Diane Abbott: Labour ‘wants me out' after second suspension
It comes a day after Sir Keir Starmer stripped the whip from four Labour MPs for persistent breaches of discipline.
Ms Abbott, the longest-serving female MP in the Commons, lost the whip and had a lengthy stint sitting as an independent after she suggested in 2023 that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism.
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The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
Top Tory says 16-year-olds shouldn't vote because it will ‘distract them from exams'
A senior Tory has warned 16 and 17-year olds should not be allowed to vote because it will distract them from their exams. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said if the voting age is lowered teenagers, will face choosing between focusing on their studies or 'staying up to watch political debates'. The senior MP said elections are often in May, June and July and warned pupils do not need 'this added pressure of being dragged into politics '. The voting age is to be lowered to 16 in time for the next election, the government has announced in a move that would allow around 1.5 million more teenagers to cast a ballot. The change will bring UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales by the time the country next goes to the polls, due by the summer of 2029 at the latest. The 'seismic' development, which is part of a raft of measures set to be introduced through a new Elections Bill, is the biggest change to the electorate since 1969 when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. Keir Starmer encouraged 16 and 17 year olds to use their vote at next election. No 10 said the PM would 'absolutely encourage them to be as engaged as they can be in the future of their country'. Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said: 'For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline. 'We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy… and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give 16-year-olds the right to vote.' Sixteen-year-olds already work, pay taxes and serve in the military, ministers point out. But, speaking to Times Radio, Ms Coutinho said: 'Can you imagine saying, OK, I've got this right. It's a new right. I've got exam season coming up, but maybe I should stay up to watch this political debate. 'Maybe I should be out there campaigning. Personally, I think 18 is the right age. I have no problem with politicians wanting to compete for younger votes…but I don't think you have a massive difference between 18 and 16. And like I say, most 16, 17 year olds are going to be in exam season. And I just don't think it is the right thing for them.' She added: 'The thing that I worry about and I might be speaking as a new mum is that it's exam season; elections are often in May, June, July and I don't really think 16 and 17 year olds need this added pressure of being dragged into politics.'
Daily Record
11 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Kneecap's Glasgow Hydro gig sells out as rap trio headline their biggest Scottish show yet
In a jibe to First Minister John Swinney, the band said "A very special thank you to our Head of PR in Scotland Mr John Swinney... best in the business". Kneecap is set to make a return to Glasgow this winter as part of their "biggest run of shows ever" with tickets selling out shortly after going on sale. The Belfast based rap trio - Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí - will perform 14 shows across Scotland, England and Wales later this year. The tour includes a headline performances at Glasgow's OVO Hydro on November 30, 2025, marking the groups biggest show in Glasgow to date. Originally slated to play 11 shows, the group extended the tour by adding three additional dates in Leeds, Sheffield, and Manchester after pre-sale tickets sold out almost immediately due to overwhelming demand. And now it appears the gig has sold out. Taking to Instagram, Kneecap's official account wrote: "Glasgow SOLD OUT in a few hours. 13,000 Scottish F****** comrades... let's go!" In a jibe to First Minister John Swinney, they added: "A very special thank you to our Head of PR in Scotland Mr John Swinney... best in the business". Swinney played down his beef with Kneecap after he was called out by the Irish rappers at a gig in Glasgow earlier this month. The SNP leader previously warned some of the group's political sloganeering was "beyond the pale". The group hit back during their O2 Academy show on July 8, with Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara asking the crowd: " What's your First Minister's name?" "They stopped us playing TRNSMT but they can't stop us playing Glasgow." Taking to Instagram to initially announce the tour, Kneecap's official account wrote: "Here we go. We're back in November across Scotland, England and Wales to play our biggest run of shows ever. "The Prime Minister himself cant stop could stop sending bombs to Israel but that's another story..." Alongside their tour poster - which shows the trio in a bright green car emblazoned with the phrase "Irish Independence Traders" - the band also made a nod to their political stance. The car's number plate reads "26+6=1," a well-known slogan advocating for a united Ireland, referring to the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland and the 6 counties of Northern Ireland coming together as one. Their winter tour follows controversy earlier this year when Kneecap were originally headlining the King Tut's stage at TRNSMT 2025 but were dropped from the line-up in May after Police Scotland raised public safety concerns. At the time, a Police Scotland spokesperson stated: "Any decision on the line-up at TRNSMT is for the organisers, and there was no prior consultation with Police Scotland before acts were booked. "Officers have highlighted that the potential reaction of such a large audience to this band would require a significant policing operation in order to support the delivery of a safe event. "We have also passed on information from the public around safety concerns to allow organisers to make an informed decision on the running of the festival." Following their removal, Kneecap instead played a sold-out show at Glasgow's O2 Academy on Tuesday, July 8 - the week of the festival - insisting they wouldn't let fans down. Over 2,500 tickets were snapped up in just 80 seconds. Now, the trio is scaling up, preparing for their biggest Scottish show yet at the 14,000-capacity OVO Hydro.
Telegraph
12 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Starmer to unveil new sleaze watchdog
Sir Keir Starmer is poised to unveil his new sleaze watchdog in the coming days, The Telegraph can reveal. Plans are being made to announce the independent Ethics and Integrity Commission before MPs break for the summer on Tuesday. The commission will take over responsibilities for enforcing rules on lobbying for former government employees and overseeing wider standards in public life. It will also enforce the new legal 'duty of candour' for public officials which will be enacted in the Hillsborough law, which has been promised – but not yet published – by the Prime Minister. However, it is understood other bodies involved in political oversight, such as the parliamentary standards commissioner and the independent adviser on ministerial interests, will remain untouched. Labour pledge from 2021 It is unclear whether tougher new powers will be announced alongside the reorganisation, potentially opening up the plans to criticism that it is largely a rebadging of existing bodies. The commission was pledged by Labour in 2021 and was included in the party's manifesto at last summer's general election. It was used by Sir Keir and his front-benchers to argue it was time to draw a line under an era of Tory 'sleaze' seen in the latter years of the Conservative government. The Labour manifesto stated: 'Labour will restore confidence in government and ensure ministers are held to the highest standards. 'We will establish a new independent Ethics and Integrity Commission, with its own independent chair, to ensure probity in government.' But little has been said about the commission in public by ministers since July 2024, leading to speculation about the body's future. Insiders have described to The Telegraph how the new commission will operate, with its areas of responsibility now said to be finalised and awaiting announcement. The advisory committee on business appointments (Acoba), which gives advice to former ministers and senior officials about roles taken after leaving government to ensure no conflicts of interest on lobbying take place, will be folded into the commission. Acoba has long been criticised as 'toothless' since there is no obligation for those who seek advice to follow the guidance issued and it has no ability to issue punishments. Yet it is unclear if the commission will be given much stronger powers over lobbying than Acoba, even while it is taking over its responsibilities. A second body – the committee on standards in public life – is also expected to be incorporated into the new commission. That committee, which advises the Prime Minister on arrangements for upholding ethical standards of conduct across public life, was set up by Sir John Major in 1994. Sir John's premiership was hit by frequent headlines about Tory 'sleaze' before he lost the 1997 general election to Tony Blair. The 'duty of candour' the commission will oversee will be contained in the delayed Hillsborough law, which attempts to correct wrongs revealed in the Hillsborough stadium disaster of 1989. The duty of candour has been described as an ethical and legal requirement for public authorities and officials to act in the public interest with openness, honesty and transparency about their actions. Other bodies or roles involved in ethical oversight in politics, however, are expected to be largely unaffected by the new commission. These include the parliamentary standards commissioners, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and the Electoral Commission. An announcement on the new commission is being prepared to be made before the end of Tuesday, given it is deemed politically wise to unveil plans while Parliament is sitting. 'Current system does not work' But the plan could yet be pushed back if more pressing government announcements or responses to breaking news are prioritised by Downing Street over the coming days. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, had championed the commission when it was first promised by Labour. Ms Rayner said then: 'The current system does not work and it has failed. It only works where there is respect for the rules and there are consequences for breaking them. 'If you break the rules, there should be clear consequences. Our democracy cannot hinge on gentlemen's agreements; it needs independent and robust protection from Conservative corruption. 'Labour's independent integrity and ethics commission will stamp out Conservative corruption and restore trust in public office.' A government spokesman said: 'This is speculation. This government is committed to establishing the right structures to uphold the highest standards in public life. 'We have already taken steps to improve probity and transparency, including through introducing a new ministerial code which emphasises the principles of public life, by strengthening the terms of reference for the independent adviser, and by introducing a new monthly register of gifts and hospitality.'
