Britain escapes recession as economy grows

“Britain’s economy has escaped recession after the economy grew at the start of the year, official figures show. Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.6pc in the first quarter of 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. It means the UK is no longer in recession after two consecutive quarters of contraction at the end of 2023. It comes a day after the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, indicated that interest rates will need to be cut in the UK, possibly at a faster pace than markets anticipate. A cut to interest rates would deliver a further boost to the economy as it would ease borrowing costs for businesses… Britain’s economy has exited recession after it grew at a faster-than-expected pace at the start of the year.” – The Daily Telegraph

• Hunt says ‘don’t cut interest rates too soon’ – Daily Express
• The four key reasons why the Bank of England still won’t cut interest rates – The I
• Soaring immigration is fuelling Britain’s housing crisis, says Bank of England’s chief economist – The Daily Telegraph
• Brown’s decision to sell off Britain’s gold reserves when was Chancellor has cost the country £21 billion, analysis suggests – The Daily Mail

Sunak 1) University leaders must take ‘personal’ care to protect Jewish students, the Prime Minister says

“University leaders should take “personal responsibility” for protecting Jewish students on campus, Rishi Sunak said to vice-chancellors during an antisemitism roundtable hosted at Downing Street. Sunak told the meeting…that it was imperative for universities to “remain bastions of tolerance, where debate takes place with respect for others and where every student feels safe”. The meeting was convened by the prime minister after the proliferation of student encampments in protest at the fighting in Gaza…Edward Isaacs, president of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), told the roundtable there had been an “unprecedented rise in campus antisemitism” since Hamas’s attacks on Israel on 7 October last year, describing it as “a year like no other” for Jewish students. “ – The Guardian

• Vice-chancellors warn Sunak over non-student ‘agitators’ – The Daily Telegraph
• Universities which fail to act on students glorifying Hamas, or voicing anti-Jewish racism, must face crippling fines – Editorial, The Sun

Sunak 2) Stop fighting like rats in a sack, Houchen tells Tories

“Rishi Sunak must take the blame for Tory “chaos”, the party’s only directly elected mayor has said, as he called on Conservative MPs to stop fighting like “rats in a sack”. Ben Houchen, whose re-election as Tees Valley mayor last week helped to see off a leadership challenge to Sunak, said the prime minister had to take ultimate responsibility for the Conservatives’ misfortunes. Houchen added, however, that Tory MPs had to take their share of the blame for “fighting with each other”, warning that “ultimately the public do not vote for parties who are not united”. His comments are likely to irritate Downing Street, which celebrated Houchen’s victory as a rare bit of good news among what were largely grim local election results for the Conservatives.” – The Times

• ‘Zombie government’ as Tories plan election and CEOs ‘just want to talk to Labour’ – The I
• What we can learn from Street’s narrow loss in the West Midlands – Stephen Bush, The Financial Times

>Today:

>Yesterday:

Cameron says UK will not withhold arms sales to Israel

“David Cameron has said the UK will not be withholding arms sales to Israel, saying its position is not comparable with that of the US, which has paused the delivery of a weapons shipment, since the UK is not a large state-to-state arms supplier to Israel. The foreign secretary added that the UK did not support a large-scale invasion of Rafah unless it saw a plan that protects civilians, a position the UK has repeated for the past month. Foreign Office officials said they had no view as to whether Hamas or Israel were closer to the UK position of a two-stage ceasefire, starting with a humanitarian ceasefire and leading to a permanent cessation. They pointed out that Israel claimed the offer accepted by Hamas…differed from the one Israel had been prepared to accept the week before.” – The Guardian

• He is warned his Gibralter Brexit deal will ‘erode UK sovereignty to point of meaninglessness’ – The Daily Telegraph
• Cameron launches the gunboats for his big foreign policy speech – Madeline Grant, The Daily Telegraph
• He shows off a peerless selective memory – Tom Peck, The Times

WFH parents ‘contributing to rise in Friday school absences’, says Keegan

“Parents working from home have contributed to an “unacceptable” rise in pupils skipping school on Fridays, the education secretary has said. Gillian Keegan said that 50,000 more pupils were absent at the end of the week compared with Mondays, with schools facing “major challenges” as parents pull their children out of class for holidays and long weekends. School absences jump by 20 per cent on Fridays while unauthorised holidays are up 25 per cent on pre-Covid levels, according to analysis of government figures. Keegan said it was her “top priority” to boost attendance as official figures show absenteeism is stubbornly higher than before 2020. Recent figures show that a record 157,000 pupils are now missing more than 50 per cent of their lessons…” – The Times

Harper ‘open’ to backing ‘tough new laws on dangerous cyclists’

“The Transport Secretary says he will consider “with an open mind” proposed new laws to make cyclists who ride dangerously or carelessly face tougher prison sentences similar to motorists. Mark Harper has told The Telegraph legislation is being kept “under review”  that could see Victorian laws currently used to prosecute cyclists who kill or maim being updated. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, has tabled a series of amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill that would mean those riding bicycles, e-bikes, electric scooters, unicycles and “personal transporters” face tougher penalties if they injure or kill pedestrians. Sir Iain is hoping to close a loophole in the law that means cyclists who cause fatal injuries are often charged under an 1861 law…” – The Daily Telegraph

Zahawi latest Tory MP standing down at next election

“Former Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi has announced he will stand down as an MP at the next general election, becoming the 64th Conservative MP to say they are quitting. In a letter posted on X, he said that serving his constituency of Stratford-on-Avon, which he has held since 2010, was “the greatest honour of my life” and he felt “immensely privileged to have been called upon to serve my country across Government”. He reflected on his various Cabinet roles, which have included education secretary, chancellor and Conservative Party chairman, a role he was sacked from last year following controversy over his tax arrangements. He is currently a backbench MP. Mr Zahawi was also chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under Liz Truss…” – The I

• His lawyer is ‘at risk of sanction’ over alleged use of ‘Slapp’ – The Financial Times
• Zahawi’s insincere, self-serving farewell letter is him all over – Simon Kelner, The I

Cummings ‘unveils plans’ for new party to replace the Tories

“Dominic Cummings has unveiled plans for a new “Start-Up Party” which he claims could replace the Conservatives. Speaking to the i paper…Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser said the new party could capitalise on the expected collapse in the Tory vote at the next general election. The Vote Leave mastermind claimed a majority of the electorate would support a party that is “completely different” to Labour and the Tories. “The Tories now obviously represent nothing except a continuation of the sh– show; higher taxes, worse violent crime, more debt, anti-entrepreneurs, public services failing, immigration out of control,” said Mr Cummings. There is no suggestion Mr Cummings’s party would stand candidates in the next general election…” – The Daily Telegraph

• He says neither main party has anything to offer – The Times
• Cummings: ‘Boris and I saved thousands from Covid – but we won’t talk again’ – The I

Labour 1) Starmer ‘will deploy MI5’ to combat Channel migrant crisis

“MI5 agents would be deployed directly to tackle the small boats crisis for the first time under a Labour government, Sir Keir Starmer will announce on Friday. The Labour leader will use a speech in Dover to unveil plans for a new Border Security Command that will incorporate intelligence agents, border officers, police, specialist investigators and prosecutors who will be tasked with targeting criminal gangs that facilitate illegal migration to the UK. Labour will also expand the counter-terror powers available to target people-smuggling gangs.The party said hundreds of new personnel would be recruited…which will be paid for by savings made by scrapping the government’s Rwanda policy, which Starmer will brand a “gimmick”. Labour said this would free up £75 million…” – The Times

• He will ‘rip up’ Rwanda scheme and fund new anti-smuggling unit – The Guardian
• He will “use terror laws” to tackle migrant crossings – The Daily Telegraph
• How would a Labour government tackle irregular migration? – The Financial Times
• Starmer’s Home Office immigration plan ‘does not answer call for safe routes’ – The Guardian
• He is ridiculed over claim he is ‘scary’ to face on football pitch – Daily Express
• I’ll use M15 to help smash small boat smuggling gangs – who are no better than terrorists – Keir Starmer, The Sun

Labour 2) Rayner assures MPs that Elphicke will have no formal Labour role

“Angela Rayner privately assured Labour MPs that Natalie Elphicke would have no “formal role” in the party as she distanced herself from the Tory defector, The Telegraph can reveal. Just hours after Ms Elphicke had crossed the aisle to join Labour, Ms Rayner, the party’s deputy leader, downplayed the idea that the Dover MP would play a key role developing policy direction. It was made clear that Ms Elphicke would have no formal position advising on housing policy, an area Ms Rayner oversees in her role as the shadow communities secretary. The message appeared to contradict indications from senior Labour insiders – and Ms Elphicke’s own defection statement – that the new Labour MP would be helping to set the party’s approach to housing.” – The Daily Telegraph

• Labour ‘defends decision’ to admit ex-Tory MP Elphicke – The Financial Times
• Abbott ‘to stay out in Labour cold’ despite Elphicke defection backlash – The I
• Why Elphicke’s defection was a brutal political calculation – The Times
• What Dover really thinks of its hardline Tory MP switching to Labour – The Daily Telegraph
• She apologies for defending sex offender ex-husband – The Sun
• Her move is a strategic coup for Starmer, but his anxious MPs must be reassured it doesn’t come at a price – Editorial, The Times
• Labour MPs didn’t bother to smile when Elphicke defected. Is this proof ‘spineless’ Starmer will let anyone in? – Harry Cole, The Sun
• Elphicke is symbol of Starmer’s new mantra – Patrick Maguire, The Times
• My MP is a Tory turncoat. I know how it must feel to be betrayed by Elphicke – Angela Epstein, Daily Express

Labour 3) She says her party needs to ‘liase with business’ on workers’ rights

“Labour’s flagship workers’ rights package is being created “in lockstep with business”, Angela Rayner has said, after making a string of concessions to bosses that have angered unions. Labour’s deputy leader, who is spearheading the wide-ranging reforms, said that changes to workers’ rights could only be done by working with business, after a number of meetings with employers’ organisations that have led to bosses largely dropping their warnings over the plans. As part of the overhaul, Labour has promised to introduce a ban on zero-hours contracts, more protection against dismissal from day one of employment, higher sick pay, the repeal of trade union laws, more flexible working and a “right to switch off”. But the pledges will now be subject to consultation…” – The Times

Swinney ‘faces SNP rebellion from LGBT wing’ over Forbes appointment

“John Swinney is facing a rebellion from the SNP’s LGBT wing over his decision to make Kate Forbes his Deputy First Minister after she said she would have voted against gay marriage. Out for Independence, the party’s official LGBT group, said it shared “real concerns” about her appointment and would be seeking “urgent clarification” from Mr Swinney and Ms Forbes. The group said it wanted assurances from the First Minister that controversial plans to ban conversion therapy would not be derailed. The Scottish Government plans to make it a criminal offence to attempt to “change or suppress” a person’s gender identity. Its statement was issued shortly after the Scottish Greens warned Mr Swinney he risked reviving the “repressive” social attitudes of the 1950s by appointing her.” – The Daily Telegraph

News in Brief:

• The science behind Colman’s left-wing face – Charles Moore, The Spectator 
• Smith’s warning for Starmer – Anthony Broxton, UnHerd 
• When the Left thought free trade meant peace – Alex Middleton, The Critic 
• Do we really need metro mayors? – Harry Phibbs, CapX
• Russia’s victory-less Victory Day – Lawrence Freedman, The New Statesman