Daily roundup 20 March: Gove, defamation, and cannabis
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Gove facing questions in relation to alleged intervention in sexual abuse investigation while Education Secretary; Ukip told to pay legal costs of three Labour MPs following defamation case; and petition to be presented to government calling for six-year-old boy to be granted a special licence to use medical cannabis, all in the news today.
Michael Gove is facing fresh questions about his alleged intervention in a sexual abuse investigation at a Catholic school after further evidence emerged that appears to link him to the inquiry. The Guardian reports that the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse has already written to Gove asking whether he tried, during his time as Education Secretary, to find out about an investigation into a priest suspected of abuse at the Downside Abbey boarding school in Somerset. Gove has denied making any calls to the local authority about the investigation.
Ukip has been ordered to pay £175,000 in legal costs over a defamation case brought by three South Yorkshire Labour MPs. The BBC reports that the party was told to pay towards costs incurred by Rotherham MPs Sir Kevin Barron, John Healey and Sarah Champion, in relation to remarks made by Jane Collins, Ukip MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire about Rotherham's child abuse scandal.
A six-year-old boy with epilepsy is to present a petition to No 10 on Tuesday calling for him to be granted a special licence to use medical cannabis. The BBC reports that Alfie Dingley has a very rare form of the illness that causes up to 150 seizures per month. Earlier this month, ministers said they were "exploring every option" after meeting with the family.
A scheme to encourage more children to read books is to be extended after being hailed as a success. The Scotsman reports that Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's reading challenge will now include secondary schools, libraries and community groups. The programme was set up in 2016 and since last year has included all primary pupils.
A disgruntled gamer is thought to be behind a hoax email sent to about 400 schools in England threatening to bomb school grounds if money was not paid. The BBC reports that a number of schools were evacuated but police said there was no evidence the threats were terror-related. Schools in London, Manchester and North Yorkshire were among those affected.
Streets in Grimsby and Cleethorpes could be closed to let children play. According to the Lincolnshire Reporter, North East Lincolnshire Council is proposing to introduce "play streets", a scheme which closes streets in the borough for a set period of time in order to let children play outside under supervision.
