Dutch government collapses as Geert Wilders pulls far-right party out of coalition
The Dutch government has collapsed after the far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his party out of the ruling coalition in a row over immigration and asylum policy. He had said earlier that all of his party's ministers would quit after the other three partners in the coalition rejected his radical proposals. The prime minister, Dick Schoof, resigned shortly after the coalition fell
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
I don't want to leave ECHR, said peer reviewing Tory support for convention
Britain should remain in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the peer leading the Tories' review has previously said. Lord Wolfson, the shadow attorney general, told the Lords in 2023 that he supported the UK 'being in the convention' even though he disagreed with some decisions from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Speaking in a debate on Tory plans to enact their Rwanda deportation plans, he also warned that Parliament should not legislate in breach of its international law obligations unless there were 'absolutely compelling reasons' to do so. His past comments have emerged as Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, appointed him to head a review into whether the UK should leave the ECHR and how to prevent lawyers 'subverting' government policy. Mrs Badenoch is setting up a commission to investigate how a Tory government could prevent lawyers using human rights and other legislation to block government policy, not only on immigration but also in environmental and equality legislation. Lord Wolfson, a former justice minister, made his comments in a debate on Rishi Sunak's illegal migration bill which included new powers for ministers to ignore ECtHR injunctions, one of which blocked the first deportation flight to Rwanda. His past comments on ECHR membership have raised eyebrows among Tories. One commented: 'He is a brilliant lawyer but you wonder if Kemi should have chosen someone who was a bit more open-minded.' In the Lords debate, Lord Wolfson said: 'I support our membership of the European Convention on Human Rights. I do not always agree with the decisions of the court – I do not always agree with the decisions of our domestic courts either – but that is a separate matter. I support us being in the convention.' He also said that the UK ought to abide by international law obligations. 'I would expect Parliament not to legislate contrary to a treaty obligation unless there were absolutely compelling reasons to do so and, in those circumstances, to make that very clear. Otherwise, we should always be legislating consistently with our international law obligations,' he told the Lords. 'The debate has moved on' It is understood Lord Wolfson believes the debate has moved on since 2023. The Telegraph understands that irrespective of his views, his role as head of the review is to provide dispassionate advice on the impact of the ECHR on government policy, the legal consequences of leaving and how it could be done. It will be for the leadership to then decide whether to leave or not. A Tory source said: 'He is conducting a review of the legal impact of membership of the ECHR on government policy and providing to the leader and shadow cabinet a legal analysis of what being a member of the ECHR means and what would be the effect of leaving the ECHR in a legal sense. 'The political question of whether we should stay or leave is not for him or the commission. That's a question for the leader and shadow cabinet. They are the clients in this context, and he is their lawyer. They have asked him a series of questions that he is going to answer with his legal hat on. They can decide what they then do.' Interviewed earlier this week about what the Tories' position was on the ECHR, Lord Wolfson told Joshua Rozenberg's podcast A Lawyer Talks: 'I can only say watch this space. But it's no secret to say that within the Conservative Party, there will be people who take different views on this issue. 'Within the Labour Party, there are people who take very different positions on this issue.' However, he indicated that ministers should not comply with treaty obligations if that would mean ignoring laws made by Parliament. He said ministers would always seek to comply with international law if they were able to do so. But he added: 'A minister has to abide by an act of Parliament and it would be constitutionally improper, I would suggest, for the minister to say, 'I'm going to ignore what an act of Parliament says in order to comply with a treaty obligation'.' Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, told The Telegraph: 'The man leading this review into Britain's membership of the ECHR does not actually want to leave it. 'This tells us everything we need to know about how serious the Conservatives are about deporting illegal migrants and stopping the boats. 'They haven't changed one bit since their time in office.'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Sarina Wiegman: ‘We've moved on' after retirements and squad withdrawals
Latest updates 05 June 2025 2:54pm 2:52PM Wiegman: 'Team not decided yet' On James: 'Lauren is building herself and we are supporting that. She has a month to go and we still have a match against Jamaica to come and hopefully she will be involved with that.' Do you know your team?: 'I don't know yet who the starting XI are. Things develop over the tournament and then you make decisions according to what has happened and what is required in the team. You can make plans but you can't plan for everything On leadership: 'Not all leaders are physical. They can sometimes not be very physical but have a huge leadership impact on the team. So I am happy with who we have in the team. 2:48PM Wiegman: 'There is no crisis' On if there is a crisis: 'That is not the case. We know what's going on. There is competition within the team. That's a good thing. I'm very happy with the team. And it doesn't feel like a crisis at all. I am very happy' 2:46PM Wiegman: 'Players under more pressure now' On pressure on the players these days: 'The demands have increased incredibly on women's football in the Super League and on the international front. 'A lot of attention has increased on the players in recent years too. That's a great thing, but it also brings extra pressure, which can be difficult to handle and something we have to be careful of.' 2:43PM Wiegman: 'James not a risk' On Lauren James' inclusion: 'It's not a risk. We still have a month and she is training really well with her club. She's at the point we hoped she would be at this stage. So we don't see it as a risk, we're just building her up.' 2:42PM Wiegman: 'I don't beat around the bush' On giving bad news: 'I'm very well, thank you for asking. It's not been easy but it's part of the job [having to give bad news], the main part of the job is making decisions, and sometimes you have to make difficult ones. It's not nice letting people down but it has to be done.' 'I don't beat around the bush when I have to say something and I can't control how players react to what I say.' On the squad balance: 'I think we have enough experience. That's 16 players with major tournament experience, who have played in front of big crowds. Some other players are very young, but they're very eager, and that balance is very good in our team - and I think it's a nice balance. On the 'crisis': 'There's always a lot of noise around the team, but I'm used to that, and we just have to ignore it and get on with what we have to do. 'I can assure you the training sessions have been very good this week. Against Portugal you could see some great connections within the team. Against Spain was really good for one half, not the other. But the group is happy and I'm very happy with how the players are getting along.' 2:34PM Wiegman: Agyemang brings 'physicality' On inclusion of Michelle Agyemang: 'We all remember her first goal against Belgium. She brings a certain physicality, she brings something different, so it's great to have her qualities in the team.' 2:32PM Wiegman: Bright withdrawal 'sad' Sarina Wiegman is talking to the press now. On Millie Bright's withdrawal: 'I found out in the last couple of days. It's sad, it's disappointing. It's not nice when ou don't feel well physically and mentally, but I just hope she feels better soon.' 2:26PM All not lost for those who missed out There is every possibility that players withdraw through injury, or in the current climate pretty much anything else. If they do Wiegman has place the following players on standby: Sophie Baggaley [Brighton & Hove Albion], Laura Blindkilde Brown [Manchester City], Bo Kearns [Aston Villa] and Lucy Parker [Aston Villa] are not allowed to make for the beach just yet. They will stay with the squad at St. George's Park from the meet-up on Monday 16 June through to the day the squad travel to Switzerland on Monday 30 June. The three US-based players in the squad – Moorhouse, Carter and Morgan – will all link up with their team-mates from week commencing 23 June after the continuation of their domestic season. 2:23PM Wiegman sorry for excluded few 'At the same time, I do feel for those that have just missed out. I can only name 23 but there are more players who have been so important to us on our journey to Switzerland. We would not be here without them. 'As we look forward, we still have a month to go until we play the first game. After some important rest, we will all be working really hard to make sure we are ready to go on 5 July.' England's opening match is against France in Zurich on Saturday 5 July before facing the Netherlands in the same city four days later. The group stage concludes with a 'Battle of Britain' against Wales on Sunday 13 July in St. Gallen. 2:21PM Wiegman 'excited' about Swiss selection 'I know this is an exciting day, for the players and also for our fans and it underlines that the tournament is coming soon,' said Sarina Wiegman, the head coach. 'Telling the players they have made the squad is always a great moment. They will all give everything to help us make the country proud. 'This group is a very well-balanced mix of players with multiple tournaments on their CVs and also those that will make their tournament debuts. I am excited to see what we are capable of this summer.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Rachel Reeves' new plan for winter fuel allowance branded tax ‘nightmare'
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to reinstate universal winter fuel payments for pensioners, reversing a previous policy change. The government plans to recover the grant from higher-income pensioners through increased taxes, potentially affecting those with household disposable incomes above £37,000, according to The Times. The policy change could cost around £700 million, with the full plan to be detailed in the autumn Budget. Silver Voices criticised the plan as an "administrative nightmare" that could draw more pensioners into the tax system. The announcement follows statements from pensions minister Torsten Bell indicating the allowance would not be restored universally, and Keir Starmer's stated intention to expand access to winter fuel payments.
