\n<\/p>\n
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of UK politics. We\u2019re now in recess but we\u2019ll still be bringing you all the news from across the country including continued reaction to the suspension of Diane Abbott.<\/p>\n
This morning, a minister has denied the veteran MP\u2019s assertion that \u201cit is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n Exchequer secretary to the Treasury James Murray told Times Radio:<\/p>\n That\u2019s absolutely not the case.<\/p>\n What\u2019s happened is Diane has made some comments which come on the back of previous comments which she made and for which she apologised some time ago.<\/p>\n He added that there was an internal investigation and \u201cwe now need to let this process play out\u201d so it can be resolved \u201cas swiftly as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n Abbott now faces an investigation over her defence of remarks more than two years ago that people of colour experienced racism \u201call their lives\u201d, which was different from the \u201cprejudice\u201d experienced by Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers.<\/p>\n In a statement to Newsnight on Thursday evening, Abbott said: \u201cIt is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out. My comments in the interview \u2026 were factually correct, as any fair-minded person would accept.\u201d<\/p>\n In the interview with the BBC earlier on Thursday, Abbott, the first black woman elected to parliament, had said: \u201cClearly, there must be a difference between racism which is about colour and other types of racism because you can see a Traveller or a Jewish person walking down the street, you don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think that it\u2019s silly to try and claim that racism which is about skin colour is the same as other types of racism. I don\u2019t know why people would say that.\u201d<\/p>\n In other news:<\/p>\n Share<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/span>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Gatwick Airport will remain covered by a High Court injunction stopping would-be environmental activists from trespassing on its land after a judge ruled it should continue.<\/strong><\/p>\n In July last year, the airport – the second largest in the UK – was granted protection from what its lawyers described as a \u201creal and imminent risk of blockading, obstruction (and) disruption\u201d at its site near Crawley, West Sussex, PA Media reports.<\/p>\n At a hearing on Friday, the airport asked for the injunction to be continued, stating that there remained a \u201ccompelling need\u201d for it to remain in place to protect it from groups such as Just Stop Oil (JSO) and Extinction Rebellion.<\/p>\n No one appeared in court to oppose the injunction being extended.<\/p>\n In a ruling, Duncan Atkinson KC, sitting as a deputy High Court judge, said that he was \u201csatisfied\u201d that there remained a \u201creal and immediate risk\u201d to the site and that lifting the injunction would make it a \u201cgreater target\u201d.<\/p>\n He said this was despite an announcement made by JSO in March, which said it was \u201changing up the hi vis\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThis announcement cannot be taken as an unequivocal and final renunciation of direct action.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be premature to rely on this announcement as a basis to vary or discharge the injunction.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Returning to the Epping incident (see\u00a0earlier post), <\/strong>when <\/strong>asked how the violence began, assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper, Essex Police, told reporters:<\/p>\n It was during the peaceful protest, there were parts of those that had come here intentionally to be involved in that kind of selfish vandalism and violence and actually it\u2019s those individuals that we don\u2019t want coming into our community.<\/p>\n He said the policing operation was from late afternoon yesterday into the early part of the evening, adding \u201cand then the selfish criminality and violence that we saw took place from about 6.30pm last night\u201d.<\/p>\n By about 11 o\u2019clock, \u201ceveryone had dispersed and had left this area\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n by Helena Horton<\/strong>, <\/strong><\/em>Anna Isaac<\/strong> and <\/strong><\/em>Rowena Mason<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span>Critics say Ofwat presided over a culture of underinvestment in water infrastructure and financial mismanagement by the utilities since its creation in 1989.<\/span> Photograph: Maureen McLean\/Alamy<\/p>\n England and Wales\u2019 embattled water regulator will be abolished under recommendations from a government-commissioned review due out on Monday, the Guardian understands.<\/strong><\/p>\n Ministers will next week announce a consultation into creating a new regulator, to coincide with the results of a review into the water industry directed by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe.<\/p>\n This consultation is likely to conclude in the abolition of Ofwat, the embattled watchdog that polices how much water companies can charge for their services in England and Wales, sources said.<\/p>\n Ofwat has faced intense criticism over its failure to prevent sewage spills, hefty payments of dividends and ballooning debts across England and Wales\u2019s water companies. The review will recommend creation of new regulatory system.<\/p>\n Cunliffe\u2019s review was set up by the government amid growing public anger about record sewage spills and rising bills, as well as the fraying finances of some of the biggest companies.<\/p>\n Read the full report here:<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Here is more from Essex Police assistant chief constable, Stuart Hooper, from Epping<\/strong> (see earlier post).<\/p>\n \u201cI do not want to see a repeat of last night\u201d or \u201canything we saw last year\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n Asked if he feared a repeat of the violent disorder that swept across the country last summer, Hooper said:<\/p>\n The first bit is that I\u2019m focused on our communities here and we want to make sure that kind of everyone is safe, we will not accept that kind of selfish vandalism that we saw last night.<\/p>\n I want to be working with our communities, you know – if you are coming to Essex, to Epping, to take part in that sort of criminality then that is absolutely not acceptable.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI do not want to see a repeat of last night, or in fact anything that we saw last year.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier in the press briefing, Mr Hooper said:<\/p>\n There were different groups out protesting last night. It is our place to make sure that without fear or favour we\u2019re supporting the right to protest and that\u2019s what we were trying to achieve last night.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n We have more on the incident during which protesters clashed with police outside a hotel in Epping believed to be housing migrants<\/strong> (see earlier post).<\/p>\n Essex Police<\/strong> assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper said it is \u201cabsolutely, totally unacceptable\u201d that eight police officers were assaulted.<\/p>\n Speaking from Epping, he told reporters:<\/p>\n Eight of my officers – and not only my officers, we were supported by colleagues from other forces as well – were assaulted last night and that is absolutely, totally unacceptable.<\/p>\n They come here to do a role to support our communities, they\u2019re a part of that community and that\u2019s what we won\u2019t tolerate.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThey had injuries to their hands and cuts and grazes as a result of the incidents last night.\u201d<\/p>\n Hooper also said there were \u201cno reports of anyone actually breaking into the hotel last night\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.22 EDT<\/p>\n At least two people have been arrested after protesters clashed with police outside a hotel in Epping believed to be housing migrants, Essex Police said.<\/strong><\/p>\n Assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper, Essex Police, told reporters one man had been arrested on Thursday on suspicion of affray following reports of an assault during a protest on Sunday.<\/p>\n He has since been charged.<\/p>\n A second person was arrested on Thursday night for failing to comply with orders given around dispersal and remains in custody, he said.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Downing Street said the government will wait for a final report on the water industry due next week when asked if there were plans to scrap Ofwat as the regulator.<\/strong><\/p>\n A No 10 spokesman said: \u201cWe are waiting for Sir Jon Cunliffe\u2019s final report next week – you can expect us to set out our response after that on what more we will do to turn the sector around.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Downing Street said the defence secretary\u2019s statement to the Commons that \u201cno serving member of our armed forces is put at risk\u201d by the Afghan data leak was \u201caccurate\u201d after the Liberal Democrats accused him of misleading parliament.<\/strong><\/p>\n Asked if John Healey misled the House, a No 10 spokesman said: \u201cThe defence secretary\u2019s statement to the House… I believe it was an accurate statement.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the government is \u201ccommitted to transparency\u201d.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIn terms of security of our personnel, we take take that extremely seriously, particularly those in sensitive positions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe always have appropriate measures in place to protect their security.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n US president Donald Trump will visit Scotland next week, the White House has confirmed.<\/strong><\/p>\n Speculation mounted about a potential visit of the president this month when Police Scotland confirmed it was in the early stages of planning for such an event.<\/p>\n Speaking at a briefing in Washington DC on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump will visit both of his golf courses in Scotland: Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire; between 25 and 29 July.<\/p>\n It has already been confirmed Trump will meet with prime minister Keir Starmer while in Aberdeen, while plans are being put in place for the president to meet first minister John Swinney, according to the Scottish government.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie accused the Scottish first minister of hitting the \u201cindependence panic button\u201d, claiming Scots will be \u201cshaking their heads\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n She added: \u201cTwenty-five years ago, the then SNP leader, John Swinney, claimed that independence was \u2018closer than ever\u2019. Now he is attempting to lead his troops up the hill once more – but even they don\u2019t buy it.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn Swinney offers absolutely no vision and no hope for the people of Scotland.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is time to turn our backs on John Swinney\u2019s old, failed politics of the past and to choose a better Scotland with better leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Minister calls for Abbott suspension to be ‘resolved as swiftly as possible’ Good morning and welcome to our coverage of UK politics. We\u2019re now in recess but we\u2019ll still be bringing you all the news from across the country including continued reaction to the suspension of Diane Abbott. This morning, a minister has denied the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11283,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[4593,4592,134,132,1354,124,4595,4594,4596],"class_list":{"0":"post-11282","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics","8":"tag-abbotts","9":"tag-diane","10":"tag-labour","11":"tag-live","12":"tag-minister","13":"tag-politics","14":"tag-resolved","15":"tag-suspension","16":"tag-swiftly"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11282"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11282\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Ofwat to be abolished as ministers explore creating new water regulator<\/h2>\n