skynewspolitics--2020-01-20--Terrorists to take lie detector tests under new govt plans

Terrorists to take lie detector tests under new govt plans Terrorists to take lie detector tests under new govt plans The new measures come in the wake of November 's London Bridge attack Terrorists could be forced to take a lie detector test to prove they have reformed and are not planning another attack , the government has announced .
The plans for `` polygraph testing '' are part of a slew of measures to reform the way terrorists are punished and monitored .
In the wake of the London Bridge terror attack , tougher sentences which would see terrorists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those deemed not to be a risk would have to serve two-thirds of their sentence before they could be considered for release .
London Bridge attacker Usman Khan , who killed two people , had been released from prison on licence in December 2018 , halfway through a 16-year prison sentence .
The new measures are contained in The Counter Terrorism ( Sentencing and Release ) Bill , which ministers say represents a `` major overhaul '' of the system .
However , the father of Jack Merritt - who , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khan in the November attack on London Bridge - suggested the announcement on lie detector tests was a `` cynical , headline-grabbing gimmick to distract our attention '' .
He also claimed that `` keeping terrorists in prison longer will not per se keep people safe , particularly if they are exposed to radicalisation inside '' .
David Merritt previously criticised Boris Johnson 's response to the London Bridge atrocity , accusing the prime minister of trying to score political points during last year 's election campaign .
Other measures in the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who receive extended determinate sentences to serve their full term in prison • Ensuring individuals convicted of serious offences like preparing acts of terrorism or directing a terrorist organisation spend at least 14 years behind bars .
• Getting rid of early release for those classed as dangerous and given extended determinate sentences • A doubling in the number of counter terrorism probation officers .
• A cash injection of £500,000 to support victims of terrorism and a review of the current services on offer • An increase in the number of places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities to monitor terrorists in the weeks after their release • A boost to counter terrorism police funding of £90m year-on-year for the coming year to £906m • More special psychologists and trained imams to help assess the risk of radicalised offenders • More training for frontline staff in prison and probation , in order to identify and challenge extremism The latest figures show there were 44 convictions for terrorism offences in the year to the end of September , with 17 offenders being sent to prison for between four and 10 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 years or more , while one was given a life sentence .
Between 2012 and 2019 , around 245 convicted terrorists were freed from jail .
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News ' Kay Burley @ Breakfast show that lie detectors were important to identify terror offenders , such as Khan , who are `` in effect sleepers for many years '' .
`` We get a lot of people who are superficially very compliant with the regime and sometimes the assessment of risk is a really difficult thing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can get people who are in effect sleepers for many years and then suddenly back come the hatreds and the prejudices and we see atrocities like the one we did at Fishmongers ' Hall .
`` Which is why I think the introduction of polygraphs , the lie testing devices which are already being used in sex offenders , improves the tools that we have in terms of trying to assess that risk , to minimise that risk . ''
But Mr Buckland admitted lie detector tests are not the `` be-all-and-end-all '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being as low as 60 % .
He added : `` I 'm not pretending on their own , polygraphs , lie detectors , are the be-all-and-end-all , which is why what we are also doing is doubling the number of specialised counter-terrorism probation officers ... improving training , getting more psychologists in there , specialist imams as well will be working with these people . ''
Mr Buckland also stressed far-right extremism was a cause of terrorism .
Labour 's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott claimed the Tories had `` undermined '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in government .
`` After ten years in government , a major overhaul now is actually an admission of failure , '' she said .
`` Major terrorist outrages have occurred all too frequently , including attacks by perpetrators who were known to the security services .
`` The fight against terrorism has been undermined by cuts to policing , including community policing , a lack of effective coordination between police and security services as well as the flawed Prevent programme .
`` All of these need to change if we are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Christine Jardine , home affairs spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats , said judges were already able to lock up terrorists for life - while polygraphs were `` not accurate or reliable enough '' for such critical decisions .
She added : `` We will continue to oppose authoritarian laws that do little to make us safer , but a lot to undermine essential British freedoms . ''

Terrorists could be forced to take a lie detector test to prove they have reformed and are not planning another attack, the government has announced.
The plans for "polygraph testing" are part of a slew of measures to reform the way terrorists are punished and monitored.
In the wake of the London Bridge terror attack, tougher sentences which would see terrorists locked up for longer are also included.
Image: Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt were killed in the London Bridge attack
Those deemed not to be a risk would have to serve two-thirds of their sentence before they could be considered for release.
London Bridge attacker Usman Khan, who killed two people, had been released from prison on licence in December 2018, halfway through a 16-year prison sentence.
The new measures are contained in The Counter Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill, which ministers say represents a "major overhaul" of the system.
However, the father of Jack Merritt - who, along with Saskia Jones, was killed by Khan in the November attack on London Bridge - suggested the announcement on lie detector tests was a "cynical, headline-grabbing gimmick to distract our attention".
He also claimed that "keeping terrorists in prison longer will not per se keep people safe, particularly if they are exposed to radicalisation inside".
David Merritt previously criticised Boris Johnson's response to the London Bridge atrocity, accusing the prime minister of trying to score political points during last year's election campaign.
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Other measures in the new counter-terror legislation include:
Forcing terrorists who receive extended determinate sentences to serve their full term in prison
Ensuring individuals convicted of serious offences like preparing acts of terrorism or directing a terrorist organisation spend at least 14 years behind bars.
Getting rid of early release for those classed as dangerous and given extended determinate sentences
A doubling in the number of counter terrorism probation officers.
A cash injection of £500,000 to support victims of terrorism and a review of the current services on offer
An increase in the number of places in probation hostels, designed to allow authorities to monitor terrorists in the weeks after their release
A boost to counter terrorism police funding of £90m year-on-year for the coming year to £906m
More special psychologists and trained imams to help assess the risk of radicalised offenders
More training for frontline staff in prison and probation, in order to identify and challenge extremism
The latest figures show there were 44 convictions for terrorism offences in the year to the end of September, with 17 offenders being sent to prison for between four and 10 years.
Five of them were imprisoned for 10 years or more, while one was given a life sentence.
Between 2012 and 2019, around 245 convicted terrorists were freed from jail.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News' Kay Burley @ Breakfast show that lie detectors were important to identify terror offenders, such as Khan, who are "in effect sleepers for many years".
"We get a lot of people who are superficially very compliant with the regime and sometimes the assessment of risk is a really difficult thing to do," he said.
"You can get people who are in effect sleepers for many years and then suddenly back come the hatreds and the prejudices and we see atrocities like the one we did at Fishmongers' Hall.
"Which is why I think the introduction of polygraphs, the lie testing devices which are already being used in sex offenders, improves the tools that we have in terms of trying to assess that risk, to minimise that risk."
Twitter Twitter , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
But Mr Buckland admitted lie detector tests are not the "be-all-and-end-all" after being challenged over their accuracy levels being as low as 60%.
He added: "I'm not pretending on their own, polygraphs, lie detectors, are the be-all-and-end-all, which is why what we are also doing is doubling the number of specialised counter-terrorism probation officers... improving training, getting more psychologists in there, specialist imams as well will be working with these people."
Mr Buckland also stressed far-right extremism was a cause of terrorism.
Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott claimed the Tories had "undermined" the fight against terrorism during their near-decade in government.
"After ten years in government, a major overhaul now is actually an admission of failure," she said.
"Major terrorist outrages have occurred all too frequently, including attacks by perpetrators who were known to the security services.
"The fight against terrorism has been undermined by cuts to policing, including community policing, a lack of effective coordination between police and security services as well as the flawed Prevent programme.
"All of these need to change if we are going to improve the safety of our citizens."
Christine Jardine, home affairs spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats, said judges were already able to lock up terrorists for life - while polygraphs were "not accurate or reliable enough" for such critical decisions.
She added: "We will continue to oppose authoritarian laws that do little to make us safer, but a lot to undermine essential British freedoms."


skynewspolitics--2020-01-21--Jess Phillips drops out of Labour leadership contest

Jess Phillips was struggling to win the backing of trade unions or local parties The field of Labour leadership candidates has slimmed to four after Jess Phillips dropped out of the contest .
The Birmingham Yardley MP announced her withdrawal from the Labour leadership race in a video message on Tuesday , as she admitted she is not the person to `` unite '' her party `` at this time '' .
She said : `` The Labour Party will need to select a candidate who can unite all parts of our movement , the union movement , members and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to also be honest with myself , as I said I always would be throughout this campaign .
`` At this time , that person is not me .
`` In order to win the country , we are going to have to find a candidate , in this race , who can do all of that , and then take that message out to the country .
`` A message of hope and change , that things can be better . ''
There are now four candidates - frontrunners Rebecca Long-Bailey and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emily Thornberry and Lisa Nandy - remaining in the contest to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader .
Ms Phillips had been struggling to win the required backing of either trade unions or local constituency parties that are needed in order to make it onto the final ballot paper .
Earlier on Tuesday , she was missing as leadership candidates pitched for the support of the GMB trade union , although aides said her absence was due to an unavoidable appointment elsewhere .
The GMB union later nominated Ms Nandy for the Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Phillips described Labour 's general election performance last month as `` cataclysmic '' and pointed out the party will need to win 124 more seats to secure a majority at the next general election .
She thanked those who had joined her campaign and those who have joined the Labour Party in recent weeks .
`` I want to say to those people .
This is not the end , '' she added .
`` Together , we can now use our strength , to make the changes we want to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour Party , and in the country , to make sure that the Labour Party win elections again .
`` This is n't the end .
It 's the beginning . ''
Addressing Labour 's antisemitism crisis , Ms Phillips also sent a message to `` all those in the Jewish community , many of whom have been in touch with me to say that in me , they found somebody who would stand up for them '' .
`` That does n't change , '' she said .
`` I will always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and I promise that we will change the problems in our party that we have seen .
`` I 'm going to go out into the country and join the fight back .
`` Because the Labour Party is not about the job description you have .
`` We are the strength of our common endeavour , and everybody who has joined in , now we go out into the country , in the local elections , the mayoral elections and we fight back .
`` We make sure we are out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and making sure the Labour Party can win elections again . ''
Responding to Ms Phillips announcement , Ms Thornberry posted on Twitter : `` I 'm very sorry to see @ jessphillips drop out of the contest - we need to broaden our debate , not narrow it , and force the two favourites to prove they 're up to the fight by pitting them against some real strength .
`` Jess is a sad loss in that effort , but we will keep going . ''
Ms Nandy said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
She has made waves , shown great friendship and I 'll miss her in this contest . ''
Sir Keir became the first candidate to make it through to the final stage of the Labour leadership election - a ballot of party members - after securing the support of a second major trade union on Monday .
The Usdaw shopworkers ' union became the third affiliate to back the shadow Brexit secretary 's campaign .
Ms Nandy now has the support of two trade unions , while Ms Long-Bailey , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of one .
But Ms Thornberry , the shadow foreign secretary , has yet to receive any .
This has left her with the potentially trickier prospect of attempting to win the support of 33 local constituency Labour parties in order to make it onto the final ballot paper .
Ms Thornberry refused to say who she would vote for out of frontrunners Sir Keir or Ms Long-Bailey if she does not make the final shortlist .
`` I 'm not getting into this , '' she told ITV 's Good Morning Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win it . ''
The new Labour leader will be announced on 4 April following the ballot of the party 's membership .

The field of Labour leadership candidates has slimmed to four after Jess Phillips dropped out of the contest.
The Birmingham Yardley MP announced her withdrawal from the Labour leadership race in a video message on Tuesday, as she admitted she is not the person to "unite" her party "at this time".
She said: "The Labour Party will need to select a candidate who can unite all parts of our movement, the union movement, members and elected representatives.
Image: (L-R) Remaining candidates Emily Thornberry, Lisa Nandy, Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey
"And I have to also be honest with myself, as I said I always would be throughout this campaign.
"At this time, that person is not me.
"In order to win the country, we are going to have to find a candidate, in this race, who can do all of that, and then take that message out to the country.
"A message of hope and change, that things can be better."
There are now four candidates - frontrunners Rebecca Long-Bailey and Sir Keir Starmer, as well as Emily Thornberry and Lisa Nandy - remaining in the contest to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.
Ms Phillips had been struggling to win the required backing of either trade unions or local constituency parties that are needed in order to make it onto the final ballot paper.
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Earlier on Tuesday, she was missing as leadership candidates pitched for the support of the GMB trade union, although aides said her absence was due to an unavoidable appointment elsewhere.
The GMB union later nominated Ms Nandy for the Labour leadership.
In her video message, Ms Phillips described Labour's general election performance last month as "cataclysmic" and pointed out the party will need to win 124 more seats to secure a majority at the next general election.
She thanked those who had joined her campaign and those who have joined the Labour Party in recent weeks.
"I want to say to those people. This is not the end," she added.
"Together, we can now use our strength, to make the changes we want to make. To use our voices in the Labour Party, and in the country, to make sure that the Labour Party win elections again.
"This isn't the end. It's the beginning."
Addressing Labour's antisemitism crisis, Ms Phillips also sent a message to "all those in the Jewish community, many of whom have been in touch with me to say that in me, they found somebody who would stand up for them".
"That doesn't change," she said.
"I will always stand up, I will always speak out and I promise that we will change the problems in our party that we have seen.
"I'm going to go out into the country and join the fight back.
"Because the Labour Party is not about the job description you have.
"We are the strength of our common endeavour, and everybody who has joined in, now we go out into the country, in the local elections, the mayoral elections and we fight back.
"We make sure we are out there, speaking to the country, and making sure the Labour Party can win elections again."
Responding to Ms Phillips announcement, Ms Thornberry posted on Twitter: "I'm very sorry to see @jessphillips drop out of the contest - we need to broaden our debate, not narrow it, and force the two favourites to prove they're up to the fight by pitting them against some real strength.
"Jess is a sad loss in that effort, but we will keep going."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:57 Time for men 'to pass the mic'
Ms Nandy said: "I'm sorry to see Jess drop out. She has made waves, shown great friendship and I'll miss her in this contest."
Sir Keir became the first candidate to make it through to the final stage of the Labour leadership election - a ballot of party members - after securing the support of a second major trade union on Monday.
The Usdaw shopworkers' union became the third affiliate to back the shadow Brexit secretary's campaign.
Ms Nandy now has the support of two trade unions, while Ms Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, has the backing of one.
But Ms Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, has yet to receive any.
This has left her with the potentially trickier prospect of attempting to win the support of 33 local constituency Labour parties in order to make it onto the final ballot paper.
Ms Thornberry refused to say who she would vote for out of frontrunners Sir Keir or Ms Long-Bailey if she does not make the final shortlist.
"I'm not getting into this," she told ITV's Good Morning Britain. "I'm in this to win it."
The new Labour leader will be announced on 4 April following the ballot of the party's membership.


skynewspolitics--2020-01-21--Labour leadership contest now a 'three-horse race'

Jess Phillips said she was 'awful ' after the first Labour leadership event Suddenly , in the space of an hour , and after talk of the Labour leadership contest becoming a two-horse race between Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey , one outsider has fallen at the second hurdle and another is coming up on the rails .
Jess Phillips , lacking support and admitting she performed badly in the only public hustings so far , has pulled up and withdrawn from the race .
But Lisa Nandy , everyone 's third choice , is suddenly emerging as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top two .
The withdrawal of Ms Phillips was predictable , but will still be a bitter disappointment to her supporters on the anti-Corbyn wing of the party .
For Ms Nandy , the GMB 's nomination was always going to be crucial if she was to kick-start her campaign .
Both of the dramatic developments in this so far low-key campaign could together have the same effect .
Ms Phillips ' withdrawal could provide a further boost to the Nandy campaign if many of her supporters or would-be supporters switch their support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impressed Labour MPs at the hustings in parliament last week .
She then performed well in a TV interview with tough interrogator Andrew Neil and she obviously impressed the 60-strong executive of the GMB .
The union 's pragmatic and down-to-earth general secretary , Tim Roache , described Ms Nandy as `` a breath of fresh air '' .
And there 's no doubt her GMB nomination - which could now be the first of many from unions - will force Sir Keir and Ms Long-Bailey to raise their game .
Ms Nandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and backed Andy Burnham for Labour leader in 2015 and Jeremy Corbyn 's challenger Owen Smith in 2016 .
She quit the shadow cabinet and as a result has never been trusted by Mr Corbyn or his inner circle .
During the parliamentary battles over Brexit last year , she was a powerful voice for Leave-voting northern towns .
Her warnings about Labour 's support for a second referendum proved correct when dozens of seats in the party 's heartlands fell to Boris Johnson 's Tories in the general election .
The GMB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain of getting on to the ballot paper when party members begin voting on February 21 .
And the GMB has ensured that what looked like a two-horse race just hours earlier now looks more like a three-horse race .
While Sir Keir has picked up the support of Unison and USDAW , Ms Nandy already had the NUM - a tiny shell of a union these days - in the bag .
Ms Long-Bailey looks certain to pick up Unite and the CWU .
Candidates need at least three unions or 33 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top three look like hoovering up union support , it means the fourth candidate in the race , Emily Thornberry , will probably have to rely on support from constituency parties .
But she might benefit from some local parties lending her their support so she gets on the ballot paper .
Supporters of Ms Phillips claim she would have been a breath of fresh air in the Labour leadership contest .
She was always the outsider , both in her chances of victory - zero - and in her approach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishment .
Since her election to parliament in 2015 , when she defeated another maverick MP , the Lib Dem John Hemming , she has been outspoken , controversial and - her supporters would claim - honest and courageous .
But her critics would claim that she is a self-publicist who was out of her depth in a leadership contest , lacking the discipline to mount a serious challenge .
And her detractors will no doubt now be crowing : `` The ego has landed . ''
At the outset of the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs to clear the first hurdle , securing the required nominations from a minimum of 22 MPs or MEPs , relatively painlessly .
Unlike Emily Thornberry , for example , who had to endure a last-minute scramble .
But her backers could be described - unkindly , to be fair - as the Blairite rump of the parliamentary Labour Party .
They included some of Mr Corbyn 's harshest critics , such as Neil Coyle , Margaret Hodge , Liz Kendall , Siobhan McDonagh , Pat McFadden , Ian Murray and Wes Streeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the campaign when , in a TV interview in the New Year , she suggested she could campaign to re-join the EU if she became leader , a move seen as a gaffe given Labour 's Brexit battering in last month 's general election .
And then came the first Labour Party hustings , in Liverpool last Saturday .
The consensus was that Ms Phillips performed badly .
But she made matters worse by admitting as much and hinting she might be about to pull out of the race .
Honesty ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaging .
`` I hated the first hustings on Saturday , '' she wrote in a brutally self-critical article for The Guardian .
`` I was awful .
The likelihood that anyone but Keir Starmer or Rebecca Long-Bailey is going to win is , well , pretty low .
`` The likelihood of someone like me , who speaks like I do and says the things I say , ever being elected to be a party leader is slim .
And in what now looks like a signal that she was about to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I might not look the most like a prime minister in this race .
I can not win that war so I am going to stop fighting it… I probably wo n't win . ''
Her analysis about the top two candidates at the time was almost certainly correct .
MPs were talking about a `` Starmer steamroller '' .
And Rebecca Long-Bailey will have the massed ranks of the grassroots group Momentum campaigning for her .
Jess Phillips picked up no unions or constituency parties in her short time in the leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where that support might have come from even if she had remained in the contest for longer .
So there was a certain inevitably about her withdrawal .
Her supporters will say it has deprived the contest of an authentic , refreshing and anti-establishment voice .
Her rivals will naturally be wondering where her support - and that of her Blairite rump backers - will go now .
If it goes to Lisa Nandy , these two dramatic and highly significant events within an hour of each other could prove to be a @ @ @ @ @ @

With Jess Phillips gone, Lisa Nandy has become a real challenger to Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey.
Jess Phillips said she was 'awful' after the first Labour leadership event
Suddenly, in the space of an hour, and after talk of the Labour leadership contest becoming a two-horse race between Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey, one outsider has fallen at the second hurdle and another is coming up on the rails.
Jess Phillips, lacking support and admitting she performed badly in the only public hustings so far, has pulled up and withdrawn from the race.
But Lisa Nandy, everyone's third choice, is suddenly emerging as a real challenger and a threat to the top two.
The withdrawal of Ms Phillips was predictable, but will still be a bitter disappointment to her supporters on the anti-Corbyn wing of the party.
Image: Lisa Nandy's campaign is gathering momentum
For Ms Nandy, the GMB's nomination was always going to be crucial if she was to kick-start her campaign.
Both of the dramatic developments in this so far low-key campaign could together have the same effect.
Ms Phillips' withdrawal could provide a further boost to the Nandy campaign if many of her supporters or would-be supporters switch their support to the Wigan MP.
Ms Nandy impressed Labour MPs at the hustings in parliament last week. She then performed well in a TV interview with tough interrogator Andrew Neil and she obviously impressed the 60-strong executive of the GMB.
The union's pragmatic and down-to-earth general secretary, Tim Roache, described Ms Nandy as "a breath of fresh air".
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And there's no doubt her GMB nomination - which could now be the first of many from unions - will force Sir Keir and Ms Long-Bailey to raise their game.
Image: Emily Thornberry, Lisa Nandy, Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey are all still in the mix
Ms Nandy has been MP for Wigan since 2010 and backed Andy Burnham for Labour leader in 2015 and Jeremy Corbyn's challenger Owen Smith in 2016.
She quit the shadow cabinet and as a result has never been trusted by Mr Corbyn or his inner circle.
During the parliamentary battles over Brexit last year, she was a powerful voice for Leave-voting northern towns.
Her warnings about Labour's support for a second referendum proved correct when dozens of seats in the party's heartlands fell to Boris Johnson's Tories in the general election.
The GMB's endorsement means she is now virtually certain of getting on to the ballot paper when party members begin voting on February 21.
And the GMB has ensured that what looked like a two-horse race just hours earlier now looks more like a three-horse race.
While Sir Keir has picked up the support of Unison and USDAW, Ms Nandy already had the NUM - a tiny shell of a union these days - in the bag.
Ms Long-Bailey looks certain to pick up Unite and the CWU. Candidates need at least three unions or 33 local parties by 14 February.
While the top three look like hoovering up union support, it means the fourth candidate in the race, Emily Thornberry, will probably have to rely on support from constituency parties.
But she might benefit from some local parties lending her their support so she gets on the ballot paper.
Supporters of Ms Phillips claim she would have been a breath of fresh air in the Labour leadership contest. She was always the outsider, both in her chances of victory - zero - and in her approach to the campaign - taking on the party establishment.
Image: Rebecca Long-Bailey is one of the favourites
Since her election to parliament in 2015, when she defeated another maverick MP, the Lib Dem John Hemming, she has been outspoken, controversial and - her supporters would claim - honest and courageous.
But her critics would claim that she is a self-publicist who was out of her depth in a leadership contest, lacking the discipline to mount a serious challenge. And her detractors will no doubt now be crowing: "The ego has landed."
At the outset of the campaign, she attracted enough support from Labour MPs to clear the first hurdle, securing the required nominations from a minimum of 22 MPs or MEPs, relatively painlessly. Unlike Emily Thornberry, for example, who had to endure a last-minute scramble.
But her backers could be described - unkindly, to be fair - as the Blairite rump of the parliamentary Labour Party. They included some of Mr Corbyn's harshest critics, such as Neil Coyle, Margaret Hodge, Liz Kendall, Siobhan McDonagh, Pat McFadden, Ian Murray and Wes Streeting.
Image: Sir Keir Starmer remains the frontrunner for the top job
Her lack of discipline showed early in the campaign when, in a TV interview in the New Year, she suggested she could campaign to re-join the EU if she became leader, a move seen as a gaffe given Labour's Brexit battering in last month's general election.
And then came the first Labour Party hustings, in Liverpool last Saturday.
The consensus was that Ms Phillips performed badly. But she made matters worse by admitting as much and hinting she might be about to pull out of the race. Honesty? Certainly. But it was probably deeply damaging.
"I hated the first hustings on Saturday," she wrote in a brutally self-critical article for The Guardian. "I was awful. The likelihood that anyone but Keir Starmer or Rebecca Long-Bailey is going to win is, well, pretty low.
"The likelihood of someone like me, who speaks like I do and says the things I say, ever being elected to be a party leader is slim.
And in what now looks like a signal that she was about to pull out, she added: "I might not look the most like a prime minister in this race. I cannot win that war so I am going to stop fighting it… I probably won't win."
Her analysis about the top two candidates at the time was almost certainly correct.
MPs were talking about a "Starmer steamroller". And Rebecca Long-Bailey will have the massed ranks of the grassroots group Momentum campaigning for her.
Jess Phillips picked up no unions or constituency parties in her short time in the leadership race and it's difficult to see where that support might have come from even if she had remained in the contest for longer.
Image: Emily Thornberry will probably have to rely on support from constituency parties
So there was a certain inevitably about her withdrawal.
Her supporters will say it has deprived the contest of an authentic, refreshing and anti-establishment voice. Her rivals will naturally be wondering where her support - and that of her Blairite rump backers - will go now.
If it goes to Lisa Nandy, these two dramatic and highly significant events within an hour of each other could prove to be a turning point in the campaign.


skynewspolitics--2020-01-21--Labour leadership: Boost for Nandy as she secures major union backing

Labour leadership race : Boost for Lisa Nandy as she secures major union backing Labour leadership race : Boost for Lisa Nandy as she secures major union backing Lisa Nandy is one of four contenders for Labour 's top job Lisa Nandy 's bid to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader has been boosted by the endorsement of the GMB trade union .
The union 's general secretary Tim Roache said the Wigan MP was `` a breath of fresh air '' .
`` The more members see of Lisa in this contest the more impressed they will be by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` GMB is proud to nominate her .
`` Lisa wo n't shy away from the tough challenges or bold decisions that lie ahead , because she knows that after 15 years of losing elections , more of the same wo n't cut it . ''
The endorsement puts her within touching distance of a place in the final ballot of party members .
Ms Nandy , who already has the support of the National Union of Mineworkers , said : `` To win again we 'll have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambition and inspire a movement .
`` The GMB , the biggest industrial union which speaks for more than half a million workers , has been offering that leadership time and time again in recent years .
`` As I seek permission to lead us back to power as Labour 's next prime minister I could not be more proud to have their support . ''
As well as announcing its backing for Ms Nandy 's candidacy , the GMB also revealed it is backing shadow education secretary Angela Rayner for deputy leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ms Nandy 's rivals for the leadership - Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips - withdrew from the race .
Ms Phillips said she was not the person to `` unite '' the party `` at this time '' .
The remaining candidates are Ms Nandy , shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer , shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry .
Sir Keir , who is considered the frontrunner , became the first candidate to make it through to the final round of the contest .
On Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union Usdaw , meaning he will be on the ballot paper when party members choose Mr Corbyn 's successor .
Having initially been required to secure the support of Labour MPs and MEPs , candidates are now battling to ensure they make it to the final round .
Leadership hopefuls can do this in one of two ways .
They can get the nominations of three Labour affiliates , including at least two trade unions .
Or they can secure endorsements from at least 5 % of constituency Labour parties ( CLPs ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure their place on the ballot .
Ms Long-Bailey is expected to gain the endorsement of the Unite union , which would put her through to the final round .
In a speech in London on Tuesday , she announced her backing for open selections of the party 's parliamentary candidates .
Ms Long-Bailey said Labour has to `` rip up '' its `` outdated rule book that has held back our members for too long and throw open the door to a new generation of MPs and candidates '' .
Ms Thornberry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to join her trio of rivals , however .
A winner will be announced at the beginning of April .

Lisa Nandy's bid to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader has been boosted by the endorsement of the GMB trade union.
The union's general secretary Tim Roache said the Wigan MP was "a breath of fresh air".
"The more members see of Lisa in this contest the more impressed they will be by her ambition, optimism and decisive leadership," he said.
Image: The leadership candidates are Emily Thornberry, Lisa Nandy, Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey
"GMB is proud to nominate her.
"Lisa won't shy away from the tough challenges or bold decisions that lie ahead, because she knows that after 15 years of losing elections, more of the same won't cut it."
The endorsement puts her within touching distance of a place in the final ballot of party members.
Ms Nandy, who already has the support of the National Union of Mineworkers, said: "To win again we'll have to up our game, recover our ambition and inspire a movement.
"The GMB, the biggest industrial union which speaks for more than half a million workers, has been offering that leadership time and time again in recent years.
"As I seek permission to lead us back to power as Labour's next prime minister I could not be more proud to have their support."
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As well as announcing its backing for Ms Nandy's candidacy, the GMB also revealed it is backing shadow education secretary Angela Rayner for deputy leader.
The news comes shortly after one of Ms Nandy's rivals for the leadership - Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips - withdrew from the race.
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Ms Phillips said she was not the person to "unite" the party "at this time".
The remaining candidates are Ms Nandy, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry.
Sir Keir, who is considered the frontrunner, became the first candidate to make it through to the final round of the contest.
On Monday he secured the endorsement of the retail union Usdaw, meaning he will be on the ballot paper when party members choose Mr Corbyn's successor.
Having initially been required to secure the support of Labour MPs and MEPs, candidates are now battling to ensure they make it to the final round.
Leadership hopefuls can do this in one of two ways.
They can get the nominations of three Labour affiliates, including at least two trade unions.
Or they can secure endorsements from at least 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs).
Candidates have until 14 February to secure their place on the ballot.
Image: The endorsement for Lisa Nandy comes after Jess Phillips dropped out of the race
Ms Long-Bailey is expected to gain the endorsement of the Unite union, which would put her through to the final round.
In a speech in London on Tuesday, she announced her backing for open selections of the party's parliamentary candidates.
Ms Long-Bailey said Labour has to "rip up" its "outdated rule book that has held back our members for too long and throw open the door to a new generation of MPs and candidates".
Ms Thornberry appears to be facing an uphill battle to join her trio of rivals, however.
A winner will be announced at the beginning of April.


skynewspolitics--2020-01-21--Johnson's Brexit deal suffers further Lords defeats

Boris Johnson has suffered further defeats in the House of Lords , as peers backed two more amendments to the prime minister 's Brexit legislation .
In the first of the reverses in the upper chamber , the Lords voted in favour of an amendment to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill ( WAB ) known as the Dubs amendment .
A total of 300 peers supported it , with 220 against - a majority of 80 .
Put forward by Lord Dubs , it calls for the restoration of the right of unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peer fled the Nazis as a child on the Kindertransport .
He has called on the government not to use the small number of children involved as `` bargaining chips '' in talks with the EU .
Lord Dubs has accused ministers of seeking to remove earlier protections for child refugees in the EU ( Withdrawal ) Act 2018 - and said it was a matter of humanity to keep them in place .
Calling on Number 10 not to `` close the door '' on those affected , he said some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in French camps and were at risk of sexual exploitation .
Lord Dubs told peers that by approving the amendment - and in turn giving the children a safe , legal route to the UK - they would be `` thwarting the traffickers '' and removing the need for them to seek out more dangerous options to get to their families .
Home Office minister Baroness Williams said the Conservatives ' track record during their decade in office showed a commitment to protecting vulnerable children and this would continue .
She told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been granted protection in the UK since 2010 and over 5,000 unaccompanied children were being cared for in England alone .
Lady Williams added that the Tory election manifesto underlined the commitment to continue to grant asylum and support for refugees fleeing persecution .
And a government spokesperson said : `` Our policy on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children has not changed .
`` Protecting vulnerable children will remain our priority after Brexit and the Withdrawal Agreement Bill reaffirms our commitment while clarifying the role of parliament and government in negotiations . ''
Later on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give reassurance to Scotland and Wales on devolution powers .
They supported by 239 votes to 235 , majority four , a demand to write into EU divorce legislation the so-called Sewel Convention .
This states that the UK parliament `` will not normally '' legislate for devolved matters without the consent of the legislature affected .
Brexit minister Lord Callanan said the amendment was an `` unnecessary restatement '' of the Sewel principles , which were already enshrined in statute .
The WAB will go back to the Commons on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mr Johnson is expected to use his large majority in the lower chamber to overturn the Lords defeats .
The government suffered three reverses in the unelected upper chamber on Monday .
The first was on on the issue of documentation for EU citizens living in Britain , with peers calling for those lawfully residing here to be allowed physical proof of their status .
They then voted in favour of removing ministerial powers over the courts departing from European Court of Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lords back a move to allow cases to be referred to the Supreme Court to decide whether to depart from EU case law .

Boris Johnson has suffered further defeats in the House of Lords, as peers backed two more amendments to the prime minister's Brexit legislation.
In the first of the reverses in the upper chamber, the Lords voted in favour of an amendment to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) known as the Dubs amendment.
A total of 300 peers supported it, with 220 against - a majority of 80.
Image: Lord Dubs, who put forward the amendment, fled the Nazis as a child
Put forward by Lord Dubs, it calls for the restoration of the right of unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their families in the UK post-Brexit.
The Labour peer fled the Nazis as a child on the Kindertransport.
He has called on the government not to use the small number of children involved as "bargaining chips" in talks with the EU.
Lord Dubs has accused ministers of seeking to remove earlier protections for child refugees in the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018 - and said it was a matter of humanity to keep them in place.
Calling on Number 10 not to "close the door" on those affected, he said some of the children lived in "shocking conditions" in French camps and were at risk of sexual exploitation.
Lord Dubs told peers that by approving the amendment - and in turn giving the children a safe, legal route to the UK - they would be "thwarting the traffickers" and removing the need for them to seek out more dangerous options to get to their families.
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Home Office minister Baroness Williams said the Conservatives' track record during their decade in office showed a commitment to protecting vulnerable children and this would continue.
She told peers that more than 41,000 children had been granted protection in the UK since 2010 and over 5,000 unaccompanied children were being cared for in England alone.
Lady Williams added that the Tory election manifesto underlined the commitment to continue to grant asylum and support for refugees fleeing persecution.
Image: Boris Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement Bill will go back to the Commons on Wednesday
And a government spokesperson said: "Our policy on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children has not changed.
"Protecting vulnerable children will remain our priority after Brexit and the Withdrawal Agreement Bill reaffirms our commitment while clarifying the role of parliament and government in negotiations."
Later on Monday, the Lords backed calls to give reassurance to Scotland and Wales on devolution powers.
They supported by 239 votes to 235, majority four, a demand to write into EU divorce legislation the so-called Sewel Convention.
This states that the UK parliament "will not normally" legislate for devolved matters without the consent of the legislature affected.
Brexit minister Lord Callanan said the amendment was an "unnecessary restatement" of the Sewel principles, which were already enshrined in statute.
The WAB will go back to the Commons on Wednesday.
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Mr Johnson is expected to use his large majority in the lower chamber to overturn the Lords defeats.
The government suffered three reverses in the unelected upper chamber on Monday.
The first was on on the issue of documentation for EU citizens living in Britain, with peers calling for those lawfully residing here to be allowed physical proof of their status.
They then voted in favour of removing ministerial powers over the courts departing from European Court of Justice judgments.
The third defeat saw the Lords back a move to allow cases to be referred to the Supreme Court to decide whether to depart from EU case law.


skynewspolitics--2020-01-22--Phillips backs 'impressive' Nandy for Labour leadership

Jess Phillips has confirmed she is supporting Lisa Nandy to be Labour 's next leader , after pulling out of the race yesterday .
The Birmingham Yardley MP told Sky News she would vote for Ms Nandy as her first preference and Sir Keir Starmer as her second preference .
In her first interview since exiting the battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn , she said : `` I think Lisa has been deeply impressive throughout the race .
`` And I have found that not just on a personal level but I think the public view and the stuff that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her stand out .
`` So for me I would be happy if the Labour Party were led by Lisa Nandy or Keir Starmer ... '' I think Lisa Nandy is a brilliant woman and would be a brilliant leader of the Labour Party . ''
She added that on her ballot `` I would vote Lisa one and Keir two '' .
Ms Phillips hit back at suggestions from some Labour figures the party 's next leader had to be a woman .
`` I would n't have voted for a Tory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has to be the right woman and it has to be the right person , '' she said .
Quizzed on why she pulled out of the leadership race , the backbencher told Sky News whoever wins `` has to be able to unite the unions , unite the membership and also elected representatives '' .
`` I think it 's fine to give a fair assessment that that person was n't me , '' she concluded .
Ms Nandy was caught off-guard by the endorsement when asked about it at a speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the candidates , is a friend of mine so I 'm very pleased to hear it , '' said the Wigan MP , adding with a laugh : `` If she 's got about 250,000 friends that she could also persuade then we could just cancel this contest right now . ''
Ms Nandy is less well-known among Labour members but recently won the endorsement of the GMB union , strengthening her footing against the two frontrunners .
Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir are further ahead in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's second largest party .
Emily Thornberry , the shadow foreign secretary , has also got her sights set on the top job .

Lisa Nandy has officially won enough support to be on the ballot paper of Labour leadership candidates.
The Wigan MP was endorsed by Chinese For Labour (CfL), making her only the second contender to secure a place in the election.
Those hoping to replace Jeremy Corbyn need the support of three Labour affiliates, including two trade unions, or the backing of 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs).
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:23 Lisa Nandy 'has really stood out' - Jess Phillips
Ms Nandy was already backed by the National Union of Miners and GMB, but made it over the line with CfL's endorsement on Wednesday.
It came after Jess Phillips, who recently pulled out of the leadership race, told Sky News she now backed the "deeply impressive" Ms Nandy.
"I have found that not just on a personal level but I think the public view and the stuff that she has been doing have really made her stand out," she said.
"So for me I would be happy if the Labour Party were led by Lisa Nandy or Keir Starmer...
"I think Lisa Nandy is a brilliant woman and would be a brilliant leader of the Labour Party."
She added that on her ballot "I would vote Lisa one and Keir two".
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Ms Nandy was caught off-guard by the endorsement when asked about it at a speech.
"She, like most of the candidates, is a friend of mine so I'm very pleased to hear it," said the backbencher, adding with a laugh: "If she's got about 250,000 friends that she could also persuade then we could just cancel this contest right now."
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Ms Nandy is less well-known among Labour members but has won praise for speaking up about the party's electoral challenge in towns.
Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir are further ahead in the polls, with the latter becoming the first candidate to win enough support to guarantee a spot on the ballot paper.
Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, has also got her sights set on the top job.
The result will be announced on Saturday, 4 April.


skynewspolitics--2020-01-23--Brexit deal becomes UK law, paving way for EU departure next week

Brexit deal becomes UK law , paving way for EU departure next week Brexit deal becomes UK law , paving way for EU departure next week Brexit is due to happen in eight days Boris Johnson 's Brexit deal has officially become UK law , paving the way for the country to leave the EU next week .
The prime minister 's Withdrawal Agreement Act was signed off by the Queen on Thursday after completing its journey through parliament .
Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans announced the news to MPs on Thursday afternoon .
Tory backbenchers welcomed the announcement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done '' and `` promise made , promise delivered '' .
But pro-EU politicians were less pleased , Labour MP Rachael Maskell saying the deal should have been `` put to the people for a final say '' and the Greens ' Caroline Lucas calling it a `` a moment of huge regret '' .
It marks the UK clearing one of the final key hurdles on its path to leaving the EU on 31 January .
Brussels still needs to take a few more steps for it to formalise the agreement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October to push his Brexit deal bill through the Commons in a matter of days , after managing to strip out its most controversial part known as `` the backstop '' .
But MPs complained they were not getting enough time to scrutinise the updated agreement , forcing the prime minister to ask Brussels for a third Brexit delay to avoid no-deal .
The deadline was pushed back to 31 January and with the threat of food , fuel and drug shortages abated , Labour agreed to the Tories ' call for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When polling day came on 12 December , Mr Johnson won the Conservatives ' best result since 1987 and returned to the Commons with an 80-strong majority .
He promised to `` end the deadlock '' in British politics by delivering Brexit .
After the Christmas break , MPs re-assembled in Westminster and the Brexit deal bill comfortably passed all its major legislative hurdles .
They voted down various attempts by the House of Lords to amend the legislation , including one calling for the restoration of unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the UK will have formally left the EU on 1 February , an 11-month transition period will then kick in meaning it stays inside the single market and customs union .
Negotiations will be hammered out to try and secure a new deal on the future relationship including a trade deal by the end of 2020 .

Boris Johnson's Brexit deal has officially become UK law, paving the way for the country to leave the EU next week.
The prime minister's Withdrawal Agreement Act was signed off by the Queen on Thursday after completing its journey through parliament.
Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans announced the news to MPs on Thursday afternoon.
Image: Boris Johnson's election win handed him a large Tory majority
Tory backbenchers welcomed the announcement, with tweets such as "it is done" and "promise made, promise delivered".
But pro-EU politicians were less pleased, Labour MP Rachael Maskell saying the deal should have been "put to the people for a final say" and the Greens' Caroline Lucas calling it a "a moment of huge regret".
It marks the UK clearing one of the final key hurdles on its path to leaving the EU on 31 January.
Brussels still needs to take a few more steps for it to formalise the agreement in international law.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:41 Moment MPs approve the Brexit deal bill
Mr Johnson tried in October to push his Brexit deal bill through the Commons in a matter of days, after managing to strip out its most controversial part known as "the backstop".
But MPs complained they were not getting enough time to scrutinise the updated agreement, forcing the prime minister to ask Brussels for a third Brexit delay to avoid no-deal.
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The deadline was pushed back to 31 January and with the threat of food, fuel and drug shortages abated, Labour agreed to the Tories' call for a snap election to break the deadlock.
When polling day came on 12 December, Mr Johnson won the Conservatives' best result since 1987 and returned to the Commons with an 80-strong majority.
He promised to "end the deadlock" in British politics by delivering Brexit.
Image: The withdrawal agreement was partially renegotiated in October
After the Christmas break, MPs re-assembled in Westminster and the Brexit deal bill comfortably passed all its major legislative hurdles.
They voted down various attempts by the House of Lords to amend the legislation, including one calling for the restoration of unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their families in the UK post-Brexit.
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While the UK will have formally left the EU on 1 February, an 11-month transition period will then kick in meaning it stays inside the single market and customs union.
Negotiations will be hammered out to try and secure a new deal on the future relationship including a trade deal by the end of 2020.
Brexit Night Live: Watch and follow the moment Britain exits the EU with a special programme from 9pm on Friday 31 January


skynewspolitics--2020-01-23--Bercow's top aide 'submits bullying dossier to watchdog'

A new bullying complaint has reportedly been filed against John Bercow by his former most senior official .
The ex-House of Commons Speaker was accused of humiliating staff and using inappropriate language in the dossier compiled by Lord Lisvane , according to The Times .
The report was put together by the top clerk who served from 2011-2014 and handed to parliament 's standards commissioner on Thursday .
Mr Bercow denied the allegations and said they came at a `` curious '' time , following suggestions he might be in line for a peerage .
In a statement , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we worked together , Lord Lisvane had ample opportunity to raise any accusations of bullying with me .
`` At no stage did he do so , even though he became clerk of the house - the most senior official .
`` The timing of this intervention is curious . ''
Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's spokesman said the allegations were `` concerning '' and `` need to be investigated thoroughly '' .
He added : `` Everyone working in parliament needs to be treated with dignity and respect .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament or any workplace . ''
Outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has reportedly nominated Mr Bercow to join the House of Lords , after the government broke precedent by choosing not to hand him a peerage immediately upon quitting the Commons in October .
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom , who accused Mr Bercow several years ago of calling her a `` stupid woman '' , said the latest complaint should have an `` impact '' on whether he is made a peer .
`` In the event that there are genuine , upheld @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an impact on whether they are found suitable for the House of Lords , '' she told Sky News ' Kay Burley @ Breakfast .
A House of Commons spokesperson said : `` There is zero tolerance for abuse or harassment . ''

A new bullying complaint has reportedly been filed against John Bercow by his former most senior official.
The ex-House of Commons Speaker was accused of humiliating staff and using inappropriate language in the dossier compiled by Lord Lisvane, according to The Times.
The report was put together by the top clerk who served from 2011-2014 and handed to parliament's standards commissioner on Thursday.
Image: Lord Lisvane was the top clerk from 2011 until 2014
Mr Bercow denied the allegations and said they came at a "curious" time, following suggestions he might be in line for a peerage.
In a statement, he said: "During the five years that we worked together, Lord Lisvane had ample opportunity to raise any accusations of bullying with me.
"At no stage did he do so, even though he became clerk of the house - the most senior official.
"The timing of this intervention is curious."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:27 'You can't smear me': Bercow goes out with a bang
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said the allegations were "concerning" and "need to be investigated thoroughly".
He added: "Everyone working in parliament needs to be treated with dignity and respect. There is no place for bullying or abuse in parliament or any workplace."
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Outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has reportedly nominated Mr Bercow to join the House of Lords, after the government broke precedent by choosing not to hand him a peerage immediately upon quitting the Commons in October.
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, who accused Mr Bercow several years ago of calling her a "stupid woman", said the latest complaint should have an "impact" on whether he is made a peer.
"In the event that there are genuine, upheld complaints about any persons that should have an impact on whether they are found suitable for the House of Lords," she told Sky News' Kay Burley@Breakfast.
A House of Commons spokesperson said: "There is zero tolerance for abuse or harassment."


skynewspolitics--2020-01-23--Officials 'formally recommend limited role' for Huawei in British 5G networks

Government officials have formally recommended granting Huawei a limited role within Britain 's future 5G infrastructure , according to the Reuters news agency .
The recommendation appears to reassert a decision reportedly made by Theresa May last year , but comes despite repeated pressures from the US to completely prohibit the use of any telecommunications equipment produced by the Chinese company in the UK .
Citing two people with knowledge of the matter , Reuters reported that the recommendation was made at a meeting of officials from senior government departments and security agencies on Wednesday .
The ultimate decision on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting of the National Security Council next week , according to Reuters sources .
A spokesperson for Downing Street said : `` The work on the issue of high-risk vendors in the 5G network remains ongoing and when it is completed it will be announced to parliament . ''
Controversy has stalked the decision since Mrs May was first reported to have given the green light for Huawei to provide `` non-core '' infrastructure last year .
A leak regarding her decision led to the sacking of then defence secretary Gavin Williamson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information .
Mrs May 's resignation as prime minister and the general election added months of delay to the government making an official decision .
During this time the US has repeatedly stressed it would reassess its intelligence sharing relationship with the UK if Huawei was given any role at all in Britain 's infrastructure .
Regarding the decision , Boris Johnson was warned not to `` let the fox into the hen house '' by Tom Tugendhat , who was chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the last parliament .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the telecoms firm was `` integrally part of the Chinese state '' while senior US officials described suggestions the UK would grant the company some form of access as `` nothing short of madness '' .
But these warnings have not been unanimous , and almost every major telco in the UK has warned of a severe disruption to their businesses if Huawei was to face a complete ban .
Sir Andrew Parker , the head of MI5 which is responsible for Britain 's counter-espionage work , said he had `` no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would lose out on intelligence relationships as a result of the decision .
Huawei 's most senior executive in the UK told Sky News in December he was optimistic the UK would not exclude the company from the rollout of 5G services .
Victor Zhang , Huawei 's president for global government affairs , said : `` I am very confident that the UK will choose Huawei because the UK always takes an evidence and facts-based approach and that the decision-making will be based on the nation 's long-term interest and to satisfy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Huawei have been here in the UK for more than 18 years and trust has been built with our customers and with the UK government through our openness and transparency . ''

Government officials have formally recommended granting Huawei a limited role within Britain's future 5G infrastructure, according to the Reuters news agency.
The recommendation appears to reassert a decision reportedly made by Theresa May last year, but comes despite repeated pressures from the US to completely prohibit the use of any telecommunications equipment produced by the Chinese company in the UK.
Citing two people with knowledge of the matter, Reuters reported that the recommendation was made at a meeting of officials from senior government departments and security agencies on Wednesday.
The ultimate decision on the matter will be made at a meeting of the National Security Council next week, according to Reuters sources.
A spokesperson for Downing Street said: "The work on the issue of high-risk vendors in the 5G network remains ongoing and when it is completed it will be announced to parliament."
Controversy has stalked the decision since Mrs May was first reported to have given the green light for Huawei to provide "non-core" infrastructure last year.
A leak regarding her decision led to the sacking of then defence secretary Gavin Williamson, who denied being the source of the information.
Mrs May's resignation as prime minister and the general election added months of delay to the government making an official decision.
During this time the US has repeatedly stressed it would reassess its intelligence sharing relationship with the UK if Huawei was given any role at all in Britain's infrastructure.
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Regarding the decision, Boris Johnson was warned not to "let the fox into the hen house" by Tom Tugendhat, who was chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the last parliament.
Mr Tugendhat told Kay Burley@Breakfast that the telecoms firm was "integrally part of the Chinese state" while senior US officials described suggestions the UK would grant the company some form of access as "nothing short of madness".
But these warnings have not been unanimous, and almost every major telco in the UK has warned of a severe disruption to their businesses if Huawei was to face a complete ban.
Sir Andrew Parker, the head of MI5 which is responsible for Britain's counter-espionage work, said he had "no reason to think" that the UK would lose out on intelligence relationships as a result of the decision.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:27 Victor Zhang 'very confident' UK will choose Huawei
Huawei's most senior executive in the UK told Sky News in December he was optimistic the UK would not exclude the company from the rollout of 5G services.
Victor Zhang, Huawei's president for global government affairs, said: "I am very confident that the UK will choose Huawei because the UK always takes an evidence and facts-based approach and that the decision-making will be based on the nation's long-term interest and to satisfy society and the benefit of all consumers.
"Huawei have been here in the UK for more than 18 years and trust has been built with our customers and with the UK government through our openness and transparency."


skynewspolitics--2020-01-22--PM calls for 'rancour' to be left behind after Brexit bill clears parliament

Boris Johnson calls for 'rancour and division ' to be left behind after Brexit bill clears parliament Boris Johnson calls for 'rancour and division ' to be left behind after Brexit bill clears parliament Boris Johnson has called for `` rancour and division '' to be left behind after his Brexit bill passed its final parliamentary hurdle , enabling Britain to leave the EU at the end of this month .
Three-and-a-half years after Britons backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum , the prime minister 's Withdrawal Agreement Bill is set to be given royal assent and become law in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said the country will now `` move forwards as one United Kingdom '' , adding : `` At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line , but we 've done it .
`` Now we can put the rancour and division of the past three years behind us and focus on delivering a bright , exciting future - with better hospitals and schools , safer streets and opportunity spread to every corner of our country . ''
Mr Johnson 's deal still needs to be ratified by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But barring unforeseen circumstances , Britain 's 47-year membership of the bloc will come to an end next Friday .
Furnished with a large Commons majority in the wake of his general election victory , the PM steered the bill through the lower chamber earlier this month .
It then went to the Lords , with peers in the upper chamber passing a number of amendments to the bill .
Among them was an amendment from Labour peer Lord Dubs , calling for the restoration of the right of unaccompanied child refugees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK post-Brexit .
These were all overturned by the Commons , prompting the Lords to end the legislative tussle and allow it to be sent for royal assent .
Brexit minister Lord Callanan said the culmination of the parliamentary process represented `` the end of what seems like a very long road '' .
He added : `` The final stages of this bill represent something which many of us thought might never happen - parliament passing the legislation necessary to implement a Brexit deal and to finally deliver on the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fears about the fate of unaccompanied child refugees , the peer said : `` The government has been clear that we remain committed to seeking an agreement with the EU for the family reunion of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and has already written to the European Commission to commence negotiations . ''
Once Britain has left the EU , both sides will enter into an 11-month transition period .
During this time , the UK will continue to follow the bloc 's rules and regulations while the terms of its future relationship are worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have warned that 11 months is not enough time to do this , but Mr Johnson has vowed not to ask Brussels for an extension to the transition .
The looming ratification of his Brexit legislation will cap a whirlwind six months in office for the PM .
Mr Johnson 's predecessor in Downing Street , Theresa May , was initially tasked with negotiating Britain 's EU exit in the wake of David Cameron 's resignation .
She struck a deal with Brussels but saw it rejected three times by MPs .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who spearheaded the Vote Leave campaign in the referendum , to enter Number 10 .

Boris Johnson has called for "rancour and division" to be left behind after his Brexit bill passed its final parliamentary hurdle, enabling Britain to leave the EU at the end of this month.
Three-and-a-half years after Britons backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum, the prime minister's Withdrawal Agreement Bill is set to be given royal assent and become law in the coming days.
The prime minister has said the country will now "move forwards as one United Kingdom", adding: "At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but we've done it.
Image: Once Britain has left the EU, both sides will enter into an 11-month transition period
"Now we can put the rancour and division of the past three years behind us and focus on delivering a bright, exciting future - with better hospitals and schools, safer streets and opportunity spread to every corner of our country."
Mr Johnson's deal still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament ahead of Brexit day.
But barring unforeseen circumstances, Britain's 47-year membership of the bloc will come to an end next Friday.
Furnished with a large Commons majority in the wake of his general election victory, the PM steered the bill through the lower chamber earlier this month.
It then went to the Lords, with peers in the upper chamber passing a number of amendments to the bill.
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Among them was an amendment from Labour peer Lord Dubs, calling for the restoration of the right of unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their families in the UK post-Brexit.
These were all overturned by the Commons, prompting the Lords to end the legislative tussle and allow it to be sent for royal assent.
Brexit minister Lord Callanan said the culmination of the parliamentary process represented "the end of what seems like a very long road".
He added: "The final stages of this bill represent something which many of us thought might never happen - parliament passing the legislation necessary to implement a Brexit deal and to finally deliver on the 2016 referendum."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:31 PM's Brexit deal suffers Lords defeats
And seeking to calm fears about the fate of unaccompanied child refugees, the peer said: "The government has been clear that we remain committed to seeking an agreement with the EU for the family reunion of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and has already written to the European Commission to commence negotiations."
Once Britain has left the EU, both sides will enter into an 11-month transition period.
During this time, the UK will continue to follow the bloc's rules and regulations while the terms of its future relationship are worked out.
Opponents and senior EU figures have warned that 11 months is not enough time to do this, but Mr Johnson has vowed not to ask Brussels for an extension to the transition.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 7:38 December: 'We will get Brexit done...no ifs, no buts, no maybes'
The looming ratification of his Brexit legislation will cap a whirlwind six months in office for the PM.
Mr Johnson's predecessor in Downing Street, Theresa May, was initially tasked with negotiating Britain's EU exit in the wake of David Cameron's resignation.
She struck a deal with Brussels but saw it rejected three times by MPs.
Her resignation paved the way for Mr Johnson, who spearheaded the Vote Leave campaign in the referendum, to enter Number 10.


skynewspolitics--2020-01-22--Nandy confirms place on Labour leadership ballot paper

Lisa Nandy has won praise for speaking up about Labour 's challenge in towns Lisa Nandy has officially won enough support to be on the ballot paper of Labour leadership candidates .
The Wigan MP was endorsed by Chinese For Labour ( CfL ) , making her only the second contender to secure a place in the election .
Those hoping to replace Jeremy Corbyn need the support of three Labour affiliates , including two trade unions , or the backing of 5 % of constituency Labour parties ( CLPs ) .
Ms Nandy was already backed by the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made it over the line with CfL 's endorsement on Wednesday .
It came after Jess Phillips , who recently pulled out of the leadership race , told Sky News she now backed the `` deeply impressive '' Ms Nandy .
`` I have found that not just on a personal level but I think the public view and the stuff that she has been doing have really made her stand out , '' she said .
`` So for me I would be happy if the Labour Party were led by Lisa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think Lisa Nandy is a brilliant woman and would be a brilliant leader of the Labour Party . ''
She added that on her ballot `` I would vote Lisa one and Keir two '' .
Ms Nandy was caught off-guard by the endorsement when asked about it at a speech .
`` She , like most of the candidates , is a friend of mine so I 'm very pleased to hear it , '' said the backbencher , adding with a laugh : `` If she 's got about 250,000 friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could just cancel this contest right now . ''
Ms Nandy is less well-known among Labour members but has won praise for speaking up about the party 's electoral challenge in towns .
Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir are further ahead in the polls , with the latter becoming the first candidate to win enough support to guarantee a spot on the ballot paper .
Emily Thornberry , the shadow foreign secretary , has also got her sights set on the top job .
The result will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


skynewspolitics--2020-01-22--Manzoni prepares to quit as civil service chief

The chief executive of the civil service is preparing to step down amid a looming shake-up of Whitehall spearheaded by Dominic Cummings , Boris Johnson 's top adviser .
Sky News has learnt that Sir John Manzoni , who was knighted in the New Year honours list , has alerted senior colleagues that he intends to step down later this year .
A government source said Sir John had been an important part of civil service reforms since 2014 .
In a statement released after Sky News had revealed details of the plan , a Cabinet Office spokesman said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , Sir John Manzoni will step down from his post at some point this year . ''
Sir John 's departure is said to be unrelated to an embarrassing gaffe in late December which saw the private addresses of more than 1,000 honours recipients briefly posted online .
Nevertheless , the disclosure that he is drawing up plans to step down comes as the prime minister and Mr Cummings plot what has been described as a revolution in the way Whitehall is run .
There are roughly 400,000 members of the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest single workforces in Britain .
In a controversial blog posted last month , Mr Cummings wrote that he wanted `` assorted weirdos '' to take on positions of influence within the government machinery .
Whitehall departments are also facing a shake-up in a post-Brexit reshuffle , with the Department for Exiting the EU about to be abolished and others under threat .
A former executive at the oil company BP , Sir John was recruited into Whitehall in February 2014 as chief executive of the Major Projects Authority .
He took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service in October of that year and became permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office in 2015 .
Permanent secretaries - the top civil servant in each government department - typically serve for five-year terms .
Sir John 's position is understood to have been extended on the fifth anniversary of his appointment last October , although there was no public announcement about this extension .
He is credited by allies with having professionalised aspects of the civil service , including functions such as human resources .
Sir John also oversaw much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexit .
Prior to joining the civil service , Sir John also served as president and chief executive of the Canadian natural resources company Talisman Energy .
Whitehall insiders tipped permanent secretaries including Alex Chisholm , who holds that post at the Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy , as possible successors .
Others include his counterparts at the departments of health and Claire Moriarty , who holds the post at DEXEU , they added .
One source said that whoever succeeded Sir John was likely to hold the title of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive .
Sir John could not be reached for comment .

The chief executive of the civil service is preparing to step down amid a looming shake-up of Whitehall spearheaded by Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's top adviser.
Sky News has learnt that Sir John Manzoni, who was knighted in the New Year honours list, has alerted senior colleagues that he intends to step down later this year.
A government source said Sir John had been an important part of civil service reforms since 2014.
In a statement released after Sky News had revealed details of the plan, a Cabinet Office spokesman said: "As has been planned for some time, Sir John Manzoni will step down from his post at some point this year."
Sir John's departure is said to be unrelated to an embarrassing gaffe in late December which saw the private addresses of more than 1,000 honours recipients briefly posted online.
Nevertheless, the disclosure that he is drawing up plans to step down comes as the prime minister and Mr Cummings plot what has been described as a revolution in the way Whitehall is run.
There are roughly 400,000 members of the UK civil service, making it one of the largest single workforces in Britain.
In a controversial blog posted last month, Mr Cummings wrote that he wanted "assorted weirdos" to take on positions of influence within the government machinery.
Whitehall departments are also facing a shake-up in a post-Brexit reshuffle, with the Department for Exiting the EU about to be abolished and others under threat.
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A former executive at the oil company BP, Sir John was recruited into Whitehall in February 2014 as chief executive of the Major Projects Authority.
He took over as chief executive of the civil service in October of that year and became permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office in 2015.
Sir John reports to Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary.
Permanent secretaries - the top civil servant in each government department - typically serve for five-year terms.
Sir John's position is understood to have been extended on the fifth anniversary of his appointment last October, although there was no public announcement about this extension.
He is credited by allies with having professionalised aspects of the civil service, including functions such as human resources.
Sir John also oversaw much of the planning in Whitehall for a possible no-deal Brexit.
Prior to joining the civil service, Sir John also served as president and chief executive of the Canadian natural resources company Talisman Energy.
Whitehall insiders tipped permanent secretaries including Alex Chisholm, who holds that post at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, as possible successors.
Others include his counterparts at the departments of health and Claire Moriarty, who holds the post at DEXEU, they added.
One source said that whoever succeeded Sir John was likely to hold the title of chief operating officer, rather than chief executive.
Sir John could not be reached for comment.


skynewspolitics--2020-01-23--Thornberry labels Labour leadership rivals 'machine politicians'

Emily Thornberry is viewed as having an outside shot at winning Labour 's top job Emily Thornberry has taken aim at two of her rivals in the Labour leadership contest , labelling them `` machine politicians '' .
The shadow foreign secretary criticised Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey , who are seen as the frontrunners in the contest to succeed Jeremy Corbyn .
A winner will be announced at the start of April .
Ms Thornberry is viewed as having an outside shot at winning Labour 's top job - and is currently battling to stay in the contest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` squeeze '' to make it through to the final ballot of party members because of Sir Keir and Ms Long-Bailey dominating opposite wings of the party .
Speaking on the Calling Peston podcast , Ms Thornberry also said she thought others in the race had been preparing their leadership pitches before the start of the general election campaign .
`` The truth is that I had a standing start , so I threw everything into the general election and I started after the general election , '' she said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case with everybody else .
`` I started after the general election and we now have two machines , and we have two machine politicians , one on the left and one maybe perceived to be on the right .
And there 's a bit of squeeze going on . ''
Asked to confirm who she was talking about , Ms Thornberry replied : `` Rebecca on the left and Keir on the right . ''
Having initially been required to secure the support of Labour MPs and MEPs , candidates are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the final round of the contest .
Leadership hopefuls can do this in one of two ways .
They can get the nominations of three Labour affiliates , including at least two trade unions .
Or they can secure endorsements from at least 5 % of constituency Labour parties ( CLPs ) .
Candidates have until 14 February to secure their place on the ballot .
Ms Thornberry , MP for Islington South and Finsbury , has not yet been backed by any union .
This means she is likely to need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from CLPs - 33 .
Ms Thornberry currently has three , which means she faces an uphill struggle to meet the threshold ahead of next month 's deadline .
Sir Keir and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy have made it through to the members ' ballot , having gained enough union backing .
Ms Long-Bailey is expected to get the endorsement of Unite , which could pave the way for her to join them .
Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips gained the support of enough MPs and MEPs , but pulled out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Emily Thornberry has taken aim at two of her rivals in the Labour leadership contest, labelling them "machine politicians".
The shadow foreign secretary criticised Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey, who are seen as the frontrunners in the contest to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.
A winner will be announced at the start of April.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:27 Candidates make their case for Labour leadership
Ms Thornberry is viewed as having an outside shot at winning Labour's top job - and is currently battling to stay in the contest.
She told ITV News there was a "squeeze" to make it through to the final ballot of party members because of Sir Keir and Ms Long-Bailey dominating opposite wings of the party.
Speaking on the Calling Peston podcast, Ms Thornberry also said she thought others in the race had been preparing their leadership pitches before the start of the general election campaign.
"The truth is that I had a standing start, so I threw everything into the general election and I started after the general election," she said.
"I don't think that's necessarily the case with everybody else.
"I started after the general election and we now have two machines, and we have two machine politicians, one on the left and one maybe perceived to be on the right. And there's a bit of squeeze going on."
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Asked to confirm who she was talking about, Ms Thornberry replied: "Rebecca on the left and Keir on the right."
Having initially been required to secure the support of Labour MPs and MEPs, candidates are now battling to ensure they make it to the final round of the contest.
Leadership hopefuls can do this in one of two ways.
They can get the nominations of three Labour affiliates, including at least two trade unions.
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Or they can secure endorsements from at least 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs).
Candidates have until 14 February to secure their place on the ballot.
Ms Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury, has not yet been backed by any union.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:23 Lisa Nandy 'has really stood out' - Jess Phillips
This means she is likely to need to get the requisite number of nominations from CLPs - 33.
Ms Thornberry currently has three, which means she faces an uphill struggle to meet the threshold ahead of next month's deadline.
Sir Keir and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy have made it through to the members' ballot, having gained enough union backing.
Ms Long-Bailey is expected to get the endorsement of Unite, which could pave the way for her to join them.
Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips gained the support of enough MPs and MEPs, but pulled out of the race on Tuesday and backed Ms Nandy.


skynewspolitics--2020-01-24--Govt's emergency committee called to discuss coronavirus

26 people have died in China , since the outbreak of the virus The government 's emergency committee is being convened today to discuss the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China .
Ministers from the Home Office , Foreign Office , and transport , education and communities departments have all been summoned , but Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not attend .
Fourteen people in the UK have been tested for the virus , with five given the all-clear and nine still awaiting results .
So far 26 people have died in China , with at least 33 million people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include the suspension of public transport services , while some cities have also shut public venues such as temples and cinemas .
China has announced plans to build a 1,000-bed hospital in five days to treat victims .
The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) has declared the outbreak an emergency but said it was `` too early '' to consider it a `` public health emergency of international concern '' given `` its restrictive and binary nature '' .
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock cautioned yesterday that `` there is an increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country '' but insisted `` we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them '' .
He will chair the meeting today - named COBRA after the room where they are traditionally held in , Cabinet Office Briefing Room A .
Universities are being contacted by the government about their preparedness and are being told to give information to students , the prime minister 's spokesman said .
Symptoms of the virus are said to be similar to a cold , and include fever , sneezing and coughing .
Safety measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK airports , where passengers flying directly from the epicentre of the outbreak are being asked to declare if they have any symptoms .
The chief medical officer has warned clinical staff in a letter that the `` mass movement '' of people in and outside China for the upcoming Chinese new year celebrations may `` amplify transmission '' .
Anyone who is confirmed as having the virus will be transferred to an Airborne High Consequences Infectious Disease Centre , the letter added .
There are four interim Airborne HCID centres in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liverpool and one in Newcastle-upon-Tyne .

Border Force teams have joined the search for around 2,000 people who have flown to the UK from the Chinese region worst hit by the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
It is understood they have been recruited to help speed up the search for passengers as testing for the virus continues.
Thirty-one people have been tested and given the all clear, while the illness has reached Europe after three cases were confirmed in France on Friday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:57 Coronavirus: What you need to know
Tests on a patient in Northern Ireland have come back negative for the virus, the Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed.
England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said there was a "fair chance" cases will emerge in Britain as the overall number reported around the world climbed to more than 1,200, including 41 deaths, all in China.
"I am working closely with the other UK chief medical officers.
"We all agree that the risk to the UK public remains low, but there may well be cases in the UK at some stage."
"The UK has access to some of the best infectious disease and public health experts in the world.
"A public health hub will be set up in Heathrow from today. This consists of clinicians and other public health officials, in addition to existing port health measures."
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The public health hub at Heathrow will be staffed by a rotating team of seven clinicians working in shifts to support patients on arrival.
This is in addition to medical staff who are already permanently in place at all UK airports, the DoH said.
All 14 people tested in the UK are thought to have visited Wuhan, the Chinese city where the outbreak originated.
Four out of five patients tested in Scotland were from China, Downing Street said.
Prof Whitty added: "At the minute it definitely looks like this is a lot less dangerous if you get it than Ebola, and a lot less dangerous than the recent coronavirus MERS, and it's probably less dangerous if you get it than SARS virus.
"What we don't know is how far it's going to spread, that really is something we need to plan for all eventualities."
French health minister Agnes Buzyn said that all three of the people who tested positive for the virus in her country had travelled to China and two were from the same family.
The United States has reported its second case, involving a Chicago woman in her 60s who was taken to hospital after returning from China but is reported to be doing well.
Australia has confirmed three cases, one in the state of Victoria involving a visitor from China, a man in his 50s, who was said to be in a stable condition.
In China, an unprecedented lockdown keeping people from travelling has been expanded to more than 50 million residents.
Authorities in Beijing and other cities have also cancelled many public celebrations and other events marking the Lunar New Year.
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Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, sneezing, coughing and shortness of breath.
PHE guidance to GPs says anyone with suspected coronavirus should be placed in a room away from other patients and staff with the door closed.
They should not be allowed to use communal toilet facilities or be physically examined, it adds.
A letter from Prof Whitty to clinical staff said anyone who is confirmed as having the virus will be transferred to an Airborne High Consequence Infectious Disease centre (HCID).
There are four interim Airborne HCID centres in England - two in London, one in Liverpool and one in Newcastle.