skynewspolitics--2020-02-10--Work under way on plans for Scotland-N Ireland bridge - No 10

Work is under way to develop Boris Johnson 's plans for a new bridge to be built linking Scotland and Northern Ireland , Downing Street has announced .
The prime minister ’ s spokesman confirmed `` a range '' of officials are fleshing out the proposal .
It was first touted by Mr Johnson when he was foreign secretary .
`` What we need to do is build a bridge between our islands .
Why do n't we ?
Why do n't we ?
” he told the Sunday Times in 2018 '' There is so much more we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current approach to Brexit is that we are just in danger of not believing in ourselves , not believing in Britain . ''
Mr Johnson later put a price of `` about £15bn '' on building the physical link stretching from Stranraer in Scotland to Larne in Northern Ireland .
Now Number 10 has revealed the idea is being developed by the civil service .
`` Work is under way looking into it - it ’ s being done by a range of government officials , ” Mr Johnson ’ s spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prime minister is ambitious in terms of infrastructure projects around the UK to boost connectivity .
`` There is a proper piece of work being carried out into the idea .
`` It is being done by a range of government officials ; as with all work we ask for and it reports in to Number 10 . ''
Structural engineer and bridge designer Ian Firth has said the idea has a `` huge number of technical challenges '' but that it `` ought to be possible '' even though it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Firth , who is a fellow at the Institution of Civil Engineers , told the Press Association : `` My own feeling is that it ought to be possible because at the end of the day it 's about money - anything is possible if you throw enough money at it . ''
Among the challenges he listed , aside from economic and political hurdles , are very deep water , the risk of a ship hitting the bridge and an underwater munitions dump in the sea .
A spokesperson for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost of the project could be better spent on other areas .
`` We fully support any initiative which seeks to improve trade and tourism links , '' they said .
`` However , there are already a range of ferry operators taking tourists and trade between Northern Ireland and Scotland .
Spending £15bn-£20bn of taxpayers ' money on a bridge simply to replicate what those ferries already do is unnecessary .
`` The money could be far better spent improving road and rail links to our ports across the UK . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theresa May ’ s former infrastructure tsar and Labour peer Andrew Adonis .
“ So now Boris wants to build a garden bridge all the way to Belfast , ” he tweeted .
“ If you think HS2 has problems , multiply by 10 and divide the benefits by 100.
” Mr Johnson also faced criticism for his role overseeing a failed garden bridge and other projects in London while he was mayor in the capital city .
Labour MP Wes Streeting said : “ We ’ ve been here before with vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projects like the cable car , garden bridge , and ‘ Boris island airport ’ .
The man never learns .
”

Work is under way to develop Boris Johnson's plans for a new bridge to be built linking Scotland and Northern Ireland, Downing Street has announced.
The prime minister’s spokesman confirmed "a range" of officials are fleshing out the proposal.
It was first touted by Mr Johnson when he was foreign secretary.
Image: The PM has put the price at 'about £15bn'
"What we need to do is build a bridge between our islands. Why don't we? Why don't we?” he told the Sunday Times in 2018.
"There is so much more we can do, and what grieves me about the current approach to Brexit is that we are just in danger of not believing in ourselves, not believing in Britain."
Mr Johnson later put a price of "about £15bn" on building the physical link stretching from Stranraer in Scotland to Larne in Northern Ireland.
Now Number 10 has revealed the idea is being developed by the civil service.
"Work is under way looking into it - it’s being done by a range of government officials,” Mr Johnson’s spokesman confirmed to journalists on Monday.
"The prime minister is ambitious in terms of infrastructure projects around the UK to boost connectivity.
Advertisement
"There is a proper piece of work being carried out into the idea.
"It is being done by a range of government officials; as with all work we ask for and it reports in to Number 10."
Structural engineer and bridge designer Ian Firth has said the idea has a "huge number of technical challenges" but that it "ought to be possible" even though it would be "eye wateringly expensive".
Mr Firth, who is a fellow at the Institution of Civil Engineers, told the Press Association: "My own feeling is that it ought to be possible because at the end of the day it's about money - anything is possible if you throw enough money at it."
Among the challenges he listed, aside from economic and political hurdles, are very deep water, the risk of a ship hitting the bridge and an underwater munitions dump in the sea.
A spokesperson for the UK Chamber of Shipping said the suggested cost of the project could be better spent on other areas.
"We fully support any initiative which seeks to improve trade and tourism links," they said.
"However, there are already a range of ferry operators taking tourists and trade between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
"Spending £15bn-£20bn of taxpayers' money on a bridge simply to replicate what those ferries already do is unnecessary.
"The money could be far better spent improving road and rail links to our ports across the UK."
But the idea has been criticised by Theresa May’s former infrastructure tsar and Labour peer Andrew Adonis.
“So now Boris wants to build a garden bridge all the way to Belfast,” he tweeted.
“If you think HS2 has problems, multiply by 10 and divide the benefits by 100.”
Mr Johnson also faced criticism for his role overseeing a failed garden bridge and other projects in London while he was mayor in the capital city.
Labour MP Wes Streeting said: “We’ve been here before with vast sums of public money wasted on vanity projects like the cable car, garden bridge, and ‘Boris island airport’. The man never learns.”


skynewspolitics--2020-02-10--HS2 set for green light despite spiralling costs

Boris Johnson is heading for a rebellion by up to 60 Conservative MPs by giving the go-ahead for the controversial £100bn flagship rail project , HS2 .
The hugely expensive scheme is expected to be approved at a special meeting of the cabinet and then the prime minister will announce the decision in a statement in the Commons .
In a bid to placate potential rebel MPs , the PM 's statement will also include the announcement of £5bn of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every UK region outside London .
The package includes at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greener commuting , over 250 miles of new cycle routes and dozens of new 'Mini-Holland ' schemes , designed to make town centres safer and greener for cyclists and pedestrians .
The go-ahead for HS2 , which will eventually slash journey times between London and the north of England , is seen as a move to repay northern voters who swept Mr Johnson into Number 10 in December .
As a result , it has become a political imperative for the prime minister , who won his 80-seat Commons majority with pledges to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Midlands .
But it risks a furious backlash from Conservative MPs in the home counties and middle England , who are bitterly opposed to the project on grounds of its ballooning cost and the destruction of rural beauty spots .
Nearly 60 Conservative MPs are backing an HS2 Review Group , a caucus of Tories opposed to the scheme including a number of new MPs elected to the Commons in the December election .
The Taxpayers ' Alliance has also condemned the go-ahead .
Spokesman Harry Fone said : `` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxpayers of today and tomorrow who will be left paying for the HS2 white elephant with no light at the end of the tunnel . ''
Meanwhile , Greenpeace said Boris Johnson 's decision will give him `` the dubious honour of being this century 's largest destroyer of irreplaceable ancient woodlands in the UK '' .
But Mr Johnson 's decision to back HS2 after months of wrangling and the cost trebling since it was first conceived more than a decade ago reflects his determination to go ahead with major infrastructure projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to see the biggest infrastructure revolution since Victorian times and has even ordered civil servants to carry out a feasibility study for a £20bn bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland .
On HS2 , he is likely to announce that work on the London to Birmingham and Birmingham to Crewe sections can begin immediately , opening in 2036 .
But it is thought that a phase from Manchester to Leeds will be delayed until 2040 to make sure it is cost-effective .
This review is likely to recommend integrating HS2 with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liverpool , Manchester , Bradford , Sheffield , Leeds and Hull .
Other projects expected to be given the go-ahead include the repeatedly delayed electrification of the Trans-Pennine route between Manchester and York , a £3bn upgrade that will enable more trains to run and cut journey times .
In backing HS2 , the prime minister is overruling his controversial special adviser Dominic Cummings , who has described it as `` a disaster zone '' and his transport adviser Andrew Gilligan , who have both argued for the project to be scrapped .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrangling over the project came last month when the Chancellor Sajid Javid let it be known that after a Treasury analysis that he backed it ahead of a crucial meeting with the PM and the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps .
Mr Javid refused to confirm the final decision in the hours leading up to the announcement , but balked at the suggestion the splurge would be better spent improving east-west transport links .
`` It 's not about instead of , '' he told Sky News ' Kay Burley @ Breakfast , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country invest in better connectivity across our cities . ''
Two of the biggest backers of HS2 have been the big-city mayors , Labour 's Andy Burnham of Greater Manchester and the Tories ' Andy Street in the West Midlands .
Senior Tories believe the go-ahead is crucial to Mr Street 's chances of re-election in May .
Travelling at up to 250mph , HS2 is designed to reduce journey times between London and Birmingham from 80 to 45 minutes and between London and Manchester from 128 to 68 minutes .
The cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then £56bn in 2013 , but is now expected to cost £106bn , though the National Audit Office has said it is impossible to estimated with certainty what the final cost will be .

Boris Johnson is heading for a rebellion by up to 60 Conservative MPs by giving the go-ahead for the controversial £100bn flagship rail project, HS2.
The hugely expensive scheme is expected to be approved at a special meeting of the cabinet and then the prime minister will announce the decision in a statement in the Commons.
In a bid to placate potential rebel MPs, the PM's statement will also include the announcement of £5bn of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every UK region outside London.
The package includes at least 4,000 new zero emission buses to promote greener commuting, over 250 miles of new cycle routes and dozens of new 'Mini-Holland' schemes, designed to make town centres safer and greener for cyclists and pedestrians.
The go-ahead for HS2, which will eventually slash journey times between London and the north of England, is seen as a move to repay northern voters who swept Mr Johnson into Number 10 in December.
As a result, it has become a political imperative for the prime minister, who won his 80-seat Commons majority with pledges to improve infrastructure in the north of England and the Midlands.
But it risks a furious backlash from Conservative MPs in the home counties and middle England, who are bitterly opposed to the project on grounds of its ballooning cost and the destruction of rural beauty spots.
Nearly 60 Conservative MPs are backing an HS2 Review Group, a caucus of Tories opposed to the scheme including a number of new MPs elected to the Commons in the December election.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:01 HS2: Vanity project or valuable investment?
The Taxpayers' Alliance has also condemned the go-ahead. Spokesman Harry Fone said: "This announcement is a massive blow to the taxpayers of today and tomorrow who will be left paying for the HS2 white elephant with no light at the end of the tunnel."
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Greenpeace said Boris Johnson's decision will give him "the dubious honour of being this century's largest destroyer of irreplaceable ancient woodlands in the UK".
But Mr Johnson's decision to back HS2 after months of wrangling and the cost trebling since it was first conceived more than a decade ago reflects his determination to go ahead with major infrastructure projects.
The prime minister is said to want to see the biggest infrastructure revolution since Victorian times and has even ordered civil servants to carry out a feasibility study for a £20bn bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
On HS2, he is likely to announce that work on the London to Birmingham and Birmingham to Crewe sections can begin immediately, opening in 2036. But it is thought that a phase from Manchester to Leeds will be delayed until 2040 to make sure it is cost-effective.
This review is likely to recommend integrating HS2 with the new Northern Powerhouse line linking cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:26 'In a hole the size of HS2, you have to keep digging'
Other projects expected to be given the go-ahead include the repeatedly delayed electrification of the Trans-Pennine route between Manchester and York, a £3bn upgrade that will enable more trains to run and cut journey times.
In backing HS2, the prime minister is overruling his controversial special adviser Dominic Cummings, who has described it as "a disaster zone" and his transport adviser Andrew Gilligan, who have both argued for the project to be scrapped.
But the decisive moment in the Whitehall wrangling over the project came last month when the Chancellor Sajid Javid let it be known that after a Treasury analysis that he backed it ahead of a crucial meeting with the PM and the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
Mr Javid refused to confirm the final decision in the hours leading up to the announcement, but balked at the suggestion the splurge would be better spent improving east-west transport links.
"It's not about instead of," he told Sky News' Kay Burley@Breakfast, adding: "We can still as a country invest in better connectivity across our cities."
Two of the biggest backers of HS2 have been the big-city mayors, Labour's Andy Burnham of Greater Manchester and the Tories' Andy Street in the West Midlands. Senior Tories believe the go-ahead is crucial to Mr Street's chances of re-election in May.
Travelling at up to 250mph, HS2 is designed to reduce journey times between London and Birmingham from 80 to 45 minutes and between London and Manchester from 128 to 68 minutes.
The cost was originally estimated at £3bn in 2009, then £56bn in 2013, but is now expected to cost £106bn, though the National Audit Office has said it is impossible to estimated with certainty what the final cost will be.


skynewspolitics--2020-02-10--Government begins bid to rush through emergency terror legislation

Emergency terror legislation to stop around 50 terrorists being automatically released halfway through their sentences will be introduced in parliament later .
The bill will ensure that terrorist offenders can not be released early without what the government says is a `` thorough risk assessment '' from the Parole Board .
Those who are deemed to still be a threat to public safety will be forced to spend the rest of their sentence behind bars , ministers say .
Lawyers have warned the government that the legislation could be subjected to legal challenges from those already in prison who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation will cover offenders sentenced for offences such as training for terrorism , membership of a proscribed organisation and the dissemination of terrorist publications .
It will end the current system of automatic halfway release for those who are handed standard determinate sentences , instead requiring them to spend a minimum of two-thirds of their term in prison .
Downing Street hopes to speed the legislation through parliament and pass it into law by the end of the month .
It comes in the wake of the Streatham terror attack in south London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 , stabbed two people a week after being released halfway through his sentence for spreading extremist material .
Usman Khan , who killed two people in the London Bridge attack last year , was also released early .
Home Secretary Priti Patel said these attacks are a `` stark reminder of the threat we continue to face from terrorism '' .
`` We are determined to ensure that dangerous terrorists are not free to spread their hateful ideologies or harm the public , '' she said .
`` We are already boosting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorism and this legislation will ensure terrorist offenders are not released early unless there has been a full assessment of the risks . ''
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said : `` No dangerous terrorist should be released automatically only to go on to kill and maim innocent people on our streets .
`` Enough is enough .
This government will do whatever it takes to keep the public safe , including making sure no terror offender is released early without a thorough risk assessment by the Parole Board . ''
The government wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - the day before the next terrorist is expected to be freed under the current system .
Sunderland shopkeeper Mohammed Zahir Khan is due to be released on 28 February , it is understood .
He was imprisoned for four-and-a-half years in 2018 for sharing messages and material on social media supportive of Islamic State .
Around five other terrorists are expected to be released in March unless the new legislation is enacted .
But the legislation could be challenged in the courts .
Raj Chada , head of the criminal defence department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Allen , recently told the Press Association : `` Lots of lawyers are looking at a challenge .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' In particular , there may be an argument that a change to existing clients who have already been sentenced would be contrary to Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights ( ECHR ) .
`` You can not create a new offence after an act has been committed , and you can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been imposed at the time that the offence was committed .
`` So , no punishment can be retroactive . ''

Emergency terror legislation to stop around 50 terrorists being automatically released halfway through their sentences has been introduced in parliament.
The bill will ensure that terrorist offenders cannot be released early without what the government says is a "thorough risk assessment" from the Parole Board.
Those who are deemed to still be a threat to public safety will be forced to spend the rest of their sentence behind bars, ministers say.
Image: Streatham terrorist Sudesh Amman and London Bridge attacker Usman Khan were both released early
Lawyers have warned the government that the legislation could be subjected to legal challenges from those already in prison who were sentenced under the current rules.
The legislation will cover offenders sentenced for offences such as training for terrorism, membership of a proscribed organisation and the dissemination of terrorist publications.
It will end the current system of automatic halfway release for those who are handed standard determinate sentences, instead requiring them to spend a minimum of two-thirds of their term in prison.
Downing Street hopes to speed the legislation through parliament and pass it into law by the end of the month.
Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said MPs will consider all stages of the legislation on Wednesday.
It comes in the wake of the Streatham terror attack in south London earlier this month.
Advertisement
Sudesh Amman, 20, stabbed two people a week after being released halfway through his sentence for spreading extremist material.
Usman Khan, who killed two people in the London Bridge attack last year, was also released early.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said these attacks are a "stark reminder of the threat we continue to face from terrorism".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:15 PM: Few successes rehabilitating terrorists
"We are determined to ensure that dangerous terrorists are not free to spread their hateful ideologies or harm the public," she said.
"We are already boosting funding for counter-terrorism police and victims of terrorism and this legislation will ensure terrorist offenders are not released early unless there has been a full assessment of the risks."
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: "No dangerous terrorist should be released automatically only to go on to kill and maim innocent people on our streets.
"Enough is enough. This government will do whatever it takes to keep the public safe, including making sure no terror offender is released early without a thorough risk assessment by the Parole Board."
The government wants to pass the bill by 27 February - the day before the next terrorist is expected to be freed under the current system.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:11 How the Streatham terror attack unfolded
Sunderland shopkeeper Mohammed Zahir Khan is due to be released on 28 February, it is understood.
He was imprisoned for four-and-a-half years in 2018 for sharing messages and material on social media supportive of Islamic State.
Around five other terrorists are expected to be released in March unless the new legislation is enacted.
But the legislation could be challenged in the courts.
Raj Chada, head of the criminal defence department and a partner at firm Hodge Jones & Allen, recently told the Press Association: "Lots of lawyers are looking at a challenge.
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
"In particular, there may be an argument that a change to existing clients who have already been sentenced would be contrary to Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
"You cannot create a new offence after an act has been committed, and you cannot impose a higher penalty than that would have been imposed at the time that the offence was committed.
"So, no punishment can be retroactive."


skynewspolitics--2020-02-11--Brexit deal could put Northern Ireland in different time zone

Northern Ireland could find itself in a different time zone to the rest of the UK under Boris Johnson 's Brexit deal .
Currently , EU countries and the UK switch to summer time hours on the last Sunday of March and back to Greenwich Mean Time on the last Sunday of October .
But if Europe moves to a `` double summer time '' arrangement , the prime minister 's Withdrawal Deal could mean Northern Ireland has to be one hour ahead for six months every year .
The European Parliament voted last year to stop changing clocks twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commits Northern Ireland to following EU rules on goods and agriculture to prevent a hard border between it and the Irish Republic .
This could mean 1.8 million people in the six counties would follow summer time hours even in autumn when Great Britain winds its clocks back by an hour .
A report by the Lords ' EU internal market sub-committee said : `` Were this proposal ( for double summer time ) to become EU law under its current single market legal basis , Northern Ireland may be obliged under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to align with the EU and thus institute a time border with Great Britain . ''
A group of cross-party peers said the government must give `` urgent further consideration '' to the impact this would have , criticising ministers ' lax approach to the situation .
They wrote : `` Our inquiry has demonstrated that any such decision at EU level would have implications for the UK , notwithstanding UK withdrawal from the EU .
`` The nature and significance of such implications is not , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government . ''
Baroness Donaghy , chair of the committee , said : `` So far the government has stuck its head in the sand on the EU Commission 's proposal , hoping that it goes away .
`` However , if it does n't , we could be caught unaware and unprepared to make a decision , leaving the island of Ireland with two time zones at different times of the year and causing difficulties for people and businesses in Northern Ireland . ''
Business minister Kelly Tolhurst , giving evidence to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Anything that would create a time border in Northern Ireland we are completely opposed to , and so is the Irish government . ''

Northern Ireland could find itself in a different time zone to the rest of the UK under Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.
Currently, EU countries and the UK switch to summer time hours on the last Sunday of March and back to Greenwich Mean Time on the last Sunday of October.
But if Europe moves to a "double summer time" arrangement, the prime minister's Withdrawal Deal could mean Northern Ireland has to be one hour ahead for six months every year.
The European Parliament voted last year to stop changing clocks twice annually.
Mr Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement commits Northern Ireland to following EU rules on goods and agriculture to prevent a hard border between it and the Irish Republic.
This could mean 1.8 million people in the six counties would follow summer time hours even in autumn when Great Britain winds its clocks back by an hour.
A report by the Lords' EU internal market sub-committee said: "Were this proposal (for double summer time) to become EU law under its current single market legal basis, Northern Ireland may be obliged under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement and the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to align with the EU and thus institute a time border with Great Britain."
A group of cross-party peers said the government must give "urgent further consideration" to the impact this would have, criticising ministers' lax approach to the situation.
They wrote: "Our inquiry has demonstrated that any such decision at EU level would have implications for the UK, notwithstanding UK withdrawal from the EU.
Advertisement
"The nature and significance of such implications is not, however, well understood - not least by the government."
Baroness Donaghy, chair of the committee, said: "So far the government has stuck its head in the sand on the EU Commission's proposal, hoping that it goes away.
"However, if it doesn't, we could be caught unaware and unprepared to make a decision, leaving the island of Ireland with two time zones at different times of the year and causing difficulties for people and businesses in Northern Ireland."
Business minister Kelly Tolhurst, giving evidence to the committee last year, said: "Anything that would create a time border in Northern Ireland we are completely opposed to, and so is the Irish government."


skynewspolitics--2020-02-11--Ireland election: Fianna Fail win most seats with Sinn Fein second

Fianna Fail will be the largest party in Ireland 's parliament following last weekend 's general election , but the big winner is Sinn Fein which saw a massive upswing in support .
Fianna Fail finished with 38 seats , one ahead of Sinn Fein on 37 , with Fine Gael , the party of Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in third on 35 , having entered the election as the largest party on 47 .
Despite a strong economy and a personal reputation abroad boosted by his part in the Brexit negotiations , Mr Varadkar seems to have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis and a floundering health care system .
Sinn Fein 's success has , for now at least , put an end to the two party dominance of Irish politics , with leader Mary Lou McDonald saying she could be the next taoiseach ( Ireland 's prime minister ) .
She said : `` I think it would be a mighty thing to have a Sinn Fein taoiseach and also a woman perhaps in the job but you might say 'she would say that would n't she ? ''
' However , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a majority , Sinn Fein 's place in the next government is not guaranteed .
Mr Varadkar has always ruled out any Fine Gael-Sinn Fein coalition , while Fianna Fail 's leader Micheal Martin had adopted a similar stance .
However on Sunday , he declined to repeat his pre-election pledge never to do business with Sinn Fein and some of his senior colleagues have indicated a willingness to work with Ms McDonald .
Such back-tracking could see a coalition between Fianna Fail , Sinn Fein and the Green Party , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preference is for a coalition of left-wing parties and independents , without any input from the centre-right Fianna Fail and Fine Gael , but that might fall short of producing a working majority .
A third , but increasingly unlikely option is a so-called grand coalition between Fine Gael , Fianna Fail and a third , smaller party , with Sinn Fein excluded altogether .
Mr Varadkar 's last government , a minority Fine Gael-led administration that included several independent TDs ( MPs ) , was sustained in power through a historic confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However it looks unlikely that either party will countenance a similar arrangement this time round .
The details of the last administration took 70 days to negotiate and the formation of a new government could be just as torturous .
The final breakdown of the 160 seats is Fianna Fail 38 , Sinn Fein 37 , Fine Gael 35 , Greens 12 , Labour 6 , Social Democrats 6 , Solidarity/People Before Profit 5 , Aontu 1 , Independents4Change 1 and independents 19 .

Fianna Fail will be the largest party in Ireland's parliament following last weekend's general election, but the big winner is Sinn Fein which saw a massive upswing in support.
Fianna Fail finished with 38 seats, one ahead of Sinn Fein on 37, with Fine Gael, the party of Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in third on 35, having entered the election as the largest party on 47.
Despite a strong economy and a personal reputation abroad boosted by his part in the Brexit negotiations, Mr Varadkar seems to have been punished by voters over a severe housing crisis and a floundering health care system.
Sinn Fein's success has, for now at least, put an end to the two party dominance of Irish politics, with leader Mary Lou McDonald saying she could be the next taoiseach (Ireland's prime minister).
Image: Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald says she could be the next Ireland prime minister
She said: "I think it would be a mighty thing to have a Sinn Fein taoiseach and also a woman perhaps in the job but you might say 'she would say that wouldn't she?"'
However, with no party getting the 80 seats needed for a majority, Sinn Fein's place in the next government is not guaranteed.
Mr Varadkar has always ruled out any Fine Gael-Sinn Fein coalition, while Fianna Fail's leader Micheal Martin had adopted a similar stance.
However on Sunday, he declined to repeat his pre-election pledge never to do business with Sinn Fein and some of his senior colleagues have indicated a willingness to work with Ms McDonald.
Image: Housing and the health service are behind Leo Varadkar's downfall
Such back-tracking could see a coalition between Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Green Party, which has 12 seats.
Advertisement
Ms McDonald's preference is for a coalition of left-wing parties and independents, without any input from the centre-right Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, but that might fall short of producing a working majority.
A third, but increasingly unlikely option is a so-called grand coalition between Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and a third, smaller party, with Sinn Fein excluded altogether.
Mr Varadkar's last government, a minority Fine Gael-led administration that included several independent TDs (MPs), was sustained in power through a historic confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fail.
However it looks unlikely that either party will countenance a similar arrangement this time round. The details of the last administration took 70 days to negotiate and the formation of a new government could be just as torturous.
The final breakdown of the 160 seats is Fianna Fail 38, Sinn Fein 37, Fine Gael 35, Greens 12, Labour 6, Social Democrats 6, Solidarity/People Before Profit 5, Aontu 1, Independents4Change 1 and independents 19.


skynewspolitics--2020-02-11--HS2 gets green light from PM despite Tory fury

Boris Johnson has given the go-ahead to the £100bn flagship rail project High Speed 2 .
Giving a statement in the Commons , he announced work on the hugely expensive scheme will continue after carrying out a review into whether it should proceed given costs have `` exploded '' .
The prime minister said the firm handling construction has not `` distinguished itself '' but that `` poor management has not detracted from the fundamental value '' of the plan .
There is `` no doubt of the clinching case for high speed rail '' , he added , promising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' by appointing a full-time minister to oversee its progress in Thursday 's cabinet reshuffle .
He confirmed work on Phase One - which runs from London Euston to Birmingham - and Phase2a - an extension to Crewe - would continue `` on something approaching time and budget '' .
Phase2b - which runs to Manchester and north east to Leeds - will be put under review and subsumed into the current `` Northern powerhouse '' rail project .
Speaking later during a visit to the site of Birmingham 's new Curzon Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` fantastic '' for the country and will deliver `` massive increases in capacity for rail '' .
A spokesman for HS2 Ltd said the announcement `` provides much-needed clarity on the future of the project '' .
`` HS2 has been 10 years in the planning and development , and we are shovel-ready to start building the first new railway north of London for over a century , '' he added .
But the decision puts him on a collision course with up to 60 Tory MPs in the home counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the project .
One , Andrew Bridgen , called the project `` unloved , unwanted and grossly mismanaged '' that `` could well be an albatross around this government and the country 's neck '' .
Another , Rob Butler , said he was `` incredibly frustrated '' given the `` eye-watering costs '' and `` irreversible '' destruction of ancient woodlands .
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas added HS2 would `` destroy or damage hundreds of important wildlife sites , areas of ancient woodland and local nature reserves '' .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced overnight a bonus £5bn of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every UK region outside London over the next four years .
The package includes at least 4,000 new zero emission buses to promote greener commuting , over 250 miles of new cycle routes and dozens of new 'Mini-Holland ' schemes , designed to make town centres safer and greener for cyclists and pedestrians .
The green light for HS2 , which aims to slash journey time and dramatically increase capacity , will be seen as a move to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sweep the prime minister back into Number 10 in December .
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the government of being `` unwilling to make the scale of investment needed to revive parts of this country that have been decimated by successive Conservative governments '' .
He accused ministers of being `` unable to manage infrastructure projects '' and being `` incapable of keeping a lid on the costs '' .
Two of the biggest backers of HS2 have been the big-city mayors , Labour 's Andy Burnham of Greater Manchester and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Midlands .
Mr Burnham said he broadly welcomed Mr Johnson 's decision , but said `` there was a lot of detail lacking '' .
Travelling at up to 250mph , HS2 is designed to reduce journey times between London and Birmingham from 80 to 45 minutes and between London and Manchester from 128 to 68 minutes .
The cost was originally estimated at £3bn in 2009 , then £56bn in 2013 , but is now expected to cost £106bn , though the National Audit Office has said it is impossible to estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be .
Mr Johnson appeared to give the game away on his thoughts about whether to continue with the rail project last month , when he told Sky News ' children 's current affairs programme FYI : `` In a hole the size of HS2 , the only thing to do is keep digging . ''
Going ahead with HS2 is far easier than cancelling it .
That is the central political reality that has informed Boris Johnson 's big decision today .
A few months back , the prime minister was far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one key Downing Street aide telling me : `` Publicly he supports it , privately he does n't . ''
He still is a relatively new prime minister at a key turning point in the history of the UK .
His post-Brexit rhetoric is full of themes of ambition , innovation and 'levelling up ' across the four nations .
Shelving HS2 would go against all of that .
As a close observer of the premierships of his predecessors , Mr Johnson realises that he is now at the peak of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more difficult to take tough decisions as the months go by .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker As the most competitive of politicians , he wants a bigger and better legacy than Theresa May and David Cameron .
By following the path of former French President Francois Mitterrand with his `` grands projets '' , Boris Johnson believes in years to come he will be point to successes he started .
And as a student of history , he knows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the Channel Tunnel or the Olympic Park - the public eventually forget the long delays and exorbitant costs .
And all that remains is pride .
He hopes HS2 will end up as a great civic triumph - and one he helped make happen .

Boris Johnson has given the go-ahead to the £100bn flagship rail project High Speed 2.
Giving a statement in the Commons, he announced work on the hugely expensive scheme will continue after carrying out a review into whether it should proceed given costs have "exploded".
The prime minister said the firm handling construction has not "distinguished itself" but that "poor management has not detracted from the fundamental value" of the plan.
Image: It puts the PM on a collision course with up to 60 Tory MPs
There is "no doubt of the clinching case for high speed rail", he added, promising to "restore discipline to the programme" by appointing a full-time minister to oversee its progress in Thursday's cabinet reshuffle.
He confirmed work on Phase One - which runs from London Euston to Birmingham - and Phase2a - an extension to Crewe - would continue "on something approaching time and budget".
Phase2b - which runs to Manchester and north east to Leeds - will be put under review and subsumed into the current "Northern powerhouse" rail project.
Speaking later during a visit to the site of Birmingham's new Curzon Street terminus, the PM said the project was "fantastic" for the country and will deliver "massive increases in capacity for rail".
A spokesman for HS2 Ltd said the announcement "provides much-needed clarity on the future of the project".
"HS2 has been 10 years in the planning and development, and we are shovel-ready to start building the first new railway north of London for over a century," he added.
Advertisement
But the decision puts him on a collision course with up to 60 Tory MPs in the home counties and middle England who are bitterly opposed to the project.
One, Andrew Bridgen, called the project "unloved, unwanted and grossly mismanaged" that "could well be an albatross around this government and the country's neck".
Image: HS2 will run from London to the West Midlands and then further up to Crewe
Another, Rob Butler, said he was "incredibly frustrated" given the "eye-watering costs" and "irreversible" destruction of ancient woodlands.
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas added HS2 would "destroy or damage hundreds of important wildlife sites, areas of ancient woodland and local nature reserves".
To placate his own backbenchers, Mr Johnson announced overnight a bonus £5bn of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every UK region outside London over the next four years.
The package includes at least 4,000 new zero emission buses to promote greener commuting, over 250 miles of new cycle routes and dozens of new 'Mini-Holland' schemes, designed to make town centres safer and greener for cyclists and pedestrians.
Image: Some are concerned about the impact of 'irreversible' damage to ancient woodland
The green light for HS2, which aims to slash journey time and dramatically increase capacity, will be seen as a move to repay voters who switched away from Labour to sweep the prime minister back into Number 10 in December.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the government of being "unwilling to make the scale of investment needed to revive parts of this country that have been decimated by successive Conservative governments".
He accused ministers of being "unable to manage infrastructure projects" and being "incapable of keeping a lid on the costs".
Two of the biggest backers of HS2 have been the big-city mayors, Labour's Andy Burnham of Greater Manchester and the Tories' Andy Street in the West Midlands.
Image: The cost was originally estimated at £3bn in 2009
Mr Burnham said he broadly welcomed Mr Johnson's decision, but said "there was a lot of detail lacking".
Travelling at up to 250mph, HS2 is designed to reduce journey times between London and Birmingham from 80 to 45 minutes and between London and Manchester from 128 to 68 minutes.
The cost was originally estimated at £3bn in 2009, then £56bn in 2013, but is now expected to cost £106bn, though the National Audit Office has said it is impossible to estimated with certainty what the final cost will be.
Mr Johnson appeared to give the game away on his thoughts about whether to continue with the rail project last month, when he told Sky News' children's current affairs programme FYI: "In a hole the size of HS2, the only thing to do is keep digging."
Analysis by Joe Pike, political correspondent
Going ahead with HS2 is far easier than cancelling it.
That is the central political reality that has informed Boris Johnson's big decision today.
A few months back, the prime minister was far less certain about what to do, with one key Downing Street aide telling me: "Publicly he supports it, privately he doesn't."
Image: Work is already several years underway
He still is a relatively new prime minister at a key turning point in the history of the UK.
His post-Brexit rhetoric is full of themes of ambition, innovation and 'levelling up' across the four nations. Shelving HS2 would go against all of that.
As a close observer of the premierships of his predecessors, Mr Johnson realises that he is now at the peak of his political powers. It will only get more difficult to take tough decisions as the months go by.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
As the most competitive of politicians, he wants a bigger and better legacy than Theresa May and David Cameron.
By following the path of former French President Francois Mitterrand with his "grands projets", Boris Johnson believes in years to come he will be point to successes he started.
And as a student of history, he knows that with all enormous projects - whether it be the Channel Tunnel or the Olympic Park - the public eventually forget the long delays and exorbitant costs.
And all that remains is pride. He hopes HS2 will end up as a great civic triumph - and one he helped make happen.


skynewspolitics--2020-02-11--What HS2 decision reveals about legacy Boris Johnson wants to leave

Going ahead with HS2 is far easier than cancelling it .
That is the central political reality that has informed Boris Johnson 's big decision today .
A few months back , the prime minister was far less certain about what to do , with one key Downing Street aide telling me : `` Publicly he supports it , privately he does n't . ''
The HS2 costs are eye-watering , with some estimates suggesting they will top £100bn .
Swathes of idyllic Tory shires between London and Birmingham will be bulldozed .
Added to this , the idea that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fast train route is a complete myth .
Many of the new northern Conservative MPs whose electoral success helped destroy Labour 's so-called `` red wall '' have been the most strident opponents of HS2 .
Because unless it stops in or near your constituency , the benefits are negligible .
Big Labour-run cities like Birmingham , Leeds and Manchester will receive an economic boost .
But for the ( often Tory ) towns in between , the only tangible difference will likely be a lot of homes being demolished .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is still far easier to plough on .
Boris Johnson admitted to a young Sky journalist last month that if you 're in an HS2-shaped hole , the best option is to `` keep digging '' .
It is estimated £8bn has already been spent on the project .
Contracts have already been signed and wriggling out of them at this late stage would be hugely expensive .
As London mayor , Mr Johnson spent millions of taxpayers ' cash on the now-cancelled `` garden bridge '' over the River Thames , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legacy .
He will be keen to avoid getting a reputation for wasting money on ambitious infrastructure ideas that never come to pass .
Central Birmingham is also already a bit of a building site due to early work on the project .
Cancelling HS2 would have left these areas derelict , providing a constant reminder of the prime minister 's lack of ambition , and almost certainly destroying the re-election chances of Conservative West Midlands mayor Andy Street in the process when voters there head to the polls in May .
Plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the West Coast mainline knows it is packed with trains , and packed trains at that .
In the next decade the line is expected to reach capacity .
By constructing a second route between London and Birmingham , it will free up the current line to be used for stopping services .
Mr Johnson is also acutely aware that first impressions - and big decisions - count .
He still is a relatively new prime minister at a key turning point in the history of the UK .
His post-Brexit rhetoric is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and `` levelling up '' across the four nations .
Shelving HS2 would go against all of that .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker As a close observer of the premierships of his predecessors , Mr Johnson realises that he is now at the peak of his political powers .
It will only get more difficult to take tough decisions as the months go by .
As the most competitive of politicians , he wants a bigger and better legacy than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following the path of former French president Francois Mitterand with his `` grands projets '' , Boris Johnson believes in years to come he will be able to point to successes he started .
And as a student of history , he knows that with all enormous projects - whether it be the Channel Tunnel or the Olympic Park - the public eventually forget the long delays and exorbitant costs .
And all that remains is pride .
He hopes HS2 will end up as a great civic triumph - and one he @ @ @ @

Going ahead with HS2 is far easier than cancelling it.
That is the central political reality that has informed Boris Johnson's big decision today.
A few months back, the prime minister was far less certain about what to do, with one key Downing Street aide telling me: "Publicly he supports it, privately he doesn't."
The HS2 costs are eye-watering, with some estimates suggesting they will top £100bn. Swathes of idyllic Tory shires between London and Birmingham will be bulldozed. Added to this, the idea that everyone in the north is desperate for a fast train route is a complete myth.
Many of the new northern Conservative MPs whose electoral success helped destroy Labour's so-called "red wall" have been the most strident opponents of HS2.
Because unless it stops in or near your constituency, the benefits are negligible.
Image: The route will run from London to Birmingham then be extended to Crewe
Big Labour-run cities like Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester will receive an economic boost. But for the (often Tory) towns in between, the only tangible difference will likely be a lot of homes being demolished.
Yet even taking all this into account, it is still far easier to plough on.
Boris Johnson admitted to a young Sky journalist last month that if you're in an HS2-shaped hole, the best option is to "keep digging".
Advertisement
It is estimated £8bn has already been spent on the project. Contracts have already been signed and wriggling out of them at this late stage would be hugely expensive.
As London mayor, Mr Johnson spent millions of taxpayers' cash on the now-cancelled "garden bridge" over the River Thames, a rare stain on his largely positive legacy.
He will be keen to avoid getting a reputation for wasting money on ambitious infrastructure ideas that never come to pass.
Central Birmingham is also already a bit of a building site due to early work on the project.
Cancelling HS2 would have left these areas derelict, providing a constant reminder of the prime minister's lack of ambition, and almost certainly destroying the re-election chances of Conservative West Midlands mayor Andy Street in the process when voters there head to the polls in May.
Plus anyone who has travelled up and down the West Coast mainline knows it is packed with trains, and packed trains at that.
In the next decade the line is expected to reach capacity.
Image: The public may eventually forget the long delays and exorbitant costs
By constructing a second route between London and Birmingham, it will free up the current line to be used for stopping services.
Mr Johnson is also acutely aware that first impressions - and big decisions - count.
He still is a relatively new prime minister at a key turning point in the history of the UK.
His post-Brexit rhetoric is full of themes of ambition, innovation and "levelling up" across the four nations. Shelving HS2 would go against all of that.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
As a close observer of the premierships of his predecessors, Mr Johnson realises that he is now at the peak of his political powers. It will only get more difficult to take tough decisions as the months go by.
As the most competitive of politicians, he wants a bigger and better legacy than Theresa May and David Cameron.
By following the path of former French president Francois Mitterand with his "grands projets", Boris Johnson believes in years to come he will be able to point to successes he started.
And as a student of history, he knows that with all enormous projects - whether it be the Channel Tunnel or the Olympic Park - the public eventually forget the long delays and exorbitant costs. And all that remains is pride.
He hopes HS2 will end up as a great civic triumph - and one he helped make happen.


skynewspolitics--2020-02-11--Labour could be fined millions for failing to protect members' data

The Labour Party could be fined up to £15m for failing to protect members ' data after reporting Sir Keir Starmer 's campaign to the information watchdog .
This weekend Labour 's general secretary Jennie Formby , a leading ally of Jeremy Corbyn , made a formal referral to the Information Commissioner 's Office over an alleged breach of data protection rules by members of the frontrunner 's campaign team .
It was seen by allies of Sir Keir as an attempt to undermine his campaign .
However , the move could backfire after the ICO confirmed the Labour Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation , since it is legally responsible for securing members ' information as the `` data controller '' .
The potential fines for data protection failings have significantly increased as a result of changes to the Data Protection Act last year , which enacted the European General Data Protection Regulations ( GDPR ) in UK law .
Although there are a range of sanctions the ICO is able to issue for data protection failures , the maximum fine the party could face if it were found to have failed to secure the data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations stipulate that infringements of the principles for processing personal data are subject to the highest tier of GDPR administrative fines , which are set at the equivalent of €20m , or 4 % of an organisation 's total worldwide annual turnover if that is higher .
On Monday , Mr Starmer 's leadership rival Rebecca Long-Bailey appeared to suggest the party was to blame for not restricting access to a membership database after the general election .
`` The investigation into Keir Starmer 's campaign over an alleged data breach should not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of significant importance in determining the future direction of our party , '' a spokesperson said .
`` As Rebecca 's campaign has said previously , the accessibility of members ' data stemmed from a failure to close Dialogue at the end of the general election campaign . ''
The allegation reported to the ICO suggested two members of Sir Keir 's leadership campaign staff may have improperly accessed membership data via the `` Dialogue '' database .
The Starmer campaign rejected the allegations as `` nonsense '' and urged the party to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Starmer campaign was attempting to demonstrate Ms Long-Bailey 's campaign had breached rules by sharing a link to the Dialogue database with her supporters , a claim her team denies .
The ICO is making enquiries into the issue following the referral from the Labour Party but has not yet confirmed whether a full investigation is to be launched .
Last year the ICO issued a record fine of £183m to British Airways for failing to sufficiently protect personal data , saying poor security arrangements had allowed passenger login , payment card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compromised .
Ahead of the general election the ICO published guidelines for political parties setting out their responsibilities for handling data .
Ardi Kolah , editor of the Journal of Data Protection and Privacy , told Sky News that concern over the use of data in politics meant it was crucial that parties ensured their data protection procedures were robust .
`` If you are a data controller it is not enough to simply report a breach , it is also incumbent on you to demonstrate and verify you have done all you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breach in the first place .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' The fines for failing to secure the data you have collected are tough for a reason .
`` Political parties should take this very seriously , and that applies to Labour in particular because numerically it has the largest number of members of any political party in the UK '' .
A Labour Party spokesperson said : `` The Labour Party takes its legal responsibilities for data protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its data and systems - extremely seriously . ''
The spokesperson went on to say that any suggestion the party 's referral to the ICO would result in a fine was `` misleading and disingenuous '' , adding that `` the party has a statutory obligation to report suspected data breaches to the ICO within 72 hours , and we could be liable for further fines and other sanctions if we did n't report it '' .

The Labour Party could be fined up to £15m for failing to protect members' data after reporting Sir Keir Starmer's campaign to the information watchdog.
This weekend Labour's general secretary Jennie Formby, a leading ally of Jeremy Corbyn, made a formal referral to the Information Commissioner's Office over an alleged breach of data protection rules by members of the frontrunner's campaign team.
It was seen by allies of Sir Keir as an attempt to undermine his campaign.
Image: Sir Keir Starmer's campaign was reported to the information watchdog
However, the move could backfire after the ICO confirmed the Labour Party itself would be the focus of any investigation, since it is legally responsible for securing members' information as the "data controller".
The potential fines for data protection failings have significantly increased as a result of changes to the Data Protection Act last year, which enacted the European General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in UK law.
Although there are a range of sanctions the ICO is able to issue for data protection failures, the maximum fine the party could face if it were found to have failed to secure the data could be more than £15m.
The regulations stipulate that infringements of the principles for processing personal data are subject to the highest tier of GDPR administrative fines, which are set at the equivalent of €20m, or 4% of an organisation's total worldwide annual turnover if that is higher.
On Monday, Mr Starmer's leadership rival Rebecca Long-Bailey appeared to suggest the party was to blame for not restricting access to a membership database after the general election.
"The investigation into Keir Starmer's campaign over an alleged data breach should not be allowed to distract from a moment of significant importance in determining the future direction of our party," a spokesperson said.
Advertisement
"As Rebecca's campaign has said previously, the accessibility of members' data stemmed from a failure to close Dialogue at the end of the general election campaign."
The allegation reported to the ICO suggested two members of Sir Keir's leadership campaign staff may have improperly accessed membership data via the "Dialogue" database.
Image: Rebecca Long-Bailey appeared to suggest the party was to blame for not restricting access to a membership database
The Starmer campaign rejected the allegations as "nonsense" and urged the party to withdraw the accusation.
It is understood the Starmer campaign was attempting to demonstrate Ms Long-Bailey's campaign had breached rules by sharing a link to the Dialogue database with her supporters, a claim her team denies.
The ICO is making enquiries into the issue following the referral from the Labour Party but has not yet confirmed whether a full investigation is to be launched.
Last year the ICO issued a record fine of £183m to British Airways for failing to sufficiently protect personal data, saying poor security arrangements had allowed passenger login, payment card, address and booking information to be compromised.
Ahead of the general election the ICO published guidelines for political parties setting out their responsibilities for handling data.
Ardi Kolah, editor of the Journal of Data Protection and Privacy, told Sky News that concern over the use of data in politics meant it was crucial that parties ensured their data protection procedures were robust.
"If you are a data controller it is not enough to simply report a breach, it is also incumbent on you to demonstrate and verify you have done all you can to protect against a personal information breach in the first place.
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
"The fines for failing to secure the data you have collected are tough for a reason.
"Political parties should take this very seriously, and that applies to Labour in particular because numerically it has the largest number of members of any political party in the UK".
A Labour Party spokesperson said: "The Labour Party takes its legal responsibilities for data protection - and the security and integrity of its data and systems - extremely seriously."
The spokesperson went on to say that any suggestion the party's referral to the ICO would result in a fine was "misleading and disingenuous", adding that "the party has a statutory obligation to report suspected data breaches to the ICO within 72 hours, and we could be liable for further fines and other sanctions if we didn't report it".


skynewspolitics--2020-02-11--Starmer promises to keep Corbyn's tuition fees stance

Labour leadership frontrunner Sir Keir Starmer has promised to maintain the party 's commitment to abolishing tuition fees , one of Jeremy Corbyn 's flagship policies .
The shadow Brexit secretary said Labour must stick to its plan to `` end the national scandal of spiralling student debt '' .
Sir Keir 's tuition fees promise is one of 10 pledges he is making as part of his campaign to succeed Mr Corbyn as Labour leader .
Others include scrapping Universal Credit , an income tax increase for the top 5 % of earners , ending outsourcing in the NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` green new deal '' at the heart of all of Labour 's policies .
He will also express his support for `` common ownership '' of rail , mail , energy and water - nationalisation in layman terms .
This will be seen as a move to win over left-wing supporters of Mr Corbyn - public ownership of key industries was a central plank of his political vision .
On tuition fees , Sir Keir said : `` Labour must stand by its commitment to end the national scandal of spiralling student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the Tories , tuition fees have tripled and young people are leaving with university with nearly £60,000 worth of debt .
`` Let 's be blunt : we need to end the scandal of spiralling student debt . ''
Tuition fees were first introduced under Tony Blair , with a maximum level of £1,000 .
They later increased to £3,000 , with the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government trebling them to £9,000 .
Sir Keir is one of four candidates currently in the race to succeed Mr Corbyn .
The others are shadow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisa Nandy and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry .
Ms Thornberry faces a race against time to join her three rivals in the final ballot of party members , however .
She has until Friday to gain the support of 5 % of constituency Labour parties .
A winner in the contest will be announced at the start of April .

Labour leadership frontrunner Sir Keir Starmer has promised to maintain the party's commitment to abolishing tuition fees, one of Jeremy Corbyn's flagship policies.
The shadow Brexit secretary said Labour must stick to its plan to "end the national scandal of spiralling student debt".
Sir Keir's tuition fees promise is one of 10 pledges he is making as part of his campaign to succeed Mr Corbyn as Labour leader.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:49 Sir Keir Starmer calls for Labour unity
Others include scrapping Universal Credit, an income tax increase for the top 5% of earners, ending outsourcing in the NHS and justice system, and putting the "green new deal" at the heart of all of Labour's policies.
He will also express his support for "common ownership" of rail, mail, energy and water - nationalisation in layman terms.
This will be seen as a move to win over left-wing supporters of Mr Corbyn - public ownership of key industries was a central plank of his political vision.
On tuition fees, Sir Keir said: "Labour must stand by its commitment to end the national scandal of spiralling student debt and abolish tuition fees.
"Under the Tories, tuition fees have tripled and young people are leaving with university with nearly £60,000 worth of debt.
"Let's be blunt: we need to end the scandal of spiralling student debt."
Advertisement
Tuition fees were first introduced under Tony Blair, with a maximum level of £1,000.
They later increased to £3,000, with the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government trebling them to £9,000.
Sir Keir is one of four candidates currently in the race to succeed Mr Corbyn.
The others are shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, Wigan MP Lisa Nandy and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry.
Ms Thornberry faces a race against time to join her three rivals in the final ballot of party members, however.
She has until Friday to gain the support of 5% of constituency Labour parties.
A winner in the contest will be announced at the start of April.


skynewspolitics--2020-02-11--PM: 'No immediate prospect' of Heathrow expansion

Boris Johnson has said there is `` no immediate prospect '' of building work beginning on Heathrow 's third runway .
MPs backed expanding the west London airport in a 2018 vote , but Mr Johnson 's entry into Number 10 has cast doubt on the £14bn project .
This because the prime minister is a longstanding opponent of a third runway , having promised `` lie down in front of those bulldozers and stop construction '' back when he was London mayor .
On Tuesday , Mr Johnson was making a statement on the government 's decision to proceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenged about Heathrow .
Munira Wilson , Liberal Democrat MP for the southwest London constituency of Twickenham , asked the PM if he would `` prove his credential on climate change , make good on his promise of lying down in front of the bulldozers , or - far more simply - just cancel the third runway ? ''
Mr Johnson said in response : `` I see no bulldozers at present , nor any immediate prospect of them arriving . ''
Mr Johnson missed the 2018 vote as he was on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign secretary in Theresa May 's government .
Business groups called on Mr Johnson to drop his opposition in the wake of him entering Downing Street last July .
The boss of Heathrow - speaking hours before Mr Johnson was announced as the winner of the Tory leadership contest - described the airport 's expansion as a `` fait accompli '' , something that is irreversible .
In December , Heathrow said its expansion had been delayed by `` at least 12 months '' due to the Civil Aviation Authority rejecting its spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The regulator refused to approve the airport 's attempt to almost quadruple the amount it spends before getting final approval , due to fears passengers would end up footing the bill if the third runway did not go ahead .
Heathrow had originally hoped to open the third runway by the end of 2026 , but this has been pushed back until 2028 or 2029 .

Boris Johnson has said there is "no immediate prospect" of building work beginning on Heathrow's third runway.
MPs backed expanding the west London airport in a 2018 vote, but Mr Johnson's entry into Number 10 has cast doubt on the £14bn project.
This because the prime minister is a longstanding opponent of a third runway, having promised "lie down in front of those bulldozers and stop construction" back when he was London mayor.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:55 Here's what an expanded Heathrow could look like
On Tuesday, Mr Johnson was making a statement on the government's decision to proceed with the HS2 project when he was challenged about Heathrow.
Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat MP for the southwest London constituency of Twickenham, asked the PM if he would "prove his credential on climate change, make good on his promise of lying down in front of the bulldozers, or - far more simply - just cancel the third runway?"
Mr Johnson said in response: "I see no bulldozers at present, nor any immediate prospect of them arriving."
Mr Johnson missed the 2018 vote as he was on a trip to Afghanistan in his role as foreign secretary in Theresa May's government.
Business groups called on Mr Johnson to drop his opposition in the wake of him entering Downing Street last July.
The boss of Heathrow - speaking hours before Mr Johnson was announced as the winner of the Tory leadership contest - described the airport's expansion as a "fait accompli", something that is irreversible.
Advertisement
In December, Heathrow said its expansion had been delayed by "at least 12 months" due to the Civil Aviation Authority rejecting its spending plans.
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The regulator refused to approve the airport's attempt to almost quadruple the amount it spends before getting final approval, due to fears passengers would end up footing the bill if the third runway did not go ahead.
Heathrow had originally hoped to open the third runway by the end of 2026, but this has been pushed back until 2028 or 2029.


skynewspolitics--2020-02-11--Rory Stewart mocked after asking if he can kip on Londoners' sofas

Rory Stewart has been mocked after asking Londoners if he can stay in their homes in his bid to be elected their mayor .
The former Tory MP , who is running as an independent for London mayor , has launched his `` ComeKipWithMe '' campaign - an attempt to persuade the city 's electorate to let him come and stay for a night .
In his launch video , Mr Stewart admitted it was a `` weird request '' but said he wants to get to know the city by `` being in other people 's shoes , seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ houses '' .
The video shows Mr Stewart talking to a woman outside a building as he reveals he has previously stayed with `` Lorraine in Newham '' and a `` young man in Streatham '' .
In the final scene , he promises to bring a `` sleeping bag and a box of chocolates '' .
The campaign has been mocked online , with one Twitter user joking that Mr Stewart `` ca n't get a date for Valentine 's '' .
Another person asked : `` Why do n't you just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And another Twitter user said : `` I have a shed , just put the choccys through the letterbox , ta '' .
But Mr Stewart was also praised for the campaign , with one person saying that `` too many MPs are utterly clueless about how the majority of people in this country actually live '' .
Mr Stewart , a former Tory leadership candidate , was sacked by Boris Johnson for rebelling over Brexit and chose not to stand again as an MP for Penrith and The Border .
The 47-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London 's 32 boroughs during his mission to unseat Labour 's incumbent in City Hall , Sadiq Khan .
: : Listen to the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker As well as Mr Khan , Mr Stewart is in the race for London mayor against Tory candidate Shaun Bailey , the Lib Dems ' Siobhan Benita and Sian Berry , the current co-leader of the Green Party .
Independent candidates for the poll in May include Rosalind Readhead , rapper Drillminister and Charlie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Housing , transport , jobs and security are the main issues the election will be fought on .

Rory Stewart has been mocked after asking Londoners if he can stay in their homes in his bid to be elected their mayor.
The former Tory MP, who is running as an independent for London mayor, has launched his "ComeKipWithMe" campaign - an attempt to persuade the city's electorate to let him come and stay for a night.
In his launch video, Mr Stewart admitted it was a "weird request" but said he wants to get to know the city by "being in other people's shoes, seeing through their eyes, staying in their houses".
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
The video shows Mr Stewart talking to a woman outside a building as he reveals he has previously stayed with "Lorraine in Newham" and a "young man in Streatham".
In the final scene, he promises to bring a "sleeping bag and a box of chocolates".
The campaign has been mocked online, with one Twitter user joking that Mr Stewart "can't get a date for Valentine's".
Another person asked: "Why don't you just use Tinder like everyone else?"
And another Twitter user said: "I have a shed, just put the choccys through the letterbox, ta".
But Mr Stewart was also praised for the campaign, with one person saying that "too many MPs are utterly clueless about how the majority of people in this country actually live".
Advertisement
Image: Rory Stewart admitted his latest campaign is a 'weird request'
Mr Stewart, a former Tory leadership candidate, was sacked by Boris Johnson for rebelling over Brexit and chose not to stand again as an MP for Penrith and The Border.
The 47-year-old is aiming to walk through each of London's 32 boroughs during his mission to unseat Labour's incumbent in City Hall, Sadiq Khan.
:: Listen to the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
As well as Mr Khan, Mr Stewart is in the race for London mayor against Tory candidate Shaun Bailey, the Lib Dems' Siobhan Benita and Sian Berry, the current co-leader of the Green Party.
Independent candidates for the poll in May include Rosalind Readhead, rapper Drillminister and Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers.
Housing, transport, jobs and security are the main issues the election will be fought on.


skynewspolitics--2020-02-11--Warning over fruit and veg supply after EU import controls confirmed

The retail sector has warned about disruption to the supply of fruit and vegetables after Britain confirmed it will introduce import controls on EU goods from January .
Controls will come into force after the end of the current Brexit transition period - during which EU rules continue to apply .
According to reports , officials have now told trade organisations that a `` smart border '' with simplified systems designed to reduce disruption would not be available until 2025 .
Andrew Opie , director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium , said ministers needed to set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be implemented .
He said : `` Government will need to move fast if it intends to provide the necessary infrastructure to carry out full border controls on imported goods from January 2021 .
`` Without the necessary infrastructure up and running from day one , consumers in the UK will see significant disruption , particularly in the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables . ''
The introduction of controls means that from January , traders in the EU and Britain will have to submit customs declarations and be liable to goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gove , the senior cabinet minister and Brexit planning chief , said : `` The UK will be outside the single market and outside the customs union , so we will have to be ready for the customs procedures and regulator checks that will inevitably follow .
`` As a result of that we will be in a stronger position , not just to make sure that our economy succeeds outside the European Union but that we are in a position to take advantage of new trading relationships with the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ import controls will be needed to keep borders safe and secure , and to ensure all trading partners are treated equally as it negotiates new trading arrangements with the rest of the world .
It will also need to collect customs , VAT and excise duties .
Businesses will not be offered the kind of temporary `` easements '' that would have been in place in the case of a no-deal Brexit earlier this year .
Those would have enabled firms to transport goods across the border without making a full customs declaration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duties .
The government now says businesses have enough time to prepare .
However it has extended the deadline for them to apply for funding to help them adjust to the new regime .
Last year Britain imported goods worth £265bn from the bloc , compared to £236.5bn from non-EU countries .

The retail sector has warned about disruption to the supply of fruit and vegetables after Britain confirmed it will introduce import controls on EU goods from January.
Controls will come into force after the end of the current Brexit transition period - during which EU rules continue to apply.
According to reports, officials have now told trade organisations that a "smart border" with simplified systems designed to reduce disruption would not be available until 2025.
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said ministers needed to set out detailed plans on how the controls would be implemented.
He said: "Government will need to move fast if it intends to provide the necessary infrastructure to carry out full border controls on imported goods from January 2021.
"Without the necessary infrastructure up and running from day one, consumers in the UK will see significant disruption, particularly in the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables."
The introduction of controls means that from January, traders in the EU and Britain will have to submit customs declarations and be liable to goods checks, the government said.
Michael Gove, the senior cabinet minister and Brexit planning chief, said: "The UK will be outside the single market and outside the customs union, so we will have to be ready for the customs procedures and regulator checks that will inevitably follow.
"As a result of that we will be in a stronger position, not just to make sure that our economy succeeds outside the European Union but that we are in a position to take advantage of new trading relationships with the rest of the world."
Advertisement
Image: Britain is seeking new trade agreements with the rest of the world
The government says the import controls will be needed to keep borders safe and secure, and to ensure all trading partners are treated equally as it negotiates new trading arrangements with the rest of the world.
It will also need to collect customs, VAT and excise duties.
Businesses will not be offered the kind of temporary "easements" that would have been in place in the case of a no-deal Brexit earlier this year.
Those would have enabled firms to transport goods across the border without making a full customs declaration, and to postpone paying any import duties.
The government now says businesses have enough time to prepare.
However it has extended the deadline for them to apply for funding to help them adjust to the new regime.
The EU is Britain's biggest trading partner.
Last year Britain imported goods worth £265bn from the bloc, compared to £236.5bn from non-EU countries.


skynewspolitics--2020-02-12--HS2 northern parts should have been built first - Shapps

HS2 should have been built the other way around - with tracks laid first in northern England then extended south , the transport secretary says .
Grant Shapps told Sky News the £100bn controversial rail project should have been sequenced differently .
Instead of the first stage focusing on slashing journey times and increasing capacity between London and Birmingham , it should instead have initially connected Britain 's second-biggest city to Crewe , Manchester and Leeds , he said .
It comes after Europe 's largest infrastructure project was given the green light by Prime Minister Boris Johnson , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs and repeated delays .
Mr Shapps told Sky News ' Kay Burley @ Breakfast he has backed the idea to build the northern sections first since 2014 .
`` Actually I agree , it would have been a good idea to have done that , '' he said .
`` I think it would have been much better to sequence this differently . ''
But Mr Shapps said it was now too late to change plans .
`` Here we are 10 years down the line , all the prep work - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lengthy - and a lot of the land purchase has happened for phase one - that 's London to Birmingham .
`` So it ’ s inevitable that you have to start there first .
`` Because that is where the money is , otherwise you would spend that £10bn that it 's cost so far and have nothing to show for it and have to repurpose the land or just hang on to it .
`` It would have been a very expensive way round . ''
He added : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to get on with the sections north of Birmingham up to Crewe in particular and then up to Manchester where I am right now , as quickly as possible.
” : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The idea to build the northern sections first was raised six years ago by Jim O'Neill , a former chairman of Goldman Sachs asset management who headed a commission on growing UK cities .
Mr Shapps blamed HS2 Limited - the firm in charge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and claimed the whole project had been `` terribly handled '' and not `` well led '' .
He claimed the scheme will be run in future `` like the Olympics were run '' - with a dedicated minister appointed in Thursday 's cabinet reshuffle and to make sure `` the whole of the state '' was focused on delivering it .
Despite the government 's announcement , Tory backbenchers in the south and middle England are furious at the cost to taxpayers ' and threat to the environment .
Andrew Bridgen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and grossly mismanaged '' that `` could well be an albatross around this government and the country 's neck '' .
While Rob Butler said he was `` incredibly frustrated '' given the `` eye-watering costs '' and `` irreversible '' destruction of ancient woodlands .

HS2 should have been built the other way around - with tracks laid first in northern England then extended south, the transport secretary says.
Grant Shapps told Sky News the £100bn controversial rail project should have been sequenced differently.
Instead of the first stage focusing on slashing journey times and increasing capacity between London and Birmingham, it should instead have initially better connected Britain's second-biggest city to Crewe, Manchester and Leeds, he said.
It comes after Europe's largest infrastructure project was given the green light by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, after he ordered a review into its spiralling costs and repeated delays.
Mr Shapps told Sky News' Kay Burley@Breakfast he has backed the idea to build the northern sections first since 2014.
"Actually I agree, it would have been a good idea to have done that," he said.
"I think it would have been much better to sequence this differently."
But Mr Shapps said it was now too late to change plans.
"Here we are 10 years down the line, all the prep work - the legislation, which is complex and lengthy - and a lot of the land purchase has happened for phase one - that's London to Birmingham.
Advertisement
Image: HS2 will run from London to Birmingham first, then on to Leeds and Manchester
"So it’s inevitable that you have to start there first.
"Because that is where the money is, otherwise you would spend that £10bn that it's cost so far and have nothing to show for it and have to repurpose the land or just hang on to it.
"It would have been a very expensive way round."
He added: "We are where we are and we're going to get on with the sections north of Birmingham up to Crewe in particular and then up to Manchester where I am right now, as quickly as possible.”
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The idea to build the northern sections first was raised six years ago by Jim O'Neill, a former chairman of Goldman Sachs asset management who headed a commission on growing UK cities.
Mr Shapps blamed HS2 Limited - the firm in charge of its day-to-day construction - for repeated problems and claimed the whole project had been "terribly handled" and not "well led".
He claimed the scheme will be run in future "like the Olympics were run" - with a dedicated minister appointed in Thursday's cabinet reshuffle and to make sure "the whole of the state" was focused on delivering it.
Despite the government's announcement, Tory backbenchers in the south and middle England are furious at the cost to taxpayers' and threat to the environment.
Image: Boris Johnson gave the green light for work on HS2 to continue
Andrew Bridgen, called the project "unloved, unwanted and grossly mismanaged" that "could well be an albatross around this government and the country's neck".
While Rob Butler said he was "incredibly frustrated" given the "eye-watering costs" and "irreversible" destruction of ancient woodlands.


skynewspolitics--2020-02-12--Ofcom set for new powers to regulate harmful social media content

Ofcom is set to be handed new powers to regulate social media companies and protect users from harmful content , the government has announced .
The broadcast watchdog will have its remit expanded to enforce a legal `` duty of care '' from firms like Facebook , Instagram and YouTube .
It will be tasked with ensuring the platforms protect people from harmful , illegal terrorist and child abuse content by removing it quickly and minimising the risk of it appearing .
But there has been no confirmation of what punishments or fines the bolstered regulator will be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : `` We will give the regulator the powers it needs to lead the fight for an internet that remains vibrant and open but with the protections , accountability and transparency people deserve . ''
She added the measures would only apply to websites that allow sharing of user-generated content - for example , through comments , forums or videos - meaning fewer than 5 % of all UK businesses will be affected .
YouTube reacted by saying the news was of `` great importance '' and promised to `` work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure a free , open and safer internet that works for everyone '' .
And the Internet Association , which represents firms such as Amazon , Google and Microsoft , said it was keen to debate `` issues of concern that are still under review '' , citing questions over content that is legal but potentially harmful .
Some senior MPs were less than pleased with the announcement , which comes ahead of another response to consultation not released until spring .
Conservative Julian Knight , who chairs the Commons digital committee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the urgency that is required '' .
He added Ofcom must take a `` muscular approach '' and be able to punish social media firms `` through sanctions that bite '' - with `` more than a hefty fine '' .
Tracy Brabin , Labour 's shadow digital secretary , claimed it was `` shameful '' the time to change the law was taking so long .
`` Today 's proposals are long overdue , and nothing short of legislation will reassure families that their loved ones are safe online , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media on vulnerable people come amid suicides such as that of 14-year-old schoolgirl Molly Russell in 2017 , who was found to have viewed harmful content online .
Her father Ian spoke of the urgent need for greater action , blaming `` pushy algorithms '' for letting the `` wrecking ball of suicide '' smash `` brutally '' into his family .
Ofcom was set up in 2003 and took on duties previously performed by the separate regulators of broadcasting , telecommunications and radio .

Ofcom is set to be handed new powers to regulate social media companies and protect users from harmful content, the government has announced.
The broadcast watchdog will have its remit expanded to enforce a legal "duty of care" from firms like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
It will be tasked with ensuring the platforms protect people from harmful, illegal terrorist and child abuse content by removing it quickly and minimising the risk of it appearing.
Image: Ofcom was set up back in 2003
But there has been no confirmation of what punishments or fines the bolstered regulator will be able to hand out.
Digital Secretary Baroness Morgan said: "We will give the regulator the powers it needs to lead the fight for an internet that remains vibrant and open but with the protections, accountability and transparency people deserve."
She added the measures would only apply to websites that allow sharing of user-generated content - for example, through comments, forums or videos - meaning fewer than 5% of all UK businesses will be affected.
YouTube reacted by saying the news was of "great importance" and promised to "work in partnership with the government and Ofcom to ensure a free, open and safer internet that works for everyone".
Facebook said new rules were needed so there is a "more common approach across platforms" but that "we recognise we have more to do".
And the Internet Association, which represents firms such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft, said it was keen to debate "issues of concern that are still under review", citing questions over content that is legal but potentially harmful.
Advertisement
Some senior MPs were less than pleased with the announcement, which comes ahead of another response to consultation not released until spring.
Conservative Julian Knight, who chairs the Commons digital committee, said the move "fails to demonstrate the urgency that is required".
He added Ofcom must take a "muscular approach" and be able to punish social media firms "through sanctions that bite" - with "more than a hefty fine".
Image: Baroness Morgan said the move would provide 'protections, accountability and transparency'
Tracy Brabin, Labour's shadow digital secretary, claimed it was "shameful" the time to change the law was taking so long.
"Today's proposals are long overdue, and nothing short of legislation will reassure families that their loved ones are safe online," she said.
Concerns about the impact of social media on vulnerable people come amid suicides such as that of 14-year-old schoolgirl Molly Russell in 2017, who was found to have viewed harmful content online.
Her father Ian spoke of the urgent need for greater action, blaming "pushy algorithms" for letting the "wrecking ball of suicide" smash "brutally" into his family.
Ofcom was set up in 2003 and took on duties previously performed by the separate regulators of broadcasting, telecommunications and radio.