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Paul Brand

@PaulBrandITV

7 May

The Conservatives’ strong performance in England arguably has consequences for Scotland too. With the SNP expected to regain power as voting begins here, it entrenches the sense that the two nations are moving in v different directions. That can only fuel demand for independence.

Let’s see how the Scottish Conservatives do of course. But an emboldened Boris Johnson, with England in his palm, may be even more likely to resist demands for Scottish independence. Sets the UK up for one heck of a constitutional showdown in the months/years ahead.

Note, for example, that if this had been inflated in almost any town in Scotland, I suspect it would have developed a puncture fairly quickly. The real Boris Johnson didn’t show his face here at all during the campaign. The political culture of the two nations is diverging.

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Paul Brand

@PaulBrandITV

28 Apr

Keir Starmer asks PM very specifically "Who *initially* paid for the redecoration of the Downing Street flat?"

Boris Johnson avoids the forensic question and replies more generally, "I paid for the Downing Street refurbishment personally."

#PMQs

Round 2:

Starmer asks again, "Either the taxpayer paid the initial invoice, or it was the party, or it was a donor, or it was the PM... who paid the initial invoice?"

PM replies, "I've given him the answer... I have covered the cost."

But that's still not an answer. #PMQs

Starmer: "This is a Prime Minister who during the pandemic was nipping out to choose wallpaper at £840 a roll."

Who originally paid for it, he asks again.

For a third time the PM repeats the obfuscating line, "I have covered the costs". #PMQs

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Paul Brand

@PaulBrandITV

13 Apr

NEW: A letter I've seen from the Prime Minister to the Evangelical Alliance suggests govt will *not* ban prayer for someone's sexuality.

"We will continue to allow adults to receive appropriate pastoral support (including prayer)...in exploration of their sexual orientation."

There are sensitive religious freedoms at play here. But the vast majority of so-called conversion therapy takes place in religious settings, where people are promised that through prayer they can change their sexuality. Campaigners say any meaningful ban must cover this.

For example, would the PM consider this to be "pastoral support"?

At Winners Chapel (a member of the Evangelical Alliance) our undercover reporter was told that the devil had made him gay and all he needed to do was submit himself to intensive prayer.

itv.com/news/2018-11-1…

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Paul Brand

@PaulBrandITV

13 Apr

BREAKING: The government has disbanded its LGBT advisory panel following our reports last month on the resignation of three members, who accused the govt of creating a “hostile environment” for LGBT people.

Their terms were due to expire on 31st March. Govt didn’t extend them.

Understand any replacement for the panel is uncertain. But govt is looking into it.

“The Minister for Women & Equalities has written to panel members to thank them for their contributions, and plans for a replacement for the Panel will be set out in due course."

This move had been anticipated, with panel members complaining that meetings with govt had been sparse in recent months.

The panel will be disbanded before seeing the full outline of the promised ban on so-called conversion therapy, but progress on that front is still expected.

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Paul Brand

@PaulBrandITV

24 Mar

🇬🇧Latest flag news...

The UK government has asked for the union jack to be flown on all UK government buildings every day of the year from now on.

Currently, union flags are only required to be flown on all UK Government buildings on designated days. The guidance will ask for the flag to be flown all year round, unless another flag is being flown – such as another national flag of the UK.

Clear attempt to assert the union.

More exciting detail...

The govt has also cut red tape to allow dual flagging – two flags on one pole.

Where buildings have two flag poles, they're now advised to fly the Union flag alongside any other flag, using the specific example of the union🇬🇧 alongside the saltire🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.

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Paul Brand

@PaulBrandITV

16 Mar

NEW: The Evangelical Alliance, representing 3,500 churches in the UK, has urged the PM not to ban conversion therapy in all forms.

"It is essential that those who experience same sex attraction are free to pursue & receive support to help live in accordance with their beliefs."

The letter says a ban "would place ministry leaders at risk of arrest for encouraging young people to maintain chastity until marriage".

And "criminalise a member of a church who prays with another member when they ask for prayer to resist temptation".

Some MPs share this view.

The Evangelical Alliance has long supported conversion therapy - a declaration on its website states so. The Alliance has declined our requests for interview in the past, but has decided to go public as debate intensifies over what form a 'ban' on conversion therapy should take.

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