Political Headlines – Corbyn, Home Office, Shapps and the big society

Today’s Political Headlines include pressure on Corbyn over anti-Semitism, the Home Office ignoring the forced marriages of British teenagers, Shapps’ cryptic deal and the big society is failing. 

Pressure increases on Corbyn over anti-Semitism
The Times reports on a speech made in 2010 by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn in which he compared Israel’s actions to those of Nazi Germany. The Telegraph has also splashed on allegations that Corbyn silenced a Holocaust survivor after they objected to the comparisons being made between Israel and Nazi Germany. The Guardian has added to the claims, reporting that Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell supported an anti-Zionist group accused of anti-Semitism.

Home Office ignores the forced marriage of British teenagers
The Times reports that the Home Office granted visas to the husbands of British teenagers forced into marriage abroad. Their investigation found that despite appeals from the women for the applications to be blocked, just under half of the visa requests were approved.

Shapps’ cryptic deal
The FT has revealed that former Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps has resigned from two appointments after a secret pay deal was discovered, despite Shapps listing his role as ‘unpaid’. The MP was set to receive cryptocurrency tokens ahead of public sale, which could have amounted to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Cameron’s failing ‘big society’
The Guardian reports that a youth scheme set up by former Prime Minister David Cameron is failing to reach teenagers. Councils have called for ministers to divert funds into local government schemes rather than into the National Citizen Service (NCS), set up by Cameron in 2010. According to the Local Government Association, just 12% of eligible people used the NCS in 2016.

Vaz accused of bullying Commons clerk over expenses
The Guardian reports on claims broadcast by Newsnight on Wednesday that Labour MP Keith Vaz intimidated a House of Commons clerk, after she tried to control Vaz’s behaviour on trips abroad. Vaz is alleged to have bullied the clerk of the home affairs select committee, which he chaired at the time, after she raised concerns over an unscheduled dinner he attended in 2008 on a trip to Ukraine.

Scottish Government criticised over education tests
The Telegraph has reported on hundreds of complaints made to the SNP Government over primary school assessments introduced this year. The criticisms were revealed following a Freedom of Information request, which revealed 172 pages of comments detailing the ‘soul destroying’ impact of the tests.

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