Responding to Bryant, Home Office minister Victoria Atkins insisted Patel wanted the report published as soon as possible but that she was obliged to first check it for any national security concerns. But last week Patel said she would need to check the report before it was published. The home secretary would not amend the document, Atkins said, with “the only caveat” being national security and the Human Rights Act. Atkins replied that Patel, as home secretary, “has her own responsibilities that she cannot transfer to anybody else” in terms of national security. The SNP’s Stuart C McDonald also pressed Atkins to disclose any links or communications between Patel or her officials and News UK.

Source: The Guardian May 24, 2021 17:51 UTC