Nicola Sturgeon ought to resign if she has damaged ministerial code, says Keir Starmer
The Scottish Tories have informed Nicola Sturgeon she has “one final probability” to resign on Tuesday or the get together will press forward with a vote of no confidence in her premiership.
The first minister is coming below growing pressure to step down after a Holyrood inquiry concluded she misled the devolved authorities’s probe into sexual harassment allegations towards her predecessor Alex Salmond, who denied the claims.
“The Scottish Conservatives will give Nicola Sturgeon a final probability to resign for deceptive the Scottish parliament,” the get together stated in an announcement on Friday. “Should the primary minister refuse, the get together will proceed with a vote of no confidence on Wednesday.”
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer earlier stated the primary minister ought to resign on precept if she is discovered to have damaged the ministerial code.
MSPs on the Scottish authorities harassment complaints committee voted 5 to 4 that the first minister gave an “inaccurate” account of a gathering along with her predecessor throughout the dwell investigation, a supply informed the PA news company.
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Statement from SNP MSPs who sat on committee in Salmond probe
“This committee was meant to perform a dispassionate seek for the reality.
But, on the final minute, with out full consideration of the proof, the opposition railroaded via their prejudged assertions based mostly purely on political issues.
On the query of the First Minister providing to intervene, there are two sides of the story and we’ve proof from either side, however opposition MSPs selected not to replicate that by selectively referencing solely the proof which supported their preconceived narrative.
We have additionally heard clear, constant proof that the First Minister had no data of issues of inappropriate sexual behaviour by Alex Salmond earlier than November 2017.
Yet, and not using a shred of proof to the opposite, the opposition merely used their majority on the committee to insert Eleventh-hour predetermined political assertions that don’t have any foundation in truth. That is just disgraceful and mistaken.
For the opposition, this was by no means concerning the fact. It was by no means concerning the proof and, shamefully, it was by no means even concerning the ladies. All of those are being sacrificed in pursuit of political ends.
This is the politics of desperation by the opposition members.”
Matt Mathers19 March 2021 17:53
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‘Learn from final 12 months’: Government adviser warns towards permitting overseas holidays
A surge in Covid-19 infections is inevitable if Britons are allowed overseas on vacation, a authorities adviser is warning – urging ministers to “be taught from final 12 months”.
Professor Peter Openshaw raised the alarm over Boris Johnson’s plan to raise the ban on overseas journey as early as 17 May, amid a increase in bookings and an expectation that journeys shall be allowed.
Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick reviews:
Matt Mathers19 March 2021 17:07
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Salmond inquiry chair ‘dismayed’ by leak
The chair of the Holyrood inquiry into the Alex Salmond case, SNP MSP Linda Fabiani, stated she was “dismayed” by the leak of its conclusions to the press, which she stated would injury their impression on the remedy of sexual harassment claims.
Ms Fabiani hit out at what she referred to as the “selective leaking” of the inquiry’s findings relating to Nicola Sturgeon.
“I’m dismayed by the injury this may occasionally do to the worth of the committee’s work which I’ve lengthy hoped would enhance the remedy of the complainers of sexual harassment,” Ms Fabiani stated.
“The selective leaking of specific committee suggestions has shifted the main target away from these targets , and the suggestions which search to obtain it, and onto get together political terrain which is able to probably frustrate, not help, the ladies on the coronary heart of this.”
Fabiani, an SNP MSP, pictured at Holyrood in 2020
(PA)
Liam James19 March 2021 16:06
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Labour urge probe into whether or not David Cameron lobbied No 10 for now-bust financial institution
Labour has urged an investigation into whether or not David Cameron lobbied for Greensill Capital, a specialist financial institution that has since gone bust, to deal with additional authorities loans.
Before it collapsed, Mr Cameron, an adviser to the financial institution, personally intervened to attempt to improve Greensill’s entry to government-backed Covid-19 emergency mortgage schemes, the Financial Times reported.
Downing Street declined to say whether or not Mr Cameron lobbied his former college buddy Boris Johnson or a particular adviser in No 10.
Anneliese Dodds, the shadow chancellor, stated a probe needs to be undertaken to “depart no stone unturned” in getting to the underside of why “it seems Greensill was given a lot entry to the Treasury”.
Liam James19 March 2021 15:37
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Labour Hartlepool candidate stated Saudi Arabia was ‘progressive’ after journey paid for by regime
Dr Paul Williams, Labour’s candidate on the Hartlepool by-election, described Saudi Arabia as a “trendy, progressive” nation after occurring a junket organised by its autocratic regime, it has emerged.
Paul Williams stated the journey had “completely modified my view of the nation” and recounted telling his embassy handlers that his earlier concepts had been “blown out of the water”.
Parliament’s register of pursuits exhibits Dr Williams, in his former position as MP for Stockton South, accepted the journey as an £8,762 donation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its Shura Council – the nation’s powerless parliament that’s solely appointed by the king.
Our Policy Correspondent Jon Stone has the complete story:
Liam James19 March 2021 15:16
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Ruth Davidson says Nicola Sturgeon ought to ‘contemplate her place’
Ruth Davidson, the chief of the Scottish Conservatives at Holyrood, has urged Nicola Sturgeon to contemplate her place over claims she misled parliament about Alex Salmond.
Ms Davidson informed the BBC: “There’s clear proof now that Nicola Sturgeon misled parliament and I feel she ought to contemplate her personal place. ”
“The first minister actually has spent her complete political profession standing on her honour, and if she had a shred of integrity, she would now select herself to go.”
More on this from our Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin:
Liam James19 March 2021 14:49
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Love the flag and the Queen or ‘transfer to one other nation’, Conservative MP tells the general public
Conservative MP Lia Nici has steered folks ought to depart the nation if they don’t really feel pleasure in “our flag or Queen”.
The Grimsby MP was commenting after minister Robert Jenrick was mocked on BBC Breakfast over the floor-to-ceiling Union flag positioned for viewers to see.
Several Tories have raged on the incident however Ms Nici went additional, tweeting: “Of course if individuals are not proud to be British, or of our flag or Queen, they don’t have to dwell in the UK. Perhaps they need to transfer to one other nation they like.”
Liam James19 March 2021 14:41
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Londoners informed not to be a part of deliberate weekend protests
People planning to be a part of protests in central London this weekend in breach of coronavirus restrictions danger arrest, the Metropolitan Police stated.
Quite a few demonstrations are anticipated to happen in the capital, together with a rally at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park to help Piers Corbyn’s mayoral bid.
The brother of the previous Labour chief has been on the forefront of the anti-lockdown motion since restrictions had been imposed a 12 months in the past.
There are additionally anticipated to be protests towards plans to give police in England and Wales extra energy to impose circumstances on non-violent protests, together with these deemed too noisy or a nuisance.
Samuel Osborne19 March 2021 13:49
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UK has ‘sturdy measures’ at border, Downing Street says as France faces third wave of coronavirus
A spokesman for Boris Johnson stated the UK had “sturdy measures” on the border when requested whether or not the federal government was involved about rising Covid charges in France and different European nations.
Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, who spurred the UK’s resolution to go into lockdown final March, warned a “important fraction” of European instances had been probably to be of the South African variant, which it’s feared the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine could possibly be much less efficient towards.
Asked about Prof Ferguson’s remarks, a spokesman for the prime minister stated: “What I’d say in relation to these particular feedback, we have already got sturdy measures in place on the border as you can be conscious.
“It is at present unlawful to go on vacation and anybody arriving in England has to self-isolate, take two necessary PCR exams on day two and day eight of their 10-day isolation interval, and have a adverse take a look at earlier than journey as nicely.
“Modelling is exhibiting {that a} mixture of particular coverage choices such as pre-departure testing and isolation are efficient measures for mitigating the general public well being danger.”
Pressed on whether or not some EU nations could possibly be positioned on the “pink checklist”, which means a stint quarantining in a resort upon arrival in England, the No 10 spokesman replied: “I’d level you again to the wide range of sturdy measures that we’ve in place on the border.
“We have them in place and imagine them to be sturdy and sturdy measures.”
Samuel Osborne19 March 2021 13:35
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Slapdown for Jacob Rees-Mogg from Boris Johnson over assault on journalist
Boris Johnson has slapped down Jacob Rees-Mogg over his assault on a journalist below cowl of parliamentary privilege, with Downing Street saying: “These usually are not feedback that the prime minister would have made.”
Political editor Andrew Woodcock has the complete story:
Samuel Osborne19 March 2021 13:19
