Key events
Kemi Badenoch asked to use taxpayers’ money to pay for holiday flight, sources claim
Pippa Crerar
Kemi Badenoch asked officials to pay for a holiday flight with taxpayers’ money to the US while in government but was rebuffed by her former department’s top civil servant, the Guardian understands.
Officials at the department for business and trade (DBT) ended up booking her travel to Texas for a family holiday in February last year, sources claimed, although the former cabinet minister covered the cost herself.
The ministerial code states that ministers are expected to uphold the highest standards of propriety and must not ask civil servants to act in conflict with their own code of conduct, including with public funds.
Badenoch had travelled to Mexico for an official visit to discuss the UK’s bid to join the CPTPP Indo-Pacific trade bloc, of which Mexico was a founding member, as well as bilateral trade with the country. Her business class flight there was covered by her department.
But before travelling, she asked the office of DBT permanent secretary, Gareth Davies, whether the department would pick up the bill for a flight to Dallas, where she was holidaying with her family, as the overall cost was lower than a business class return from Mexico.
Her request was refused amid concerns that a taxpayer funded detour would be hard to explain unless it was for official business, even if the flight was cheaper. The DBT said it was normal for permanent secretaries to advise on what was appropriate.
Sources close to Badenoch said she had been due to fly to Texas for an official visit with the state governor, Greg Abbott, to discuss a state-level trade agreement, but when the timings did not work out she covered the cost herself.
However, evidence seen by the Guardian suggests the former minister did ask the department to try to find a way to fund the flight even when there was no official reason for the trip.
Badenoch’s private holiday came within days of the trade department merging with the business department.
You can read the full exclusive report here:
Eleni Courea
Keir Starmer will host senior police leaders in Downing Street on Thursday afternoon after a second night of violent unrest across England.
The prime minister is expected to stress to police chiefs that those who perpetrate violence and “sow hatred” should be met with “the full force of the law”.
The meeting comes after a 17-year-old boy was charged with the murders of three girls. Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, were fatally stabbed on Monday at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside.
Eight other children suffered knife wounds, with five of them in a critical condition. Two adults were also critically injured.
The accused has been remanded in custody to appear on Thursday at Liverpool magistrates’ court.
The incident sparked violent unrest in London, Hartlepool and Manchester overnight on Wednesday, while a demonstration in Aldershot led to a tense standoff with riot police. Far-right demonstrations were organised after false claims that the attack was carried out by a Muslim asylum seeker who crossed the Channel in a small boat gained traction on social media.
At the meeting Starmer is expected to praise officers’ bravery in dealing with the incident in Southport and its aftermath, and commit to working in partnership with police forces across the UK to stop “mindless violence”.
In London, more than 100 people were arrested after protesters in Whitehall launched beer cans and glass bottles at police and threw flares at the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.
You can read the full piece here:
Keir Starmer to meet police leaders as Southport attack leads to violent unrest
Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s latest UK politics live blog. I’m Amy and I’ll be bringing you the latest updates today.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, is to hold an emergency meeting with senior police officers in Downing Street after a second night of disorder and unrest in parts of England.
The meeting in Downing Street on Thursday afternoon comes after scenes of violent unrest in London, Hartlepool and Manchester overnight while a demonstration in Aldershot saw a tense standoff with riot police. In London, more than 100 people were arrested as violence flared after the Southport stabbings.
Starmer will meet with senior police leaders in Downing Street to express his full support for their efforts to deal with the violence and is expected to praise their “bravery” in dealing with the incident in Southport and its aftermath. Starmer will also encourage them to use their powers to “stop mindless violence in its tracks”.
Elsewhere, the justice secretary, Angela Constance, will visit Stirling police station at an event to mark the national phased rollout of digital evidence sharing technology. She will meet justice partners collaborating on the £33m Scottish government initiative to share digital evidence across the justice system.
This morning, the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will visit a community group, during which he will set out how the Labour government’s plans to make work pay will deliver for working Scots.
I’ll also keep an eye out for any reaction to the Guardian’s exclusive on Kemi Badenoch that was published last night. The Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar reported that Badenoch had asked officials to pay for a holiday flight with taxpayers’ money to the US while in government but was rebuffed by her former department’s top civil servant.
Officials at the department for business and trade (DBT) ended up booking her travel to Texas for a family holiday in February last year, sources claimed, although the former cabinet minister covered the cost herself.
I’ll try my best to read the comments BTL but if you want to get in touch then please email me at amy.sedghi@guardian.co.uk.