UK politics news – live: Union warns parliament not ‘a safe place to work’ amid latest sex assault scandal

A civil service union has warned that Parliament is not a “safe place to work” after a group of Conservative politicians reported a fellow MP to police over allegations they committed rape and a string of sexual assaults.

The backbench MP was reported to the force by a group of Tory MPs, whose claims against the accused span a period of two years, broadcasterTalkTV reports.

The MP is said to be subject to an investigation by an independent law firm. They have not, however, had the Conservative whip removed or been suspended by party chiefs.

Mike Clancy, the general secretary of Prospect union, says: “This MP remains free to visit the House of Commons and interact with staff despite these very serious allegations.

“This highlights yet again that there is no fit-for-purpose process in place to deal with this type of case and make Parliament a safe place to work.”

It comes after the Conservative party suffered its worst election result in Chester since 1832 after Labour retained the seat with an increased share of the vote.

Key Points

• Rishi Sunak backs Tories who reported MP to police over sexual assault and rape claims

• Tory MP reported to police by colleagues over rape and sexual assault allegations

• Matt Hancock to read dyslexia Bill in Parliament today

• Sunak fails first electoral test as Labour retain Chester seat

• New Chester MP says voters think it is 'Labour's turn'

• Racism must be ‘confronted’, says Sunak

Watch: Matt Hancock ‘honoured to be third’ in his first time back in the Commons after I’m a Celeb

15:10 , Emily Atkinson

‘World-class education’ is best way to reduce inequality, says Hancock

14:55 , Emily Atkinson

Matt Hancock has told the Commons the “best way to spread opportunity and reduce inequality in society is by providing every person with a world-class education”.

The former health secretary went on: “These are not my words but they’re the words of my right honourable friend the prime minister and I passionately agree with them.

“I agree with him that this should apply to all and my Bill represents the next step in turning these strong words into action. I’m delighted that the Bill has cross-party support.”

He added: “I firmly support the government’s approach to increase rigour and improving standards in our schools. That is at the heart of what this Bill will do.

“That drive over a decade is raising standards and with raised standards can raise opportunity and hope for children. And we’ve seen that improvement especially in the most deprived parts of our land.”

Hanock jokes its a ‘pleasure' to be ‘well-fed’ on return to Commons

14:40 , Emily Atkinson

Matt Hancock has made his first contribution in the House of Commons since his spell on the ITV reality show I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Before the former health secretary opened the second reading debate of his Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill, Commons Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans joked: “This is the third Bill of the day and I know Mr Hancock you appear to be making a habit of coming third these days, so...”

The now independent MP for West Suffolk said: “I am not quite sure what to make of that. But I am honoured to be third today and let’s see how that goes.

“But it’s also a pleasure to be here and to be clean and well-fed.”

‘Ella’s Law’ clean air Bill passes in the Lords and heads to the Commons

14:07 , Sam Rkaina

A new law to enshrine the human right to clean air has passed in the House of Lords and now heads to the Commons to be scrutinised by MPs.

The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill, also known as Ella’s Law, is named after Ella Adoo Kissi-Debrah, a nine-year-old girl who died following an asthma attack in 2013.

Ella, who lived near the South Circular Road in Lewisham, south-east London, became the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death.

The Private Member’s Bill, put forward by Green Party peer Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, would require public bodies to review and monitor pollution limits, with the aim of achieving clean air within five years.

The Bill, backed by London mayor Sadiq Khan, would also set up a commission to scrutinise Government action.

Lady Jones said: “This is quite a momentous day for me and many other people…

“Parliament has the need, the power and the opportunity to enshrine the human right to clean air precisely and explicitly in England and Wales law. Doing so would improve of decision-making at all levels of government overnight.

“My Bill is reasonable. It will establish the right to breathe clean air, confirm clean air targets for air pollutants and greenhouse gases, set deadlines while allowing postponements, encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency and ensure a proportional approach to enforcement.”

She added: “I hope that MPs will support my Bill and that the Government will allow it time to progress in the other place and reach royal assent.”

She paid tribute to Rosamund Adoo Kissi-Debrah, Ella’s mother, who was present in the chamber for the third reading of the Bill.

Defra minister Lord Benyon responded: “Action on air pollution is an absolute necessity to ensure the health of our people and of our environment.

“Nothing has made this clearer than the death of Ella Adoo Kissi-Debrah and I would like to again pay tribute to her mother Rosamund, to her family and her friends, who have campaigned so tirelessly in support of improving the air we all breathe.

“The Government absolutely recognises the need for action on air quality and we are able to take that action, supported by our robust and comprehensive legal framework, now improved by the Environment Act 2021. This is why we have reservations in regard to how the Baroness’s Bill would be delivered.

“But in protecting people from the effects of harmful pollutants, we must not only take action to drive down emissions but also to drive up public awareness. The Baroness’s Bill and her hard work campaigning in support of it has undoubtedly furthered this aim.”

In her speech to peers, Lady Jones noted that the 70th anniversary of the Great Smog is approaching, a severe air pollution event from December 5 to 9 1952, which saw a thick layer of smog over London.

The smog severely reduced visibility, even penetrating indoor areas, and it was estimated that between 10,000 and 12,000 people died as a direct result of it, with 100,000 made ill by its effects on their respiratory tract.

It was this event that triggered the first Clean Air Act in 1956.

Rees-Mogg warns against “drawing too much” from “relatively small” number of resignations

13:45 , Sam Rkaina

Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg warned against “drawing too much” from a “relatively small” number of Tory resignations.

Put to him that some of the younger MPs who are departing at the next election, such as Chloe Smith and William Wragg, are not expressing much faith in the Conservative Party’s future, he said: “I don’t think that’s right.”

“I think you’re drawing too much from still a relatively small number of resignations,” he told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme.

“Chloe Smith got in in a by-election, has served in the highest office, has been a distinguished minister. But she started her political career very young, and in her still early 40s is looking at the opportunity to do other things. I don’t think that’s unreasonable.

“I think you don’t want to have a whole cadre of professional politicians who get in at 20 and remain until they’re 80. That would be a very stodgy, difficult form of politics that I don’t think the country would like.

“So you need an element of turnover. And people’s lives and careers take different paths. And that’s always been the case.”

Javid is most prominent Tory MP yet to announce he is stepping back

13:19 , Sam Rkaina

Former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid has become the most prominent Tory MP yet to announce he is stepping back at the next general election, shortly after the party was stung by another mid-term defeat.

The ex-chancellor and health secretary did not give a reason for his exit, saying only that he had he had “wrestled” with the choice for “some time”, and pledged to continue to support the Prime Minister “in any way I can”.

He said his decision had been “accelerated” by the fact Conservatives have been asked to confirm their intentions for contending the next nationwide poll at an “early stage”.

He joins a steady stream of Tory colleagues who have said they will not run at the next election, which will be no later than January 2025, including Chloe Smith, William Wragg and rising star Dehenna Davison.

Inside Westminster: This is why strikes are dangerous for the government

12:45 , Emily Atkinson

The strikes are a challenge for Labour as well as the Tories, writes Andrew Grice.

This is why strikes are dangerous for the government | Andrew Grice

Government has ‘run out of road’, says Starmer

12:30 , Emily Atkinson

Sir Keir Starmer has said that his party’s victory at the Chester by-election is a “very, very good result” for Labour.

Speaking on a visit to Glasgow, he said: “Let’s be clear this was a very, very good result for the Labour Party.

“The Labour Party has been putting forward a positive plan for the future, how we stabilise and grow our economy.

“So we were putting a positive choice to the electorate in Chester.

“The government is worn out, tired, has crashed the economy. And the verdict was very, very clearly given. I think that’s a clear message to prime ninister Rishi Sunak that people are fed up and they want to change.

“There’s this strong sense now that the government has run out of road, run out of ideas, hasn’t got a mandate, and it’s time for change.”

Sunak bids goodbye to Javid: ‘May the Force be with you, Saj'

12:15 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak has expressed his sadness at the departure of Sajid Javid after the former health secretary announced today he will not run as an MP in the next general election.

“Sad to see my good friend @sajidjavid stepping back from politics,” the prime minister tweeted.

“He’s been a proud champion of enterprise and opportunity during his time in Government and on the backbenches - particularly for the people of Bromsgrove.

“May the Force be with you, Saj.”

Rishi Sunak backs Tories who reported MP to police over sexual assault and rape claims

12:01 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak has backed Conservative politicians who reported a fellow MP to police over allegations they committed rape and a string of sexual assaults.

Downing Street said it was “right” the allegations had been reported.

“The right people to investigate are the police and it is right that any allegations of that nature are referred to them, “ No 10 said.

The senior Conservative MP was reported to the Metropolitan Police by a group of his colleagues.

Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:

Rishi Sunak backs Tories who reported MP to police over sexual assault claims

Watch: Matt Hancock serenades Gina Colangelo with ‘Perfect' by Ed Sheeran

11:56 , Emily Atkinson

Sajid Javid says he will stand down as an MP at the next election

11:33 , Emily Atkinson

Sajid Javid has said he will not stand as an MP at the next general election.

Mr Javid, a former chancellor, home secretary, and health secretary, said he had “wrestled” with the decision of whether to stand down “for some time”.

“This decision will not mark the end of my Parliamentary activity, particularly for the causes I care deeply about. Nor will it impact my duties as a local MP on behalf of constituents across Bromsgrove, Mr Javid said in a letter to Paul Uppal, chairman of the Bromsgrove Conservative Association.

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more on this breaking story:

Sajid Javid says he will stand down as an MP at the next election

Watch: Question Time audience member jokes private schools should be closed down

11:28 , Emily Atkinson

Starmer ‘will visit Chester at some point'

11:12 , Emily Atkinson

Angela Rayner said Sir Keir Starmer is in Scotland on Friday, but said he will visit Chester at some point.

Asked when the Labour leader will come and say thank you to his activists in the City of Chester, she told broadcasters: “Keir’s in Scotland today. He’s not too busy, no. He’s in Scotland today, and he will be here, and we’ll have a fantastic time when we get Sam in Parliament next week.

“So we’re really delighted that Sam (Dixon) is the new MP for the City of Chester, and I know she’ll do a fabulous job for people here.”

Rayner insists Labour not struggling with popularity of Starmer

10:57 , Emily Atkinson

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said she does not think she is more popular than Sir Keir Starmer.

Asked if it is true Labour is struggling with the popularity of its leader, and pressed on whether she garners more favour with voters than Sir Keir, she told broadcasters in Chester: “I don’t think that’s the case.

“Obviously when Keir took over, and myself, it was during the pandemic, and Keir was governing in the national interest at that time.

“And then as we’ve come out of that, and as people have seen more of Keir actually, they’re seeing that actually we don’t want a class clown. We don’t want someone who’s going to crash the economy.

“We want someone who’s sensible, that is going to do the right thing for the British people, do the right thing for our British businesses and make sure that Britain grows again.”

‘Very clear’ Sunak does ‘not have mandate to govern’, says Rayner

10:40 , Emily Atkinson

Angela Rayner said it is “very clear” that Rishi Sunak does not have a “mandate to govern” following the Tories’ defeat in the City of Chester by-election.

The Labour deputy leader told broadcasters in Chester: “This was Rishi Sunak’s first test as prime minister, and he’s failed that test.

“It’s very clear that he doesn’t have the mandate to govern and that people want a general election and they want change and they want a Labour government.”

Chester by-election delivers ‘huge message’ to government, says Rayner

10:26 , Emily Atkinson

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said the Conservatives’ branding had taken a “pelting” as the people of Chester delivered a “huge message” to the government on their desire for change.

She said Rishi Sunak had overseen the Tories’ worst defeat in the constituency since 1832 in his first electoral test as prime minister.

“He’s failed that test, it’s very clear that he doesn’t have the mandate to govern and that people want a general election and they want change,” she told broadcasters in Chester.

Asked if she was disappointed Labour’s win was not quite as great as some polls predicted, she said the party’s majority was “huge”.

“It is clear that this was Rishi Sunak’s first test as prime minister, and it was his worst defeat since 1832 here,” she said.

“It’s pretty clear that the Conservatives... their branding has absolutely took a pelting.”

‘Quite a lot’ of Tory MPs likely to step down before next election, says Charles Walker

10:12 , Emily Atkinson

A Tory MP has suggested “quite a lot” of his party colleagues will stand down before the next general election.

Charles Walker, MP for Broxbourne, told Times Radio: “It’s almost impossible to see us coming back from this, I suspect we will lose the next general election.”

He said he hopes prime minister Rishi Sunak will makes sure “Labour doesn’t wipe the floor with us, so we perhaps win 220 seats, and we form a viable opposition.”

On his fellow MPs stepping down ahead of the next GE, he said: “I think many of my colleagues won’t have made their minds up yet. But I think it’s inevitable.

“Do I want to go down to electoral defeat and have a sort of gruelling six week campaign?”

Matt Hancock makes return to Commons after reality TV stint

09:48 , Emily Atkinson

Matt Hancock has made his first appearance in the House of Commons chamber since his controversial stint on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The former health secretary is back in Parliament for the second reading of his Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill, which is third on Friday’s order paper and expected to be debated later.

Mr Hancock now sits as the independent MP for West Suffolk, having been suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party for choosing to head to the Australian jungle at a time when the House was sitting.

Matt Hancock says release of thousands of prisoners was considered at start of Covid pandemic

09:29 , Emily Atkinson

A plan to release “thousands” of prisoners was considered during the Covid-19 lockdown, according to Matt Hancock’s diaries.

The details, first reported by the Daily Mail which is serialising the former health secretary’s journals, come as Mr Hancock returns to Westminster after his stint on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Mr Hancock, who was one of the key figures in government as the country navigated the pandemic, reveals in his diaries that the Ministry of Justice proposed to release prisoners amid concerns about the spread of the virus.

Read our full report here:

Matt Hancock says prisoner release was considered early in Covid pandemic

Tory MP reported to police by colleagues over rape and sexual assault allegations

09:09 , Emily Atkinson

A senior Conservative MP has been reported to the police over allegations they committed rape and a string of sexual assaults.

The MP was reported to the Metropolitan Police by a group of colleagues, themselves Tory MPs.

The third-party claims span a period of two years and the MPs reported the incidents as a third party, broadcaster TalkTV reports.

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more:

Tory MP reported to police by colleagues over rape and sexual assault allegations

‘It’s time for a Labour government,’ says Starmer after Chester victory

08:58 , Emily Atkinson

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said his party’s victory in the City of Chester by-election demonstrates the public is “fed up” with the Tory government.

He tweeted: “Huge congratulations to CllrSDixon (Samantha Dixon) who will be an excellent MP for City of Chester.

“The message to Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government is clear: People are fed up of 12 years of Tory rule and want the change Labour offers.

“It’s time for a Labour government.”

Matt Hancock to read dyslexia Bill in Parliament today

08:45 , Emily Atkinson

Matt Hanock is set to read his dyslexia Bill in Parliament at 11am today, having returned from the I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! jungle.

Taking to Twitter this morning, the MP for West Suffolk said: “Today I’m calling for universal dyslexia screening in every primary school and improved teacher training for dyslexia.

“It is an outrage that only 1 in 5 dyslexic children leave school identified & that teachers do not need training to support dyslexic children.

“This must change.”

West not ‘taken on board’ that Ukraine conflict could last for ‘very long time’, says Welby

08:30 , Emily Atkinson

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he does not think the West has “taken on board” that the conflict in Ukraine could go on “for a very long time”.

Justin Welby told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I don’t think that the West in general has taken on board and has been led to take on board that this could go on for a very long time.

“We don’t want it to - we hope and pray it doesn’t, but that’s not within our gift. And this is hugely important, that this takeover does not succeed. It’s extremely complex, much too complex to unpack the whole thing in a brief interview, but it must not succeed.

“The West needs, the people of the West need, to realise that the cost of this war, in inflation, in all kinds of difficulties - and there’s much suffering in our own country, in the UK, through that - the costs of this are not short term, we need to be really tough about this.”

Cheshire by-election results in full

08:15 , Emily Atkinson

Suffering its worst election result in Chester since 1832, the Conservative Party took just 22.4 per cent of the votes to Labour’s 61.2 per cent, figures show.

But how did other parties fare? Here is the full break down of the ballot:

Justin Welby says Ukraine to need ‘very long term’ support

08:00 , Emily Atkinson

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said there must be “no way we force peace” in Ukraine.

Justin Welby added that the need for support is going to be “very long term”.

Asked what he learned from his visit to the war-torn country, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “First of all, the need for solidarity and support for Ukraine.

“And secondly, that there must be no way in which we force peace on Ukraine or they’re put under pressure. Third, that the need for support is going to be very long term.”

Pressed on whether he meant, in some cases, war is the right course, he said: “Peace is always better than war. But there are times when justice demands that there is the defeat of what we call, the Archbishop of York and I called when it started, an evil invasion. And I don’t regret saying that.

“Ukraine is the victim here, we can’t slip back to a 1938 Czechoslovakia, sort of people far away of whom we know little situation. There has to be real resilience.”

‘No shocks’ at Chester by-election, says Tory peer

07:40 , Emily Atkinson

Lord Robert Hayward, a Conservative peer and elections analyst, said there were “no shocks” at the City of Chester by-election.

But he said the Tories will be “relieved” they got more than 20 per cent of the vote.

“I think, generally as expected, no shocks but definite satisfaction for the Labour Party,” he told Sky News.

He added that there is “no question” the Tories have a “real challenge on their hands”.

“But having said that, Rishi comes across to the public at large as managerial,” he said. His ratings are way ahead of the Tory party’s. His ratings which will worry the Labour Party, are on a par with Keir Starmer, depending on which poll you actually look at.

“There are some indications that there are opportunities there for the Tory party. But Rishi has to convince the public at large that he can manage out of this crisis, whichever crisis one’s looking at - and there’s a lot of them.”

Watch: Rishi Sunak fails first electoral test as Labour retains Chester seat

07:20 , Emily Atkinson

Why Boris Johnson wants to be an MP

07:00 , Stuti Mishra

Boris Johnson’s decision to fight for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency at the next general election effectively amounts to confirmation that he believes he will at some point return as leader of the Conservative Party, writes Andrew Woodcock.

Read more:

Editor’s Letter: There’s only one reason why Boris Johnson wants to be an MP

Boris Johnson to stand again in 2024 general election

06:30 , Stuti Mishra

Boris Johnson has fuelled expectations of another bid to regain the Conservative leadership by confirming he will stand again as an MP at the next general election.

A source close to the former prime minister said he intends to be the Tory candidate in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency at the poll expected in 2024.

Read more:

Boris Johnson to stand again in 2024 general election

Racism must be ‘confronted’, says Sunak

06:00 , Stuti Mishra

Rishi Sunak has said that racism must be “confronted”, as Buckingham Palaces faces questions after a black domestic abuse campaigner was asked where she “really camefrom” at a royal reception

Ngozi Fulani, founder of the charity Sistah Space, expressed shock at her treatment by the late Queen’s lady in waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, but said she had yet to be contacted by Buckingham Palace to discuss the incident.The prime minister on Thursday declined to comment directly on the row but said that it was right to “confront” racism.

Read more from Adam Forrest:

Rishi Sunak says ‘racism must be confronted’ after royal family row

Every payment to help with the cost of living crisis due in December

05:30 , Stuti Mishra

More cost of living help is set to be paid out over the course of this month.

Here is a guide to what you can expect and who is eligible.

Every payment to help with the cost of living crisis due in December

Rishi Sunak wrong to ‘wipe the slate clean’ on Braverman, report says

05:10 , Stuti Mishra

Suella Braverman’s return as home secretary just six days after resigning for leaking secret documents has set a “dangerous precedent” that undermines confidence in the integrity of the government, a cross-party parliamentary report has found, writes Andrew Woodcock.

Rishi Sunak should not have been able to “wipe the slate clean” over a breach of ministerial standards that merited a “significant” period out of office, said the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC).

The committee said that the new ethics adviser whom the prime minister has promised to appoint should not be blocked from investigating Ms Braverman’s actions and recommending further sanctions.

Read more:

Report finds Sunak wrong to ‘wipe the slate clean’ on Braverman breach of standards

New Chester MP says voters think it is 'Labour's turn'

04:45 , Stuti Mishra

The new MP for Chester has said voters sent a strong message that they think “it’s Labour’s turn”.

Samantha Dixon, the former leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, won the seat in Thursday’s by-election, increasing the Labour majority in what was the first electoral test for prime minister Rishi Sunak.

Speaking to media after the result, she said: “I think I have been in receipt of a very strong message from the voters of Chester that they want the Conservative cost-of-living crisis tackled immediately.

“I don’t think they believe that the Conservatives have the answers, I think they think it’s Labour’s turn now.”

She described the City of Chester as a “bellwether constituency” and said the result was “really, really encouraging”.

Sunak fails first electoral test as Labour retain Chester seat

04:24 , Stuti Mishra

Labour has won the City of Chester by-election, retaining the seat and delivering a defeat to Rishi Sunak in his first electoral test as prime minister.

Local councillor Samantha Dixon reclaimed the seat for Labour with a 10,974 vote majority, with the contest triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Christian

Matheson, after complaints of “serious sexual misconduct” were upheld by a parliamentary watchdog.

Labour hailed the result as one that sent a “clear message” to Mr Sunak and his new administration.

Read more:

Labour retains Chester seat in blow to Sunak in first electoral test

03:56 , Stuti Mishra

Welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of all the updates from Westminster on Friday, 2 December. Stay tuned!