
Stephen Lawrence's dad ‘very frustrated' after public parole hearing for killer David Norris is delayed
David Norris was due to begin a two-day bid for freedom tomorrow but it was adjourned after unspecified information was not made available to the panel.
3
3
A lawyer for Neville Lawrence said the Government had failed to provide the details.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: "The hearing has had to be adjourned due to information directed by the panel not being made available for the case.
"Without all proper information, the panel cannot consider a parole review.
"The panel's priority must be to ensure the relevant information is available, so that they can thoroughly review the potential risks and ensure public protection."
Guy Mitchell said: ' Dr Lawrence is understandably very frustrated by this last-minute delay.
"We understand this is due to the Government failing to provide certain information to the Parole Board in time.
"Dr Lawrence is seeking a full explanation as to the reason for this failing."
Dr Lawrence has previously said he is not satisfied with Norris getting parole, but will accept it if he can show remorse.
Norris got life with a minimum 14 years after he and Gary Dobson were convicted of murder in 2011, some 18 years after the racist killing of Stephen, 18, in Eltham, South East London.
My son Stephen Lawrence's killer is living in luxury in jail and taking selfies - he's living a better life than me
3

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
What has Starmer demanded of Netanyahu ahead of recognition of a Palestinian state?
Sir Keir Starmer has issued an ultimatum to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning he will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless a series of conditions are met. The prime minister 's decision comes after mounting pressure from his backbench MPs, and even cabinet ministers, to recognise Palestine as a state. Sir Keir held an emergency meeting of his cabinet on Tuesday to condemn the 'increasingly intolerable situation' in Gaza and discuss a UK-led peace plan for the region which David Lammy presented to allies in New York. But the PM went further, updating Labour's position on the recognition of a Palestinian state. The Independent looks at what the change of stance means, and what conditions Sir Keir has set out ahead of recognition. What does it mean? Recognition of a Palestinian state is a largely symbolic move given the situation on the ground in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Montevideo Convention of 1933 established several criteria which must apply before an entity can be recognised as a sovereign state. These are a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government and the ability to conduct international relations. But the process would offer tangible benefits to the Palestinians. It involves the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, including the opening of embassies, the exchange of ambassadors, and the signing of bilateral treaties. Recognition also grants the recognised state access to certain rights in international organisations. For Palestinians, such recognition would strengthen their claim to sovereignty and facilitate greater international support. Added to that, the UK recognising a Palestinian state has a special significance because it was Britain which in effect created the modern state of Israel with the Balfour Declaration in 1926, signed by then Foreign Secretary Sir Arthur Balfour. Britain also brings extra influence as the former colonial power and current member of the UN Security Council. Who else has recognised Palestine? France has committed to recognising a Palestinian state in September, when Sir Keir's own promise to do so will take effect if Israel ignores his demands. Emmanuel Macron 's promise put his country on course to be the first in the G7 to recognise Palestine. But already 144 of the 193 UN member states, including Spain, Norway, Ireland, India, Russia and China recognise it as a state. Critics have argued that recognition has not helped resolve the problems on the ground or brought peace. They also note that Palestine does not fulfil the criteria of a state with a permanent population, a defined territory, a stable government, and the ability to enter into relations with other states. What has Keir Starmer called for? Sir Keir has set a series of conditions for the Israeli prime minister, warning that if they are not met, Britain will recognise Palestine alongside France at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in September. The first is for the Israeli government to take 'substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza', which is seeing thousands of Palestinians starving as aid is unable to get into the strip. The second is for Mr Netanyahu to promise no annexation in the West Bank. And the third is a commitment to a long-term peace process that will deliver a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The prime minister has also said the UK and its allies need to see "at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day" to deliver aid. Notably, Mr Netanyahu and right-wing elements of his government have abandoned the promise of a two-state solution and pushed for a one-state solution. Sir Keir also called for Hamas to release remaining hostages, agree to a ceasefire, disarm themselves and rule themselves out of government in Gaza. But there are concerns that he has not linked Palestinian state recognition to his demands of Hamas. Is either side likely to agree? In short, no. The prime minister's ultimatum is likely to be largely ignored by Mr Netanyahu, leaving recognition of a Palestinian state by Britain looking almost inevitable. Hamas is also unlikely to agree to the prime minister's conditions and will continue to hold on to its hostages. There is a danger that while US president Donald Trump in effect said he would accept the UK recognising a Palestinian state, his US State Department is strongly opposed to the move and it could damage the special relationship. The prime minister promised an assessment of how far both sides have progressed towards meeting his tests before UNGA. But the news about Britain's plans now looks set to dominate the conference.


STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
In pictures: Donald Trump's visit to Scotland
Donald Trump has left Scotland after a five-day private visit during which he played golf and met with political leaders. The US President was greeted by large crowds as he landed at Prestwick Airport on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, Trump was surrounded by a major security operation as he teed off at his South Ayrshire golf course. Snipers were perched on sand dunes and vantage points around Turnberry throughout the weekend. Getty Images Police snipers are seen on the roof of the Trump Turnberry. Getty Images The Republican leader spent Saturday playing golf at Turnberry during his visit, which has been described as a working holiday. He also played a round on his brand new 18-hole golf course in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday after he cut the ribbon during an opening ceremony. Getty Images Donald Trump tees off at a new 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links on July 29. Getty Images Trump met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday to discuss progress on the UK-US trade deal, hopes for a ceasefire in the Middle East, and applying pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. The pair took questions during a lengthy press conference in a ballroom at Turnberry before they travelled to Trump's second golf resort in Aberdeenshire. Getty Images President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Trump International Golf Links on July 28. Getty Images Trump's visit has also been marked by protests and arrests across the country. A 'festival of resistance' was held near his Aberdeenshire golf course on Monday afternoon, and hundreds of protesters gathered in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen on Saturday to voice their opposition to Trump's visit. Getty Images Demonstrators gather in Aberdeen protesting against the visit of President Trump to Scotland on July 26. Getty Images On Tuesday, Trump's fifth and final day in Scotland, he cut the ribbon and teed off in celebration of the New Course at Trump International Golf Links on the Menie Estate. Later, Trump returned to Washington on Air Force One. Getty Images President Donald Trump cuts the ribbon at the ceremony at a new 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links on July 29. Getty Images Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza
The Prime Minister recalled his senior team of ministers from their summer recess to discuss the situation in Gaza, where the population is facing a mounting famine, according to warnings from the United Nations. A readout of the Cabinet meeting issued by Downing Street said Sir Keir told ministers 'now was the right time to move this position' on the two-state solution. The readout continued: 'He said that because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two-state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward. 'He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (UN General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution.' It comes after the Prime Minister had been under increasing pressure to recognise Palestine amid the warnings of starvation in Gaza. Speaking from Downing Street's state dining room – sometimes used for press statements – the Prime Minister then told reporters that the Government will 'make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps'. No should 'should have a veto over our decision', Sir Keir insisted. Sir Keir said the British Government was focused on getting aid into Gaza and getting hostages released when asked why Palestinian recognition was conditional on Israel de-escalating the situation. He added: 'This is intended to further that course, and it is done now because I am particularly concerned that the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many, many years and, therefore, it should be seen in both of those contexts.' While Sir Keir has suggested UK recognition of Palestine is conditional on the crisis not abating, No 10 is understood to believe that such a two-state solution would also proceed from negotiations towards a sustained peace. The UK will keep working with its allies to 'end the suffering, get aid flooding into Gaza and deliver a more stable future for the Middle East', Sir Keir said, adding: 'Because I know that is what the British people desperately want to see.' In a hardening of his language about the crisis in Gaza, the Prime Minister has claimed the British public is 'revolted' by scenes of starvation in the territory. The UK and its allies need to see 'at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day' to deliver aid, the Prime Minister added, and are together 'mounting a major effort to get humanitarian supplies back in' by air and by land. The Prime Minister discussed a UK-led international plan to alleviate the crisis in Gaza with Donald Trump on Monday, when the US president acknowledged there was 'real starvation' in the territory. Sir Keir has likened the plan he is working on with France and Germany to the coalition of the willing, the international effort to support Ukraine towards a lasting peace. Amid international alarm over starvation in Gaza, Israel announced at the weekend that it would suspend fighting in three areas for 10 hours a day and open secure routes for aid delivery. The UK confirmed it was taking part in airdrops of aid into the territory. Aid agencies have welcomed the new measures but said they were not enough to counter the rising hunger in the Palestinian territory. Sir Keir has been facing calls from a growing number of MPs to recognise a Palestinian state immediately. More than 250 cross-party MPs have now signed a letter calling for ministers to take the step, up from 221 on Friday. Sarah Champion, the senior Labour MP who organised the letter, told BBC Radio 4 the Prime Minister's announcement was 'a really big movement' and would send a message to Israel that the status quo 'is not good enough'. But she added: 'I am a little concerned though that from what I'm hearing it seems to be conditional on Israel accepting some terms and I don't understand why the two things are being linked together.' Opposition parties also raised concerns about the conditional nature of the UK's position, with Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey criticising Sir Keir for using Palestinian statehood as a 'bargaining chip', while Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts called for the 'immediate recognition of Palestine'. Israel meanwhile said it 'rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom'. A statement on social media site X, the country's foreign ministry added: 'The shift in the British Government's position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages.'