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News In Brief
The Government is expected to introduce measures in the Queen's speech which
will see a total ban on handguns and the incorporation of the European
Convention on Human Rights into national law. Civil liberties groups welcomed the move to adopt the convention, which is already in force in all other EC countries except the UK and Ireland. But shooters-rights' groups said the decision to allow a free vote on an extension of the Dunblane-inspired Firearms Bill to cover .22 weapons would see the virtual elimination of shooting as a sport in this country.
The Scottish Conservative party has welcomed newspaper advertisements placed by a liberal Tory group asking the public for views on why the Tories did so badly in the general election. The advertisement, which was the brainchild of the Scottish Tory Reform Group invites "disappointed or ex-Scottish conservative voters" to give their views on "how the centre/right of politics in Scotland can be revived". A spokesman for the Scottish Tory Party which since the election has no MPs said "At least they are doing something...ideas have atrophied within the party.There has been no thinking and we paid the price for it. The chairman of the Scottish Tory Reform group said he was concerned that there would be no "informed and organised opposition" to Labour's plans for a Scottish parliament.
Roger Stott, parliamentary aide to former Premier Jim Callaghan will on Monday make a bid to lead Labour's 418 MPs when he stands for election as chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, the most influential post after the Prime Minister's, according to the People newspaper. With so few Tory opposition MPs left, the PLP could decide the success of failure of Tony Blair's Government. And Mr Stott, MP for Wigan and former shadow Northern Ireland minister, will ensure backbenchers are not sidelined by attempts to centralise power at No 10. When he sends his manifesto to Labour MPs it will promise them a major influence on future legislation.
The British Medical Association has reacted angrily to unconfirmed reports that the government may delay plans to ban tobacco advertising. The reports suggest that the ban will not form part of the government's first wave of legislation. "There can be no possible reason for a delay in banning cigarette advertising," said the BMA Chairman, Dr Sandy Macara. He added: "I have to say that the credibility of the new Government's very welcome commitment to public health will be seriously undermined in the eyes of doctors and the public if it does not stand firm on this issue."
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