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July 12, 2024 • Twitter.com/easterneye
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THE former counter-terrorism
head, Neil Basu (right), is the
leading candidate to oversee La-
bour’s new border security com-
mand, aimed at reducing mi-
grant crossings in the Channel.
Basu’s extensive counterter-
rorism experience, including his
leadership during the peak
threat from Daesh (Islamic
State), with six terror attacks –
including the Manchester Arena
bombing – makes him a top con-
tender for this role, the Times re-
ported on Tuesday (9).
In Sir Keir Starmer’s upcoming
King’s speech, new counterter-
rorism-style laws will be intro-
duced to impose travel bans on
suspected people smugglers, re-
ports said.
The legislation aims
to empower the police,
Border Force, and intel-
ligence officers within
the new Border Security
Command to handle
people smugglers with
the same severity as ter-
rorists.
The proposed border security
bill will authorise officers and in-
vestigators to apply serious
crime prevention orders to sus-
pected people smugglers. They
will allow law enforcement to en-
force stringent conditions on the
suspects’ travel within the UK
and abroad, as well as restrict
their access to the internet and
banking services.
Basu previously advocated for
addressing the small boats issue
with a comprehensive strategy
similar to that used in counter-
terrorism. He has criticised the
Rwanda scheme as an ineffective
and costly solution, suggesting
instead a new border security
command with extensive minis-
terial oversight, additional inves-
tigators, and coordinated efforts
from all relevant agencies.
“I led counter-terrorism polic-
ing for over six years. It’s a model
of close partnership with intelli-
gence agencies, government and
multiple partners, all of whom
have clear lines of responsibility
and accountability for their sin-
gle mission – to protect lives. It
needed to be studied as a model
response to this crisis,” he wrote
in the Daily Telegraph.
Basu was overlooked by the
previous government for leader-
ship roles at both the National
Crime Agency (NCA) and the
Metropolitan Police.
Another possible candidate is
David Neal, a former soldier who
served as the chief inspector of
borders and immigration.
In one of his first acts as prime
minister, Sir Keir declared the
plan to send migrants to Rwanda
as “dead and buried.” Labour an-
nounced that thousands of peo-
ple previously in limbo could
now make asylum claims.
The prime minister’s spokes-
man on Monday (8) confirmed
that migrants arriving by small
boats would have the right to
claim asylum, stressing the need
for efficient processing to avoid
costly, long-term housing.
Reports said home secretary
Yvette Cooper has already initiat-
ed the recruitment process for
the new border security com-
mander. She is establishing the
new Border Security Command
and a returns and enforcement
unit with 1,000 additional staff.
BRITAIN’S nursing regu-
lator on Tuesday (9)
apologised after an inde-
pendent review raised
alarm over safeguarding
issues within the organ-
isation and uncovered
racism, discrimination,
and bullying experi-
enced by its employees.
The review, led by for-
mer chief prosecutor Na-
zir Afzal, raised serious
concerns about a toxic
culture in the Nursing
and Midwifery Council
(NMC), which oversees
nurses and midwives.
According to the re-
view, good nurses often
face lengthy investigations
for minor issues, while
some under-performing
ones escape consequen-
ces. Dysfunction was
found at nearly every
level of the regulator.
The review was com-
missioned after concerns
were raised about the or-
ganisation’s culture, in-
cluding racism.
As part of the review,
over 1,000 current and
former colleagues of the
NMC, along with more
than 200 panel members
involved in fitness to
practise hearings, shared
their experiences.
“There was anger,
frustration, and exhaus-
tion among many,” the
report said. “Staff broke
down in tears recounting
frustrations over safe-
guarding decisions that
endangered the public.”
The regulator accept-
ed all the recommenda-
tions and said it has al-
ready started to address
some of the issues raised
in the report.
n The University of
Wolverhampton hand-
ed out honorary doc-
torates and fellowships
at a special award cere-
mony at London Zoo.
An honorary fellow-
ship went posthumous-
ly to Tom Modrowski of
Bull Moose Industries,
US. It was accepted by
his wife Kimberly Mod-
rowski and daughters
Kristin, Kellee and Katya.
An honorary doctor-
ate was awarded to Ste-
ven Smith of Lawrence
Industries, St Louis, US,
while another honorary
doctorate went to
Akash Paul, director of
the Caparo Group and
Caparo Industries
The event was presi-
ded over by Lord Swraj
Paul, chancellor at the
university for 26 years.
Nurses’ body sorry for ‘toxic culture’
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Commons diversity praised
PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer
spoke of his pride at leading a diverse
parliament in his first address in the
House of Commons on Tuesday (9).
According to the Commons Library, a
record 263 or 40 per cent of the 650 MPs
are women, up from 220 in 2019.
Some 90 MPs are from minority ethnic
backgrounds, an increase from 66 five
years ago.
“Mr Speaker-elect (Lindsay Hoyle) you
preside over a new parliament, the most
diverse parliament by race and gender
this country has ever seen,” Sir Keir said.
“And I’m proud of the part that my
party has played, proud of the part that
every party has played in that.
“Including, in this intake, the largest
cohort of LGBT+ MPs of any parliament
in the world.”
Sir Keir also paid tribute to Diane Ab-
bott, Britain’s first black female MP, who
entered parliament in 1987 when there
were just 41 women in the Commons.
Abbott, who was re-elected to the seat
in northeast London which she has held
for 37 years, will become ‘mother of the
House’ – an honorary title given to the
longest-serving female minister.
“Diane Abbott has done so much in
her career over so many years to fight for
a parliament that truly represents mod-
ern Britain. We welcome her back to her
place,” said Sir Keir.
Britain’s new MPs squeezed into par-
liament on Tuesday with Labour sitting
on the government’s side of the chamber
for the first time in 14 years, following last
week’s landslide election win.
More than 400 Labour MPs jostled for
space on the ruling side of the green-
bench Commons, with many having to
stand, as parliament returned after being
dissolved before last Thursday’s (4) vote.
Sir Keir vowed to “put an end to a poli-
tics that has too often seemed self-serv-
ing and self-obsessed. We all have a duty
to show politics can be a force for good.”
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak
made his first speech as leader of the op-
position, and congratulated Sir Keir on
his victory.
He described being an MP as the
“greatest honour, privilege and responsi-
bility”, in a congenial session that con-
trasted sharply with the usual arguing
and shouting seen in the chamber.
“Can I start by congratulating the pri-
me minister on his election victory and as
he takes on his formidable task, he and
his family deserve the good wishes of all
of us in this House,” said Sunak.
“In our politics, we can argue vigorou-
sly, as the prime minister and I did over
the past six weeks, but still respect each
other. And whatever disputes we have in
this parliament, I know that everyone in
this House will not lose sight of the fact
that we are all motivated by our desire to
serve our constituents, our country and
advance the principles that we honoura-
bly believe in.”
After the addresses by Sir Keir and Su-
nak, other party leaders had their turn,
including Nigel Farage, who declared the
five MPs from his Reform UK party the
“new kids on the block”.
“We have no experience in this parlia-
ment whatsoever, even though some of
us have tried many times over the years
previously,” he said, a reference to his
seven failed attempts to be elected.
Parliament then began the lengthy
process of swearing in all 650 MPs. Some
335 of them are new to parliament.
They are required by law to make an
oath or affirmation of allegiance to the
British monarchy and are not allowed to
speak in debates, vote or receive their sal-
ary until they do so.
Sunak is due to stay in charge of the
party until the party works out the timeta-
ble for his successor to be chosen.
The new parliamentary session will
officially begin after Sir Keir’s government
puts forward its priorities for the term in
the King’s speech next Wednesday (17).
NEW MPs TAKE OATH AS SUNAK SAYS STARMER FACES ‘FORMIDABLE TASK’
Will Basu head taskforce to stop people smugglers using boats?
© Christopher Furlong/
Getty Images
FRESH START: Dawn Butler takes a selfie with Sir Keir Starmer (centre) as they are surrounded by
Labour MPs before being sworn in on Tuesday (9) in London
CEREMONY: The Modrowski family and
Lord Paul (seated right) at the event