Last modified on Thu 29 Apr 2021 10.49 EDT
When an equality thinktank with just eight full-time staff added its voice to criticism of the government’s recent race report, it probably didn’t expect to become a lightning rod for hate mail and threats, or find itself at the centre of a culture war between rightwing politicians and charities.
In what has been described as a full-scale campaign to “silence criticism and discredit any dissenting voices”, a group of Tory MPs from the Conservative Common Sense Group attacked the Runnymede Trust after it became one of the more vocal critics of the government’s controversial Sewell report.
Boris Johnson has been told to relax the ‘unnecessary’ and ‘unfair’ cap on funeral mourners by MPs.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Funerals and Bereavement wrote to the Prime Minister last night demanding he take action to prioritise those who’ve lost loved ones.
In a letter seen by the Mail, they urged the Government to ‘relax the rule of 30 funeral mourners in England in any way possible over the coming weeks’.
Committee chairman Sir John Hayes wrote: ‘Many people across England have been critical of the restriction on 30 mourners for a funeral, which remains in place until at least 17 May and possibly longer. I am concerned that as other sectors of the economy reopen and as larger events begin to take place again, that this cap on mourners is unnecessary and unfair on those wishing to attend the funeral of a loved one.
Don t let campaigners weaken Priti Patel s immigration reforms, Boris Johnson told
Common Sense group of Tory MPs writes to Prime Minister to say attempts to water down plans must be resisted
24 April 2021 • 5:00pm
The Home Secretary is set to champion a major new Borders Bill through Parliament after next month s Queen s Speech
Credit: PRU/AFP via Getty Images
Priti Patel s immigration reforms must not be weakened by campaigners, Tory MPs have told Boris Johnson.
Ms Patel, the Home Secretary, is set to champion a major new Borders Bill through Parliament after next month s Queen s Speech. However, there are already fears that campaigners and legal firms will try to water down the reforms, seen as the biggest shake-up of immigration rules for decades.
DfE to ensure daily collective Christian worship maintained in schools
DfE to ensure daily collective Christian worship maintained in schools
5 minutes ago
Jo Fothergill
The Minister of State for School Standards has reminded schools in England and Wales that they must comply with the requirement to have a daily act of collective worship.
Nick Gibb MP, in a written reply to a question raised by Sir John Hayes MP, stated that the Department for Education (DfE) will investigate schools reported to be in breach of legislation and advise on how they can fulfil their duty.
Under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, state-funded schools must conduct acts of collective worship “wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character”.
Culture secretary urged to affirm charities right to campaign
Vicky Browning of the charity leaders body Acevo tells Oliver Dowden that a vocal minority of MPs are repeatedly questioning legitimate work carried out by charities, particularly on equality
by Andy Ricketts
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