Criminal and civil investigations have been launched into the conduct of P&O Ferries after the operator summarily sacked nearly 800 crew without notice or consultation. The general secretary of the TUC, Frances O’Grady, said she hoped this would lead to serious sanctions. She said: P&O must not be allowed to get away with its scandalous and unlawful treatment of staff. This criminal and civil investigation by the Insolvency Service must get to the bottom of what happened – and not shy away from serious sanctions and big financial penalties. Firms who behave like corporate gangsters deserve far more than a slap on the wrist. Campaigners have urged Boris Johnson to recommit the government to a full ban on conversion practices after a chaotic night of U-turns left the government now planning to ban them for gay people, but not trans people. Last night ITV revealed that the government was planning to drop its commitment to legislate for a full ban. But hours after news of that U-turn provoked outrage, including amongst some Tory MPs, the government let it be known that it would go ahead with a partial ban. (See 9.31am.) Activists say it should go further. This is from Stonewall, the LGBTQ+ campaign group.
This is from the Equality Network, a Scottish LGBTQ+ group.
And in an article for the Guardian, Jayne Ozanne, the founder of the Ban Conversion Therapy coalition, says excluding trans people from the ban would be “utterly unforgiveable”.
Officials have begun to receive emails giving out £50 fines for attending Downing Street parties, according to sources. Coronavirus infection levels have hit an all-time high in England with one in 13 thought to have had Covid in the most recent week, data from the Office for National Statistics has revealed. Lord Grade, the Conservative peer chosen to lead the communications watchdog, has a “clear lack of depth” of knowledge about social media and online safety, according to a report by MPs that described the hiring process for Ofcom’s new chair as a “shambles”.