Court defeat on nurses’ strike date could lead to vote for more disruption, says RCN leader – UK politics live | Politics

<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"644a63018f0802b5b51df553","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

NHS Employers, which represents managers in the NHS, has said the RCN should have rescheduled its strike as soon as it was told it could not lawfully continue into Tuesday 2 May, instead of waiting for a court hearing to resolve this.

“,”elementId”:”c1c1e078-0d08-4761-82ef-5fefca8682bd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said:

“,”elementId”:”b7f9d737-6773-4b4b-8b53-dbb3e6117d7c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

The RCN could and should have resolved this significant issue of the legality of its strike sooner.

n

More than a week ago now NHS Employers approached the RCN to query whether its mandate for strike action expired at midnight on May 1 2023, and not the May 2 they had appeared to suggest.

n

The RCN vigorously rejected our assertion and we were left with no choice but to ask the secretary of state to seek the view of the courts.

n

Clarity has now been achieved, not least for RCN members, and the judge has confirmed the position we set out last week: any strike action occurring on May 2 would be illegal.

n

“,”elementId”:”8c65dfc6-968a-4e96-aee6-90c0920d5825″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682596609000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.56 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682597218000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.06 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682597218000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.06 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.06″,”title”:”NHS managers criticise RCN for not backing down earlier in dispute over strike dates”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a626a8f0802b5b51df543″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Employers are increasingly likely to go unpunished after workplace accidents, ministers have been warned, as figures show the number of investigations dropped by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) due to insufficient resources has surged. Aubrey Allegretti has the story here.

“,”elementId”:”754847fa-6c8d-418a-b3f2-6d88b9ed3d3a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/apr/27/workplace-accidents-increasingly-ignored-by-uk-safety-regulator-hse-health-and-safety-executive?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other”,”text”:”Workplace accidents increasingly ignored by UK safety regulator”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”1a1325f9-d5e0-49e5-b5b2-548c8e41b516″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682596458000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.54 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682596543000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.55 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682596544000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.55 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.55″,”title”:”Workplace accidents increasingly ignored by UK safety regulator”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a5d4a8f084a2f5d0117db”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here are some more lines from what Pat Cullen, the RCN general secretary, said to the media after the government won a court ruling saying the final day of the union’s proposed strike would be unlawful.

“,”elementId”:”9a14c67e-9070-4ec5-ac90-bd6087d1bed3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• Cullen claimed that the public would not support the decision by the government to take the RCN to court. She said:

n

“,”elementId”:”440315af-2d63-47e3-8ee6-59a343ddcd2a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

Today, what I have said is this is no way to treat the nursing staff in England. It’s no way to drive a wedge between government and the very people that are holding this health service together …

n

[The government] have won their legal [case] today. But what this has led to is they have lost nursing and they’ve lost the public.

n

They’ve taken the most trusted profession through the courts, by the least trusted people.

n

“,”elementId”:”01528cef-3975-465c-80c5-ad28fbda4abc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• She said the RCN would go ahead with the strike, starting on Sunday 30 April, and that it would continue into Monday 1 May – but not into Tuesday 2 May, as originally planned, as a result of the court decision.

n

“,”elementId”:”29966947-31ec-4b9a-9320-78b31798a745″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• She urged Steve Barclay, the health secretary, to reopen talks on pay. She said:

n

“,”elementId”:”2f1e8904-6229-40a1-a5d7-a4dbc9229df9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

He can continue, if he wishes, to drag [nurses] through court proceedings. But what he needs to do is get into a negotiating room and start to talk to the nurses of England, sort out this dispute and allow them to get back to their work.

n

“,”elementId”:”4904690f-7e4b-47ae-9fa5-763cfe434453″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• She said the RCN was sorry for the disruption caused by the strike to patients – but she said the government was to blame. She said:

n

“,”elementId”:”02832d0e-7c35-4bf6-ba9c-50cca8804608″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

Every day that we have taken strike action we’ve said we’re sorry. We’re sorry for those 7.2 million people-plus that are sitting on waiting lists.

n

We’re sorry that we haven’t been able to fill the tens of thousands of vacant posts by getting this government into a room and negotiating properly and decently for nursing.

n

That’s what our aim is, to address those waiting list to make sure people get a decent NHS in this country and they just continue to crumble under this government.

n

“,”elementId”:”5190801b-36c2-4448-bed8-292271d284be”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”3604″,”width”:”5373″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/5373.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”3604″,”width”:”5373″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1342″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”671″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”335″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”94″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/140.jpg”}]},”data”:{“alt”:”Pat Cullen with RCN colleagues outside the Royal Courts of Justice today.”,”caption”:”Pat Cullen with RCN colleagues outside the Royal Courts of Justice today.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA”},”displayCredit”:true,”role”:”inline”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=feb26d8ef6752282474a27a1d61c4fdb”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4490c92e0b5f665630c403ceca3596a3″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ec84a57b9ed65c1b310efceda177d39f”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=08c76d517c2c49c9a558c9441f6ac26c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=297990e843cab9eeeb7888d1d8a76659″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1e1bf2615221e6b81a1f6cc6b545fe85″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2b3f02b79500fef6cc41680f4b9cb3c9″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1a6c775cd831872b27b16f4ba1ad79c3″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=72f314da8f37a93ab92c892e0558f103″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=44c59eccf45080126d9c88c2588ac722″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6437ee9434c1eda0cee3032ddfd9f043″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=22685224216ab8d9bf5d23acebe1b241″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=78e77114d107b24939c105db3ce1fd1e”,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=eaf6dd97e56be61aef448238d50120ef”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=feb26d8ef6752282474a27a1d61c4fdb”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4490c92e0b5f665630c403ceca3596a3″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ec84a57b9ed65c1b310efceda177d39f”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=08c76d517c2c49c9a558c9441f6ac26c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=297990e843cab9eeeb7888d1d8a76659″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1e1bf2615221e6b81a1f6cc6b545fe85″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5c24008594147fbf7e8b93cd9c21d05f”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=88e71c169c2ffd581375f10c46409d4c”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=963ced26266f91c53cfddf918925beca”,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=95c929211ae77c880da03bdcd8ee81a0″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=feb26d8ef6752282474a27a1d61c4fdb”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4490c92e0b5f665630c403ceca3596a3″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ec84a57b9ed65c1b310efceda177d39f”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=08c76d517c2c49c9a558c9441f6ac26c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=297990e843cab9eeeb7888d1d8a76659″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1e1bf2615221e6b81a1f6cc6b545fe85″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=feb26d8ef6752282474a27a1d61c4fdb”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4490c92e0b5f665630c403ceca3596a3″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ec84a57b9ed65c1b310efceda177d39f”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=08c76d517c2c49c9a558c9441f6ac26c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=297990e843cab9eeeb7888d1d8a76659″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1e1bf2615221e6b81a1f6cc6b545fe85″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3615129746d94f08df75ad9ad2eec044″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=897298e5e268d018bfad8136f145733e”,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=33e5b8faa0a490deabfc705dbc9fd5f5″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3b4d129a72c0df58f218e58873a371d0″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8f2d45f4f6f6db44470bac7c680c7948″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=83b3f72e19ef79814de211256128143b”,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1b1cee37ea6e4be959bf6aece9553768″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9820546764ee3ab78e016dc3d29a8e36″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=90cc61720eb17ab20a386a049d3b09bb”,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=92231f4fad7076f18641f4d5c52f28ca”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1990ad114b4cdd4b2be0e361f7d46525″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=10fc556fe9492b19deaf40f69f52f851″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7f964723fba336581b551a5b68cc9d2a”,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b40bd45805e0ba2fec6e42dd5fd50df5f79c811d/0_0_5373_3604/master/5373.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8f25a9d16f89a762447b687651b5763b”,”width”:960}]}],”elementId”:”e78086cf-d595-4287-a1fb-2dbe5963c3d3″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682595146000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.32 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682596129000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.48 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682596130000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.48 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.48″,”title”:”Public won’t support government decision to take nurses’ union to court, says RCN chief”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a5bad8f0802b5b51df4c9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Downing Street has said it was “regrettable” that it had to take the Royal College of Nursing to court to get it to halt the second day of its 24-hour strike.

“,”elementId”:”623b3c48-1408-47cd-8f9e-32a4e2e5b6aa”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Asked about the high court ruling that strike action on 2 May would be unlawful, the PM’s spokesperson told reporters:

“,”elementId”:”babc3945-636e-4b30-bea7-97917135fde6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I think, firstly, it is obviously regrettable that it had to come to court action in the first instance.

n

The government never wanted to take this to court. We did indeed try every possible way to avoid a court case.

n

The NHS presented the RCN with clear legal evidence that their planned strike for 2 May was unlawful. We asked them to call it off. The RCN refused. That’s why the NHS asked the government to intervene and seek the view of the court.

n

Late yesterday, Steve Barclay wrote to the RCN, to[its leader] Pat Cullen again, and asked them to call off their final day of the strike given we were confident that it was not legal. They refused again.

n

“,”elementId”:”0d1a8800-04db-411f-929d-ff92e31b366d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682594733000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.25 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682595721000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.42 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682594983000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.29 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.29″,”title”:”No 10 says it is ‘regrettable’ it had to go to court to get RCN to accept its second strike day would be unlawful”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a57928f08e51b9ca0162d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, has said the government’s decision to take the union to court, leading to a ruling that it must shorten its planned 48-hour strike by 20 hours, could make nurses even more determined to vote for further strike action.

“,”elementId”:”90c00e9b-5842-4e04-8efa-a1dfecd64303″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In a statement, she described it as “the darkest day of this dispute so far”. She said:

“,”elementId”:”302bdffb-3419-4713-a815-5661768d3d89″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

The full weight of government gave ministers this victory over nursing staff. It is the darkest day of this dispute so far – the government taking its own nurses through the courts in bitterness at their simple expectation of a better pay deal.

n

Nursing staff will be angered but not crushed by today’s interim order. It may even make them more determined to vote in next month’s re-ballot for a further six months of action. Nobody wants strikes until Christmas – we should be in the negotiating room, not the courtroom today. Our strike will now finish at midnight on the Monday as we have ensured safe and legal action at all times.

n

“,”elementId”:”6f47e375-2d42-47e8-a6fc-d250255b36a6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”2333″,”width”:”3500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/3500.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”2333″,”width”:”3500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1333″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”667″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”333″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”93″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/140.jpg”}]},”data”:{“alt”:”Pat Cullen outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London today.”,”caption”:”Pat Cullen outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London today.
“,”credit”:”Photograph: James Manning/PA”},”displayCredit”:true,”role”:”inline”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b29ad0ceaf0178219da640e57b141cb”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1f989ea555cc4707f174105d36f06afb”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3ab1492ce7fdbdaee5924d766d585d54″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=90f2bce0ad91b6c092f4bcf3420ce93e”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b853de9c19a0b4f6190c3d5a42a617d7″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5e2a9a8f2d9bca035de8459e577a4192″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c14d674e0389a39d3e17caa07d60b358″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c1ba0e163a8b5dffafad5bd42b05c353″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5accd0b41b820bfd77eb13758ca358b0″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4124066cda71302e0b6bcdb419462200″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cbc741ed823064d4c2bf7f35f981800d”,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8400f4706b769b401282704633f0c029″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dbd58c7b954770ee105b85d7b1196c4f”,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8e6685772fabd1342f327d82c4807fbf”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b29ad0ceaf0178219da640e57b141cb”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1f989ea555cc4707f174105d36f06afb”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3ab1492ce7fdbdaee5924d766d585d54″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=90f2bce0ad91b6c092f4bcf3420ce93e”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b853de9c19a0b4f6190c3d5a42a617d7″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5e2a9a8f2d9bca035de8459e577a4192″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3cf62c229e7144388c35bfa7df507c6e”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d151ad072deca3a91a8b3d64c21c12cc”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d1f3cf23704b13f7372b576b6c9b2623″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=67a6976c28998aed30a356e5b6e45a23″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b29ad0ceaf0178219da640e57b141cb”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1f989ea555cc4707f174105d36f06afb”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3ab1492ce7fdbdaee5924d766d585d54″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=90f2bce0ad91b6c092f4bcf3420ce93e”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b853de9c19a0b4f6190c3d5a42a617d7″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5e2a9a8f2d9bca035de8459e577a4192″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b29ad0ceaf0178219da640e57b141cb”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1f989ea555cc4707f174105d36f06afb”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3ab1492ce7fdbdaee5924d766d585d54″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=90f2bce0ad91b6c092f4bcf3420ce93e”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b853de9c19a0b4f6190c3d5a42a617d7″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5e2a9a8f2d9bca035de8459e577a4192″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=635d1f0df28357c72f906359af324fc1″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5f3023d684ce8dc055cd6f7687cb5b6c”,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=30abc6ca000f7ded4347d94325dfde10″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=08a3b1e2ef10a8f946bde573b34bd2c3″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f4d2a9e8865ed488670c712b721244b0″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=48cb5c46d0c6838fe7d914603443ea71″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ebcbc7f4c7b64b06ca3e75f69353f637″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f3aa61a88d95ae9ada23a731b0b817fb”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=51742380243b6606bee89fefebc4e18f”,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=06333e9922fdfa3e4cf85a849b5a9f3e”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9aca69464c04c65730288e0940967c09″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f4da1b69ec8fd3fcffc85d25739a8b34″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ac5e9e85c98aa0e3986235b92a30dbbc”,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a12aa159ddfadb27a7e2f6d0090faf75a05d5cf0/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ffcf54e06ef67f949d07d28480dc48bd”,”width”:960}]}],”elementId”:”6c4043d5-cbd1-4007-8e8c-09133b90d9b2″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682593682000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.08 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682595412000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.36 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682594231000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.17 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.17″,”title”:”RCN chief claims court defeat on strike date could make nurses more likely to vote for further action”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a568d8f08e51b9ca01627″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A strike by tens of thousands of nurses starting this Sunday will be cut short after a high court judge ruled the plans as being partly unlawful, Daniel Boffey reports.

“,”elementId”:”f8d32efa-fdb1-4f85-9c3a-101d40c8fa27″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/apr/27/nurses-to-cut-short-strike-as-court-rules-second-day-of-action-unlawful”,”text”:”Nurses to cut short strike as court rules second day of action unlawful “,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”1c9f2fd0-0ba2-440f-bc80-5d0107f6bee5″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682593421000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.03 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682593468000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.04 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682593468000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.04 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.04″,”title”:”Nurses to cut short strike as court rules second day of action unlawful”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a55808f0802b5b51df467″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In the Commons Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, has just delivered a statement on the gambling white paper. My colleague Rob Davies, who has written a book on the gambling industry, is covering the announcement. Here is his story.

“,”elementId”:”756122e9-3b71-46e6-b7cd-1aa8e1796f35″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/apr/27/uk-to-tighten-rules-on-online-gambling-after-long-awaited-review”,”text”:”UK to tighten rules on online gambling after long-awaited review”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”c9151246-0421-4bbe-bcbc-2b9f54fc09d3″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682593152000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”06.59 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682593358000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.02 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682593358000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.02 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.02″,”title”:”UK to tighten rules on online gambling after long-awaited review”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a52ef8f0802b5b51df43b”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Labour has claimed that British support for Ukraine is “flagging”. John Healey, the shadow defence sectetary, made the claim in a Commons urgent question, telling MPs:

“,”elementId”:”0dfad75d-778c-4580-bf58-32a43ecacb2a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

The government has got to be able to do more than one thing at once, and the defence secretary [Ben Wallace] has 60,000 MoD [Ministry of Defence] staff.

n

I am concerned that the momentum behind our military help is faltering and that our UK commitment to Ukraine is flagging. No statement on Ukraine from the defence secretary since January, no new weapons pledged to Ukraine since February, no 2023 action plan for Ukraine first promised last August, no priorities set for the Ukraine recovery conference in London in June.

n

Now, the prime minister said in February that the UK ‘would be the first country to provide Ukraine with longer-range weapons’. What and when?

n

“,”elementId”:”5dbe712c-2aaf-4948-8966-74c9be720480″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Healey ended by saying:

“,”elementId”:”24e1c49a-8112-4130-9917-6f259ca15128″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

The British public are strongly behind Ukraine. They want to know that the government is not weakening in its resolve to support Ukraine, confront Russian aggression and pursue Putin for his war crimes.

n

“,”elementId”:”a004c203-cef1-4490-b0d6-5e9be7f2b028″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In response, Andrew Murrison rejected the Labour claim. He said 14,000 Ukrainian troops had been trained in the UK and that Britain was ‘“leading in Europe” in support for Ukraine.

“,”elementId”:”7b05f363-21a3-419b-8d0b-926fdc116731″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

While he said he understood why Labour wanted to attack the government, he went on:

“,”elementId”:”ed191d0a-7500-4120-b39c-673eec2250b1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

The UK is more than playing its part – we are leaders and I’m really proud of that, and so should the British people be …

n

The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes and will spend another £2.3bn on military support to Ukraine this year.

n

“,”elementId”:”0c619cdf-46e0-4b10-b42a-36cdafa4e090″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682592495000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”06.48 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682595546000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.39 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682592887000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.54 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.54″,”title”:”Defence minister rejects Labour’s claim that British support for Ukraine is ‘flagging’”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a46a38f0802b5b51df380″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Keir Starmer was interviewed on ITV’s Good Morning Britain this morning, and he was questioned at some length by Kate Garraway about Diane Abbott and her race comments in a letter to the Observer that led to her being suspended by the party.

“,”elementId”:”8f7c55d9-d185-4a1d-990c-64dba2122c60″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Labour has refused to give any clue as to whether she is likely to be readmitted soon, or whether this might be used as an excuse to stop her standing for the party at the next election. Garraway asked if Abbott might receive more lenient treatment in light of the fact that she herself has endured a huge amount of racist abuse throughout her career.

“,”elementId”:”ace8a310-59ba-4d4f-b3e7-5900658dd629″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Starmer acknowledged this. He said:

“,”elementId”:”33645061-0a6f-457c-97e4-85c30798412c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

Let me acknowledge what Diane has had to put up with for many, many years, because I think she probably suffered more abuse, obviously racial abuse, than any other person in public life, certainly any other politician. And that is terrible, and it should be condemned and called out. And she should be supported in that.

n

“,”elementId”:”93ce8896-739e-451e-be8f-6950544eff14″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

But Starmer also repeated his condemnation of what she said in her letter, and how it implied a “hierarchy of racism”.

“,”elementId”:”fffd41ec-1961-443a-b9d0-35f0ca7d760c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

When Garraway asked again if Abbott might be “forgiven” because she was a victim of racism herself, Starmer just said an investigation was under way. But when Garraway asked Starmer what his “gut feeling” was, Starmer replied:

“,”elementId”:”2f87c017-043f-45eb-8e59-4b33a4280301″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

My gut feeling is it’s shocking. My gut feeling is that it’s antisemitic, and that I’m determined to change the Labour party so that the Labour party and antisemitism are not mentioned in the same sentence.

n

We’ve done a huge amount of work on that, and I was really pleased that many in the Jewish community feel much more confident in the Labour party than they did. But this battle against antisemitism is never over.

n

“,”elementId”:”f34c3b7a-bdd6-422f-a884-37ddffc954a8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:”

'My gut feeling is that it is shocking and that it is antisemitic.'

Sir @Keir_Starmer is asked whether he would forgive Diane Abbott following the comments she made in a letter.

He tells @kategarraway and @adilray that he is determined to change the Labour party. pic.twitter.com/q6KFTd8TzT

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 27, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/GMB/status/1651479273629179904″,”id”:”1651479273629179904″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”946f1de5-2445-47c2-b014-429b3f7ca1be”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682589347000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.55 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682595647000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.40 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682591772000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.36 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.36″,”title”:”Starmer says his ‘gut feeling’ on reading Diane Abbott’s race letter was ‘it’s shocking’ and ‘antisemitic’”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Mabel Banfield-Nwachi”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/10/12/Mabel_banfield-Nwachi.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e4ce10c91d5c05399fdc043a2d392387″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/10/12/Mabel_banfield-Nwachi.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=96b3903ae4424c9f9f9ee295c526e3fa”}],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a46c88f08e51b9ca01525″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In the Commons Rachel Maclean, the levelling up minister, has still refused to give a clear answer to Clive Betts’ question about whether a record will be made of the number of people who leave after being told at the door of a polling station by a “meeter and greeter” that they won’t be able to vote without photo ID.

“,”elementId”:”150b139f-8ad2-48aa-9bd3-092a569d529a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Pressed again for an answer on this, she says that data on people who are turned away because they don’t have the right ID, and who then return with the right ID, will be recorded by the clerk at the desk where ballot papers are issued.

“,”elementId”:”62b5ec10-4f4e-45c8-a0d7-a7a8bd909bf8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Labour’s Stephanie Peacock asks what will happen if people are turned away before they reach the issuing desk, and if they do not return. Will those figures be recorded.

“,”elementId”:”adb57e23-601d-43be-9506-433d14ea8b0f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Maclean claims she has already addressed this.

“,”elementId”:”2db24438-bd8e-473e-9cf1-f21fa7cfbdb0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Labour’s Matt Western says the obvious solution would be to have a clerk collecting data outside the polling station, as people arrive.

“,”elementId”:”3fce36b6-ed49-457e-b0b2-bde4e0945171″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Maclean does not address the question, but says she disagrees with what Western said about the system being flawed.

“,”elementId”:”ff6a3608-e156-4e86-be30-8372d3d3197d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The SNP’s Pete Wishart says Maclean’s answers show what a “mess” the system is. The government is not even recording data on the people it is disenfranchising, he says.

“,”elementId”:”5a196a70-794d-4593-bd92-3646ebab6b90″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

He says he is glad Scotland has nothing to do with this system.

“,”elementId”:”f69f4c8a-6622-4d1f-b2da-636127d97b9b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

(The photo ID law applies in Scotland for general elections, but not for local elections, as in England.)

“,”elementId”:”3ec7d0ac-1d3f-4b33-9705-8af695cdd1e0″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682589384000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.56 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682591134000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.25 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682590236000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.10 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.10″,”title”:”Minister criticised by MPs after failing to give clear answer about how photo ID voter data will be recorded”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a3cb78f08e51b9ca0149f”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The fact that the local elections are only a week away means the coronation is just over a week away (if the results are dire for the Tories, at least something else will dominate the headlines all week), and today the Daily Telegraph has splashed on complaints about China being represented at the ceremony by Han Zheng, the vice-president who oversaw the suppression of democracy protests in Hong Kong in recent years, including the imposition of the national security law.

“,”elementId”:”5c3a4d05-f868-4011-ada1-86f430e425de”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:”

TELEGRAPH: Architect of Hong Kong crackdown to attend Coronation #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/BVxKS7SW8D

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 26, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1651335832110809089″,”id”:”1651335832110809089″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”cbd4f217-01a1-4e0f-971f-ee1ab2fcf1f8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader and one of the MPs most critical of China, is quoted in the article. He told Times Radio this morning that Han had been deeply involved in genocide, torture and other human rights abuses committed by the Chinese government. He went on:

“,”elementId”:”98360dcb-26a3-4de4-96b5-6f02a2f7ecef”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I think the government has been less than strong. I have to tell you this, I hate to say it about my government.

n

“,”elementId”:”757b206b-4c2e-4efc-a5ae-f8718b3c300f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In a separate interview, James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, defended the invitation, saying it was for China to decide who actually attended on its behalf. He said:

“,”elementId”:”c3133570-bf4d-41ae-bd95-e721ed8e7b62″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

We don’t invite individuals. What we do is we invite a representative or two representatives from each country with which we have a diplomatic relationship. And that includes China.

n

Who China sends, indeed, which person any country sends as their representative at the coronation, is rightly a decision for that country.

n

“,”elementId”:”56f12289-f92a-4620-810f-5dbbe66bba56″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682586807000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.13 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682591498000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.31 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682587744000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.29 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.29″,”title”:”Cleverly defends attendance of China’s vice-president at coronation, saying Bejing decided who would come”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a373c8f084a2f5d0115af”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, has been giving interviews about Sudan this morning. (See 9.48am.) But he was also asked about last night’s Guardian story saying officials from the Department of Health have “raised concerns” about Steve Barclay’s alleged conduct towards civil servants.

“,”elementId”:”840f3c87-9422-475a-8e94-3f1583bfec3c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Cleverly told Sky News that Barclay was “absolutely not” a bully. He said:

“,”elementId”:”7276c460-0f55-4f1f-be96-e3c2af08ea7e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I’ve worked with him on a number of occasions.

n

He has made a statement making it absolutely clear that there have been no reports.

n

His statement is clear and completely unambiguous, and I am completely convinced that that is accurate.

n

“,”elementId”:”cb24fd68-1945-4902-b3c7-03ead4a3ac4d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682585404000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.50 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682585634000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”04.53 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682585634000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.53 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.53″,”title”:”Steve Barclay ‘absolutely not’ a bully, says James Cleverly”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a368f8f0802b5b51df2b9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

British nationals trapped in Sudan have been warned by the government that there is “no guarantee” of getting them out of the increasingly violent country after the ceasefire ends and they should leave immediately. Alexandra Topping has the story here.

“,”elementId”:”d4754cd2-471e-4403-8e95-7582a4c2b473″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/27/british-nationals-should-leave-sudan-immediately-says-minister”,”text”:”British nationals should leave Sudan immediately, says foreign secretary”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”1f4a1c46-941b-4487-b8af-e58434578d4b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

And Martin Belam has further coverage on our Sudan live blog.

“,”elementId”:”a59883d3-0668-4f1f-b154-f395089a7d02″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/apr/27/sudan-crisis-live-army-ceasefire-antony-blinken-african-union-talks”,”text”:”Sudan crisis live: UK nationals urged to reach Khartoum airport now amid uncertainty over ceasefire extension”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”2f8065ed-2c54-4090-9b13-e9c9c6e9100d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682585231000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.47 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682585313000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”04.48 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682585313000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.48 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.48″,”title”:”British nationals should leave Sudan immediately, says foreign secretary”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”},{“id”:”644a281e8f0802b5b51df23d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Good morning. A week today, people in England will vote in local elections. The campaigns have not received huge coverage in the national media, but this is the biggest set of elections in the four-year local election cycle and the results will be an important test for Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.

“,”elementId”:”4de43bab-22ff-4d0a-a8f6-394e7bf52edb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Today, Labour is focusing on housing, with the eye-catching claim that a child born this year has less than a one in three chance of owning a home by the time they are 50. In truth, no one really has a clue what the housing market will look like half a century into the future, but this is how Labour justifies the claim.

“,”elementId”:”f45b9500-7864-4135-887b-f16159946cf1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

A child born today has a 30% chance of owning their home when they’re 50:

n

74% of people aged 45-54 were homeowners in 2009-10. In 2021-22 this had fallen to 65.5%. Assuming this trend continues, and home ownership rates drop around eight percentage points per decade, this would fall to around 30% in 2071-72.

n

“,”elementId”:”5c0f9c08-dfcf-4b16-9bbe-fc3cd80637e0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In an interview with the Today programme, Lisa Nandy, the shadow levelling up secretary, said there were two problems with the current system.

“,”elementId”:”f9d6a0da-017a-46fd-938c-6c6a167dee2e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

We’ve got too little demand because too many people who are desperate to own their own homes can’t access mortgages and can’t get on to the housing ladder because of the affordability crisis.

n

And at the same time we’ve got too little supply because the government isn’t building enough homes.

n

If you solve one without the other, you get real problems, as we saw with George Osborne’s help to buy scheme which aimed, rightly, to get more people on to the housing ladder, but didn’t increase supply at the same time, and artificially inflated prices.

n

“,”elementId”:”4fc7f7a7-d02e-4f69-b0a0-6147223a0060″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Nandy said Labour wanted to get more houses built, and that it was “absurd” for the government to abandon mandatory housebuilding targets. She also said Labour would reform the planning system in favour of more affordable housing.

“,”elementId”:”3e86a74b-b141-4d10-bf30-f9f318e630a8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

But she also said the party wanted to make it easier for people to get mortgages. “Our solution is a form of state-backed mortgage insurance,” she said. In a briefing on this, Labour said:

“,”elementId”:”383348a3-cf08-4699-9542-368fe5149b34″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

Labour will introduce a state-backed mortgage insurance scheme, with the state acting as guarantor for prospective homeowners who struggle to save for a large deposit. This will be modelled on similar successful schemes in other countries, such as Canada and Australia, where mortgage insurance increases the supply and reduces the cost of high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages.

n

“,”elementId”:”50be41ef-fca2-4252-8fa3-2a56b8d01bc4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Asked if she wanted to see house prices lower, Nandy ducked the question, and just said she would like to see houses “much more affordable for people”.

“,”elementId”:”8caf9a63-266d-4faf-a9ca-57d69b4e4a17″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Keir Starmer has said he wants to see home ownership rise to 70%. In 2020 the figure for England was 65%.

“,”elementId”:”4e128443-5078-4b43-a50c-0263d3b1e683″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here is the agenda for the day.

“,”elementId”:”ced92bff-a5d6-4ff4-af0a-fa727d5e98d7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

10.30am: The high court hears the government’s challenge against the Royal College of Nursing over the legality of its strike dates.

“,”elementId”:”2df65030-2d13-4edf-b5d0-44f4ea3d38a2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Morning: Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, are on a visit in Lancashire.

“,”elementId”:”ec4234ce-9be0-4a31-a905-d48a3abec62a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

After 10.30am: Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, makes a statement to MPs about the gambling white paper.

“,”elementId”:”9a8a1a03-ee6d-443c-9703-a1e2172641e9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.

“,”elementId”:”14507676-2605-4337-9237-dd3ad42e4f53″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Noon: Humza Yousaf takes first minister’s questions at Holyrood.

“,”elementId”:”56910912-705c-43a4-915e-5952b4b8418c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Afternoon: Giorgia Meloni, the Italian PM, meets Rishi Sunak in Downing Street.

“,”elementId”:”cc121749-0e2c-4502-b991-ae6aa1dc52a7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

And Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland secretary, is due to make a statement about the budget he has set for the Northern Ireland executive.

“,”elementId”:”85b37626-bd70-4fa1-b797-ace14539db79″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

If you want to contact me, do try the new “send us a message” feature. You’ll see it just below the byline – on the left of the screen, if you are reading on a PC or a laptop. (It is not available on the app yet.) This is for people who want to message me directly. I find it very useful when people message to point out errors (even typos – no mistake is too small to correct). Often I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either in the comments below the line, privately (if you leave an email address and that seems more appropriate), or in the main blog, if I think it is a topic of wide interest.

“,”elementId”:”5fda0384-5fb5-4292-8718-f235691c78aa”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1682584662000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.37 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1682587954000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.32 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1682584662000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.37 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.37″,”title”:”Labour claims a child born today has only a 30% chance of home ownership by age 50″,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 27 Apr 2023 08.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Thu 27 Apr 2023 04.37 EDT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”format”:{“display”:0,”theme”:0,”design”:10},”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”}”>

Key events

NHS managers criticise RCN for not backing down earlier in dispute over strike dates

NHS Employers, which represents managers in the NHS, has said the RCN should have rescheduled its strike as soon as it was told it could not lawfully continue into Tuesday 2 May, instead of waiting for a court hearing to resolve this.

Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said:

The RCN could and should have resolved this significant issue of the legality of its strike sooner.

More than a week ago now NHS Employers approached the RCN to query whether its mandate for strike action expired at midnight on May 1 2023, and not the May 2 they had appeared to suggest.

The RCN vigorously rejected our assertion and we were left with no choice but to ask the secretary of state to seek the view of the courts.

Clarity has now been achieved, not least for RCN members, and the judge has confirmed the position we set out last week: any strike action occurring on May 2 would be illegal.

Workplace accidents increasingly ignored by UK safety regulator

Employers are increasingly likely to go unpunished after workplace accidents, ministers have been warned, as figures show the number of investigations dropped by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) due to insufficient resources has surged. Aubrey Allegretti has the story here.

Public won’t support government decision to take nurses’ union to court, says RCN chief

Here are some more lines from what Pat Cullen, the RCN general secretary, said to the media after the government won a court ruling saying the final day of the union’s proposed strike would be unlawful.

Today, what I have said is this is no way to treat the nursing staff in England. It’s no way to drive a wedge between government and the very people that are holding this health service together …

[The government] have won their legal [case] today. But what this has led to is they have lost nursing and they’ve lost the public.

They’ve taken the most trusted profession through the courts, by the least trusted people.

• She said the RCN would go ahead with the strike, starting on Sunday 30 April, and that it would continue into Monday 1 May – but not into Tuesday 2 May, as originally planned, as a result of the court decision.

• She urged Steve Barclay, the health secretary, to reopen talks on pay. She said:

He can continue, if he wishes, to drag [nurses] through court proceedings. But what he needs to do is get into a negotiating room and start to talk to the nurses of England, sort out this dispute and allow them to get back to their work.

Every day that we have taken strike action we’ve said we’re sorry. We’re sorry for those 7.2 million people-plus that are sitting on waiting lists.

We’re sorry that we haven’t been able to fill the tens of thousands of vacant posts by getting this government into a room and negotiating properly and decently for nursing.

That’s what our aim is, to address those waiting list to make sure people get a decent NHS in this country and they just continue to crumble under this government.

No 10 says it is ‘regrettable’ it had to go to court to get RCN to accept its second strike day would be unlawful

Downing Street has said it was “regrettable” that it had to take the Royal College of Nursing to court to get it to halt the second day of its 24-hour strike.

Asked about the high court ruling that strike action on 2 May would be unlawful, the PM’s spokesperson told reporters:

I think, firstly, it is obviously regrettable that it had to come to court action in the first instance.

The government never wanted to take this to court. We did indeed try every possible way to avoid a court case.

The NHS presented the RCN with clear legal evidence that their planned strike for 2 May was unlawful. We asked them to call it off. The RCN refused. That’s why the NHS asked the government to intervene and seek the view of the court.

Late yesterday, Steve Barclay wrote to the RCN, to[its leader] Pat Cullen again, and asked them to call off their final day of the strike given we were confident that it was not legal. They refused again.

The RCN did at least win a minor victory at the high court on costs, my colleague Daniel Boffey reports.

<gu-island name="TweetBlockComponent" deferuntil="visible" props="{"element":{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement","html":"

One thing that the RCN will be able to trumpet is that the government’s lawyers asked for £47,884 in legal costs to be paid by the union and the judge said they were too high. Awarded £35,000. The hearing lasted under two hours. https://t.co/LHVJ5zR91I

— Daniel Boffey (@danielboffey) April 27, 2023

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/danielboffey/status/1651545844863102976″,”id”:”1651545844863102976″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”c078a660-30cb-40aa-bb5c-b5e5ed5a4e4f”}}”>

One thing that the RCN will be able to trumpet is that the government’s lawyers asked for £47,884 in legal costs to be paid by the union and the judge said they were too high. Awarded £35,000. The hearing lasted under two hours. https://t.co/LHVJ5zR91I

— Daniel Boffey (@danielboffey) April 27, 2023

RCN chief claims court defeat on strike date could make nurses more likely to vote for further action

Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, has said the government’s decision to take the union to court, leading to a ruling that it must shorten its planned 48-hour strike by 20 hours, could make nurses even more determined to vote for further strike action.

In a statement, she described it as “the darkest day of this dispute so far”. She said:

The full weight of government gave ministers this victory over nursing staff. It is the darkest day of this dispute so far – the government taking its own nurses through the courts in bitterness at their simple expectation of a better pay deal.

Nursing staff will be angered but not crushed by today’s interim order. It may even make them more determined to vote in next month’s re-ballot for a further six months of action. Nobody wants strikes until Christmas – we should be in the negotiating room, not the courtroom today. Our strike will now finish at midnight on the Monday as we have ensured safe and legal action at all times.

Nurses to cut short strike as court rules second day of action unlawful

A strike by tens of thousands of nurses starting this Sunday will be cut short after a high court judge ruled the plans as being partly unlawful, Daniel Boffey reports.

UK to tighten rules on online gambling after long-awaited review

In the Commons Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, has just delivered a statement on the gambling white paper. My colleague Rob Davies, who has written a book on the gambling industry, is covering the announcement. Here is his story.

Defence minister rejects Labour’s claim that British support for Ukraine is ‘flagging’

Labour has claimed that British support for Ukraine is “flagging”. John Healey, the shadow defence sectetary, made the claim in a Commons urgent question, telling MPs:

The government has got to be able to do more than one thing at once, and the defence secretary [Ben Wallace] has 60,000 MoD [Ministry of Defence] staff.

I am concerned that the momentum behind our military help is faltering and that our UK commitment to Ukraine is flagging. No statement on Ukraine from the defence secretary since January, no new weapons pledged to Ukraine since February, no 2023 action plan for Ukraine first promised last August, no priorities set for the Ukraine recovery conference in London in June.

Now, the prime minister said in February that the UK ‘would be the first country to provide Ukraine with longer-range weapons’. What and when?

Healey ended by saying:

The British public are strongly behind Ukraine. They want to know that the government is not weakening in its resolve to support Ukraine, confront Russian aggression and pursue Putin for his war crimes.

In response, Andrew Murrison rejected the Labour claim. He said 14,000 Ukrainian troops had been trained in the UK and that Britain was ‘“leading in Europe” in support for Ukraine.

While he said he understood why Labour wanted to attack the government, he went on:

The UK is more than playing its part – we are leaders and I’m really proud of that, and so should the British people be …

The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes and will spend another £2.3bn on military support to Ukraine this year.

Starmer says his ‘gut feeling’ on reading Diane Abbott’s race letter was ‘it’s shocking’ and ‘antisemitic’

Mabel Banfield-Nwachi

Keir Starmer was interviewed on ITV’s Good Morning Britain this morning, and he was questioned at some length by Kate Garraway about Diane Abbott and her race comments in a letter to the Observer that led to her being suspended by the party.

Labour has refused to give any clue as to whether she is likely to be readmitted soon, or whether this might be used as an excuse to stop her standing for the party at the next election. Garraway asked if Abbott might receive more lenient treatment in light of the fact that she herself has endured a huge amount of racist abuse throughout her career.

Starmer acknowledged this. He said:

Let me acknowledge what Diane has had to put up with for many, many years, because I think she probably suffered more abuse, obviously racial abuse, than any other person in public life, certainly any other politician. And that is terrible, and it should be condemned and called out. And she should be supported in that.

But Starmer also repeated his condemnation of what she said in her letter, and how it implied a “hierarchy of racism”.

When Garraway asked again if Abbott might be “forgiven” because she was a victim of racism herself, Starmer just said an investigation was under way. But when Garraway asked Starmer what his “gut feeling” was, Starmer replied:

My gut feeling is it’s shocking. My gut feeling is that it’s antisemitic, and that I’m determined to change the Labour party so that the Labour party and antisemitism are not mentioned in the same sentence.

We’ve done a huge amount of work on that, and I was really pleased that many in the Jewish community feel much more confident in the Labour party than they did. But this battle against antisemitism is never over.

<gu-island name="TweetBlockComponent" deferuntil="visible" props="{"element":{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement","html":"

'My gut feeling is that it is shocking and that it is antisemitic.'

Sir @Keir_Starmer is asked whether he would forgive Diane Abbott following the comments she made in a letter.

He tells @kategarraway and @adilray that he is determined to change the Labour party. pic.twitter.com/q6KFTd8TzT

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 27, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/GMB/status/1651479273629179904″,”id”:”1651479273629179904″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”e19af29e-5f49-47ff-96fd-7a1f0d521cad”}}”/>

Minister criticised by MPs after failing to give clear answer about how photo ID voter data will be recorded

In the Commons Rachel Maclean, the levelling up minister, has still refused to give a clear answer to Clive Betts’ question about whether a record will be made of the number of people who leave after being told at the door of a polling station by a “meeter and greeter” that they won’t be able to vote without photo ID.

Pressed again for an answer on this, she says that data on people who are turned away because they don’t have the right ID, and who then return with the right ID, will be recorded by the clerk at the desk where ballot papers are issued.

Labour’s Stephanie Peacock asks what will happen if people are turned away before they reach the issuing desk, and if they do not return. Will those figures be recorded.

Maclean claims she has already addressed this.

Labour’s Matt Western says the obvious solution would be to have a clerk collecting data outside the polling station, as people arrive.

Maclean does not address the question, but says she disagrees with what Western said about the system being flawed.

The SNP’s Pete Wishart says Maclean’s answers show what a “mess” the system is. The government is not even recording data on the people it is disenfranchising, he says.

He says he is glad Scotland has nothing to do with this system.

(The photo ID law applies in Scotland for general elections, but not for local elections, as in England.)