Sunak ‘plans crackdown’ on student visa salesmen…
“Rishi Sunak is expected to announce a crackdown on agents that market graduate visa schemes overseas as he attempts to appear tough on migration before this year’s general election. In a week where the university’s regulator warned institutions are in dire financial positions because of falling international student levels, the prime minister is seeking ways to cut the number of people coming to study in the UK further. Sunak could announce the new measures as early as next week, to coincide with quarterly migration data from the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics, according to people briefed on the plans. The crackdown on agents could include some kind of mandatory agent registration scheme, and see the government introduce fines for bad practice.” – The Financial Times
…as he urges China to ‘encourage Russia’ to end the war in Ukraine, as officials grow ‘increasingly concerned’ over military partnership
“Rishi Sunak has called on China to use its influence over Russia to end the war in Ukraine. But as President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin put on a show of unity in Beijing yesterday, there seemed scant chance of No 10’s request being passed on. The pair greeted each other warmly to discuss plans to boost their anti-West alliance. Unbowed, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said yesterday: ‘We would urge China to encourage Russia to cease the illegal war against Ukraine. China has previously spoken out about the importance of protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine – something we have engaged China in at all levels.’ Western officials are increasingly concerned over China’s support for Russia…” – The Daily Mail
- Putin isn’t Xi’s equal – he’s in his pocket – Ross Clark, Daily Express
Hunt: Only Tories can be trusted to cut taxes
“Jeremy Hunt will say on Friday that the tax rises the government has implemented were “necessary” and that only his party can be trusted to lower them after the election. The tax burden is on course to reach 37 per cent of national income, the highest level since the Second World War, after a series of increases under the Conservatives. In a speech in central London, the chancellor will say that the rises were needed to fund the furlough scheme during the pandemic and shield people from soaring energy bills after Russia invaded Ukraine. He will insist that “taxes will go down” under a Tory government and will accuse Rachel Reeves…of planning to raise them. Hunt will restate his ambition to scrap national insurance, which Labour has said amounts to an unfunded £46 billion pledge.” – The Times
- Labour tax rises are as sure as ‘night follows day’, says the Chancellor – The Daily Telegraph
- He will warn that Labour’s green ‘super quango’ will cost households nearly £3,000, Tories warn – Daily Express
- He promises further tax cuts if the Conservatives win the general election – The I
Keegan changes transgender stance and agrees men can sometimes become women
“Gillian Keegan has said men who undergo gender reassignment are women. Last month, the Education Secretary told The Telegraph that she would no longer say that trans women were women, and her understanding of the issue had “evolved”. But in an interview with Radio 4’s Today programme, she said it depended whether the person was self-identifying as the opposite sex or whether they had actually obtained a gender reassignment certificate from a doctor. To gain a gender recognition certificate, a person must have a signed report from a specialist doctor showing they have “gender dysphoria”, which means they are distressed because of the mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.” – The Daily Telegraph
- ‘Sound and fury’: Why Tories are bored of Sunak’s pre-election ‘culture wars’ – The I
Pavement dining to become a ‘permanent feature of the High Street’ as Badenoch announces plans to remove red tape for pubs, restaurants, and cafes
“Pavement dining will become a ‘permanent feature of the high street’ under plans to cut red tape and make the most of ‘Brexit freedoms’. Kemi Badenoch yesterday announced a package of reforms to boost businesses. Plans unveiled by the Business Secretary include proposals to remove regulations that make it hard for pubs, restaurants and cafes to get permission to serve customers outside. Pubs could also be given the automatic right to sell takeaway pints. Temporary allowances were granted during the pandemic but are due to expire next year. Yesterday’s package will also loosen some regulations on gambling, including allowing bingo halls to install fruit machines. And the official definition of a medium-sized business will be doubled to those with 500 employees…”- The Daily Mail
- Britain takes ‘next step’ to joining bumper £12 trillion trade bloc in biggest Brexit prize yet – Daily Express
May: Truss and Johnson to blame for Tory failure
“Theresa May has accused Boris Johnson and Liz Truss of destroying the Conservative Party’s popularity but argued the disaster of her 2017 election campaign showed Rishi Sunak could still win the next election. The former prime minister took aim at the “expectation of celebrity” in modern politics as she blamed social media for driving polarisation and an increasing threat to democracy. Speaking to journalists in Westminster, May praised Sunak for stabilising the government but aimed a series of barbs at her two other successors. She also reiterated her criticisms of Sunak’s Rwanda policy, which she warned made it harder to help victims of modern slavery, and cautioned her party against leaving the European Court of Human Rights…” – The Times
- She believes her ‘election woes’ show there is still hope for Sunak to defy polls – The Daily Telegraph
- She shares ‘one major piece of advice’ for next Prime Minister on dealing with Trump – Daily Express
Picardo ‘hits out’ at Tory MPs claiming to defend Rock’s sovereignty
“Gibraltar’s chief minister has hit out at Tory MPs for claiming to defend the sovereignty of the Rock. Fabian Picardo, who flew to Brussels on Thursday for the latest round of talks on a post-Brexit deal for Gibraltar with the EU, told The Telegraph that it was “wrong” to suggest that the deal would “in any way affect British sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over Gibraltar”. It comes after Sir William Cash, the Eurosceptic chairman of the Commons European scrutiny committee, said that he was concerned the deal would “erode UK sovereignty to the point of meaninglessness”. Mr Picardo praised Lord Cameron… Mr Picardo also warned that Brexit had been a big blow for Gibraltar and that those who voted to leave the EU did not consider the impact on the territory…” – The Daily Telegraph
Starmer says there is ‘no quick fix to Tory mess’ if Labour wins election…
“There will be no “quick fix” to the deep problems Labour will inherit if it wins the next election, Keir Starmer has said while unveiling his party’s six election pledges amid a fanfare of endorsements from senior public figures. The Labour leader said “most reasonable, tolerant people” in the country wanted what his party wanted for Britain, before he received an extraordinary endorsement from the Boots chief executive, Sebastian James, an Old Etonian who was a member of the private all-male Bullingdon Club alongside David Cameron. James, who is pictured in the infamous club photograph (see below) alongside Cameron and Boris Johnson, appeared in a video message endorsing Rachel Reeves’ plans for economic stability… Starmer rejected suggestions the pledges were unambitious…”- The Guardian
- What are Labour’s six pledges? Inside Starmer’s election plan – The Times
- ‘I don’t want to raise taxes’ – Starmer makes seventh pledge, but not in writing – The I
- He insists he is not a ‘Blair copycat’ – The Daily Mail
- Starmer has shown he is not ready to rule – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- The Opposition’s latest policy launch was underwhelming but it probably won’t matter – Editorial, The Times
- Starmer’s plan for government is vanishing before the voters’ eyes – Fraser Nelson, The Daily Telegraph
- His vague blueprint for Britain is lacklustre at best – voters are waiting for functional policy – Editorial, The Sun
- His pledges lack all credibility – Editorial, The Daily Mail
- Starmer’s latest list of politically expendable promises are more millstone than Ed Stone – Harry Cole, The Sun
- He knows he isn’t trusted – Andrew Fisher, The I
- His pledges are a placard of political platitudes – but here’s what he’ll really deliver – Richard Littlejohn, The Daily Mail
- After his flip-flopping, why would anyone believe another pledge? – Robert Taylor, Daily Express
- Starmer’s tussle with the unions isn’t over yet – Patrick Maguire, The Times
- How large might Labour’s ‘dullness dividend’ be? – Soumaya Keynes, The Financial Times
- Starmer aims low with ‘first steps’ for power – Tom Peck, The Times
- He is a snore. A one-man fun-extinguisher. Soon eyelids were shutting faster than High Street banks – Quentin Letts, The Daily Mail
…as the party ‘won’t commit’ to new sex education guidance…
“Labour has declined to commit to keeping the new sex education guidance for schools. Both Sir Keir Starmer, the party leader, and Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, fell short of promising that the guidance, unveiled by the Education Secretary, would be kept if they were to win office. The guidance urges schools not to teach contested gender ideology and says that sex education should not be taught earlier than the age of nine. Labour has argued it needs time to look through the details of each proposal before committing to keep them. However, Ms Phillipson, in an interview with The Telegraph, did stress the importance of age-appropriate teaching on sex education and the need for guidance to schools.” – The Daily Telegraph
>Today:
…as Corbyn “threatens independent run” as his party seeks new MP…
“Labour is set for a showdown with Jeremy Corbyn’s local party and left-wing MPs amid moves to block the former leader from standing at the next general election. Labour has opened the process to select a candidate for Islington North, where Corbyn is the independent MP, having lost the Labour whip. Corbyn has said he wishes to continue to represent the area, and the local party have expressed their support for the former leader. But Sir Keir Starmer said…that Corbyn would not be Labour’s candidate, and The Times understands he will not even be allowed on the shortlist. It is understood that Corbyn, who is still a party member, could technically put his name forward for selection, but Labour’s National Executive Committee ruled last year that he could not be endorsed as a…candidate.” – The Times
- Row over Corbyn’s Labour future comes to a head as the fight to replace him begins – The I
…and as Khan urges Lammy to ‘call out Trump’ on sexism and racism
“Labour should do more to “call out” Donald Trump for racism and sexism, Sadiq Khan has suggested. Mr Khan, who recently won a third term as the Mayor of London, broke with his party’s attempts to woo the former president before this year’s US election by calling for Labour to criticise Mr Trump. David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has launched a charm offensive on the presumptive Republican nominee, praising him for raising defence spending during his first term and suggesting the two men have “common ground”. On a trip to Washington last week, Mr Lammy met with Chris LaCivita, Mr Trump’s campaign manager, and several of his allies on Capitol Hill. On Thursday, Mr Khan said he was “worried” about the prospect of a second Trump presidency…” – The Daily Telegraph
News in Brief:
- The Tories have no right talking about ‘common sense’ – Gareth Roberts, The Spectator
- Tory U-turn is another broken promise on immigration – Henry Hill, UnHerd
- The Tories are victims of themselves – Fred de Fossard, The Critic
- Free trade could be the Tories’ ticket out of oblivion – Harry Phibbs, CapX
- Tories need to talk about Farage – Eliot Wilson, The Ideas Lab
