Afternoon summary
Downing Street has said it will not change the law to allow the Parthenon marbles to be given to Greece and that it is up to the British Museum to decide if there is any other mechanism that could allow them to be returned to Athens. Although Keir Starmer met his Greek counterpart today, where the topic was discussed, No 10 said they were mostly focusing on other issues. (See 1.44pm and 4.36pm.)
Tim Montgomerie, founder of ConservativeHome website, joins Reform UK
Tim Montgomerie, who founded and for many years edited the ConservativeHome website and how briefly worked as an adviser to Boris Johnson in No 10, has joined Reform UK, the party has announced.
After 33 years in the Conservative Party, Tim Montgomerie, former adviser to Boris Johnson and creator and editor of Conservative Home, has joined Reform UK. pic.twitter.com/Mb2aL6DTnC
— Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) December 3, 2024
Extracts from Lewis Cocking's speech opposing PR bill
The Conservative MP Lewis Cocking spoke against the pro-PR 10-minute-rule bill earlier. Here are extracts from his speech.
When our constituents arrived at their polling station on the 4 July, they knew what to expect – if their chosen candidate received more votes than any other, that is who would be elected as their MP.
There is an elegance to this simplicity in our democracy. It is those who win the most votes in each of our 650 constituencies who win those 650 constituencies.
It cannot be denied that voters would be confronted with a far more complicated system if any type of proportional representation were to be introduced.
Crucially, after the election, every one of our constituents knows who to turn to when they wish to contact their member of parliament. For me, this is the most important feature of our electoral system.
In a more proportional system, like single transferable vote, constituencies would be represented by multiple members of parliament from various parties. Clearly, this would polarise our communities and voters may only contact the MP they have voted for. And it would absolve us from our duty representing all of our constituents.
It would be far more difficult to get to know the several politicians representing your area and to hold them to account at the next general election.
Cocking also claimed there was a “simplicity and stability” to the results produced by first past the post. He went on:
For the most part, first past the post produces governments with clear, workable majorities that can last the full length of their term.
Voters want strong governments that can deliver policies in their manifesto, not the chaos of constant disagreement and repeated elections.
Under proportional representation, the party that receives the most votes does not automatically, nor quickly, form the next government.
Instead, as we are seeing now in Ireland, political parties go behind locked doors to do deals amongst themselves, discussions lasting for months until after the general election has taken place. This is plainly undemocratic, with voters given no further say.
Cocking also said the public voted decisive against changing the voting system in 2011, in the referendum on the alternative vote (which is not a proper PR system, although it can operate like one).
Extracts from Sarah Olney's speech proposing PR
Proposing her PR bill, Sarah Olney said that Labour had won two thirds of the seats in the Commons despite winning just one third of the votes.
Thanks to first past the post, nearly 60% of people who voted in the general election in July are not represented in parliament by the candidate that they voted for. This is the most disproportionate election result that this country has ever seen.
We are also seeing record levels of disillusionment with the political process, with citizens becoming increasingly disengaged. This is reflected in the fact that turnout in the 2024 general election was the second lowest since 1918 at just under 60%. Over 40 per cent of registered voters in the UK thought so little of the political process they did not think it worth expressing a preference for one candidate over another.
Olney said the Liberal Democrats had always believed “a fair voting system is an essential bedrock of a functioning democracy”. She went on:
Democracy has proved to be the most effective and enduring of governing systems because it relies on a broad base support across the population. A faulty voting system, delivering a majority government on a minority vote, undermines democracy and its ability to deliver an effective government.
Olney said she was proposing a PR system using the single transferrable vote (STV). This system would protect the link between MPs and local constituencies, she said. She went on:
In the most recent general election, the number of MPs elected to this chamber with more than 50% of the votes cast in their constituency was just 96. It decreased from 421 in the previous 2019 election and 476 in the general election before that.
Ten of our colleagues in this current parliament were elected with the votes of fewer than 30% of their constituents. Far fewer MPs in this place can say today that they have the support of the majority of their constituents, or even a broad base of support, than ever before.
Olney said STV was already in use for local elections in two of the four nations of the UK (Scotland and Northern Ireland). And taking into account the use of other forms of PR in Britain (for the Scottish parliament and the Senedd in Wales), first past the post was now the “outlier rather than the norm”, she said.
Olney said it is not just the Lib Dems backing PR. Labour voted for it at its conference two years ago, she said.
She concluded:
This summer, the Labour party won a landline election victory, securing 63% of the seats in the House of Commons with 34% of the vote. This system leads millions of voices unheard, and creates a divisive, adversarial political climate where collaboration is discouraged and accountability is often sidestepped.
The Liberal Democrats have long championed proportional representation, advocating for a voting system where every vote truly counts.
Updated
No 10 does not deny Starmer discussed Parthenon marbles with Greek PM, but insists main focus on other matters
According to reports in the Greek media, Greek government sources are saying that Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, did discuss the Parthenon marbles when they met in Downing Street this morning.
One report quoted Greek government sources as saying: “We welcome the fact that the British government will not stand in the way if there is an agreement with the British Museum.”
At the Downing Street afternoon lobby briefing, the No 10 spokesperson did not deny that the sculptures were mentioned during the talks. But, pointing to what the UK government said in its readout of the meeting (see 12.58pm), and what the Greek government said in its readout, he said the two leaders focused on priorities and “areas of shared cooperation”.
Asked if the fate of the marbles was a joint priority, the spokesperson said the priority issues were those mentioned in the readouts. (Neither of them refer to the Parthenon, but the Greek one does reference tourism.)
Updated
Downing Street has confirmed that it has no plans to introduce proportional representation. At the afternoon lobby briefing, asked how the government would react to the vote on the PR 10-minute-rule bill, a No 10 spokesperson said the government was elected on a manifesto which did not propose PR, but which said participation in democracy would be encouraged by measures like improving voter registration and making voter ID rules fairer. The manifesto also proposed protecting democracy by strengthening the rules around donations to political parties, the spokesperson said.
The Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney has described the vote for her 10-minute rule bill backing PR as a “historic day in the fight for fairer votes”. In a statement she said:
This is a historic day in the fight for fairer votes and I am grateful to all the MPs who backed it.
Trust in our political system is broken following years of the Conservative Party riding roughshod over standards in public life.
Fixing our broken electoral system, introducing fair votes, and making sure everyones’ voice matters is the best way to rebuild this trust.
Today, as we have done for a century, Liberal Democrats are leading the fight for fair votes and making sure that no one can be ignored in our democracy.
The government must now listen to the will of the house, make time for the legislation and make fairer a votes a reality and we will be holding their feet to the fire to make this happen.
Labour MP criticises Claire Coutinho for attacking heat pump law she introduced herself as energy secretary
A Labour MP has written to Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, to ask why she has described a policy to encourage the use of heat pumps as a trap set “the climate change lobby” when it was Coutinho herself who introduced it in government.
Polly Billington, the East Thanet MP who was an environmental campaigner before entering parliament this summer, also asked why Coutinho claimed recently that she had “scrapped” the clean-heat market mechanism (CHMM) when she had instead just delayed its implementation.
Under the CHMM, which was introduced in December 2023, four months after Coutinho was made energy and climate change secretary, targets were introduced for the sale of heat pumps as home heating systems from April 2024. She later put this deadline back by a year.
Although her Labour replacement, Ed Miliband, has simply kept to the same April 2025 date, Coutinho called the CHMM “a classic example of policy designed for the green lobby and vested interest groups rather than for the consumer” and said she had “scrapped” it.
She also said:
The climate change lobby have been itching to get this on the statute book for years because it uses higher costs to force people to buy heat pumps.
In her letter to Coutinho, Billington asked Coutinho to explain on what basis she said she had scrapped the policy. She added:
You then stated that, ‘the climate change lobby have been itching to get this on the statute books for years.’ As the person who introduced the CHMM onto the statute book, can you confirm if you are, or have ever been, a member of the climate change lobby?
Coutinho was contacted for comment.
How MPs voted by party in 10-minute rule bill on PR
Here are the voting figures on the 10-minute rule bill on PR. (See 3.15pm.) This was not a whipped vote, but the figures show some interesing splits within the parties.
Voting for the pro-PR 10-minute rule bill
Greens: 4
Independents: 4
Labour: 59
Lib Dems: 62
Plaid Cymru: 4
Reform UK: 3
TUV: 1
Conservatives: 78
DUP: 4
Independent: 1
Labour: 50
Reform UK: 1
UUP: 1
The biggest split, obviously, is in Labour, where members and MPs have long been deeply divided on this issue. Two years ago the Labour conference voted in favour of PR. The leadership made it clear it was not going to take any notice, but Labour’s national policy forum report subsequently said first past the post (FPTP) was driving “the distrust and alienation we see in politics”.
But the Reform UK vote is interesting too. Like Ukip before it, Reform UK has always been in favour of PR. At the election it suffered the most from the disproportionality of FPTP, gaining 14.3% of the national vote but only 0.8% of available seats. Their manifesto advocated PR.
Today three Reform UK MPs (Lee Anderson, Richard Tice and James McMurdock) voted in favour. However, a fourth, Rupert Lowe, voted against. Nigel Farage, the party leader, did not vote.
Updated
Back to Wales, and Rhun ap Iorwerth, the Plaid Cymru leader, has said the resignation of Andrew RT Davies as Welsh Conservative leader shows the Tories are not offering solutions to the people of Wales. Ap Iorwerth said:
The legacy of the Tories in Wales is one of chaos and cuts - a legacy that was roundly rejected at the ballot box this year. They offer no solutions for the challenges facing our communities and nor do they have a serious plan for government.
Plaid Cymru stands ready to offer Wales a fresh start. While the Tories fight amongst themselves and Labour continues to let down our communities, Plaid Cymru is united and focused on delivering our vision to rebuild our economy, fix the NHS, demand fair treatment from UK Government and show real ambition for the future of our nation.
Electoral reform campaigners achieve symbolic win as MPs back PR bill in vote with no practical effect
MPs have voted for PR. The Commons voted to give Sarah Olney leave to bring in her PR bill by 138 votes to 136.
This will have no practical impact. (See 3pm.) A 10-minute rule bill is a type of private member’s bill but, even though after the vote was read out the deputy speaker made a point of asking what day was set aside for the second reading (Friday 24 January), no time will be allocated for the bill that day, and so after today it will vanish into the parliamentary ether. Asking for the date of the second reading is an empty ritual.
But, symbolically, this is a victory for electoral reform campaigners.
And the result may be seen as further evidence that there is significant support for PR in the parliamentary Labour party.
However, Keir Starmer has shown no interest in electoral reform, and given that he won a landslide majority through first past the post, campaigners for a different system may have a hard job getting him to change his mind.
Updated
MPs vote on 10-minute rule bill backing PR
In the Commons MPs are voting on proportional representation. It is not a vote that will have any impact (even if it passes), but the numbers may be interesting.
Under the 10-minute rule procedure, MPs who win a slot can give a short speech proposing a bill. The Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney got a 10-minute rule bill slot today and she proposed “a bill to introduce a system of proportional representation for parliamentary elections and for local government elections in England”.
Normally, when an MP proposes a 10-minute rule bill motion, they get leave to bring in the bill, and then nothing is ever heard of the legislation ever again.
But today the Conservative MP Lewis Cocking gave a speech opposing PR, and MPs are now voting on whether or not Olney should have leave to bring in her bill.
Mel Stride suggests Reeves 'spoke without thinking' as he taunts her for not restating CBI comment ruling out all future tax rises
Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, has refused to repeat what she told the CBI last month when she said: “I’m not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes.”
During Treasury questions in the Commons this morning, Mel Stride, her Tory shadow, quoted Reeves’s words and asked: “Did she mean it?”
Reeves replied:
At the budget in October, which [Stride] knows, we had to fix a £22bn black hole in the public finances, and of course some of that black hole comes from the fact that we are the only G7 economy where employment is lower than it was before the pandemic, when he was presiding as work and pensions secretary in the previous government.
So we did have to raise taxes to fund our public services, but never again will we have to repeat a budget like that, because we have now wiped the slate clean and drawn a line under the mess created by the last government.
When Stride asked Reeves if she was refusing to repeat what she told the CBI because she had been over-ruled by No 10, or because she “spoke without thinking”, Reeves replied:
No chancellor is going to write five years worth of budget in their first five months as chancellor of the exchequer, but what I can say is that we will never have to deliver a budget like that again, because we took the decisions in this budget to wipe the slate clean after this mismanagement and decline and chaos of the previous government.
Experts tells MPs young people should not be forced to do T-levels as main alternative to A-levels
Education experts and sector leaders have urged the government to avoid forcing young people to take T-levels as the main alternative to A-levels in England, describing the new post-16 vocational qualification as “chunky” and lacking in options.
The Department for Education has paused plans to end state funding of alternatives to T-levels, including BTecs, where they overlap with T-level subjects. A wider decision is expected as soon as next week.
Anna Gardner, chief executive of the Edge Foundation which promotes skills education, told MPs on the education select committee this morning that T-levels are “possibly not the route for every young person”, with 30% of the most recent cohort dropping out during the two-year course, compared with 90% retention for students taking BTecs and A-levels.
Gardner said:
There are overlaps but there are a number of students who will need that overlap and the option to do BTecs or other qualifications in this area, and we want to make sure we don’t take away that choice.
David Robinson, director for post-16 and skills at the Education Policy Institute, said that while 25% of students hadn’t gained a grade 4 or better in English or maths GCSEs, only a fraction had gone on to take T-levels. He said:
I think there are serious questions around where [the remaining] 20% of students are going to go.
T-levels were launched in 2020, with a single course intended to be equivalent to taking three A-levels. However take-up has been sluggish, with the government this week reducing the amount of work placements that students will be expected to undertake.
Tories accuse PM of caving in to 'radical left' over Parthenon marbles - even though 53% of voters back their return
Readers will have noticed that there was no mention of the Parthenon marbles in the readout of the meeting between Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart. (See 12.58pm.) Yesterday No 10 said Starmer would not be raising his issue at the meeting and at the lobby briefing this morning the PM’s suggested the meeting focused on trade and foreign policy issues, not the marbles.
But that has not stopped the Conservatives claiming that Starmer is about to cave in to the “radical left” over the marbles. As the lobby briefing was ending, but before the No 10 readout was released, CCHQ released a statement from Saqib Bhatti, a shadow culture minister, saying:
Sir Keir Starmer has already capitulated over the Chagos Islands, and now it appears he is set to cave in to the radical left and return the Elgin marbles to Greece.
The British Museum has cared for these precious artefacts for generations and given people from around the globe the chance to learn about their tremendous story.
The marbles are protected by an act of parliament - the PM needs to be clear that he will not allow the law to be changed and block any legal work around that might be devised to allow them to be taken out of this country.
The prime minister should be standing up for Britain, our heritage, and our world-class cultural institutions instead of giving in to pressure from campaigners who detest British history.
The Tory statement seems to have been inspired by this Guardian story by Helena Smith, saying that talks betweent the Greeks and the British Museum over a deal that could see the sculptures returned to Athens are “well advanced”.
Under the British Museum Act 1963, the museum is not allowed to give away its artefacts. No 10 insists it has no plans to change this law. But asked if the government would try to block the marbles going to Greece as part of a loan agreement, the PM’s spokesperson told journalists today:
The government’s position is we have no plans to change the law that would permit a permanent move, and that the case of decisions relating to the care and management of the sculptures are a matter for the trustees for the British Museum, which is operationally independent.
Asked if that meant the Greeks could get the artefacts on loan, the spokesperson replied: “Those decisions are entirely for the British Museum.”
So, if there is a deal with the Greeks about the Parthenon marbles, it does not sound like one that Starmer, or the government, particularly wants to be associated with. In public at least, it is certainly not something the PM is pushing for.
And, according to YouGov polling, more than half of voters are in favour sending the marbles back to Greece anyway. Fewer than a quarter of them want the sculptures to stay. This suggests the Tories’ claim that marbles repatriation is a “radical left” cause is is also erroneous – unless they believe radical leftism has already captured the country.
Updated
Downing Street has released its readout of Keir Starmer’s meeting with his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. A No 10 spokesperson said:
[Starmer] began by underlining the importance of the UK-Greece relationship and reiterated his ambition for closer working with partners across Europe.
The leaders agreed that there are strong opportunities to deliver growth for both countries across trade, investment, education and defence and they looked forward to strengthening this collaboration.
On illegal migration, the prime ministers agreed to double-down on the joint action between the UK and Greece to tackle this shared challenge.
Turning to global conflicts, they both underlined their unwavering support for Ukraine and reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza to enable regional stability in the Middle East.
The prime minister welcomed Greece’s Presidency at the UN Security Council next year as an opportunity to continue these important discussions.
They agreed to stay in touch.
Foreign Office minister insists there's been 'no change in UK position' on Ukraine, despite PM's negotiation talk in speech
Catherine West, the Foreign Office minister, is responding to Patel. She claims there has been no change in the government’s position. She says:
Could I reassure [Patel] that there is no change in the UK position. We have always said we will support Ukraine to achieve a just peace on its own terms. The PM has been clear, including in his speech last night, that we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support self defence for as long as it takes, because it’s for Ukraine to determine its position in any future discussions.
Priti Patel says Starmer's Mansion House speech implied change in government's stance on Ukraine
Catherine West, a Foreign Office minister, is responding to the urgent question about Ukraine.
She says UK support for Ukraine is “ironclad”. In her opening statement, she does not mention negotiations, or the PM’s speech last night.
In her response, Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, says Keir Starmer’s language was last night was new. In the past the government has said the UK will do what it takes to support Ukraine.
She says all MPs want to see Ukraine in the strongest possible postion.
But she goes on:
If the government is now framing this through the lens of negotiation, does the minister believe that this would represent a departure from the current approach and the statements that have been issued in this house?
What Starmer said about Ukraine in Mansion House speech
Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, is asking a Commons urgent question about Ukraine.
In his Mansion House speech last night, Keir Starmer hinted that the the government expects Ukraine to open negotiations with Russia soon about a possible peace deal. He said:
And let’s be clear, the future of freedom in Europe is being decided today. We face a near and present danger with Russia as an erratic, increasingly desperate aggressor, on our continent marshalling all its resources - along with North Korean troops and Iranian missiles - aiming to kill and to conquer.
So there’s no question. It’s right we support Ukraine. But we must also be clear that it is deeply in our self-interest to do so. I would encourage everyone here to stop and think for a moment about what it would mean to us, to our continent, to the world if Russia wins. What would it mean for our values – for democracy, commerce, and liberty?
It means they are weakened. It means that other autocrats would believe they can follow in Putin’s example. And it means that our own security, stability and prosperity – are damaged. The further Russian troops advance, the closer the threat becomes. The more land they control, the more they control grain prices and energy sources, and the more confident Putin becomes.
So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so that they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence - and right to choose their future.
Nigel Huddleston, the Conservative party chair, has put out a statement about the resignation of Andrew RT Davies as the party’s leader in Wales.
He says the whole party is “united” in wanting renewal – which implies a poor understanding of the circumstances leading to Davies’s resignation. (See 12.11pm.)
Huddleston says:
I would like to thank Andrew RT Davies for his dedication and leadership of the Welsh Conservatives.
Over 10 years he has done a great job in holding the Welsh Labour Government to account - never missing an opportunity to highlight their mishandling of the NHS, roads and the economy.
The whole Conservative party is united in renewing the party for the future and I know that Andrew will help us with that mission as he continues in his role as an assembly member.
New Covid corruption commissioner will investigate 'carnival for fraud' in PPE contracts, Reeves tells MPs
This is what Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, told MPs during Treasury questions about the appointment of Tom Hayhoe as her Covid corruption commissioner.
Sound management of the public finances means spending wisely and not sending money to fraudsters. Today I have appointed the health expert Tom Hayhoe as our new Covid counter-fraud commissioner.
As chair of a NHS trust during the pandemic he saw the urgency of getting PPE to NHS staff when they needed it. Now he is at his desk in my department starting the work to investigate the billions of pounds lost to fraud and underperforming contracts and instead ensuring that money is where it belongs in our public services.
Tom Hayhoe will leave no stone unturned in investigating the carnival of fraud that the previous government presided over, including in PPE contracts where they recommended that any attempts to reclaim that money be abandoned.
Welsh Labour says Davies's resignation shows Tories still 'navel gazing' and ignoring needs of voters
Welsh Labour accused the Tories of focusing on themselves rather than the people of Wales. A spokesperson said:
The Welsh Conservative summer of naval gazing continues into the autumn. Instead of focusing on the needs of the people of Wales and reflecting on why voters so thoroughly rejected them in the general election, they are choosing to continue to focus on themselves.
The Welsh Conservatives have shown themselves, once more, to not be a serious party. Only Welsh Labour is serious about delivering for the people of Wales.
Welsh Labour has had a terrible year itself with its former leader and first minister Vaughan Gething forced to resign following an election donation scandal.
Reform UK, which is targeting seats at the Senedd election, said:
True to form, the Tories have turfed out another leader thinking that will resurrect their failing party. They care more about jousting for position than they do about serving Welsh people.
It does not matter who they have as leader, the simple fact is they have failed in opposition just as they failed Wales in government in Westminster for 14 years.
Updated
Adrian Masters from ITV Cymru has posted the results of the no confidence vote in Andrew RT Davies on social media.
Breakdown of Welsh Conservative confidence vote:
Confidence: RT Davies, Jones, Gareth Davies, James, Finch Saunders, Paul Davies, George, Isherwood, Millar
No confidence: Kurtz, Rowlands, Giffard, Fox, Hussein, Asghar, Evans
Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies resigns, saying his position 'untenable' after he almost lost confidence vote
The leader of the Welsh Tories, Andrew RT Davies, has announced his resignation – despite winning a vote of confidence called following a dismal UK general election campaign and concern over comments he has made on halal meat, the abolition of the Welsh parliament and the country’s 20mph speed limit law.
Nine members of the Welsh parliament’s Tory group backed Davies while seven were against him. But Davies says the fact that he almost lost has made it impossible for him to stay on.
Davies, a farmer from Cowbridge in south Wales, has twice led the Tories in Wales, from 2011 to 2018 and then again from 2021 but his leadership has come under scrutiny in recent months.
The Tories were completely wiped out in Wales at the UK general election.
They are currently the second biggest part in the Senedd, the Welsh parliament, but a poll published this week put them in fourth place behind Plaid, Labour and Reform UK when people were asked who they would vote for at the next Senedd elections in 2026.
Davies has faced criticism after claiming “children should not be forced to eat halal school lunches” in an article for GB News, when a constituent alleged she was told non-halal meat was not available at her daughter’s school.
He was criticised for a post on social media from the Vale of Glamorgan County Show inviting people to have their say on abolishing the Senedd – not a Tory policy.
Davies was also reprimanded for bringing the Senedd into disrepute by calling Wales’ 20mph speed limit a “blanket” policy, which is wrong because there are exemptions.
In his resignation letter, Davies says that even though he won the confidence vote, a “substantial minority” of Tory MSs (members of the Senedd) oppose him. He says this has made his position “untenable”.
Here is an extract from the resignation letter.
And here is a tweet with a link to the full letter.
With deep regret, I have today resigned as Leader of the Welsh Conservative Senedd Group.
— Andrew RT Davies (@AndrewRTDavies) December 3, 2024
Read my letter below. pic.twitter.com/1551GYkztt
There was no mention of the Parthenon marbles at the top of a meeting in Downing Street between Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
In public remarks at the start of the meeting, Starmer said he hoped to “build on our strong bilateral relationship and to talk about our common issues”.
And Mitsotakis said Greece and the UK would build on the two nations’ partnership during “turbulent times”. He said:
We see the United Kingdom as integral in addressing the security challenges that we are facing, not just in Ukraine but also in southeastern Europe and the Middle East.
Labour candidate suspended for betting he would lose says he was 'badly treated' by party as watchdog clears him
A Labour candidate who placed a bet on himself during the election campaign says he was “badly treated” by the party and is calling for politicians to be banned from gambling on elections, PA Media reports. PA says:
Kevin Craig was running to become MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich when he was suspended by the Labour party for placing a bet on himself to lose.
He has been cleared by the Gambling Commission and is now promoting a bill to bar politicians from gambling on elections so others “do not have to endure the same fate”.
The Labour Party has lifted his suspension. The Gambling Commission said it had closed its investigation into him.
Craig “acted lawfully” when he placed the bet and the gambling watchdog’s conclusion is a “complete and total exoneration”, his lawyer said in a statement.
The law prohibits placing a bet with inside information, but there is no law to prevent a politician betting on the outcome of an election in general, he said. He said the Labour candidate had no inside information, no way of knowing who would win the election, and placed frequent bets on all sorts of outcomes and events.
“It is widely recognised that some people place bets against the result they wish to happen, for example, betting against their football team. Such behaviour helps cushion the disappointment of a loss,” the lawyer said.
No investigation took place before Craig’s name was disclosed and he was publicly suspended from the Labour Party, his lawyer added.
“The first Kevin Craig knew of this matter was when he was publicly suspended and that should not have happened.”
He said there was “no precedent” for such action by the party.
“We trust that everyone will accept Kevin Craig’s exoneration and see him as the diligent, decent and honest man that he is. He has been badly treated. He will now promote a bill banning politicians from gambling on elections in order that there is clarity and others do not have to endure the same fate.”
The Conservatives won the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich seat in the July election with a majority of 4,290, down from 23,391 at the 2019 election.
Lord Robertson, the former Labour defence secretary and former Nato secretary who is leading the government’s strategic defence review, is giving evidence to the Commons defence committee. He has told MPs that the Americans are being fully consulted about the review. This is from Shashank Joshi, the Economist’s defence editor.
Listening to George Robertson & Richard Barrons, who are writing the UK’s defence review alongside Fiona Hill, giving evidence to the Commons defence committee. They’re in “constant contact” with allies, Robertson says, and have a US officer on the review team.
There will be three urgent questions in the Commons today after 12.30pm, followed by a ministerial statement. Here is the running order.
12.30pm: A Foreign Office minister will respond to a UQ from Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, on Ukraine.
Around 1.15pm: A Foreign Office minister will respond to a UQ from the SNP’s Stephen Gethins about the elections in Georgia.
Around 2pm: A business minister will respond to a UQ about new revelations about links between supermarket supply chains and Uyghur forced labour.
Around 2.45pm: Jess Phillips, the Home Office minister, will make a statement about the anti-stalking measures announced today. (See 9.50am.)
Opposition parties join forces to oppose employers' national insurance increase
MPs will vote later today on the second reading of the national insurance contributions (secondary class 1 contributions) bill – the legislation implementing the big rise in employers’ national insurance announced in the budget. This proposal has managed to unite all the main opposition parties, which are opposed.
The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have tabled separate amendments opposing the bill. A third amendment that would block it has been tabled jointly by the SNP and Plaid Cymru, and signed by the Green party.
The four main parties tabling the amendments have all released statements ahead of the vote. For the Tories, Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, said:
Broken promises have consequences. This national insurance increase means lower wages, fewer jobs, the closure of businesses and lower growth.
Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson,
This government rightly says that its big economic mission is to drive up growth but this tax rise will undermine growth not unleash it.
Small businesses are the engine of growth but these taxes will make it more expensive for them to employ people and harder to expand.
Health and wealth are two sides of the same coin but for community health providers like pharmacies, GPs and our care sector, it will pile on the cost pressure, leaving patients to suffer.
There is no doubt the Conservatives left an enormous mess but this is not the way to fix it. We have said time and again that the government should have looked to the big banks and social media giants to fund our NHS and other vital public services.
Dave Doogan, the SNP Westminster economy spokesperson, said:
Two months on from the UK budget and it is clearer by the day that not only was Labour’s massive national insurance tax hike ill-thought out, but that Scotland was clearly an afterthought.
Ben Lake, the Plaid Cymru Treasury spokesperson, said:
The UK government had the opportunity to explore more progressive and fairer ways to raise revenue – such as equalising capital gains tax with income tax or introducing a wealth tax. Instead, they opted for a path that shifts the burden onto those least able to bear it, at a time of significant financial strain on public services and businesses.
Trump picks Republican mega-donor Warren Stephens as ambassador to UK
Donald Trump has picked investment banker and Republican mega-donor Warren Stephens to serve as ambassador to the UK, Alice Herman reports.
Claire Waxman, London’s independent victims’ commissioner, has welcomed the anti-stalking measures announced by the Home Office today. (See 9.50am.) A review of stalking legislation and greater use of stalking protection orders are both things she called for after her London stalking review.
Waxman said:
Too often, I hear from victims facing relentless, terrifying behaviour from stalkers, only for the police or CPS to downgrade it to a lesser offence, such as malicious communications or harassment.
It is clear the current stalking laws are failing to protect victims and I urge government to now proceed swiftly with their review in this area.
Full list of new anti-stalking measures announced by Home Office
Here is the full list of anti-stalking measures announced by the Home Office today.
A “right to know” should ensure that the police tell victims the identity of stalkers as soon as possible.
Stalking protection orders will be more widely available. The Home Office says:
These orders can ban stalkers from going within a certain distance of their victims or contacting them, and can also compel them to attend a perpetrator programme to address the root causes of their behaviour.
Currently, these can only be applied when an offender is convicted and when a protection order was in place before they went on trial. Once implemented, under new measures, courts will be given the power to impose restrictions on perpetrators after they have been convicted even if there was no protection order in place before they went on trial, stopping, for example, offenders from contacting their victims from prison. Courts will also be able to directly apply protection orders on those who have been acquitted if there is enough evidence to suggest that they are still a risk to the victim.
Stalking will be defined in statutory guidance, so that “proper protections are put in place for every victim of stalking”.
National standards for stalking perpetrator programmes will be published.
New data on stalking offences will be published by the Home Office.
The Home Office has said it will accept or partially accept all the recommendations in the “super-complaint” organised by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust in 2022 into the way police forces deal with stalking.
Stalking legislation will be reviewed. This will “determine whether the law could be changed to support police to better identify stalking and arrest offenders.”
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Prisoners could be given stalking protection orders to stop them stalking women from jail under new plans, Phillips says
Under the package of anti-stalking measures announced today, the courts will be able to impose stalking protection orders on people in prison. Explaining why this was needed, Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, told LBC:
Judges will be able to hand out stalking protection orders to people on conviction, which they currently can’t do, which will stop people being stalked by people in prison, which I’m afraid to say, is a very real thing, and it happened to me,.
I had somebody who was in prison for harming – well, seeking to harm me – and then was able to write letters to me, contact me from prison.
Phillips said she had come across “quite a lot of cases” where ex-partners in prison for crimes against their wives or girlfriends were able to stalk them online from prison and contact them from prison.
Asked how stalking affected her, Phillips said:
I think that for most victims, what you try and do is diminish it at first. You try and assume that … it’s just one of those things where it’s somebody who keeps showing advances towards you, or, you know, you live rent-free in someone’s head when you’re a politician, until the point at which it ramps up and it begins to control you. And I’m a person with quite a lot of power. So these, these crimes are usually about power and control.
Jess Phillips says guidance intends to ensure victims know the identity of online stalkers as soon as possible
Good morning. Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, was the government voice on the morning broadcast round. She says she is unveiling six measures to protect the victims of stalking, including “right to know” guidance intended to ensure that the police tell victims the identity of online stalkers as soon as they can. Speaking on Times Radio, Phillips said:
I have been a victim of stalking, and I wasn’t told [the identity of the stalker]. I didn’t have the right to know. And in most of the cases of my stalkers, they made it clear who they were as part of their desire to control and frighten me. I’m afraid to say that I’ve had more than one in my life.
Phillips also cited the case of the activist and former Coronation Street actor Nicola Thorp who was stalked online by someone who set up almost 30 social media accounts to send her violent and threatening messages. Phillips said:
This was a case raised by Nicola Thorp, where somebody had been stalking her over multiple identities online, and when they said the police told her that they’d found out who it was, they then told her that they couldn’t tell her who it was.
And so everybody became her stalker – the person she was sat next to on the street – and already, when you’re living through something as harrowing as somebody stalking you and making you feel frightened and anxious, the idea that then you have to distrust all of the people around you as well just seems like a terrible added burden … and so that is what we’re going to eliminate.
I will post more on the package of measures shortly.
Otherwise, it’s a mixed, but busyish day. Here is the agenda.
Morning: Keir Starmer chairs cabinet.
10.50am: Starmer meets Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister, in Downing Street.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
11.30am: Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, takes questions in the Commons. She is expected to confirm the appointment of Tom Hayhoe, a former Conservative cabinet adviser, as her Covid corruption commissioner.
After 12.30pm: MPs debate the bill implementing the increase in employers’ national insurance announced in the budget.
2.30pm: Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions, gives evidence to the Commons justice committee.
4.45pm: Reeves gives a speech and takes part in a Q&A at the Yorkshire Post’s Great Northern conference.
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