UK prime minister Boris Johnson reacts as he paints a portrait of the Queen during a drawing session with children as part of his visit at the Field End Infant school, in South Ruislip, on 6 May 2022 in London, England
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UK prime minister Boris Johnson reacts as he paints a portrait of the Queen during a drawing session with children as part of his visit at the Field End Infant school, in South Ruislip, on 6 May 2022 in London, England
(Getty Images)
Boris Johnson on Sunday promised to give every child an “opportunity to thrive” in school as the ministers look to crackdown truancy, beef up the powers of education watchdogs and reform the funding system in new legislation.
Under the plan, England’s schools will be required to publish an attendance policy and there will be compulsory registers for children who are not in classrooms so the authorities can identify who is not receiving a full-time education.
Prime minister said education was "at the very heart of this Government’s agenda".
"We are determined to raise standards in our schools so every child has access to the same opportunities wherever they live, and our brilliant teachers are supported to do what they do best, which is why we’re putting our education ambition into law this week," he added.
Earlier on Sunday, the prime minister reiterated his support for Ukraine, as he told G7 leaders “the world must go further and faster” to support the war-torn country against Kremlin’s invading forces.
Mr Johnson agreed with G7 leaders that the “world must intensify economic pressure” on Mr Putin as he pushed for “military equipment” support for Kyiv.
Key points PM promises schools plan to give every child ‘opportunity to thrive’ Ukraine needs military equipment to hold and recapture ground, says UK PM Ukrainian refugees placed with unvetted hosts in unchecked homes Government poised to ditch Northern Ireland protocol unless EU backs down
Show latest update 1652076012 ‘Keir Starmer should not resign if fined over Beergate’
Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has suggested Sir Keir Starmer should not resign if he is fined by Durham Police over the beer and takeaway meal with colleagues during lockdown.
Mr Rees-Mogg – who has previously dismissed the Partygate scandal as “fluff” – said the Labour leader should be left to get on with more important matters.
It comes despite senior Tories’ attempts to step up pressure over the “Beergate” saga, with ministers demanding Starmer address “holes” in his account over the curry eaten at a Labour event last April.
Adam Forrest reports.
Keir Starmer shouldn’t resign if fined over Beergate ‘fluff’, says Rees-Mogg Labour leader should be left to get on with ‘issues of great importance’, says Tory minister
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 07:00
1652075381 Far-right group ‘distributed fake Labour and Tory leaflets’ in bid to sway elections
A far-right group mocked up fake Labour and Conservative party leaflets as part of attempts to mislead voters during two parliamentary by-elections, according to a new documentary.
Patriotic Alternative (PA) sought to persuade voters through their use of propaganda against voting for either the Labour Party or the Conservatives, the film claims.
The group distributed thousands of fake leaflets that purported to be from Labour and published by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), according to the Dispatches programme to be aired on Channel 4.
The leaflets were handed out in the run up of the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election, the constituency of Labour MP Jo Cox – who was murdered by far-right extremist Thomas Mair outside her surgery office.
My colleague Lamiat Sabin has the details:
Far-right ‘posted fake Labour and Tory leaflets in bid to influence by-elections’ The leaflets were part of a plan to dissuade people from voting for either party, film claims
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 06:49
1652074170 Secretary of State meets with Stormont parties to press return to government
The Northern Ireland Secretary will meet the leaders of the main parties at Stormont later to press for the return of the devolved government.
The Stormont Executive has been unable to fully function since February when first minister Paul Givan resigned as part of the DUP’s efforts to force action against the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Fresh Assembly elections returned a historic result at the weekend with Sinn Fein overtaking DUP to become the first nationalist or republic party to emerge on top at Stormont.
This means Sinn Fein leader Michelle I’ Neill is in line to become the first nationalist or Republican first minister.
Secretary of State meets with Stormont parties to press return to government The Stormont Executive has been unable to fully function since the resignation of first minister Paul Givan in February.
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 06:29
1652074088 Sadiq Khan meets ex- New York Mayor at start of US tour
Sadiq Khan met with ex-New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg as he began a US tour aimed at bolstering the British capital’s tourism and tech industries.
Tweeting about catching up with his “good friend” Mr Bloomberg, the London mayor wrote: “Hello from the Big Apple! Great to catch up with my good friend Mike Bloomberg for coffee here in NYC”.
Earlier, Mr Khan had announced about his tour in a tweet and had written: “I’m heading to the US this week to encourage our American friends to experience everything London has to offer.
“From the East to the West coast, I’ll be banging the drum for our city and making some major announcements.”
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 06:28
1652072901 Metropolitan police fines ‘issued over No 10 Christmas party’
Metropolitan Police are believed to have begun issuing more fines to Downing Street staff over gatherings held in government offices during Covid lockdown curbs.
Scotland Yard is starting to hand out fines over a Christmas party held at No 10 on 18 December 2020, according to the Daily Mirror.
Scotland Yard would not confirm if fines had yet been issued over the event – held while London was in strict Tier 3 measures – but it is one of 12 events its Operation Hillman team is investigating.
My colleague Adam Forrest has the details:
Metropolitan Police fines ‘issued over No 10 Christmas party’ Fresh fines said to have landed at No 10, as ministers ramp up ‘Beergate’ attacks on Keir Starmer
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 06:08
1652072495 Civil servant wins six-figure sum over Ministry of Justice racism
A former civil servant received a six-figure pay-out from the government over discrimination after she says was subjected to “insidious” racism during a 20-year battle with the Ministry of Justice.
Olivea Ebanks, 58, worked at the ministry for almost 20 years and took it to court three times; in 2008, 2011 and finally in 2020 for cases respectively won, lost and settled, The Independent’s race correspondent Nadine White reports in this exclusive.
During that time, an internal investigation within the prison service found there was scope for institutional racism yet the ministry has denied such issues plague the department.
Ms Ebanks claims she was called racially insulting names by a manager, prevented from progressing her career and had her out-of-work activities monitored.
Read the details in this report:
Ministry of Justice worker subjected to ‘insidious’ racism receives six-figure payout Exclusive: Former civil servant Olivea Ebanks awarded compensation after bringing legal proceedings over racism three times in 20 years
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 06:01
1652071150 Ukraine needs military equipment to hold and recapture ground, says UK PM
G7 leaders on Sunday agreed that the world must intensify economic pressure on Russia’s president Vladimir Putin in any way possible, said prime minister Boris Johnson’s office on Sunday.
“The world must go further and faster to support Ukraine,” Mr Johnson told the G7 leaders.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks in front of a live video feed showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Tate Modern on 5 May 2022 in London, England
(Getty Images)
“Ukraine needed to receive military equipment that allowed them to not just hold ground in Ukraine, but recapture it,” he said, according to his office.
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 05:39
1652070964 Government poised to ditch Northern Ireland protocol unless EU backs down
Boris Johnson’s government is threatening to tear up the Northern Ireland protocol unless the EU agrees to ditch border checks soon, despite warnings the row could spark a “horrific” trade war.
The Independent understands that foreign secretary Liz Truss is pushing for unilateral action unless there is a quick and significant change in stance by Brussels to remove checks on goods agreed in the Brexit withdrawal deal.
A Foreign Office source said a compromise appeared unlikely after European Commission negotiator Maros Sefcovic recently made clear in a call to Ms Truss that the EU could not go beyond its existing proposals to ease only some checks.
Adam Forrest reports.
Government poised to ditch protocol unless EU backs down Liz Truss pushing for unilateral action to tear up deal, despite warnings of trade war ahead
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 05:36
1652070898 Ukrainian refugees placed with unvetted hosts in unchecked homes
Ukrainian refugees have been placed with unvetted hosts and in unsuitable homes because the government has yet to give councils any funding for vital safety checks.
Hosting arrangements under the Homes for Ukraine route are already breaking down, as it emerged the required DBS background checks are not always being done before refugees arrive in the UK.
Families who have fled the war have been forced to pay for hotel rooms or register as homeless after discovering their sponsor’s housing is unsuitable, with reports of rodent infestations, broken boilers and hosts with drug addictions.
Read the details in this report by our social affairs correspondent May Bulman.
Ukrainian refugees placed with unvetted hosts as councils still waiting for funding One mother and son had to be moved to temporary housing after they were placed in a home with a mouse problem and no heating
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 05:34
1652069897 PM promises schools plan to give every child ‘opportunity to thrive’
Boris Johnson promised ‘ to raise standards in our schools so every child has access to the same opportunities wherever they live’ as the minister gear up to crack down on truancy, beef up the powers of education watchdogs and reform the funding system in new legislation.
Under the plans, which will form part of the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday, England’s schools will be required to publish an attendance policy and there will be compulsory registers for children who are not in classrooms so the authorities can identify who is not receiving a full-time education.
The measures will ensure pupils benefit from “every possible hour in the classroom”, education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said.
We are determined to raise standards in our schools so every child has access to the same opportunities wherever they live, and our brilliant teachers are supported to do what they do best, which is why we’re putting our education ambition into law this week
Boris Johnson
UK prime minister Boris Johnson looks at a child painting during a visit at the Field End Infant school, in South Ruislip, on 6 May 2022 in London, England
(Getty Images)
Namita Singh 9 May 2022 05:18
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