UK Deputy PM David Lammy criticized wealthy social media owners for profiting from 'division, conflict, hate and toxicity.' He highlighted concerns about child online safety and the government's potential new measures, including legislation and restrictions for under-16s.
A cross-party committee of MPs has warned that David Lammy's proposed criminal court reforms could increase mistrust in the justice system among the black community. The report highlights the underrepresentation of black judges and calls for a national target to achieve a representative judiciary by 2035.
Published documents reveal deep divisions within the UK government regarding Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to Washington. Critics, including Mandelson himself, express strong doubts about Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership and the government's effectiveness. Security concerns, particularly regarding Mandelson's contacts with foreign nationals and links to Jeffrey Epstein, are also highlighted, though the full details remain undisclosed due to ongoing investigations.
David Lammy and Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr are launching a new board to recruit more minority ethnic and working-class solicitors into the judiciary. The initiative aims to address criticisms of bias and improve representation, though some groups question the effectiveness of the process.
UK Justice Secretary David Lammy plans to reduce child custody by 25% through reforms and community sentences
Justice Secretary David Lammy has dismissed speculation about Keir Starmer's leadership, stating there is "no timetable for departure." Lammy urged Labour to unite ahead of the Makerfield by-election, where Andy Burnham is expected to run.
Justice Secretary David Lammy plans to cut youth jail numbers by 25% and end lifelong criminal records for under-18s. The overhaul includes new interventions and parental accountability measures.
Police monitoring both Tommy Robinson’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march and also the annual ‘Nakba day’ pro-Palestine marchJustice secretary David Lammy said the organisers of the Unite the Kingdom rally taking place today “are spreading hatred and division”.Writing on X, he added: “They do not reflect the Britain I’m proud of. Continue reading...
PM on the brink with Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood believed to be among those urging him to set out a timetable for departureStarmer on the brink as cabinet ministers urge him to quitGood morning. “Stories beat spreadsheets,” Keir Starmer declared in his speech yesterday. But yesterday was a day when the spreadsheets had the upper hand. Most news organisations were using them to keep a track of Labour MPs who were coming out and calling for Starmer’s resignation and, after his speech in the morning, the numbers started to escalate. Here is the LabourList one; by the end of last night they were on 77.The sort of names on the spreadsheets changed too. Initially it was mostly leftwingers calling for the PM to go, with the Andy Burnham supporters stressing the need for a timetable for an orderly transition (ie – a slow process, allowing Burnham to win a byelection before a leadership contest). But in the afternoon government loyalists, and some prominent Wes Streeting supporters, started speaking out. And by early evening parliamentary private secretaries (technically, people on the government “payroll”) were joining in too.The Guardian understands that two senior cabinet ministers – Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary – told the prime minister he should oversee an orderly transition of power after crushing election defeats risked ringing the death knell on his premiership.At least two others – believed to be John Healey and David Lammy – discussed with Starmer how they should take a “responsible, dignified, orderly” approach to what might follow. Several others – including Richard Hermer and Steve Reed – were defiant, urging him to fight on. Continue reading...
Keir Starmer faced intense questioning at PMQs regarding the vetting of Peter Mandelson and potential diplomatic appointments for political allies. While denying pressure on the Foreign Office, Starmer acknowledged failures in communication regarding security vetting outcomes.
Former senior civil servant Oliver Robbins has told the Commons foreign affairs committee that he faced 'constant pressure' from No 10 to get Peter Mandelson appointed as US ambassador despite vetting concerns. Robbins revealed that Downing Street also wanted him to find a diplomatic post for Matthew Doyle, Starmer's former communications chief. The hearing revived claims that Starmer's team were determined to push through the Mandelson appointment despite multiple concerns.
Matthew Doyle, former No 10 communications chief who received a peerage after leaving Downing Street, has denied seeking an ambassadorial role following Olly Robbins' committee hearing revelations. Robbins disclosed that Starmer's No 10 had initiated discussions about finding a head of mission role for Doyle. The denial comes amid ongoing controversy over Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US.
Ed Miliband has revealed he warned David Lammy that Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to Washington could "blow up", expressing concerns about Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein and his lobbying firm's Chinese and Russian business ties. Mandelson was sacked after nine months following disclosures about his relationship with the late financier and child sex offender. The Guardian revealed he failed initial security vetting, which was overruled by the Foreign Office, leading to the sacking of FCDO permanent secretary Oliver Robbins.
Douglas Alexander defends PM ahead of Commons showdown over Mandelson scandalJudgment day for PM over Mandelson scandalDavid Lammy, the deputy PM and justice secretary who was foreign secretary when Peter Mandelson was made ambassador to the US, has said that he was never told that Mandelson failed the security vetting interview. Mandelson’s was only technically approved because Olly Robbins, the head of Foreign Office, exercised his discretion to ignore the recommendation from the people doing the vetting.Lammy gave his account of this in an interview with Pippa Crerar.The problem ultimately is caused by the prime minister choosing an ambassador with a known integrity problem. Everybody understood that about Peter Mandelson, if you look at his past record.I’m not criticising his abilities, but as the talisman for New Labour, he had a very dodgy series of relationships. We won’t go into that. So there should have been, the prime minister should have thought through before announcing the appointment how he was going to manage that aspect of choosing Mandelson. Continue reading...
David Lammy has condemned Donald Trump's insults towards Keir Starmer as "small and petty", saying they are designed to pressure the prime minister to change the UK's position on Iran. The deputy prime minister insisted the UK would not be dragged into the conflict and urged the US president to "disagree agreeably" with allies rather than publishing attacks on social media. His comments come amid increasingly strained UK-US relations over the Iran conflict, with Trump criticizing Starmer for not committing British forces.
Deputy prime minister says it is ‘inexplicable’ top civil servant kept Downing Street in darkKeir Starmer would have blocked Peter Mandelson from serving as the UK’s ambassador to Washington had he known he failed security vetting, David Lammy has said, as he attempted to shore up the prime minister amid damaging fallout from the row.In his first public comments on the vetting affair, Lammy said it was “inexplicable” that Oliver Robbins, the former top civil servant who was forced out of the Foreign Office this week, had opted to leave Downing Street in the dark over the outcome. Continue reading...
Geoffrey Robertson KC, founder of Keir Starmer's barristers' chambers, has strongly criticized proposed restrictions on jury trials in England and Wales, calling them a 'betrayal of Labour values' and a 'cure worse than the disease'.
