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Mon, 11 December 2023

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Zoe Crowther

Zoe Crowther

Zoe Crowther is Social Media Journalist for PoliticsHome and The House magazine. She was previously a freelance journalist.

Conservative MP To Push For Law To Avoid A “Post-Truth World” Online
Technology
Conservative MP To Push For Law To Avoid A “Post-Truth World” Online
Conservative MP John Penrose has said that legislation to tackle online bias and misinformation is needed to prevent the emergence of a “post-truth world”, as he plans an amendment to the Media Bill.
Boris Johnson Denies His Approach To Covid-19 Was 'Let It Rip'
Coronavirus
Boris Johnson Denies His Approach To Covid-19 Was "Let It Rip"
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has denied ever saying government's approach to the pandemic should be “let it rip” and allow Covid-19 to kill older and more clinically vulnerable people.
Rishi Sunak Insists Rwanda Scheme 'Blocks Every Single Reason' For Legal Challenges
Home affairs
Rishi Sunak Insists Rwanda Scheme "Blocks Every Single Reason" For Legal Challenges
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has issued a robust defence of the government's emergency legislation on the Rwanda migration scheme, insisting opportunities for legal challenges to the scheme would be "extremely narrow".
Boris Johnson Blames 'Default Mindset' For Failings In Government's Early Response To Covid-19 Pandemic
Coronavirus
Boris Johnson Blames "Default Mindset" For Failings In Government's Early Response To Covid-19 Pandemic
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has blamed a "default mindset" for the early assumption by government that Covid-19 would not seriously impact the UK, when questioned at the Covid Inquiry.
James Cleverly Signs New Treaty With Rwanda With Guarantee Refugees Won't Be Sent To Unsafe Countries
Foreign affairs
James Cleverly Signs New Treaty With Rwanda With Guarantee Refugees Won't Be Sent To Unsafe Countries
UK Home Secretary James Cleverly signed a new treaty with Rwanda, which he believes will "amplify" the relationship between the two countries in the face of criticism from international bodies and courts.
Mental Health Commissioner Could Offer 'Sustained Leadership' For Patients
Health
Mental Health Commissioner Could Offer "Sustained Leadership" For Patients
The government should create a Mental Health Commissioner for England role in order to offer “sustained leadership” and to put mental health “at the heart” of policymaking, according to a new report.
Keir Starmer Says Labour Would Bring In 'New Era' Of 'Obsession' With Growth
Economy
Keir Starmer Says Labour Would Bring In "New Era" Of "Obsession" With Growth
Labour leader Keir Starmer has said that Britain is now in a “new era” that needs a “new economic consensus” with an “obsession” for growth and security, in what he described as a “very unusual” stance from Labour.
Labour MP Wants More 'Wins' On Changing The Law To Tackle Sexual Violence
Home affairs
Labour MP Wants More "Wins" On Changing The Law To Tackle Sexual Violence
Labour MP Sarah Champion wants to work with the Conservative government to push through more law changes to tackle sexual violence against women and girls, after another recent “win” on getting legislation through.
Matt Hancock Admits His Covid Rulebreaking Was Damaging To Public Confidence
Coronavirus
Matt Hancock Admits His Covid Rulebreaking Was Damaging To Public Confidence
Former health secretary Matt Hancock has admitted that his "transgression" – having an affair with his aide which broke social distancing rules – might have damaged public confidence and the likelihood of the wider population adhering to the rules themselves.
Matt Hancock Says Health Department 'Rose To The Challenge' Of Covid-19 Pandemic
Coronavirus
Matt Hancock Says Health Department "Rose To The Challenge" Of Covid-19 Pandemic
Former health secretary Matt Hancock has defended his record leading the Department for Health and Social Care during the pandemic to the Covid-19 Inquiry, arguing that he had been the one urging the government to take action against the virus sooner.
Labour MP Says David Cameron Could Have Committed Contempt Of Parliament Over Private Greensill Flights
Parliament
Labour MP Says David Cameron Could Have Committed Contempt Of Parliament Over Private Greensill Flights
Lord Cameron, the newly-appointed foreign secretary, might have acted in contempt of Parliament by failing to answer a committee question on how many personal flights he took using Greensill private jets, according to a Labour MP.
Michael Gove Says Cabinet Office Was Inherently 'Dysfunctional' During Pandemic
Coronavirus
Michael Gove Says Cabinet Office Was Inherently "Dysfunctional" During Pandemic
The Cabinet Office was inherently “dysfunctional” and unprepared for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, according to former Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove.
MPs Could Vote On Decriminalising Abortion In England And Wales
Health
MPs Could Vote On Decriminalising Abortion In England And Wales
MPs will get the chance to vote on decriminalising abortion in England and Wales, with a Labour MP expected to table an amendment this week.
Kwasi Kwarteng Says COP28 Should Not 'Bully' Developing Countries To Net Zero
Environment
Kwasi Kwarteng Says COP28 Should Not "Bully" Developing Countries To Net Zero
Britain and the Western world must ensure action and dialogue to tackle climate change does not become part of a “neocolonial bubble” that "bullies" developing countries towards net zero, according to former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng ahead of COP28.
All The Key Measures In Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement From Tax Cuts To Business Reforms
Economy
All The Key Measures In Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement From Tax Cuts To Business Reforms
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced more than 100 measures in the Autumn Statement, which he said will “boost the economy and drive growth”.
Chris Whitty Says Government Was 'Too Late' To Act In First Wave Of Covid-19 Pandemic
Coronavirus
Chris Whitty Says Government Was "Too Late" To Act In First Wave Of Covid-19 Pandemic
The UK government was "a bit too late" to intervene in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, according to top medical adviser to the government Professor Chris Whitty.
Boris Johnson Was 'Bamboozled' By Scientific Advice During Covid Pandemic
Coronavirus
Boris Johnson Was "Bamboozled" By Scientific Advice During Covid Pandemic
Former prime minister Boris Johnson was "bamboozled" by much of the scientific advice given during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the government's top scientific adviser.
Top Money Expert Says Cutting Inheritance Tax Would Have 'Least Benefit' For Most People
Economy
Top Money Expert Says Cutting Inheritance Tax Would Have "Least Benefit" For Most People
Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has warned that cutting inheritance tax would have the “least benefit”, and insisted the Autumn Statement next week must include “small tweaks” to fix “practical problems”.
Rwanda Plan In Tatters After Supreme Court Rules It Unlawful
Home affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Rwanda Plan In Tatters After Supreme Court Rules It Unlawful
The Supreme Court has dismissed the UK government’s appeal and found that the Rwanda scheme is unlawful on the grounds that asylum-seekers could be sent back to their countries of origin by Rwanda.
Victoria Atkins Appointed Health Secretary As Steve Barclay Becomes New Environment Secretary
Environment
Victoria Atkins Appointed Health Secretary As Steve Barclay Becomes New Environment Secretary
Victoria Atkins is taking over from Steve Barclay as the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with Barclay replacing Thérèse Coffey as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in a major cabinet reshuffle.
Tory MP Says Young People Have 'Conservative Values' But Government Must Deliver For Them
Economy
By Zoe Crowther
Tory MP Says Young People Have "Conservative Values" But Government Must Deliver For Them
Conservative MP and former minister Robert Courts has said he believes young people have “overwhelmingly conservative values”, but the government must do more to support the younger generation’s stake in society and the economy.
Rishi Sunak Still Has Confidence In Suella Braverman But Future In Cabinet Hangs In The Balance
Home affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Rishi Sunak Still Has Confidence In Suella Braverman But Future In Cabinet Hangs In The Balance
Suella Braverman’s fate as Home Secretary still hangs in the balance as a growing number of senior Tories are distancing themselves from her controversial comments on the policing of protests and homelessness.
Majority Of People Think Neighbours Would Row Over New Buildings Rules
Communities
Majority Of People Think Neighbours Would Row Over New Buildings Rules
Only one in four people believe residents in large apartment blocks would be able to agree with each other on building management and maintenance issues, according to a new poll which casts doubt over government housing reforms.
Tories Say They Will Keep Fighting For Conversion Therapy Ban
Social affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Tories Say They Will Keep Fighting For Conversion Therapy Ban
Prominent Conservative politicians and organisations have said they will refuse to give up in the fight to implement a ban on conversion therapy, after legislation anticipated for the promised ban was not included in the King's Speech.
All The Legislation Included In The King's Speech
Parliament
By Zoe Crowther
All The Legislation Included In The King's Speech
Measures ranging from criminal justice and rental reform to economic and health protections have been announced by King Charles III, who delivered his first King’s Speech to mark the State Opening of Parliament.
MP Calls For Neurodiverse People To Be Protected With Mental Health Reforms
Health
By Zoe Crowther
MP Calls For Neurodiverse People To Be Protected With Mental Health Reforms
Conservative MP Robert Buckland has urged the government to honour its 2019 manifesto commitment and include the “generational” Mental Health Bill in the King’s Speech next week, in order to end the “injustice” of people with learning disabilities and neurodiverse diagnoses such as autism from being detained in mental health hospitals.
AI Safety Summit Lauded As 'Success' But MPs Question What's Next
Foreign affairs
AI Safety Summit Lauded As "Success" But MPs Question What's Next
The government's landmark AI Safety Summit has been largely celebrated as a success, achieving multiple agreements between international governments and technology developers to work together on preventing existential risks.
AI Experts Find Rishi Sunak And Elon Musk Interview 'Depressing'
Technology
AI Experts Find Rishi Sunak And Elon Musk Interview "Depressing"
AI experts have condemned Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to host an ‘in conversation’ event with X owner Elon Musk as “undemocratic” and “depressing”.
Dominic Cummings Says Cabinet Office Was A 'Bombsite' During Covid Response
Coronavirus
Dominic Cummings Says Cabinet Office Was A "Bombsite" During Covid Response
Dominic Cummings, former top advisor to Boris Johnson during the Covid-19 pandemic, has told the Covid Inquiry that the Cabinet Office was a "bombsite" that operated with "inconsistent data and facts".
Government Ignored Scientists And Businesses With 'Eat Out To Help Out' Scheme
Coronavirus
Government Ignored Scientists And Businesses With 'Eat Out To Help Out' Scheme
Lee Cain, the former Director of Communications at No.10 between 2019 and 2020, has told the Covid Inquiry that the government ignored advice from scientists and businesses to implement the Eat Out to Help Out scheme after the first lockdown period, when it was "incredibly clear" the UK would have to enter lockdown again after that point.
Key Players Remain Unconvinced About The Government’s AI Safety Summit
Foreign affairs
Key Players Remain Unconvinced About The Government’s AI Safety Summit
Figures across the technology and political landscape are still having doubts over whether the landmark AI Safety Summit, kicking off this week at Bletchley Park, has the right focus to steer the development of artificial intelligence in the UK and the rest of the world.
Public Supports AI Safety Summit But Thinks Big Tech Has Too Much Influence
Technology
Public Supports AI Safety Summit But Thinks Big Tech Has Too Much Influence
A majority of the public think it is important that the UK hosts the AI Safety Summit, but more than half believe large technology firms hold too much influence over developing AI policy, according to a new poll.
Top Civil Servant 'Cannot Recall' Why He Turned On WhatsApp Disappearing Messages During Covid
Coronavirus
Top Civil Servant "Cannot Recall" Why He Turned On WhatsApp Disappearing Messages During Covid
Martin Reynolds, the Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister during the key stages of the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, told the Covid Inquiry that he could "not recall" why he had turned on a function to make an important WhatsApp group's messages disappear.
Former Tech Secretary Hopes AI Safety Summit Sparks 'National Conversation' On Regulation
Technology
Former Tech Secretary Hopes AI Safety Summit Sparks "National Conversation" On Regulation
Former secretary of state Chloe Smith has said that after this week’s AI Safety Summit, a “national conversation” will be needed to ensure UK regulators have the ability to respond to the huge risks presented by AI.
Labour 'Left In The Dark' On Global AI Safety Summit
Technology
Labour "Left In The Dark" On Global AI Safety Summit
The Shadow Minister for Tech and Digital Economy, Alex Davies-Jones, has accused the government of keeping Labour “in the dark” over plans for the landmark AI Safety Summit, hosted next week at Bletchley Park.
Tories Could Face By-Election After Parliament Votes To Suspend MP For Bullying And Sexual Misconduct
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Tories Could Face By-Election After Parliament Votes To Suspend MP For Bullying And Sexual Misconduct
MPs have voted in Parliament to uphold sanctions against MP Peter Bone, who was found by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) to have committed "many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct” against a staff member.