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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.
Foreign Secretary Robin Cook will tomorrow set out his priorities for British Foreign Policy under a Labour Government. His mission statement will outline policies designed to establish Britain as a leading member of the International community, with Europe, trade, human rights, and arms control forming the central core of his proposals. He also plans to bring outside advice into the Foreign Office from policy experts, commentators and academics.
Mr Cook will outline his main priorities as making Britain one of the leading three players in Europe alongside France and Germany, putting human rights and the global environment at the centre of British and European policies, and producing tough new guidleines on arms exports.
Defence Secretary George Robertson will tomorrow unveil a new action plan to tackle the problems of Gulf War-related illnesses.
Significant new resources are to be put into extra research and the current
medical assessment programme. New studies will examine the possible side-effects of the combination of vaccinations and drugs taken by veterans as protection against attack by chemical and biological weapons during the conflict with Iraq. Gulf War veterans' representatives are to be invited into the Ministry of Defence to meet ministers and discuss the situation.
Mr Robertson will give a commitment to carry out all research in an open and accountable manner.
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.
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