Category: News Story

STORY

The BBC has reported that Simon Byrne, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, has announced his resignation. He was appointed to the role in June 2019, but there have been a number of controversial events which have taken place in the force including a substantial data loss and two officers being unlawfully disciplined. Byrne had refused to stand down over recent days, but his resignation was accepted today following a meeting of the Policing Board.

Despite the recent challenges, Byrne has been praised by many for his commitment to policing in Northern Ireland. He has spoken out against sectarianism and violence, and since taking over the role, he has worked to build relationships between the PSNI and the communities that it serves. He has also been a vocal advocate for the rights of victims of crime. Byrne will leave the role on December 31, 2023.

EXTERNAL LINKS

BBC News Story

STORY

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, will now also take on the role of Shadow Levelling Up Secretary, replacing Lisa Nandy who will now shadow International Development. Liz Kendall becomes the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary with Jonathan Ashworth, the previous holder of the role,  becoming the Shadow Paymaster General. Thangam Debbonaire becomes the new Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, swapping roles with Lucy Powell, who becomes the Shadow Leader of the House. Jim McMahon, the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, retired on health reasons and is replaced by Steve Reed.

Hilary Benn rejoins the Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, replacing Peter Kyle, who becomes the Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. Darren Jones becomes the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Shabana Mahmood becomes the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice. Sources close to Keir Starmer, the Labour Leader, have suggested that this will form the team that he intends to maintain in their roles until the General Election.

STORY

A by-election will be held in the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire following the resignation of Nadine Dorries. The vote will be held on 12 or 19 October, with the Government expected to confirm the exact timing imminently. Dorries took the unusual decision to refuse to resign until an explanation was given to her as to why she wasn’t elevated to the House of Lords, but following public pressure she submitted a formal resignation in late August. Dorries had represented the constituency from 2005 and at the last election there was a Conservative majority of 24,664.

RESOURCES

Mid-Bedfordshire Constituency

Nadine Dorries

STORY

Grant Shapps has been appointed as the new Defence Secretary, replacing Ben Wallace who announced he was standing down from his role and from Parliament at the next General Election. Claire Coutinho, who was the Minister for Children, will take Shapps’s role of the Secretary of State for Energy Security.

Shapps said in a statement:

“I’m honoured to be appointed as Defence Secretary by Rishi Sunak. I’d like to pay tribute to the enormous contribution Ben Wallace has made to UK defence & global security over the last 4 years. As I get to work at DefenceHQ I am looking forward to working with the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who defend our nation’s security. And continuing the UK’s support for Ukraine in their fight against Putin’s barbaric invasion.”

John Healey, the Shadow Home Secretary, said:

“I congratulate Grant Shapps today. The first duty of any government is to keep our country safe & I will always work with the new Defence Secretary on this basis, especially on Ukraine. But after 13 years of Tory defence failures, a change at the top will not change this record.”

STORY

Downing Street has confirmed that the Prime Minister used a helicopter to visit Norwich, despite the availability of a regular rail service from London to Norwich. A spokesperson for Downing Street said in a statement:

“The Prime Minister regularly uses all forms of travel. His travel plans will vary and are always decided with consideration to the most efficient and best use of his time, in the interests of the taxpayer.”

STORY

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has met with Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, at Downing Street. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said that they discussed a new UK-Kuwait Investment Partnership as well as opportunities to partner in defence.

RESOURCES

Government Press Release

STORY

Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport, has apologised for the difficulties with air traffic control at the weekend which caused long delays to flights. He said that although the issue had been resolved promptly, there had been substantial delays and he pledged to ensure that there was no repeat of the incident.

Harper said:

“I echo the apology offered by NATS to everyone caught up in the disruption following yesterday’s technical issue with air traffic control. My priority continues to be making sure passengers get where they need to be as quickly as possible. I am grateful to airlines, airports and Border Force for the work being done to get passengers to their destinations and to provide support while they wait.

Airlines are clear about their responsibilities to their customers and I stand ready to provide further appropriate support from the government should the industry request it. Although the air traffic control system is back up and running, the knock-on effects of yesterday’s disruption are likely to continue over the coming days. Passengers due to travel should check with their airlines before heading to the airport.”

RESOURCES

Government Press Release

NATS Press Release

STORY

James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, has confirmed that he will be attending the Women’s World Cup Final in Australia this weekend as Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, will be unable to make it. Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, will also be attending the final when England take on Spain. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said that he would have liked to have attended, but his diary engagements meant that it wasn’t possible.

STORY

Angus MacNeil, the MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), has confirmed on Twitter that he has been expelled from the SNP following a disagreement with the party’s chief whip Brendan O’Hara.

MacNeil said in a statement:

“The Summer of Member Expulsion, has indeed come to pass. As I have been expelled as a rank & file SNP member by a ‘member conduct committee.’ I didn’t leave the SNP – the SNP have left me. I wish they were as bothered about Scottish independence as they are about me!”

MacNeil had been the SNP MP for the constituency since 2005 and in 2019 he secured a majority of 2,438 over the Labour Party.

RESOURCES

Speeches by Angus MacNeil

Na h-Eileanan an Iar

STORY

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, has called for the rebuilding of the Crooked House pub in Himley following its surprise demolition. The building caught fire just days after it was taken over by new owners, with allegations that the access road to the property was blocked to prevent the fire brigade from being able to tackle the blaze.

Street said in a letter to Roger Lees, the Leader of South Staffordshire Council:

“We ask that you consider ensuring the property is rebuilt brick by brick (using as much original material as possible) before any further discussions about the future of the site take place.”

The pub had been built in 1765 to be used as a farmhouse, but part of the building sank in the nineteenth century due to coal mining subsidence. It was turned into a pub and was sold earlier this year by Marston’s who said in a statement:

“We are shocked and disappointed to learn about the fire which has caused so much damage to a landmark building which is so well known in the area”.

RESOURCES

Andy Street’s Comments

Andy Street’s Letter to Staffordshire Fire Brigade