MPs set to be offered private security, says Dominic Raab
The prime minister will lead tributes to Sir David Amess in the House of Commons on Monday after his family urged the public to “set aside their differences and show kindness and love to all” following his murder.
Politicians will be invited to share their memories of the Tory MP for Southend West, for at least two hours starting at around 3.30pm, after a morning of prayers and a minute’s silence at 2.30pm. They will also attend a service at St Margaret’s Church in the grounds of Westminster Abbey.
Brendan Cox, the husband of Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered in 2016, gave interviews this morning ahead of the special session.
Asked what should be done moving forward, Mr Cox said MPs and supporters from both political spectrums must stop “dehumanising” each other. “You have people who say ‘I’ve never kissed a Tory’ as a badge of honour on the left”, he told Times Radio, warning this behaviour is a “celebration of political segregation”.
It comes after he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier that Britain must improve its response to terrorism by refusing to be divided over it. “[Terrorists] want division so let’s give them togetherness,” he said.
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EU ‘unwilling’ to move on European court’s role in NI Protocol – reports
Some Brexit news now. The EU is reportedly unwilling to cave to UK demands to discuss removing the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from the Northern Ireland Protocol.
European Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podesta said a “very intense period of discussions” has begun but suggested they would not go further than the package proposed by the EU.
Pressed on whether talks will include ECJ this week, she told reporters in Brussels: “We are following up on the package that we have proposed on October 13 – it is a far-reaching package.”
The UK’s Brexit minister, Lord Frost, arrived in Brussels for the crunch talks on Friday.
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 11:34
MPs reveal death threats and frustration at police inaction
MPs have revealed their growing frustration with police inaction over death threats they have received, as they prepare to pay tribute to Sir David Amess in the wake of the Conservative backbencher’s murder.
Former Labour MP Paula Sherriff said West Yorkshire Police officers “laughed” at her after she reported a death threat, while other politicians complained about a “patchy” police response to threats, reports Adam Forrest.
It comes as justice secretary Dominic Raab revealed he had received at least three threats on “life and limb” in the past two years – the latest being an acid attack.
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 11:10
Mural of Sir David Amess appears at Leigh-on-Sea skatepark
A mural of Sir David Amess has appeared at a skatepark he opened 13 years ago in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
The Tory MP, who represented Southend West, was fatally stabbed on Friday as he held a regular constituency surgery.
Local artist Madmanity, who created the work, called it “Why?” and said it was a “thank you from this community”.
“He opened the skatepark and it is the closest legal graffiti wall to the crime scene,” the artist told the BBC.
“There is no better place to do this. I wanted to send a thank you from this community.”
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 10:59
UK’s speedy ‘return to normal’ explains increase in Covid cases – report
The i’s Hugo Gye reports the following, with the graph below suggesting Britain’s hasty “return to normal” could explain why it has significantly more Covid cases than other nations in Europe.
“This could obviously be reversed by reimposing legally binding rules; it could possibly be reversed by the government pushing advice more aggressively *not* to return to normal,” Gye writes.
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 10:48
Raab says he feels more at risk from ‘mentally unwell’ people than terror groups
Amid concerns over the effectiveness of Prevent scheme, Dominic Raab stressed its significance but said he feels more at risk from “misguided or mentally unwell” people.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
“I personally think I’m more at risk from those who are either misguided or mentally unwell than from a concerted, organised terrorist attack. But Prevent is important.
“It is one line of defence, one mitigation against the risks we face. Prevent is under review, it has been under iterative review throughout its existence; we will of course learn all the lessons as the result of that and this terrible, appalling case.”
Prevent, the government’s anti-terror programme, aims to safeguard people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
The man arrested for the murder of David Amess was referred to the counter-terrorist Prevent scheme some years ago, but was never a formal subject of interest to MI5, according to the BBC. Ali Harbi Ali is currently being held under the Terrorism Act.
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 10:42
Watch: ‘Nobody’s going stop me,’ says Bryant after death threat
‘Nobody’s going stop me’ says Labour MP after death threat
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 10:33
Rayner receives flack for ‘Tory scum’ remark after Amess stabbing
Deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing said her heart “sank” when Angela Rayner described Conservatives MPs as “scum” at a Labour conference reception.
Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme, she said: “I hesitate to get involved in that debate but my heart sank when I heard that, because it’s bad enough when people who feel badly about politicians [do it], or indeed those in the media – and some of your colleagues are responsible for this, the insulting way in which they speak to politicians – but when one of our own does it it’s so much worse.”
Dame Eleanor also hit out at “laziness” in political reporting, claiming that events outside the “theatrical” Prime Minister’s Questions are not given enough attention.
Calls for Ms Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party, to apologise for the insult have intensified since Sir David Amess’ death. Barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder told listeners on his Talk Radio show over the weekend: “Tory Scum is trending on Twitter. At the same time, women MPs will face daily rape and death threats.”
However, Guardian columnist Owen Jones said using Sir David’s “brutal murder … to target the left for criticising the Tories” was a “gruesome deflection” from conversations that should be taking place.
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 10:16
Watch: Police enter flat believed to be related to Amess murder
Police seen entering London flat believed to be related to David Amess stabbing
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 09:50
Left and right must stop ‘dehumanising’ one another – Cox
More from Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, now.
He told Times Radio both leftwing and rightwing MPs and supporters need to stop “dehumanising” each other.
“You have people who say ‘I’ve never kissed a Tory’ as a badge of honour on the left”, he said, warning this behaviour is a “celebration of political segregation”.
“I think that is absolutely something that we have to challenge. And linked to that we have to stop dehumanising our opponents”, he added.
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 09:40
Cop26 sponsors hit out at ‘inexperienced’ staff running ‘mismanaged’ summit
Over to Cop26 now. Some of the world’s biggest companies which have ploughed vast sums of sponsorship money into the upcoming Cop26 climate summit – including broadcaster Sky – have reportedly complained of a chaotic lead-up to the Glasgow event overseen by “inexperienced” officials and plagued by delays.
“Frustrations” have been raised about apparent “inertia” by organisers in the weeks and months preceding the major environmental summit, at which countries are expected to sign up to ambitious new climate targets.
Among the reported concerns was that “very inexperienced” civil servants were being tasked with organising the conference, leading to delays, poor communication and a breakdown in relations between officials and sponsors, writes Tom Batchelor.
Sam Hancock18 October 2021 09:21
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