Conservatives 1) Tories considering ‘speeding up leadership election’ to allow new boss to respond to Budget
“Tories are considering speeding up their leadership election by a week to allow the new boss to respond to the Budget. Reducing the contest by a week would also avoid it clashing with the US Election on November 5. Currently ex-PM Rishi Sunak is set to lead the Tory Budget charge ahead of the new leader being unveiled on November 2. But some party elders want to allow the new Leader of the Opposition a chance to launch their leadership with reaction to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ feared tax grab. The Treasury set the date of the Budget after the timetable to pick new Conservative boss was outlined. Under the current plan an online ballot of members will open in early October once the six candidates have been whittled down to two finalists.” – The Sun
>Today:
>Yesterday:
Conservatives 2) Average age you ‘become a Tory’ rises to 63, analysis shows, as Stride says older membership is ‘completely untenable’
“The age at which voters are more likely to become a Tory instead of voting Labour is now 63. Analysis of last month’s general election result by YouGov found the median age of Tory supporters has risen by 24 years since the previous national poll. The crossover point at the 2019 general election was 39 as Boris Johnson won a landslide victory for the Conservatives, down from 47 in 2017. It had fallen to as low as 34 at the 2015 general election as Lord Cameron won over young voters. But an exodus under Rishi Sunak’s leadership resulted in the tipping point rising to 63. Mel Stride, a Tory leadership hopeful and the shadow work and pensions secretary, said the crossover point was among the “fundamental and difficult” questions his party must address.” – The Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday:
Conservatives 3) Senior Tory MSP accidentally posted WhatsApp message on ally’s ‘awful’ campaign
“A Scottish Conservative who is backing Murdo Fraser to lead the party has described the frontbencher’s campaign as awful. In a series of posts on his WhatsApp profile, Stephen Kerr, the former chief whip at Holyrood, was heavily critical of Fraser…The “anti-establishment” wing of the party is desperate to ensure that Russell Findlay, the justice spokesman, does not win the contest. Internal disputes may strengthen Findlay. Questioning Fraser’s decision to promote an online meeting with Graham Simpson, the transport spokesman, Kerr wrote “really?” before adding saying that “Simpson knows zilch about working with councillors”. He then wrote “I’m beginning to wish I’d nominated Meghan” — a reference to Meghan Gallacher, the deputy leader…” – The Times
Conservatives 4) Career criminals ‘walk free’ in ‘soft justice scandal’ highlighted by O’Brien
“Career criminals with more than 100 previous convictions are being spared jail, The Telegraph can reveal. In more than 4,000 such cases since 2007, offenders have avoided prison. The proportion walking free from court has quadrupled in the past 16 years, with an average of five a week being spared jail in each of the past 10 years. The Ministry of Justice data, the most comprehensive analysis of its kind, shows that offenders with more than 50 previous convictions have been spared jail in more than 50,000 cases since 2007. The number of career criminals avoiding jail has nearly tripled from 1,289 in 2007 to 3,325 in 2023… Neil O’Brien, a former Tory minister who obtained the MoJ data through parliamentary questions, called for longer prison sentences for repeat offenders.” – The Daily Telegraph
- Labour ‘urged to scrap’ £4 billion Tory mega-jails plan and fund rehabilitation – The Guardian
Allister Heath: Labour’s real agenda for Britain is far more terrible than anyone imagined
“Welcome to Sir Keir Starmer’s cacotopia, his wretched vision for Britain in which everything will soon be as bad as it can be. The Cassandras…who warned that Labour would prove to be a catastrophe, the most Left-wing administration since the 1970s, an existential threat to Britain’s prosperity, freedoms and national unity, have been vindicated in record time. I already miss the Tories, for all their incompetence and cowardice and lack of principles: at least they sometimes got it right. Starmer’s Government, by contrast, is a ruthlessly efficient, highly focused, “progressive” wrecking machine, led by true believers dedicated to total victory in the culture and class wars… The Government has achieved almost as much in 40 days as the Tories managed in four years.” – The Daily Telegraph
- It’s already clear which issue is most likely to bring down Starmer’s government in the end – Stephen Glover, The Daily Mail
Treasury ‘failed to inform’ watchdog of top official’s Labour donations
“A Labour donor was approved for a senior Treasury role without the civil service watchdog being informed of his donation history, it has emerged. Ian Corfield has donated more than £20,000 to Labour politicians in the last 10 years, including £5,000 to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, last summer, according to Electoral Commission data. Corfield was appointed a director in the Treasury in July, a senior role that would ordinarily be reserved for career civil servants. Before that he worked as a full-time senior business adviser to the Labour party for seven months, according to his LinkedIn profile, and previously held senior roles at financial services firms. Politico…reported that the Civil Service Commission was not informed of his donation history before approving it.” – The Guardian
Train drivers offered bumper pay rise from Starmer to end strikes
“Train drivers were offered a 14 per cent pay rise over three years on Wednesday night in an effort to bring an end to their crippling strikes. Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary, announced the above inflation increase which will see the average driver’s salary rise from £60,000 to just shy of £70,000. The union Aslef hailed the “no-strings” deal which saw ministers ditch Tory demands for an end to generous working practices, including a four-day week. It is the latest climb-down to the unions since Sir Keir Starmer took power just under six weeks ago. Last month, junior doctors were offered a 22 per cent increase over two years to end NHS strikes. Rachel Reeves…has also signed off on an above-inflation salary increase of 5.5 per cent for millions of public sector staff…” – The Daily Telegraph
- Tories accuse the Government of ‘caving in’ with 15 per cent rail pay offer – The Times
>Yesterday:
Warning of tough Budget decisions on tax and spending for Reeves despite interest rate hopes
“Rachel Reeves will still be forced to make “difficult” decisions in the autumn Budget, sources have said, despite fresh hopes that faster cuts in interest rates could boost the amount of cash she has spare. Inflation rose for the first time this year on Wednesday, but signs of easing price pressures in key sectors such as services gave economists hope of further interest rate cuts this year. Market expectations of more rapid rate-cutting by the Bank of England will, if they hold, feed into forecasts that determine how much money the Chancellor has spare amid her self-imposed rules on bringing down debt. Lower rates will mean the Government has to pay less in debt interest – a spending pot second only to the NHS’s – which could hand Ms Reeves a significant boost going into the 30 October Budget.” – The I
- Stride warns of ‘flashing red lights’ for the UK economy – The Sun
- Boost for Reeves as borrowing costs fall – The Daily Telegraph
- Inflation is bad news for everyone but Reeves – Ben Kentish, The I
Don’t rush workers’ rights reforms, business warns Rayner and Reynolds
“Business leaders have warned the government that it risks doing “real damage” to the economy if it pushes ahead too quickly with the biggest overhaul of workers’ rights for a generation. Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, and Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, hailed a “new era of partnership” as they met business groups…But they were warned that rushing new legislation would lead to a slowdown in the economy and hit small businesses hard when they were “already overwhelmed’ with high inflation and interest rates. Labour plans sweeping reforms to workers’ rights including a right to switch off, a ban on exploitative zero-hour contracts and the introduction of rights such as sick pay and protection against unfair dismissal from the first day…” – The Times
- Lobbyists seek ‘meaningful’ consulation to avoid ‘unintended consequences’ of reform – The Financial Times
- Economic inactivity in the working-age population continues its alarming rise – Editorial, The Times
- Back our lost children to rebuild Britain – James Kirkup, The Times
Labour ‘open door’ to scrapping two-child benefit cap
“The Government has opened the door to scrapping the two-child benefit cap following the first meeting of its child poverty taskforce. It said on Wednesday that the newly assembled team of ministers will consider potential social security reforms to alleviate poverty as part of its work to support disadvantaged children. It is understood that this will cover “all available levers”, including abolishing the two-child limit, following pressure from Left-wing MPs. Campaigners have argued the change would be the single most cost-effective way of curbing child poverty in the UK. The news will come as a boost to MPs on the Left of the party who have been piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to ditch the “cruel” policy.” – The Daily Telegraph
- Child poverty strategy ‘seeks to return parents to work’ – The Times
The Government ‘plans fresh investment in supercomputing’ despite axing aid
“The UK government has insisted it will continue to fund pioneering artificial intelligence and supercomputing technology despite a backlash over Sir Keir Starmer’s shock decision to scrap support worth £1.3bn for projects it inherited. The new Labour administration is scrambling to contain resentment over its decision earlier this month, which it made on the grounds that the investment had not been adequately funded by its Conservative predecessors. Rescinded backing included £800mn promised to a major supercomputing project at Edinburgh university, an area where experts warn the UK is lagging behind its major peers. The outcome will be an early test for Labour as it balances tough public spending constraints against its vow to boost science and technology…” – The Financial Times
Khan ‘plots rent controls in London’
“Sadiq Khan is plotting to impose rent controls in London in a move that could slash landlords’ incomes by thousands of pounds a year. The Mayor is poised to ask the Government for powers that will allow him to regulate the capital’s rental market, The Telegraph understands. It comes as competition for private rented housing in London remains fierce with the average tenant paying £2,086 per month, according to official figures. Parliament would be required to pass laws to give the Mayor the necessary powers to regulate prices set by private landlords. Mr Khan has been pushing for greater powers since 2016, a move rejected by the Conservative government. However, Labour has signalled that it would be open to introducing some rent controls.” – The Daily Telegraph
Philips says controversial tweet about masked rioters was a ‘mistake’, following Tugendhat and Cleverly criticism
“Jess Phillips said a controversial social media post she made a during recent UK riots was a “mistake”. Footage from Sky News showed one of the broadcaster’s reporters being approached by hooded and masked men in Ms Phillips’s Birmingham Yardley constituency during a period of disorder in the city. At the time of the video being released, the Home Office minister responded to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by Reform UK MP Richard Tice which suggested what he called “pro Gaza masked folk” in the video were subject to a different standard of policing than the rioters… In the period since the unrest, Ms Phillips has faced criticism from shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat, and his rival for the Conservative leadership James Cleverly, a former home secretary.” – The I
Iain Martin: Gray v McSweeney will reveal the true Starmer
“For those of us who reported on the New Labour era and the personal conflict between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown at its heart, there is a flicker of familiarity in the reports of friction between Sir Keir Starmer’s two leading advisers. It is claimed that Sue Gray, chief of staff to the prime minister, has become a bottleneck on decision-making. That there is tension between Gray and Morgan McSweeney, the energetic tyro who masterminded Labour’s general election victory and is now the PM’s head of political strategy. There is a battle for access…MPs close to the leadership have briefed of Starmer’s displeasure at the infighting — or the reports of infighting. This week Downing Street has tried to push back by telling reporters Gray and McSweeney have a good working relationship.” – The Times
>Today:
Ex-ministers 1) Ukraine free to use British weapons on Russian soil, Ministry of Defence confirms, following Wallace disclosure
“British weapons can be used by Ukrainian forces inside mainland Russia, according to government policy. The Ministry of Defence said its…position was unchanged from that of the previous government, confirming that Ukraine had a “clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks … that does not preclude operations inside Russia”. Sir Ben Wallace…disclosed how during his tenure he gave permission for Ukraine to hit targets inside Russia using “whatever weapons [were] supplied to it”, except for…Storm Shadow missiles. He suggested the same rules applied to Ukraine’s Kursk operation…He said that if the attack was designed to go after logistics and infrastructure supporting Russia’s invasion…it was “perfectly legitimate” for Ukraine to use British weapons.” – The Times
- Labour is prioritising state pay over defence – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region has rattled Putin and raised the spirits of a sorely tired nation – Editorial, The Times
- This is Russia’s worst defeat on home soil since the Second World War – Jerome Starkey, The Sun
Ex-ministers 2) Don’t call them ‘Micky Mouse’ degrees – it’s insulting, says Halfon
“The previous Conservative government’s attack on “Mickey Mouse” degrees was “an insult” to students, a former Tory education minister has said. Robert Halfon, who served as the universities minister, told The Telegraph it was “wrong” for the Tories to use the phrase. Sunak announced plans to crack down on “Mickey Mouse” degrees earlier this year in one of his final education policy acts…He claimed as many as one in eight university courses were “ripping young people off”, as he vowed to shutter them and redirect the savings to create 100,000 new apprenticeships. But Halfon said that while it was right to have a “ruthless focus on outcomes”…his former colleagues should not have described poor-performing courses as Mickey Mouse degrees.” – The Daily Telegraph
Ex-ministers 3) ‘Not funny’: Truss says lettuce stunt crosses the line
“Liz Truss has accused activists who ambushed an event to promote her book with a lettuce stunt of suppressing free speech. The former prime minister walked off stage at Beccles Public Hall in Suffolk on Tuesday after a remote-controlled banner was lowered, bearing an image of the vegetable that famously outlasted her time in No 10. Truss, who lost her seat at the general election, was prime minister for just 49 days before a backlash to her mini-budget from the market and Tory MPs forced her resignation. In the final days of her premiership, the Daily Star newspaper launched a live stream of a lettuce to chart its decay against her decline, with the lettuce ultimately winning the contest. The former MP…was promoting her book…when the banner appeared…” – The Daily Telegraph
- Moment police arrest ‘far-left activist’ who forced the ex-Prime Minister off stage – The Daily Mail
Scotland’s net fiscal deficit widens to £22.7 billion…
“Scotland’s net fiscal deficit widened by almost £5bn to £22.7bn, or 10.4 per cent of GDP, as revenues from North Sea oil and gas halved, highlighting the vulnerability of the country’s finances to moves in the global oil market. The net fiscal balance — the difference between revenue and public expenditure — increased from £18bn, or 8.4 per cent of GDP, in 2022-23. It leaves Scotland’s notional deficit at more than double the deficit of 4.5 per cent of GDP for the UK as a whole this year. Declines in global oil prices halved North Sea revenues to £4bn from the £7.9bn in 2022-23 following the surge in costs triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the Scottish government’s expenditure and revenue statistics (Gers) annual report published on Wednesday.” – The Financial Times
- Public spending gap set to grow as oil and gas decline – The Times
- SNP blames Reeves as it cuts pensioners’ winter fuel payments – The Daily Telegraph
- The SNP’s financial troubles are a gift to Labour – Alex Massie, The Times
…as Swinney admits he agreed to minister’s meeting with Israel
“John Swinney has admitted he authorised a “secret” meeting between one of his senior ministers and an Israeli official after it caused a major rift within the SNP. The First Minister said on Wednesday that he believed the summit between Angus Robertson and Daniela Grudsky, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK, was necessary so that the devolved government could call for a ceasefire in Gaza. His intervention came after he faced demands from within his own party to sack Mr Robertson for taking the meeting, which was not initially publicised by the Scottish Government. Mr Robertson has come under attack from sections of the SNP, as well as the Scottish Greens, after Ms Grudsky posted a picture of the pair on social media.” – The Daily Telegraph
News in Brief:
- Truss needs to learn to take a joke – Jawad Iqbal, The Spectator
- The anti-Tory coalition is solidifying ahead of 2029 – John Oxley, UnHerd
- In Nottingham, state failure saw three stabbed to death – Ian Acheson, CapX
- The UK’s war on free speech – Fred de Fossard, The Critic
- The parallels between riots in the UK and Ireland are alarming – Finn McRedmond, The New Statesman
- Mapping General Election 2024 – Neil O’Brien, Neil’s Substack
