Number 10 lobby briefing on the Russian spy scandal and the Government’s new communities strategy
2 min read
Here is a summary of this morning's briefing for lobby journalists by the Prime Minister's official spokesman.
SERGEI SKRIPAL
Theresa May is receiving regular updates on the police investigation into former spy Sergie Skripal, who was taken ill yesterday after being exposed to a mystery substance.
Asked for an update on communication between Downing Street and the police on the matter, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “All relevant departments including Number 10 are being kept informed of developments.
“As you would expect this is an ongoing investigation which is being led by the police and is an operational matter for them.”
Mr Skripal, 66, who was granted refuge in Britain eight years ago as part of a "spy swap" with Russia, is critically ill in hospital.
He and a 33-year-old woman were found unconscious at the Maltings shopping centre in Salisbury on Sunday.
ALEXANDER LITVINENKO
Referring to the case of Alexander Litvinenko – another former Russian spy who died in London after being poisoned in 2006 – the spokesman said: “The Prime Minister was clear as was the Government at the time that the death of Alexander Litvinenko was an appalling crime.
“The Government has been committed to seeking justice in this case and it was the Prime Minister as Home Secretary who established the public inquiry into Mr Litvinenko’s death, the findings of which were published in January 2016.”
COMMUNITIES STRATEGY
The spokesman said that at a Cabinet meeting this morning ministers had discussed the Government’s forthcoming communities strategy, set to be published “shortly”.
“The strategy follows a manifesto commitment by the Government to bring forward a new strategy to help people in more isolated communities to engage with the wider world,” he added.
“It will help women in particular into the workplace. It will help people to speak English and work with schools to ensure those with intakes from one predominant cultural or religious background teach their students about pluralistic British values and help them to get to know people with different ways of life.”
