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Merseyside Labour MPs outraged at Keir Starmer writing article for the Sun

Keir Starmer has provoked outrage among Labour MPs representing Merseyside after he wrote an opinion piece for the Sun.

The Labour leader used an article in the newspaper to try to turn focus back on the government by laying the blame for food and petrol shortages on ministers. But he sparked ire from those who observe a boycott of the Sun over its role in smearing victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

Frontbench Labour MPs were among those to challenge Starmer, who said during a speech in Liverpool last January during the leadership election: “This city has been wounded by the media – the Sun … I certainly won’t be giving an interview to the Sun during the course of this campaign.”

Alison McGovern, the shadow culture and sport minister, who represents Wirral South, said she had spoken to Starmer about his decision, adding in a tweet: “I don’t buy the S*n, or speak to them. That’s my decision. I have told Keir why.” Shadow trade minister Bill Esterson, MP for Sefton Central, posted: “I do not buy the S*n. I will not be writing for the S*n.”

Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, said she and others felt “deep anger” that Starmer wrote a piece for the newspaper after it spent “15 years demonising Liverpool fans, blaming them for the Hillsborough disaster … before issuing a half-hearted apology for their lies and smears”.

She added she has asked Starmer to come to Liverpool to meet the families of the 97 people unlawfully killed in the 1989 crush at Sheffield Wednesday’s football ground. Following the disaster, the Sun published allegations under the headline The Truth, including reports that Liverpool fans picked the pockets of those who died. During inquests into the deaths, the claim was debunked and supporters were absolved of any responsibility for the tragedy.

Peter Dowd, the MP for Bootle, said that only a couple of weeks ago, he and other Labour politicians in the region had spoken in a Commons debate about justice for the victims of public disasters, such as Hillsborough. “I cannot in any way support, condone or make excuses for Keir Starmer writing for the S*n – whatever the reason,” he wrote.

Steve Rotheram, Labour mayor for the Liverpool city region, said: “The piece published today has unsurprisingly upset a lot of people across my region. The S*n is not and never will be welcome here.” Len McCluskey, the former boss of Unite, who is from Liverpool, asked: “How could he dare write for the S*n?”

Starmer, fresh from a party conference blighted by internal rows over rule changes and his deputy Angela Rayner branding senior Tories “scum”, used his article on Sunday to warn that people could have “another Christmas spoiled by this prime minister’s lack of planning” and called for emergency measures such as issuing more visas to allow European workers to drive lorries and help with poultry preparations.

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No tenure extension for IGP Egbetokun – Police

The Nigeria Police Force High Command has clarified the rumoured tenure extension for Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, stating that there was no extension granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Instead, the law governing the tenure of the IGP’s office was properly applied.

This clarification was made in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The statement reads, “the attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, and wishes to categorically state that what His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP.

“Contrary to the misinformation being circulated on social media and in the news, an appointment letter in circulation was issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council.

This letter, dated 3rd November 2023, clearly stated that the President had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

” It is important to emphasize that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment

“The ongoing circulation of false information is clearly the handiwork of pessimists and mischief makers who are determined to spread baseless narratives against the office and the personality of the IGP for obvious reasons and pecuniary gains.

” Furthermore, the IGP has since been issued with another letter in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), which supersedes the earlier correspondence.

This clarification is necessary to put an end to the speculations and falsehoods being spread.

” We urge the public to disregard the unfounded reports and to trust that the tenure of the IGP is in full compliance with the laws governing the Nigeria Police Force.

In clear terms, IGP’s tenure of office is not subject to unnecessary debate and should not be a source of perennial distraction to policing system in Nigeria. The law is sacrosanct.”

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EFCC grabs 44 for internet fraud in Kwara

Forty-four (44) suspected internet fraudsters were arrested at different locations in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State on Friday by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Spokesperson for EFCC, Dele Oyewale said in a statement on Friday that the suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

“They were arrested on Friday September 6, 2024 at Sango, Kulende, Taxaco and Harmony Estate, all in Ilorin, following credible intelligence over their alleged involvement internet- related offences,” the EFCC spokesperson said.

He listed items recovered from the suspects to include six different brands of exotic cars, laptops, smart phones and charms.

The suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Ilorin Directorate of the anti-graft agency had also arrested 56 suspected internet fraudsters two days ago.

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Olubadan elevates 4 senior chiefs, 1 junior in Balogun line

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, on Friday, promoted four senior Chiefs and one junior Chief in the Balogun line.

The promotion is in line with the tradition of ascendancy to the Olubadan stool.

The ceremony was done by the Olubadan in his palace at Oke Aremo, Ibadan.

The traditional rites were performed by the Oluwo of Ibadanland, Chief Wahab Popoola Labosinde who decorated the elevated Senior Chief and the junior Chief with the traditional Akoko leaves.

Those who were promoted were; Senior Chief Samuel Adegboyega Adeniran, who was elevated from Ekefa Balogun to Abese Balogun, Senior Chief Taiwo Anthony Adebayo Oyekan (absent ) who was promoted from Agbakin Balogun to Maye Balogun, Senior Chief Raufu Amusa Eleruwere who climbed the ladder from Aare Alaasa Balogun to Ekefa Balogun, Senior Chief Emiola Onideure who advanced from Ikolaba Balogun to Agbakin Balogun and Chief (Barrister) Tirimisiyu Arowolo Obisesan (absent) who rose from Asaaju Balogun to Aare Alaasa Balogun.

The traditional ruler congratulated the new chiefs on their elevation and charged them to use their rise in position for the progress, unity and development of Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria at large.

Olakulehin admonished the newly elevated traditional title holders to rededicate their lives to the preservation of the Yoruba culture as well as improving the quality of lives of residents and indigenes of Ibadan land.