EXCL: Sir Geoffrey Cox is tonight being referred to the standards commissioner by Labour after he appeared to use his Commons office to represent the British Virgin Islands in a corruption case against the UK government
It emerged yesterday Cox had voted by proxy while working in the BVI. But footage from September 14 appears to show him joining a hearing remotely from Portcullis House. This could be a breach of the rules around the use of Commons facilities - which Owen Paterson also broke
Here's the key clause of the code of conduct for MPs👇
Besides, this was the day the government passed the social care levy bill - really important. Rather than sitting in the chamber speaking/listening/debating, Cox was in his office being paid to represent a foreign government. Is that what constituents expect?
Angela Rayner told The Times:
Geoffrey Cox did not respond to requests for comment.
NEW: Cox confirms he was in his Commons office during the September 14 hearing but denies breaking the code of conduct geoffreycox.co.uk/news/statement…
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EXCL: Tens of thousands of Europeans will have their benefits suddenly cut off next week because they haven't applied for settled status. Ministers were told early this month that 130,000 of the 820,000 European benefit claimants have still not applied
A government source says that since then the number has fallen to about 70,000. But the number is still far higher than even EU citizen campaign groups thought - and the deadline to get an application in is next Wednesday
Maike Bohn of @the3million said the leaked figures were “shocking”
EXCLUSIVE Ephraim Mirvis, The chief rabbi, has warned that Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of antisemitism allegations makes him “unfit for high office”. Writing only in tomorrow’s Times he the “very soul of our nation is at stake” in next month’s general election
I want to stay in the Common Market
I want to do whatever Europeans do
I want to be in the Common Market
I want to be in the Common Market
Number 2
Well what else could Nick do?
He said: "I'll see what I can do."
He came from Wales had a thirst for Brexit
Said he didn't want a referendum
That's where Nick
Caught his eye
Steve told Nick that his Dad's Neil Kinnock
Nick said "In that case I'll have a CFP opt-out"
Steve said "Fine"
And then in thirty seconds time he said:
I want to stay in the Common Market
I want to do whatever Europeans do
I want to be in the Common Market
I want to be in the Common Market
Number 2
Well what else could Nick do?
He said "I'll see what I can do."
EXCLUSIVE: Government planning a "hardship fund" for no-deal Brexit
Here are only some of the "actions arising" from a meeting of the cabinet's no-deal preparedness committee earlier this month. Just direct quotes from the document circulated afterwards.
LOCAL RESILIENCE FORUMS, via the MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT to report on potential impacts, including any communities known to be geographically vulnerable to disruptions to food supplies.
HM TREASURY and the DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS to undertake work to consider mitigating consumer impacts of increases in cost of living through tax and benefits policy. This work should focus on consumer groups who would be particularly vulnerable to price increases.
EXCLUSIVE: Ministers will have the power to overrule doctors’ prescriptions in case medicines run out after Brexit. Urgent government consultation launched on Tuesday, leaked to The Times
Under the plans, ministers could tell pharmacies to give patients:
- a reduced quantity
- an alternative dosage
- a therapeutic equivalent
- a generic equivalent
How does the govt intend to take the power to do this? Remember Henry VIII powers from 2017? Yep. Using those.
Labour’s shadow health secretary @JonAshworth tells The Times: “If these plans were ever implemented they would represent an astonishing power grab by government ministers with some healthcare decisions being decided in Whitehall rather than the GP surgery.”
EXCLUSIVE: Jeremy Corbyn hosted an event in parliament comparing the Israeli govt to the Nazis - on Holocaust Memorial Day. The 2010 event was part of a national tour called: "Never again for anyone - Auschwitz to Gaza" thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/j…
Corbyn booked the room and delivered the opening speech. The main talk was given by Hajo Meyer, an Auschwitz survivor who believed Israel was like the Nazis. Quotes include: “Judaism in Israel has been substituted by the Holocaust religion whose high priest is Elie Wiesel"
The meeting was also addressed by phone from Gaza by Haidar Eid, a Palestinian activist, who reportedly said: “The world was absolutely wrong to think that Nazism was defeated in 1945. Nazism has won because it has finally managed to Nazify the consciousness of its own victims.”