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BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Labour MP Mary Foy failed to declare relationship with union boss
Labour MP Mary Foy has referred herself to Parliament's standards watchdog after lobbying on behalf of a trade union run by her Durham MP is understood to be in a relationship with Matt Wrack, who was the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for two decades until January introduced two campaigns in Parliament about the FBU and also received a £2,000 donation from the union in August 2024. She did not declare her relationship on the MPs' register of told the BBC: "I've contacted the standards commissioner to ensure all of my work is recorded in line with the rules - as any MP would." Wrack has not responded to a request for has introduced two Early Day Motions about firefighters in the House of Commons - one in November 2022 about pay increases, and a second in November 2023 about protecting them from toxic contaminants which can cause Day Motions are used by MPs to draw attention to campaigns but very few are debated in Parliament. She also lists an FBU employee under her name on the register of MPs' staff, meaning they receive a security pass for the parliamentary was ousted as the FBU's general secretary earlier this year after facing a leadership challenge from another union official. He is currently acting general secretary of the education union said in a statement: "As a Member of Parliament I work with a wide range of stakeholders, including a number of trade unions."I've proudly advocated for paramedics, prison officers, teachers, firefighters, doctors and other frontline staff in Durham, the wider North East and indeed the country during my time as an MP - that work will only continue."The parliamentary commissioner for standards declined to comment. Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Government to press ahead with shorter prison sentence plans
Sentencing reforms aimed at easing prison overcrowding have been mostly accepted by the government, the justice secretary has said, although she has rejected allowing early releases for the most serious offenders. The government commissioned an Independent Sentencing Review by former Conservative Lord Chancellor David Gauke, who concluded major reforms were needed to "end the dangerous cycle of emergency releases". Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the Commons she will proceed with most of Gauke's recommendations, including earlier release for some offenders. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick labelled the plans as a "get out of jail free card for dangerous criminals". The government also confirmed it would expand a pilot scheme offering chemical castration to some prisoners, with a view to making it nationwide and potentially mandatory. Last year, thousands of inmates were released early in an emergency measure to deal with prison overcrowding. Gauke's early release recommendations relate to the "earned progression model" for offenders, inspired by reforms to high-security, supermax prisons in the US state of Texas, which the BBC visited with Mahmood in February. The model sees offenders progressing through three stages, with good behaviour rewarded by early release after completing a third of their sentence. If not, prisoners stay in jail until they have served 50%. There are concerns some of these prisoners on standard determinate sentences could include sex offenders and perpetrators of domestic abuse. But Mahmood ruled out allowing early releases for the most serious offenders - those incarcerated for serious violent, sexual, or terrorist offences on extended determinate sentences - saying these prisoners will continue to have to serve at least two-thirds of their sentence. She also confirmed the expansion of a small pilot scheme offering voluntary chemical castration to some sex offenders to 20 prisons after the report said that trial should continue. Mahmood told MPs the government is exploring whether to enforce chemical castration as mandatory. Violent criminals could be released early and chemical castration pilot expanded after review More inmates released early to stop prisons running out of space Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Migrants already in UK face longer wait for permanent settlement
New rules making migrants wait longer to qualify for permanent settlement in the UK will apply to people already in the country, under government plans. On Monday the government announced immigrants would now typically have to live in the UK for 10 years before applying for the right to stay here indefinitely - double the current five-year period. It was previously unclear whether this would apply to the approximately 1.5 million foreign workers who have moved to the UK since 2020. The BBC understands a document published in the coming weeks will make clear the government is preparing to apply the 10-year qualifying period to those who are already in the UK as well as to new visa applicants. The move will be subject to a public consultation. A government source said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper had for some time been concerned that under the current five-year process there is set to be a significant increase in settlement and citizenship applications in the next few years, reflecting the surge in immigration in the early years of this decade. A policy document published on Monday said there would continue to be a five-year qualification period for non-UK dependents of British citizens. There will also be shorter qualification periods for people who can show they have contributed to the UK's "economy and society". Labour's immigration plans at a glance How many people come to work and study in the UK? What are the challenges facing the government's immigration plan? The announcement was part of a wider package of measures set out on Monday to cut legal migration. Net migration - the number of people coming to the UK minus the number leaving - climbed to a record 906,000 in June 2023, and last year it stood at 728,000. Some Labour MPs have raised concerns about the possibility longer qualifying periods for settlement could apply to people already in the UK. Florence Eshalomi, who chairs the Commons housing, communities and local government committee, told MPs the lack of clarity had left some of her constituents "understandably worried", with one telling her they were considering leaving the UK "because their settled status here is in jeopardy". In response, Cooper told MPs the government would set out further details later this year, with a consultation to follow. The Migration Observatory said a 10-year route to settlement would make the UK more restrictive than most other high-income countries but comparable to Switzerland and Japan. It said the move was unlikely to significantly affect migration levels but it would bring in more visa-fee revenue for the Home Office because people on temporary visas pay ongoing fees. Migrants would also face longer periods without the rights that come with permanent settlement, which include the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as desired, and to apply for benefits. Permanent settlement can also be used to apply for British citizenship. Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PM defends winter fuel cuts in face of calls for U-turn
Sir Keir Starmer has defended the decision to axe winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, as calls for a reversal of the policy continue. A group of around 45 Labour MPs representing seats in northern England and the Midlands have joined those urging the government to rethink the move. During Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed Sir Keir to "listen to his own party and change course". The policy has partly been blamed for Labour's poor performance in last week's local elections in England, which saw the party lose two-thirds of the council seats it was defending. Reform UK also defeated Labour in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, overturning a majority of nearly 15,000 to take the seat by just six votes. The results have led to growing calls to rethink winter fuel cuts from senior Labour figures, including Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan. But on Tuesday the government insisted it would not be changing the policy, which was introduced last year. In the House of Commons, Badenoch asked the PM if he would now admit "he was wrong to remove the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners". Defending the move, Sir Keir said: "The number one job of this government was to put our finances back in order after the last government lost control. "That is to deal with the £22bn black hole that they left. Because of our action, we've stabilised the economy." He also stressed the government was committed to the triple lock, under which pensions go up each year by the highest of inflation, average earnings or 2.5%. Hitting back, Badenoch said: "The only black hole is the one the prime minister is digging. "This issue affects some of the poorest and most vulnerable pensioners. His mayor in Doncaster says it's wrong. His first minister in Wales says it's wrong. Even his own MPs are saying it's wrong. He's refused to listen to me on this, will he at least listen to his own party and change course?" In response, Sir Keir said: "No other party is saying how they would invest in our NHS and public services." Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also urged the PM to reverse the cuts, saying this was "among the messages voters sent ministers last week". [BBC] Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Act now to win back Red Wall voters, Labour MPs say
A group of around 45 Labour MPs have called on the government to "act now" to win back voters in northern England and the Midlands. The Labour Red Wall Group, which represents areas which have traditionally supported the party, said it was not "weak" to respond to issues raised by the public, including concern over axing winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. Calls to rethink the move and other policies including cuts to disability benefits have been growing after a disastrous set of local election results for Labour last week. On Tuesday the government insisted it would not reverse the winter fuel cuts and it would not be "blown off course" by the "disappointing" results. Labour lost two-thirds of the seats it was defending in council elections across England, as well as a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby. Reform UK overturned a majority of nearly 15,000 to take the Cheshire seat by just six votes. In areas like Durham and Doncaster, Labour lost seats to Reform, allowing Nigel Farage's party to take control of the council. On the left, the party also shed votes to the Greens. However, Reform, which also seized control of eight councils from the Conservatives, was the big winner of the night and the results have intensified calls for the government to focus on the threat from the party. In a statement the Red Wall Group, led by Jo White, the MP for Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, said that in the results "our voters told us loudly and clearly that we have not met their expectations". They said Sir Keir Starmer's response that he would "go further and faster" in delivering his plans had "fallen on deaf ears". "Responding to the issues raised by our constituents, including on winter fuel, isn't weak it takes us to a position of strength," the statement added. "[The prime minister] must now break the disconnect between Westminster and the Red Wall areas." The group also called for the government to "breakaway from Treasury orthodoxy" to ensure post-industrial towns "get the investment we desperately need". "Labour cannot afford to lose the Red Wall again as it reopens the route to a future of opposition and an existential crisis. Without Red Wall constituencies we are not the Labour Party," they said. "The government has to act now before it's too late." Responding to the local election results over the weekend, Sir Keir said he shared the "fury" felt by voters turning away from the major parties. The PM insisted he would "go further and faster" in delivering Labour's promises to improve public services, as well as tackle immigration and cost-of-living pressures. [BBC] Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
