All posts tagged: Downing

Starmer adviser Peter Hyman won’t join Downing Street team

Starmer adviser Peter Hyman won’t join Downing Street team

Published by skeptic

School founder and former Blair speechwriter had played key role in drawing up PM’s core ‘missions’ School founder and former Blair speechwriter had played key role in drawing up PM’s core ‘missions’ More from this theme Recent articles Former school leader Peter Hyman will not join Sir Keir Starmer’s team in Downing Street, despite advising the prime minister during his time in opposition, Schools Week has learned. Hyman, who co-founded School 21 and set up its parent trust Big Education with Liz Robinson, is understood to have decided not to return to government, having previously worked as a speechwriter and adviser to Tony Blair. Starmer appointed Hyman to his innermost council of advisers in 2022. The former headteacher played a key role in drawing up Labour’s core “missions” and writing its manifesto. It is not clear what Hyman will do next, although he remains a trustee of Voice 21, a sister charity of the school he founded which promotes oracy. The charity recently announced that Baroness Estelle Morris, a former education secretary, will be its …

Pro Palestine Protest Draws 10,000 Near Downing Street

Pro Palestine Protest Draws 10,000 Near Downing Street

Published by Sam

Up to 10,000 people took part in a pro-Palestine protest near Downing Street on Tuesday evening amid escalating violence in Gaza. Demonstrators are calling for government action as the Israel-Hamas war continues to cause devastation in the Palestinian territory. Israeli tanks moved into the city of Rafah this week, days after bombarding people staying in tents near the city and worsening the ongoing humanitarian crisis. More than half of Gaza’s entire population had been sheltering in Rafah because Israel previously designated it a safe zone amid its eight-month offensive in the territory. These events have caused outrage around the world. Police estimate between 8,000 and 10,000 people attended the Westminster protest, organised by a coalition of groups including the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. The protesters want the government to stop supporting Israel and started a chant calling out Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer for not taking a firmer stance against the UK ally. Whitehall was completely shut down by protestors tonight in one of the biggest static protests I have ever seen outside Downing Street. Watch …

University bosses to visit Downing Street to discuss campus antisemitism | Universities

University bosses to visit Downing Street to discuss campus antisemitism | Universities

Published by skeptic

University bosses are to attend a Downing Street summit to discuss antisemitism on campuses, as Palestinian solidarity protests continue to escalate at UK universities, with 10 students now vowing to go on hunger strike. Rishi Sunak told his cabinet on Tuesday that there had been an “unacceptable rise in antisemitism” on campuses and vice-chancellors would meet to talk about “the need for our universities to be safe for our Jewish students”. Three students at the University of Edinburgh said they had begun a hunger strike, with seven more planning to join them after months of trying to pressure their institution to divest from companies supplying arms to Israel. “What was already an urgent call for divestment has become so much more urgent all of a sudden, especially with the attack on Rafah right now,” said a fourth-year Palestinian student who did not want to be identified. The student, who said 15 members of her extended family had been killed in Gaza since the 7 October attacks, added: “We feel a hunger strike is the only …

Mother of Manchester Arena bombing victim to walk to Downing Street to demand new law | UK News

Mother of Manchester Arena bombing victim to walk to Downing Street to demand new law | UK News

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The mother of one of the Manchester Arena bombing victims will begin a 200-mile walk from the spot her son was killed to Downing Street to demand stronger protections against terrorism. Martyn’s law, named after 29-year-old Martyn Hett, who was one of 22 people killed in the attack at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, would require venues and local authorities in the UK to have training requirements and preventative plans against terror attacks. Figen Murray, Mr Hett’s mother, who has campaigned for the introduction of the law, will be joined by family and friends, politicians, security industry experts and members of the public over the 16-day walk. She will arrive at Downing Street on 22 May, the seventh anniversary of her son’s death. Image: Mr Hett’s mother Figen Murray. Pic: PA Ms Murray said her “life changed overnight” when her son was killed. “Martyn’s death could have been avoided if there were basic security measures in place that night and that is why I have been tirelessly campaigning to ensure …

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Claim Downing US Reaper Drone, Release Footage Showing Wreckage of Aircraft

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Claim Downing US Reaper Drone, Release Footage Showing Wreckage of Aircraft

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JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed shooting down another of the U.S. military’s MQ-9 Reaper drones, airing footage of parts that corresponded to known pieces of the unmanned aircraft. The Houthis said they shot down the Reaper with a surface-to-air missile, part of a renewed series of assaults this week by the rebels after a relative lull in their pressure campaign over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bryon J. McGarry, a Defense Department spokesperson, acknowledged to The Associated Press on Saturday that “a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 drone crashed in Yemen.” He said an investigation was underway, without elaborating. The Houthis described the downing as happening Thursday over their stronghold in the country’s Saada province. Footage released by the Houthis included what they described as the missile launch targeting the drone, with a man off-camera reciting the Houthi’s slogan after it was hit: “God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam.” The footage included several close-ups on …

Brazen yob arrested after ‘trying to sneak into 10 Downing Street for viral video’ | UK | News

Brazen yob arrested after ‘trying to sneak into 10 Downing Street for viral video’ | UK | News

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A brazen yob appeared to be arrested after trying to “sneak” into Downing Street in a viral video. A young man was recording a video for social media where he “tried to sneak into Rishi Sunak’s house” on Downing Street. While sitting on the gates outside, he said: “We’re here at 10 Downing Street, we’ve got my uncle’s house behind us. “Rishi Sunak, my uncle, I got a message for you: If I see you on the street, there’s gonna be problems, you get it? You’re little minions [the armed police], they’re not gonna do nothing about it.” The young man was told to “behave himself” by the armed police, who told him to get off the gates, to which he responded: “My uncle’s Rishi Sunak.” He said he’d left his pass inside the Prime Minister’s home so he might have to “sneak over”. The young man was then quickly escorted away from the gates by police, who can be heard saying: “You said you have something in your bag over there, you mentioned C-4 …

Ukraine reports downing Russian drones as White House pledges quick aid delivery

Ukraine reports downing Russian drones as White House pledges quick aid delivery

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Ukraine’s military reported Tuesday destroying 15 of 16 Russian drones from the latest wave of aerial attacks, hours ahead of a U.S. Senate vote on a security package that includes $61 billion in new aid for Ukraine. Ukraine’s air force said the Russian attack also included two ballistic missiles, and that Ukrainian air defenses shot down the Russian drones over the Cherkasy, Kyiv, Mykolaiv and Odesa regions. Oleh Kiper, the regional governor of Odesa, said the drone attack damaged several residential buildings and injured at least nine people. Vitaliy Kim, the governor of Mykolaiv, said falling drone debris injured one person and damaged a trade pavilion. Russia’s defense ministry said Tuesday its air defenses destroyed four Ukrainian missiles over the Belgorod region. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor Belgorod, reported damage to a building but no injuries. US aid The White House said U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to “quickly provide significant new security assistance packages to meet Ukraine’s urgent battlefield and air defense needs” as soon as the Senate passes the security bill, as Biden spoke …

Ukraine, Russia report downing drones from overnight attacks

Ukraine, Russia report downing drones from overnight attacks

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Ukraine’s military said Thursday it shot down all 13 aerial drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks, while Russia’s military reported destroying 20 Ukrainian drones. The Ukrainian air force said its air defenses intercepted drones over the Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Poltava, Ternopil and Vinnytsia regions. Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor in Dnipropetrovsk, reported on Telegram damage to two homes, but no injuries. Ivano-Frankivsk’s governor, Svitlana Onyshchuk, said on Telegram that falling debris from the downed drones started multiple fires. The bulk of Ukraine’s aerial attack focused on the Belgorod region along the border between the two countries. The Russian defense ministry said it destroyed 16 drones and two missiles over Belgorod, where the regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported damage to a home and one person injured. Russian air defenses also shot down three drones over the Rostov region and one more over Voronezh, the country’s defense ministry said. Vasily Golubev, the governor of Rostov, said falling debris damaged an industrial building and injured one person. G7 meetings Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven …

Downing Street Braced For Smoking Ban Snub From Dozens Of Tory MPs

Downing Street Braced For Smoking Ban Snub From Dozens Of Tory MPs

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Under Sunak’s plans, the smoking age will be raised by one year every year (Alamy) 3 min read2 hr Government is braced for potentially dozens of Conservative MPs to refuse to back Rishi Sunak’s smoking ban when the legislation is put to a House of Commons for the first time on Tuesday. Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will undergo its second reading tomorrow, nobody aged 15 or younger will be able to legally buy cigarettes at any point in their lives. Ministers will do this by raising the legal age one year every year until it is phased out altogether, subject to parliamentary approval.  Sunak announced the move at last year’s Conservative party conference in Manchester. It is seen as an issue that the Prime Minister cares deeply about and regards as part of his legacy. “This is Rishi’s thing. He feels very strongly about this,” said one former secretary of state. On Monday, Sunak’s official spokesperson issued a strongly-worded defence of the legislation, telling reporters: “We would encourage MPs to recognise the enormous …

Tory civil war erupts as MP accuses Downing Street of briefing ‘fake news’ about him | Politics | News

Tory civil war erupts as MP accuses Downing Street of briefing ‘fake news’ about him | Politics | News

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The Tory civil war which erupted again over the weekend has become more intense today as a former party chairman has accused Rishi Sunak’s inner circle of briefing lies about him to the media. Sir Jake Berry, who was party chairman in Liz Truss’ government, has claimed that Downing Street briefed journalists over the weekend that he was behind a plot to install Penny Mordaunt as leader. The senior MP has vehemently denied the claims he is “whipping up support” for Mordaunt and accused Mr Sunak’s operation of trying to turn Tory MPs against one another to save his skin. It comes as MPs have been claiming that the Prime Minister could be out in two weeks with polls still putting the party 22 points behind Labour and confidence in his leadership evaporating. Supporters of Ms Mordaunt, Leader of the House, and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps have been putting their names forward as alternative unity options in a coronation to replace Sunak. Speaking to Times Radio, Sir Jake said: “It’s categorically incorrect. I understand that …