Politics (Page 68)

A review will be conducted to find out why a “very small proportion of mobile users” did not receive the test of a new national emergency alert system on Sunday. The Cabinet Office said the “vast majority of compatible phones” received the alert as part of what was said to be the biggest public communications exercise carried out in the UK. But the Government department said it was aware that the 10- second alarm and message notification was not delivered to some mobile phones. Customers on the Three mobile phone network were among those to report not receiving the communication test. The network provider said it would be working with the UK Government to understand what had happened. A smallContinue Reading

N ew powers that the Home Secretary wants added to the Illegal Migration Bill will not give ministers “carte blanche” to overrule European court orders, the Deputy Prime Minister has said. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she needs the “crucial power” of being able to stop European judges from intervening in the deportation of would-be asylum seekers who have arrived in Britain via unauthorised routes. It comes as the Home Office confirmed a further 497 people crossed the English Channel on Saturday April 22 in 11 boats. This brings the total so far this year to 5,546. Oliver Dowden, the newly-appointed deputy to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, said it was “right” for the leader of the Home Office to haveContinue Reading

A Conservative peer who is leading a Government review into how the Civil Service operates has called for a more “robust culture” in Whitehall. Lord Francis Maude said the system needs to be less “mealy-mouthed about ‘politicisation’” in the wake of Dominic Raab’s resignation and his claims that Civil Service “activists” had been working against him. Mr Raab resigned as deputy prime minister and justice secretary on Friday after an investigation into bullying accusations found he acted in an intimidating and aggressive way with officials in behaviour that could have amounted to bullying. Writing in The Observer, Lord Maude said that, without adjustments, there will be more cases like Mr Raab’s in which “frustrations boil over”. He suggested ministers couldContinue Reading

S cottish Tory MSPs have been accused of hypocrisy for condemning Lord Frost’s comments on “rolling back” devolution. The SNP said the Tory party “can’t change its spots” on its opposition to the creation of the Scottish Parliament. It came after former lead Brexit negotiator Lord Frost wrote in the Daily Telegraph to urge Tory ministers, “if re-elected”, to “review and roll back some currently devolved powers” in light of the issues facing the SNP. He said his party had “allowed this to happen”, adding: “Scotland does not need to be an independent actor on the world stage, it should not be able to legislate to disrupt free trade within the UK, and it does not need to have mostContinue Reading

A young man has been killed in a single-vehicle road traffic collision in Co Sligo. The man aged in his 20s was pronounced dead at the scene at Rathbraughan, on the outskirts of Sligo town early on Saturday morning. His remains have since been taken to the mortuary at Sligo Hospital where a post-mortem examination will take place. A forensic examination of the scene and vehicle has been carried out and the road has reopened to traffic. Anyone who witnessed the collision or those with camera footage (including dash-cam) from the area are asked to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sligo Garda station on 071-915 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666 111, or any GardaContinue Reading

P rime Minister Rishi Sunak has held an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss assistance for the British nationals trapped in Sudan as fighting continues in the African country. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed that the morning meeting in the Cabinet Office saw Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Africa minister Andrew Mitchell attend. Government officials said they are “doing everything possible” to support those still inside the country’s capital, Khartoum. We recognise that the situation is extremely concerning for British nationals trapped by the fighting in Sudan It comes after the Sudanese army said it was co-ordinating efforts to evacuate American, British, Chinese and French citizens and diplomats from Sudan on military aircraft as bloody fighting entered itsContinue Reading

A far-right rally against Government plans to house up to 2,000 asylum seekers at RAF Scampton and a counter-protest held by anti-racism campaigners have passed off without incident. Officers from Lincolnshire Police monitored both events in Lincoln city centre, which saw more than 100 supporters of Stand Up To Racism march down the High Street, while a smaller number of people gathered to hear speeches opposing Scampton’s use as an asylum centre. The Government announced last month that it is working on proposals to use the Scampton site, about five miles north of the city, to provide accommodation for single adult make asylum seekers, starting with around 200 and “increasing to 2,000 people over time.” The department has said itContinue Reading

Apple thwarts NSO’s spyware, the rise of a GPT-4 black market, Russia targets Starlink internet connections, and more.Continue Reading

A former senior civil servant who worked with Dominic Raab says he has seen no evidence to support the ex-deputy prime minister’s accusation that Civil Service “activists” were working against him. Lord McDonald, who was permanent secretary of the Foreign Office for five years, said there was no Civil Service “agenda” and the “minister’s behaviour” was the issue. Mr Raab resigned on Friday as deputy prime minister and justice secretary after an investigation into bullying accusations found he acted in an intimidating and aggressive way with officials in behaviour that could have amounted to bullying. After announcing his decision to quit, the senior Conservative lashed out at what he called “activist civil servants” who were able to “block reforms orContinue Reading

T his weekend, the Government is trialling a system that aims to warn the public if there is a danger to life nearby. Here is everything you need to know. – What is going to happen? Millions of mobile phones and tablets across the UK will emit a loud alarm and vibrate at 3pm on Sunday in a nationwide test of the new public alert system. The message will be received on 4G and 5G mobile phones, along with sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds. The alarm will sound even if the device is set on silent. – Do I need to do anything? Phone users will be prompted to acknowledge the alert by swiping or clicking theContinue Reading