Not for the first time, the prime minister appears to be focussing on principle while ignoring the politics – and opening himself up to danger in the process. Remember, Mr Johnson already has beef with the part of the state apparatus he’s attempting to run rings round.Īs well as being closely involved in the COVID inquiry, the Cabinet Office has also been handling issues connected to partygate and the privileges committee investigation into the former prime minister.Īs for the current inhabitant of Downing Street, with even one of his own minsters suggesting the government is likely to lose its judicial review, Rishi Sunak is now running the risk of taking legal action that has next to no practical upside. Through bypassing the government – and its legal spat over what records are released – the former prime minister is painting himself as the honest truth-seeker and those in Whitehall as the diffuse obstructionists. "The accommodation offered to asylum seekers by providers, on a no-choice basis, is of a decent standard and meets all legal and contractual requirements."īoris Johnson says handing his WhatsApp messages direct to the Covid Inquiry is about process.īut there’s plenty of politics at play too. He added: "It is not right, nor is it in the interest of these individuals – or our residents – to have them forced to endure a night on the streets because their transition into new accommodation has not been properly managed."Ī Home Office spokesman said: "Despite the number of people arriving in the UK reaching record levels, we continue to provide accommodation – at a cost of £6 million a day – for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute, to meet our legal obligation. "I would ask that you urgently clarify how this was allowed to happen, why this was acceptable, and why no communication was made with the local authority to alert us." In his letter to the home secretary on Thursday, he wrote: "Neither the Home Office nor the hotel itself responded to this incident, ultimately leaving it to council officers to manage and support this large group overnight. He accused the government of creating "safeguarding and health risks", and noted that "leaving them on the street for multiple nights is not an alternative". Mr Hug said that asking people who "are likely to have been through significant and traumatic events" to share "an inappropriately-sized room with multiple strangers defies common sense and basic decency". The group reportedly refused to enter a Pimlico hotel after the Home Office had asked them to sleep "four people per room".īy Friday morning, 20 asylum seekers were camped outside the Comfort Inn in protest at the cramped conditions inside, the council said, where they remained until the afternoon. The leader of Westminster council has written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman asking her to "urgently clarify" why a large group of asylum seekers were “left on the street” in Westminster for two nights running.Īdam Hug expressed his "deep concern" that around 40 refugees were placed in the borough on Wednesday night "without appropriate accommodation or support available" and no prior communication with the local authority. "The party has ensured that there is a wide range of support available to complainants, to provide confidence and confidential guidance throughout the disciplinary process." In response to the interview, a Labour spokesperson said: "We would strongly urge anyone with a complaint to come forward so that allegations can be swiftly and fully investigated and action taken.
The BBC later reported that a complaint was made to the Met, but they would not be investigating the matter "at the victim's request".Īt the time, Labour said it had not been contacted by the police or received a formal complaint. Last month, it was reported by Tortoise Media that a female Labour MP claimed she had been sexually assaulted by a male shadow minister in 2021. Their only remaining option, she said, was to go the police, but added: "That's in a context where we know the conviction rate is 1.6%." She said that the people then went to the Labour who "took seven months to tell them they weren't going to be investigating it". She also said: "I am aware of cases where people have been sexually assaulted, they have gone to the ICGS and have been told that they can't act because it didn't happen on the parliamentary estate." Ms Nichols said she challenged party officials about it, but "their response has been utterly inadequate".
A Labour MP has claimed a member of the shadow cabinet has been reported to police for assault, but remains in post.Ĭharlotte Nichols, Labour MP for Warrington North, told the BBC: "One of our colleagues who has been reported to police for assault, who still has the party whip is still on the frontbench, but the party has chosen not to act ".
0 kommentar(er)
