Conservative MP refers himself to watchdog over adviser role
Mr Freeman told the Times: 'As a longstanding advocate of important new technologies, companies and industries, working cross-party through APPGs (All-Party Parliamentary Groups) and the select committee, I regularly ask experts for clarification on technical points and terminology, and deeply respect and try to assiduously follow the code of conduct for MPs and the need to act always in the public interest.
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Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
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Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic implores locals to allow the building of 39 new courts which he says will make the All England Club 'truly outstanding'
Novak Djokovic will surely be facing some tricky opponents over the coming days – but he may find there are none tougher than the SW19 locals. The seven-time champion yesterday encouraged those living close to the All England Club to allow plans for Wimbledon to build 39 new courts on the famous site. Djokovic, 38, was reacting to objections by residents which have held up the expansion project – which would include a third showcourt – for years. The plans were rejected on the grounds the mixture of public and private courts, plus a 23-acre public park, would affect the 'openness' of a golf course owned by the club which has been closed to the public for a century. Djokovic said Wimbledon is a 'special place', but delivering on their expansion will make it 'truly outstanding'. He told The Mail on Sunday: 'Having the new courts and all the beautiful new parkland, on what was a golf course, is a real win for everyone in my opinion. I hope they can deliver it soon.' While Angela Rayner and Wimbledon might not seem the most natural bedfellows, the Housing Secretary's move to relax planning rules is the club's best hope of breaking the impasse. She has vowed to speed up the planning process to boost developments across the UK. Backing Djokovic's call, four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman said: 'All other Grand Slams hold their qualifying events on their main site, which creates a sense of anticipation for players – an important part of the lead up to the main tournament that we'd like to also harness at Wimbledon. 'Qualifying is currently held on a leased site at Roehampton, which means we cannot invest in the long-term improvements that we need to provide a world- leading environment for those playing in qualifying.' He added: 'This project will allow us to keep pace with the other Grand Slams and provide the best possible experience for players and spectators from around the world.' A backer of the proposals said they would ' deliver one of the greatest sporting transformations for London since 2012', adding: 'They are crucial to ensuring Wimbledon remains at the pinnacle of tennis... and a global attraction for both London and the UK.'
Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Bizarre Acknowledgement of Country ritual at a work meeting is slammed - as survey reveals what Aussies really think about the ceremonies
A senior businessman has blasted his boss for making every single one of their workers perform an Acknowledgement of Country at a meeting. The worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Herald Sun it was 'comical' to watch and said he felt compelled to join his colleagues in the ritual. The comment comes as the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) conducted a survey in May and found 56 per cent of Australians believe Welcome to Country ceremonies have become divisive. That was compared with just 17 per cent who disagreed. A childhood educator said pressure to perform the acknowledgements in the private sector had been led by other progressive staff members, the government and relevant peak bodies. She said failure to give one would cause her to be 'crucified' by other staff. 'It's being pushed down our throats,' she said. The state government's First Peoples' relations wing advised traditional owners should be acknowledged at the commencement of functions, board meetings, and school assemblies, among other events. The IPA - a conservative, free market think tank - asked 1,005 Australians whether Welcome to Country ceremonies had 'become divisive'. Fifty-six per cent of respondents said they agreed they had, while 17 per cent disagreed. A larger proportion of Australians said the practice should continue before sporting events and ceremonies like ANZAC Dawn Services. Just under half – 49 per cent – said the Welcome to County ceremonies should no longer take place before sports games, while 30 per cent said they should continue. At Anzac Day, 34 per cent wanted to see the Welcomes continue, while 46 per cent said they should no longer occur. A Welcome to Country is a formal ceremony conducted by an Elder or Traditional Owner of the land, granting permission for others to be on their Country. An Acknowledgment of Country, however, can be delivered by anyone to show respect for the Traditional Owners. Last week, a Darebin City Council worker objected to have land acknowledgements before work meetings. The council dismissed Shaun Turner when he questioned the ceremony after it was held at the toolbox meeting for the first time. He told the meeting: 'If you need to be thanking anyone, it's the people who have worn the uniform and fought for our country to keep us free. 'It's getting out of hand and people are losing it, it is now being done at the opening of a postage stamp.' Council officers investigated Mr Turner's alleged 'serious misconduct', but he doubled down and won an unfair dismissal case. The ceremonies took a central place in the lead-up to the May 3 Federal election. Then-Coalition leader Peter Dutton said he wanted to unite the country under one flag and maintained the ceremonies were 'overdone', after Daily Mail Australia revealed both prime ministerial contenders would have to answer a question regarding the ceremonies following an incident at a dawn service. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said individual organisations should decide whether to open events with a Welcome, saying the ceremonies were a 'matter of respect'. It came after a group of protesters booed the Welcome to Country ceremony during the Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne on Friday. Victorians gathered under pre-dawn darkness to commemorate those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, before Bunurong Elder Mark Brown began the Welcome to Country. But boos and heckles emanating from the front of the crowd began shortly after Mr Brown commenced his speech. 'It's our country!' one heckler yelled. 'We don't have to be welcomed!' another screamed. Jacob Hersant, a prominent neo-Nazi figure, was allegedly among those loudly booing. 'This is a day for the Anzacs, it's not for Aboriginals,' he told media after the service. Public opinion was divided following the incident.
Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
'Declining' UK town set for tourist boom as £22.5m revamp takes step forward
A 'rundown' UK town that locals say has 'gone downhill' has been granted planning permission for two major upgrades in what has been described as a 'huge milestone' A tiny 'rundown' town that has grappled with its reputation for years is slated for a major transformation to the tune of £22.5 million. Conveniently located between Leeds and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, Dewsbury boasts a rich historical heritage - visible with its impressive Victorian-era architecture and parish church. While some may consider the region charming and under-appreciated - locals say Dewsbury has rapidly gone downhill. Branded a ' ghost town ' due to its failing high-street and struggling market, residents have even gone as far as warning Brits not to visit. "We have lost all of our independent shops - there are no small independents anymore," Richard Burns, who has been trading on the town's market for more than 60 years, told Yorkshire Live. "If you look at this side of town (by the market), it is basically all takeaways. There's nothing to draw people into Dewsbury. If you come on a day when the market isn't open, there's no one walking around the town. Talks of regenerating the town have been in the air since 2018, casting doubt on whether they'll ever come to fruition. However, last week (Tuesday, June 17) Kirklees Council announced planning permission had been granted for two key projects within the Dewsbury Blueprint - a 10-year plan that aims to bolster the attractiveness and accessibility of the town. This consists of creating a new town park, which will be the largest green space within the centre - and is set to feature a dedicated outdoor area for children to 'safely play and socialise'. "The approved plans include lots of open green spaces, seating and a substantial, partially enclosed play area, which will benefit from lots of interesting features for children of all ages to engage with and enjoy," Kirklees Council said. "The plans also allow for potential water features, which could provide both a relaxing element for those enjoying the park and an interactive feature for the play area. There will also be an opportunity to include more art, with involvement from the local community." Dewsbury Market will also get a huge upgrade, with new demountable stalls that will allow for both an outdoor market area and a 'flexible space to support events'. The indoor market will also be kitted out for a 'variety' of different markets and events, while maintaining the building's 'beautiful historic structure and character'. "Now accepted, the plans for Dewsbury Market will create a more varied, day-to-night offering in Dewsbury town centre," Kirklees Council added. "We aim to continue and improve the traditional market offering, whilst at the same time creating more areas for eating, drinking, socialising and events, giving people as many reasons as possible to visit Dewsbury." Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration, hailed the announcement - stating it is an 'incredibly exciting time' for the town. "Once we unveiled our updated plans for Dewsbury Market, the adjoining park was very much the missing piece," he added. "These are both aspects of the town we know local people greatly care about, and they have a huge part to play in Dewsbury's future. This approved planning application marries these two key elements within our Dewsbury Blueprint, and shows how different this part of town is going to look within the next few years – not even taking into account the amount of work we're doing elsewhere in the town centre." Keith Ramsay, Chair of the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board, also welcomed the planning permission approval, describing it as a 'huge milestone' for both Debwsbury Market and the new town park. "These are plans that will truly see Dewsbury town centre brought back to life, supporting the soon-to-reopen arcade and other town centre businesses, and cementing all we're doing to future-proof Dewsbury's heritage as a traditional market town – whilst creating a town centre that can thrive for future generations," he said. Speaking to the Mirror, Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration confirmed the estimated costs for both the revamped market and town park is around £22.5 million. "That figure is made up of money from the government's Towns Fund, which is aimed at regenerating town centres up and down the country, and our own capital funding," he added. When asked when the works will commence, Cllr Turner stated: "We're currently working closely with traders to discuss next steps. We'll soon be moving forward with procuring a contractor to complete the work, after which we'll be able to provide a further, more detailed update which includes both costs and timelines."
