Evening summary
The time is just coming up to 5pm in Westminster. Here is a round-up of the day’s news stories:
Royal Mail workers have voted overwhelmingly to continue with a campaign of industrial action in a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and conditions, the Communication Workers Union announced. A fresh ballot of Royal Mail workers who are members of the CWU showed almost 96% were in favour of more strikes unless the deadlock is broken. CWU general secretary Dave Ward said it was a “stunning” result which showed that Royal Mail workers were determined to continue campaigning against plans to introduce changes in the company.
John McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, has said it is a “mistake” for Labour to try to block Corbyn from standing as a party candidate. McDonnell, a friend and ally of Corbyn, was speaking after Keir Starmer said his predecessor would not be standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election. McDonnell told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme that the issue was “more fundamental” than being simply about Corbyn.
A senior ally of Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed as “nonsense” suggestions that Keir Starmer privately fought against the former leader’s handling of antisemitism while in his shadow cabinet. Diane Abbott, who at the time was shadow home secretary, disputed the defence levied by supporters of Starmer that he spoke up about the issue at the time, given the criticism he has faced for serving in Corbyn’s top team as shadow Brexit secretary.
Police vetting standards will be overhauled under a Labour government, including close checks of social media and immediate suspensions of officers accused of sexual offences or domestic violence, Yvette Cooper has said. The shadow home secretary said although the Home Office had powers to make changes immediately, Labour would legislate for a completely new standards framework to underpin the new rules.
The SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, suggested the party’s planned conference to discuss the next steps in its push for Scottish independence could now be delayed. Nicola Sturgeon had planned to fight the next general election as a de facto referendum on Scottish independence, with party members due to gather to discuss the plan in the coming weeks.
Rishi Sunak is to meet the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, over the weekend, raising hopes of an imminent deal to end the protracted Northern Ireland protocol dispute. They are expected to meet on the sidelines of an international security conference in Munich which will also be attended by EU leaders including the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has responded to criticism of his planned expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) by Boris Johnson. The scheme, which aims to cut emissions by charging for more polluting cars for a designated area, will be extended to the whole of the capital from 29 August. Those whose cars do not meet the standards will have to pay £12.50 each day, when they cross into the zone.
The Home Office has decided not to proceed with its appeal against a pre-Christmas high court ruling that it was unlawful to force EU citizens with pre-settled status to reapply for settled status to remain in the UK. The Home Office had been granted permission to appeal despite it posing a risk of loss of residency, employment and welfare rights to more than 2m citizens.
The proportion of repeat knife offenders in England and Wales is at its highest level in a decade. Almost one in three people found guilty of possessing or threatening people with knives or other offensive weapons last year had a previous caution or conviction for a weapons offence, according to new Ministry of Justice figures. The figure – 30% – marks the highest proportion of repeat offenders since comparable figures began in 2012.
Ambulance handover delays outside hospitals in England improved last week, falling to one of their lowest levels this winter, NHS figures show. A total of 20% of ambulance patients waited at least 30 minutes to be transferred to A&E teams, down from 24% the previous week. The figure hit a record 44% in the week to 1 January, PA Media reported. The lowest figure for the winter so far is 18%, in the week to 29 January.
That’s it from me, Tom Ambrose, and the UK politics live blog for today. Thanks for following along. I’ll be back in the morning so, for now, goodbye.
Updated
A fresh ballot of Royal Mail workers who are members of the Communication Workers Union showed almost 96% were in favour of more strikes unless the deadlock is broken.
The CWU general secretary, Dave Ward, said it was a “stunning” result which showed Royal Mail workers were determined to continue campaigning against plans to introduce changes in the company.
He revealed that talks have been held with Royal Mail’s chairman and new members of the board with a view to “refresh” talks to try to reach an agreement.
Royal Mail workers have staged a series of strikes in recent months, including in the busy run-up to Christmas.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said:
We are disappointed that the CWU members who took part in the ballot have voted to take further industrial action. Even the threat of more strike action by the CWU means more customers will switch their parcel business to our competitors. We remain committed to getting around the table with the CWU, resolving this dispute and agreeing a pay and change deal for our people.
Should the CWU announce further strike action, we have plans to minimise disruption and get our services back to normal as soon as possible to keep people, businesses and the country connected.
Royal Mail can have a bright future, and the CWU play a part in that, but further strikes and resistance to change by the CWU will only worsen our financial position and threaten the long-term job security of our postmen and women.
Not changing is not an option in a business losing £1m a day. The company’s financial position is worsening with every strike day, and we know that it is well understood by our employees. Royal Mail reported losses of almost £300m in the nine months to December 2022, two-thirds resulting from industrial action.
We urge the CWU to seriously consider our best and final pay offer and to work with us to transform Royal Mail and secure its future. That is in the best interests of Royal Mail and all its employees.
Updated
Royal Mail workers vote overwhelmingly to continue industrial action
Royal Mail workers have voted overwhelmingly to continue with a campaign of industrial action in a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and conditions, the Communication Workers Union announced.
The CWU tweeted:
BREAKING: POSTAL WORKERS HAVE MADE HISTORY
CWU members in Royal Mail Group have delivered the biggest ever return in a major national strike ballot.
YES 95.9%
TURNOUT 77.3%
Simply stunning.
#WeAreStillHere
🚨BREAKING: POSTAL WORKERS HAVE MADE HISTORY
— The CWU (@CWUnews) February 16, 2023
CWU members in Royal Mail Group have delivered the biggest ever return in a major national strike ballot.
YES 95.9%
TURNOUT 77.3%
Simply stunning. #WeAreStillHere pic.twitter.com/QNaESTEZ2A
The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said police officers being investigated for domestic abuse or sexual offences should be suspended.
“Obviously the really awful cases of David Carrick and Wayne Couzens have illuminated the failures in vetting standards monitoring misconduct,” Cooper said.
Speaking at the Institute for Government today, she said Labour would “most urgently … introduce new mandatory requirements on vetting, standards, training and misconduct underpinned by new legislation”.
Updated
Outgoing Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon appears to be enjoying the aftermath of her resignation announcement.
Despite vowing not to back a candidate to become her successor, she has been joking on Twitter that she may have to rethink that promise.
First, the three-time grand slam tennis champion Andy Murray put his name in the frame, tweeting that Sturgeon’s departure leaves an “interesting vacancy”.
The first minister replied:
I know I said I wouldn’t endorse anyone as my successor, but….
I know I said I wouldn’t endorse anyone as my successor, but….
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) February 15, 2023
😉🤣 https://t.co/rubcXQW7Fi
This was followed by the Scottish online cult figure Gary Tank Commander throwing his hat in the ring, prompting Sturgeon to tweet:
First @andy_murray and now @GARYTANK - my decision not to endorse a successor is coming under strain…
First @andy_murray and now @GARYTANK - my decision not to endorse a successor is coming under strain… https://t.co/tiUEmbOIaB
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) February 16, 2023
Meanwhile, Sturgeon shared what she described as one of her favourite photos from her time as first minister, pictured standing next to the Scottish basketball legend Kieron Achara.
I’ve had so many lovely messages today that I’ll never be able to reply to all - but thank you so much everyone 🙏
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) February 15, 2023
I’m singling this one out, not just because it was a pleasure to meet Kieron, but also this is one of my fave pics as FM. I know I’m not tall, but… https://t.co/9oLokY4FnK
Updated
John McDonnell also told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme that Keir Starmer had “completely misunderstood” Jeremy Corbyn’s position when he vowed to bar the former leader from standing at the next election under the Labour banner.
McDonnell said:
None of us should downplay the position with regard to antisemitism. As all of us have said: ‘One anti-semite in our party is too many’. We’ve all got to tackle it and I welcome that.
In 2020, what Keir promised when he was standing for the leader of the party, he said he would oppose and end the imposition of candidates by the national executive committee and he would say that party members would be able to select their candidates for every election.
And that’s what we want him to abide by – the promises that he gave.
Asked if Starmer had broken the promises that got him elected, McDonnell said that being seen to have backtracked on commitments would create vulnerabilities the Conservatives could exploit.
He added:
What Keir said, particularly around this issue about democracy in the parties, is that he would uphold it, that party members will be able to select their candidates, and I’m urging him to stick to that promise, otherwise it will open up a vulnerability.
Updated
Corbyn ally says it's a mistake to block him from running for Labour
John McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, has said it is a “mistake” for Labour to try to block Corbyn from standing as a party candidate.
McDonnell, a friend and ally of Corbyn, was speaking after Keir Starmer said his predecessor would not be standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election.
McDonnell told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme that the issue was “more fundamental” than being simply about Corbyn.
He said:
I think it’s something more fundamental than whether it is Jeremy Corbyn or me or anyone else is allowed to stand.
The issue for us is that we were created as a coalition of a whole range of different political views, a broad church as we describe it, and the norms of our party, the normative values of our party, is to have that sort of mutual respect for different views and hold together.
That includes ensuring that we have democratic procedures, where the rights of our party members is to enable them to select the candidates of their choosing. And to undermine that flies in the face of everything that we stand for.
And that’s why I think it’s a mistake and I think it’s a mistake for Keir to try and bar Jeremy Corbyn from standing. But it’s not just about Jeremy, it’s much more fundamental than that.
Updated
The proportion of repeat knife offenders in England and Wales is at its highest level in a decade.
Almost one in three people found guilty of possessing or threatening people with knives or other offensive weapons last year had a previous caution or conviction for a weapons offence, according to new Ministry of Justice figures.
The figure – 30% – marks the highest proportion of repeat offenders since comparable figures began in 2012.
The proportion has slowly crept up over the last decade. In 2012, 24% of those found guilty of knife or offensive weapons possession were repeat offenders.
The MoJ said the year ending September 2022 had a much higher number of cases referred to the crown court and awaiting sentencing than previous years – so the picture could change once they have been decided.
Police recorded more than 45,000 offences of people possessing knives or other offensive weapons (excluding guns) in the year ending September, according to separate Home Office data.
That also marks the highest total since comparable records began – although part of that rise will be down to better police recording practices.
Figures released last week showed the number of people stabbed to death in England and Wales reached its highest annual total in the 12 months ending March 2022.
Updated
Labour would suspend police officers accused of sexual offences, Yvette Cooper says
Police vetting standards will be overhauled under a Labour government, including close checks of social media and immediate suspensions of officers accused of sexual offences or domestic violence, Yvette Cooper has said.
The shadow home secretary said although the Home Office had powers to make changes immediately, Labour would legislate for a completely new standards framework to underpin the new rules.
Speaking at the Institute for Government, where she said Labour would also overhaul police forces to put far more officers on neighbourhood patrols, Cooper said it was vital to restore trust and community links.
But she stopped short of saying that forces with significant failings such as the Metropolitan police should be dismantled and re-established with a new name and remit to restore trust, saying judgment on further reform should come after Louise Casey’s report.
“The truly shocking cases of David Carrick and Wayne Couzens have shown vetting, standards and misconduct systems have badly failed,” Cooper said.
“Neither of those men should ever have been police officers or able to serve for so long. Systems to root out racism, misogyny, homophobia and toxic bullying culture are nowhere near strong enough – letting victims, communities and policing down. Confidence has fallen further in black communities too.”
Cooper said as home secretary, Labour would “most urgently … introduce new mandatory requirements on vetting, standards, training and misconduct underpinned by new legislation.”
Updated
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has responded to criticism of his planned expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) by Boris Johnson.
The scheme, which aims to cut emissions by charging for more polluting cars for a designated area, will be extended to the whole of the capital from 29 August.
Those whose cars do not meet the standards will have to pay £12.50 each day, when they cross into the zone.
It has been met with objections that it will hit the poorest hardest, as well as complaints from those who live in counties on the outskirts of London that they will be disproportionately affected.
A study has found that the Ulez has cut pollutants by up to 26%.
In a Twitter video on Wednesday, Johnson accused Khan of expanding the scheme to “rake in money” from motorists.
The mayor told PA Media news agency on Thursday: “Johnson was the mayor who took no action 10 years ago when he was given a report that showed that there were more than 400 schools in areas where the air was unlawful, some of the poorest parts of the country, he hid that report away.
“He’s also the mayor who knew about nine-year-old Ella [Adoo-Kissi-Debrah], 10 years ago, losing her life and took no action.”
He added: “He’s also the mayor who, when he became the prime minister, penalised London when it came to the deal with TfL [Transport for London].
“So we’ll take no lectures from a former prime minister, the former mayor, who ignored the science and ignored the facts.”
Updated
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has harked back to Tony Blair’s “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”, in a speech this morning.
In a speech that forms part of Labour’s “crime week”, which will actually last ten days according to Politico’s Playbook email, she said that Labour will hire 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers.
The plans were previewed in the Guardian, which saw the party reference BBC One’s Happy Valley character Catherine Cawood.
Speaking at the Institute for Government thinktank, she said there would be a new generation of the “bobby on the beat”.
“Drawing on the traditional core of British policing – the bobby on the beat – but modernised for a new age, equipped with new training and technology so they can use data to target hotspots, react quickly and build partnerships to solve problem,” she said.
Cooper then referenced Blair’s speech to Labour party conference in 1993, when the future leader occupied Cooper’s current post.
She said: “Thirty years ago this year Labour shadow home secretary Tony Blair said our party would be ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’.
“It was right then, it’s right now. It’s what we did then, it’s what we’ll do again.”
Here’s a video taking us through Nicola Sturgeon’s career, including being leader of the Scottish National party when they became the third largest party in Westminster in 2015.
Sunak to meet Von der Leyen amid hopes of Northern Ireland protocol deal
Rishi Sunak is to meet the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, over the weekend, raising hopes of an imminent deal to end the protracted Northern Ireland protocol dispute.
They are expected to meet on the sidelines of an international security conference in Munich which will also be attended by EU leaders including the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron.
Talks to solve the dispute over the Brexit trading arrangements have intensified over the past week and it is thought an agreement in principle is at the closing stages.
UK sources say an announcement has been pencilled in for next week, possibly Tuesday, if the remaining issues can be resolved.
If loose ends cannot be tied up over the weekend, the schedule will be moved back. Sources say both sides are keen to present a “voluntary agreement” and avoid slipping back into the era of threats and counter-threats.
The Home Office has decided not to proceed with its appeal against a pre-Christmas high court ruling that it was unlawful to force EU citizens with pre-settled status to reapply for settled status to remain in the UK.
The Home Office had been granted permission to appeal despite it posing a risk of loss of residency, employment and welfare rights to more than 2m citizens.
Kathryn Chamberlain, the chief executive of the Independent Monitoring Authority, which brought the case, said she was pleased with the Home Office’s decision but remained cautious until the new rules were put in place.
She said:
We have already begun discussing with the Home Office how the IMA will be engaged as part of the Home Office’s work to make the necessary changes to the EUSS.
We hope that being part of that process will ensure the IMA can monitor those changes as they are developed, and also ensure that they are sufficiently promoted among citizens.
Until the new arrangements are in place, citizens with pre-settled status are encouraged to apply for settled status under the EUSS as soon as they are eligible for it.
Updated
Abbott denies Starmer privately defied Corbyn over antisemitism
A senior ally of Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed as “nonsense” suggestions that Keir Starmer privately fought against the former leader’s handling of antisemitism while in his shadow cabinet.
Diane Abbott, who at the time was shadow home secretary, disputed the defence levied by supporters of Starmer that he spoke up about the issue at the time, given the criticism he has faced for serving in Corbyn’s top team as shadow Brexit secretary.
The Jewish Labour MP Margaret Hodge told Sky News on Wednesday that “people had to take personal decisions as to how they were going to respond to the appalling circumstances we found ourselves in”.
Defending Starmer, she said some people had left the Labour party but others “decided to fight it from within”.
“Keir decided to fight it privately, and I think those were really, really, really difficult decisions to take at the time. But what I can say to you is Keir’s leadership, since he became elected as leader of the Labour party, you just can’t quarrel with it.”
But Abbott, who worked with Starmer in the shadow cabinet for three and a half years, tweeted: “I was in Jeremy’s shadow cabinet alongside Starmer. It is nonsense to say he was fighting privately.”
Her suggestion appears at odds with recollections by another figure who served in the shadow cabinet under Corbyn, Emily Thornberry. The then shadow foreign secretary said that during the 2020 leadership hustings she and Starmer “would regularly, the two of us, call for a regular report to the shadow cabinet” on how the issue of antisemitism was being addressed.
Updated
Ambulance handover delays outside hospitals in England improved last week, falling to one of their lowest levels this winter, NHS figures show.
A total of 20% of ambulance patients waited at least 30 minutes to be transferred to A&E teams, down from 24% the previous week.
The figure hit a record 44% in the week to 1 January, PA Media reported. The lowest figure for the winter so far is 18%, in the week to 29 January.
Seven per cent of patients waited more than an hour last week to be handed over to A&E teams, down from 10% the previous week and close to the low of 6% at the end of January.
Updated
The Labour frontbencher Yvette Cooper has backed Keir Starmer’s decision to bar Jeremy Corbyn from standing as a party candidate at the next general election.
She said that the status of the former leader’s party membership was a “matter for normal processes”.
The shadow home secretary told Sky News:
Keir Starmer has been very clear that he [Corbyn] will not stand as a Labour candidate for the next election. There’s a separate process around party membership.
There are obviously different standards for people who stand to be members of parliament and rightly so. We should have proper standards in place for someone who’s going to become an MP and that’s what the issue has been.
Because Keir’s made really clear, we had an awful stain of antisemitism in our party. He’s turned that round.
Asked if Corbyn should be allowed to stay in the Labour party, she said:
Membership of the party, that’s just a matter for normal processes so it’s a different set of standards. It’s not a matter for me.
Updated
SNP Westminster leader hints at major rethink of Sturgeon independence plan
The SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, suggested the party’s planned conference to discuss the next steps in its push for Scottish independence could now be delayed.
Nicola Sturgeon had planned to fight the next general election as a de facto referendum on Scottish independence, with party members due to gather to discuss the plan in the coming weeks.
ButFlynn told Sky News:
The de facto referendum was obviously put forward by the first minister and we were going to be discussing and debating the merits of that at that party conference. I personally think that party conference should be paused, for obvious reasons.
I think the new leader should have the opportunity and indeed the space to set out their position, their values and their intentions going forward.
So that would be my take in relation to that. I think it’s sensible that we do hit the pause button on that conference and allow the new leader the opportunity to set out their vision.
Updated
Good morning and welcome to the UK politics live blog the morning after Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation as Scotland’s first minister.
The surprise announcement has thrown the Scottish National party into turmoil and triggered the first leadership contest in nearly 20 years.
The race to replace her as SNP leader now begins. The party’s executive committee meets this evening to decide the rules of the contest.
The party’s Westminster leader was on the radio this morning but declined to say who he is backing. Stephen Flynn told Sky News: “I have not seen anyone throw their name in the ring yet.”
He said it would be “unfair” to put additional pressure on someone by discussing who he supported to take over from the departing first minister.
“What I will do is obviously speak with all, if indeed there is more than one, who put themselves forward to be the leader of the party and engage with them to see what their policy priorities are and their values going forward.”
The runners and riders include the bookies’ favourite, Angus Roberston, the deputy first minister, John Swinney, and the finance secretary, Kate Forbes.
My colleagues Severin Carrell, Libby Brooks and Aletha Adu have rounded them all up here:
Updated
