rajeev syal

I cover home affairs for the Guardian. If you have a potential story: [email protected]

[Gabriel Pogrund @Gabriel_Pogrund]

A glorious day for opponents of transparency in public life.

MPs have removed the names of their parliamentary staff from a decades-old public register - meaning we do not know who these people are and are left to accept the word of their employer when they say (as in the case of the prime minister, here) that said staff do not have any outside earnings or private interests.

"All staff have confirmed they have no registrable interests": oh, well that's that then.

No way of determining if true; no way of finding out if MPs employing family members; no way for anyone other than MPs themselves to uphold standards or examine who is operating in the Palace of Westminster on their behalf.

The decision was driven by ... you guessed it ... MPs themselves, following behind-closed-door consultations with staff trade union representatives - not media or anti-corruption organisations.

Echoes of the time that decided among themselves - with nil meaningful debate - to exempt themselves from the centuries-old system by which those arrested would be named before the Commons.

Parliament being sovereign it is always free to take such steps without consultation or engagement with the public - the hope is they decide not to abuse their positions and proactively seek criticism or counter-views.

In this instance, sadly, MPs have demonstrated they cannot be trusted to do so - they have put us out of step with comparable democracies without anything approaching scrutiny:

[Richard Holmes 🕵🏻‍♂️ @Richard_AHolmes]

Essential and gripping investigation from @MaxStephensTele here.

A worthy read, and watch.

[Adam Payne @adampayne26]

We’re once again offering two aspiring young journalists the chance to spend a couple of weeks - paid and accommodation provided - with The House mag and PolHome teams this summer. Further details and application form linked. DM if you have questions

https://t.co/YeIZ1WJlwO

[rajeev syal @syalrajeev]

@howardbowden @SmithInAmerica Thanks Howard, Will take a look later today.

[Dan Neidle @DanNeidle]

Here's the thing. If you're buying a house and everything is simple, you can ask your conveyancer how much stamp duty to pay.

If things are complex - e.g. there's a trust - this is a very bad idea.

If Ms Rayner just asked her conveyancer then that was a mistake.

[Pippa Crerar @PippaCrerar]

EXCLUSIVE: Angela Rayner has admitted that she underpaid stamp duty on her £800,000 seaside flat and has referred herself to the PM's ethics adviser after coming under intense pressure to be more transparent about her property arrangements.

[Faiza Shaheen @faizashaheen]

Brilliant response to usual scaremongering about rich leaving! In any case, why should the rich be rewarded for bad behaviour? If the rest of us didn’t pay our taxes properly we’d rightfully get in trouble

[Tamara Cohen @tamcohen]

Exclusive:
We haven't been asked about return hubs, leaders of two other Balkan countries tell me.

As Keir Starmer says he's in talks with various countries, but Albania says no; the leaders of Kosovo and North Macedonia say they haven't as yet been approached.

The western Balkans have been the focus of government efforts to tackle illegal migration.

Here's what the President of Kosovo and Prime Minister of North Macedonia said:

[rajeev syal @syalrajeev]

@thespiralquirk Your tweet is factually incorrect. BTP has not said that "women will no longer be searched by trans-identified men". I asked the force specifically about this and reported it in the story. Sex Matters has launched a JR on this very point. https://t.co/4M2pigG7oo

[Jenny McCartney @mccartney_jenny]

My piece for @UnHerd on Andrew Tate's warm welcome in the 'manosphere' that surrounds Donald Trump, and the divisions it exposes in the Republican party @UnHerd https://t.co/zGlbvtz1C1

[rajeev syal @syalrajeev]

https://t.co/bkkteyAp3N

[#WomenInJournalism @CFWIJ]

#Azerbaijan: Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the detention of journalist #ShahnazBaylargizi. The latest in the alarming state crackdown on independent media in the country.

Baylargizi, an editor at Toplum TV, was detained, and her home in Baku was raided by authorities. Her health has deteriorated in custody, with her blood pressure skyrocketing.

Her detention is not an isolated case—on the same day, journalist Shamshad Aghayev was also arrested, adding to the growing list of independent reporters facing persecution in Azerbaijan.

Since November 2023, the Azerbaijani government has escalated its attacks on journalists. AbzasMedia, Toplum TV, and Meydan TV have all been raided, and multiple journalists have been arrested on dubious charges. At least 8 women journalists are currently behind bars.

The crackdown on independent journalists must stop. We demand Azerbaijan stop targeting journalists. Baylargizi must be freed unconditionally.

[nazir afzal @nazirafzal]

I & ⁦@MaggieOliverUK⁩ agree - what’s the point of a costly & lengthy national inquiry when previous inquiries haven’t been implemented, even in part?

Local independent inquiries with survivor voices are the best way of proceeding with urgency
https://t.co/wxEuNVlO2B

[Florence Eshalomi MP @FloEshalomi]

From one British Nigerian MP to another British Nigerian MP, congratulations @KemiBadenoch on your election as Leader of the Conservative Party.
Eku ori ire. Your dad would be proud.

[rajeev syal @syalrajeev]

Gangs recruit skilled drone pilots to fly drugs and even ketchup into UK prisons https://t.co/Mpqna5cXPM

[Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot]

Here's the message from Simon Case to civil servants.

"It is a shame that I feel I have to spell this out, but my decision is solely to do with my health and nothing to do with anything else."

[Aubrey Allegretti @breeallegretti]

Simon Case has announced his resignation as cabinet secretary in a note to civil servants, I’m told.

[Lord Bethell @JimBethell]

This is cobblers. The Khan Review, commissioned by a @Conservative government, made these recommendations. Could someone have a quiet word with the interns running this account.

[Jon Stone @joncstone]

UK rail minister got engineer sacked for raising safety concerns about Euston station overcrowding https://t.co/9FhPQs7AsM Peter Hendy threatened to withhold public contracts from the man’s employer while urging disciplinary action — and asked officials to “deal with him”

[Martin Barrow @MartinBarrow]

Ofsted has published new data showing how children's homes have become a huge, money-spinning business. If you are squeamish about these things, look away now. 🧵