Latest news with #King'sSpeech
ITV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Conversion therapy: First British person paid damages by church for exorcism of ‘gay demons'
ITV News UK Editor Paul Brand spoke to Matthew Drapper who was put through conversion therapy and received a five-figure compensation from the church. A man has been paid compensation for an exorcism which attempted to rid him of 'gay demons' in what is believed to be the first legal settlement of its kind in the UK. Speaking on camera for the first time, Matthew Drapper told ITV News he was led to believe demons had left his mouth during the intense prayer session at St Thomas Philadelphia Church in Sheffield in 2014. "They said that one of the reactions you'll have is that when people are praying for you to get rid of the demonic influence, you'll want to stop. And that's a sign that you should carry on and that you should push through. And they said you might have a physical reaction", he said describing the prayer session. Following an independent report by Barnardos in 2023 which upheld complaints by Mr Drapper, the church has now paid him a five-figure sum in compensation for the harm caused by the exorcism. Since ITV News first investigated conversion practices in 2018, successive governments have promised to ban them. But despite repeated pledges no law has yet been brought forward. ITV News has been told the Labour government still has no timeframe for outlining a bill to ban conversion therapy, after committing to one in both its 2024 manifesto and last year's King's Speech. ITV News also understands the Prime Minister recommitting to a ban at a reception in No10 to celebrate Pride, but no details were given. Campaigners for a ban hope Mr Drapper's case will act as another form of deterrent, with the potential for many more legal cases to be brought against churches which practice conversion therapy. Richard Scorer, who represented Mr Drapper, told ITV News that the win would "lay down a marker that if people are harmed as a result of practises like this, then there is the potential to take action and seek accountability for that". ITV News understands that a bill drafted by civil servants and the Equalities Minister Dame Nia Griffith has reached No10 for consideration, but hasn't progressed any further. It is understood that sticking points remain around religious freedoms, the question of whether someone can 'consent' to conversion therapy, as well as what role parents should be allowed to play in the case of children who may be questioning their sexuality or gender identity. It is also understood the government is carefully considering the recent Supreme Court judgement on the definition of a woman before proceeding with a ban, as well as requesting more evidence of current conversion practices. Speaking on Thursday, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds insisted the Government would sill deliver a ban. Much of this frustrates campaigners, who argue these points have already been considered at length by previous governments, causing unnecessary delay. But those who oppose a full-scale ban on a variety of grounds believe a ban could have unintended consequences, such as stifling freedom of religion or preventing constructive conversations about gender identity with parents and teachers.
The National
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Scotland reacts as UK voting age lowered to 16 for General Elections
SNP MP Pete Wishart said it can 'only be a good thing' teenagers will get their voice heard at the ballot box, with the policy coming more than a decade after it was introduced in Scotland for the 2014 independence referendum. Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie added that having to tell young people they could vote in Scottish Parliament and council elections and not in General Elections was 'really unhelpful' as he welcomed the change. Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali confirmed the pledge would be part of a raft of measures introduced through a new Elections Bill. READ MORE: Scottish unemployment falls while UK rate rises to highest in 4 years Other changes include expanding forms of voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards, moving towards automatic voter registration and tightening rules on political donations to protect against foreign interference. The minimum voting age is already 16 for local council elections in Scotland and Wales and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Senedd. Lowering the voting age to 16 across the UK would be the biggest change to the electorate since it was reduced from 21 to 18 in 1969. Wishart said: 'We welcome this long-overdue change to the UK voting age, which comes more than a decade after the SNP lowered the voting age to 16 in Scotland – and follows years of campaigning by SNP MPs, activists and younger people. (Image: Colin Mearns) "Thousands of 16 and 17-year-olds have voted in Scottish elections since the SNP changed the law in 2015. It is good to see the UK Government finally following the SNP government's lead so that younger people can have their say at the next UK election. "Polling shows younger people agree with many of the SNP's key policies including securing real change with Scottish independence, rejoining the EU, eradicating poverty, tackling the climate crisis, opposing Westminster austerity cuts, and helping young people with free tuition and bus travel. 'Regardless of how 16 and 17-year-olds vote at the next UK election, it can only be a good thing that they will finally have their voice heard." READ MORE: 12 countries agree concrete steps to halt Gaza genocide A pledge to lower the voting age to 16 was included in Labour's election manifesto but it did not feature in last summer's King's Speech, which sets out the Government's priorities for the months ahead. Ali confirmed the government was planning to introduce the change in time for 16 and 17-year-olds to vote at the next General Election, which is due to take place by 2029 but could be called earlier than this. Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, said: 'Scotland lowered the voting age to 16 over a decade ago, and it was an immediate and overwhelming success. 'Since then 16 and 17-year-olds have shown high levels of engagement and participation in Holyrood elections, council elections and a referendum. 'But having to tell young people they can vote in some elections and not others is really unhelpful, and it can undermine their willingness to engage. 'Expanding our democracy strengthens it and helps us build a society that better reflects what people want. This change will mean that young people in Scotland finally have the same rights as everyone else and help build their own future.' Alba's sole MSP Ash Regan added: 'Alex Salmond brought in votes for 16 and 17-year-olds to participate in Scotland's independence referendum in 2014 - a significant decision for all of Scotland. "The energy and engagement of that campaign lit a democratic fire across Scots of all ages, culminating in an unprecedented 84% of eligible voters casting a ballot. "I am pleased we will now have consistency in the voting age for all elections in Scotland, even if it has taken Westminster over a decade to catch up." Among the other plans set out by the Government are expanding the list of accepted ID to vote in Great Britain to UK-issued bank cards, which display the voter's name. Pressed over whether the security checks of digital banks were robust enough to allow bank cards to be used as a legitimate form of voter ID, Ali said: "We're going to make sure we take the time to introduce the appropriate changes, and that those changes are done gradually, to make sure that there aren't any risks of abuses or things going wrong." The government said it would also work towards creating an automated voter registration scheme over the coming years, with safeguards so that people are aware of their registration status and can opt-out if they wish.
The National
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Zarah Sultana quits Labour 'to set up new party with Jeremy Corbyn'
Recent polling by More In Common suggested that a new Corbyn-led party would eat into Labour support and pick up as much as 10% of votes in a General Election. The poll most notably suggested such a party would finish first among 18 to 24-year-olds, on 32%. In a statement posted on X, Sultana, who represents Coventry South, said that the project would also involve 'other independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country'. She said that 'Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper' and the 'two-party system offers nothing but managed decline and broken promises'. She added: 'A year ago I was suspended by the Labour Party for voting to abolish the two-child benefit cap and lift 400,000 children out of poverty. I'd do it again. I voted against scrapping winter fuel payments for pensioners. I'd do it again. Now, the Government wants to make disabled people suffer; they just can't decide how much.' She urged people to 'join us'. Meanwhile, Govanhill writer and poet Jim Monaghan wrote on Twitter/X that he is part of the "interim Scottish Secretariat" of the group. "It's on," he wrote. "Some of us have been holding on to this information as things have developed. "I am a member of the new party and part of the interim Scottish 'Secretariat'. Let's talk, let's build. Another country is possible." Sultana was one of seven MPs who had the Labour whip suspended last summer when they supported an amendment to the King's Speech which related to the two-child benefit cap. Four of the seven had the whip restored earlier this year but Sultana was not among them. READ MORE: Zarah Sultana hits out at Keir Starmer's Gaza genocide denial Corbyn led Labour from 2015 to April 2020, stepping down after the party's loss at the 2019 General Election. He was suspended from Labour in 2020 after he refused to fully accept the Equality and Human Rights Commission's findings that the party broke equality law when he was in charge, and said antisemitism had been 'dramatically overstated for political reasons'. He was blocked from standing for Labour at last year's General Election and expelled in the spring of 2024 after announcing he would stand as an independent candidate in his Islington North constituency, which he won with a majority of more than 7000.
Leader Live
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Discussions ongoing and foundations of new party soon, says Corbyn
Former Labour leader Mr Corbyn said that the 'foundations of a new kind' of party will 'take shape' soon. Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana, who has sat as an independent since last year, said on Thursday that she was resigning from Labour to lead on establishing a new party with Mr Corbyn, alongside other independent MPs and campaigners. It is understood that questions over the leadership and the timing of an announcement had not been settled before Ms Sultana's statement about working on the founding of a new party on Thursday. Real change is coming. — Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) July 4, 2025 In a statement more than 17 hours after Ms Sultana's, Mr Corbyn said: 'The democratic foundations of a new kind of political party will soon take shape. 'Discussions are ongoing – and I am excited to work alongside all communities to fight for the future people deserve.' He also said that Ms Sultana will 'help us build a real alternative'. Ms Sultana, who had the Labour whip suspended last year, said on Thursday that she was quitting Sir Keir Starmer's party and would 'co-lead the founding of a new party' with Mr Corbyn. She said that 'Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper' and the 'two-party system offers nothing but managed decline and broken promises'. The Coventry South MP also attacked the Government's policies on welfare and Gaza. Ms Sultana was one of seven MPs who had the Labour whip suspended last summer when they supported an amendment to the King's Speech which related to the two-child benefit cap. Today, after 14 years, I'm resigning from the Labour Party. Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country. Join us. The time is now. Sign up here to stay updated: — Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) July 3, 2025 Four of the seven had the whip restored earlier this year but Ms Sultana was not among them. Mr Corbyn led Labour from 2015 to April 2020, stepping down after the party's loss at the 2019 general election. He was suspended from Labour in 2020 after he refused to fully accept the Equality and Human Rights Commission's findings that the party broke equality law when he was in charge, and said antisemitism had been 'dramatically overstated for political reasons'. He was blocked from standing for Labour at last year's general election and expelled in the spring of 2024, after saying he would stand as an Independent candidate in his Islington North constituency, which he won with a majority of more than 7,000. Last year Mr Corbyn formed the Independent Alliance with other Independent members of the Commons. On Friday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appeared to shrug off Ms Sultana's announcement, and said that the MP had 'always taken a very different view to most people in the Government' on several issues, adding: 'That's for her to do so.' But during a series of broadcast interviews, Ms Cooper declined to be drawn on whether she was concerned the new party could pose a threat to Labour. Asked whether she was concerned, the Home Secretary told LBC: 'People have always had different views, and I just disagree with the views and the approaches they're taking.'
Glasgow Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Discussions ongoing and foundations of new party soon, says Corbyn
Former Labour leader Mr Corbyn said that the 'foundations of a new kind' of party will 'take shape' soon. Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana, who has sat as an independent since last year, said on Thursday that she was resigning from Labour to lead on establishing a new party with Mr Corbyn, alongside other independent MPs and campaigners. It is understood that questions over the leadership and the timing of an announcement had not been settled before Ms Sultana's statement about working on the founding of a new party on Thursday. Real change is coming. — Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) July 4, 2025 In a statement more than 17 hours after Ms Sultana's, Mr Corbyn said: 'The democratic foundations of a new kind of political party will soon take shape. 'Discussions are ongoing – and I am excited to work alongside all communities to fight for the future people deserve.' He also said that Ms Sultana will 'help us build a real alternative'. Ms Sultana, who had the Labour whip suspended last year, said on Thursday that she was quitting Sir Keir Starmer's party and would 'co-lead the founding of a new party' with Mr Corbyn. She said that 'Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper' and the 'two-party system offers nothing but managed decline and broken promises'. The Coventry South MP also attacked the Government's policies on welfare and Gaza. Ms Sultana was one of seven MPs who had the Labour whip suspended last summer when they supported an amendment to the King's Speech which related to the two-child benefit cap. Today, after 14 years, I'm resigning from the Labour Party. Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country. Join us. The time is now. Sign up here to stay updated: — Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) July 3, 2025 Four of the seven had the whip restored earlier this year but Ms Sultana was not among them. Mr Corbyn led Labour from 2015 to April 2020, stepping down after the party's loss at the 2019 general election. He was suspended from Labour in 2020 after he refused to fully accept the Equality and Human Rights Commission's findings that the party broke equality law when he was in charge, and said antisemitism had been 'dramatically overstated for political reasons'. He was blocked from standing for Labour at last year's general election and expelled in the spring of 2024, after saying he would stand as an Independent candidate in his Islington North constituency, which he won with a majority of more than 7,000. Last year Mr Corbyn formed the Independent Alliance with other Independent members of the Commons. On Friday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appeared to shrug off Ms Sultana's announcement, and said that the MP had 'always taken a very different view to most people in the Government' on several issues, adding: 'That's for her to do so.' But during a series of broadcast interviews, Ms Cooper declined to be drawn on whether she was concerned the new party could pose a threat to Labour. Asked whether she was concerned, the Home Secretary told LBC: 'People have always had different views, and I just disagree with the views and the approaches they're taking.'
