James Cook, Scotland editor, and Professor Sir John Curtice, political scientist, analyze the recent by-election results in Glen and Hamilton West. They discuss Labour's victory, the challenges of stopping illegal immigration by boats, and the portrayal of professions in TV shows and films. Graeme Biggar, director general of the National Crime Agency, talks about combating organized crime, illegal migration, and fraud.
Labour's victory in the Glen and Hamilton West by-election signals a potential challenge to the SNP's Westminster dominance and a potential resurgence for the Labour Party in Scotland.
The National Crime Agency faces challenges in combating organized crime related to illegal immigration via boats, highlighting the need for international collaboration and political actions beyond its operational scope to stop the boats and disrupt supply routes.
Deep dives
Labour wins Glen and Hamilton West by-election
Labour Party achieved a significant victory in the Glen and Hamilton West by-election, capturing 58-59% of the vote, a 24-point increase from 2019. It nearly matches their 2010 result, signaling a potential challenge to the Scottish National Party's (SNP) Westminster dominance. The SNP's vote share dropped by 16 points, resulting in a 20% swing to Labour. The Conservative Party, on the other hand, lost their deposit with only 4% of the vote. Though by-elections can sometimes exaggerate protest votes, this result suggests a significant shift and a potentially stronger position for Labour in Scotland.
Implications for Labour's future in Scotland
Labour's victory in the Glen and Hamilton West by-election indicates a potential resurgence for the party in Scotland. This is the first time since 2015 that Labour has gained a by-election seat in Scotland. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer is upbeat about the result, stating that Labour is now in a strong position to win more than half of the Westminster seats in Scotland in the next general election. The SNP, already facing challenges within their party leadership and a police investigation into its finances, experienced a disappointing night, losing ground to Labour and witnessing a collapse in the Tory vote. However, it remains to be seen how the SNP will respond to this setback.
Challenges in addressing illegal immigration via boats
The National Crime Agency is heavily engaged in combating organized crime related to illegal immigration via boats. However, it faces significant challenges in stopping the boats themselves due to the illegal activity happening beyond UK jurisdiction. Working with international partners becomes essential. Additionally, the issue lies in the fact that neither the boats nor the engines used for illegal immigration are illegal in themselves, making it difficult to prove offenses. The focus is on tackling the organized criminals enabling illegal immigration and disrupting supply routes. The agency acknowledges that achieving the goal of stopping the boats would require political actions beyond its operational scope.
Upcoming threats in law enforcement
The National Crime Agency highlights three potential future threats in law enforcement. First, sanction evasion and breaches, particularly concerning foreign policy-related sanctions, pose challenges in investigating offenders who mostly operate outside the UK. Second, 3D printed firearms present a concerning issue as they bypass current regulations and pose a risk to public safety. Efforts are ongoing to prevent their proliferation. Finally, synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, have already caused severe consequences in countries like the US. While the UK has not seen a significant impact yet, law enforcement agencies are vigilant, collaborating with partners to prevent the potential devastating effects of synthetic opioids.
Starmer tells campaigners they "blew the doors off" in Friday's by-election.
Adam is joined by Scotland editor, James Cook, and political scientist, Professor Sir John Curtice, to analyse the results in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
And, on its 10th birthday, the National Crime Agency’s director general, Graeme Biggar, is in the studio talking about illegal migration, organised crime, and fraud.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere.
Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Joe Wilkinson and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editors are Sam Bonham and Jonathan Aspinwall.
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