Connect with us

Published

on

Rishi Sunak has been reported to Police Scotland over comments he made about Nicola Sturgeon in his Tory Party conference speech.

Chris McEleny, the general secretary of Alba Party, told Sky News he had filed a complaint and asked for an investigation into whether Mr Sunak may have committed contempt of court by mentioning Scotland’s former first minister, who is subject to a live police investigation.

The prime minister made a joke about Ms Sturgeon in his speech to Tory party members at the annual conference in Manchester on Wednesday.

David Cameron turns on Sunak amid HS2 backlash – Tory conference latest

Ms Sturgeon, who stood down as first minister in February, was arrested and questioned in June as part of Police Scotland’s investigation into the SNP’s finances but was later released without charge.

She has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

Mr McEleny’s complaint reads: “The prime minister is commenting on, and making an assumption about a live Police Scotland investigation.

“Operation Branchform is investigating serious matters of the upmost importance to the people of Scotland.

“It is too important a matter to allow interference from the prime minister in this act of contempt when many people await the facts of Police Scotland’s investigation.

“Operation Branchform should be free to pursue its investigation fearlessly without interference from Rishi Sunak.”

File photo dated 20/06/23 of former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon who is writing a "deeply personal and revealing" memoir which she will dedicate to her journalist uncle.

Police Scotland launched Operation Branchform to investigate the whereabouts of £600,000 of funding that had been earmarked for a second independence vote.

It is understood there have been complaints the ring-fenced cash may have been used improperly by being spent elsewhere.

Ms Sturgeon’s arrest came on the back of the detentions of party treasurer Colin Beattie and former party chief executive Peter Murrell – also Ms Sturgeon’s husband – who were both subsequently released without charge.

Police previously searched the SNP headquarters and the home of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell as part of the investigation.

Sky News has approached Downing Street and Police Scotland for comment.

Continue Reading

Politics

RWAs build mirrors where they need building blocks

Published

on

By

RWAs build mirrors where they need building blocks

RWAs build mirrors where they need building blocks

Most RWAs remain isolated and underutilized instead of composable, DeFi-ready building blocks. It’s time to change that.

Continue Reading

Politics

Collapsed crypto firm Ziglu faces $2.7M deficit amid special administration

Published

on

By

Collapsed crypto firm Ziglu faces .7M deficit amid special administration

Collapsed crypto firm Ziglu faces .7M deficit amid special administration

Thousands of savers face potential losses after a $2.7 million shortfall was discovered at Ziglu, a British crypto fintech that entered special administration.

Continue Reading

Politics

Heidi Alexander says ‘fairness’ will be government’s ‘guiding principle’ when it comes to taxes at next budget

Published

on

By

Heidi Alexander says 'fairness' will be government's 'guiding principle' when it comes to taxes at next budget

Another hint that tax rises are coming in this autumn’s budget has been given by a senior minister.

Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was asked if Sir Keir Starmer and the rest of the cabinet had discussed hiking taxes in the wake of the government’s failed welfare reforms, which were shot down by their own MPs.

Trevor Phillips asked specifically if tax rises were discussed among the cabinet last week – including on an away day on Friday.

Politics Hub: Catch up on the latest

Tax increases were not discussed “directly”, Ms Alexander said, but ministers were “cognisant” of the challenges facing them.

Asked what this means, Ms Alexander added: “I think your viewers would be surprised if we didn’t recognise that at the budget, the chancellor will need to look at the OBR forecast that is given to her and will make decisions in line with the fiscal rules that she has set out.

“We made a commitment in our manifesto not to be putting up taxes on people on modest incomes, working people. We have stuck to that.”

Ms Alexander said she wouldn’t comment directly on taxes and the budget at this point, adding: “So, the chancellor will set her budget. I’m not going to sit in a TV studio today and speculate on what the contents of that budget might be.

“When it comes to taxation, fairness is going to be our guiding principle.”

Read more:
Reeves won’t rule out tax rises

What is a wealth tax and how would it work?

👉Listen to Politics at Sam and Anne’s on your podcast app👈      

Afterwards, shadow home secretary Chris Philp told Phillips: “That sounds to me like a barely disguised reference to tax rises coming in the autumn.”

He then went on to repeat the Conservative attack lines that Labour are “crashing the economy”.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Chris Philp also criticsed the government’s migration deal with France

Mr Philp then attacked the prime minister as “weak” for being unable to get his welfare reforms through the Commons.

Discussions about potential tax rises have come to the fore after the government had to gut its welfare reforms.

Sir Keir had wanted to change Personal Independence Payments (PIP), but a large Labour rebellion forced him to axe the changes.

With the savings from these proposed changes – around £5bn – already worked into the government’s sums, they will now need to find the money somewhere else.

The general belief is that this will take the form of tax rises, rather than spending cuts, with more money needed for military spending commitments, as well as other areas of priority for the government, such as the NHS.

Continue Reading

Trending