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  • Rishi Sunak – 2024 Statement on Stopping the Boats

    Rishi Sunak – 2024 Statement on Stopping the Boats

    The statement made by Rishi Sunak on 22 April 2024. Please note that this is the Downing Street press release, with redactions for political impartiality reasons. Rishi Sunak’s office were unable to supply a complete text.

    Last week – yet again – Peers in the House of Lords contrived to stop the Safety of Rwanda Bill.

    For almost two years our opponents have used every trick in the book to block flights and keep the boats coming.

    But enough is enough.

    No more prevarication. No more delay.

    Parliament will sit there tonight and vote no matter how late it goes.

    No ifs, no buts. These flights are going to Rwanda.

    We are going to deliver this indispensable deterrent…

    …so that we finally break the business model of the criminal gangs and save lives.

    Starting from the moment that the Bill passes…

    ..we will begin the process of removing those identified for the first flight.

    We have prepared for this moment.

    To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.

    To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting.

    To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary have made available 25 courtrooms…

    …and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.

    The Strasbourg Court have amended their Rule 39 procedures in line with the tests set out in our Illegal Migration Act…

    …and we’ve put beyond all doubt that Ministers can disregard these injunctions…

    …with clear guidance that if they decide to do so, civil servants must deliver that instruction.

    And most importantly, once the processing is complete, we will physically remove people.

    To do that, I can confirm that we’ve put an airfield on standby…

    …booked commercial charter planes for specific slots…

    …and we have 500 highly trained individuals ready to escort illegal migrants all the way to Rwanda, with 300 more trained in the coming weeks.

    This is one of the most complex operational endeavours the Home Office has carried out.

    But we are ready. Plans are in place.

    And these flights will go come what may.

    No foreign court will stop us from getting flights off.

    Rwanda is ready too.

    And I would like to thank the government of Rwanda for their work…

    …in strengthening their asylum system, passing legislation, and setting up a new appeals tribunal.

    The next few weeks will be about action.

    But whilst I’m conscious people want deeds not words…

    …I’m not going to outline now exactly what will happen when.

    There are good operational reasons for this.

    There is a loud minority who will do anything to disrupt our plan…

    …so we will not be giving away sensitive operational detail…

    …which could hinder all the progress made to date.

    Teams across government need to be able to get on and deliver without interference.

    They are working flat out to deliver this genuine game changer.

    The first flight will leave in 10 to 12 weeks.

    Now of course, that is later than we wanted.

    But we have always been clear that processing will take time…

    [Please note political content redacted here.]

    …and if Peers had not spent weeks holding up the Bill in the House of Lords to try to block flights altogether, we would have begun this process weeks ago.

    And the success of this deterrent doesn’t rest on one flight alone.

    It rests on the relentless, continual process of successfully and permanently removing people to Rwanda…

    …with a regular rhythm of multiple flights every month over the summer and beyond until the boats are stopped.

    Now I know there are some who will hear all of this and accuse me of lacking compassion.

    But the truth is the opposite.

    We are in a battle with callous, sophisticated, and global criminal gangs…

    …who care nothing for the lives they risk in unseaworthy dinghies.

    Nine people have died already attempting to cross the Channel just this year – including a seven-year-old girl.

    That’s why we secured the largest ever deal with France to strengthen interceptions on the French coastline.

    And because a third of all arrivals were coming from Albania…

    …we struck a deal that reduced illegal Albanian migrants by 90 per cent.

    Taken together we’re doubling illegal working raids and returning 150 hotels backto our communities…

    …we got the number of small boat arrivals last year down by more than a third…

    …the first time they had fallen since this phenomenon began, and at a time when European countries were seeing numbers rise exponentially.

    But these sophisticated gangs are changing tactics once again.

    As well as piling twice as many people into small dinghies…

    ….and increasing violence against French police…

    …they have shifted their attentions towards vulnerable Vietnamese migrants.

    Vietnamese arrivals have increased ten-fold…

    …and account for almost all of the increase in small boat numbers we have seen this year.

    And just as we succeeded in reducing Albanian arrivals dramatically, so I’m confident we will do the same when it comes to the Vietnamese.

    President Macron and I have agreed to work with European partners on closing loopholes to enter Europe in the first place.

    The Home Office have signed a Joint Statement with the Vietnamese Government committing…

    …to deepen our already very strong migration relationship…

    And just last week officials from the Government of Vietnam were at Western Jetfoil and Manston…

    …to observe Border Force operations on the front line as they continue to manage small boat arrivals.

    But we can’t keep reacting to the changing tactics of these gangs.

    The truth is we need innovative solutions to address what is a global migration crisis…

    …to disrupt the business model of people smuggling gangs and save lives.

    And that means a systematic deterrent.

    The only way to stop the boats is to eliminate the incentive to come…

    …by making it clear that if you are here illegally, you will not be able to stay.

    This policy does exactly that.

    [Please note political content redacted here.]

    I believe it should be this country and your government who decides who comes here, not criminal gangs.

    And I have the plan to deliver it.

    So we will start the flights – and stop the boats.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Minister for the Middle East travels to Bahrain for talks on regional security [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Minister for the Middle East travels to Bahrain for talks on regional security [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 April 2024.

    The Minister for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon visits Bahrain to discuss regional security with partners.

    • Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon arrives in Bahrain today (Sunday 21 April)
    • the Minister will visit the UK’s Naval Support Facility in Bahrain where the UK has supported operations against illegal and dangerous Iran-backed Houthi attacks against international shipping
    • during his visit, he is expected to meet with counterparts to discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza, regional security, and the Red Sea

    The UK Minister of State for the Middle East has arrived in Bahrain today (Sunday 21 April) for talks on upholding regional security and reaffirming the UK’s commitment to tackling the dangerous threat posed by Iran-backed proxies and partners.

    Lord Ahmad will visit the UK Maritime Component Command at the Naval Support Facility from where the UK is supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian and Operation Poseidon Archer alongside international partners.

    The operations have sought to deter Houthi aggression and protect international shipping from the Houthis’ reckless and indiscriminate attacks against commercial and military vessels, including the UK contributions to the international taskforce from Royal Navy ships HMS Diamond and HMS Richmond.

    In meetings with Bahrain’s National Security Advisor, Foreign Minister and Interior Minister, Lord Ahmad will also discuss the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, reiterating the UK’s efforts towards securing an immediate pause in the fighting to get more life-saving aid into Gaza faster and through as many routes as possible.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for Middle East, said:

    At this critical period, we must do all we can – including working with key partners – to strengthen regional stability and security and push for de-escalation.

    The UK and Bahrain are close partners and they have a crucial role to play in the region and I look forward to discussing our ongoing efforts towards alleviating the dire humanitarian suffering in Gaza by getting more aid in through as many routes as possible and to get hostages out.

    We must also work closely together to address the threat posed by the Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea and make progress towards peace and security in the Middle East, most importantly securing an irreversible pathway to delivering a two-state solution of Israel and Palestine.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Stronger protections for stalking and harassment victims [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Stronger protections for stalking and harassment victims [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 22 April 2024.

    The government has announced measures making it easier for police to apply for stalking protection orders, meaning more victims will be protected earlier.

    It will be easier for police to protect victims and apply for a stalking protection order at the earliest opportunity under new plans announced today (Monday 22 April) by the Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, marking the first day of National Stalking Awareness Week.

    Under updated statutory guidance, published today, police officers are instructed that they will no longer need to meet the high criminal standard of proof threshold in order to apply for a stalking protection order. Instead evidence which meets the lower civil standard will likely be accepted by courts to apply a stalking protection order.

    Stalking protection orders were introduced in January 2020 and protect victims by addressing the perpetrator’s behaviours before they become entrenched or become more severe.

    Under the orders, perpetrators can face restrictions such as having to notify the police of their whereabouts or travel. If breached, an individual faces prison time of up to 5 years.

    Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, Laura Farris said:

    Stalking is a complex form of abuse, and it can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims and their families. Sadly, it can end in the most tragic circumstances.

    We must continue to treat stalking with the utmost gravity. Having doubled the maximum sentence and introduced a new civil order to protect victims, we know there is more we must do.

    Lowering the standard of proof that must be met to grant these orders will make a big difference to how easily victims can access protection. I will continue to work closely with the police to improve how they can support victims of this disturbing crime.

    In recognition of the impact of public sexual harassment on victims, especially women, the government backed the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2023, which introduces a specific offence for public sexual harassment.

    The new offence, which will see perpetrators face up to 2 years in jail, will come into force from 1 October 2024.

    To mark National Stalking Awareness week, the minister visited the Suzy Lamplugh trust to see the vital support given to stalking victims, including the National Stalking Helpline, which the Home Office funds with over £160,000 annually. This enabled them to answer more than 8,000 calls and emails from or relating to victims of stalking between April 2023 and March 2024.

    In-keeping with the week’s theme of ‘multi-agency working’, the Home Office will work with criminal justice agencies such as the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and College of Policing to consider the findings of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s super-complaint into the police’s handling of stalking cases.

    Together with the agencies, the government will formulate a multi-agency response to any recommendations when they are published in the summer.

    Emma Lingley-Clark, Interim CEO of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said:

    We welcome announcements from government that they are updating statutory guidance on Stalking Protection Orders (SPO) to instruct police officers that they will no longer need to meet the higher criminal standard of proof threshold in order to make an application. We know that this requirement can act as a barrier to victims getting immediate protection when they need it the most. However there is an urgent need to increase the use of SPOs across the country and improve understanding amongst police officers given the extremely low uptake and lack of knowledge within police forces currently. Every victim should have the opportunity to access an SPO when they choose to report stalking to the police.

    NPCC’s Lead for Stalking and Harassment, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills, said:

    Stalking is a highly impactive crime, which leaves victims fearful of what their stalker may do next. Without appropriate intervention and safeguarding, the potential for the risk to victims to escalate quickly is very real.

    It’s important that within policing, and as a society, we recognise the patterns of stalking and acknowledge the risk that it poses to victims.

    The police service is continuing to work hard to improve and standardise its response to stalking. Over the last number of years we have improved training, rolled out the use of Stalking Protection Orders and launched a new assessment tool to assist officers to identify and better act upon the signs of stalking. In addition, we have introduced embedding dedicated officers in forces to better support and safeguard victims.

    However, we know that there is more to do to improve criminal justice system outcomes for victims in these cases and ensure a consistent response in all cases of stalking. We continue to work with partners, other agencies and charities to bring about these important changes.

    Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Olivia Rose, national lead for stalking at the CPS, said:

    Stalking impacts so much of a victim’s life, and our prosecutors carefully consider this alongside the evidence available when they’re building a robust case.

    We take this offending seriously, identifying relevant protective orders and assessing whether a new offence has been committed if an order is breached. This provides added protection for victims, as it enables the court to consider the totality of offending when sentencing and to issue focused protective orders.

    The CPS remains focused on bringing offenders of stalking to justice and driving improvements in these cases, which often involve violence against women and girls.

    Kathleen Spencer Chapman, Director of Communications, Advocacy and UK Programmes at Plan International UK, says:

    The government’s announcement that the law to tackle public sexual harassment will become legally enforceable from 1 October, alongside new measures to better protect victims of stalking, is a significant milestone towards making the UK’s streets safer for girls and women. It’s thanks to all the girls who have shared their stories and tirelessly campaigned that these stronger protections for harassment survivors are being implemented.

    Public sexual harassment is an everyday reality for girls, that restricts their freedom and impacts their mental health. Girls have a right to feel safe wherever they are, and we hope this new offence will change how public sexual harassment is dealt with by the police, in our courts and in public, giving girls the route to justice they expect and deserve and helping change the attitudes that make too many perpetrators feel they can harass without consequences.

    While there is more to do, this is the latest in a series of actions the government has taken to tackle stalking and harassment and protect victims.

    In 2012, we created two new stalking offences in order to highlight stalking as a specific behaviour. Through the Policing and Crime Act 2017 the maximum sentences for the most serious harassment and stalking were increased from 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment.

    Our landmark Online Safety Act also includes stalking offences in the list of specified ‘priority offences’. Priority offences represent the most serious and prevalent illegal content and activity online, and companies will need to take proactive steps to tackle such content, for example preventing users from encountering it.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-wide ban on wet wipes containing plastic to be put into law [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-wide ban on wet wipes containing plastic to be put into law [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 22 April 2024.

    The UK Government will introduce new world-leading legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic.

    • Government announces next steps to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic following overwhelming support during the consultation process
    • World-leading legislation will be introduced this year to help tackle plastic pollution and clean up waterways
    • Transition period set out for businesses to help them adapt

    The UK Government will introduce new world-leading legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic, the Environment Secretary has confirmed today (22 April 2024).

    Defra intend to bring forward the legislation for England ahead of summer recess, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales following by the autumn as part of an aligned approach to bring the ban into force.

    Wet wipes containing plastic break down into microplastics over time, which research shows can be harmful to human health and disrupt our ecosystems – with a recent survey showing an average of 20 wet wipes were found per 100 metres of beach surveyed across the UK*.

    Once in our water environment, wet wipes containing plastic can accumulate biological and chemical pollutants, increasing the risk of harm to the animals and humans who encounter them.

    Banning them will reduce plastic and microplastic pollution and reduce the volume of microplastics entering wastewater treatment sites when wrongly flushed – meaning our beaches and waterways will benefit from the ban.

    Responses to the public consultation showed overwhelming support for the proposed ban – which will be introduced via secondary legislation under our Environmental Protection Act 1990 – with 95% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposals. The government’s response has been published today alongside the Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

    Marking Earth Day 2024, with its theme of ‘Planet vs. Plastics’, the response sets out next steps to deliver the ban, building on action taken across the UK to tackle plastic pollution.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Wet wipes containing plastic are polluting our waterways and causing microplastics to enter the environment. Defra will introduce legislation before the summer recess to crack down on this unnecessary source of pollution, following our successful single-use carrier bag charge and ban on microbeads in personal care products.

    I have been clear that a step change is needed to protect our waterways from pollution. The ban builds on a raft of actions already taken to protect our waterways and hold water companies accountable – including accelerating investment, putting water company fines back into the environment and quadrupling the number of inspections of water company sites.

    Plastic-free wet wipes are readily available and several retailers have already stopped selling wet wipes containing plastic.

    Steve Ager, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Boots, said:

    Boots removed all wet wipes containing plastic from sale in stores and online last year as part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability and working with suppliers and customers to reduce the use of plastic.

    We are pleased to see the government now taking action as a ban on all wet wipes containing plastic will have a much bigger impact than retailers taking action alone. We all have a collective responsibility to protect the environment and support a healthy planet.

    Luke Emery, Plastics and Packaging Director at Aldi, said:

    The removal of plastic from Aldi wet wipes two years ago has been positive for our customers and the environment.

    It has removed an estimated 7,000 tonnes of unnecessary plastic from the system and has been welcomed by Aldi shoppers. We support the introduction of this new legislation and the positive impact it will have for everyone.

    An 18-month transition period will start from when legislation is passed to allow businesses time to prepare. Following consultation with industry, the ban will not include the manufacture of these products, in line with other recent single-use plastic bans.

    However, the government will continue to encourage manufacturers to move to a position where all their wet wipes are plastic free.

    The government response also sets out exemptions to ensure that wet wipes containing plastic remain available where there is no viable alternative – such as for medical disinfectant purposes. The Government will review the need for these exemptions regularly.

    Notes to editors:

    Today’s announcement follows recent measures delivered to improve the water environment, including:

    • A new £11m Water Restoration Fund to reinvest water company fines and penalties back into the water environment.
    • Requiring companies to monitor 100% of storm overflows in England – providing a complete picture of when and where sewage spills happen.
    • Removing the cap on civil penalties for water companies and broadening their scope so swifter action can be taken against those who pollute our waterways.
    • Requiring the largest infrastructure programme in water company history – £60 billion over 25 years – to revamp ageing assets and reduce the number of sewage spills by hundreds of thousands every year.
    • Increasing protections for coastal and estuarine waters by expanding the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan, prioritising bathing waters, sites of special scientific interest and shellfish waters.
    • A targeted plan to better preserve and protect the River Wye, including £35m in funding.
    • Speeding up the process of building key water supply infrastructure, including more reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
    • The government also continues to support Water UK’s ‘Bin the Wipe’ campaign to address the environmental and drainage impacts of flushing wet wipes. Advice is clear that only the 3 P’s (Pee, Poo & [toilet] Paper) should ever be flushed down a toilet.

    *For the period 2015 to 2020, an average of 20 wet wipes were found per 100m of beach surveyed across the UK according to Defra Beach Litter Monitoring Data.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary travels to Central Asia and Mongolia in landmark visit to region [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary travels to Central Asia and Mongolia in landmark visit to region [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 April 2024.

    David Cameron will visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia to increase engagement with this pivotal region of the world.

    • David Cameron will visit Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia as part of government ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal region
    • Foreign Secretary will promote opportunities for British businesses and announce £50 million of new funding to support the sovereignty and independence of states across the region
    • Foreign Secretary will announce a new initiative by the British Council to promote the English language in Central Asia, with online teaching resources available to English teachers throughout the region, for the first time tailored with local content

    The Foreign Secretary will visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia to as part of government ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal region of the world. He will meet leaders across the region to deepen cooperation on shared challenges, from counter-terrorism to climate change.

    He will support global opportunities for young people, by ensuring that English language teachers across the region will have access to tailored British Council English language teaching materials. He will double the amount of funding for Chevening scholarships, so more people can study at Britain’s world-class universities.

    He will support British business to create jobs and growth from Bridgend to Bishkek. He will show that British business provides the sustainable, quality investment that can drive growth without compromising the region’s hard won sovereignty.

    The Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, said:

    We live in a contested, competitive world. If you want to protect and promote British interests you need to get out there and compete.

    Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it’s vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity.

    The Foreign Secretary will anchor top-level relationships between the UK and Central Asian states and Mongolia, solidifying our role as a long-term partner in the region. He will advance discussions on sanctions circumvention, human rights and reform.

    He will use the visit to announce £50 million new development funding for the Central Asia and Eastern Neighbourhood region over the next 3 years. UK funding will not only boost regional growth and economic resilience but build trade and cooperation between our countries, making the region and the UK safer and more prosperous.

    During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will visit an array of important sites including a hydro-electric project in Tajikistan, a canal irrigation site in Kyrgyzstan and a cultural site in Mongolia.

    David Cameron is the first British Foreign Secretary to visit Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the first to Uzbekistan since 1997. It is also the first visit to Mongolia at this level in over decade. This week’s visit underlines the UK government’s ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal region, and is a crucial moment to drive forward British values, build our geopolitical relationship and deliver opportunities for people in the region and the UK.

  • NEWS STORY : Andy Street Beaten in Mayoral Election to Labour’s Richard Parker

    NEWS STORY : Andy Street Beaten in Mayoral Election to Labour’s Richard Parker

    STORY

    Andy Street has been beaten in the West Midlands Mayoral elections by Labour’s Richard Parker, in a surprise result which puts pressure on Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister. Parker won by 1,508 votes, beating Street who had served in the role since 2017.

    Party Candidate Votes Percentage Swing
    Labour Richard Parker 225590 37.8 1.8
    Conservative Andy Street 224082 37.5 1.2
    Independent Akhmed Yakoob 69621 11.7 NaN
    Reform UK Elaine Williams 34471 5.8 3.59
    Green Siobhan Harper-Nunes 31036 5.2 0.59
    Liberal Democrats Sunny Virk 12176 2 1.55
  • NEWS STORY : Ben Houchen Remains as Tees Valley Mayor

    NEWS STORY : Ben Houchen Remains as Tees Valley Mayor

    STORY

    Conservative Ben Houchen has remained as the Mayor of Tees Valley, securing 81,930 against the 61,341 votes for Labour’s Chris McEwan. The victory for the Conservative was one of the few pieces of good news for Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, amidst a wave of losses across local councils. Labour secured a 16.5% swing from the Conservatives, with Houchen saying of his win:

    “To be re-elected for a third term in my home, in my community, is absolutely the greatest honour”.

  • NEWS STORY : Labour Win Blackpool South By-Election with Over 26% Swing

    NEWS STORY : Labour Win Blackpool South By-Election with Over 26% Swing

    STORY

    Chris Webb has won the Blackpool South by-election for the Labour Party, securing a 26.3% swing from the Conservative Party who won the seat at the 2019 General Election. The by-election was caused by the resignation of disgraced Scott Benton who was found guilty of a “very serious breach” of Parliamentary rules. Chris Webb won the seat with 10,825 votes with David Jones from the Conservatives securing 3,218 votes and Mark Butcher from Reform securing 3,101 votes.

  • Keir Starmer – 2024 Article on Sadiq Khan

    Keir Starmer – 2024 Article on Sadiq Khan

    Part of the article by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, published in the Guardian on 1 May 2024.

    One of the most important decisions taken tomorrow will be who leads our nation’s capital. Labour’s candidate for London mayor, Sadiq Khan, knows what it is like to inherit a Tory shambles. His predecessor spent eight years wasting £53m, £43m of it taxpayers’ money, on a garden bridge to nowhere, burying a report about the appalling state of London’s air and squandering taxpayers’ money on unusable water cannon.

    I have known Sadiq for many years, and I am proud to call him a friend and a colleague. He is someone driven by the principle of giving people the same opportunities he had, which allowed him to go from a council estate in Tooting to leading our capital. During his tenure, Sadiq has transformed the mayoralty from a laughing stock to showing leadership. Every pupil in every London state primary school now receives a free school meal. The capital’s air is cleaner to breathe. The Hopper bus fare, allowing unlimited journeys within one hour for one price, the Superloop express bus routes and the Elizabeth Line have all been delivered. Overall housing completions recently hit their highest level in London since the 1930s and more new council homes are being built now than at any time since the 1970s. And 330,000 good jobs have been created through City Hall initiatives. This is the power of Labour in government. And let us not forget that Sadiq has managed all of this in the teeth of a Tory government; just imagine what could be achieved working with a Labour one.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 23 April 1924

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 23 April 1924

    23 APRIL 1924

    President Coolidge, in an address to the Associated Press of America, declared that when the reparations question was settled he would favour the summoning of a world conference on the limitation of armaments and the codification of international law.

    Addressing a Liberal meeting, David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, bitterly reproached the Socialist party for “the humiliating conditions” under which the Liberal party was expected to continue to support the Government.