Tag: 2022

PRESS RELEASE : Martyn’s Law to ensure stronger protections against terrorism in public places [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 December 2022.
New laws to keep people safe will scale up preparedness for, and protection from, terrorist attacks.

Martyn’s Law will ensure better protection against the continued and evolving threat that the UK faces from terrorism.

Support, guidance and training will help embed best practice and drive-up standards across the UK.

The UK’s resilience to terrorism is to be stepped up, as the Government announces details for the Protect Duty, now to be known as ‘Martyn’s Law’ in tribute of Martyn Hett, who was killed alongside 21 others in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017.

Working closely with security partners, business and victims’ groups, including Figen Murray and the Martyn’s Law Campaign Team, and Survivors Against Terror, the new duty will require venues to take steps to improve public safety, with measures dependent on the size of the venue and the activity taking place.

The threat picture is complex and ever evolving. Recent attacks demonstrate that terrorists may choose to target a broad range of locations. Martyn’s Law will ensure that security preparedness is delivered consistently across the UK, ensuring better protection of the public.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

The way the city of Manchester came together as a community in the wake of the cowardly Manchester Arena attack, and the amazing work of campaigners like Figen Murray who have dedicated their lives to making us safer and promoting kindness and tolerance, is an inspiration to us all.

I am committed to working with Figen to improve security measures at public venues and spaces and to delivering this vital legislation to honour Martyn’s memory and all of those affected by terrorism.

Figen Murray, mother of Martyn Hett said:

Martyn’s Law isn’t going to stop terrorism, but common-sense security, and making sure venues are doing all they can to keep people safe, could mean fewer suffer what myself and the families of Manchester have had to endure.

I welcome the Government’s commitment to including smaller venues and working quickly on this legislation. It is vital we now take the necessary steps to protect ourselves and others wherever possible and I hope other countries learn from this ground-breaking legislation.

Home Secretary, Suella Braverman said:

Protecting the public from danger is a key responsibility of any government. The terrorist threat we face is diverse and continually evolving, which is why this legislation is so important.

I would like to thank Figen Murray and the Martyn’s Law campaign for their support in the development of this vital reform.

Their tireless efforts have helped inform our approach and the heart-breaking stories from survivors and their families are a constant reminder as to why we must deliver on this commitment to work together to improve public security.

The plans have been developed following public consultation and extensive engagement across industry, charities, local authorities, security experts and with survivors. 70% of the thousands who responded to the consultation agreed that those responsible for publicly accessible locations should take measures to protect the public from potential attacks.

Martyn’s Law will follow a tiered model linked to activity that takes place at a location and its capacity aimed to prevent undue burden on businesses.

A standard tier will apply to locations with a maximum capacity of over 100 which can undertake low-cost, simple yet effective activities to improve preparedness. This will include training, information sharing and completion of a preparedness plan to embed practices, such as locking doors to delay attackers progress or knowledge on lifesaving treatments that can be administered by staff whilst awaiting emergency services.

An enhanced tier will focus on high-capacity locations in recognition of the potential consequences of a successful attack. Locations with a capacity of over 800 people at any time, will additionally be required to undertake a risk assessment to inform the development and implementation of a thorough security plan. Subsequent measures could include developing a vigilance and security culture, implementation of physical measures like CCTV or new systems and processes to enable better consideration of security.

The Government will establish an inspection and enforcement regime, promoting compliance and positive cultural change and issuing credible and fair sanctions for serious breaches.

Dedicated statutory guidance and bespoke support will be provided by the Government to ensure those in scope can effectively discharge their responsibilities, with even small venues also able to benefit from this and take voluntary action. Expert advice, training and guidance is also already available on the online protective security hub, ProtectUK.

Martyn’s Law will extend to and apply across the whole of the United Kingdom and the Government will publish draft legislation in the early Spring to ensure the law stands the test of time.
December 19, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Millions encouraged to Get Around for £2 by bus [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 19 December 2022.
- millions of people across England will be able to travel by bus for £2 from 1 January to 31 March 2023, thanks to £60 million in government funding to cap single tickets
- people can save almost a third of the average £2.80 bus fare, while in some rural areas tickets can reach over £5 for a single journey
- over 130 bus operators outside London will be part of the scheme, taking an estimated 2 million cars off the road and reducing emissions
Passengers are being encouraged to Get Around for £2 by bus from January to March next year, with bus operators launching a campaign to promote the government fare cap scheme today (19 December 2022).

The scheme will help families, commuters and other passengers save money this winter, backed by £60 million of government investment to cap single tickets at £2 from 1 January to 31 March 2023 across England, outside of London.

With the average single local bus ticket costing £2.80, passengers will save almost a third of the ticket price per journey. In some rural areas a single ticket can cost over £5.

The scheme seeks to get more commuters on buses and helps to reduce emissions and congestion by taking an estimated 2 million cars off the roads.

Today, the government has confirmed over 130 bus operators, such as National Express and Stagecoach, managing routes from the north to the south of England will charge no more than £2 for their single tickets, helping passengers with travel costs for education, work and medical appointments as they face pressures from the rising cost of living.

Buses Minister Richard Holden said:

Brits love buses. They’re the most popular form of public transport in England, making up half of all journeys. So we’re investing £60 million to cap single bus fares at £2 to help families, students and commuters and help get people back on the bus.

The scheme will also take 2 million car journeys off the road and it’s fantastic to see so many bus operators signing up. So, if you’re in Carlisle or Weston-Super-Mare, Birmingham or Doncaster, make sure you hop on the bus and ‘Get Around for £2’ between 1 January and 31 March.

Bus fares vary across different parts of the country and between bus operators, and the cap is an important step in ensuring passengers across the country are getting a fair deal.

The scheme forms part of the government’s Help for Households campaign, as the new cap can deliver real savings for those most affected by the rising cost of living.

The bus fare cap will also help the bus industry continue its recovery from the pandemic by encouraging greater bus use.

This initiative builds on the allocation of more than £2 billion to support bus services in England through the pandemic and a commitment to fund improved services, new bus priority measures and new electric or hydrogen buses as part of Bus Back Better, the ambitious national bus strategy, published last year.

Tom Stables, CEO of National Express UK, said:

More people using buses is good for the economy, environment and wider society. We know that great value, low fares encourage people to switch to the bus so are proud to join this scheme. And even better, we’re also freezing child fares at £1. Bus travel is simple, cheap and easy and there’s never been a better time to get onboard.

Elsewhere, a bus fares pilot scheme, backed by £23.5 million of government funding, launched in Cornwall this April has already seen a significant increase in passenger numbers.

Working alongside the ‘Any Ticket Any Bus’ campaign, the fares pilot, running over 4 years, includes a £2.50 day ticket within towns or a £5 day ticket across all of Cornwall, which is valid across different bus operators.

Ensuring the public can access affordable bus fares will encourage more people to choose buses for local journeys, which in turn will help to reduce carbon emissions as the country moves towards our Net Zero targets.

Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport said:

We look forward to welcoming more customers on board when the £2 fare cap in England starts in January, as it complements great value fares already in place that make taking the bus more attractive and environmentally friendly this winter.

Travelling for £2 on the bus both helps customers facing rising cost challenges and enables them to try a new travel option to get to work, education, public services, leisure or see loved ones.

The government will continue to work closely with bus operators and local authorities and consider future support to help passengers continue accessing reliable and affordable bus services after March.
December 19, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak to meet leaders on Europe’s northern frontier to strengthen efforts to counter Russian aggression [December 2022]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 December 2022.
The Prime Minister will meet his Nordic, Baltic and Dutch counterparts at the second in-person leader gathering of Joint Expeditionary Force in Riga today

He will call on the group to sustain their strong military support to Ukraine in 2023, and announce a major new artillery package

The Prime Minister will then travel on to Estonia to meet UK troops and sign a new technology partnership with Estonia to bolster digital ties

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to travel to Latvia today [Monday] to discuss ongoing efforts to counter Russian aggression in the Nordic and Baltic region with his Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) counterparts.

The JEF brings together ten like-minded nations who share a commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as a long history of shared military operations.

Acknowledging the regional challenges faced by the Nordic and Baltic countries, including Russia’s continued aggression, the Prime Minister will call on leaders at JEF to sustain or exceed 2022 levels of support for Ukraine in 2023 through ongoing lethal aid, economic resilience and political backing.

His call will come as the UK announces it will supply hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition next year, under a £250 million contract that will ensure a constant flow of critical artillery ammunition to Ukraine throughout 2023.

The UK is already Europe’s leading provider of defensive aid to Ukraine, including sending Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and recently, 125 anti-aircraft guns. We have also provided more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition since February, with the deliveries directly linked to successful operations to retake territory in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister personally updated President Zelenskyy on the new support last week, which will form part of the UK’s 2023 package of defensive aid.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

From the Arctic Circle to the Isle of Wight, the UK and our European allies have been in lockstep in our response to the invasion of Ukraine, and we remain steadfast in our ambition for peace in Europe once again.

But to achieve peace, we must deter aggression and our deployments across the region together are vital in ensuring we are able to respond to the gravest of threats.

I know this Joint Expeditionary Force summit will only underline our close friendships and unwavering support for Ukraine.

The JEF meeting, which brings together the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom, will also be addressed by President Zelenksyy.

At the summit the leaders will discuss the defensive capabilities needed by Ukrainian forces, including further air defence. They are also expected to accelerate cooperation among JEF nations, bolster intelligence sharing, strengthen defences to hybrid threats and protect critical national infrastructure. As part of that increased collaboration, they will also discuss support to Finland and Sweden ahead of their accession to NATO, and scaling up joint exercises to further strengthen the JEF alliance.

Following the JEF summit, the Prime Minister will meet the newly-reappointed Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, underscoring the close partnership between the two countries, before traveling on to Estonia, where he will meet UK and NATO troops serving on NATO’s eastern flank.

He will also sign a new innovative tech partnership with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas. The joint partnership is set to harness the shared expertise between the two countries, helping both the UK and Estonia bolster technology ties and support new digital infrastructure.

The agreement will see both countries accelerate digital research and innovation, and strengthen cooperation across health, education, cyber security, data and connectivity.
December 19, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK signs agreement on offshore renewable energy cooperation [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 18 December 2022.
- The agreement between the UK and the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) sets the framework for greater cooperation with North Seas neighbours.
- Collaboration on development of offshore renewable energy and grid infrastructure essential for meeting UK net zero commitment and bolstering European energy security
- Initiative expected to support the UK’s ambitious targets to increase offshore wind fivefold to 50GW by 2030.
The UK Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart has today (18 December) signed a landmark agreement on renewable energy cooperation with EU and North Seas countries.

The Memorandum of Understanding with the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) forum fulfils commitments in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), enabling the UK to work with NSEC members to develop renewables projects in the North Seas – specifically projects linking electricity interconnectors and windfarms. The countries involved include Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and the European Commission, signalling a new phase in UK-EU cooperation.

The MoU sets out the terms for future cooperation between the UK and NSEC and enables closer cooperation in the development of offshore renewable energy, including offshore grids in the North Seas.

The initiative is expected to support the UK’s ambitious targets to increase offshore wind fivefold to 50GW, and deliver 18GW of electricity interconnector capacity – up from 8.4 GW today – by 2030.

Minister of State for Energy and Climate, Graham Stuart, said:

I’m pleased to agree even greater energy cooperation with our North Seas neighbours, which will be vital in helping the UK meet it ambitious renewables target, including increasing offshore wind fivefold to 50GW by 2030.

The development of renewables in the North Seas is critical for accelerating our clean transition and boosting energy security for the UK and our European neighbours.

The UK currently sends and receives electricity through cables that link us with neighbours like France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The agreement bolsters the mission to facilitate further interconnection.

Analysis by National Grid Electricity System Operator shows that a well-integrated grid linked to offshore wind farms can deliver savings to consumers of up to around £3 billion.

The former Prime Minister Liz Truss set the ground for the MoU at the European Political Community summit in Prague in October, setting out the strong case for close cooperation with the UK’s European neighbours on energy security and boosting renewables.
December 19, 2022
Robin Hodgson – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Retailers Accepting Cash (Baron Hodgson of Astley Abbotts)

The parliamentary question asked by Robin Hodgson, Baron Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, in the House of Lords on 15 December 2022.

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts

To ask His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with retailers and other outlets concerning their acceptance of cash as legal tender.

Lord Harlech (Con)

My Lords, Ministers and officials have meetings with a variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, including on access to cash and related issues. Details of ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis. Regarding cash acceptance, it should remain the choice of organisations whether to accept or decline any form of payment. The Government’s legislation in the Financial Services and Markets Bill intends to support cash acceptance by ensuring that businesses have reasonable access to deposit facilities.

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Con)

My Lords, I am very grateful to my noble friend, in particular for standing in at short notice when the noble Baroness, Lady Penn, was delayed. I think that this is the first time that he has answered a Question; can I be the first to congratulate him? However, are the Government aware of the scale of the problem faced? Some 5 million people—some of the most vulnerable in our society—depend on cash. Forcing such people to use plastic cannot be a good idea. Some 20 million of us use cash more than twice a week, and on average three cash machines are taken out of service every day. If my noble friend and his officials think that I am exaggerating, they might care to read the article in the Financial Times last week about offering lifelines to people struggling in a cashless society.

Lord Harlech (Con)

The Government want to ensure that people have appropriate access to financial products and services, which includes bank accounts, payment services and cash. LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network, has established a number of initiatives to protect the broad geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs. LINK has committed to protecting free-to-use ATMs more than a kilometre away from the nearest free ATM or post office, and is held to account against this commitment by the Payment Systems Regulator.

Baroness Kramer (LD)

My Lords, I also welcome the Minister to his role. Thanks to the excellent work of the Access to Cash Action Group and LINK, new banking hubs are planned where a community is bereft of bank branches, which will permit the kind of deposits that the noble Lord named in his Question. Since the scheme is vital for access to cash, should the banks be permitted to veto approval of a hub in an area that meets the criteria?

Lord Harlech (Con)

Following the Government’s commitment to legislate, industry is working together to develop new initiatives to provide shared access to cash services. This includes a process for LINK to access a community’s cash needs in the event of a closure of a core cash service or a request from a local community. In circumstances where LINK considers that a community requires additional cash services, industry will ensure a suitable shared solution in that community.

Baroness Bryan of Partick (Lab)

My Lords, the Cash Census report published earlier this year warned:

“While a cashless society would feel like progress for some … for millions it would lead to anxiety, economic exclusion, isolation, exploitation, debt”

and “rising costs”. Does the Minister accept that cash is still the major means of spending for a substantial proportion of our society, and that retailers should be required to accept legal currency?

Lord Harlech (Con)

The definition of “legal tender” is quite narrow. However, the ongoing trend in payments in the UK has been away from cash and towards card payments and other digital transactions. However, cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups. The Government are legislating to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities.

Lord Sandhurst (Con)

Following that answer, I say that there is a real problem with the non-acceptance of cash. We all find it at different times. It is not a problem for me, but it is for those who do not have bank accounts, debit cards and credit cards. Will the Government consider having a proper review to address this, so that small businesses that find cash a nuisance can manage and that everyday people can use cash when they want to?

Lord Harlech (Con)

As my noble friend will know, technology and consumer behaviour are changing and it remains the choice of individual organisations whether to accept or decline any form of payment, including cash or card, based on a consideration of factors, such as customer preference and cost. However, the Government consider that their legislation in the Financial Services and Markets Bill will support organisations, including local businesses, to continue accepting cash by ensuring that they have reasonable access to deposit facilities. As I said, legal tender has a narrow technical meaning: it means that if you offer to fully pay off a debt to someone in legal tender, they cannot sue you for failing to repay.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans

My Lords, this is a problem that particularly affects rural areas, where there are far fewer cash-dispensing machines. Also, there are many parts of rural areas where there is no internet, so even if you want to pay by BACS or direct transfer, you just cannot do it. Will the Minister assure us that the Government will properly rural-proof this discussion so that we are able to ensure that rural areas can still function effectively?

Lord Harlech (Con)

As someone who comes from a rural community, I know only too well the trials and tribulations of getting a good connection. The Government recognise that digital inclusion needs to be promoted alongside financial inclusion. That is why we are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to digital infrastructure and the skills necessary to participate fully in society, and that very much includes rural areas. In 2021, the Government launched Project Gigabit, which committed a landmark £5 billion to support the rollout of gigabit connectivity in the hardest-to-reach areas.

Lord Tunnicliffe (Lab)

I too welcome the Minister to his place. I remember in similar circumstances when I was on that Front Bench explaining to the civil servants that Question Time is a blood sport—and you, my friend, are the fox. When a shop opts not to accept cash, in most cases customers are able to go elsewhere. However, when it comes to services such as car parks, there is often no alternative available. Many are happy to pay for parking on apps or over the phone, but a sizeable number are not. What does the Minister suggest that those people do when they arrive and find, without any consultation, that the pay machines have been decommissioned?

Lord Harlech (Con)

I have suffered that situation myself. A customer intending to park who has not been warned that payment has moved from a cash or coin system to digital-only should take that up immediately with the council or whoever is administering that parking space on behalf of the local council.

Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)

My Lords, there is another problem. Because so many banks are closing their branches, one of the shopkeepers in my part of east Devon says that he cannot accept cash because he has to go seven or eight miles to the bank and cannot get there because his shop is open until six in the evening. Could the Minister look at the issue of bank branch closures set beside the question of cash?

Lord Harlech (Con)

Since 2019, the Government have chaired the Financial Inclusion Policy Forum, bringing together the financial services industry, consumer groups, the regulator and the third sector. We have also published an annual report on the Government’s work on financial inclusion. The most recent report was published in December 2021. Since 2019, the Government have allocated £100 million of funding from dormant assets towards financial inclusion.

Lord Pickles (Con)

My Lords, I too congratulate my noble friend on his first appearance at the Dispatch Box, and I assure the House that he is also an excellent Whip. I served on the House’s Select Committee on post-Covid recovery. We received evidence on this from retailers and individuals. The substantive point is that, if you do not have a bank account, you are excluded from shops and cafes that you have visited for many years. You are forced to go into other shops where the choice is not as great. What happens is a very strange and unusual piece of social exclusion in which you find yourself paying more for less choice. What discussions has my noble friend had with the banking industry to increase the availability of accounts for people who do not have them? Will he give us his best estimate of the number of households that do not have a single bank account?

Lord Harlech (Con)

My noble friend makes an excellent point that, to be fully included in society, a working bank account is essential. I will certainly take that back to the department to ensure that the Treasury communicates with the banking and financial services sector to make the opening of a bank account as easy and accessible as possible. I will try to write to him on the number of households which do not currently have a bank account.

December 18, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : North Korea missile launches – Foreign Office Statement [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 December 2022.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

North Korea continues to violate UN Security Council Resolutions by launching two medium-range ballistic missiles on 18 December.

We call on North Korea to prioritise the well-being of their people instead of the illegal pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. The UK, alongside our allies and partners, is committed to peace on the Korean Peninsula, the upholding of the rules-based international system and securing an end to North Korea’s illegal activities.

December 18, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Tribute to Lord David Ramsbotham [December 2022]

The press release issued as a tribute to Lord David Ramsbotham by the Prison Reform Trust on 16 December 2022.

Lord David Ramsbotham — as good as it gets

Everyone at the Prison Reform Trust, and everyone with an interest in prison reform, will have been saddened by the news of David’s passing this week. He was literally and metaphorically a towering figure in our world — instantly recognisable for his bearing and the meticulous care with which he framed his devastating critique of all that needed changing in our prison system.

Indefatigable is probably the best the dictionary can offer to describe his persistence and energy, but it feels completely inadequate. Until a very short time before his death, he was as active and as sharp as ever; a fount of wisdom and a polite but incessant reminder to those in authority about where their duty lay in the care of the people we choose to imprison.

He never forgot the gap that can exist between what the policy says should happen and the real experience of people on the ground.

David set a standard for prison inspection — and the personal courage of the Chief Inspector — that has long outlived his tenure of that office. Whatever the Home Office expected when he was appointed in 1993, it got a good deal more than it had bargained for. Prisons are a secret, forgotten world for most of the time, and can suffer political neglect as a consequence. David recognised that he could change that, bringing the work of the inspectorate firmly into the public eye as a means to force change in a public service that desperately needed it. I first came across him when I was a young policy civil servant in the prison service, and I suspect he would have been quietly pleased to know that I and my colleagues found ourselves irritated and frequently wrong footed by him. But face to face he was unfailingly generous and quick to assume that, whatever your role, you would be as enthusiastic to change things for the better as he was. If a little fur needed to fly to achieve that, there was no need to take it personally.

David set a standard for prison inspection — and the personal courage of the Chief Inspector — that has long outlived his tenure of that office.

After entering the House of Lords, David developed a mastery of the parliamentary process to match his skill in navigating Whitehall. He co-chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group for Penal Affairs for many years until very shortly before his death. His presence undoubtedly encouraged a steady stream of ministers and other senior office holders to expose themselves to the careful scrutiny of that group, and most would leave both challenged and better informed about the history of the problems which they were charged to solve. David’s support of many and varied charities devoted to helping people in prison said much about his passion, but also meant that he was continually one of the best informed people in any room. He never forgot the gap that can exist between what the policy says should happen and the real experience of people on the ground.

As a consequence he leaves something of a chasm in our world. But he will also be remembered with huge affection at a personal level. He had an astonishing memory for people, perhaps especially for those at the bottom of the pile. It would be inconceivable for David to treat a prisoner with any less respect or attention than a secretary of state, and his recall not just of individuals, but of their achievements and opinions, was extraordinary. It is easy to conjure up an image of David speaking in the Lords, chairing meetings or being interviewed on the TV, but I think that stored knowledge of people speaks to someone who listened as brilliantly as he spoke.

We have lost a great man.

Peter Dawson
Director

December 18, 2022
David Ramsbotham – 2021 Speech on the Substance Testing in Prisons Bill (Baron Ramsbotham)

The speech made by David Ramsbotham, Baron Ramsbotham, in the House of Lords on 16 April 2021.

My Lords, I strongly support the intention behind the Bill and am glad that the noble Baroness, Lady Pidding, began her excellent introduction with a tribute to the late Dame Cheryl Gillan, whose Bill it is, but I admit to being worried about the practicalities of delivery.

I have always thought that the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service set too much store by the effectiveness of mandatory drug testing, which, far from being the important tool that they claim, proves nothing except how many people test negative and has always been capable of manipulation.

To illustrate how easy manipulation is, when I was chief inspector, I once went into a cell and noticed some certificates on the wall. On asking the prisoner what they were for, I was told that they were for testing drug-free, which it was known he was, and that if I came back the next month, there would be another one. Another time, I went into a prison where there were alleged to be no drug users, which I simply did not believe. I found that the prison made a practice of testing only vulnerable prisoners, who were notoriously drug-free. I ordered an immediate test of the whole prison, which found that 47% were users.

The effects of apparently freely available psychoactive and other substances have been well documented, including increased violence against staff and other prisoners. The absence of, or the inability of many prisoners to access, treatment programmes is also a worry. I would be happier if, in addition to trying to prevent substances getting into a prison, there was evidence of a desire to achieve better testing and more access to treatment.

December 18, 2022
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi – 2022 Comments on Expulsion from Labour Party

The comments made by Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi on Twitter on 16 December 2022.

While celebrating my 70th birthday on December 15, I heard from friends that Jewish Chronicle reporter Lee @lmharpinwas claiming confirmation from “multiple sources” that I had been expelled from the Labour Party.

Confidential email to me says my “membership of the Party stands terminated”. An NEC panel concluded I had “in its opinion, demonstrated the type of support for REIST (sic), LIEN and LAW prohibited by Chapter 2, Clause I.5.B.v of the Rules.”

So, details of internal disciplinary cases continue to be leaked to external media in breach of @UKLabour rules. Factional abuses highlighted by Forde Report continue unchecked. Action Plan supposedly overseen by @EHRC to ensure independence/transparency is a sham.

My treatment demonstrates the hostile campaign to which LW Labour Party members are being subjected, including disproportionate numbers of Jewish members. Expulsion follows my suspension in September, within weeks of being elected to Labour’s National Executive Committee.

Charge was, by taking part in discussion a year earlier organised by proscribed groups, I had demonstrated support for them – a “prohibited act”. I dispute this interpretation and will appeal my expulsion. It disenfranchises 1000s of members who voted to put me on the NEC.

December 18, 2022
David Ramsbotham – 2022 Comments on the Nationality and Borders Bill (Baron Ramsbotham)

The comments made by David Ramsbotham, Baron Ramsbotham, in the House of Lords on 5 January 2022.

My Lords, when you are speaking 51st on the Second Reading of a Bill which has already generated much controversy in the other place, the chances are that some other noble Lords will have already mentioned any point you wished to make. That is very true in this case, so I will make only one point, which I beg the Minister to take away and reflect on, because it is borne out by practical experience. I break off to thank James Tobin for a most comprehensive Library briefing.

In 2010, I was asked to chair an inquiry into the death of an Angolan under restraint on an aircraft at Heathrow, on which he was being returned to Angola, guarded by G4S. We were shocked by the poor standard of the Home Office decision-makers and caseworkers involved in returns, to the extent that my committee commented on them in its final report. Worse even than this, there appeared to be no supervision of their work. The arrangements made for families appeared to be better than those for single people, a point which I advise the Minister to respect before embarking on this extremely controversial Bill, about which many noble Lords have expressed their unease.

December 18, 2022