Inside Politics: ‘Shocking’ conditions at asylum seeker unit and ‘persistent’ racism in police

Women and babies sleeping next to men on mattresses in an office, and ‘much more to do’ to end race inequality in the police, writes Matt Mathers

(PA)

What a story. After having to launch a crowdfunding campaign just to make it to the games, England’s Bethany Shriever has won gold in Tokyo, following a dramatic end to the BMX racing final. Kye Whyte claimed the nation’s first Olympic medal in the event, with silver in the men’s competition just moments earlier. Back at home, Keir Starmer says Wales is speeding ahead of England in ending self-isolation rules for the fully jabbed. Today he calls on Boris Johnson to bring forward England’s 16 August date to end Britain’s “pingdemic”. Elsewhere, MPs have uncovered “shocking” conditions at an asylum seeker unit in Kent, and a report finds there is still racial inequality in the police.

Inside the bubble

Parliament is in recess.

Coming up shortly:

- Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonny Reynolds on Sky News at 8.05am

-Transport secretary Grant Shapps on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme at 8.30am

Daily Briefing

SHOCKING CONDITIONS: Women and their babies were among dozens of asylum seekers held in a cramped room covered with thin mattresses in an office room at a unit in Kent, MPs have said. Members of the home affairs committee visited the site in Dover this week and found 56 migrants in “shocking” conditions. “Sharing these cramped conditions were many women with babies and very young children alongside significant numbers of teenage and young adult men.” Labour MP and committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper wrote in a letter to Priti Patel, the home secretary. MPs also raised alarm over the apparent lack of Covid protections at the site. The Home Office said it takes its responsibility for migrants seriously. But the Children’s Society is furious at the latest revelation of poor conditions at asylum seeker facilities. Mark Russell, the charity’s chief executive, said: “These people arrive on our shores frightened and traumatised. For them to then be moved into hotels and holding facilities and left without the care, accommodation and health checks they need is beyond shocking.” Expect to hear more on this story as the day progresses.

MORE TO DO : It’s been a busy week for the home affairs committee. Today it publishes a report into racism in the police, which found that, although progress has been made across England and Wales, “persistent, deep-rooted” racial inequalities persist, some 22 years on from the publication of the Macpherson report that followed the inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. Responding to the report, Sam Grant, head of policy at human rights group Liberty, said measures announced this week in the PM’s crime plan, such as the extension to stop and search powers, are unlikely to help police race relations. “The government must stop ignoring evidence, listen to communities affected by discriminatory policing and work with them on solutions,” she said. “Priorities should be investment in services such as health, education, housing and social welfare to develop strategies for keeping all of us safe.” Policing minister Kit Malthouse accepted “there is much more to do”.

CATCH UP BORIS: Labour leader Keir Starmer is demanding that Johnson brings forward that date when those who are fully jabbed can skip self-isolation. Rules are set to end for people in England on 16 August. But Starmer says the government should follow the lead of Labour-run Wales, which is ending restrictions on 7 August. “This has been a summer of chaos for British businesses and British families,” he said. “The Tory government has never been able to explain the logic of their self-isolation rules and has just repeated the same mistakes over and over again.” The PM earlier this week said the 16 August date is “nailed on”.

LIFE SAVER & NO JAB NO JOB: In other Covid developments, around 60,000 coronavirus deaths and 22 million infections have been prevented by the UK’s vaccination programme, according to new official figures from Public Health England. Elsewhere, it looks increasingly likely that some employers will ask workers to show vaccine passports in the workplace. Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, appeared to back the idea yesterday. The story makes several of this morning’s front pages, with theMail declaring “ NO JAB, NO JOB”. According to the Metro, tech giant Google is among some of the companies asking for certification. The paper adds ministers are “looking carefully” at introducing legislation, a move that would further enrage rebel Tory backbenchers.

GRANDEES REBEL: The government is facing a Tory rebellion over an animal sentience bill that critics fear could be used to block infrastructure projects and be “hijacked” by activists, this morning’sTimesreports. Some of the party’s biggest donors have written to Johnson to express concern about the implications of the legislation, which would recognise that animals feel pain, the paper says.

On the record

“Most people were sitting or lying on a thin mattress and those covered almost the entirety of the floor including the aisles between seats.

Labour MP and home affairs committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper on conditions asylum seekers face at unit in Kent.

From the Twitterati

“It’s another sign of@WelshGovernment’s higher vaccination rate allowing it to do things England isn’t. 80% double jabbed in [Wales] 71% double jabbed in [England].”

HuffPost’s executive political editor Paul Waugh on differences between jab roll out in England and Wales.

Essential reading

• Cathy Newman, The Independent: PM’s slogans might win votes, but won’t keep offenders off the streets
• Rupert Hawksley, The Independent: The RNLI is saving lives at sea. Terrible, isn’t it, Nigel Farage
• Matthew Goodwin, UnHerd: Is this peak Boris?
• David Gauke, New Statesman: Dominic Cummings’s solution to the Irish border problem would have been disastrous