Israel and Hong Kong blocked three British MPs from entering, the UK Government saved the Scunthorpe Steelworks, fifteen people were charged for placing bets on the 2024 election, and the Supreme Court backed a biological legal definition of a woman.
Israel and Hong Kong blocked British MPs from entering
While visiting the West Bank, Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang were refused entry to Israel.
Israel’s population and immigration authority said this was because they intended to spread hate speech against Israel.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy branded the move “unacceptable,” while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Israel had a right to control its borders and suggested it was “significant” that other countries were refusing Labour MPs.
Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse was refused entry to Hong Kong in early April when she flew there to see her newborn grandson.
The MP, who is a critic of China’s human rights record, was detained at the airport, questioned, and deported on the first flight back. Meanwhile, her husband, who was allowed to enter, chose to return to the UK, according to the Sunday Times.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the Government would raise this with Hong Kong and Beijing authorities, while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey asked him to summon the Chinese Ambassador.
Hobhouse suggested the move was done to silence her, and that Chinese authorities may have a secret blacklist of individuals.
UK Government saves Scunthorpe Steelworks
Following a tense standoff with the Chinese owners Jingye, the UK Government recalled Parliament to pass emergency legislation that allowed them to take direct control of the Scunthorpe British Steel plant.
The steel produced by the plant is vital for national infrastructure and security, and the plant is the last of its kind in the UK.
Chinese owners Jingye, who bought British Steel in 2020, planned to cease Scunthorpe’s operations after suggesting its blast furnaces were “no longer financially sustainable”.
The site employs 2,700 people and is vital for Scunthorpe’s local economy. Local campaigners and unions welcomed the Government’s emergency legislation, which has spared redundancies.
Many saw the move as a stepping stone to full nationalisation of the company, although further legislation and debate will have to take place.
Fifteen charged over making bets on the 2024 election date
In mid-April, the Gambling Commission charged fifteen individuals over bets made on the timing of the 2024 general election.
This included former Conservative MP Craig Williams, who was an aide to former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Senedd Member Russell George, who was later suspended from the Welsh Conservatives.
In the UK, the Prime Minister decides the timing of the general election and advises the King to dissolve Parliament, although they must be no more than five years apart.
Those involved were charged under Section 42 of the Gambling Act and will appear in court on June 13.
Those found guilty could face a fine or a jail sentence of up to two years.
UK Supreme Court backed the biological definition of a woman
In mid-April, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex with consideration to equalities law.
The case saw campaign group For Women Scotland arguing against the Scottish Government that sex-based protections should only apply to those born female, rather than extend to those who identify as women.
The Scottish Government argued that transgender people with a gender recognition certificate are entitled to the same sex-based protections as biological women, while For Women Scotland argued for a “common sense” interpretation, suggesting that sex is an “immutable biological state”.
In the ruling, Judge Lord Hodge said it should not be seen as a triumph of one side over the other, and suggested that the Equality Act still offers protections against discrimination for transgender people.
However, critics, including Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman, found the ruling concerning for human rights, suggesting that it could remove important protections for transgender individuals. Chapman later survived a Conservative attempt to oust her from Holyrood’s equalities committee over these views.
Updated ECHR guidance suggested that trans women (biological men) may not be permitted to use the women’s facilities and vice versa, although it also suggested that ‘in some circumstances’ these same individuals may also not be permitted to use the men’s facilities and vice versa.
The guidance suggested that, where possible, mixed-sex facilities should be provided.
The full interim guidance can be found here.
Honorary Mentions
Former Conservative Minister Penny Mordaunt took up a paid part-time role with British American Tobacco.
The Scottish Government partially lifted a 16-year-long pay freeze, meaning that ministers will receive a £19,000 annual pay rise.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendry referred himself to the police after using a mobile phone while driving a vintage double-decker bus in London.
Bangladeshi authorities investigating corruption issued an arrest warrant for former Labour Minister Tulip Siddiq, niece of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Featured Image Credit: Edward Jewsbury
Politics Editor
Journalism and Politics 4th Year
Stockport
