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As it happenedended
3 years ago

Sturgeon did not break ministerial code in Salmond probe, independent inquiry finds

Follow all the updates from Holyrood, Westminster and beyond

Sam Hancock,Zoe Tidman,Matt Mathers
Monday 22 March 2021 16:43 EDT
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Today's daily politics briefing

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Nicola Sturgeon did not breach the ministerial code in her handling of allegations against her predecessor Alex Salmond, an independent inquiry found.

An investigation published by former public prosecutor James Hamilton on Monday afternoon cleared the first minister of breaching the code and misleading parliament in relation to meetings she had with Mr Salmond and others in 2018.

Responding to the release of the report, the first minister said she welcomed the "comprehensive, evidence-based and unequivocal" conclusions of the report, adding: "I sought at every stage in this issue to act with integrity and in the public interest."

Elsewhere, the UK announced sanctions against four Chinese officials accused of atrocities committed against Uighur Muslims, in coordinated action with the EU and US.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the individuals would face an asset freeze and a travel ban – with the public and companies also expected to be barred from providing them with financial assistance.

Earlier on Monday, Boris Johnson condemned scenes from a Bristol as “absolutely unacceptable” after violence broke out in the city during a protest against the government’s proposed policing bill. Twenty officers were injured in the demonstration, which saw a police station attacked and marked police cars set on fire.

3 years ago

Police and politicians hit out at ‘violent’ Bristol protestors

A string of police and political figures have hit out at the “scenes of violence” in Bristol on Sunday.

Police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “I cannot condemn enough the scenes of violence and destruction that we witnessed yesterday and I know these feelings are felt by the majority of the city and beyond.

“Twenty officers were injured last night and this is unacceptable. These men and women went to work yesterday with public safety as their number one priority and still faced a level of violence that cannot be justified.

“Such a violent demonstration is shameful at any time, let alone during a pandemic that has seen local people make many sacrifices.

“Those who clearly acted with intent to cause damage and destruction showed reckless disregard for the safety of local people, police officers and the general community. The financial cost of this to the public is also going to be substantial.”

Avon and Somerset Police chief constable Andy Marsh said there was no “prior intelligence” that any disorder was planned “on this scale”.

“No specific organiser was identified prior to the event but we did engage with a number of organisations who had expressed an interest in attending to discourage them due to the current Covid-19 restrictions,” he said.

Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said: “There is a debate to be had and there’s debate to be had about all proposed Government legislation. But I think there are particular concerns about this Bill and we’ll speak about those more on another occasion.

“The violence that happened in a city last night goes nowhere to actually reducing the likelihood of this Bill winning support. In fact, it does quite the contrary ... It runs absolutely against what they claim to be in fighting for - political illiteracy at large.”

It comes as police announced that at least seven people have been arrested in connection with the “riot”.

Bristol riot: Police clash with protesters at ‘Kill the Bill’ rally
Sam Hancock22 March 2021 10:25
3 years ago

Minister refuses to say if UK will retaliate should EU ban vaccines

A government minister has repeatedly declined to say whether Britain will respond to a possible EU export ban on vaccines with retaliatory measures.

Pressed on what the UK government would do if it went ahead, Health minister Helen Whately told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Well I don’t think it’s very helpful to speculate at the moment. The prime minister has made it clear is that we expect the EU to stand by their commitments and the commitment that the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen made, which is that the EU wouldn’t stop companies fulfilling their contractual obligations. That is what should happen.”

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more:

Minister repeatedly refuses to say whether UK would retaliate if EU bans vaccine exports

‘What is actually important is that the EU and no country should follow vaccine nationalism or vaccine protectionism,’ says Helen Whately
Sam Hancock22 March 2021 10:46
3 years ago

Commons and Lords to hold minute’s silence on Tuesday at 12pm

The Speakers of both Houses of Parliament will lead a minute’s silence on 23 March to mark the anniversary of the first lockdown or, as charity Marie Curie has branded it, a National Day of Reflection to show support for the millions of people across the world who have been bereaved since the pandemic began.

Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “None of us has escaped the ordeal of Covid-19 - from the shock of having our liberty taken away, to the heartbreak of losing someone we loved.

“So, a year on, it is right that we take a moment to reflect on what we as a nation have been through; that we pay tribute to the many lives lost and the families that mourn them and we say a big ‘thank you’ to our NHS staff who have worked so tirelessly on the frontline caring for people in need.”

Meanwhile, Lord Fowler, the Lord speaker, said: “A year ago today we were asked to stay at home to combat the spread of Coronavirus. Since then, many thousands have been lost and the lives of those left behind have been changed forever. The public have made enormous sacrifices to protect the lives of others.

“It is right that we in the House of Lords pause now, together with the Commons and the whole country, and remember those who have died and those who are bereaved.”

The minute’s silence, which will begin at 12pm, will be televised via Parliament TV in both Chambers.

Sam Hancock22 March 2021 10:53
3 years ago

Dominic Raab to make statement in Commons

The foreign secretary is due to make a statement later today in the House of Commons, on what is being described as a “human rights update”.

It comes after a leaked audio clip of Dominic Raab appeared to show him sanctioning the UK’s continued trade deals with nations that do not meet European standards on human rights.

Sam Hancock22 March 2021 11:05
3 years ago

Starmer labels Brexit ‘yesterday’s war’ as Hartlepool by-election looms

Sir Keir Starmer said Labour would not fight “yesterday’s wars” while defending the party’s pro-EU candidate in the Hartlepool by-election.

Dr Paul Williams, who was an opponent of Brexit and backed a second referendum, is standing in the constituency in which almost 70 per cent voted to Leave in the 2016 referendum.

Sir Keir said: “We have left the EU, neither Paul nor I are suggesting a people’s vote, we have left the EU, we have got a deal, we have got to make it work and we don’t want to rejoin. That’s the position of the Labour Party. We can’t go on fighting yesterday’s wars. The referendum was five years ago now, we don’t want further division. We accept we’ve left, we’ve got a deal, let’s make it work.”

The by-election will be a key test of Sir Keir’s leadership as he attempts to defend a seat in Labour’s heartlands after a large chunk of it fell to Boris Johnson’s Tories in the 2019 election - which Brexit played a major part in.

The Labour leader defended Dr Williams after he apologised for his past “inappropriate” tweets, including one about “a favourite Tory milf”. But the NHS doctor said on Friday that he “wouldn’t dream of making comments like this now” after the decade-old messages came to light.

Dr Paul Williams
Dr Paul Williams (Getty)
Sam Hancock22 March 2021 11:22
3 years ago

‘You can’t silence us,’ Tory MP told via graffiti message

A Conservative Party MP shared an image of his gratified office, based in Bolton West, on which angry constituents had written: “Scrubs like you can’t silence the youth”.

Chris Green wrote alongside the picture: “I know that some people are feeling the pressure under lockdown, but this sort of behaviour is not acceptable for any reason or at any time.”

The artwork also featured various swear words and offensive drawings, including one of a middle finger.

Sam Hancock22 March 2021 11:57
3 years ago

No 10 announces date Queen will host state opening of parliament

The Queen’s speech, which marks the official state opening of parliament, is scheduled to take place on 11 May.

It is expected to focus on the government’s agenda for the next session and its plans to build back better from the pandemic.

In a statement, Downing Street said the Queen’s speech will also confirm the continuation of a number of bills carrying over from this parliamentary year, including the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, the Environment Bill and the Armed Forces Bill.

The government has also already confirmed it will introduce legislation to improve the building safety regulatory regime, reform our asylum system and to repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.

The opening will be adapted due to Covid restrictions, with reduced ceremonial elements, “significantly fewer MPs and peers in attendance”, a reduced royal procession into the Lords Chamber and no diplomatic or non-parliamentary guests.

“While we are still in the middle of a pandemic this Queen’s speech will look quite different, but it is important we take forward our plans and deliver policies to improve the lives of people across the country through a new Parliamentary session,” a No10 spokesperson said.

“We are working closely with Public Health England to ensure arrangements are Covid-secure.”

Sam Hancock22 March 2021 12:12
3 years ago

‘A curious way to go about this'

Tory MP Nusrat Ghani has questioned the government’s rationale in holding the door open to trade deals with countries accused of committing genocide.

The former minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “To assume that countries that are involved in genocide at any point are going to stop to ensure they get a preferential trade deal is a curious way to go about this.

“The interesting thing about this is the government’s own amendment, the [Sir Bob] Neill amendment, will allow many groups of people around the world to come and present their case, but somehow does not allow the Uighur to come forward and make their case.”

“So why would we have an amendment on the floor of the House that the government is pushing that seems to exclude the Uighur?” she asked.

Ms Ghani said MPs should be able to “assess the data” to rule, as America and Canada have done, on whether China is committing genocide in Xinjiang, with claims of forced sterilisations and labour camps for Uighur Muslims.

Press Association

Zoe Tidman22 March 2021 12:33
3 years ago

‘Appeasement of genocide shames out country'

“MPs are due to vote today on a proposal that would force the government to take account of the opinion of senior judges in the House of Lords on whether regimes with which they seek trade deals might be guilty of genocide.

“This is one of those rare moments when, as a country, we must stand either in the light or in the dark,” Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and former senior diplomat John Ashton write.

They add: “The appeasement of genocide shames our country.”

Find their piece on the Trade Bill amendment here:

Appeasement of genocide shames our country – and all for a trade deal | Caroline Lucas and John Ashton

The government wants to pretend that whatever may be happening to the Uighurs, it is not serious enough to get in the way of business. We must make a stand, write Caroline Lucas and John Ashton
Zoe Tidman22 March 2021 12:51
3 years ago

‘A vitual opportunity to make a stand'

“Ministers want to pretend that whatever is happening to the Uighurs, it’s not serious enough to get in the way of business,” Caroline Lucas says. “Today’s vote is a vital opportunity to make a stand.”

Zoe Tidman22 March 2021 13:00

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