Ipsa’s earlier advice on expenses for food and decorations led to MPs receiving abuse from the public The MPs’ expenses watchdog has apologised for telling parliamentarians they could claim back some costs for Christmas parties. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), a body created largely as a response to the MPs’ expenses scandal in 2009, had been widely criticised for its initial decision. Continue reading… ​Ipsa’s earlier advice on expenses for food and decorations led

Party will roll out tougher sentences as statistics reveal almost 97% of sexual offences fail to end in charges Keir Starmer has pledged to take a “zero-tolerance approach” to violence against women and girls as fresh statistics reveal that almost 97% of sexual offences are failing to result in charges. He said his Labour government will roll out tougher sentences for rape, stalking and domestic murder, and introduce a domestic abuse register to make it

Thinktank says it expects chancellor’s autumn statement to leave ‘poisoned inheritance’ for next government UK politics live – latest news updates Jeremy Hunt’s autumn statement is expected to bring further degradation of public services, with even those given extra funds, such as schools and the NHS, unlikely to catch up from the damage caused by Covid, a leading thinktank has said. The Institute for Government (IfG) said the statement, given last week, and billed by

31 people attempting to reach the UK from France died in the Channel’s worst disaster for 30 years Bereaved relatives of those who died in the Channel a year ago have called for justice for their loved ones at a vigil to commemorate the victims. On 24 November 2021, 31 people attempting to reach the UK from France died in the worst maritime disaster in the Channel for 30 years. The bodies of four of

Home Office argues people trafficked to Syria were exposed to extreme violence which poses ‘almighty problem’ People trafficked to Syria and radicalised remain threats to national security as they may be desensitised after exposure to extreme violence, the Home Office has argued in contesting Shamima Begum’s appeal against the removal of her British citizenship. Begum was 15 when she travelled from her home in Bethnal Green, east London, through Turkey and into territory controlled by

About 20 Conservative MPs want to end longstanding de facto block on new wind farms in England Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have joined a growing Tory backbench rebellion against Rishi Sunak’s refusal to allow new onshore wind projects in England, in another challenge to the levelling up bill. The former prime ministers are among about 20 Conservative MPs to have signed an amendment tabled by Simon Clarke, who served as a minister under Johnson