.“And, of course, Hamas. So you’ve got all of these proxies, and I think it’s incredibly important that, first of all, Iran receives an incredibly clear message that this escalation will not be tolerated.“Second of all, we need to work with our allies to develop a really strong set of deterrent measures against Iran, and it’s important that we do that. The level of danger and insecurity in the world is at an extremely high level compared with previous years and decades, and the Iran threat is a part of that picture.”It comes as Iranian-backed Houthi soldiers have stepped up attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea in recent weeks.The Houthi rebels are understood to be targeting ships using the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with the pro-Hamas group seeking to disrupt ships set for Israel.Last week, oil giant BP became the latest major firm to pause shipping through the Red Sea over the attacks.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of IranLord Cameron summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat in the UK to the foreign office on Friday to “make clear these threats will not be tolerated”.It comes amid growing concern in government at Iran’s increasing aggression on the world stage.Grant Shapps also sounded the alarm over the deteriorating situation in the Gulf, with Houthis attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.The defence secretary said the UK would not allow the critical maritime route to become a no-go area.In an interview with The Sunday Times, Mr Shapps said: “We are committed to protecting British interests [in the Gulf] – vessels sailing under a UK flag, or with British sailors or carrying goods destined for our shores.“We have seen the disruption the terrorist attacks have caused — with major operators, including Maersk and BP, avoiding the region. We can’t allow any maritime area to become a no-go area, particularly such a vital route. But wider than that, we need to promote a safer world. The spate of illegal attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security.”He added that the “rules-based world order” means Britain must be committed to repelling the attacks and protecting global trade. More