DUP sets up review on what party knew about sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson – as it happened

Posted on in world-news

From

2d ago

DUP sets up review to establish what people in party knew about Jeffrey Donaldson's sex offending

DUP leader Gavin Robinson has insisted he has ordered an “unprecedented review” in terms of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in his party, the Press Association reports. PA says:

double quotation markRobinson previously announced a “focused, independent review” to establish what was known within the party about Donaldson’s conduct.

The review will be led by Jim Gamble, a former senior police officer and current head of the INEQE Safeguarding Group.

The Northern Ireland Survivor Council had expressed “concern” because the INEQE is also undertaking a safeguarding review of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and it had emerged Donaldson’s victims had previously disclosed to church officials they had been abused.

They have queried whether one organisation can independently and robustly conduct both reviews.

Former DUP leader Donaldson was, last month, convicted at Newry Crown Court of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.

Robinson said he was very pleased that Gamble and his company has agreed to the review.

Key events

Afternoon summary

Bev Craig launching her manifesto at University Academy in Old Trafford, Manchester.
Bev Craig launching her manifesto at University Academy in Old Trafford, Manchester. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.

Keir Starmer being clapped out after finishing his final PMQs.
Keir Starmer being clapped out after finishing his final PMQs. Photograph: House of Commons/PA

DUP sets up review to establish what people in party knew about Jeffrey Donaldson's sex offending

DUP leader Gavin Robinson has insisted he has ordered an “unprecedented review” in terms of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in his party, the Press Association reports. PA says:

double quotation markRobinson previously announced a “focused, independent review” to establish what was known within the party about Donaldson’s conduct.

The review will be led by Jim Gamble, a former senior police officer and current head of the INEQE Safeguarding Group.

The Northern Ireland Survivor Council had expressed “concern” because the INEQE is also undertaking a safeguarding review of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and it had emerged Donaldson’s victims had previously disclosed to church officials they had been abused.

They have queried whether one organisation can independently and robustly conduct both reviews.

Former DUP leader Donaldson was, last month, convicted at Newry Crown Court of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.

Robinson said he was very pleased that Gamble and his company has agreed to the review.

Corbyn says Starmer wrong to claim at PMQs that Labour found to be 'institutionally antisemitic' under his leadership

During PMQs Keir Starmer said that Labour was “found to be institutionally antisemitic” as a result of things that happened under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.

Corbyn, who was thrown out of Labour under Starmer and who is now parliamentary leader of Your Party, has said this claim was false. Starmer was referring to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report into antisemitism in Labour, and Corbyn says Starmer has misdescribed its findings.

In a statement, Corbyn says:

double quotation markThe prime minister today falsely claimed that Labour was found to be “institutionally antisemitic” under my leadership. There was no such finding, and Keir Starmer should have the decency to correct the record.

This is the second time in recent weeks he has made a false allegation about the Labour party under my leadership (last time about an invented financial bankruptcy) to bolster his own dismal record.

Misrepresentations and broken undertakings are unfortunately part of a pattern under his leadership, leading to the collapse of public support that has brought his premiership to an end.

He is now heading for the exit, but I will continue to campaign for social justice, human rights and peace. That includes uncovering the true scale of this government’s institutional complicity in genocide.

Farage said he would need ‘a million a year’ to stand as MP in 2024

Nigel Farage told senior figures in Reform UK he would need “a million a year” to cover lost earnings if he stood for parliament in the 2024 general election, sources have told the Guardian, raising further questions about why he was given £5m by a crypto billionaire. Anna Isaac has the story.

Burnham plays down prospect of introducing wealth tax soon after becoming PM

Andy Burnham has played down the prospect of his introducing a wealth tax soon after he become PM next week.

But he has also said that he might have to ask taxpayers for “a little more” given the state of the national finances.

Burnham made his comments in an interview with Gary Lineker in which he also discussed the cost of living, Donald Trump and the World Cup.

The idea of a wealth tax is popular in the Labour party, even though there is no agreement was to what the term actually means. The Greens want an annual tax on assets worth more than £10m. Labour MPs tend to be more sceptical about this, but leftwingers, including some people close to Burnham, have called for capital gains tax to be raised to the level of income tax, a policy backed by Wes Streeting when he considering a run for the Labour leadership recently. Streeting called that “a wealth tax that works”.

Rachel Reeves, the outgoing chancellor, claims she has already in effect introduced wealth taxes because she has introduced various measures that will raise taxes for the rich.

Asked if he would introduce a wealth tax, Burnham told Lineker:

double quotation markI’m going to obviously take my time to properly look at the state of things, particularly the state of finances. And I just said a moment ago, Gary, about bringing people together. You know, I don’t want to come in and, if you like, create new divisions and pitch people one against another.

I’m not going rule things out right now. I do believe we need a greater sense of fairness and people feeling that things are being done in the right way and a fair way.

But at the same time, I don’t want to sort of be perceived as somebody who’s coming in with grudges and agendas and going to just immediately find or demonise one group or create a new way of dividing people.

But some sort of tax rises were possible, Burnham suggested.

double quotation markDecisions to be taken in time, they’re going to be difficult. I’m not going to shy away from that. You know, we are going to have to work quite hard to make sure we can pay our way.

And at some point that might be having to ask for a little more.

But those decisions are not for now. They’re for another day.

Burnham said helping people with the cost of living would be a “key thing” for him.

double quotation markPeople are paying too much for the basic things in life. And we’ve got to find ways of taking that pressure off them.

I heard on the doorsteps in Makerfield, ‘You know what, Andy, I can’t go out for a few pints anymore. I can’t take the kids out. I can’t go on holiday.’ Some of the things that just brought that bit of extra joy to people’s lives have kind of disappeared.

And we just need to try and bring a bit of a lift to people, a greater sense of hope back and a feeling that the country, if not everything being right now, is on a path to a better place.

And I will do whatever I can, I’ll give it my all to see if I can bring that about.

Asked about dealing with Donald Trump, Burnham said that “being yourself” and “respecting the office” woud be important. He said:

double quotation markI’ll just meet him where he’s at. And I like to think I’ve got some personality myself and I’ll deal with him very upfront in the same way I think he likes people to deal with him …

Where you disagree, do it, but do it in a way that is kind of meeting him where he’s at.

Asked about England’s chances in the World Cup, Burnham said:

double quotation markThere’s more positivity and belief around England, I think, than any time I can remember …

I don’t want to jinx it here, but it does feel as though there is just that little bit extra there, and let’s hope it comes through.

Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, has said that today’s reports claiming that Andy Burnham is not going to pick Ed Miliband as chancellor (see 11.14am) reflect badly on Labour. He said:

double quotation markThe Green party will tax millionaires and billionaires through a wealth tax. It is reported today that Labour by contrast are choosing to let millionaires and billionaires pick who their chancellor is. That is why we are here to replace Labour.

Welsh Labour's new leader Ken Skates says he shares Burnham's commitment to devolution and decentralisation

Steven Morris

Steven Morris

Steven Morris is a Guardian reporter covering Wales.

The new leader of Welsh Labour, Ken Skates, has told the Guardian that steering his party’s fightback following disastrous results in the Senedd elections will be a “big task” and is starting immediately.

He said he needed to convince voters that Welsh Labour was a party focused on “health and wealth for all”, adding: “We need to escape navel gazing and we need to be bold and ambitious in looking to the future based on our core principles.”

Skates said his party would work with Plaid Cymru, which leads the Welsh government, in the interest of the people of Wales – but would challenge them when it felt they weren’t doing the right thing. “We will hold them to account where and when they fail to demonstrate progressive policy.”

Skates is the first Welsh Labour leader from north Wales, which he said would bring a fresh set of eyes to the job. He said:

double quotation markIt is helpful to have a fresh perspective and fresh ideas, and hopefully that’s what I’ll be able to bring to the job. My background is somewhat different to previous leaders. I’m not from a traditional political family. I’m from a family of steel workers.

He said he had similarities with Andy Burnham, including supporting Everton and attending Cambridge University. Plus: “We both share poor taste in running shorts.”

He added:

double quotation markI think most importantly, though, for the Labour movement in Wales, we are both fully committed to a devolution revolution, to decentralising and de-concentrating power. Whether that be Westminster to the rest of the UK or Cardiff Bay to the rest of Wales. We need deeper devolution and we’ll be committed to that.

Ken Skates
Ken Skates Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

Zia Yusuf's press conference about protecting politicians from violence - summary and analysis

Earlier today Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, gave a speech and held a press conference about protecting politicians from violence. There have been some claims that Reform UK are only, or mainly, talking up this issue as a means of trying to justify Nigel Farage’s decision to take an undeclared gift of £5m from Christopher Harbone (which he says will pay for his security). The murder of Ann Widdecombe has probably shut down that line of criticism for good. Yusuf was talking about a genuine, very serious problem, and he spoke with sincerity about how, when he was party chair, he worried about the safety of activists, like those “chased down the street with an axe”.

But, nevertheless, the speech still came across as a rant – partly because of the total lack of curiosity as to what are the reasons for the rise in violence against politicians, and partly because of his wholesale refusal to accept that Reform UK’s own MPs have played a role in creating a toxic online culture that exacerbates the problem. It is obvious that a large part of this is driven by the social media hate economy, and at least three Reform UK MPs actually get paid by Elon Musk’s X platform for tweets that drive engagement. You can guess what type of posts these might be; they are not cat videos, or wholesome quotes about mindfulness.

There was also an implicit threat in the speech, directed at the media. Farage is the only party leader who in effect has his own TV station (GB News), but that does not stop the party claiming that it has been victimised by newspapers and broadcasters. After the speech was over, Farage posted a clip of it on X with the caption: “I will not forget what The Times have done.” (That is a reference to the Times printing a picture of the home owned by Farage where his daughter lives.)

Here are the main points from the speech and Q&A.

double quotation markThe leader of our party lives his life under the ever present threat of mortal danger …

Many politicians and members of the media are effectively stopping the function of democracy by creating an environment of such hostility for Reform and making it unpalatably dangerous to air perfectly reasonable views.

double quotation markI can tell you about the climate in which [Widdecombe] was killed: a relentless narrative from politicians and the media that Reform UK is a threat.

A threat to be urgently stopped.

A narrative so relentless it constitutes incitement

But, during the Q&A, he was asked twice (by the Telegraph and then the Mail) if he was accusing other MPs of the sort of incitement that would count as a criminal offence. He ignored the question the first time, but in response to the second question he said he was not accusing politicians of incitement to a criminal threshold.

double quotation markEd Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, made the inflammatory declaration that “the greatest threat to the Britain we love doesn’t come from Tehran or Moscow. It comes from within. I’m talking about Nigel Farage and Reform”.

Vladimir Putin has murdered people with poison on British soil.

The Iranian regime has attempted multiple terrorist attacks on British soil.

Is it any wonder, with such rhetoric relentlessly levelled at Reform, that some may be moved to try to eliminate that supposed threat through lethal violence?

Lisa Nandy, Labour’s culture secretary was asked whether Reform were fascists. She responded: “If it walks like a duck…”

The chairman of the Conservative party likened Reform to Nazis. Instead of sacking him, the leader of the Conservative Party said he was “being funny”.

Ms Badenoch. Nothing about comparing anyone at Reform to Nazis is “funny”.

Keir Starmer described Reform policies as “racist” and “immoral”.

Wes Streeting insisted that Reform was “dangerous”, “nationalistic”, and “using propaganda reminiscent of the 1930s” and Lucy Powell described Mr Farage as a “threat to democracy”.

But, while some of this language might be intemperate, Reform UK is more tolerant of racism, and more extreme on issues like migration, than any other party in recent history with a chance of winning an election. That is a legitimate subject for comment and debate. Yusuf did not acknowledge that.

double quotation markWe do not have a democracy if our MPs are fearful for their lives or feel like they cannot talk about some of the most urgent issues in this country.

Yusuf did not take questions about the Clacton byelection, saying that he wanted to focus today on the security issue.

Reform UK MPs Lee Anderson and Sarah Pochin in the audience for Zia Yusuf’s speech.
Reform UK MPs Lee Anderson and Sarah Pochin in the audience for Zia Yusuf’s speech. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Starmer praised as 'giant of Labour movement' at final cabinet meeting

Keir Starmer was told he would be remembered as a “giant of the Labour movement” as he marked the final meeting of his top team of ministers, the Press Association reports. PA says:

double quotation markHis cabinet gave him gifts of a carriage clock and two bottles of wine – one an English sparkling wine that was served at the French state visit last summer, and the other a pinot grigio.

Starmer opened the cabinet meeting paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe as a “highly distinguished, forthright politician” and said the murder of the former Tory minister and latterly Reform UK spokeswoman showed there were “wider questions to address about the safety of politicians”.

He then turned to what he considers his proudest achievements while in government, pointing to the UK economy, improvements to the NHS and investment in tackling child poverty.

He said his administration had “transformed our international standing” as he hailed his efforts to reset ties with the European Union and take a leading role in the coalition of the willing on Ukraine and a future mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Deputy PM David Lammy paid tribute to Starmer’s legacy to mark the end of meeting, praising his work ethic and resilience.

He said: “You prioritised the people of this country. Not many politicians at this level can say that.

“Second, your incredible energy and work ethic: I’ve never known a politician put in the hours that you do. Again and again, day after day, always trying to do more for the people that we serve, and third, your sheer resilience.

“All of us around this table have thick skins. We’ve got to, to do this job but the nature of politics now is that leaders are not treated kindly in the moment.

“But what you’ve done in government for our party means that the history books will write you up as a giant of the Labour movement, and for that we thank you very much.”

He was given a standing ovation at the end of the final weekly meeting.

Keir Starmer getting a standing ovation at his final cabinet meeting this morning.
Keir Starmer getting a standing ovation at his final cabinet meeting this morning. Photograph: Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street

Farage welcomes news police have arrested man for threatening to kill him

A man has been arrested for threatening to kill Nigel Farage, the Daily Telegraph is reporting.

In a statement to the paper, the Reform UK leader welcomed the news – and said it was the first time the police had proactively acted in response to a social media post about him. Farage said:

double quotation markThis is the first time the police have ever proactively acted on a social media post, and I hope they are looking at the other three or four hundred similar posts from this year alone.

This has been going on for years – not just words but videos of people firing guns and so on, and in the past we have put multiple reports in to the police, always to be told that these social media posts don’t meet the threshold, which is extraordinary.

According to the Telegraph, the suspect posted a message on social media a day after the May local elections telling Farage: “I am going to shoot you in the head if you win.”

The paper says he was arrested in London yesterday on suspicion of sending a threatening communication. He has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

The Telegraph says the message was identified by parliament’s security information and risk analysis service and reported to the police by the parliamentary liaison and investigations team.

Farage has repeatedly complained that the police have not done enough to deal with online threats made against him.

Last year a man was jailed for five years for threatening to kill Farage on TikTok.