logo
Briefings against senior women ministers must stop

Briefings against senior women ministers must stop

Independenta day ago
Negative briefings from within Government against senior women minister must stop, Heidi Alexander has said.
The Transport Secretary was asked about comments criticising her female Cabinet colleagues over recent months, amid rumours of a reshuffle at the top of Government.
Media reports have suggested Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Commons Leader Lucy Powell and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy could be demoted or sacked from their frontbench roles.
Meanwhile, The Times has reported Sir Keir Starmer could instigate a reshuffle in September, but said this would likely be of junior ministerial roles.
Ms Alexander defended her female colleagues when asked about suggestions they could be removed from their senior roles.
She told Times Radio: 'I think Bridget is one of the best education secretaries this Government, this country, has seen in a very long time, and I would say exactly the same about Lisa as Culture Secretary and Lucy as Leader of the House.
'I've obviously been in post for slightly less time than they have because when Louise Haigh resigned from the Cabinet I was asked to take on this role, and it's a huge privilege and a huge honour to be doing it.
'It is not without its challenges.'
Asked what her message to people within Government briefing against senior women ministers would be, the Transport Secretary told Times Radio: 'Stop it.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Starmer to meet Trump during Scotland trip ahead of state visit
Starmer to meet Trump during Scotland trip ahead of state visit

Leader Live

time33 minutes ago

  • Leader Live

Starmer to meet Trump during Scotland trip ahead of state visit

Mr Trump is expected to travel to Scotland in July before the state visit in September. A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The White House has confirmed that President Trump will be making a private visit to Scotland later this month. 'Given he is visiting a private capacity, there will not be a formal bilateral but the Prime Minister is pleased to take up the president's invite to meet during his stay.' Police Scotland have said they will seek Government help with the 'considerable' costs of the Trump visit, after it emerged last week that the force was in the early stages of planning for a visit. The US president's state visit will follow from September 17 to 19, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. He will be hosted by the King and Queen at Windsor Castle and accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump. There had been speculation about whether Mr Trump would be able to address Parliament, as French President Emmanuel Macron did during his state visit last week. MPs will not be around during the confirmed dates, which fall just after they start a break for party conference season. Nigel Farage called for Parliament to be recalled so Mr Trump can speak before MPs and peers. The Reform UK leader posted on X: 'Why does Keir Starmer think that the French president is a better friend to this country than the American president? Parliament must be recalled for Donald Trump's state visit to the UK. Why does @Keir_Starmer think Macron is a better friend of Britain than Trump? — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) July 14, 2025 'He's got it completely wrong. I believe Parliament should be recalled and Trump should be given the opportunity to address both houses.' The Liberal Democrats meanwhile did not urge for MPs to be called back, but said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney should be invited for a state visit and to address Parliament. 'The Prime Minister should invite Mark Carney for an official visit to the UK just ahead of Trump's visit, including the opportunity to address Parliament. 'This would send an important signal that Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Canada against Trump's chaotic trade war,' Sir Ed Davey said. Asked for Sir Keir's view on the president addressing Parliament, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister is focused on welcoming President Trump to the UK for an historic second state visit and building on the excellent relationship they've had that's been delivering for working people. 'The dates of the visit are for President Trump and the Palace (…) details around the programme will be announced in due course.' Stephen Gethins MP, the SNP's foreign affairs spokesman, said that Sir Keir should not be 'rewarding Trump's bad behaviour' and instead focus on rebuilding ties with European partners. 'While there is an obvious need to engage, rolling out the red carpet of a state visit is the wrong approach when dealing with Trump,' he said.

MPs slam ‘disgraceful' rollback of Northern Ireland veterans legislation
MPs slam ‘disgraceful' rollback of Northern Ireland veterans legislation

Glasgow Times

time34 minutes ago

  • Glasgow Times

MPs slam ‘disgraceful' rollback of Northern Ireland veterans legislation

A debate over withdrawing the legal protections established by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act, which shield veterans from being prosecuted for historic actions between 1969 and 2007 during Operation Banner, took place at Westminster Hall on Monday. MPs critical of the move suggested it would open a 'witch-hunt' against veterans who served to protect citizens across communities in Northern Ireland. The debate followed a public petition against repealing the legislation which attracted more than 170,000 signatures. Conservative MP John Lamont, who opened the parliamentary session, said the rollback could lead to 'two-tier' payouts for figures such as former Republican politician Gerry Adams. Mr Lamont said: '[The change] could result in a six-figure payout for Mr Adams, simply because his interim custody order was not considered by the secretary of state, but rather a junior minister. 'That is simply outrageous. 'We have seen a lot of examples of two-tier justice since the Labour government came to power, but this may simply be the worst of all. 'Is the Government really contemplating creating a system to drag northern Irish veterans through the courts, whilst potentially paying millions to terrorists? 'We should also be clear about the differences between the actions of soldiers and terrorists. When terrorists get up in the morning, they go out with murderous intent to use violence to attack our democracy. Soldiers do not. 'The Legacy Act is by no means perfect, but it is better than the disgraceful spectacle of veterans being dragged through the courts. 'Doing so is not sustainable – legally or morally.' (left to right) Rohit Pathak, Denise Walker, 58, former catering corps veteran from Glasgow, and Anthony Johnson, 67, veteran and protester, participate in a march outside Parliament (Lily Shangaher/PA) Others echoed Mr Lamont's comments, highlighting the implications the rollback could have on the armed forces in future conflicts. Conservative MP Sir David Davis argued the change would mean that British soldiers would be abandoned by the country they served. He said: 'Getting this right is not just a matter of historical justice. 'The legal witch-hunt won't end in Northern Ireland. 'It'll cast a shadow over every future conflict that our armed forces engage in, and undermine their abilities to defend us.' He added: 'Those who freely talk about human rights would do well to remember that our rights, our law, our democracy and our nation were protected by the very veterans that are at risk today. 'So let us all make one promise, that no British soldier will ever again be abandoned by the nation they have so bravely protected.' Other MPs voiced their support in favour of the Government's proposals, arguing that the current act is not fit for purpose. Labour MP Louise Jones suggested that the lack of support for the legislation among victims, politicians across parties in Northern Ireland, and veterans themselves meant it ought to be repealed. She said: 'This Legacy Act has been found to be unlawful. It gives immunity to terrorists, and it denies justice to the families of the 200 service personnel that were murdered by terrorists during the Troubles. 'It is not supported in its current form by victims, it's not supported by a Northern Irish party, and many veterans are troubled by it. It must go and be replaced, and I call on the minister to outline how we can protect veterans from malicious lawfare of any conflict.' 'We have a huge duty here in Westminster to work with those communities not against them, and I hope everyone here will reflect on that important undertaking.' Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn pointed to statistics from the Centre for Military Justice that show that only one British soldier has been convicted since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He suggested that this was the case over the 27 years, despite immunity for British military personnel not being enshrined in law for the majority of this time. Catriona Wallace, a veteran and protester (Lily Shanagher/AP) Mr Benn also argued that the changes would allow incomplete investigations into the deaths of soldiers to reopen. He said: 'Legacy is hard. This is the unfinished business of the Good Friday agreement. 'And that is why we need to listen to the many families who lost loved ones, including the families of British service personnel, who served so bravely. 'There are more than 200 families of UK military personnel who are still searching for answers 30, 40, 50 years ago about the murder of their loved ones. 'The Police Service of Northern Ireland recently confirmed they had 202 live investigations into Troubles-related killings of members of our armed forces, and a further 23 into the killings of veterans. 'Each and every one of those investigations was forced to close by the Legacy Act, and we will bring forward legislation to deal with that. 'The other challenge is the lack of confidence in the act on the part of communities in Northern Ireland, which we are going to seek to reform. 'We owe it to all these families.'

French action ‘has prevented nearly 500 small boat crossings this year'
French action ‘has prevented nearly 500 small boat crossings this year'

Glasgow Times

time34 minutes ago

  • Glasgow Times

French action ‘has prevented nearly 500 small boat crossings this year'

Yvette Cooper told MPs nearly 500 crossings had been 'prevented' by the French police, with 385 reaching British shores. Speaking in the Commons, Ms Cooper told MPs the Government had five tactics to address small boat crossings, including strengthening the border and clamping down on illegal working. Her statement came days after the Government secured a new agreement with France over returning migrants who had arrived on small boats. She said: 'French actions have prevented 496 boat crossings this year, but 385 boats have crossed. 'And criminal gangs are operating new tactics, increasing the overcrowding of boats so that more people arrive, and loading them in shallow waters, exploiting the French rules that means their authorities have not been able to intervene in the water.' It is unclear whether the figure refers to small boat crossings being stopped before or during attempts to leave the coastline, or by other means such as seizing boats from warehouses. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron during Mr Macron's state visit to the UK (Leon Neal/PA) The Home Secretary referred to 'appalling scenes' of people clambering onto crowded boats in shallow waters, and said French police had faced 'disgraceful violence' from gang members behind the crossings. She continued: 'We cannot stand for this. That is why the new action agreed with France includes establishing a new French Compagnie de Marche of specialist enforcement officers, with stronger public order powers to address increases in violence on French beaches and prevent boat launches before they reach the water.' Some 22,492 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel, according to latest Home Office figures. This is up 57% on this point last year (14,291) and 71% higher than at this stage in 2023 (13,144), according to PA news agency analysis. Last week's agreement saw a deal struck for a one in, one out system that would see a small boat migrant exchange for a legal asylum seeker. No details have been given about how many people will be covered by the scheme, but reports from France have indicated it could initially be limited to around 50 a week – a small fraction of the weekly average this year of 782. Priority will be given to people from countries where they are most likely to be granted asylum as genuine refugees, who are most likely to be exploited by smuggling gangs and also asylum seekers who have connections to the UK. The accord came at the end of a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the UK. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper during the UK-France Summit on day three of Emmanuel Macron's state visit to the UK (Yui Mok/PA) Ms Cooper said: 'The new agreement reached at the summit last week means stronger partnership working with source and transit countries to prevent illegal migration.' Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp rubbished the idea that progress had been made on the issue, and said statistics showed small boat crossings had risen under Labour. Mr Philp said the 12 months since Labour's election last July had seen a 40% rise year-on-year in terms of crossings. He said: 'The Home Secretary comes here today sounding rather pleased with herself. I'm afraid she has no reason to. 'A year ago, she promised to smash the gangs, she said again and again that was her plan, indeed it was her only plan. Yet today, there is no mention of what was once her favourite catchphrase. 'That's because her claim to smash the gangs has become a joke, an embarrassment to her and to the Government.' He added that rather than closing asylum hotels, there were 3,000 more people in them than last year. 'She is setting records, just all the wrong ones,' he said. People thought to be migrants are brought in to the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA) Ms Cooper replied: 'This crisis, the small boats chaos, went on for 340 weeks under the Tories, a period in which when he was immigration minister, overall migration near trebled and small boat crossings increased tenfold when he was the immigration minister in charge.' She later said the Government's plan would involve greater co-operation with other governments, rather than 'standing at the shoreline shouting at the sea'. Ms Cooper said: 'We will best strengthen our border security by working with countries on the other side of those borders who face exactly the same challenges far better than just standing at the shoreline shouting at the sea.' Conservative former minister Andrew Murrison asked the Home Secretary to respond to the idea that the UK was 'perceived as being attractive to illegal migrants'. She replied: 'I do think frankly it has been too easy to work illegally in this country for too long, and we know that one of the things that the criminal gangs say to people is, 'it will be easy to get a job'. 'They will even give people discounts if they can come and work for those same criminal gangs operating in the UK.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store