Badenoch apologises for native election outcomes as Reform warned there are ‘no easy solutions’ – UK politics reside

Soccer matches and concert events have higher safety than some jails, in keeping with the nationwide chair of the Jail Officers’ Affiliation (POA), studies the PA information company.

Employees who’re confronted with inmates acquiring illicit objects should take care of jail bosses who’re “not up for the combat”, Mark Fairhurst mentioned. With overcrowding and violence amongst his key considerations, he informed the Occasions:

Why on earth we haven’t obtained physique scanners on the gate to randomly put folks by means of, like they do at an airport, I do not know.

I’ve seen higher safety at concert events and soccer matches than I’ve going into prisons.

Sadly, medicine are rife inside our prisons. Illicit objects, cell phones, medicine, weapons – they’re rife inside our prisons as a result of managers are very reluctant to lock down prisoners to ensure that workers to look completely every space of the jail.

Fairhurst mentioned that night-time drone deliveries are routinely getting by means of and workers concern weapons might quickly get in.

Final yr, the federal government launched 1000’s of prisoners early in a transfer to sort out the overcrowding disaster.

In March, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood mentioned “we merely can not construct our approach out of the prisons capability disaster” as she opened HMP Millsike that holds about 1,500 inmates. The class C jail in East Yorkshire, which is the scale of 39 soccer pitches, is a step in the direction of the federal government’s goal to create 14,000 further jail locations by 2031.

Fairhurst additionally informed the newspaper:

I’ve by no means seen it so unhealthy. I’ve by no means seen it so overcrowded and I’ve by no means seen it so violent.

If we needed to lock down a wing or an space day after day after day to eliminate cell phones, weapons and medicines, the workers on the frontline are up for that.

In the intervening time, there’s lots of people getting appeased as a result of the folks in control of our prisons usually are not up for the combat.

Fairhurst additionally referred to as for safe airspace round prisons, warning that “my largest concern is (that) it’s solely a matter of time earlier than a firearm is delivered to a cell window”.

His feedback come because the variety of assaults on workers in grownup prisons in England and Wales per yr reached its highest stage in a decade.

In accordance with the PA information company, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson mentioned:

This authorities inherited prisons in disaster – overcrowded, with medicine and violence rife – however we’re gripping the scenario and taking motion.

We’re constructing 14,000 new locations by 2031 and reforming sentencing so our prisons by no means run out of area once more. We’re additionally bolstering safety to cease extra contraband coming into jails. And we now have strengthened vetting – together with for short-term workers – to root out those that fall under our excessive requirements.

John McDonnell is the unbiased MP for Hayes and Harlington. He was shadow chancellor for Labour from 2015 to 2020.

The response from Labour spokespeople to date to the lack of Runcorn and Helsby – and to the election outcomes as a complete – has been particularly tin-eared. There doesn’t appear to be any understanding of the deep-seated emotion within the response of Labour supporters to the celebration’s behaviour in authorities over the previous 10 months. There was once speak of the necessity for emotional literacy in politics. What we’re witnessing is a staggering stage of emotional illiteracy.

Labour supporters really feel deeply that their celebration has turned its again on them. It’s not simply that they really feel they aren’t being listened to. It’s that the Starmer and Reeves authorities is doing issues that they imagine no Labour authorities ought to ever do.

After 14 years of putting up with yr after yr of austerity below the Conservatives, there was such a collective sigh of reduction in eliminating the incompetent, corrupt and brutal Tories. There may not have been a lot in the way in which of inspiring politics from Keir Starmer within the run-up to the election final July, however not less than we had a Labour authorities.

The issue now could be that, at occasions, the federal government is unrecognisable as a Labour authorities. This isn’t the standard argument about whether or not the Starmer administration is behaving like previous Labour or New Labour. It’s whether or not it’s Labour in any respect within the eyes of people that have supported us or would need to assist us.

In case you have been questioning (or missed) how the large events fared within the native elections, then my colleague Peter Walker has a helpful abstract for you:

Kim Leadbeater mentioned these behind the assisted dying invoice for England and Wales are “checking for coercion at each stage of this course of”, studies the PA information company.

The invoice has undergone vital modifications because it succeeded in an preliminary vote within the Commons in November. The excessive courtroom safeguard has been dropped and changed by knowledgeable panels, whereas the implementation interval has been doubled to a most of 4 years for an assisted dying service to be in place, ought to the invoice go into legislation.

The proposed laws would permit terminally in poor health adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to reside, to use for an assisted demise, topic to approval by two docs and a panel that includes a social employee, senior authorized determine and psychiatrist.

The impression evaluation revealed on Friday mentioned the whole variety of assisted deaths is estimated to vary from between 164 and 787 within the first yr of the service to between 1,042 and 4,559 in yr 10.

The institution of a voluntary assisted dying commissioner and three-member knowledgeable panels would price an estimated common of between £10.9m to £13.6m per yr, the doc mentioned. However it mentioned it had “not been potential” to estimate the general implementation prices at this stage of the method, which may embody IT, recruitment and coaching and will start to kick in inside 12 months of the invoice getting royal assent.

MPs will collect for a debate on 16 Could within the Home of Commons for the invoice’s report stage, throughout which members are anticipated to vote on additional amendments. If time permits on that date, MPs may additionally vote on whether or not to approve the invoice at third studying – its closing stage within the Commons – and determine whether it is then despatched to the Home of Lords for additional scrutiny.

Voting is in keeping with conscience, so MPs don’t vote alongside celebration traces, and the federal government has mentioned it’s remaining impartial as a complete.

Well being secretary Wes Streeting, who confirmed final month that he nonetheless plans to oppose the invoice on the subsequent vote, mentioned final yr that there have been “selections and trade-offs”, including “any new service comes on the expense of different competing pressures and priorities”.

It has been prompt some MPs who supported the invoice final yr may change their stance when it returns for an extra vote, after the change to the excessive courtroom safeguard.

Leadbeater didn’t concede that assist for her invoice was cooling, studies the PA information company.

She mentioned:

I’m truly having conversations with colleagues who voted in opposition to at second studying, and at the moment are contemplating the brand new laws that they’ll be introduced, and interested by doubtlessly voting for this due to the extra safeguards which have been added. However it’s completely proper that each one colleagues are taking this extraordinarily significantly.

Kim Leadbeater has mentioned her assisted dying invoice for England and Wales would supply the “most strong piece of laws on this space on this planet”. She added:

And that does include a value of setting it up, but additionally we all know that there can be financial savings related to having this mannequin in place as effectively.

An impression evaluation into the terminally in poor health adults (finish of life) invoice was revealed on Friday, precisely a fortnight earlier than the subsequent Commons debate on the proposed new legislation.

The evaluation estimated that assisted dying may reduce end-of-life care prices by as a lot as an estimated £10m within the first yr and nearly £60m after 10 years. It famous that lowering these prices “will not be said as an goal of the coverage” however some have expressed considerations that this might put strain on folks to finish their lives, studies the PA information company.

Katherine Sleeman, a palliative care professor at King’s Faculty, mentioned the numbers usually are not a “exact prediction” of what’s going to occur.

Talking to the BBC’s Immediately programme, Sleeman mentioned:

After all, legalisation of assisted dying may result in price financial savings … as a result of prices of care within the final months of life specifically are very, very excessive. And clearly, if somebody isn’t dwelling these final months of life, then prices can be decrease.

However when it comes to the exact figures, I feel we simply should be conscious that they’re estimates and include a spread round them.

Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief govt of Care Not Killing – which is against a change within the legislation, mentioned the doc “confirms that altering the legislation will lower your expenses … precisely as we now have seen in different jurisdictions which have launched state assisted killing, inserting strain on susceptible terminally in poor health folks to finish their lives”.

Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, mentioned it was “chilling studying” and mentioned any change within the legislation that will put susceptible folks in danger somewhat than working to enhance entry to palliative care have to be opposed.

She mentioned:

It’s crude to see these price financial savings set out on this approach, and it’s straightforward to see how numbers of this nature may contribute to somebody feeling that they need to pursue an assisted demise somewhat than obtain care.

Every human life is immeasurably extra helpful than the cash which may be saved by means of their untimely demise.

The MSP behind the invoice to legalise assisted dying is dropping proposals to permit 16 and 17-year-olds to finish their lives with medical help, studies the PA information company.

Liam McArthur mentioned he would elevate the minimal age within the assisted dying for terminally in poor health adults (Scotland) invoice to 18.

If it turns into legislation, it might give folks on the superior stage of a terminal sickness the choice of requesting assist to finish their life. Because it stands, the invoice would apply to those that are 16 years previous or older and who’ve been resident in Scotland for not less than a yr.

Nonetheless, McArthur has now mentioned he would elevate the minimal age requirement. He mentioned:

I’ve thought-about this matter very rigorously and mirrored on each the proof supplied to the well being committee and assisted dying laws in place in different international locations.

In different jurisdictions which have modified the legislation to permit dying folks entry to the selection of an assisted demise, such because the US, Australia and New Zealand, 18 is the age from which terminally-ill adults develop into eligible.

On stability, I now really feel that this could be most applicable for Scotland.

I anticipate this being introduced to my parliamentary colleagues at stage two and urge them to vote in favour of the overall ideas of the invoice so we are able to start the necessary work of refining the invoice and ensuring it’s essentially the most compassionate, secure and appropriate legislation for Scotland. Our dying folks deserve no much less.

First minister John Swinney mentioned final yr the age threshold of 16 was a “very vital difficulty in my thoughts” that must be “wrestled with”.

MSPs will vote on the invoice on Tuesday 13 Could. It is going to be the third time Holyrood has voted on whether or not assisted dying needs to be launched, with earlier bids to vary the legislation having fallen on the first hurdle.

Comparable laws to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales can be being voted on by MPs at Westminster.

Final week, Holyrood’s well being committee took a impartial stance over whether or not MSPs ought to vote for the overall ideas of the invoice. Nonetheless, it did say elements of the laws would wish“ additional consideration” if the proposals go and in the end develop into legislation, studies the PA information company.

“These embody points round human rights, coercion, eligibility standards, provision of help, self-administration and conscientious objection for healthcare staff,” well being committee convener Clare Haughey mentioned.

Of their report, MSPs mentioned “safeguards” within the invoice could possibly be “strengthened” with unbiased oversight, akin to by an unbiased overview panel or by giving the chief medical officer a monitoring function.

Care Not Killing, a marketing campaign group in opposition to the invoice, mentioned the “scrutiny strategy of the invoice has been wholly insufficient”. Chief govt Gordon Macdonald mentioned:

With seven of the ten members of the well being committee having signed as much as assist the invoice when it was first proposed, it raises vital questions concerning the rigour of the scrutiny course of.

Dr Miro Griffiths, spokesperson for the Higher Method marketing campaign, mentioned:

Palliative care docs, psychiatrists, disabled folks’s organisations, specialists within the care of older folks and others have cautioned {that a} change within the legislation would inevitably result in abuses in opposition to essentially the most susceptible.

No variety of safeguards may rule out coercion of sufferers by means of refined strain utilized behind closed doorways.

He added:

When politicians have debated this difficulty previously, they’ve at all times concluded that the dangers of fixing the legislation make it too harmful to pursue. We’d urge MSPs to heed specialists’ considerations and vote in opposition to Liam McArthur’s invoice at stage one.

Thanks for all of your feedback under the road right this moment. Simply to let although, feedback can be closing shortly at 2pm.

Diane Taylor

A Syrian grandmother who’s dying of most cancers has been given permission to come back to the UK to spend her closing days with the grandchildren she has by no means met, after a Dwelling Workplace U-turn.

The federal government had needed to bar Soaad Al Shawa, who has liver most cancers and has been given simply weeks to reside by docs, from travelling to spend her final days together with her daughter Ola Al Hamwi, son-in-law Mostafa Amonajid and their three youngsters aged seven, 5 and one. Al Shawa has solely been in a position to talk together with her grandchildren on video calls.

The household, who now reside in Glasgow, fled Syria in 2015. They’d misplaced their child after a bombing at their dwelling in Damascus and have been unable to take Al Hamwi’s mom with them.

The Dwelling Workplace rejected an utility for a refugee household reunion made after the terminal most cancers analysis, which Al Shawa obtained in the direction of the top of final yr. The household appealed and a choose within the first-tier tribunal of the immigration courtroom agreed in April.

The household have been overjoyed and relayed the information to Al Shawa, who started to make preparations to come back to the UK. However they have been devastated when the Dwelling Workplace sought permission to enchantment in opposition to the choose’s ruling; a transfer Al Hamwi mentioned was “breaking my coronary heart”. The additional enchantment might have taken about eight months – time docs don’t count on Al Shawa to have.

However now the Dwelling Workplace has informed the household’s lawyer it’s withdrawing its utility, that the grandmother can come to the UK, and that it’s going to expedite the issuing of a visa. The household are hoping it will likely be processed at a centre in neighbouring Jordan this weekend after which Amonajid will acquire Al Shawa her from there. Refugees usually are not permitted to return to the nation they fled, so Al Hamwi and Amonajid can not re-enter Syria to be with Al Shawa there.

Keir Starmer has congratulated Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese on his election victory.

In an announcement shared on X, Starmer mentioned:

Congratulations to Anthony Albanese in your election win. The UK and Australia are as shut as ever – which fits to indicate that long-distance friendships may be the strongest.

I do know that we’ll proceed to work collectively on our shared ambitions, together with on commerce, funding and power, working in the direction of a greater life for working folks within the UK and Australia.

Our collaboration on defence, particularly the Aukus programme, will proceed to develop, and as fellow steadfast supporters of Ukraine we’ll proceed to face collectively in opposition to Putin’s unlawful warfare for so long as it takes.

Not one to overlook a photograph alternative and a pun, Ed Davey has been out enjoying cricket right this moment whereas claiming that the Conservatives are “on their final innings”.

The Liberal Democrat chief joined Wiltshire Lib Dem group chief councillor Ian Thorn, native councillors and campaigners on the Harnham recreation floor in Salisbury.

Davey mentioned:

The Conservatives are on their final innings and we’re on observe to overhaul them on the subsequent basic election. Center England put its religion in us as a result of they’re appalled by Kemi Badenoch’s lurch to the proper and pandering to Farage. I’m calling on everybody who’s alarmed about the way forward for our nation to affix us.

In Wiltshire we kicked the Conservatives uncontrolled and at the moment are the most important celebration, similar to we now have completed in so many different elements of the nation, from Devon to Gloucestershire.

The Liberal Democrats at the moment are the second largest celebration of native authorities, and we’re on observe to overhaul the Conservatives on the subsequent basic election.

Kemi Badenoch doesn’t perceive what was improper together with her sneering remarks about us being the celebration who would repair your church roof. Throughout the nation, voters have chosen our group politics over the Conservatives’ division and disdain.

Because the Tories confronted the Reform UK surge within the north and elements of the Midlands, the Liberal Democrats put the squeeze on their vote farther south, gaining greater than 100 councillors, PA studies.

The Lib Dems gained 163 councillors throughout the 23 councils on this election.

“For those who’re appalled by lurch to the proper by Reform and the others, come and be a part of the Liberal Democrats as a result of we’re those taking the problem to Reform,” Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson informed the BBC.

Reform UK have captured the headlines, however the Inexperienced celebration made some features in these native elections too. The Greens gained 44 councillors throughout the 23 councils on this election.

“Following Thursday’s election we’ve reached a brand new document excessive 859 councillors on 181 councils! The Inexperienced celebration is the one celebration providing an actual different to the drained previous events,” the celebration’s official X account mentioned.

Assisted dying is concerning the “human price” and never kilos and pence, the MP behind the proposed laws has mentioned after an evaluation of the potential prices, PA studies.

An impression evaluation into the terminally in poor health adults (finish of life) invoice was revealed on Friday, precisely a fortnight earlier than the subsequent Commons debate on the proposed new legislation. It set out estimates for the way many individuals would possibly apply and go on to have an assisted demise, in addition to potential prices of the service and lowered end-of-life care prices.

“It’s a really uneasy type of dialog to have,” Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the invoice, informed BBC Radio 4’s Immediately programme.

She added:

As a result of for me, assisted dying and giving folks the selection on the finish of their life after they’re going through a terminal sickness is concerning the human price. It’s not about kilos and pence.

The evaluation estimated that assisted dying may reduce end-of-life care prices by as a lot as an estimated £10m within the first yr and nearly £60m after 10 years. It famous that lowering these prices “will not be said as an goal of the coverage” however some have expressed considerations that this might put strain on folks to finish their lives.

Writing within the Occasions on Saturday, the prime minister insisted there was “tangible proof that issues are lastly starting to go in the proper route”, though he mentioned he was not glad with the place the nation was.

Keir Starmer wote:

I’m acutely conscious that folks aren’t but feeling the advantages. That’s what they informed us final night time. Till they do, I’ll get up each morning decided to go additional and sooner.

Starmer signalled his priorities as he pledged to ship “extra money in your pocket, decrease NHS ready lists, decrease immigration numbers”.

Nigel Farage has hailed his celebration’s “unprecedented” ends in the native elections.

In a publish on X on Saturday, the Reform UK chief wrote:

In postwar Britain, nobody has ever crushed each Labour and the Tories in a neighborhood election earlier than.

These outcomes are unprecedented.

In case you need to see the total mayoral and council outcomes from Thursday’s elections, yow will discover them within the Guardian’s tracker right here:

Yesterday, Nigel Farage warned council workers engaged on range or local weather change initiatives to hunt “different careers”.

Immediately, a newly elected Reform UK councillor mentioned Durham county council can be “getting the auditors in” instantly to slash spending in areas like internet zero and inexperienced initiatives.

“We’re getting the auditors in to see … truly what these jobs are, and in the event that they’re good worth for cash, and in the event that they’re not, effectively, the reply is, ‘Yeah, goodbye’,” Darren Grimes, a Durham councillor and former GB Information presenter informed the BBC’s Immediately programme.

Money spent on such programmes is “vanishingly small” and discretionary spending for councils is usually spent on social care, libraries and filling in potholes, Tony Travers, a professor of public coverage on the LSE, informed the programme, in keeping with the PA information company.

Reform UK’s victories are simply the most recent chapter of political fragmentation, writes Prof Paula Surridge, the deputy director at UK in a Altering Europe and professor of political sociology on the College of Bristol.

Nigel Farage’s celebration has benefited this time as voters flee the principle events, however there are faultlines inside its personal coalition too, Surridge provides. You possibly can learn Surridge’s full evaluation right here:

Helen Livingstone

Saturday papers within the UK have been dominated by the Reform celebration’s victory on the polls, during which it gained an MP at Labour’s expense and gained a string of native councils.

A jubilant Nigel Farage mentioned his hard-right populist celebration had now supplanted the Conservatives and pledged that Reform-run councils and mayoralties would block asylum seeker lodging and dismantle equalities programmes.

The Guardian’s entrance web page led with “Reform wins ‘starting of finish for Tories’, says Farage”, including that it was a “sobering day” for prime minister Keir Starmer and Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch.

You possibly can see how different papers reported on the native elections right here: