Johnson faces fresh Commons clash over genocide amendments
David Hughes, PA Political Editor
8 February 2021, 3:25 pm
Ministers are “worried” about upsetting the Chinese over genocide allegations in Xinjiang, a former Tory leader claimed, ahead of a crunch Commons vote on the issue.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is seeking to avert a Tory revolt over the handling of genocide allegations by backing a compromise plan which would allow MPs to consider allegations of atrocities rather than the courts.
But former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the compromise did not allow Parliament to do anything that MPs and peers could not already do, and claimed ministers were intent on blocking the courts from considering genocide claims.
Court sitting hours could be extended to help clear Covid cases backlog By PA News
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Courts could be made to open for longer in order to help clear the backlog of cases built up during the pandemic, a minister has said.
It comes after a report by four top inspectors in the criminal justice system warned of their âgrave concernsâ about the situation.
Justin Russell, chief inspector of probation, Sir Thomas Winsor, chief inspector of constabulary, Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, and Kevin McGinty, chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), issued the warning ahead of being questioned by the Commons Justice Select Committee on Tuesday.
THE Ministry of Justice is considering opening courts for longer to help clear the backlog of cases built up during the pandemic, a minister has said. Responding to an urgent question, justice minister Chris Philp told the Commons that 20,000 remote hearings a week are now taking place in crown courts and magistrates’ courts. He said: “In the first lockdown, and as these measures have been put into place, backlogs have understandably developed. This has been the case across the world. But the fruits of our labours are now being seen.” Mr Philp added: “We will not rest, we are adding more courtrooms, further increasing remote hearings and examining options for longer operating hours.”