UK politics - live: Michael Gove accused of ‘witch-hunt’ as he vows ‘pro-Palestinian marchers will pay’
A damning public inquiry has revealed government failings are the worst treatment disaster in NHS history
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Michael Gove has been accused of a ‘witch hunt’ after saying he wanted pro-Palestinian marchers to pay for the massive weekly protests.
The secretary of state for levelling up labelled pro-Palestine university encampments as ‘antisemitism repurposed for the Instagram age’ and he accused activists of hostility towards Jewish students.
In a speech on Tuesday, Mr Gove also accused organisers of not doing enough to stop some demonstrators spreading anti-Jewish messages, which he claims, included chants calling for the “annihilation of Israel”. His remarks have sparked furore among organisations supporting Palestinians in Gaza, who have been holding huge protests in London every weekend since the 7 October Hamas attacks.
His speech came ahead of the publication of the Lord Walney review into political violence, which recommended government tighten laws to ban Gaza protests taking place on certain days as well as calling for powers to help businesses claim damages from protest organisers.
But on the same day, the High Court ruled the Home Office had acted unlawfully when it implemented regulations to lower the threshold for police intervening in protests.
Gove’s extremism warning as antisemitism incidents rise by 147 per cent
International court seeks arrest warrant against Israel PM Netanyahu over alleged Gaza war crimes
The Israel-Hamas war is testing whether campuses are sacrosanct places for speech and protest
Infected blood scandal inquiry: Betrayal, lies and chilling cover-up as Rishi Sunak describes ‘day of shame’
‘UK is a pioneer with Rwanda deportation plan,’ says Austrian chancellor
Karl Nehammer has praised Rishi Sunak’s plans to fly asylum seekers out of the country.
Speaking today, he said: “The UK is therefore also a pioneer for this model, a model and a path that will be important for the Europeans as well.
“The Rwanda model is a solution for us to have asylum proceedings in safe third countries and that is something we need to put on the EU’s agenda as well.”
He added: “We support the British path and the British model.”
More countries to implement Rwanda plan, PM confirms
The PM has confirmed Austria could implement a similar plan on their territory.
Discussing the Rwanda policy with chancellor Karl Nehammer in Vienna, he revealed 15 countries now support the plans.
He also vowed the UK will continue “bringing others along with us on the journey”.
‘Business as usual won’t solve this problem,’ PM says
Praising the Austria-UK cooperation, he says: “Austria is an important friend to the United Kingdom.
And the UK has now “taken steps to deepen that relationship even further,” he adds.
The PM says illegal migration is “truly one of the defining issues of our time” and that “we face criminal gangs that are growing in strength across the European continent and beyond”.
Referring to his Rwanda plan, Mr Sunak said he and Mr Nehammer agree that “business as usual won’t solve this problem” and “we have to think creatively”, such as by creating a deterrent with removals to safe third countries under the Rwanda scheme.
“It’s increasingly clear that many other countries now agree that that is the approach that is required – bold, novel, looking at safe country partnerships,” he said.
Rishi Sunak is speaking now from Vienna
Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer says the UK is a pioneer in deporting asylum seekers to third countries.
Mr Nehammer says: “Tackling illegal migration is something that affect us here in the European Union,” but also in the UK.
He says the UK plays a key role in making that happen, after the PM launched a pioneering schemeato send asylum seekers to third countries.
Rishi Sunak ready to speak from Austria
The prime minister is set to appear alongside Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer from Vienna in a few minutes.
You can follow his live speech below:
Exclusive: Antisemitic hate crimes in London treble in year, data shows
Ahead of Michael Gove’s speech this morning, new figures obtained by The Independent show antisemitic hate crimes have risen in London in the last year.
Freedom of information data also showed that hate crimes flagged as Islamophobic rose by 49 per cent in the same period, from 940 to 1,405.
Reports of antisemitic behaviour dramatically increased after the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October, according to Jewish security organisation The Community Security Trust (CST), which recorded 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023, a 147 per cent rise on the 1,662 incidents in 2022.
MPs urge South West Water to deliver compensation customers deserve
SWW has increased compensation to £215 for customers in recent days after reports emerged residents are still boiling water.
The advice came after water supplies across Devon were contamination by cryptosporidium – a waterborne disease which can cause unpleasant symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting.
Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall, whose Totnes constituency covers Brixham, has said customers should get a level of compensation they “deserve” following the outbreak.
According to the Government, 16,000 households and businesses in Brixham, supplied by SWW, were urged last week not to use their tap water for drinking without boiling and cooling it first.
Two people have been taken to hospital as a result of the outbreak.
Contaminated water scandal: South West Water confirms £3.5m compensation
South West Water bosses have revealed a payout worth £3.5million to customers affected by the parasite outbreak in Devon.
Pennon boss Susan Davy said: “We are 100% focused on returning a safe water supply to the people and businesses in and around Brixham.”
She also confirmed normal service has returned for most customers. She added: “Our absolute priority continues to be the health and safety of our customers, and our operational teams are working tirelessly around the clock to deliver this.”
It comes as thousands of Brixham residents have been forced to boil tap water before drinking.
Pictured: Rishi Sunak at the Federal Chancellery Ballhausplatz
Gove to speak to the Jewish community in London
The government has expressed huge concerns after a 147 per cent increase in antisemitic incidents since 2022.
The number has risen from 1,662 in 2022 to 2,699 incidents in the UK during the period on or after 7 October 2023 - the day when Hamas terrorists slaughtered and kidnapped hundreds of Jews in Israel.
Mr Gove’s hard-hitting speech comes on the same day as Lord Walney publishes a landmark report on political violence and disruption.
And ahead of the publication of the government’s Counter Extremism Action Plan in the coming weeks.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments