Category: Politics

David Mundell: 'Coming out as gay was so difficult' Scottish Secretary David Mundell has said coming out as gay was “one of the most difficult things I’ve done”. Mr Mundell revealed in January 2016 that it was time to “acknowledge in public as well as in private, who I am”. At the time, the father-of-three was believed to be the first openly-gay Conservative cabinet minister. Mr Mundell, 56, will host a reception in Edinburgh on Thursday to mark LGBT History Month. The MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale said: “Coming…

Newport West Labour MP Paul Flynn dies aged 84 The veteran Labour MP Paul Flynn has died at the age of 84, his local party has announced. Mr Flynn, who was first elected to represent Newport West in 1987, had been ill for some time. He announced in October he would step down from Parliament “as soon as possible” after becoming confined to bed because of rheumatoid arthritis. Newport West Labour Party confirmed in a tweet that Mr Flynn died on Sunday, saying he was “a hero to many of…

Labour MP Paula Sherriff criticises CPS over non-prosecution A decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to bring a prosecution after swastikas were left outside Paula Sherriff’s office has been branded “disgraceful” by the Labour MP. The Dewsbury MP said foil swastikas were left at her constituency office on three occasions last summer. The CPS said the suspect would not be prosecuted because the test for a criminal offence had not been met. The suspect received a harassment warning instead. “There has been a huge increase in far-right abuse since…

Brexit: Leaving EU with no deal 'very adverse', says Gauke Leaving the European Union with no deal would have a “very adverse” effect on the UK, the justice secretary has said. David Gauke said he hoped a deal would be struck within the next 10 days, but if not the government should “act responsibly”. But DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has insisted no deal was better than a bad deal. Prime Minister Theresa May is seeking changes to the Withdrawal Agreement to help it achieve Parliamentary assent. Mr Gauke warned…

Baroness Falkender, Harold Wilson's powerful ex-secretary, dies Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s secretary Baroness Falkender - formerly Marcia Williams - has died aged 86. Lady Falkender, once dubbed the Duchess of Downing Street, died on 6 February. She was Mr Wilson’s private and political secretary from 1956 to 1983, which included his leadership of the Labour Party and his time in office. She was one of the most powerful women in politics during Mr Wilson’s premiership and came to prominence following his 1976 resignation. Lady Falkender was believed by many…

Domestic abuse: MPs call for new laws to apply in NI A cross-party group of MPs, campaigners and academics are calling on the government to extend its new domestic abuse legislation to Northern Ireland. The government’s draft domestic abuse bill includes new measures, such as banning abusers from cross-examining victims in family courts. It also recognises other forms of coercive abuse, such as controlling a victim’s finances. But the bill will not apply to Northern Ireland. A letter from the Labour Party MP, Stella Creasy, states that the legislation fails…

Labour pledges to prevent universities from going bust Universities would be prevented from going bust under new plans unveiled by Labour to protect higher education and students from “rampant” market forces. The plans to overhaul regulator the Office for Students reflect fears about some universities’ viability. Under Labour, the OfS would get an explicit objective of avoiding “disorderly failure” at universities, and be able to provide emergency loans. The government said the OfS already had strong powers to regulate universities. There have been increasing concerns about the financial sustainability of…

Brexit: EU-Irish solidarity 'will not diminish', says Varadkar Anyone believing the EU’s solidarity with Ireland may diminish is in for a “nasty surprise”, the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) has said. Leo Varadkar made the comments during the All-Island Civic Dialogue conference in Dublin Castle. The event aims to discuss the implications of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union on 29 March. Mr Vardkar added: “Ireland’s concerns have become the European Union’s concerns”. ‘Redline’ for Ireland and EU On Friday, the taoiseach said Ireland had received “remarkable solidarity” from…

Schoolchildren go on strike over climate change Schoolchildren across the UK have gone on strike as part of a global campaign calling for action over climate change. Students around the country walked out of school to call on the government to declare a climate emergency and take active steps to tackle the problem. “Save our planet” was the message chanted by thousands of people gathered in Parliament Square in London. Organisers Youth Strike 4 Climate said protests were taking place in more than 60 towns and cities across the UK….

BBC's This Week to end as host Andrew Neil steps down The BBC’s late-night political show This Week is to end, after presenter Andrew Neil decided to step down. This Week - which airs on BBC One on Thursdays - will not be recommissioned after its current run finishes in July. The programme began in 2003 and has been mostly hosted by Mr Neil. Regular panellists have included Labour’s Diane Abbott and Michael Portillo. “We couldn’t imagine This Week without the inimitable Andrew Neil,” said the BBC’s Director of News…