The daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess has launched a blistering attack on government ministers after the home secretary refused the family’s calls for an inquiry into his killing.
Monday 10 March 2025 17:00, UK
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
It’s time for our first teatime bulletin of the week – here are the main things you need to know today:
Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live from 7pm.
We’ll bring you the full line-up for the show once it’s locked in.
By Josh Gafson, politics producer, and Liz Bates, political correspondent
Claims of bullying against ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe are “nonsense”, according to a current staff member.
The woman, who asked not to be named, added that he is a “good man” who is being subjected to a “horrific and unfair” ordeal.
The embattled Great Yarmouth MP was suspended by his party over the weekend after being accused by party chiefs of bullying two female staff members and threatening Reform chair Zia Yusuf.
‘He has done nothing wrong’
But today, another of his employees has spoken out in his defence.
They told Sky News: “Rupert is a good man who does not deserve any of this. He has done nothing wrong.
“The allegations aren’t against Rupert. I’ve not seen any evidence of any bullying from anyone in Rupert’s office.
“These claims are nonsense. This is wrong what they’re doing to Rupert.
“He’s nice to everybody. What they’re putting him through is horrific and unfair. They are vexatious complaints.
“There has never been any bullying in the office.”
Reform vows to uphold ‘highest standards’
A Reform UK spokesman said the party “acted on serious allegations by two female members of Mr Lowe’s team by appointing an independent KC to investigate”.
“We feel we have a duty of care to all our staff, whether employed directly or indirectly,” they added.
“Reform UK stands for the highest standards of conduct in public life, and we will apply these standards without fear nor favour.”
Ukrainian and US officials are meeting in Saudi Arabia this week set to discuss whether there is a way forward to peace in the war with Russia.
It comes on the back of a policy reversal from Washington after Donald Trump re-entered office, with the Republican putting heavy pressure on Kyiv to stop their fighting.
This has included withdrawing intelligence support and the bust up in the Oval Office between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ahead of this summit, Downing Street has confirmed Sir Keir Starmer and Trump spoke today for around 20 minutes.
PM hopes for ‘positive outcome’
The prime minister’s spokesperson said UK officials had spoken to Ukrainian counterparts as well, with several deadly attacks on Ukraine launched from Russia.
The spokesperson said Starmer wants to see intelligence sharing resume as quickly as possible.
They added: “The prime minister said he hoped there would be a positive outcome to the talks that would enable US aid and intelligence sharing to be restarted.
“The two leaders also spoke about the economic deal they had discussed at the White House and the prime minister welcomed the detailed conversations that had already happened to move this forward. Both leaders agreed to stay in touch.”
It is understood Starmer and Trump also discussed tariffs.
Last week, a row broke out involving both Labour and the Conservatives, and the independent Sentencing Council.
A bit of background
This was due to advice published by the council – which stated that people who are from an “ethnic minority, cultural minority, and/or faith minority community” should be considered for a pre-sentence report before judgement is passed after they have committed a crime.
Our political reporter Alix Culbertson examined the topic further here.
When the advice was published last week, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick was quick to accuse Labour of wanting ethnic minorities to receive more lenient sentences.
Actual Justice Secretary Shabanah Mahmood then pointed out the guidance was consulted on when the Tories were in power, and then wrote to the Sentencing Council requesting they change the guidance – or she would intervene.
What’s new?
Well, today the head of the council, Lord Justice William Davis, has published his response in the form of a letter to Mahmood.
Running to six full A4 pages, it contains a somewhat brisk run-through of the history of his organisation.
But towards the end, the lawyer starts turning the screws on the politicians.
In a semi-transparent jab at Jenrick, Davis writes he has “seen it suggested that the guideline instructs sentencers to impose a more lenient sentence on those from ethnic minorities”.
This is “completely wrong”, he says.
Jenrick had told our presenter Wilfred Frost that the new guidance showed “blatant bias against Christians and straight, white men” (watch that exchange above).
And what of the government?
Davis is slightly less disobliging – but equally critical – of the government.
He says he will need to take legal advice on whether Mahmood has the right to intervene in the situation.
Davis writes that he does “not accept the premise” of the “objection” by the justice secretary.
He says he “respectfully question[s]” whether the decision to include the list of people who may benefit from a pre-sentence review – which was not exhaustive – was a “policy decision of any significance”.
Davis then argues that having the government dictate sentencing guidelines, when the state prosecutes offenders, would breach judicial independence.
Why didn’t the government complain before?
In his letter, Davis also lays out a bit of a timeline for the guidance.
He says the guidelines in question were discussed at 15 council meetings between 2022 and 2025.
Davis states the government’s response to the proposals did not raise any objections – although he does not highlight that this took place under the Conservatives, rather than Labour.
But he says the current justice secretary’s representative to the council raised no objections to the guidance shortly before they were published.
Davis finishes his letter: “I look forward to meeting you to discuss these matters.”
By Tim Baker, political reporter
Phone centre waiting times for public services could be cut in half by using AI, a minister has suggested.
Speaking to Sky News, Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the technology was “win-win” as it will save the taxpayer money and make the public experience better.
“I am determined to drive this technology through the government,” he added.
Meet Caddy
Long waiting times has long blighted those trying to access services like Citizens Advice, HMRC and the DVLA.
But with the government talking of an AI revolution, one trial has used the tech to drastically reduce the volume of minutes spent on hold.
Citizens Advice teams in Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale, and Trafford have managed to cut the average phone call length from eight minutes to four in a months’ long trial.
The AI helper, Caddy, was developed in house by the team in Manchester. Its success led to interest from the government, and there are now hopes it can be expanded into public services.
Citizens Advice is run as a series of charities. There are hopes Caddy will be rolled-out nationwide across the service later this year.
The government’s decision not to hold an inquiry into the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess has put the Prevent counter-terror programme back in the spotlight.
The killer, Ali Harbi Ali, was referred to the scheme, but a review found he was released too quickly – and he then went on to murder Amess, having been radicalised by Islamic State.
The government insists the scheme has improved since then – but from this case to last year’s Southport murders, it has been controversial.
What is Prevent?
In short, Prevent’s aim is to “stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism”.
The government-led, multi-agency scheme also helps to rehabilitate and disengage those who are already involved in terrorism, and safeguard communities from threats.
Referrals to Prevent from the likes of schools and government bodies lead to a “gateway assessment”, made by specialist police officers to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to suspect a person is “susceptible to becoming a terrorist or supporting terrorism”.
The individual will then receive tailored support to reduce their susceptibility to being radicalised into terrorism, if appropriate.
The Prevent programme has three main aims:
Sky’s Tom Cheshire breaks down the type of people being referred:
Prevent gets thousands of referrals every year. In the year ending 31 March 2024, 6,884 people were reported to it, with individuals aged 11 to 15 accounting for the largest proportion (40%).
The strategy was introduced as part of the government’s wider counter-terrorism strategy, known by the acronym Contest.
Prevent is one of four themes within Contest. These are its components:
• Prevent: to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism
• Pursue: to stop terrorist attacks happening
• Protect: to strengthen our protection against a terrorist attack
• Prepare: to minimise the impact of a terrorist attack.
Referrals that are deemed particularly serious, where there is a “genuine risk of radicalisation”, are escalated to the government’s other multi-agency anti-terrorism strategy, Channel.
Channel has a panel of professionals who assess the case and decide on a tailored package of support that can be offered to the person.
It is chaired by the local authority and can include partners such as the police, children’s services, social services, education professionals and mental health care professionals.
Why has Prevent proved controversial?
Criticism of Prevent has shifted over the years.
In the mid-2010s, much of it focused on how its processes allegedly targeted minorities, and particularly Muslims.
Some criticised Prevent for concentrating its resources too much on Islamism rather than on extreme right-wing threats.
Several high-profile terror attacks since its introduction, along with Britons joining groups including Islamic State, have further called into question the strategy’s effectiveness.
An independent review was ordered into Prevent in 2019, and its findings published in 2023 called for “major reform”.
‘Double standard’
The wide-ranging review found Prevent “has a double standard when dealing with the extreme right-wing and Islamism”.
The review highlighted that Prevent had taken an “expansive approach to the extreme right-wing, capturing a variety of influences that, at times, has been so broad it has included mildly controversial or provocative forms of mainstream, right-wing leaning commentary that have no meaningful connection to terrorism or radicalisation”.
In regard to Islamism, it said the programme tended to take a “much narrower approach centred around proscribed organisations, ignoring the contribution of non-violent Islamist narratives and networks to terrorism”.
The government accepted all 34 recommendations by the review in its 188-page report, which also included resetting its thresholds, or “bars”, to a clearer standard.
By Alexandra Rogers, political reporter
Senior members of Reform UK are embroiled in a bitter row – with one of its MPs being suspended from the party.
Rupert Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, lost the party whip over the weekend, meaning he will now sit as an independent in the Commons.
It’s a setback for Nigel Farage, who’s been on a mission to “professionalise” Reform since it surged into the lead in the polls.
But how did the row start, and what now for Lowe?
Alleged threats of physical violence
Lowe, former chairman of Southampton Football Club, was suspended last week after Reform reported him to the police over alleged threats of physical violence towards the party’s chairman, Zia Yusuf.
A statement from Yusuf and Lee Anderson, the chief whip, also said the party had received complaints from two female employees about alleged serious bullying in Lowe’s offices.
Mr Lowe, who served as a member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party, has strongly denied the allegations.
What has Lowe said?
In response to the allegations, Lowe said the party leadership had a “complete inability to accept even the most mild constructive criticism without such a malicious reaction”.
In a further statement on X, Lowe said: “Ever since this malicious attack on my reputation was launched, all I have asked for from both Reform and the KC is the credible evidence against me.”
He said that “none has been provided” because “there is no credible evidence against me”.
He added: “I will not have my name dragged through the mud as part of a political assassination because I dared to question Nigel Farage.”
War of words
Lowe’s statement suggests he believes he has been suspended from the party because he chose to criticise Farage.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Lowe said while Farage was a “fiercely independent individual” with “messianic qualities”, that did not equate to “sage leadership”.
Those words could have struck a nerve with Farage after Elon Musk – the Tesla and Space X billionaire who has become one of Donald Trump’s closest allies – suggested the Reform leader “doesn’t have what it takes” and that Lowe should take over.
Farage has brushed off the incident and claimed Lowe’s suspension was a result of “inappropriate” behaviour.
“If the last general election taught us anything, it is that the public does not like political parties that engage in constant infighting,” he wrote in The Daily Telegraph.
Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice told Sky News it was “right and proper” that a KC had been appointed.
Since then, the lawyer appointed to investigate the claims against Lowe – who has remained anonymous – has denied saying they were “shocked” about the party’s process.
👉Listen to Politics At Jack And Sam’s on your podcast app👈
Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.
With Zelenskyy heading to Saudi Arabia to join US sponsored peace talks in Saudi Arabia, Sam and Anne assess the UK’s response to any concessions Ukraine might be made to make to Russia.
And with Mark Carney waiting in the wings to take over from Prime Minister Trudeau in Canada, how will his premiership differ and how will he respond to Trump’s threat of tariffs?
Domestically, Labour’s wish for economic growth is well known, but do their planning reforms go far enough to get it?
And speaking of Reform – as their internal rows rumble on, Anne and Sam discuss what the latest intervention from an unnamed KC means for the party.
WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk
A tanker and a cargo ship have collided in the North Sea.
There are reports of both vessels being on fire, and people having to abandon ship.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has just said she is “liaising with officials and HM Coastguard” about the situation.
“I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident,” she added.
This week looks set to be busy, as world leaders scramble to put together a plan for peace in Europe.
Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is heading to Saudi Arabia to meet with Mohammed bin Salman before talks between Ukrainian and American officials begin.
Zelenskyy himself will not attend these talks – weeks after a fiery Oval Office exchange with US President Donald Trump – but his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, will.
Meanwhile, the UK will be working on the so-called “coalition of the willing”, which hopes to develop a plan for peace that it can present to the US.
Here’s what we know is going on this week:
Over the weekend, Sir Keir Starmer spoke to NATO allies, the prime minister of Australia Anthony Albanese and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
On Tuesday, Admiral Sir Antony Radakin – the chief of the defence staff – will head to Paris to host a meeting of the “coalition of the willing”.
On Wednesday, Defence Secretary John Healey will also be in France for a meeting with his own counterparts.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy will head to Canada on Thursday, for a meeting of the intergovernmental Group of Seven (G7).
Finally, on Saturday, Starmer will host a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing”.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
