'Not taking your fair share!' Humza Yousaf slapped down by Cleverly after figures expose SNP's appalling record on housing asylum seekers

James Cleverly has slapped down the SNP, claiming Scotland doesn't take its "fair share" of asylum seekers, despite the SNP's claim that it is more welcoming to migrants.

In a letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf, the Home Secretary said: "This issue extends right across Great Britain and it is essential each part of the country plays its part.

"Providing safe and appropriate accommodation to those that claim asylum will help you deliver that aim and so I look forward to your support in going further in Scotland.

"Therefore, I am writing to ask for your support in rapidly increasing the asylum accommodation estate in Scotland.

"Reaching parity between our nations on the number of asylum seekers per capita is the only way to deliver fair and equitable asylum accommodation."

Data published last year showed Scotland was housing 5,086 asylum seekers out of a UK total of 112,294.

That amounts to just 4.5 per cent of the total. Scotland makes up 8.1 per cent of the UK population.

The Scottish Government said: "The Home Office is responsible for provision of asylum accommodation, including hotels procured as contingency initial asylum accommodation.

"The UK Government needs to respect the important role of local authorities in asylum dispersal and should provide more financial support for them as it presses ahead with plans to close asylum hotels.

"We have received the Home Secretary's letter and will respond in due course."

The SNP has been fiercely critical of the Government's plan to send migrants to Rwanda.

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Writing on X after MPs voted to approve the Safety of Rwanda Bill, Yousaf said: "Westminster values are not Scotland’s values."

He added: "The most disgraceful piece of legislation in modern UK political history passes its 2nd reading.

"We need a humane asylum system and to create legal routes for those seeking sanctuary. The SNP will continue to oppose this legislation."

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Ministers urge police to make 'robust' use of powers over safety fears

Ministers have urged police forces to use "robust" measures to tackle protesters who "intimidate and harass" MPs over their stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

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Badenoch hits back at former Post Office boss in Horizon compensation row

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has hit out at the former Post Office chairman after he alleged he was told to "stall" spending on compensation for Horizon scandal victims ahead of the next general election.

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EU cracks as Olaf Scholz 'categorically against' Ursula von der Leyen becoming Nato chief as her 'tough' stance on Putin would be a 'disadvantage'

Olaf Scholz blocked Ursula von der Leyen from becoming the new Nato chief because her “tough” stance on Putin would be a “disadvantage”, German media has reported.

The German chancellor, reportedly told Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, that he was against von der Leyen becoming the new head of the military alliance because she is highly critical or Russia.

Citing diplomats in Brussels, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported that “Scholz was categorically against von der Leyen becoming Nato head”.

Von der Leyen is being considered as a potential successor to Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of Nato who is due to step down in October.

Another contender is Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime Minister. His chances of seizing the position have grown since Scholz denounced von der Leyen, German media has reported.

Ben Wallace, the former UK defence secretary is also being considered for the role.

Von der Leyen was the German defence minister from 2013 to 2019, during which she was frequently criticised for depending on the use of outside consultants.

In April 2023, Britain was reported by The Sun to be considering vetoing the President of the European Commission for the role, citing her performance as German defence minister under Angela Merkel.

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Last month, tension between Scholz and von der Leyen rose when the EU criticised Germany for pledging €7billion (£6billion) in security assistance and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Scholz announced the support on January 16, after urging other EU countries to boost their military supplies to Ukraine.

However, Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, slammed Scholz for not backing Brussels.

“Today we see that Germany is trying to go solo, it hasn't fooled anyone, and in particular it is trying to stop supporting the European Peace Facility,” Breton told reporters in Paris.

The European Peace Facility is an off-budget mechanism aimed at funding the costs of the EU’s offshore military operations, as well as funding aid to allies such as Ukraine.

In December, Germany laid out a proposal which would allow member countries to discount bilateral military aid given to Ukraine from their contribution to the EPF.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the EPF has provided €4.5billion (£3.8billion) worth of weapons to Kyiv.

It also drilled 34,000 Ukrainian troops are part of an EU training mission.

Berlin officials believe that countries with larger defence industries such as France or Spain should be spending money on creating new weapons, rather than using their existing military stocks, which the EPF then reimburses.

“For Ukraine it is decisive that military aid reaches it without delay," a German diplomat in Brussels told Politico.

“The EPF is useful but can be blocked by a single Member State as has happened time and again in the past. Bilateral support is direct and quick and should be considered as an at least equivalent contribution.”

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Tories think they've spotted a Labour weakness - and are scouring for opportunities

The Conservative campaign is seeking Labour candidates' comments about Israel and Gaza following the suspension of two MP-hopefuls last week after their comments about the Middle East. 

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Sunak's by-election agony, Starmer's Rochdale headache, and why we could have a May election? | Adam Boulton

This week's two by-elections had something for everyone - except Rishi Sunak's Conservatives.

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Alexei Navalny: What we know about the death of Putin's critic

The death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has sparked a series of questions and accusations, including over how he died and, crucially, who, if anyone, is responsible.

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