Tory chairman Richard Holden dodges questions about being ‘parachuted into safe seat’
The Tory party chairman has refused to answer questions about his selection controversy after he was chosen to stand in a “safe seat” 300 miles away from his former constituency.
Richard Holden was chosen to be the Conservatives’ parliamentary candidate in Basildon and Billericay in Essex last week, after being the only candidate on the list.
Election latest: Media ‘haven’t been allowed near Sunak’ after D-Day blunder
The choice sparked a furore among local Tories as before the election was called he was the MP for North West Durham – an area hundreds of miles away, which he claimed to be “bloody loyal” to.
Basildon and Billericay is seen as a “safe seat” with its former MP John Baron, who has stood down for the election, winning a majority of more than 20,000 in 2019.
Mr Holden refused to engage with questions about the row when speaking to broadcasters on Sunday.
Asked multiple times how he could justify being “parachuted into a safe seat” with a shortlist of just one, he went on a tangent about Labour’s policy to tax private school fees, and comments made by shadow minister Emily Thornberry.
He said: “This interview is about Emily Thornberry’s comments today when she admitted that it is going to be our children across the country paying the price for Labour’s decision to try and tax private schools if they get into office.”
Mr Holden was referring to Ms Thornberry saying that class sizes in state schools may increase as a result of Labour adding VAT to private school fees, which could see some pupils leave the independent sector.
He said: “That I think is a horrendous price to pay… for Labour’s ideological obsession.”
Asked to deny if he was part of a “stich-up” with his seat selection, Mr Holden again pointed to Ms Thornberry’s comments.
Asked why he said in February he was “bloody loyal” to the North East – where he has been an MP since 2019 – he claimed he has answered questions about the selection row on Channel 4.
It was put to him that C4 is one broadcaster and he was taking part in a pool clip – which sees broadcasters share their footage – but Mr Holden would still not be drawn in on the matter.
Holden ‘a disgrace to the Conservative Party’
His refusal to answer the questions drew a fierce condemnation from one Tory candidate, who told Sky’s deputy political editor Sam Coates he is a “disgrace to the Conservative Party”.
They added: “He’s put himself over candidates. He’s shown complete disdain for party members. The only reason this fool won’t be associated with this disastrous election is because nobody believes anyone thinks he competent, capable or trusted enough to be involved in the day-to-day decision making of this campaign.
“It’s a running joke amongst candidates that they hope it’s a Labour gain in Basildon and Billericay.”
Former defence secretary Sir Liam Fox gave a more muted criticism, telling Sky News: “I think when politicians stop answering questions directly, the public stop listening.”
Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said: “Ric Holden is running the Tory election campaign.
“If chicken-run Ric can’t stand the heat, he should get out of the kitchen.”
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PM ‘out on road over next few days’
Mr Holden also faced questions about Rishi Sunak, who has been accused of avoiding the media as the row over his early exit from an international D-Day event continues.
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Sunak avoids D-Day questions
Asked if he is hiding, Mr Holden said: “The prime minister will be out on the road, I’m sure, over the next few days, fighting for every vote right across the country.”
Mr Sunak has been campaigning in Yorkshire without the usual media pack today after facing accusations of “dodging” reporters’ questions on Saturday as the row over his D-Day snub rumbles on.
The prime minister was forced to apologise on Friday for skipping an international ceremony attended by world leaders including US President Joe Biden to mark the 80th anniversary of the allied landings.
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But backlash has continued to pile in from rivals, veterans and some within his own party, with Conservative commentator Tim Montgomerie branding the early departure “the biggest gaffe I can remember in politics”.
The continued criticism, which comes amid a 20-point poll deficit, has even fuelled speculation Mr Sunak could resign before polling day – something cabinet minister Mel Stride was forced to shut down on Sunday.
He told Sky News Mr Sunak will “absolutely” lead the party into the election.
“There should be no question of anything other than that,” he said.
Britain should have access to the EU’s rearmament fund before the end of the year but “wounds of Brexit” mean some member states want it to be limited, the bloc’s foreign affairs chief has said.
Kaja Kallas told Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby that the “technical details” of Security Action for Europe (SAFE) still need to be sorted out.
SAFE is a €150bn (£126bn) fund to provide loans to EU nations and other participants to bolster their defences.
Politics Live: Starmer says EU deal ‘win-win’
As part of Sir Keir Starmer’s new reset deal with the EU, a new defence partnership was struck that will allow the UK to access it.
Asked when this might be, Ms Kallas said: “The SAFE instrument has just been finalised between the institutions but it also needs approval from the European Council. And when that is done, we also move on with the implementation of that, and that is in the coming months.”
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Who wins from the UK-EU deal?
Asked about reports that some member states think there should be a limit on what the UK can access, she said: “ Of course these discussions are there. We have the wounds from Brexit very clearly.
“I mean you wanted to exit the European Union and then there are many voices who say that you shouldn’t have the same benefits from the European instruments that the European Union countries have.”
According to The Times, France is pushing to freeze the UK out of 85% of the fund.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs. Pic: Reuters
Asked if Britain’s access should be higher, Ms Kallas said her personal view is that given the current climate “we should do both. We should invest more in European industry. But we should also cooperate with our outside partners like the UK”.
She added that the EU hasn’t had discussions in terms of percentage, because the fund is “down to the capabilities”.
“That is, I think, more important than numbers,” she said.
The UK government has said accessing SAFE will support thousands of British jobs.
Defence was one of the many areas that has been agreed as part of the new UK and the EU trade deal struck by Sir Keir Starmer – five years after Brexit kicked in.
A key part of the deal involves giving European fishing boats a further 12 years of access to British waters.
In return, there will be increased access to EU eGates for British passport holders in Europe, no health certificates every time pets travel to Europe and the removal of red tape from most UK food and drink imports and exports.
UK
‘I recognise the error and upset caused’ – Gary Lineker releases statement as BBC departure confirmed
Gary Lineker has confirmed reports he is leaving the BBC after this season’s Match Of The Day and will no longer present its World Cup coverage.
It comes after the 64-year-old “apologised unreservedly” for sharing a social media post illustrated with a rat – which has been used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda, including Nazi Germany.
In a statement on Monday, Lineker said: “Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio.
Read more: A history of Gary Lineker’s most controversial posts
“I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.
“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
Lineker has fronted Match Of The Day since 1999. PA
Lineker said he deleted the post when he learned about the rat’s symbolism, adding that he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic”.
In a video posted to Instagram, the pundit added: “I’ve stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor.
“There’s no place for it and never should be.”
He went on to thank the “brilliant, talented” people he has worked with and described his relationship with the BBC as “long and wonderful”.
He added: “But it’s the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways.”
Lineker’s last appearance on the BBC will be on Sunday 25 May, the final day of the season.
‘A defining voice in football coverage’
Also confirming Lineker’s exit, BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.
“Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond.
“We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.”
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will share the role of presenting Match of the Day. Pic BBC/PA
The former England star announced in November he would step down from Match Of The Day this year, but was set to return to front the World Cup in 2026, as well as FA Cup coverage.
The presenter was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then Conservative government’s asylum policy.
He will be replaced on Match Of The Day by Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman, who will share the presenting role from the next Premier League season.
Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day since 1999 and has been the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent for seven consecutive years.
He is also the co-founder of podcast producing company Goalhanger, which makes the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money.
Lineker parting ways with the BBC also includes the licensing deal for Goalhanger podcast titles on BBC Sounds which ends this year, the PA news agency reported.
A “significant amount of personal data” of people who applied to the Legal Aid Agency – including criminal records – was accessed and downloaded by hackers, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.
The group that carried out the cyber attack says it accessed 2.1 million pieces of data, but the MoJ has not verified that figure, it is understood.
The government became aware of the incident on 23 April, but realised on Friday it was more extensive than first thought.
An MoJ source put the breach down to the “neglect and mismanagement” of the previous government, saying vulnerabilities in the Legal Aid Agency systems have been known for many years.
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA), is an executive agency, sponsored by the MoJ, which is responsible for administering legal aid funding – around £2.3bn in 2023/24.
The data accessed affected those who applied for legal aid in the last 15 years, and may include contact details and addresses of legal aid applicants, their dates of birth, national insurance numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments.
The MoJ has urged anyone who applied for legal aid since 2010 to update any passwords that could have been exposed, and be alert to unknown messages and phone calls.
The organisation’s digital services, which are used by legal aid providers to log their work and get paid, have been taken offline.
‘We needed to take radical action’
Legal Aid Agency chief executive Jane Harbottle has apologised for the breach and acknowledged the news would be “shocking and upsetting”.
“Since the discovery of the attack, my team has been working around the clock with the National Cyber Security Centre to bolster the security of our systems so we can safely continue the vital work of the agency,” she said.
“However, it has become clear that, to safeguard the service and its users, we needed to take radical action. That is why we’ve taken the decision to take the online service down,” she said.
Ms Harbottle said contingency plans are in place for those who need legal support and advice.
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Retail disruption to ‘last months’
The Law Society, an organisation representing solicitors across the UK, blamed the attack on Legal Aid’s “antiquated IT system”.
“The incident once again demonstrates the need for sustained investment to bring the LAA’s antiquated IT system up to date and ensure the public have continued trust in the justice system,” said a Law Society spokesperson.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it is working with the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre to investigate the data breach.
The National Crime Agency said it was aware of the incident and was working closely with the MoJ to “better understand the incident and support the department”.
It comes after retailers Co-op, Harrods and Marks & Spencer were hit by cyber attacks, although there is no suggestion that they are connected to the incident at the LAA.
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