UK politics news – live: Union warns parliament not ‘a safe place to work’ amid latest sex assault scandal
Claims of rape and sexual assault lodged against Tory MP span period of two years
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A civil service union has warned that Parliament is not a “safe place to work” after a group of Conservative politicians reported a fellow MP to police over allegations they committed rape and a string of sexual assaults.
The backbench MP was reported to the force by a group of Tory MPs, whose claims against the accused span a period of two years, broadcasterTalkTV reports.
The MP is said to be subject to an investigation by an independent law firm. They have not, however, had the Conservative whip removed or been suspended by party chiefs.
Mike Clancy, the general secretary of Prospect union, says: “This MP remains free to visit the House of Commons and interact with staff despite these very serious allegations.
“This highlights yet again that there is no fit-for-purpose process in place to deal with this type of case and make Parliament a safe place to work.”
It comes after the Conservative party suffered its worst election result in Chester since 1832 after Labour retained the seat with an increased share of the vote.
Watch: Matt Hancock serenades Gina Colangelo with ‘Perfect' by Ed Sheeran
Sajid Javid says he will stand down as an MP at the next election
Sajid Javid has said he will not stand as an MP at the next general election.
Mr Javid, a former chancellor, home secretary, and health secretary, said he had “wrestled” with the decision of whether to stand down “for some time”.
“This decision will not mark the end of my Parliamentary activity, particularly for the causes I care deeply about. Nor will it impact my duties as a local MP on behalf of constituents across Bromsgrove, Mr Javid said in a letter to Paul Uppal, chairman of the Bromsgrove Conservative Association.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more on this breaking story:
Sajid Javid says he will stand down as an MP at the next election
Sajid Javid has said he will not stand as an MP at the next general election.
Watch: Question Time audience member jokes private schools should be closed down
Starmer ‘will visit Chester at some point'
Angela Rayner said Sir Keir Starmer is in Scotland on Friday, but said he will visit Chester at some point.
Asked when the Labour leader will come and say thank you to his activists in the City of Chester, she told broadcasters: “Keir’s in Scotland today. He’s not too busy, no. He’s in Scotland today, and he will be here, and we’ll have a fantastic time when we get Sam in Parliament next week.
“So we’re really delighted that Sam (Dixon) is the new MP for the City of Chester, and I know she’ll do a fabulous job for people here.”
Rayner insists Labour not struggling with popularity of Starmer
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said she does not think she is more popular than Sir Keir Starmer.
Asked if it is true Labour is struggling with the popularity of its leader, and pressed on whether she garners more favour with voters than Sir Keir, she told broadcasters in Chester: “I don’t think that’s the case.
“Obviously when Keir took over, and myself, it was during the pandemic, and Keir was governing in the national interest at that time.
“And then as we’ve come out of that, and as people have seen more of Keir actually, they’re seeing that actually we don’t want a class clown. We don’t want someone who’s going to crash the economy.
“We want someone who’s sensible, that is going to do the right thing for the British people, do the right thing for our British businesses and make sure that Britain grows again.”
‘Very clear’ Sunak does ‘not have mandate to govern’, says Rayner
Angela Rayner said it is “very clear” that Rishi Sunak does not have a “mandate to govern” following the Tories’ defeat in the City of Chester by-election.
The Labour deputy leader told broadcasters in Chester: “This was Rishi Sunak’s first test as prime minister, and he’s failed that test.
“It’s very clear that he doesn’t have the mandate to govern and that people want a general election and they want change and they want a Labour government.”
Chester by-election delivers ‘huge message’ to government, says Rayner
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said the Conservatives’ branding had taken a “pelting” as the people of Chester delivered a “huge message” to the government on their desire for change.
She said Rishi Sunak had overseen the Tories’ worst defeat in the constituency since 1832 in his first electoral test as prime minister.
“He’s failed that test, it’s very clear that he doesn’t have the mandate to govern and that people want a general election and they want change,” she told broadcasters in Chester.
Asked if she was disappointed Labour’s win was not quite as great as some polls predicted, she said the party’s majority was “huge”.
“It is clear that this was Rishi Sunak’s first test as prime minister, and it was his worst defeat since 1832 here,” she said.
“It’s pretty clear that the Conservatives... their branding has absolutely took a pelting.”
‘Quite a lot’ of Tory MPs likely to step down before next election, says Charles Walker
A Tory MP has suggested “quite a lot” of his party colleagues will stand down before the next general election.
Charles Walker, MP for Broxbourne, told Times Radio: “It’s almost impossible to see us coming back from this, I suspect we will lose the next general election.”
He said he hopes prime minister Rishi Sunak will makes sure “Labour doesn’t wipe the floor with us, so we perhaps win 220 seats, and we form a viable opposition.”
On his fellow MPs stepping down ahead of the next GE, he said: “I think many of my colleagues won’t have made their minds up yet. But I think it’s inevitable.
“Do I want to go down to electoral defeat and have a sort of gruelling six week campaign?”
Matt Hancock makes return to Commons after reality TV stint
Matt Hancock has made his first appearance in the House of Commons chamber since his controversial stint on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
The former health secretary is back in Parliament for the second reading of his Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill, which is third on Friday’s order paper and expected to be debated later.
Mr Hancock now sits as the independent MP for West Suffolk, having been suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party for choosing to head to the Australian jungle at a time when the House was sitting.
Matt Hancock says release of thousands of prisoners was considered at start of Covid pandemic
A plan to release “thousands” of prisoners was considered during the Covid-19 lockdown, according to Matt Hancock’s diaries.
The details, first reported by the Daily Mail which is serialising the former health secretary’s journals, come as Mr Hancock returns to Westminster after his stint on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Mr Hancock, who was one of the key figures in government as the country navigated the pandemic, reveals in his diaries that the Ministry of Justice proposed to release prisoners amid concerns about the spread of the virus.
Read our full report here:
Matt Hancock says prisoner release was considered early in Covid pandemic
The former health secretary’s diaries are being serialised by the Daily Mail
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