Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, has said he will apply for an urgent question to the government on a company said to be linked to the spy. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage says he wants to use parliamentary privilege to name the person – who is currently known as H6.
Monday 16 December 2024 07:49, UK
Sky News deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.
Will MPs name the alleged spy who links China with the royal family? What did the Prime Minister know about “H6”? Why can’t they be named? And what does this story mean for Keir Starmer’s plan to “reset” relations with China?
Plus, Angela Rayner plans to overhaul local government.
You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: jackandsam@sky.uk
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Jim McMahon, a local government minister, is speaking to Sky News this morning.
He is asked about the developments around the Chinese spy with links to Prince Andrew, who has been granted anonymity by the courts and is only known as H6.
There are growing calls for H6 to be named.
Mr McMahon says he himself does not know the person’s name.
Asked if the prime minister does, the minister says: “I’m assuming that everybody within the cabinet – depending on their security clearance – will know the answer to that question.”
Mr McMahon says there are two issues, one being the identity of the H6, and the other is the security of parliament and who has access to it.
The minister says naming H6 is “a matter for the courts”.
Asked if he appreciates the irony that H6 is named in China and not in the UK, Mr McMahon says it shows the benefits of the British court system – as the judiciary makes the decisions rather than the government.
Currently, a court order prevents the Chinese spy with alleged links to Prince Andrew from being named.
All we know is that they have been given the designation “H6” by the courts.
However, some MPs want more information on the person.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, wants to ask an “urgent question” to the government in the House of Commons about the United Front Work Department – the group said to be associated with H6.
In order to do this, Sir Iain needs to lodge his application with the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Sir Lindsay would then need to grant it. With parliament starting later on a Monday, the earliest the question could take place today – if granted – would be 3.30pm.
Breaking privilege
The other development could come from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
They have indicated their plans to name H6 in parliament if the court order providing anonymity is not lifted.
Politicians in the Houses of Parliament can take advantage of what is known as parliamentary privilege to break court-imposed anonymity orders.
This has been used in the past on numerous occasions – especially in the era of super-injunctions.
A certain irony
All of these factors will put pressure on the judiciary to potentially lift the court order banning H6’s identity.
As political correspondent Rob Powell points out, there is an irony that H6’s name is being reported in China – which has some of the strictest press controls in the world – and yet is not being reported in the UK.
Today will see Labour’s devolution white paper published – laying out the government’s plans to give more powers to councils in England and Wales.
The party, now in government, spoke extensively in opposition about wanting to give greater autonomy to local authorities.
Today’s move comes after the government released its latest plans on housebuilding last week, which told local authorities they would need to provide “immediate, mandatory” plans to reach housing targets.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner – who is also housing, communities and local government secretary – is giving a speech today on the government’s plans.
She is expected to say: “Our English Devolution white paper will be a turning point when we finally see communities, people and places across England begin to take back control over the things that matter to them.
“When our proud towns and cities are once again given the powers they need to drive growth and raise living standards as part of our Plan for Change.
“It’s a plan for putting more money in people’s pockets, putting politics back in the service of working people and a plan for stability, investment and reform, not chaos, austerity and decline, that will deliver a decade of national renewal.
“Devolution will no longer be agreed at the whim of a minister in Whitehall, but embedded in the fabric of the country, becoming the default position of government.”
By Mickey Carroll, science and technology reporter
The prime minister is visiting Norway to launch a new green energy deal before attending a defence summit in Estonia.
Sir Keir Starmer will travel to a carbon capture and storage site today and meet his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store to discuss the new Green Industrial Partnership.
Number 10 said both leaders intend to sign the deal in spring 2025.
Sir Keir said the energy partnership with Norway, which has a border with Russia, would help to boost growth and protect against spikes in international energy prices like those seen when President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.
“It will harness the UK’s unique potential to become a world leader in carbon capture – from the North Sea to the coastal south – reigniting industrial heartlands and delivering on our plan for change,” he said.
“Our partnership with Norway will make the UK more energy secure, ensuring we are never again exposed to international energy price spikes and the whims of dictators like Putin.”
Welcome back to the Politics Hub.
Today is the last week in the Commons before the Christmas recess.
However, there is still plenty happening today.
MPs are looking to find out more about the Chinese spy alleged to have close links to Prince Andrew.
Former Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith has said he is applying to the Speaker to ask an urgent question to the government on the group supposedly linked to the spy.
And Nigel Farage – the leader of Reform UK – has said his party is prepared to name the person using parliamentary privilege.
Currently, a court order is in place granting the person anonymity – and they are known only as H6.
Coming up on Sky News this morning, we’ll be speaking to housing minister Jim McMahon just after 7am.
And after 8am, we’ll be talking to Tom Tugendhat – the Conservative former security minister who also used to chair the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
Thank you for joining us for live coverage of today’s events in politics, including this week’s edition of Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.
Scroll down to read and watch what our guests told us, plus analysis of the key stories. We were joined on the show by:
Join us again tomorrow from 6am for the very latest political news.
The prime minister and chancellor were in lockstep as they reacted to Friday morning’s GDP figures.
“Disappointing”, the PM’s spokesperson said, echoing Rachel Reeves’s words two hours earlier.
The UK economy shrunk for a second month, contracting 0.1% in October.
The government’s message: bear with us, it will take more than a few months to make up for years of economic stagnation; theirs is a long-term, sustainable plan rather than a short-term sugar rush.
They will need public patience to hold.
Labour’s promise to turbocharge economic growth has already hit trouble.
We don’t know how higher National Insurance contributions will weigh on business and economic activity, or whether ambitious plans to build houses will quantifiably impact growth by the next general election.
There is also the question of what the second Trump presidency, and his talk of tariffs, will mean for the UK economy.
The fastest growth in the G7 is still the official target, but it looks increasingly difficult to achieve.
What’s interesting is that Number 10 appears to be talking a little less about growth and the overall economic outlook, and more about personal finances.
By Alix Culbertson, political reporter
Former home secretary David Blunkett has said the government “doesn’t owe you” if people “can’t be bothered” to work.
Lord Blunkett, who was also work and pensions secretary under Tony Blair, said some young people are facing pressure from their families to stay out of work because they can lose their housing benefit or allowance once they have a job, even if it is low paid.
Currently, claimants’ housing benefit is reduced by 65p for every £1 of income above the amount they are eligible to receive for housing.
The Labour peer, 77, said the government needs to create a balance where it is “absolutely clear that getting up in the morning and going to work and having a work ethic pays”.
“If you can’t be bothered, then I’m afraid we don’t owe you,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.
“We have an obligation to help people.
“We don’t have an obligation to help people if they’re not prepared to help themselves.”
He added entire households should face losing their housing benefit if they do not look for work.
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