Scottish secretary wants Scotland-NI tunnel not bridge

Speaking to a Holyrood committee, he said tunnelling would be cheaper than the bridge suggested by Boris Johnson.

Scottish secretary Alister Jack has said he is “keen” on building a tunnel between Scotland and Northern Ireland – rather than Boris Johnson’s stated desire for a bridge.

Speaking to a Holyrood committee, the UK Government minister said tunnelling would be cheaper than a bridge, the cost of which is estimated at around £20bn.

Jack was giving evidence on Brexit and the trade talks with the EU, which began in Brussels this week, but was sidetracked onto the subject of a Scotland-NI bridge – branded a Johnson “vanity project” by the Scottish Government.

“It’s not a bridge I’m keen on, it’s a tunnel,” the Scottish secretary said on Thursday.

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Jack continued: “The bridge for me is a euphemism for a link, which is a tunnel, just to be clear about that.

“Actually, tunnelling techniques now are quite advanced.

“And certainly, to go from south-west Scotland to Northern Ireland, it would be less expensive – knowing what we know of the geography of the North Channel – it would be less expensive to tunnel it.”

But he stressed that any tunnel would require an upgrade of the A75, which links Stranraer to Gretna, and the A77, which runs from Glasgow to Portpatrick on the south-west coast.

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The tunnel would link Portpatrick to Larne in Northern Ireland, and Jack insisted it could be achieved by 2030 and would be the same distance as the Channel Tunnel.

He added it would avoid some of the issues around the bridge idea, such as dumped munitions at Beaufort’s Dyke in the North Channel.

The Scottish secretary also said that although Northern Irish first minister Arlene Foster is a supportive of a link between the two countries, both Holyrood and Stormont would be extensively consulted before any such project began and that any plans were only at a “discussion stage”.

“We’re not going to come riding in roughshod and slam a tunnel in,” Jack told MSPs in the culture, tourism, Europe and external affairs committee.

But he cited poor regional productivity figures in south-west Scotland as one of the reasons he supported the idea of a tunnel.

The minister said: “I see a huge advantage in the tunnel for south-west Scotland’s economy – we have the lowest GVA per head of population in the UK so it can only help us.

“I see advantages for the Northern Ireland economy, clearly, and I see advantages in that you’ll be able to get from Carlisle to Belfast or Glasgow to Belfast considerably quicker than you can now.”

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Jack was also challenged by Green MSP Ross Greer on plans for a border in the Irish Sea once the Brexit transition period ends at the start of 2021.

The Scottish secretary claimed the UK Government’s desire for a Canada-style free trade agreement with the European Union could mean there are few to zero tariffs between the UK and EU from January next year.

He suggested what additional checks might be needed in the Irish Sea – as part of the withdrawal agreement which keeps Northern Ireland in customs alignment with the EU while the UK leaves – could be done electronically.

But Jack added he would “expect” that the UK Government would pay for any additional border infrastructure needed at ports between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It comes after Stormont’s agriculture minister Edwin Poots told members of the Northern Irish assembly that his Scottish counterparts had told him they would not be “willing to accept” new checks at Scottish ports.

Poots said the comments were made at a Belfast meeting of agriculture ministers which included Scottish ministers Fergus Ewing and Roseanna Cunningham.

He said: “Neither the NI minister nor the Scottish minister have expressed that they are willing to accept any checks at any ports.

“Scotland was as firm as I was in terms of this, that we weren’t putting infrastructure at our ports to facilitate this.”

In response, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “It is no secret that the Scottish Government maintains that Scotland’s best interests are served by remaining in the EU, with tariff and barrier free access to a market of 450 million people.

“The Scottish Government  has been seeking clarity on how the UK Government intends to fulfil its legal obligations under the protocol, and the implications for Scottish Government responsibilities.”

Commenting after Jack’s tunnel suggestion to the committee and subsequent media briefing, Greer said: “These proposals might be headline-grabbing but let’s face it, they are pure fantasy, just like the Tory approach to Brexit which Mr Jack so spectacularly failed to explain to the committee.”

The Green MSP added: “Mr Jack’s insistence to me that there would be no more checks on goods between Northern Ireland and Scotland contradicts leaked papers from the UK Treasury, comments made to Northern Ireland’s First Minister by HMRC and the terms of the EU withdrawal agreement itself.

“Clinging to this clearly false claim is making preparations for these inevitable checks impossible, which will only make the economic damage worse than it was already going to be.”

Channel 4 and More4 off air due to ‘technical problem’

Viewers said their screens were showing a still from a programme for about 25 minutes before returning to normal broadcasting.

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The broadcaster confirmed two channels were temporarily off air in a tweet but did not mention the others.

Channel 4 and More4 went off air on Saturday due to a “technical problem”, according to the broadcaster.

Viewers said their screens were showing a still from a programme for about 25 minutes before returning to normal broadcasting.

Moments later, the channel was said to have frozen again.

More4 meanwhile was showing flashing images on its screen, according to other viewers, while some said Film4 and E4 were also affected.

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The broadcaster confirmed two channels were temporarily off air in a tweet but did not mention the others.

It said: “Channel 4 and More4 are currently off air due to a technical problem. We are working to restore them as quickly as possible.”

Channel 4 and More4 are believed to have since returned to normal broadcasting.

Channel 5 also faced with technical issues and went off air on Saturday.

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Some viewers said they were only shown a message on the channel which said: “We apologise for the interruption. We’ll be back with you as soon as we can.”

Red Bee Media, which handles playout services for Channel 4 and 5, said disruption was due to an “activation of the fire suppression systems” on Saturday evening.

A spokesperson said: “We confirm that all staff at our Broadcast Centre in West London were safely evacuated following activation of the fire suppression systems.

“As a result of this incident and the automatic safety measures set in motion at the time, several services originating from the Broadcast Centre have been disrupted.

“London Fire Brigade attended the scene, and once they had determined that the building is safe, people were allowed to return to the building.

“We are continuing to work to restore all services and remedy any issues caused by this incident.”

S4C, the Welsh language public service TV broadcaster, also tweeted it was facing issues due to a fire at a distribution centre in London.

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It said: “Unfortunately following a fire at a London distribution centre we are experiencing technical problems. Apologies.”

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: “We did come off air due to technical issues and steps were taken to put this right as soon as possible.”

A spokesperson for S4C said: “As a result of a fire alarm at a television distribution centre in London on Saturday night, S4C’s transmissions were lost on the Freeview platform for most of the evening.

“S4C’s broadcasts on Sky, Freesat, Virgin Media, S4C Clic or BBC iPlayer were not affected.

“Other channels affected included; BBC, ITV, C4, C5, Paramount and E Music.

“S4C apologises to all those who failed to see their favourite programmes on Saturday evening.”


Harry and Meghan call for vaccine equity in New York speech

Harry and Meghan took to the stage in New York as part of Global Citizen Live.

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They spoke at a 24-hour event calling on leaders to adopt a vaccine equity policy.

The Duke of Sussex has called on pharmaceutical companies to waive their intellectual property rights on Covid vaccines as he said the pandemic was becoming a “human rights crisis”.

Harry and Meghan took to the stage in New York as part of Global Citizen Live, a 24-hour event calling on leaders to adopt a vaccine equity policy.

Performers including Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Lizzo were also part of the occasion which included events in Lagos, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Seoul and Sydney.

The duke said: “We’re battling more than the virus alone, this is a battle of misinformation, bureaucracy, lack of transparency and lack of access and, above all, this is a human rights crisis.”

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Harry and Meghan said they had spoken to experts about the pandemic and the issues in worldwide vaccine equity.

Harry said: “They said many countries are ready to produce vaccines at home yet they aren’t allowed to because ultra-wealthy pharmaceutical companies are not sharing the recipes to make them.

“These countries have the means, the ability and the workers to start manufacturing. All they are waiting for is the vaccine intellectual property to be waived and the vaccine technology to be transferred over.

“By the way, many of these vaccines were publicly funded. They are your vaccines, you paid for them.”

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Before their appearance, the couple spoke to Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Amina Mohammed about vaccines and other fields they “care about deeply” including climate action and mental health.

Mohammed, the former environment minister for Nigeria, shared the picture in a tweet, saying: “In conversation with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“Sharing how to engage on issues we care about deeply: climate action, women’s economic empowerment, mental well-being, youth engagement and vaccine equity.”

Harry and Meghan’s visit is their first public appearance together since the birth of their daughter Lilibet in June, and their first major public trip post-Megxit.

Meghan told the crowd that “every single person on this planet has a fundamental right to get this vaccine” but that this is not happening.

She said: “While in this country and many others you can go almost anywhere and get vaccinated, billions around the world cannot.

“It is wrong that so much of the vaccine supply has only gone to just 10 wealthy nations so far and not everyone else. It’s just not OK.

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“These experts shared that how the vaccine is distributed, and who it’s distributed to, should be left to independent international organisations who know exactly where the doses are most needed.

“Just think about the millions of vaccines that have been discarded this year. That’s like throwing away life vests, when those around you are drowning.”


More than 10,000 visas given to foreign workers ‘to save Christmas’

The temporary visa scheme will see opportunities created for 5000 HGV drivers and 5500 poultry workers.

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Temporary visas: The scheme aims to 'rescue Christmas' from supply shortages.

More than 10,000 foreign workers will be temporarily permitted to work as lorry drivers and in the food sector as ministers look to rescue Christmas from supply shortages.

A temporary visa scheme will see opportunities created for 5000 HGV drivers and 5500 poultry workers to take up employment in the UK until Christmas Eve, in a bid to keep supermarket shelves stocked with turkeys and toys and counter delivery difficulties at petrol stations.

UK transport secretary Grant Shapps said the changes, with the visas available from next month, would “ensure preparations remain on track” for the festive season.

Retailers had warned the Government that it had just ten days to save Christmas from “significant disruption” due to a shortfall of about 90,000 drivers in the freight sector.

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Industry groups the Food and Drink Federation and Logistics UK both welcomed the visa changes, with federation chief Ian Wright calling the measures “pragmatic”.

But British Chamber of Commerce president Baroness McGregor-Smith said the changes were the “equivalent of throwing a thimble of water on a bonfire” as it would “not be enough to address the scale of the problem”.

The announcement about immigration rules being relaxed to ease supply pressures comes amid scenes of lengthy queues at petrol stations after a shortage of specialised tanker drivers forced some fuel retailers to shut their pumps and ration sales.

As well as the short-term measure of opening up to foreign workers, the Ministry of Defence is also stepping in to provide examiners for lorry driving tests as ministers look to steadily increase the size of the workforce.

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Officials said the loan of MoD examiners to work alongside Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) employees would help put on “thousands of extra tests” over the next 12 weeks.

Meanwhile, nearly one million letters will be landing in the coming days on the doormats of people with HGV licences to encourage those who have left the industry to return.

The letter will set out the steps the haulage sector is taking to improve industry conditions, including increased wages, flexible working and fixed hours, according to the Department for Transport.

Shapps said: “This package of measures builds on the important work we have already done to ease this global crisis in the UK, and this Government continues to do everything we can to help the haulage and food industries contend with the HGV driver shortage.

“We are acting now but the industries must also play their part, with working conditions continuing to improve and the deserved salary increases continuing to be maintained in order for companies to retain new drivers.

“After a very difficult 18 months, I know how important this Christmas is for all of us and that’s why we’re taking these steps at the earliest opportunity to ensure preparations remain on track.”

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated a global shortage of lorry drivers, although there have been long-term issues in the UK with labour numbers amid an ageing workforce, low wages and poor truck stop conditions.

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The DfT said it recognised that importing foreign labour “will not be the long term solution” to the problem and that it wanted to see investment poured into establishing a robust domestic workforce.

Officials said the Government continued to support solving the high vacancy rate through improved testing and hiring, with better pay, working conditions and diversity.

Another long-term measure to turn the situation around will see the Department for Education plough up to £10m into creating new “skills bootcamps” to train up to 3000 more people to become HGV drivers.

The free, intensive courses will train drivers to undertake an entry level HGV licence (Category C) or a more advanced course to operate heavier and longer lorries (Category C&E).

Another 1000 people are expected to be trained through courses accessed locally and funded by the Government’s adult education budget.

Those accessing medical and HGV licences through the adult budget in the 2021/22 academic year will have their qualifications paid for by the state, with the funding backdated to anyone who started one of these qualifications on or after August 1.

More DVSA examiners will also be freed up to conduct lorry driver tests via a law change to allow driving examiners at the three emergency services and the MoD to be able to conduct driving tests for one another.

UK education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “HGV drivers keep this country running.

“We are taking action to tackle the shortage of drivers by removing barriers to help more people to launch new well-paid careers in the industry, supporting thousands to get the training they need to be road ready.”

UK environment secretary George Eustice said: “We have listened to concerns from the sector and we are acting to alleviate what is a very tight labour market.”

The Government said it had already streamlined the process for new HGV drivers while increasing the number of driving tests available to allow for an extra 50,000 tests to take place per year.


Corbyn accuses Labour leadership of ‘turning its back’ on members

The former leader took aim over plans to change the rules for future leadership elections.

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Corbyn was speaking to a Young Labour rally at the party’s conference in Brighton.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has told young people they “don’t have to live without power or without hope” but warned the current leadership of the party was “turning its back” on the opportunity for change.

Speaking to a Young Labour rally at the party’s conference in Brighton, the former leader took another opportunity to criticise the current leadership, claiming that while members were promised unity, “instead we are given division”.

He said: “Empowerment was promised to our movement, not stitching up the rules for future leadership elections to prevent the Labour Party truly standing for the many, not the few.”

According to details released ahead of the event, Corbyn said: “Our movement has the ideas to change the world for the better. I look around this room at the energy and enthusiasm of young people, and I’m given great hope.

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“You are a generation that won’t just put up with what you’re given – insecurity, a dying planet and grotesque inequality. You know that you don’t have to live without power or without hope. When we come together, we know that things can and they will change.”

He told Young Labour, which is on the left of the party, that “our party’s leadership seems to be turning its back on that hope for a more equal, democratic and sustainable future”.

He said: “In the last leadership election, our members and unions were promised unity, but instead we are given division. We were promised 10 pledges – and where are they?

“We were promised effective opposition, but instead the Tories have been given a free pass time and again.

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“Empowerment was promised to our movement, not stitching up the rules for future leadership elections to prevent the Labour Party truly standing for the many, not the few.”

Corbyn said although Sir Keir’s planned changes to leadership election had been dropped after fierce opposition from unions, that “we have seen the leadership’s true colours”.

He added: “If we want the Labour Party to be a vehicle to win elections to confront the climate emergency and redistribute wealth and power to the many from the few, then we need to come together and get organised.

“There is another way forward, for the Labour Party and Britain, that is based in peace and justice, in the policies the majority of people actually want, not what the establishment and its media mouthpieces insist they should want.

“If our leadership won’t champion that path, our movement must and will.”


Former UK minister to chair new commission for Scottish Labour

Brian Wilson, who served as industry and energy minister in Tony Blair’s government, will lead the new body.

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The commission will run for at least 18 months, Scottish Labour said.

Former UK Government energy minister Brian Wilson is to chair a new taskforce being set up by Scottish Labour to look at how jobs can be created and protected as the country moves to greener forms of power.

Anas Sarwar will use his speech at the Labour Party’s UK conference in Brighton on Monday to reveal plans to establish the Scottish Energy Transmission Commission.

Wilson, who served as industry and energy minister in Tony Blair’s government, will lead the new body.

The commission will run for at least 18 months, Scottish Labour said, and will focus much of its work on examining how best to ensure that the transition to green energy can deliver jobs and prosperity for Scotland.

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It comes as the party said there were now fewer than 22,000 people working in low carbon and renewable energy jobs in Scotland – despite the SNP claiming there could be 130,000 people working in the sector by 2020.

Sarwar said: “The transition to net-zero holds tremendous opportunities for Scottish manufacturing and our economy, but we cannot trust the SNP to deliver jobs here in Scotland.

“That’s why this commission will focus relentlessly on how we can make the transition to net-zero deliver work, confidence and prosperity to Scotland.”

Speaking ahead of the conference address, the MSP insisted: “We cannot allow a repeat of the end of mining, where communities were hollowed out, workers were stripped of their dignity and our industrial skills base was destroyed.

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“That is the path that the SNP and the Tories have got Scotland on.

“The only way to avoid that injustice is to put at the heart of everything we do a focus on creating and supporting a jobs first transition which has the support of workers and the local communities.”

Sarwar said he was “delighted” that Wilson had agreed to lead the commission, which he said would “help plan a path to a brighter, greener and more prosperous Scotland”.


Call for urgent action on immigration amid supply shortfalls

Worker shortages have been linked to both the coronavirus crisis and a lack of European labour after Brexit.

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The UK Government has been told it 'needs to urgently address the immigration challenges'.

Scottish ministers are demanding urgent action from the UK on immigration, in a bid to address some of the problems being caused by labour shortages.

Scottish external affairs secretary Angus Robertson has written to home secretary Priti Patel calling for an “immediate discussion”.

It comes as drivers across the UK have faced lengthy queues at petrol stations, after a shortage of HGV drivers forced some fuel retailers to shut their pumps and ration sales.

It comes on the back of growing concern about the impact the lack of HGV drivers is having on supermarket supplies, with fears Christmas shopping could be hindered without action.

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Worker shortages have been linked to both the coronavirus crisis and a lack of European labour after Brexit.

Robertson told the home secretary that the UK Government “needs to urgently address the immigration challenges”.

He said: “The current immigration system is not meeting the needs of Scotland. At the moment it is not meeting the needs of sectors across the UK.”

Adding that “this position is not sustainable”, he urged the Home Secretary to work with the Scottish Government to “urgently develop and implement change”.

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Robertson wants Westminster to immediately introduce a 24-month temporary workers visa.

In addition to this he said the shortage occupation list used for immigration must be reviewed – arguing that Scottish ministers should be given a formal role in determining what categories of workers are on this.

He also wants changes made to the immigration fee structure, claiming the costs involved in this were a barrier for both workers and employers.

Robertson said: “Even workers in shortage occupations are expected to pay £928 (and up to £1220 otherwise) in application fees.

“Thus, I am clear that the UK Government must reduce excessive costs of the immigration system in order to meet the needs of workers and employers amidst this labour crisis.”


Petrol body blames fuel shortage on panic-buying customers

The UK Petroleum Industry Association has said distributors are working hard to replenish stocks.

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Fuel crisis: Distributors working hard on replenishing stocks.

The UK Petroleum Industry Association has said distributors are working hard to replenish stocks after the president of the AA blamed panic-buying for the shortage of fuel.

The group, which is the trade association for the UK downstream oil sector, has said there are no issues with “production, storage or import of fuels” as drivers queued at petrol stations across the country to fill up their tanks.

In a statement on Saturday, a spokesperson said: “There has been an increase in demand for fuels this week which is above and beyond what is usual.

“There are no reported issues with the production, storage, or import of fuels while distributors are working hard to replenish stocks at forecourts.

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“Customers should continue to buy fuel as they would normally.”

Earlier on Saturday, Edmund King, the head of the AA, said issues surrounding fuel should pass in a matter of days if drivers just stick to filling up when they need to, adding “there is plenty of fuel at source”.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr King said a shortage of lorry drivers had only been a “localised problem” earlier in the week.

His words come ahead of an expected announcement by the Government that visa rules for foreign lorry drivers will be relaxed.

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“We were in discussions with Government ministers last night and we talked to the major fuel companies, and we can reiterate there is not a problem with supply at the source,” Mr King said.

“Earlier in the week, there were some problems with the supply chain, as we know, due to a shortage of some lorry drivers, but that was only a localised problem.”

Mr King said the shortage had been exacerbated by “people going out and filling up when they really don’t need to”.

“If you think about it, 30 million cars out there, if they’ve all got half a tank (and) if they all rush out to fill up the rest of the tank and the tank is about 60 litres, that will put a strain on the system,” he said.

Mr King said the issues were unlikely to last because the supply chain is not being disrupted by ongoing problems such as industrial action.

“The good news is you can only really fill up once – you’ve got to use the fuel, so this should be a short-term thing,” he said.

“It’s not like the fuel crises in the past when the supplier was hit by strikes etc.

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“So, once people have filled up, they won’t travel more than they normally travel, so this strain on the system should ease up in the next few days.”

While fuel shortages are unlikely to last, Mr King said a shortage of lorry and HGV drivers was an ongoing issue.

“The market is stretched, so I think that is a broader issue that is affecting the supply chain, not just the petrol and diesel, but retail as well.”

Mr King said the Government has freed up a number of driving tests for HGV drivers in training but said he did not know the specifics of further action it plans to take.


Man sought over Sabina Nessa’s death ‘must be traced’

The 28-year-old school teacher's body was found on September 18 in London.

Met Police via Met Police
Appeal: Police urge witnesses to come forward over Ms Nessa's death.

Police have said the man they are searching for in connection with the murder of teacher Sabina Nessa “must be traced”, a week after her body was found.

The Met said the balding man shown in CCTV footage released on Friday is believed to have been carrying a reflective red object as he walked through Pegler Square, Kidbrooke, south-east London, where Ms Nessa had been heading on the evening she died.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said the man, pictured wearing a black hooded jacket and grey jeans, may have been trying to hide the object up his sleeve.

He said: “I continue to appeal for any witnesses and anyone with information to contact police and share what they know.

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“People in the Kidbrooke area last Friday may recall seeing this man carrying a red reflective object, and possibly trying to conceal it up his sleeve. If so, please call police.

“Please share the CCTV footage on social media and, especially if you have connections to London or Kent, show the image to family members and friends who may not have seen it. He must be traced.

“We all saw at yesterday evening’s vigil the impact that Sabina’s death has had on the community.

“I would reiterate my plea to those in the local area to think and if you have any information that could help this investigation, then please get in touch.”

Metropolitan Police via Metropolitan Police
Police released CCTV images of the man they want to trace.
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Hundreds of mourners, including tearful relatives, gathered for the emotional candlelit vigil in memory of the Rushey Green Primary School teacher who was just 28 when she died.

Jebina Yasmin Islam, Ms Nessa’s sister, broke down as she addressed crowds at the vigil.

She said: “I just want to say thank you to everyone who came today to show support for my sister.

“We have lost an amazing, caring, beautiful sister, who left this world far too early.”

She added: “Sabina loved her family.

“Words cannot describe how we are feeling, this feels like we are stuck in a bad dream and can’t get out of it – our world is shattered, we are simply lost for words.

“No family should go through what we are going through.”

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Ms Nessa’s uncle Shahin Miah described his niece as “a kind and a open-minded person”, who was “always smiling and helping others”.

He said Ms Nessa’s death has “once again brought to the fore the question of women’s safety on the streets”.

In his statement, he said: “We don’t want what happened to Sabina to happen to anyone else.

“We don’t want any other mother’s chest to be empty or filled with deep sorrow, or to see the tears in the eyes of any father.”

The Duchess of Cambridge also described how she was “saddened by the loss of another innocent young woman on our streets” on Twitter.

OneSpace community centre, which is close to where a dog walker discovered Ms Nessa’s body on Friday, invited members of the community to write tributes to her in a book of condolence as it re-opened on Saturday.

The building had been cordoned off by police as they searched the surrounding Cator Park where officers believe Ms Nessa was attacked, and it remained closed until the weekend as a “mark of respect”, the owners said.

Ms Nessa had been walking to meet a friend at a pub near her home when she was attacked in Cator Park on September 17.

Her body was discovered by a member of the public the next day, having been hidden under a pile of leaves, it was reported.

Two men were separately arrested on suspicion of her murder but were subsequently released under investigation.

Detectives also circulated an image, captured in the same area, of a silver car they believe the man they are searching for had access to and appealed for anyone who recognised either to contact the force immediately.

The Metropolitan Police remain keen to trace a third man spotted near where Ms Nessa was killed on the night she died and captured in the 12-second CCTV clip.


Security fence to be installed at SEC ‘to guard against terror attack’

An outer security perimeter will provide a suitable 'stand off' in 'the event of a terrorist attack'.

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COP26: The security measure was presented to a committee by the council on Thursday.

The SEC in Glasgow is set to be locked down with a high security fence line during the COP26 climate conference to guard against a potential terrorist attack.

Extra security measures will be put in place where the fence crosses roads to ward off vehicle attacks.

An outer security perimeter is to provide a suitable “stand off” in “the event of a terrorist attack” according to a council report presented to a committee on Thursday. 

Police chief constable Iain Livingstone is also expected to apply for an anti-terrorist traffic regulation order to close roads and paths around the SEC.

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Glasgow City Council head of roads Andy Mollon laid out the plans as he faced criticism over cycle path diversions during the November event. 

Mr Mollon said there will be unavoidable travel disruptions and described “COP26 as the biggest event that the UK let alone Scotland has held for many years if ever.”

He said: “Due to the scale and complexity of the event, which involves the attendance of world leaders and climate activists, we will experience temporary changes to the movement of traffic around the city.”

A number of locations outside the outer security perimeter could also face closures during COP26 depending on the situation. 

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The global summit is expected to see 30,000 delegates visit Glasgow between October 31 and November 12.

Cyclist campaigner Thomas Cornwallis presented a petition to Glasgow City Council calling for path diversions during the summit to be safe, pointing out concerns over some of the alternative routes.

The Convenor for GoBike Glasgow wants cyclists to be able to use Finnieston Street – which would remain open for pedestrians during the event.

Speaking at the Wellbeing, Empowerment, Community and Citizen Engagement City Policy Committee, Mr Cornwallis said: “When COP26 comes to Glasgow in November this year Glasgow City Council have a duty under their declared climate emergency to do everything they can to ensure that travel around the city during this conference is allowed to be as sustainable as possible for the citizens.”

Mr Cornwallis pointed out a diversion from the Squinty Bridge would be two miles longer and the Bridge to Nowhere flyover would be closed to cyclists. 

Councillor Allan Young, Scottish Green Party, asked for the council to meet with GoBike as they “have a lot of good ideas.”

Mr Mollon said other partners would need to be there and he couldn’t commit to a meeting without checking as there is limited time. 

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Mr Cornwallis described being shocked by the state of the COP26 active travel diversion route, which he cycled. 

He said: “Sending a cyclist down Argyle Street will get someone seriously injured or killed without a proper diversion.”

The meeting heard a path at Argyle Street can’t have a barrier protected path due to security reasons. 

Mr Mollon said suggestions from Mr Cornwallis will be considered but the meeting heard security measures to ensure people’s safety is paramount.

The committee was told there may be flexibility on active travel route closures depending on the situation and the scale of the event is “unprecedented.”

Council official Jamie Rodden said a worst case scenario had been presented and efforts would be made to keep certain routes open such as the west city way.

Mr Rodden described the scale of the operation for the huge event as “unprecedented.”

The meeting heard the diversions could feature temporary barriers to segregate traffic from bikes.

Mr Mollon said plans are a “fluid situation.”

Committee convenor Annette Christie asked for officers to engage with GoBike, communicate about ongoing closures and keep councillors updated. 

Cycle routes proposed for closure include the A814 Clydeside Expressway, Stobcross Street, Finnieston Street, The Clyde Arc and parts of the National Cycle Network.

Reporting by local democracy reporter Sarah Hilley


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