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Category: UK news

  • UK anti-strike rules may breach international law, MPs and peers warn

    Joint committee on human rights says some public sector workers may be completely prevented from striking

    Workers in some public sector jobs will be completely prevented from striking under restrictive rules that may breach international law, parliament’s watchdog on human rights has said.

    The joint committee on human rights, chaired by the Labour MP Harriet Harman, has written to the government expressing “serious concerns” about its new minimum service levels regulations covering the border force, railways and the NHS.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Andy Burnham claims government note shows Covid tier 3 restrictions imposed on Manchester as ‘punishment beating’ – as it happened

    Covid tier system introduced in October 2020 and imposed different restrictions on English regions in effort to contain spread of virus. This live blog is closed

    At the Covid inquiry Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said that he was not getting information from the government in February about Covid. He said he was “disappointed” by that.

    In late February and early March he was getting information from other cities around the world instead, he said. He said this happened even though his foreign affairs team consisted of just three people.

    The government generally does give us information about a variety of things happening. I’m disappointed the government weren’t giving us information in February about what they knew then.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Medics quitting jobs over ‘distress caused by rightwing Christian group’

    London-based Christian Legal Centre behind a number of end-of-life court cases ‘prolonging suffering’, doctors say

    Medics treating critically ill babies are quitting their jobs owing to “considerable moral distress” caused by a rightwing Christian group behind a series of end-of-life court cases, the Guardian has been told.

    Senior doctors claimed the behaviour of some evangelical campaigners was “prolonging the suffering” of seriously ill infants. They accused them of “selling falsehoods and lies” to families and of using legal tactics condemned by judges.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Shell to face human rights claims in UK over chronic oil pollution in Niger delta

    More than 13,000 Nigerian villagers can bring legal claims against oil firm, rules high court

    Thousands of Nigerian villagers can bring human rights claims against the fossil fuel company Shell over the chronic oil pollution of their water sources and destruction of their way of life, the high court in London has ruled.

    Mrs Justice May ruled this week that more than 13,000 farmers and fishers from the Ogale and Bille communities in the Niger delta were entitled to bring legal claims against Shell for alleged breaches to their right to a clean environment.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Political attack on human rights is a ‘dangerous’ assault on UK democracy, says HRW director

    Yasmine Ahmed says government actions regarding asylum seekers, climate activists and pro-Palestine protesters are starting to ‘look very much like authoritarianism’

    The British government’s aggressive politicisation of human rights is a dangerous assault on democracy that must be halted before irrevocable damage is done, the UK director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned.

    In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Yasmine Ahmed, who has been the UK director of HRW since November 2020, said the government indicating it could “disapply” the Human Rights Act to an emergency bill that will allow it to send asylum seekers to Rwanda – despite the supreme court ruling the policy illegal – is part of an escalating attack on human rights.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Just Stop Oil protesters’ jail terms potentially breach international law, UN expert says

    Sentences risk silencing public concerns about the environment, climate change rapporteur Ian Fry says

    Long sentences handed to two Just Stop Oil protesters for scaling the M25 bridge over the Thames are a potential breach of international law and risk silencing public concerns about the environment, a UN expert has said.

    In a strongly worded intervention, Ian Fry, the UN’s rapporteur for climate change and human rights, said he was “particularly concerned” about the sentences, which were “significantly more severe than previous sentences imposed for this type of offending in the past”.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Sunak could block Human Rights Act to force through Rwanda asylum plan

    No 10 has discussed possibility of ‘disapplying’ key human rights law to emergency bill to head off legal challenges

    Rishi Sunak is considering blocking a key human rights law to help force through plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda amid growing pressure from rightwing Conservative MPs.

    No 10 has discussed the possibility of “disapplying” the Human Rights Act to an emergency bill in an effort to minimise legal challenges against the prime minister’s key immigration policy. Ministers are aware such a proposal could face rebellions in the Commons and the Lords, which could vote down the proposals.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • No 10 rules out overriding international law for Rwanda asylum flights

    Downing Street says ignoring ECHR and parts of UN refugee convention could delay emergency bill

    Downing Street has ruled out a proposal by rightwing Conservatives to override international law to remove asylum seekers to Rwanda, prompting threats that rebel MPs will simply seek to amend planned legislation.

    Rishi Sunak has promised to introduce a bill to parliament to get around Wednesday’s supreme court ruling that flights to Rwanda could not take place because of the risk that people could be wrongly returned to their home countries.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Sunak rejects Braverman’s claim he does not have proper plan for making Rwanda deportations happen – as it happened

    Prime minister says he ‘will do whatever it takes’ as senior Tory criticises former home secretary’s hardline proposals

    Downing Street has not ruled out asking MPs to spend some of what is meant to be their Christmas break dealing with the PM’s “emergency legislation” on Rwanda.

    This is one proposal made by Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, in her Telegraph article this morning. (See 10.01am.)

    I think we are prepared to do whatever is necessary to ensure that we can get this in place and get flights off the ground.

    I wouldn’t speculate on parliamentary process but I cannot impress [enough] the importance that the prime minister places on this necessary legislation to deliver for the public on the important priority of stopping the boats.

    Sunak suggested he would blame Labour if the Lords refuses to pass his “emergency legislation” on Rwanda (see 11.40am) quickly. Asked if he would call an early election if the Lords block the law, he replied:

    It doesn’t have to take a long time to get legislation through – and that is a question for the Labour party.

    We’re determined to get this through as quickly as possible. So the real question is: is the Labour party going to stand in the way and stop this from happening, or are they going to work with us and support this bill so we can get it through as quickly as possible?

    Sunak declined to say whether favoured holding an early election on the issue of Rwanda deportations if his bill got held up. Earlier today Sir Simon Clarke suggested this. (See 10.56am.) But, for obvious reasons, the prospect might not appeal.

    Sunak claimed he was making “real progress” on stopping small boats. He said:

    I think people just want the problem fixed. That’s what I’m here to do, and this year, we’ve already got the numbers down by a third.

    That’s because I’ve got new deals with the French, a new deal with Albania. We’re working with Turkey and Bulgaria, multiple other countries. We’re tackling the criminal gangs, we’re cutting through the backlog.

    Sunak said he would “take on” people trying to stop Rwanda flights taking over, whether it was Labour or the House of Lords. He said:

    We can pass these laws in parliament that will give us the powers and the tools we need. Then we can get the flights off and whether it’s the House of Lords or the Labour party standing in our way I will take them on because I want to get this thing done and I want to stop the boats.

    He said his patience was “wearing thin” with this issue. He said:

    People are sick of this merry-go-round. I want to end it – my patience is wearing thin like everyone else’s.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • UK ministers’ efforts to revive Rwanda policy likely to fail, lawyers say

    Government accused of ‘magical thinking’ and ignoring facts on the ground that led to supreme court judgment

    Lawyers have said that UK ministers’ latest plans to get their high-profile Rwanda policy off the ground are unlikely to overcome the legal obstacles that defeated them in the supreme court on Wednesday.

    After the five judges unanimously rejected the government’s plans to deport people seeking asylum in the UK to the east African country, Rishi Sunak said that he would ensure the flights could go ahead by legislating that Rwanda was safe.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • No 10 says it will produce ‘emergency’ bill to show Rwanda safe country ‘in coming weeks’ – as it happened

    Downing Street says legislation will make clear ‘Rwanda is safe’ and will address court’s concerns after policy ruled unlawful. This live blog is closed

    At his Institute for Government Q&A Sir Mark Rowley, commissioner of the Metropolitan police, refused to say what he felt about Lee Anderson, the Conservative party deputy chair, declaring yesterday that ministers should just ignore the supreme court judgment saying the Rwanda police was unlawful. Asked to respond, Rowley just said:

    Politicians hold me to account, I don’t hold them to account.

    Starmer travelled north of the border just hours after a revolt within his party over a ceasefire in Gaza resulted in the resignation of eight of his frontbenchers.

    The Labour leader highlighted what he described as the “failure” of the UK government to negotiate a trade deal with India, a key exporter for Scotch whisky.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Cleverly ‘determined’ to get removal flight to Rwanda before general election

    Home secretary says legally binding treaty will be drafted ‘within days’ despite policy being ruled unlawful

    Ministers are “absolutely determined” to get a removal flight to Rwanda off before the next election, and will finish drafting a legally binding treaty with the country “within days”, the home secretary, James Cleverly, has said, after the policy was ruled unlawful.

    Cleverly, who was made home secretary in the reshuffle earlier this week, said the controversial policy was already having “a deterrent effect” on people smugglers.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • What options are left for Rishi Sunak after supreme court’s Rwanda ruling?

    £140m plan to send asylum seekers to east Africa found to be unlawful

    After the supreme court’s comprehensive mauling of the government’s £140m plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, leaving the policy defunct, we examine the government’s options.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Jess Phillips quits Labour frontbench as Keir Starmer suffers major rebellion over Gaza ceasefire – UK politics as it happened

    SNP motion calling for ceasefire in Gaza defeated 294-125

    Reed says the court has had to decide whether the Rwanda policy breaches the non-refoulement rule.

    The policy is in the Home Office’s immigration rules, he says.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • David Cameron denies lobbying row should rule out return; Esther McVey made minister without portfolio – as it happened

    Former PM takes seat in Lords after return as foreign secretary; James Cleverly replaces Suella Braverman; Esther McVey to reportedly tackle ‘wokery’

    ITV’s Paul Brand says he has had a text with the word “Rejoice” from a Tory MP celebrating the sacking of Suella Braverman.

    James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, has been seen going into No 10, PA Media reports.

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  • Win or lose, supreme court decision on Rwanda policy will be pivotal for Tories

    A victory for the immigration and asylum policy on Wednesday will come with headaches, but a defeat could split the Conservative party

    Wednesday marks a potentially pivotal moment in the government’s fortunes when the supreme court rules whether its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is lawful.

    The decision could have significant implications not just for immigration and asylum policy, but also for the future direction of Rishi Sunak’s government, and the Conservative party more widely. Here is what could follow from a government win or loss.

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  • UK supreme court to rule on legality of plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda

    A finding against the Tory policy could increase pressure on Sunak to leave European convention on human rights

    Rishi Sunak’s government will discover next Wednesday whether its flagship immigration policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda is lawful.

    The supreme court will give its judgment after the Home Office challenged a court of appeal ruling that the multimillion-pound deal to send deported asylum seekers to the east African nation was unlawful.

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  • Thousands of lone child asylum seekers left in limbo by Home Office, data shows

    Since 2020 more than 7,500 children in UK have waited more than a year for initial asylum decision – and 57 for more than five years

    Thousands of lone child asylum seekers have been left in limbo by the Home Office without a decision on their protection claims, with dozens waiting more than five years, official data has revealed.

    Home Office data shows that over the past three years more than 7,500 children who travelled alone to the UK waited more than a year for an initial decision on whether or not to accept their asylum claim.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Austria seeks to adopt UK’s Rwanda-style plan for asylum seekers

    Suella Braverman signs ‘migration and security agreement’ with Austrian counterpart in move to work more closely together

    Austria is seeking to adopt a Rwanda-style deal to deport asylum seekers to a third country, having agreed a deal to work with the UK on migration.

    Suella Braverman signed a “migration and security agreement” with her Austrian counterpart, Gerhard Karner, in which the two countries agreed to work more closely together.

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  • King Charles stops short of apology for ‘abhorrent’ colonial violence in Kenya

    Visiting monarch speaks of sorrow and deepest regret for past ‘wrongdoings’ under British rule

    King Charles has spoken of Britain’s “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence” committed against Kenyans during their fight for independence, but stopped short of an apology despite human rights groups demanding one.

    The monarch made the comments in a speech, delivered during a banquet in Kenya held in his honour, in which he referred to the “greatest sorrow” and “deepest regret” for the “wrongdoings” of the past.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • King Charles asked for ‘unequivocal apology’ by Kenya’s rights commission

    King urged to offer apology while in Kenya for UK’s ‘brutal and inhuman treatment’ during the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s

    The Kenya Human Rights Commission has called on King Charles to offer an “unequivocal public apology” for colonial abuses, during his visit to the country this week.

    “We call upon the king, on behalf of the British government, to issue an unconditional and unequivocal public apology (as opposed to the very cautious, self-preserving and protective statements of regrets) for the brutal and inhuman treatment inflicted on Kenyan citizens,” the KHRC said.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Britain is ‘omni-surveillance’ society, watchdog warns

    Exclusive: Fraser Sampson says law is not keeping up with AI advances as police retain 3m images of innocent people

    Britain is an “omni-surveillance” society with police forces in the “extraordinary” position of holding more than 3m custody photographs of innocent people more than a decade after being told to destroy them, the independent surveillance watchdog has said.

    Fraser Sampson, who will end his term as the Home Office’s biometrics and surveillance commissioner this month, said there “isn’t much not being watched by somebody” in the UK and that the regulatory framework was “inconsistent, incomplete and in some areas incoherent”.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Met to increase intelligence gathering in London schools amid Gaza tensions

    Exclusive: Human rights groups voice alarm as letter to headteachers reveals plan for more visible patrols

    Metropolitan police officers have been instructed to increase intelligence-gathering activities at London schools in response to the Israel-Hamas war, ramping up concerns among human rights groups about the surveillance of children.

    Officers were briefed to “increase their visible patrols” at schools and engage with school staff in order to obtain information about “community tensions”, according to a letter sent to headteachers.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Major UK retailers urged to quit ‘authoritarian’ police facial recognition strategy

    Human rights campaigners say the Pegasus initiative wrongly criminalises people of colour, women and LGBTQ+ people

    Some of Britain’s biggest retailers, including Tesco, John Lewis and Sainsbury’s, have been urged to pull out of a new policing strategy amid warnings it risks wrongly criminalising people of colour, women and LGBTQ+ people.

    A coalition of 14 human rights groups has written to the main retailers – also including Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, Next, Boots and Primark – saying that their participation in a new government-backed scheme that relies heavily on facial recognition technology to combat shoplifting will “amplify existing inequalities in the criminal justice system”.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Shock, rage, increasing unease: UK’s Jewish community wrestles with response to war

    British Jews came together to condemn Hamas, but concerns over Israel’s actions are being voiced

    Two days after Hamas unleashed a terrorist attack on Israeli civilians in southern Israel, hundreds of British Jews waved Israeli flags and sang the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah, at a vigil outside Downing Street.

    The event, organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, and attended by the chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, was a powerful show of communal solidarity as the enormity of Hamas’s atrocities was still becoming clear.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Human rights experts warn against European crackdown on climate protesters

    UK has led the way, with countries across the continent making mass arrests, passing draconian new laws and labelling activists as eco-terrorists

    Human rights experts and campaigners have warned against an intensifying crackdown on climate protests across Europe, as Guardian research found countries across the continent using repressive measures to silence activists.

    In Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK, authorities have responded to climate protests with mass arrests, the passing of draconian new laws, the imposing of severe sentences for non-violent protests and the labelling of activists as hooligans, saboteurs or eco-terrorists.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • How criminalisation is being used to silence climate activists across the world

    Guardian investigation finds growing number of countries passing anti-protest laws as part of playbook of tactics to intimidate people peacefully raising the alarm

    As wildfires and extreme temperatures rage across the planet, sea temperature records tumble and polar glaciers disappear, the scale and speed of the climate crisis is impossible to ignore. Scientific experts are unanimous that there needs to be an urgent clampdown on fossil fuel production, a major boost in renewable energy and support for communities to rapidly move towards a fairer, healthier and sustainable low-carbon future.

    Many governments, however, seem to have different priorities. According to climate experts, senior figures at the UN and grassroots advocates contacted by the Guardian, some political leaders and law enforcement agencies around the world are instead launching a fierce crackdown on people trying to peacefully raise the alarm.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Rwanda ‘tortures and murders’, UK supreme court hearing asylum challenge told

    Home Office brings fresh legal challenge after court of appeal ruled UK’s deportation policy unlawful

    Rwanda is a country that “imprisons, tortures and murders” its opponents, including those who have already fled the country, the UK’s supreme court has heard.

    Raza Husain KC, representing asylum seekers challenging the Rwanda policy, told five senior judges of human rights breaches in the east African country. He said opponents of the Rwandan government were at risk of police violence and “absolute repression”.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Abuse of Oxford’s trans students and staff saddens me, says vice-chancellor

    Prof Irene Tracey tells assembly free speech has been ‘centre stage’ at university during her first year in post

    Oxford’s vice-chancellor has said she was “deeply saddened” by the abuse and attacks aimed at the university’s transgender staff and students during her first year in the post, including the controversy which surrounded an appearance by Kathleen Stock, a gender-critical feminist.

    Prof Irene Tracey, delivering her first oration since her appointment as vice-chancellor, told the assembly at the university’s Sheldonian theatre: “I was deeply saddened to learn of the abusive and threatening language and behaviours that our trans community suffered this year.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Braverman suggests support for immigration is a ‘luxury belief’ and claims ‘hurricane’ of mass migration is coming – as it happened

    Home secretary says Tories were ‘too squeamish’ in past to deal with immigration properly from fear of being called racist. This live blog is closed

    The proceeedings in the main hall at the Conservative conference opened this morning with a speech from a member praising the party’s record on gay rights. Steve Barclay, the health secretary, is speaking now, and he will be announcing plans to ban trans women from female hospital wards. The Daily Telegraph has splashed on the story.

    On a visit this morning Suella Braverman, the home secretary, said she backed the idea. She said:

    Trans women have no place in women’s wards or indeed any safe space relating to biological women.

    And the health secretary is absolutely right to clarify and make it clear that biological men should not have treatments in the same wards and in the same safe spaces as biological women.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.