Long-awaited privileges committee report finds former PM was ‘deliberately disingenuous’
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Manston asylum centre could be overwhelmed again, watchdog says
Chief inspector of immigration says there is ‘real danger’ that inhumane and dangerous conditions will return at Kent facility
Suella Braverman is facing the “real danger” that conditions for asylum seekers held at Manston processing facility will once again become inhumane and dangerous, the immigration watchdog has found.
David Neal, the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, said the Kent asylum centre that became overcrowded and disease-ridden last year could again become overwhelmed because ministers and officials in the Home Office are unable to say where they plan to house at least 55,000 arrivals by small boats this year.
Continue reading...Boris Johnson deliberately misled parliament over Partygate, MPs find
Cross-party committee says ex-PM would have faced 90-day suspension had he not quit in rage at findings last week
Boris Johnson deliberately misled parliament over Partygate and was part of a campaign to abuse and intimidate MPs investigating him, a long-awaited report by the privileges committee has found.
In an unprecedented move, the cross-party group said he would have faced a 90-day suspension from the Commons had he not quit in rage at its findings last week.
Continue reading...The Guardian bans all gambling advertising
Ban will apply worldwide to all of media group’s online and print outlets, including the Guardian, Observer, and Guardian Weekly
- All bets are off: why the Guardian has decided to reject gambling advertising
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The Guardian has announced a global ban on gambling advertising, arguing it is unethical to take money from services that can lead to “addiction and financial ruin”.
Anna Bateson, the chief executive of Guardian Media Group, said advertising – particularly online – could trap gamblers in an “addictive cycle” that caused financial distress, mental health issues and wider social problems.
Continue reading...Banksy show officially authorised by elusive street artist to open in Glasgow
Show at Gallery of Modern Art inspired by city’s Duke of Wellington statue with traffic cone on its head, says artist
An exhibition of work by Banksy is to open in Glasgow this weekend. The solo, show Cut & Run, taking place at the city’s Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), has been officially authorised by the elusive street artist.
It spans 25 years and will feature many of the stencils he has used to create his work. Banksy told the Herald: “I’ve kept these stencils hidden away for years, mindful they could be used as evidence in a charge of criminal damage.
Continue reading...Covid testing was a weakness in early pandemic response, DHSC tells inquiry
Health department and Cabinet Office make opening statements on second day of first module
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has admitted Covid testing was “a significant weakness” in the UK’s early pandemic response and stressed the need for proper funding to prepare the nation for the next emergency.
While the DHSC said it would not claim “it did everything right”, its opening statement to the UK Covid public inquiry highlighted wider government choices on funding in what will be seen as turning the focus on Downing Street and the Treasury.
Continue reading...Nottingham attack: Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s family pay tribute to ‘truly wonderful and beautiful young lady’ – latest updates
Victim’s family say Grace was an ‘adored daughter and sister’
Tell us: have you been affected by the situation in Nottingham?
We are yet to hear from the Nottinghamshire police today, but yesterday the force said it was not looking for any other suspects:
The family of university student Barnaby Webber, 19, who was killed yesterday, have paid tribute to him, saying he was a “beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to”.
Complete devastation is not enough to describe our pain and loss at the senseless murder of our son.
Barnaby Philip John Webber was a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to.
Continue reading...Edinburgh book festival hoping Greta Thunberg will bring back audiences
Fallout from Covid crisis has left event struggling financially after last year’s ‘traumatic’ fall in sales
The Edinburgh International book festival hopes a swathe of Booker prize winners, political leaders and a guest appearance by Greta Thunberg will help restore its finances after a “traumatic” fall in sales last year.
The world’s largest book festival celebrates its 40th anniversary in August with events featuring Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the Icelandic prime minister, the former Booker winners Ben Okri and Anne Enright, and the International Booker winners Georgi Gospodinov and David Diop.
Continue reading...Heatwave brings surge in A&E patients as England doctors’ strike begins
Some hospitals record highest ever A&E attendance figures as heat, high pollen count and air pollution bring rise in demand
A&E units across the UK are experiencing a surge in patients seeking care as a direct result of the heatwave, which is leaving many people unwell with shortness of breath, heat exhaustion and sunburn.
The number of people suffering problems as a direct result of the sustained high temperatures in many parts of the country has resulted in some hospitals recording their highest A&E attendance figures.
Continue reading...Nadine Dorries frustrates Sunak by failing to officially resign as MP
No 10 says constituents in Mid Bedfordshire deserve certainty as it piles pressure on ex-minister to stand down
Downing Street is heaping pressure on Nadine Dorries to stand down as soon as possible, saying her constituents in Mid Bedfordshire deserve certainty.
The former culture secretary said last Friday she would “immediately” step down, after she was denied a peerage in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours.
Continue reading...No 10 criticises Nadine Dorries for delaying her resignation – UK politics live
PM’s office says Mid Bedfordshire deserves ‘proper representation’ and delay to resignation ‘obviously unusual’
Fell put it to Braverman that customers were not learning to protect themselves from online fraud because, if they are cheated, they tend to get their money back from banks. He suggested that people were being “coddled”. It was as if they were leaving their front door open, leaving themselves vulnerable to burglary, he said.
Braverman said Fell had a point. She told him:
I think that’s a really important point and I’m passionate about increasing awareness - much like practice changed when it came to wearing a seatbelt …
I think we need a step change when it comes to online activity. We are far more vulnerable than we appreciate and I think people’s lives are lived so politically online that they forget that there are fraudsters operating in that online world.
Continue reading...Nobel laureate Maria Ressa says research by Oxford institute can be used against reporters
Exclusive: methodology used by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism risks undermining media in global south, says Ressa
Nobel peace laureate Maria Ressa has claimed Oxford University’s leading journalism institute is publishing flawed research that puts journalists and independent outlets at risk, particularly in the global south.
One of the world’s most prominent and respected journalists, Ressa said she resigned last year from the advisory board of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ), because of deep concerns about how it compiles an annual Digital News Report.
Continue reading...Nottingham: suspect believed to have killed man and used van to drive at people, police say, after three die in attack – as it happened
Two 19-year-old students and man is his 50s die in early morning attack with 31-year-old held on suspicion of murder
The home secretary, Suella Braverman, has said she is saddened at the deaths in Nottingham, and has spoken with the chief constable of Nottinghamshire police. She tweeted:
I am shocked and saddened that three people have lost their lives today in Nottingham. My thoughts are with those affected by this incident ... I am thankful to the emergency services for their response.
Our city has been devastated by the deaths of three people this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who have died and those injured.
We are grateful for the efforts of the city’s emergency responders in tackling these incidents. They must be allowed to do their jobs in investigating them.
Continue reading...Miriam Margolyes: ‘I never had any shame about being gay’
Actor, 82, also comments she ‘wouldn’t want to be straight for anything’ as she appears on the cover of Vogue for the first time
Miriam Margolyes has said she “never had any shame about being gay” as she makes her British Vogue cover debut at the age of 82.
The award-winning actor, known for her foul mouth and lovable eccentricity, said gay people are “not conventional” and she “wouldn’t want to be straight for anything”.
Continue reading...UK government to invest in film and TV AI special-effects research
Almost £150m to be spent on research labs to help future-proof industry and lift creative economy
Ministers are seeking to future-proof the UK’s multibillion-pound film and TV production industry by investing almost £150m in a network of research labs across the country tasked with developing the next generation of special effects using tech such as artificial intelligence.
The scheme aims to build on Britain’s reputation for producing hi-tech hits from Star Wars to Harry Potter, and is part of wide-ranging plans to drive the UK creative economy. The government has earmarked millions to support grassroots music venues hammered by the Covid pandemic, and is tripling a fund designed to find and support the next generation of homegrown superstars like Adele and Ed Sheeran.
Continue reading...Welsh councillor resigns after saying ‘all Tories should be shot’
Anglesey deputy leader apologises for comment condemned as ‘appalling’ by area’s Conservative MP
The deputy leader of a Welsh council has stepped down after saying during a meeting that “all Tories should be shot”.
Ieuan Williams, an independent councillor in Anglesey, north Wales, has apologised since making the comment on Monday morning and referred himself to the council’s standards committee.
Continue reading...‘It’s really scary’: Two students among those killed in Nottingham attacks
Some students fearful to leave their homes after two 19-year-olds from University of Nottingham confirmed among dead
Among the victims of the unexplained attacks in Nottingham in the early hours of Tuesday morning were two 19-year-old students named locally as Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar. A third victim, in his 50s, has yet to be named.
Students in the city say they are afraid to walk the streets after the killings.
Continue reading...Calls for abortion to be decriminalised amid row over jailing of UK woman
Leading expert warns of ‘sustained attacks’ on reproductive rights after sentence imposed on Monday
Leading women’s health experts have warned of an attack on women’s reproductive rights and the potential for more prosecutions, following the jailing of a woman for terminating her pregnancy after the legal time limit.
The president of the UK’s leading body for sexual health professionals said that women should be “more worried than they are” following the sentencing, adding that it could lead to sustained attacks on established rights, and efforts to curtail reforms.
Continue reading...Roads closed in Nottingham due to ‘major police incidents’
Police cordon off roads and tram network suspended due to serious incidents around city and suburbs
Police have put in place multiple road closures in Nottingham as officers deal with an ongoing serious incident.
The Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram network said it had suspended all services due to “major police incidents around the city and suburbs”.
Continue reading...UK wage growth jumps, making interest rate rise more likely
Unemployment rate unexpectedly falls to 3.8% in three months to April, in sign of strength for jobs market
UK wages grew at a faster than expected pace in April, reinforcing expectations the Bank of England will raise interest rates next week.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show growth in average regular pay, excluding bonuses, strengthened to 7.2% in the three months to April – the highest level on record, excluding the Covid pandemic.
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