Macron calls snap election as Europe shifts the right
“Emmanuel Macron was trounced by the hard Right in European elections on Sunday night, prompting the French president to call a snap parliamentary vote. Mr Macron suffered a humiliating defeat as Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) reached more than twice his party’s vote share in the European parliamentary ballot, according to exit polls. In a shock address to the nation, he said the hard Right was “progressing everywhere in the continent” and admitted the EU parliamentary election was “not a good result for parties who defend Europe”. The surge of the hard Right also helped to inflict a defeat on Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, whose Social Democrats recorded their worst-ever result in a European election.” – Daily Telegraph
- Belgium headed for new government as PM set to resign after general election – The Guardian
- Meloni’s party wins EU elections in Italy – Daily Telegraph
- Tusk’s centrists win narrowly in Poland – BBC
- AfD helps inflict worst-ever EU defeat on German Social Democrats – Daily Telegraph
- Von der Leyen treads narrow path to second term – Financial Times
- A G7 that matters – Leader, Daily Telegraph
Sinn Fein trounced in Irish local elections
“Mary Lou McDonald has said she has no plans to step down as leader of Sinn Féin, following disappointing election results for the party. Ireland’s main opposition party have performed worse than expected in local elections amid concerns that they had run too many candidates in certain areas. Ms McDonald has said she will lead a full review into Sinn Féin’s performance. “Obviously we are disappointed,” she said.” – BBC
Braverman calls on Conservatives to “embrace” Farage and “unite the right”
“Suella Braverman has urged the Conservatives to embrace Nigel Farage, as senior Tories begin discussing the future of the party after a torrid few days for Rishi Sunak. The former home secretary said that it was time to “unite the right” and that there was “not much difference” between Farage’s policies and the Tories’…In an interview with The Times, Braverman said it was “a real shame” that the right-wing vote was split between the Conservatives and Reform. Saying the Conservatives should be a “broad church” and a “welcoming party”, she said that the Tories should find a way to merge with Reform UK because “we shouldn’t be divided on this side of the political spectrum”. Braverman said that she welcomed Sunak’s more hardline approach to immigration.” – The Times
- The immigration mess is a nightmare for both the Tories and Labour – Camilla Cavendish, Financial Times
- Is Suella Braverman’s constituency campaign a leadership dry run? – The Times
- I’m a Tory MP who admires Nigel Farage. But there are three reasons I won’t join Reform – Miriam Cates, Daily Express
- Should I vote Reform? – Time Stanley, Daily Telegraph
- Farage is wrong: If the Tories move Right, they will be out for 20 years – Kamal Ahmed, Daily Telegraph
- Starmer criticises Farage for calling Sunak ‘unpatriotic’ – The Times
- Rishi’s decision to leave the D-Day events early was a serious error. But for Nigel Farage to suggest that the PM is ‘not patriotic’ is truly vile – Dominic Lawson, Daily Mail
- Sunak will ‘absolutely’ remain Tory leader despite D-day blunder, ally says – The Guardian
>Today: ToryDiary: It is no good trying to ‘unite the right’ until we have answered the crucial question – around what?
>Yesterday:
Conservative Manifesto expected to promise a further 2p cut in National Insurance
“Rishi Sunak is preparing to promise another 2p cut to national insurance in the Conservative manifesto while Labour will not commit to making any tax cuts. Sir Keir Starmer said that Labour’s manifesto would include a pledge not to raise income tax, VAT or national insurance as the party aims to shut down Tory claims that it would push up tax bills…The cut would cost about £10 billion and the Conservatives are expected to argue that they could pay for this with welfare reforms, which they estimated over the weekend would save £12 billion.” – The Times
- Manifestos won’t tell us the whole story – Leader, Daily Telegraph
- Sunak has bounced back from D-Day gaffe. His raft of new ideas proves he is up for the fight – Leader, The Sun
Sunak pledges 8,000 more police officers
“The Conservatives last night pledged to recruit 8,000 extra police officers by increasing visa fees for foreign visitors and workers. As both main parties go toe-to-toe on law and order, Rishi Sunak vowed to bring back neighbourhood policing while Labour said they would speed up prison building and tackle the court backlog in rape cases. Under the plan, the Tories pledged to introduce an additional police officer for every ward in England and Wales. They will be given new tools to catch criminals, including greater use of facial recognition technology and tougher powers to seize knives. The party said the plan would be paid for in part by removing the student discount to the immigration health surcharge and increasing all visa fees by 25 per cent.” – Daily Mail
Lib Dems to pledge £9 billion NHS and social care “rescue package”
“The Liberal Democrats will promise a £9bn package “to save health and care services” in their election manifesto. The party said its plans for government would be funded by reversing tax cuts for banks and closing tax loopholes exploited by the wealthiest individuals. It says the NHS and social care will be “at the heart” of the party’s manifesto, which is being launched later on Monday. The party’s plans if it wins power include giving everyone the right to see a GP within seven days, as well as free personal care for older or disabled people at home. Health is devolved so the pledges only cover England.” – BBC
Labour expected to revive Johnson’s social care cap
“Labour is expected to commit to introducing Boris Johnson’s cap on social care costs as the first stage of a ten-year reform plan. The party’s manifesto this week will promise national minimum standards for care and a pay rise for workers to improve quality in a crumbling elderly care system. The Times understands that the party is also planning to push ahead with an £86,000 cap on lifetime care costs designed to prevent people having to sell their homes to pay for care.” – The Times
- ‘I want to win everywhere’ – Interview with Keith Starmer, The Guardian
- Labour abandons plans to bring back lifetime cap on tax-free pensions savings – Financial Times
- US companies ‘concerned’ about rising UK costs under a Labour government – Financial Times
- Will Labour drive up price of petrol? – Daily Mail
- Can Sir Keir Starmer really be trusted on taxes? – Leader, Daily Mail
Thornberry admits VAT on school fees could increase class sizes in state schools
“Labour’s plan to charge VAT on private school fees risks increasing class sizes in the state sector, Emily Thornberry has admitted. Asked about forecasts that 40,000 fee-paying pupils may switch to state schools, the shadow attorney general acknowledged that it was possible in the short term. Speaking on GB News, she said: “Certainly, some schools that have vacancies [may take ex-private pupils]. My primary schools and my secondary schools have space, and they’re very welcome. They are good schools, and people should send their children there. I mean, it’s fine – and if we have to, in the short term, have larger classes, we have larger classes.” Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to start charging 20 per cent VAT on private schools “as soon as it can be done” if Labour wins the general election.” – Daily Telegraph
- Labour’s plans for free breakfast clubs will save parents ‘£400 a year’, party claims – The Sun
- Starmer’s history of Left-wing views revealed – Daily Telegraph
>Today: Alexander Bowen on Comment: Conservatives should not just embrace VAT on private schools, but extend it to tuition fees
Shadow Cabinet divided on private health care
“Shabana Mahmood, the shadow justice secretary, has followed Sir Keir Starmer in saying she would not use private healthcare but that she would not “judge” those who did…A number of Starmer’s shadow cabinet have used private healthcare in the past. Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said previously that he had used private healthcare, saying it was a “perfectly reasonable choice to make”. Angela Rayner, the party’s deputy leader, had cosmetic surgery privately. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, had a private diagnostic scan while pregnant on the advice of her NHS doctor. Lisa Nandy, the shadow cabinet minister for international development, had a wisdom tooth removed privately. But on Sunday Mahmood joined Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, and Darren Jones, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, in saying she would not use private care.” – The Times
- Starmer’s rejection of private health suggests Labour is unwilling to recognise consumer sovereignty – Leader, The Times
Labour plans to force businesses to employ trade union “equality officers”
“Businesses will have to pay for a woke union “equality officer” under Labour’s plans to shake-up workers’ rights. A leaked copy of the party’s New Deal for Working People shows Sir Keir Starmer would introduce legal rights for a “trade union equality rep” in the workplace. The rep would be free to take time out from their normal duties to conduct union activities…The Tories yesterday accused Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner of plotting a huge expansion of woke red tape that would “cut productivity and hike costs” across public and private sectors.” – The Sun
Other political news
- Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz quits – The Times
- Labour to pledge better deal for Port Talbot steelworks – Financial Times
- Sky News presenter Jon Craig challenges Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden over selection – Daily Express
- Starmer will bring back freedom of movement if he wins election, says Labour official – The Sun
- Today is Tax Freedom Day. Britons are working 19 days more than before pandemic to pay taxes. – Daily Mail
News in brief
- Macron is trying to scare French voters into rejecting Le Pen’s party – John Keiger, The Spectator
- Women face grim choices in the forthcoming election – Jean Hatchet, The Critic
- Want to be a Conservative MP? Come to Scotland – Ben Walker, New Statesman
- Tory Women Hit Out At “Boys Club” Candidate Selection – Tali Fraser, The House magazine
- Young British Muslims: why both Nigel Farage and Angela Rayner get them wrong – Charlotte Lirttlewood, The Article
