PM and Chancellor ‘united’ in Budget plan
“When ministers rebelled last week against the scale of public spending restrictions to be outlined in the budget and the government’s spending review, they appealed over the head of chancellor Rachel Reeves to Sir Keir Starmer, writing a letter to the prime minister to complain about cuts in day-to-day spending. Efforts to split Starmer and Reeves were in vain. Downing Street sent the ministers packing, the calls being made by Morgan McSweeney and Katie Martin, chiefs of staff to the PM and his chancellor, seated together in the office next to the cabinet room that McSweeney has commandeered for meetings since he replaced Sue Gray this month.” – Sunday Times
- The brains shaping Project Reeves, from Carney to White – Sunday Times
- Inside the Labour budget revolt that could define the Starmer-Reeves project – Observer
- Inheritance tax: how extending the 7-year rule to 10 might work – Sunday Times
Comment
>Yesterday:
Starmer to overhaul Labour’s ‘five missions’ after disastrous 100 days
“The Government is planning to revamp its flagship “five missions for national renewal” as it tries to correct course after a torrid first 100 days. There is a “live conversation” at the top of Government about how to make the mission boards more effective, the Telegraph understands. The renewed focus on the five missions comes as the Government attempts to reset after its first 100 days was marred by the freebies scandal and the downfall of Sue Gray, the Prime Minister’s former chief of staff. Sir Keir Starmer first announced the five missions in 2023 when he was leader of the opposition. A new poll has revealed the Conservatives are ahead of Labour for the first time in terms of family finances since Boris Johnson was in power, it emerged on Saturday.” – Sunday Telegraph
Reeves could borrow £80bn, say lenders
“The government has prepared the markets for an extra £80 billion of borrowing over the next five years to fund ambitious spending on infrastructure and green energy. Investors in government bonds, or gilts, are signalling to Rachel Reeves that they can lend her that sum without prompting a Liz Truss-style panic in the markets as long as she sets out clear annual spending plans and explains the economic benefits of the projects to be funded. In recent days, the government has been floating ideas to try to convince investors to back extra borrowing in Reeves’s maiden budget on October 30.” – Sunday Times
- Chancellor to keep ‘stealth tax’ freeze on thresholds – FT
- Reeves will tax businesses to plug £9bn black hole in NHS – Observer
- ‘Hypocrite’ Reeves claimed stealth income tax raids were ‘picking pockets’ of workers – Sun on Sunday
- Reeves to put economy in ‘doom-loop’ – Sunday Express
- Poll reveals the Conservatives are ahead on family finances – Mail on Sunday
Comment
Revealed: leaked files prove chaos at the heart of HS2
“Ministers will be given greater oversight over the taxpayer-funded company in charge of HS2, where “inconsistent” and “rapidly changing” figures have made it impossible for officials to develop a reliable view of the project’s cost. Leaked documents marked “official sensitive” and seen by The Sunday Times say BBV, the high-speed railway project’s biggest private sector supplier, is simply “too large to effectively control”. Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, will hold regular meetings with HS2 alongside Lord Hendy, a rail minister, and Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, to monitor spending. “I have seen up close the scale of failure in project delivery — and it’s dire,” she said.” – Sunday Times
Comment
DWP to take money directly from bank accounts in benefit fraud crackdown
“The state will be granted powers to take money directly out of bank accounts and wage slips as part of a crackdown on benefit fraud. Private companies such as airlines will also be compelled to hand over information to investigators, under plans being drawn up by ministers for the biggest overhaul to the department’s powers in 20 years. Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said it was “absurd” that her department’s powers had become so outdated, with inspectors struggling to “keep pace” with complex methods employed by fraudsters.” – Sunday Telegraph
- Bulgarian benefits scam cost UK taxpayers £2.2m – Sunday Telegraph
- DWP primed to lift money directly out of benefit fraudsters’ bank accounts – Mail on Sunday
- Labour’s employment rights revamp paves way for £5.5bn a year wage increase for social workers – Sunday Telegraph
- Millions to be handed health-monitoring smart watches by NHS – Sunday Telegraph
Comment
Minister loses Grenfell brief over industry hospitality
“The minister in charge of building safety has lost her brief after Grenfell survivors demanded her removal for attending a secretive conference sponsored by a company condemned by the inquiry into the fatal fire. It comes days after Grenfell United, which represents survivors and bereaved families, allegedly issued Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister and housing secretary, with an ultimatum to remove Rushanara Ali from the post. Ali confirmed she had relinquished the role as Grenfell and building safety minister, stating “perception matters” and that “trusted relationships between ministers and the Grenfell community are essential for [the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government]”. – Sunday Times
Tory leadership 1) Jenrick slams Badenoch for ‘disrespect’ by shunning head-to-head debate
“Conservative leadership contender Robert Jenrick has accused rival Kemi Badenoch of showing “disrespect” to voters by not debating him head-to-head. The former immigration minister says the next leader of the Tory party must be a strong debater. The next leader of the opposition will have to face Sir Keir Starmer each week at Prime Minister’s Questions The two candidates took part in a GB News event last week but did not debate directly. A BBC Question Time special is not expected to go ahead, it is reported, after Ms Badenoch declined to take part. Mr Jenrick said: “I will debate Kemi anytime, anywhere. I have agreed to debate after debate. “Unfortunately, my opponent has declined. I think that is disrespectful to the members of our party and to the general public.” – Sunday Express
>Today:
Tory leadership 2) Jenrick: I would tear up unconservative climate change act as Tory leader
“Robert Jenrick has promised to tear up the Climate Change Act if he becomes Tory leader and eventually prime minister. He has said he will scrap major pieces of Blair and Brown era legislation including the Climate Change Act, Equality Act and Human Rights Act under a “Great Reform Act” if he makes it to No 10. His plans include scrapping carbon budgets and unburdening businesses of equality laws which have been criticised for driving positive discrimination and political correctness in the workplace. He described carbon budgets as “Soviet-style five-year plans” and claimed they impede the building of critical national infrastructure projects.” – Sunday Telegraph
Comment
- In the race to be Tory leader, the candidates ignore Britain’s pressing issues – Editorial, Observer
Tory leadership 3) Badenoch: ‘Parenting is a two-person job. Where are the dads?’
“Kemi Badenoch, who at 44 is one of the country’s most recognisable politicians, attributes much of her success to her family. She believes that “not having a good family” is the “biggest barrier” to success in life. That’s why she believes that family is one of the Conservative principles that has been most neglected. “I remember early on as an MP, I did quite a lot of casework on absent fathers who the Child Support Agency was chasing. And if you look at the prison population, the vast majority of the male prison population did not grow up with their fathers. If fathers look after their children better, they will be less likely to end up in prison. And those are the sorts of things that we need to talk about more.” – Sunday Times
Daley: Tories need a strong leader to resist Labour’s socialist war on success
“Do you own a home, and have you been saving throughout your working life in the hope of leaving your children and grandchildren an inheritance that might help them through difficult times? And did you believe when you made your prudent decisions over the years that what you were doing was both practically sensible and morally right? That you were taking responsibility for the well-being of your own family and so ensuring that they would not have to rely on the state for support? If so, you may wonder why Labour – which speaks often of moral choices – is planning to make you its chosen target for punitive tax rises. Not only does the government intend to confiscate a higher proportion of that treasured sum you had planned to leave to your loved ones, but it will impugn your character in the process.” – Sunday Telegraph
Labour gender therapy plans ‘risk criminalising parents’
“Labour’s “trans inclusive” ban on conversion therapy risks “criminalising” parents who do not want their children to transition, Sir Keir Starmer has been warned. A cross-party group of MPs and peers as well as psychiatrists, psychologists, doctors and consultants has written to the Prime Minister to express their “grave concerns” about his proposals. They warn that such legislation also risks criminalising therapists who do not “unconditionally affirm” a child’s desire to transition. The previous government had proposed banning conversion therapy but it was never implemented because of concerns that parents, teachers and therapists could be criminalised for questioning a child’s belief that they were born in the wrong body.” – Sunday Telegraph
Drakeford ‘exempt’ from second home tax on holiday chalet
“Mark Drakeford, the Welsh secretary for finance, has defended his exemption from Wales’s second home council tax raid after owners of similar properties were forced to pay thousands of pounds more. The former first minister said his “chalet” in Pembrokeshire was spared from the council tax surcharge as it can only be occupied for nine months of the year under the holiday park licence. However, owners of chalets in other holiday parks in the county are forced to pay the premium which was introduced to stop second home owners pricing out locals.” – Sunday Telegraph
