Summary

  • The UK is to send troops to the Baltic region, defence secretary announces

  • Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will not attend a Privy Council meeting because of 'prior commitments'

  • Nearly 800 people were referred to the government's deradicalisation scheme over the summer

  • The Scottish Parliament backs principles of bill banning smoking in cars carrying children

  1. Scottish Parliament votes on car smoking banpublished at 09:28

    SmokingImage source, Thinkstock

    A Bill to ban smoking in cars which have children in them is expected to pass its first hurdle in the Scottish Parliament. Legislation intended to protect children from the effects of second-hand smoke could mean fines of up to £100 for smokers who light up in a car with a young passenger.

    The Law Society has said drivers and any smokers in their cars where children are present should both be held criminally responsible. There are concerns the ban would be an intrusion into people's private lives and difficult to enforce.

    A ban on smoking in cars carrying under-18s came into force in England and Wales last week.

  2. Plaid Cymru plan to scrap local health boardspublished at 09:20

    Elin Jones
    Image caption,

    Elin Jones said the plans would end the 'turf war' between health and social care

    Wales' health boards would be scrapped and major hospitals placed under one body, in new Plaid Cymru plans. The proposals are expected to be central to the party's campaign to win power in the 2016 assembly election. Local councils would take charge of community services, such as GPs' surgeries, district nurses and mental health, under the plans.

    Plaid Cymru said delays to treatment would be reduced by integrating much of the health and social care system. The party's health spokeswoman Elin Jones calls it "biggest change to the way care is delivered since the advent of the NHS in 1948".

  3. Deradicalisation programme referrals on the risepublished at 09:10

    Eight people a day were referred to the government's deradicalisation scheme known as "Channel" this summer. Between June and August, 796 people in England and Wales were reported to the programme for possible intervention.

    National Police Chiefs' Council figures show more than a third of the total, 312, were aged under 18. People identified as at risk of being drawn into terrorism are assessed and about a fifth of these are required to attend deradicalisation sessions. Public bodies such as schools and local councils are legally required to spot such cases.

    Read more.

  4. Oath of a Privy Counsellorpublished at 09:00

    Here is the oath that Jeremy Corbyn must swear in order to become a Privy Counsellor.

    Quote Message

    You do swear by Almighty God to be a true and faithful Servant unto The Queen’s Majesty as one of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. You will not know or understand of any manner of thing to be attempted, done or spoken against Her Majesty’s Person, Honour, Crown or Dignity Royal, but you will lett and withstand the same to the uttermost of your power, and either cause it to be revealed to Her Majesty Herself, or to such of Her Privy Council as shall advertise Her Majesty of the same. You will in all things to be moved, treated and debated in Council, faithfully and truly declare your Mind and Opinion, according to your Heart and Conscience; and will keep secret all matters committed and revealed unto you, or that shall be treated of secretly in Council. And if any of the said Treaties or Counsels shall touch any of the Counsellors you will not reveal it unto him but will keep the same until such time as, by the consent of Her Majesty or of the Council, Publication shall be made thereof. You will to your uttermost bear Faith and Allegiance to the Queen’s Majesty; and will assist and defend all civil and temporal Jurisdictions, Pre-eminences, and Authorities, granted to Her Majesty and annexed to the Crown by Acts of Parliament, or otherwise, against all Foreign Princes, Persons, Prelates, States, or Potentates. And generally in all things you will do as a faithful and true Servant ought to do to Her Majesty. So help you God."

  5. Ex-MI6 chief on Putinpublished at 08:52

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    Vladimir Putin and Barack ObamaImage source, EPA

    Sir John Sawers argues it will be "difficult to continue this campaign" in Syria unless there is "a degree of cooperation" between Western forces and Russia.

    He claims Russia's President Putin wants to show "he is not just a regional power" having been stung by a suggestion from President Obama to that effect.

    Quote Message

    He wants to show he is a global power, and a power to be reckoned with."

  6. 'Degree of co-existence' between IS and Assadpublished at 08:50

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    More from Sir John Sawers, former chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, and his assessment of the situation in Syria. He told Today there had been "a degree of coexistence" between the so-called Islamic State group and the Assad regime for some time. He claims the Syrian government released prisoners so that opposition fighters would be "challenged by genuine terrorist forces". It also helps the government's narrative that it is a legitimate regime fighting terrorism.

    Will Syria split permanently? He answers that the country has "broken up into three areas". Russia and Iran want "to re-establish control of the central spine of the country"  and are happy to leave the east of the country to Islamic State, he claims. He thinks it is "not credible" that Assad could be president of a reunified Syria but he might be around for some time to come.

  7. Jeremy Corbyn to miss Privy Council meetingpublished at 08:40

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, Getty Images

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will not be attending a meeting of the Privy Council due to "prior commitments", his spokesman says. It would have been the first chance for Mr Corbyn to be sworn in to the ceremonial group of advisors. Opposition leaders can receive briefings from the security services through their membership of the group.

    Conservative MP Alan Duncan said Mr Corbyn had to decide whether he was a serious political figure. David Cameron was sworn in as a Privy Counsellor in March 2006, three months after he became leader of the Conservatives. Mr Corbyn has been Labour leader for just under a month.

  8. Former MI6 chief on Syriapublished at 08:30

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    Sir John SawersImage source, PA

    Former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers gives his assessment of the situation in Syria for the Today programme. He says that Russia has been supporting the regime of Bashar al-Assad for "the last four years or so" with equipment and "advisers on the ground". He argues that "Russia is not going to send some of its top notch aircraft" and ground equipment without using it.

    He adds that Russia acted because its "principal ally in the Middle East was coming under real pressure" from opposition forces.

  9. Michael Fallon: UK to send troops to Baltic regionpublished at 08:20

    Michael FallonImage source, Reuters

    Britain will make a "long-term" deployment of troops to the Baltic region, the defence secretary is expected to announce. Michael Fallon, who is in Brussels for a Nato meeting, is due to confirm that a small contingent will be sent.

    Nato states have expressed concern over Russia's backing for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine and its bombing campaign in Syria. RAF Typhoons have been deployed to the region each year since May 2014.

  10. Good morningpublished at 08:10

    Hello and welcome to our rolling political coverage on the day after David Cameron closed the Conservative Party conference. We'll bring you the continuing reaction to that, plus the latest on the Nato meeting in Brussels and Jeremy Corbyn's decision not to attend his first Privy Council meeting today.