However, he was not reinstated as a Tory MP after the whips' office said further complaints had been made against him. Mr Knight was suspended as a Tory MP in December after a police complaint was made alleging sexual misconduct, and that investigation was dropped by the Met Police last month. The punchy statement comes in the wake of fresh allegations that surfaced yesterday about inappropriate comments and behaviour. Julian Knight has released a statement hitting out at what he calls a "smear campaign" of "leaks, false innuendo and briefings". "GMB will continue this fight, so that the NHS and ambulance workers, who serve and care for the public, finally get the fair deal they deserve." She added: "Today is just one step in the battle to restore NHS workers’ decade of lost earnings. "But so much more needs to be done for workers if we are all to get the NHS we need." "It also meets a key GMB demand of a huge pay uplift for the lowest paid, lifting them above the Real Living Wage. "Our members recognise that progress has been made - from the Government originally offering nothing, health workers will be thousands of pounds better off. "GMB members have voted to accept the offer, which means GMB union will vote in favour of the pay offer at the NHS joint staff council meeting next week. Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, said: "This new pay offer would not have happened without the strike action taken by ambulance and other GMB health workers. The unions are due to meet at the NHS staff council on Tuesday where a collective decision will be taken on whether to accept the pay offer. Some NHS staff unions voted to accept the pay offer, while others, such as Unite and the Royal of Nursing, voted to reject it. Turnout was 51% - the union has tens of thousands of members. The result was 56% to accept, and 44% to reject. Health workers who are members of the GMB union have voted to accept the government's pay offer for NHS staff. "We are now saying to those people, you have another 24 hours if you are eligible to make your way to the airport and we will get you on a plane, just as we have done for every other person that has come forward who is eligible, making it the longest and largest evacuation effort of any Western country." "We gave a very clear signal over 24 hours ago that people should expect that as the ceasefire comes to an end, we would be winding down the number of flights. The deputy PM said: "Well, my advice to people is, first of all, we have been very clear that this would be a time limited operation. So what would be his advice for those left behind? So both to the north, to south and particularly Port Sudan itself." "What I would say is that even beyond that, we will maintain consular support in Sudan, particularly at the exit route. And just like other countries, as those numbers decline, we have put an end date on this. "We are seeing those numbers declining significantly. Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Oliver Dowden said over 1,500 people had now been flown out of the country.īut he said there had been a "significant decline in the British nationals coming forward", so the government would cease the flights.Īsked if that would mean abandoning British nationals who haven't been able to make it in time, Mr Dowden rejected the claim, saying: "Every single British national that has come forward and their eligible dependents has been put safely onto a plane. "Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people."įlights to evacuate British nationals from Sudan will stop at 6pm UK time on Saturday, the deputy prime minister has said. "We will also continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long term ceasefire and end to the bloodshed in Sudan," the statement adds. The Foreign Office also confirms the UK has set up a limited consular presence at Port Sudan to signpost British nationals to available options for departure. Giving advice to those still in the country, the statement says: "Those still in Sudan who wish to leave, meet the eligibility criteria and judge it safe to travel to the airfield, should be there by 12pm Sudan time tomorrow to be processed for the last flight."īritish passport holders and immediate family members (spouse/partner and children under 18 years old) who are either non-visa nationals or those with existing UK entry clearance are the only ones eligible. The department confirms 1,573 people have been evacuated so far - "the vast majority of them British nationals and their eligible dependents". The Foreign Office has now released a statement with further information about flights out of Sudan for British nationals.
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