Conservatives 1) Jenrick facing defeat as ConservativeHome poll puts Badenoch 24 points ahead
“The respected Conservative Home website has released what may be the final proper poll of the ongoing Tory leadership election, reveals Robert Jenrick’s support dwindling. It found that when polling Conservative members about who they want to be the next party leader, despite the race dragging on for so many weeks, almost no one has changed their mind. The poll of over 800 verified party members found that Kemi Badenoch is on 55%, with Mr Jenrick trailing behind on 31%, and 14% members yet to make up their minds. This means that, when compared to another poll the site conducted on September 3, Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick have broadly remained identical in their levels of support. At the time Ms Badenoch had 51% support, to Mr Jenrick’s 34%.” – Daily Express
>Today:
Conservatives 2) Duncan in ‘antisemitism’ row after claiming Jenrick’s Jewish ‘connections’ are behind pro-Israel stance
“A former Tory minister has been accused of “textbook antisemitism” for claiming Robert Jenrick’s Jewish “family connections” lie behind his pro-Israeli stance. Sir Alan Duncan said the Conservative leadership contender was an “extremist” who “takes his script” from Israel. His comments today sparked anger from Mr Jenrick – whose wife Michal is Jewish – and demands for him to be expelled from the party. Sir Alan was investigated by the Tories earlier this year for claiming the Conservative Friends of Israel group was “doing the bidding” of Benjamin Netanyahu. The ex-foreign office minister – who left Parliament in 2019 – was cleared but now faces another row over his comments on the Palestine Deep Dive YouTube channel.” – The Sun
Conservatives 3) Three Tory councillors defect to Reform UK after Farage urges them to join party
“Three former Tory councillors have joined Reform UK after Nigel Farage urged them to defect to the party. Two are in Scotland, making them the party’s first elected politicians north of the Border. It comes after Mr Farage wrote to Tory county councillors up for re-election next year urging them to jump ship. In the letter issued on Wednesday, he warned of the “risk they face” by remaining in the Tory fold and said the offer to defect was a “lifeline.” Jaymey McIvor, a county councillor in Essex, became the first Tory councillor to defect to Reform UK since Mr Farage issued his letter… Reform said the subsequent decision by Mark Findlater and Laurie Carnie, who both sit on Aberdeenshire Council, demonstrated that “the Tory brand is broken” across the UK.” – The Daily Telegraph
We should take about Britain’s history, Starmer tells Commonwealth leaders…
“Sir Keir Starmer has said there should be a conversation about Britain’s history as he faces demands to sign up to slavery reparations. The Prime Minister acknowledged that the issue of reparations “matters hugely” to many countries but insisted it was time to “look forward”. He made the remarks at a meeting of Commonwealth leaders at Samoa, at which Caribbean countries are seeking to bring up reparation demands. Sir Keir has rebuffed calls to apologise for Britain’s role in the slave trade, but pointed out Sir Tony Blair had already done so whilst prime minister… His remarks came after Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, warned that the UK could not afford to pay out up to £19 trillion in slavery reparations.” – The Daily Telegraph
- His Commonwealth summit up upended in row over slave trade reparations – The Sun
- Why slavery reparations row poses new headache for Starmer’s Commonwealth reset – The I
- Do Commonwealth demands for £18 trillion of slavery reparations add up? – The Daily Telegraph
- Six things to know about calls for UK slavery reparations before forming an opinion – The I
- Why Lammy is a problem for Starmer – and risks becoming an even bigger one – The Daily Telegraph
- Starmer seeks 2030 host for troubled Commonwealth Games – The Guardian
- Demands to pay for past actions must not impede Commonwealth co-operation – Editorial, The Times
- There is no case for paying reparations – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- Starmer must continue to defy absurd slavery compensation demands – Editorial, The Sun
- The Prime Minister sweats through slavery reparations fever dream – Tom Peck, The Times
- Britain’s black history has never just been a story of oppression – Inaya Folarin Iman, The Daily Telegraph
…as he won’t confirm whether Gray will take up new job
“Sir Keir Starmer has refused to answer questions over whether Sue Gray will ever take up her new job after she was ousted as his chief of staff. The Prime Minister would not comment on suggestions that Ms Gray does not intend to go through with becoming his envoy to the nations and regions. His silence will add to growing speculation that she could quit altogether after losing her power struggle with Morgan McSweeney. Earlier this month, Downing Street said Ms Gray would take up the newly created role as it announced she was leaving her post as Sir Keir’s chief of staff. It has since said she is on a brief break but is expected to start the job in the coming weeks. However, no details of what duties she will perform have been provided by the Government…” – The Daily Telegraph
- Gray’s son was as bland as boiled rice – and not a squeak in defence of his poor old mum – Quentin Letts, The Daily Mail
Labour MPs must talk more about migration or risk being booted out of office after one term, McSweeney warns
“Labour MPs must talk more about migration or face being booted out after one term, PM Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff has warned. Morgan McSweeney told the party’s new MPs to stop ignoring the issue or face the threat of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK at the next election. Across a series of regions-based strategy meetings in Downing Street Sir Keir Starmer’s right hand man urged fresh faced Labourites not to underestimate the threat of Reform. He said they cannot hide from the “tough questions” voters care about — especially legal and illegal immigration. Mr Starmer has pinned his hopes of tackling the small boats on targeting people smuggling gangs — and ditched the Tories’ Rwanda plan.” – The Sun
Budget 1) Landlords and shareholders face tax hikes after Starmer suggests they are not working people
“Landlords and shareholders face being hit with tax rises at next week’s budget after Sir Keir Starmer suggested they are not working people. The Prime Minister said those who earn extra income from property and investments are not covered by Labour’s manifesto pledge to protect “working people” from paying more. His remarks on the sidelines of the Commonwealth heads of government summit in Samoa will heighten fears that he and Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, are set to come after Britons with assets at Labour’s first budget next Wednesday. Labour’s manifesto ruled out putting up rates of income tax, employee National Insurance or VAT and said that “working people” would not pay more tax. But there has been growing uncertainty over how No 10 defines the term…” – The Daily Telegraph
- UK tax raid on private equity ‘could raise £1 billion’, claim researchers – The Financial Times
- Labour’s majority is built on sand. The British people will have their revenge for this Budget – Richard Littlejohn, The Daily Mail
Budget 2) Reeves warned over £50 billion ‘debt fiddle’
“Rachel Reeves has been warned that interest rates will stay higher for longer after the Chancellor said she will change Britain’s debt rules to unleash a borrowing spree of up to £50bn. The Chancellor confirmed she will change how debt is calculated to take into account the benefits of investment spending at her maiden Budget next week, even as her plans triggered jitters in financial markets. She also pledged to get debt falling by the end of this parliament in an effort to reassure nervous investors that she will not go on a borrowing binge. However, Jeremy Hunt warned that families faced higher mortgage costs as he accused the Chancellor of acting irresponsibly. “The markets are watching,” said the former Chancellor.” – The Daily Telegraph
- She will change debt rules to free up £50 billion in borrowing – The Times
- Reeves’s new rules – The Financial Times
- Reeves has handed herself an extra £50 billion. This is where she could spend it – The Daily Telegraph
- UK consumer and business confidence weaken ahead of the Budget – The Financial Times
- Budget will reverse cuts in UK’s public investment, she confirms – The Guardian
- Crumbling schools and hospitals to get Budget boost – The I
- Mortgage rate pain for families after £50 billion debt shift – The Sun
- Reeves should embrace the freedom of disapproval – Robert Shrimsley, The Financial Times
>Today:
>Yesterday:
Budget 3) Reeves’s pensions tax raid ‘will erode living standards’, warns Blunkett
“Rachel Reeves has been warned by the Labour grandee Lord Blunkett that imposing national insurance on employers’ pension contributions risks damaging people’s standard of living in their retirement. The chancellor is expected to use her budget on October 30 to announce plans to impose national insurance on employers’ pension contributions as she seeks to balance the books. The measure is expected to raise about £15 billion. Blunkett, a former work and pensions secretary, said the move was “very worrying” because it could lead to employers reducing pension contributions. He said that he would “advise strongly against this”… Blunkett helped introduce automatic enrolment for pension schemes… There has been pressure to increase auto-enrolment rates…” – The Times
- Doctors threaten to quit on ‘unprecedented scale’ over Labour pensions raid – The Daily Telegraph
- UK growth hit by freeze on tax thresholds, says Bank of England rate-setter – The Financial Times
Budget 4) British importers of key minerals to get financial aid in snub to China
“Britain will attempt to loosen China’s grip on the supply of key components needed to make everything from phones to electric vehicles by giving financial backing to major industries. Rachel Reeves will announce in the budget on Wednesday that British companies which bring in supplies of critical minerals such as lithium, graphite and cobalt will be able to access financial support. It is expected to benefit industries such as electric vehicle battery production, defence, aerospace and renewable energy. MPs have previously warned that Britain is almost entirely dependent on imports of critical minerals and is lagging behind other countries in establishing direct access to the same limited resources. It means the UK has been dependent on China in the global supply chains…” – The Times
Armed forces not ready to fight a war, admits Defence Secretary
“John Healey said the military had been “hollowed out” and “underfunded” under the last government to such an extent that it would not be able to deter the enemy if war broke out today. He said: “The UK, in keeping with many other nations, has essentially become very skilled and ready to conduct military operations. What we’ve not been ready to do is to fight. Unless we are ready to fight, we are not in shape to deter. “This is at the heart of the Nato thinking. We’ve got to not just be capable of defending our Nato nations, but more importantly we’ve got to be more effective in the deterrence we provide against any future aggression.” This week, Vladimir Putin’s allies gathered at a summit in Russia in what the Russian president claimed was the start of a new world order.” – The Daily Telegraph
- The Defence Secretary says our armed forces are not ready for war, yet the Government won’t commit the resources necessary to rebuild them – Editorial, The Times
Pub garden smoking ban to be dropped over fears of job losses
“No 10 and ministers are backing away from plans to ban smoking in public spaces in response to fears that it will cause “serious economic harm” to the hospitality industry. Downing Street is said to have significant concerns about the policy after warnings that it could lead to job losses and pub closures. The Times disclosed last month that Wes Streeting, the health secretary, was having second thoughts about the policy, saying he would not go ahead with the ban unless voters want it. While a ban on smoking outside hospitals, schools and in playgrounds is seen as almost certain, ministers are worried there will be a backlash from the hospitality industry and some voters if the ban extends to café, pub and restaurant gardens.” – The Times
- Policy set to be axed after industry opposition amid fears for pubs, according to reports – The Daily Telegraph
- The worrying data that shows young people are smoking again – The I
Row over Labour MP’s claim Kaba was ‘victim of racist gang trope’
“A Labour MP is facing backlash after claiming that Chris Kaba was the victim of “racist gang tropes” from the media. Kim Johnson said she sent “condolences to the family, friends and loved ones” of Kaba, “particularly this week while the media are using racist gang tropes to justify his killing”. Kaba was shot dead by Martyn Blake…in September 2022. After Blake was unanimously cleared of murder on Monday, it could be reported that Kaba shot a gang rival in front of revellers at an east London nightclub six days before he was killed. The Liverpool Riverside MP was asking Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, about the case in parliament on Thursday… Kaba was described in court as a “core member” of 67…an “organised crime network” based in Brixton Hill, south London.” – The Times
- Kaba is not a martyr, but a warning of the dangers of gang violence – Tomiwa Owolade, The Times
Duncan in ‘antisemitism’ row after claiming Jenrick’s Jewish ‘connections’ are behind pro-Israel stance
“A former Tory minister has been accused of “textbook antisemitism” for claiming Robert Jenrick’s Jewish “family connections” lie behind his pro-Israeli stance. Sir Alan Duncan said the Conservative leadership contender was an “extremist” who “takes his script” from Israel. His comments today sparked anger from Mr Jenrick – whose wife Michal is Jewish – and demands for him to be expelled from the party. Sir Alan was investigated by the Tories earlier this year for claiming the Conservative Friends of Israel group was “doing the bidding” of Benjamin Netanyahu. The ex-foreign office minister – who left Parliament in 2019 – was cleared but now faces another row over his comments on the Palestine Deep Dive YouTube channel.” – The Sun
Three Tory councillors defect to Reform UK after Farage urges them to join party
“Three former Tory councillors have joined Reform UK after Nigel Farage urged them to defect to the party. Two are in Scotland, making them the party’s first elected politicians north of the Border. It comes after Mr Farage wrote to Tory county councillors up for re-election next year urging them to jump ship. In the letter issued on Wednesday, he warned of the “risk they face” by remaining in the Tory fold and said the offer to defect was a “lifeline.” Jaymey McIvor, a county councillor in Essex, became the first Tory councillor to defect to Reform UK since Mr Farage issued his letter… Reform said the subsequent decision by Mark Findlater and Laurie Carnie, who both sit on Aberdeenshire Council, demonstrated that “the Tory brand is broken” across the UK.” – The Daily Telegraph
News in Brief:
- The EU knows all about destabilising democracy – Gavin Mortimer, The Spectator
- Britain won’t be Balkanised – Philip Cunliffe, UnHerd
- We can’t regulate our way out of the water crisis – Matthew Lesh, CapX
- The childishness of republicanism – Tim Smith, The Critic
- Miliband’s net-zero fantasies – Ian Watts, The New Statesman
