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Nov 18

🚨If you wish to contact me about a story please use: 🐦Twitter DMs 📱Signal/ Whatsapp 07824 537227 📨 pippa.crerar@theguardian.com 🕵️‍♀️ guardian.politics.desk@protonmail.com 🐌 The Guardian, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU I always protect my sources

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NEW: More ambulance workers’ strikes ahead - this is a problem for the government that isn’t going to go away

Ambulance workers in England announce further strikes in January

Unison staff to take industrial action on 11 and 23 January in dispute over pay

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UPDATE: UK govt warns it could block Scottish parliament’s gender self-identification bill from becoming law. There are big political and constitutional implications of Scots Secretary Alister Jack’s statement 👇🏼

BREAKING: Scottish Parliament votes in favour of controversial plans to make it easier to legally change gender through system of self-identification.

Scotland passes bill making it easier for people to legally change gender

MSPs vote in favour of plans to allow people to legally change their gender through system of self-identification

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What a year! Join

and me as we chew over the year that was 2022... and ponder what comes next. 🎙️

How will 2022 be remembered? – Politics Weekly UK podcast

In a year that saw three prime ministers, two monarchs and a whole lot of political and social unrest, how will 2022 be remembered? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnist Gaby Hinsliff and...

A reminder that this role is not exactly 'independent' because he reports to the PM who is the ultimate arbiter of the ministerial code. Rishi Sunak refused to rewrite ethics advisor's powers meaning Sir Laurie won't be able to launch his own investigations.

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Sir Laurie is an Eton and Oxford educated investment banker so he should fit into the establishment very well.

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NEW: Rishi Sunak (finally) appoints a new independent advisor on ministers' interests - former Historic England chair Sir Laurie Magnus. The role has been vacant for six months since Lord Geidt quit under Boris Johnson.

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MY ANALYSIS: Why taking on the unions over nurses' pay to look tough is a risky strategy for Rishi Sunak.

NHS pay is a risky issue for Rishi Sunak to get tough about

After a couple of U-turns the PM wants to show he can’t be pushed around on pay rises but the public are on the side of health workers

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After it emerged that Labour ex-cabinet minister Douglas Alexander plans to make a political comeback

@jessicaelgot

looked into whether big beats from the past could walk into Keir Starmer's cabinet.

Could big beasts from Labour’s past walk into Keir Starmer’s cabinet?

With the party eyeing election victory, figures such as Ed Balls or David Miliband have been the subject of speculation

Pippa Crerar Retweeted

Heather Stewart

@GuardianHeather

Dec 21

Fears voter ID card delay could disfranchise many in England - story from ⁦

@peterwalker99

⁩ who is rightly not letting this issue drop:

Fears voter ID card delay could disfranchise many in England

Website for those without ID to apply will not be ready in time for electoral changes publicity campaign

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Labour former deputy leader Tom Watson - nominated for a peerage by Keir Starmer - apologises in Lords for promoting false abuse allegations - by ⁦

@peterwalker99

⁩

Tom Watson apologises in Lords for promoting false abuse allegations

Ex-Labour deputy leader uses first speech to express remorse for role in seeking action over claims of Westminster paedophile ring

Dec 21

Rishi Sunak leads the Tories in name alone - it’s fear of Farage that’s driving the agenda - by

@martinkettle

Rishi Sunak leads the Tories in name alone – it’s fear of Farage that’s driving the agenda | Martin...

The threat that the former Ukip leader may attract rightwing support inside and outside the party is causing sleepless nights, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

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Deaths in ambulances DOUBLE amid hell on the 999 frontline as crews strike

Dec 21

A timely reminder from ⁦

@LizzyBuchan

⁩ that our ambulance services are on their knees regardless of whether they’re striking…

mirror.co.uk

Grim figures from NHS England reveal that 93 people died while being transferred from ambulances to the wards in 2021/22, compared to 40 the previous year

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Some tricky numbers for Rishi Sunak tonight. Public support for nurses has risen by 7pts since strikes announced in late November acc pollster

@Savanta_UK

. Over half of people (54%) blame government for nurses strikes, 27% blame unions and only 11% blame nurses themselves.

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EXCL: House of Lords opens investigation into another Tory peer after journalist accuses him of campaign of bullying and harassment - story by

@kiranstacey

Lords opens inquiry into claims Tory peer harassed female journalist

Rami Ranger accused of bullying Poonam Joshi, who is investigating his links to Indian guru

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Rishi Sunak says he's "hard at it" finding new ethics advisor and hopes to make announcement soon. Role has now been empty for almost 6 months. As we revealed, several candidates have turned it down because of lack of powers. Tick tock.

Candidates snub Sunak’s ethics adviser role left vacant for five months

Concern that PM wants to keep same remit as for Christopher Geidt, with no enhanced powers

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Rishi Sunak repeatedly ducks question from human rights committee chair Joanna Cherry on if he agrees with Suella Braverman that UK should leave ECHR over asylum claims - and Dominic Raab who said proposal "wasn't off the table". Lots of Tory MPs very keen.

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NEW: Labour former cabinet minister Douglas Alexander has submitted application to become an MP again at next general election, sources confirm.

Ex-minister Douglas Alexander plans return as Labour MP

Former minister under Blair and Brown has applied to be candidate for East Lothian, sources confirm

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Last ditch talks today break up without resolution - as unions say they were “pointless” as Health Sec refused to discuss pay.

Quote Tweet

Steve Barclay

@SteveBarclay

I hugely value the work of our NHS staff & it’s disappointing some union members are going ahead with further strike action - my door remains open to further talks. Unions have called for industrial action to cause maximum disruption & inevitably this will have an impact (1/3)

Show this thread

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Rishi Sunak concedes he won’t be “abolishing” entire asylum processing backlog (117k) as he said last week but will be making “one of the most significant reductions” in numbers (92k - the backlog up until June). PM adds he’d like to go further. #liaisoncommittee

Rishi Sunak says he regards China as a “systematic challenge” rather than “threat”. He tells MPs, some who want him to toughen stance, that govt has taken “concrete steps” to protect UK and is committed to standing up to China when in our interests to do so. #liaisoncommittee

Rishi Sunak denies that Goldman Sachs-style audit of UK commitment to Ukraine represents downgrading of support. PM says to “look at his actions” with first foreign call to Zelensky & first bilat foreign trip to Kyiv. UK will “continue or increase” military support next year.

Interesting 🧵 on the last ambulance strike in 1989 - and how eventually the government backed down.

Quote Tweet

Paul Waugh

@paulwaugh

Many people forget that we've been here before. I was a cub reporter in 1989 during the last ambulance strike and it's worth remembering that even Margaret Thatcher's government had to back down amid huge public support for NHS staff.

Show this thread

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Tuesday’s

front page: Ambulance strike threatens lives of 999 patients, warn NHS bosses theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/d

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Wow - the first time in US history that Congress has recommended criminal charges against a former president…

House January 6 panel recommends criminal charges against Donald Trump

The referral marks the first time in US history that Congress has taken such action against a former president

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Dec 19

Downing Street says patients should still call 999 on Weds as ambulances will respond to emergency calls. But PM's spox claims there's "still a concerning lack of clarity" around what level of care that will be provided.

No 10 says there are "no plans" for one-off payment for striking health workers - despite reports Steve Barclay was pushing Sunak for one. But PM's official spox leaves open possibility govt could change remit of next year's pay review bodies: "We've not got to that point".

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No 10 says home office is "taking steps" to improve handling of individual asylum cases. PM's spox says govt is "prepared to defend" Rwanda policy against further legal challenges. But can't say when flights will resume "while there's a possibility of further legal action".

However, High Court also rules that Home Sec has to reconsider individual cases of those asylum seekers due to be flown to Kigali because it wasn't done right before.

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Mum of wee girl with life-limiting condition tells Health Sec Steve Barclay of “agony” of waiting lists. “The damage you’re doing to families like ourselves is terrible. I know you look & we’re all numbers but actually we’re people waiting for care”.

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GB News

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Dec 19

BREAKING: High Court rules that UK government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is legal.

UK plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is legal, high court rules

Judges dismiss legal challenge from asylum seekers, aid groups and a border officials’ union

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NEW: Treasury announces that chancellor Jeremy Hunt will deliver his Spring Budget on 15 March 2023.

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Dec 18

Epic #WorldCupFinal 🏆

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Can I lie down in a dark room now? ⚽️

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Pippa Crerar Retweeted

Aubrey Allegretti

@breeallegretti

Dec 16

Exclusive: Rishi Sunak's government has decided to spend up to an extra £90k of taxpayers' money defending Boris Johnson over Partygate. Contract for legal advice during privileges committee probe has been extended until 28 February 2023 and value has gone from £129k to £220k.

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EXCL: Traces of suspected class A drug found at government grace-and-favour home after parties attended by political allies of Liz Truss - story by

@Annaisaac

Traces of suspected cocaine found after parties in Liz Truss’s grace-and-favour house, say staff

Exclusive: White powder residue found after events held at Chevening and Downing Street, say sources

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Friday’s

front page: Tories join calls for Sunak to open pay talks with nurses theguardian.com/society/2022/d

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Dec 16

A big shout out to lots of people in the room - especially

@DailyMirror

@guardian

and all the brilliant winners and nominees… 👏 But also huge thanks to those outside the room: my sources for trusting me and the readers who all of this is for. ❤️

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Absolutely thrilled (and a bit overwhelmed) to have won Journalist of the Year, Political Journalist and

@WIJ_UK

’s Woman of the Year at the British Journalism Awards 2022. Thank you

@pressgazette

🙏🏽

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