British policy is the latest amid ministers’ plans to ‘bypass judicial reviews’

[ad_1]

The minister admits that he would be surprised if Parliament did not have illegal drug use

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected this week to launch a ten-year plan to tackle illegal drug-related crime which will include removing passports and driver’s licenses from offenders, it was reported.

The campaign will also include travel bans, tougher penalties for drug dealers, and measures to break up county drug cartels.

We need to find new ways to punish them. He told The Sun.

So we will consider confiscation of their passports and driver’s licenses. We don’t keep anything off the table.”

It comes as the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has said he will call the police over allegations of cocaine use that are “extremely disturbing” at the Palace of Westminster.

The move comes after the Sunday Times reported that an investigation had found evidence of cocaine at 11 of the 12 sites tested in the building.

The newspaper reported that the government is also planning to acquire powers to enable ministers to overturn decisions made in the judicial review process.

It is Johnson’s latest clash with the courts, after his controversial decision to refer Parliament for five weeks in 2019 was ruled illegal.

Key PointsShow Latest Update 1638788434 ‘Please do this’, says Sir Keir Starmer in urging people to appeal

Sir Keir Starmer has urged people not to allow “misinformation” to deny them access to Covid vaccines, after he received a booster shot.

The Labor leader made the comments while visiting the Massey chemical vaccination center in London this morning.

He said, “I would totally encourage everyone who is eligible to apply and get a boost. Don’t be fooled by misinformation.

“Come ahead, get your booster, think of yourself, think of others, and think of your communities. Places like this are open. It’s fast and easy. Please do it.”

Lamia Sabine December 6, 2021 11:00

1638787234 Sir Care Star gets a big hit

Lamia Sabine, December 6, 2021, 10:40 a.m.

Najm: ‘Criminal justice system cuts exacerbate drug-related crimes’

Sir Keir Starmer has claimed that cuts in criminal justice spending over the past decade have been behind many of the problems the government is seeking to address through its new 10-year drug strategy.

When asked about the strategy, the Labor leader and former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said: “We need to look at the plans in detail when we see them in detail.

“But there is no doubt that the drug problem has worsened a lot in the past 10 years, especially issues like drug-related deaths and county lines, which are devastating lives.

“The question for the government is not just about the plans today but the money they took from the system – millions and millions of pounds have been taken out of the system over the years and that has caused a lot of problems.

“So I want to see the plans, I want to see the strategy, I want the prime minister to be held accountable for the money that has been taken out of criminal justice in the last 10 years that has caused so many of these problems.”

Lamia Sabine, December 6, 2021, 10:20 am

1638784834 Ministers are ‘getting down hard’ on drugs – Prime Minister

Boris Johnson said the government wants to “counter” drug cartels and rehabilitate hard-core addicts.

The prime minister also said, speaking to broadcasters on Merseyside: “You have to be stricter with the county line gangs, you have to be stricter with the criminals who do this, but you also have to make sure that you find those 300,000 people and that you help them.”

“You can’t simply arrest them over and over and send them back to prison over and over – you have to rehabilitate them too.”

It comes as Police Minister Kate Malthus said he was not surprised to find traces of cocaine in a number of places in Parliament.

More on this story here from Adam Forrest

Lamia Sabine December 6, 2021 10:00

Compulsory government hotel quarantine disputed in court

A legal challenge arguing that the government’s coronavirus quarantine of hotels is a “fundamental human rights violation” has been escalated.

Currently, people entering the UK from 10 countries in South Africa must spend 10 full days in a quarantine hotel, at a cost of £2,285 for single travelers.

Today, Owen Hancock, 35, and Emily Minnie, 30, were due to go into hotel quarantine upon their return from a break in South Africa.

They say they were left stranded when the country was added to the UK’s Red List over concerns about the coronavirus variant, a move that left them with a £4,000 credit card bill on their return.

The pair set up an online petition, which has attracted more than 40,000 signatures, calling on the government to fund hotel quarantine costs for travelers caught in the same situation when new measures are imposed at short notice.

They support a case brought by law firm PGMBM that on Thursday will seek permission from the Supreme Court to conduct a judicial review of the government’s mandatory quarantine policy for hotels.

A government spokesperson said: “We do not apologize for taking drastic measures at the border and imposing hotel quarantines. Every basic check has strengthened our defenses against the risks of novel coronavirus variants such as Omicron.”

Lamyat Sabine Dec 6, 2021 09:40

1638782434 TUC urges ministers to extend sickness wages to people who work in unsafe work

Nearly 650,000 workers in hospitality, retail, arts and entertainment will not qualify for statutory sick pay if they fall ill over Christmas, according to a report by TUC.

New self-isolation rules introduced as a result of the omicron variant require anyone dealing with a confirmed case to self-isolate for 10 days, even if they have been vaccinated.

The union organization has warned that hundreds of thousands of workers who are likely to come into contact with people during the holiday period are not receiving sick pay while self-isolating, and may face hardship over the Christmas period.

TUC said the UK has the lowest statutory sick pay in Europe of £96.35 a week, which is only available to employees earning £120 a week or more.

“Ministers should extend sick pay protection to every worker, and it should be at least the same as living wage to make sure people can afford isolation,” TUC Secretary General Frances O’Grady said.

A government spokesperson said: “There is a comprehensive package of financial support for workers who need to self-isolate to help stop the spread of coronavirus – including a £500 payment to those on low incomes who have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

“Many employers pay more than the minimum statutory sickness wage and employers with up to 250 employees can reimburse up to two weeks of statutory sickness wage.”

Lamia Sabine December 6, 2021 09:20

1638781234 Minister

Police Minister Kate Malthouse said he would like to see Arthur Labingo Hughes’ father and stepmother sentenced to life in prison.

“Yes I will. I was surprised they didn’t,” he said when asked on Radio Times about the case of the death of six-year-old Arthur.

Stepmother Emma Tastin, 32, was sentenced to life in prison at Coventry Crown Court Friday, to a minimum of 29 years, after being found guilty of the murder, while Arthur’s father, Thomas Hughes, 29, was sentenced to 21 years for manslaughter .

The Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that prison sentences would be reviewed after protests erupted over the sentences.

Lamia Sabine December 6, 2021 09:00

1638780034 Action supports police investigation into parliamentary cocaine use

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was right for police to investigate after a newspaper investigation found traces of cocaine at several locations in Parliament.

When asked how surprised she would be if there were drug users in the House of Commons, she told Sky News: “It’s not something I’ve seen before but I think the Speaker of the Commons is absolutely right in saying this should be referred to the Metropolitan Police.

“You can’t have an institution that’s supposed to be a legislator and in fact have a lot of lawbreaking, so I think it’s absolutely right that this is properly investigated.”

Police Minister Kate Malthouse said he would be “surprised” if there were no illegal drug users in Parliament after a newspaper investigation revealed traces of cocaine at several sites.

This comes as the government is studying proposals to remove the passports and driver’s licenses of illegal drug users and dealers.

Labour’s Cooper said the new drug strategy was “long overdue because we’ve gone back badly”.

The Home Office has confirmed that Mr Malthus will make a statement to the House of Commons today outlining the government’s 10-year drug strategy.

The strategy document is also scheduled to be published online.

Lamia Sabine December 6, 2021 08:40

1638778834 New drug law plans, also found traces of cocaine in Parliament

The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, said he would call the police over allegations of “extremely concerned” cocaine use at the Palace of Westminster.

The Sunday Times conducted an investigation that found evidence of cocaine at 11 of the 12 sites tested in the building.

It comes as the government plans harsh new penalties – such as confiscation of passports and diving licenses – against users and dealers of illegal drugs.

More here from political editor Andrew Woodcock

Lamia Sabine December 6, 2021 08:20

1638778117

Good morning, welcome to The Independent’s live policy blog.

Follow for live updates from Westminster and beyond.

Lamyat Sabine Dec 6, 2021 08:08

[ad_2]