"Henry’s family do not want anger to tear communities apart. They are a family who have friends across faith and race, and so did Henry. His family want his memory to help bring our society together."
Today I have met Lucy, Mark and Katie, Henry Nowak’s mother, father and stepmother. Their courage is extraordinary.
They have endured the most appalling loss, it is a life sentence for them.
They have also faced the agonising decision to release the harrowing body-worn camera footage, knowing how painful it would be and how strongly people would react. They did so because they want truth, accountability and change.
They have asked that we work across political parties and religions to rebuild trust in the police. That trust has been broken because of what happened, and I agree with them on that.
We must also be prepared to examine, carefully and seriously, religious practices or exemptions that permit the carrying of dangerous weapons in public, and other activities that are not conducive to the public good. We also need to examine where the law needs to change.
Henry’s family do not want anger to tear communities apart. They are a family who have friends across faith and race, and so did Henry. His family want his memory to help bring our society together.
Everyone knows I have strong views about how we should deal with equality under the law. What the family agreed with me on is that we need to bring common sense back, and that is what we should all be fighting for.
I promised the family that we will work to ensure there is a positive legacy for Henry out of this tragedy.
That is my focus now.
Running into Morgan McSweeney at a session at #GlobSec defence conference, I asked the elusive ex No 10 chief of staff about the relations between electorates and politicians and there is there any way out of a negative cycle? His answers on the Left in the UK and US being paralysed by fear of AI - not aiming to master and deploy it – food for thought.
We also discussed the imminent impact of AI on political campaigning and whether parties can still address a “national interest”- rather than sundry subdivided target groups AI can appeal to— suggest more fracturing ahead.
Here’s the story with thanks to @NewsAnnabelle for her swift edit pen - and you can get the whole item and thoughts from @SamCoatesSky and me on the former number 10 chief of staff’s new field of interests on “Politics at Sam and Anne” - ep out today and then taking a sunny break for the rest of the week.
https://t.co/Ir8eTtcCUa
@SouthamptonFC Why is Tonda Eckert still Southampton manager and why haven't there been any sackings yet?
If we want to restore the reputation of this brilliant club we have to cut ties — immediately — with every individual responsible for sending junior staff to go and break the rules.
@holland_tom Thank you as always!
The segment on shell shock and bad dreams brought to mind this incredibly haunting passage from a book called 'The Middle Parts of Fortune' by Frederic Manning, describing soldiers fresh from the trenches bedding down for the night behind the lines...
Deplorable behaviour from senior figures at the football club I love
They are not welcome at Southampton FC and should be sacked immediately
And the junior staff, including the young man in the Spygate photo everyone's seen (thanks to whoever leaked it) should be exonerated
#SaintsFc Detemination 39 of the findings was a reprimand for use of junior members of staff which it says was “at the least morally wrong” and “in a vulnerable position without job security and with limited ability to object”
Tonda has stooped lower than any of us could imagine 😞
EU warns UK that Iran energy price shock should not be used as an excuse to water down sanctions on Russia
For a long time, UK's been out ahead of EU in the strength of its Russia sanctions regime. On this one they're looking like laggards
w/ @GregSorgi
https://t.co/pnEieM1C5x
Yesterday, PM said UK loosening of new sanctions on Russia-origin oil products was a "targeted" exemption for jet fuel & diesel
But according to @CREACleanAir jet fuel & diesel make up *99%* of UK imports from refineries in 3rd countries processing Russian crude
Some targeting
PM claims decision to ease sanctions on Russian-origin oil products is "targeted" + "short-term"
Sanctions licence itself makes plain it is "of indefinite duration"
And it's "targeted" at jet fuel+diesel, which make up vast majority of products the sanction was supposed to hit
NEW Labour leadership hopeful Wes Streeting expected to openly oppose government's decision to ease sanctions on Russian-origin jet fuel + diesel
Streeting has a statement in the Commons later today and will join chorus of criticism for the surprise move
https://t.co/KtgGOPdeSA
EXCL: Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me
The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system
A new leader might lend a poll boost; they won't change the fundamentals underlying Britain's political instability.
To do that, some now believe, some very hard policy choices are needed ... along with the political courage to make them.
https://t.co/eI5rN5Cerr
The U.K. government has walked back a promise to banish forced labor from the supply chains of its flagship clean energy company, as ministers rush to hit climate goals.
https://t.co/1HHcxvK7Jd
Streeting will know his odds of winning any contest against soft left are low
But his letter appears (skilfully) written with an eye on senior Cabinet job in any future Burnham/Rayner govt
Opened door to wide contest. Sympathised with left's concerns eg. immigration rhetoric
New: Andy Burnham's allies reckon they can get him by-election by "early June" as the soft-left scrambles to get a challenger to Wes Streeting in the game
"It would be outrageous to block the most popular politician in the country from standing," a senior MP told me
Shout out to @Annaisaac
Without her reporting - as on Akshata Murty's non dom status and Nadhim Zahawi's tax affairs - this donation might never have become public.
One year on: The hidden impact of Trump’s trade deal with the UK
Huge thanks to the farmers who trusted me with this story and the analysts for patiently talking me through the data.
https://t.co/ESyamiRPK9