Good morning. Yesterday the government announced its long-awaited crime and policing bill, which aims to address several Labour’s law and order priorities, as well as a number of proposed reforms that the previous Conservative government had intended to implement before the general election interrupted their plans.

Most details of the bill have been already outlined in advance. Yesterday, the Home Office highlighted a key provision that will enable the police to search properties for stolen phones or items with electronic geotags without a warrant.

In response to the controversy over criminal loopholes, Yvette Cooper, the newly appointed Home Secretary, faced questioning on the Today programme regarding MP Mike Amesbury‘s criminal conviction and suspension from parliament who was sentenced to 10 weeks in jail for assault. Despite his criminal status, Amesbury is still receiving his MP’s salary, a decision controlled by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) that cannot halt payments unless the MP is suspended or removed from office.

Tasked with explaining this apparent oversight, Cooper responded by advocating for Amesbury’s resignation as an MP, suggesting that the constituents of Runcorn deserved better representation.

His question about MPs keeping their salaries while in prison, Cooper expressed her dissatisfaction with the current situation, though she emphasized that such matters are regulated by parliamentary rules and procedures, rather than governmental policy.

The remainder of the article outlines the day’s political agenda comprising key speeches and parliamentary votes, including the extension of the seasonal farm worker scheme and debates on assisted dying legislation in the Isle of Man. There is an encouraging call to readers to engage with the content through comments or social media, which will be addressed should time permit.