This is from PA Media’s report on the election bill last night. The way is open for the end of the current parliamentary session after the liquidation of the House of Lords by the last important bill. The peers backed down from continuing their controversy with the Tories-dominated Commons over the election bill, rejecting further changes that would require the law to be returned to lawmakers for consideration. The election bill also included controversial reforms, including the introduction of a photo ID for voters, fearing that a significant number of people could be removed from the polls, and provisions that critics warn threaten the independence of the Electoral Commission. At the same time, it will remove a 15-year limit on British citizens living abroad being able to vote abroad. Expressing his concern, Liberal Democrat Lord Wallace of Saltaire said: “One of the many negative effects of this bill is that it makes it much easier for foreigners to vote, but it makes it difficult for locals to vote. “This is very strange, and not completely democratic, it is undesirable.” Labor spokeswoman Lady Hayman said: “The government has simply made the mistake of demanding voter identification at polling stations. We are disappointed and unhappy that there has been absolutely no move by the government on this. “There is a clear concern throughout the House for undermining the independence of the Electoral Commission.” And this is from the PA report last night on the bill on nationality and borders. Controversial asylum and immigration reforms are about to become law after their peers stopped arguing. The heated debate over the nationality and border bill ended after the House of Lords rejected by 212 votes to 157, a final 55 attempts to ensure that the provisions of the legislation comply with the UK’s international obligations towards refugees. Screams of “shame” were heard from some peers as the result was announced. The disputed provisions of the bill include the export of asylum, with the government already having an agreement with Rwanda, and making it a criminal offense to knowingly arrive in the United Kingdom illegally. It also allows asylum seekers to be treated differently depending on how they entered the United Kingdom. The bill was tainted during its passage by the unelected parliament, but the changes made in the process known as parliamentary table tennis were repeatedly overturned by the Commons, where the government has a majority.
27,100 Ukrainians arrive in UK under visa programs, according to Home Office
About 27,100 people have arrived in the UK as part of visa programs for Ukraine, according to PA Media. PA says: That includes 16,000 people in the family program and 11,100 people in the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship program as of Monday, according to Interior Ministry figures released this morning. The figures also show that, as of Wednesday, approximately 117,600 visa applications had been submitted and 86,100 visas had been issued. These include 42,900 applications under the family system, of which 34,900 have been issued visas and 74,700 applications under the sponsorship program, of which 51,300 visas have been issued. Updated at 09.56 BST There will be an urgent question (UA) in the Commons at 10.30am. on the operation of visa application centers for Ukrainians, announced the authorities of the Communities. Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain filed the UQ. An interior minister will respond. Updated at 09.56 BST
Minister says Westminster ‘toxic mix’ has created sexist culture that needs to change
Good morning. Yesterday’s revelation that a Conservative MP was seen by colleagues watching pornography on his phone in the House of Commons, which came at a meeting where a group of Tory women complained of whipping for half-heartedness in the party and which coincided with an ongoing debate about how women are treated in Westminster, sparked by an article on Mail on Sunday that was widely condemned as sexist, has created something like another MeToo moment. Whether that will lead to permanent change, however, remains to be seen. Here’s our overnight story. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace was on the morning show earlier and said there was a problem with the “overall culture” in Westminster due to a “toxic mix” of agents. He told Sky News: This is a problem, I think, with the overall culture of the House of Commons. It’s too late to sit, big nights at the bar, and that too often leads, and has done so for decades, to behavioral challenges. In another interview, Wallace described the long hours, the drink and the pressure that MPs face as “a toxic mixture that leads to all things”. Wallace said he hoped the situation would improve. “I think it is very important to think of ways to change the culture in the House of Commons,” he said. But the difficulty of achieving any major cultural change became apparent when Wallace was asked about the MP accused of watching porn in the Chamber – who has not been named publicly and whose identity is not known in Westminster. Tories whips do not take disciplinary action unilaterally. They just say that the issue should be addressed through the independent complaints and grievances of parliament (set up to deal with allegations of sexual harassment by MPs), but this requires women MPs who have watched pornography to complain. It is not clear at this point that they will do it. Wallace told Today that he would encourage them to file a complaint. Asked if he thought the culprit should be expelled from the Conservative Party, Wallace would not go that far, but said the man should “definitely lose the whip”. MeToo has led women to speak out about previously tolerated misconduct, and the BBC quotes an anonymous female Welsh MP as saying that a shadow cabinet member told her it was a secret weapon for her party because they wanted women voters. to be her friend while the men wanted to sleep with her. A BBC report said they were using “sleep with” as a euphemism for “more real language”. Labor says it will take any complaint seriously, but according to a BBC report, the woman has not yet decided to file a formal complaint. Here’s the agenda for the day. 9.30 am: The Ministry of Interior publishes weekly data on visas issued to Ukrainian refugees. 9.30 am: The ONS publishes quarterly crime figures for England and Wales. 10.45 am: James Cleverley, Minister for Europe, reports to the European Communities Audit Committee. 11.30: Downing Street briefs the lobby. Late Morning / Early Afternoon: Parliament will be adjourned, which means that this session of Parliament will officially end and Members and Members will be adjourned until the Queen’s speech on Tuesday 10 May. At some point today, Steve Barclay, the prime minister’s chief of staff, will also meet with Passport Office executives to discuss what he is doing to reduce customer delays. And Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Brexit minister, is on a visit to announce a fourth delay in physical checks on fresh food imported from the EU. I try to watch the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, include “Andrew” somewhere and I will be more likely to find it. I’m trying to answer questions and if it is of general interest, I will post the question and answer over the line (ATL), although I can not promise to do it for everyone. If you want to get my attention quickly, it’s probably best to use Twitter. I’m at @AndrewSparrow. Alternatively, you can email me at [email protected] Updated at 09.58 BST
