Some strikes in Wales suspended after government raises pay offer – as it happened

Striking nurses in Cardiff in December. Photograph: Huw Fairclough/Getty Images

5.15pm GMT

Afternoon summary

• The RCN and the GMB have called off strikes in Wales by nurses and ambulance staff planned for next week. But Unite says its ambulance staff in Wales will go ahead with their strike on Monday. The RCN and GMB acted after the Welsh government tabled an improved pay offer. (See 3.17pm.)

• The RCN and Unison have said that the Scottish and Welsh government have left Rishi Sunak looking unreasonable because they have shown a willingness to revise their pay offers to NHS staff. (See 3.37pm and 4.36pm.)

• Downing Street has said Rishi Sunak continues to have confidence in Simon Case, the cabinet secretary – despite a report suggesting that Case may have failed to fully alert Sunak to a complaint made about Dominic Raab before Raab was appointed to the cabinet. (See 1.15pm.)

• Afghan refugees have protested against plans to move them 200 miles from London to Yorkshire amid claims that they could challenge the government’s decision in the courts.

• A whistleblower who revealed Britain’s chaotic response to the fall of Kabul has said the civil service has become so dangerously politicised that officials who speak out risk being sidelined or sacked.

An Aslef member, who has been joining the Aslef strike today. Photograph: Jacob King/PA

Updated at 5.16pm GMT

4.53pm GMT

Government accused of repeatedly blocking Hillsborough public advocate law

The government was accused of repeatedly blocking a bill aimed at introducing a public advocate for families like those who lost loved ones in the Hillsborough dipaster, PA Media reports. PA says:

The public advocate (No 2) bill would introduce an independent representative for the bereaved and survivors of disasters involving public authorities.

But the bill was effectively denied a second reading at the end of Friday’s Commons sitting, a day when backbench MPs are conventionally given a chance to make laws outside of the government’s legislative agenda.

Following the objection, Labour former minister Maria Eagle questioned whether ministers cared about “righting the terrible wrongs” of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

The Garston and Halewood MP told the Commons: “We have seen five bills proceed today. The public advocate (No 2) bill has been introduced repeatedly into parliament since 2015.

The objection today from the government is the 12th time they have objected in the last two years, despite a proposal for a public advocate being in the government’s own 2017 manifesto.