May picks adviser to tackle bitter scourge of antisemitism
Kingdom, led by a First Secretary of State for the Union. This department would test every UK government action based on its impact across the Union, build cohesion and co-operation across governments and ensure Whitehall has a better understanding of devolution and devolved issues.
Thirdly, we need stronger intergovernmental and interparliamentary relationships to replace the confrontation we see today with collaboration on crossover areas of public policy. The new prime minister would do well to work cross-party on this agenda.
Fourthly, the departments of the UK government with a Union-wide remit must engage with stakeholders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland directly. They should not rely on territorial departments or delegate this work to the devolved administrations.
Fifthly, there should be primary legislation to enable direct UK government spending in devolved areas in partnership with devolved administrations.
Sixthly, the government should bring forward detailed proposals to replace EU regional funding. This should be a Uk-level fund to allow all parts of the UK to benefit and be spent in partnership with local authorities.
Finally, there must be an urgent review of “English Votes for English Laws”. This is a badly advised and unnecessary circumvention of the work of the United Kingdom parliament. The sooner it is gone, the better.
My message to Boris Johnson today is this; congratulations on being elected as our party leader and on becoming the prime minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Union is now your responsibility and you must act urgently to ensure its future. The position of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and, indeed, England within the Union must be preserved and defended.
The United Kingdom works best when we have a sense of shared endeavour, when we have co-operation and collaboration between our different nations and regions and when we realise that our similarities and shared experiences bring us together far more than they divide us.
• Stephen Kerr is the Conservative MP for Stirling Prime Minister Theresa May has appointed Labour MP John Mann as an independent adviser on antisemitism.
The role will see Mr Mann, who is chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on antisemitism, provide independent advice on how to tackle the issue, Downing Street said.
Mrs May said: is racism.
“It has absolutely no place in our society and we must fight its bitter scourge wherever it rears its head.
“John Mann is, without exception, a key voice on this matter.
“He has frequently campaigned in the House of Commons on this issue and has tirelessly used his role as a politician to speak out on behalf of victims of anti-jewish racism.
“I am confident he will bring the level of cross-party independent advice needed to advise government and to ensure we see progress on this very important issue.”
Mr Mann, the MP for Bassetlaw, said: “If we stay silent on the issue of antisemitism, we unwittingly allow cowardice and bigotry to speak its own repulsive language.
“I will continue to call out those throwing stones of hatred at Jewish people and will endeavour to give a clarion call to government on prejudice and discrimination on this issue.”
Downing Street said Mr Mann would be responsible
“Antisemitism for providing the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government with independent advice on the most effective methods to tackle antisemitism.
He will also collaborate with Lord Pickles, the UK’S special envoy for post-holocaust issues, as well as Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the special envoy for freedom of religion and belief, “to ensure a consistent approach”.
The Labour party has been rocked in recent years with claims by some of its MPS that the leadership is not tackling antisemitism vigorously enough.
The Tories have also been accused by some of not dealing with allegations of Islamophobia within the party in a robust enough way.
An independent adviser has been separately appointed by the UK government to propose a definition of Islamophobia.
Imam Qari Asim, deputy chairman of the Anti-muslim Hatred Working Group, will carry out the task, communities secretary James Brokenshire said yesterday.