Pulse.Assent

The Queen has been pleased to approve that David Rutley MP and Nigel Adams MP be appointed Parliamentary Under Secretaries of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government respectively.

Both roles are unpaid and are in addition to their current roles as Government Whips.

Nigel Adams MP has been appointed temporarily to provide support so Heather Wheeler MP can spend more time with her husband who has health issues.

David Rutley MP has been appointed temporarily whilst Thérèse Coffey MP recovers from a period of illness.

A man who attempted to rob a taxi-driver at knife-point has been jailed today after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred his sentence for being too low.

Alexander Bell, 26, demanded money from his victim while threatening him with a blade. Even though the victim agreed to pay him, Bell slashed at him with the blade and a struggle ensued.

Bell was originally sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court in March, where he was given a sentence of 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years. Today, after the Solicitor General’s referral, the Court of Appeal increased his sentence to 2 years 10 months immediate custody.

Commenting on the sentence increase, the Solicitor General said:

Bell launched an unprovoked attack using a weapon against his victim, and I am pleased that today the Court of Appeal has agreed that the risk he poses to the public warrants immediate custody.