Tories are ‘just’ 12 points behind Labour in new election poll
“The Tories are just 12 points behind Labour, according to a new poll. Labour’s lead has narrowed by three points since Rishi Sunak called the general election, in a faint glimmer of hope for the Prime Minister. The lead has dropped from 15 points in early May and 18 points in April, the JL Partners poll, for The Rest is Politics, has revealed. Other polls released on Tuesday have the Tories at over 20 points behind, with Survation and Redfield & Wilton Strategies both putting Labour 23 points ahead. Labour has held a commanding lead over the Conservatives since Liz Truss’s time in No 10 in September and October 2022. It comes after the Tories unveiled two significant new policies, bringing back a form of national service for 18-year-olds, and the “triple lock plus” for the state pension.” – The Daily Telegraph
- Sunak says he and Johnson are speaking again – Daily Express
- ‘It’s a kick in the teeth’: young Tories reject Sunak’s new pension policy – The I
- Election campaign key moments: 8 things we learnt on Tuesday – The Times
- Tories must embrace tax-cutting instincts – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- Both of the main parties are to blame for pandering to older voters – Editorial, The Times
- Sunak’s big Net Zero UK election gamble – Pilita Clark, The Financial Times
- He made us all lazy. Only he can dig us out of this mess – Annabel Denham, The Daily Telegraph
- How the Fiver Theory explains this election campaign – Daniel Finkelstein, The Times
- A great Tory reckoning is coming – but the party won’t split along the lines you’d expect – Henry Hill, The Guardian
- The Tories had one chance to salvage an election win – now it’s completely gone for one reason – Fergus Kelly, Daily Express
>Today:
Sunak is to cut ‘Micky Mouse’ degrees to boost apprenticeships
“One in eight university degree places would be scrapped under a future Conservative government and the funding diverted into apprenticeships, Rishi Sunak will pledge on Wednesday. In a crackdown on so-called Mickey Mouse courses, Sunak will accuse universities of “ripping young people off” by offering degree places that do not increase their long-term earnings potential. Instead Sunak will say the money should be spent creating an extra 100,000 apprenticeships by the end of the next parliament. The move could result in a reduction of about 130,000 university places, with the Conservatives saying they would target courses for closure where students would have been better off if they had not gone to university.” – The Times
- Courses ‘that don’t deliver the outcomes people deserve’ will be targeted by new policy – The Daily Telegraph
- The policy would be funded by scrapping courses with high drop-out rates and low job progression – The Guardian
- He claims he would have “opted for military national service – The Daily Telegraph
Scotland could ‘win independence from the SNP’ next month, says Ross, as he launches the Scottish Tory campaign
“Scotland can win its independence from the SNP on July 4 by ousting Nationalist MPs across the country, Douglas Ross has said as another poll predicted they will be routed. Launching the Scottish Tory election campaign, he said the country was at a “tipping point” with “substantially more” people wanting the SNP to be ousted from power than wanting to keep them there. Mr Ross said voters have a chance to “bring the curtain down on the SNP’s domination of Scottish politics” and give them “an election nightmare that is long overdue.”… The launch event came as a poll found 36 per cent of Scots intend to vote Labour…with backing for the SNP falling six points…to 32 per cent. The survey…showed Conservative…support largely unchanged at 17 per cent…” – The Daily Telegraph
>Today:
Former ConservativeHome columnist Dale announces he is to leave LBC to stand as a Tory candidate
“LBC’s Iain Dale has announced he is set to leave the radio station after 15 years in a bid to stand to be an MP in the upcoming General Election. The decision comes nine years after the presenter lost as a Conservative candidate for North Norfolk. Broadcast rules mean candidates in the General Election are not allowed to present radio shows….Talking on LBC on Tuesday night, Mr Dale said: ‘You know how much politics means to me.”….Mr Dale joined the broadcaster in 2010 and has presented four LBC General Election Night Shows, two American Presidential Election shows, the station’s Scottish and Brexit referendum night shows and the station’s evening show. LBC is shortly set to announce its evening programming plans for the election period.” – The Daily Mail
- He is running to ‘restore honesty in politics’ – Daily Express
UK election set to delay ‘critical regional legislation’
“Senior officials in Northern Ireland and Scotland expressed frustration on Tuesday at delays to critical legislation because of the timing of the surprise UK general election called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. A pre-election ban on any official action that could impact the July 4 vote means both devolved regions have to push back their programmes for government and other important fiscal and energy plans, potentially for months. Northern Ireland’s Stormont assembly, which has only been back in business since February after a two year hiatus, approved a one-year budget on Tuesday but first minister Michelle O’Neill said a multiyear strategic plan would have to wait…In Edinburgh…the ruling Scottish Nationalist Party has had to postpone its programme for government…” – The Financial Times
New government must act to stop ‘horrifying’ spread of solar farms, says the former head of the National Farmers’ Union
“The next government must act to stop the “horrfying” spread of solar farms in the countryside, the former head of the National Farmers’ Union has said. Minette Batters said it is understandable that landowners want the financial benefits of solar farms but that “everyone else in that community will be opposed to them”. Claire Coutinho…said earlier this month that she wanted agricultural land to be protected from solar farms, and urged councils to consider the impact on local villages. Labour has promised to treble solar power in its first term, saying that blocking solar projects would “rob the UK of potential for cheap power that could bring down bills for households”… Ms Batters expressed doubt about Labour’s plans for a government-run energy company…” – The Daily Telegraph
Leading UK companies refuse to back Tories or Labour
“Some of the UK’s biggest companies are refusing to back either of the main parties ahead of the country’s general election, as businesses attempt to avoid being drawn into partisan politics. Labour landed an early blow against the ruling Conservatives when 120 business executives signed a letter backing the opposition party in the run-up to the July 4 election. But the letter published by the Times on Monday was considered “light” on big names by City of London figures, with JD Sports chair Andrew Higginson the only sitting chair or chief executive of a FTSE 100 company to sign. One headhunter said the list was “not . . . very impressive” and included a large number of “has beens”. The Financial Times on Tuesday contacted the other 99 companies in London’s FTSE 100 index…” – The Financial Times
Labour 1) Abbott ‘to be banned from standing for Labour’
“Diane Abbott will not be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate in the forthcoming general election, in a move that is likely to end her 37-year career in parliament. The MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington…had been suspended from the party since April last year and the Labour leadership has concluded that there are no circumstances in which she will stand under its banner on July 4. She had the Labour whip restored on Tuesday afternoon, Labour sources confirmed. However, they are adamant that she will not be endorsed as a candidate by Labour’s national executive committee. It is believed that the move is a precursor to allowing her to leave politics “with dignity”. Last week Sir Keir Starmer promised a resolution to the case before June 4…” – The Times
- Veteran left-wing politician has had the party whip restored following probe into her remarks about Jewish people – The Financial Times
- Three Labour names ‘in frame’ with Abbott’s candidacy in doubt – The Guardian
- Inside ‘Labour left’s anger’ at Starmer loyalists parachuted into safe seats in ‘stitch-up’ – The I
- ‘The lady or the tiger’: how candidate selections work – The Financial Times
- Starmer ‘faces parliamentary exodus’ – The Daily Telegraph
Labour 2) Reeves ‘rules out’ surprise UK tax rises
“Rachel Reeves has said a Labour government would not raise taxes beyond a handful of measures she has already set out, limiting the party’s room for manoeuvre if it wins the UK general election on July 4. The shadow chancellor on Tuesday also ruled out the idea of a swift Budget, hinting that the first major fiscal event under a Labour government would not occur until September at the earliest. The main opposition party, which is guarding a poll lead of about 20 points, is keen to project its economic credentials and win over British business. Following her first big speech of the election campaign at a Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, Reeves was asked whether Labour would need to put up any taxes to ease pressures on Britain’s public services.” – The Financial Times
- She is mocked after Labour list of 120 business backers includes no CEOs from UK firms – The Sun
- She promises to never play ‘fast and loose’ with UK’s finances – The Daily Telegraph
- The Shadow Chancellor ‘walks UK tax tightrope’ – The Financial Times
- MPs’ summer break ‘could be cut short’ if Labour wins as Reeves eyes early Budget – The I
- Reeves is the Labour Party’s weakest link – Ben Wallace, The Daily Telegraph
- Starmer says backing of business proves the dark days are gone but socialism is always ready to rear its ugly head – Leo McKinstry, The Sun
Labour 3) Streeting pledges to clear NHS waiting list backlog in England in five years
“Labour has promised to clear the NHS waiting list backlog in England within five years, with Wes Streeting warning that the health service risks becoming “a poor service for poor people” while the wealthy shift to using private care. In an interview with the Guardian, the shadow health secretary said that in another Conservative term the total waiting list in England could grow to 10m cases, with healthcare becoming as degraded as NHS dental services. “I really fear that if Rishi Sunak wins another term, what we’ve seen happen to NHS dentistry – which is a poor service for poor people and everyone else going private – that is what we will see for the whole NHS,” Streeting said…The party has previously set out plans to…create 40,000 extra appointments a week…” – The Guardian
- Labour claims waiting lists would hit 10 million under Tories – The Daily Telegraph
- Party wants to have all patients seen within 18 weeks of GP referral after five years – The Times
- Does Labour’s NHS ‘plan’ add up? – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- Can Starmer really fix the NHS by taking on Labour’s friends and donors in the unions? – Editorial, The Sun
- Labour is the only party capable of tackling NHS reform, but it won’t – Jeremy Warner, The Daily Telegraph
Labour 4) Police drop probe into claims Rayner broke electoral law
“Angela Rayner will face no further action from Greater Manchester Police or Stockport council following claims that she broke electoral law by failing to properly disclose her main residence in official documents. The police force said…it had concluded a “thorough, carefully considered and proportionate investigation” into Labour’s deputy leader, after…James Daly made a formal complaint. He had raised concerns that Rayner could have committed an offence in the early 2010s by giving incorrect information about where she was living at that time…Daly had alleged that Rayner might have made a false declaration about where she was living on the electoral register. Questions have…been raised about whether Rayner should have paid capital gains tax…” – The Financial Times
- Labour’s deputy leader was facing questions over her living arrangements in the 2010s and whether she owed tax on the sale of a property – The Times
- HMRC ‘urged to say’ whether it will sanction Rayner – The Daily Telegraph
Labour 5) Trump ‘ready to work’ with Starmer despite previous clashes with the party
“Donald Trump is willing to work with Keir Starmer if he wins the UK election and the former president returns to the White House, i has learned. In an interview with i, one of Mr Trump’s key advisers on national security and foreign policy, Fred Fleitz, said the “special relationship” with the UK would endure if Starmer becomes prime minister on 4 July. It is a marked change in tone to the 2019 general election, when the then-US president threw his support behind Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party, claiming that Jeremy Corbyn and his Labour Party would be “so bad for your country… he’d take you into such bad places”… Key figures within Labour…have been trying to build closer relationships with Mr Trump’s camp in the US.” – The I
Labour 6) Starmer is ‘the most popular politician in Scotland’
“Sir Keir Starmer is the most popular politician in Scotland, according to a new poll. The UK Labour leader, who SNP strategists hope will be a weak point for the party in the general election campaign, is the only senior politician with a net positive rating among the Scottish public. He had a favourability rating of plus 3 under the polling by Survation. Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, trailed behind him on minus 3. John Swinney, the first minister, who has in recent days boasted about being the “most popular leader in Scotland” after separate research gave him an early ratings boost, scored minus 7…Sir John Curtice…said that although Swinney’s popularity was greater than that of his predecessor, Humza Yousaf, it still lagged behind Nicola Sturgeon’s ratings when she was first minister.” – The Times
- Big on Englishness, small on left-wing policies: key points from Starmer’s speech – The I
- Starmer is a red-blooded socialist wolf in sheep’s clothing – Philip Johnston, The Daily Telegraph
- He is a gamekeeper turned poacher – Alice Thomson, The Times
Labour 7) Phillips: Restraining orders fail to protect abused women
“Domestic abuse orders “are not worth the paper they’re written on”, Jess Phillips has said as she called for the safety and security of women and girls to be prioritised. The former shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding said the government had made some legislative progress around coercive and controlling behaviour but that “massive changes” were needed to civil justice. She pointed to restraining orders and non-molestation orders, which are imposed by courts to protect a person in situations involving domestic violence allegations. Once granted, courts will inform a local police force so officers can take action if an order is breached…Phillips called for more attention on patterns rather than incidents of domestic abuse…” – The Times
Swinney ‘backs down’ over disgraced friend Matheson
“John Swinney is set to vote to impose a record punishment on his disgraced friend Michael Matheson after his defence of him threatened to derail the SNP’s election campaign. Nationalist MSPs are expected to on Wednesday back a recommendation that the former health secretary, who falsely charged the taxpayer £11,000 in iPad roaming charges, is suspended from Holyrood for 27 sitting days and loses 54 days of salary. It is a major about-turn for Mr Swinney, who last week insisted he would “not support the sanction” proposed by Holyrood’s standards committee. He claimed the process had been compromised by public comments made by a Tory MSP who sat on the committee about the expenses scandal.” – The Daily Telegraph
- He is ‘under pressure’ to ditch SNP aversion to North Sea oil – The Daily Telegraph
- Why Swinney hasn’t got much to say about independence – Kenny Farquharson, The Times
William Atkinson: Davey is worse than a clown – he’s a fool
“Fewer than a hundred and fifty-years separate William Gladstone’s seminal Midlothian campaign against Ottoman atrocities and Ed Davey toppling into Lake Windermere. Recent Liberal leaders have taken different approaches to Gladstone in attracting voters. Paddy Ashdown had an affair. Tim Farron was befuddled by gay sex. Jo Swinson aimed to be prime minister. Davey sits in a proud tradition…Even so, there is something a little depressing about a party that once served as the voice of Britain’s radical consciousness reducing itself to Davey’s aquatic antics. He managed to capsize his paddleboard no fewer than five times. That suggests either that the Lib Dem leader is as poor at watersports as he is at meeting aggrieved postmasters, or that he is truly desperate for attention.” – The Daily Telegraph
BBC News presenter issues apology to Farage
“The BBC has admitted breaching impartiality rules after accusing Nigel Farage of using “customary inflammatory language”. The former Ukip leader cited comments from Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, about “aggressive young men” organising illegal migrant operations during a speech in Dover. BBC News cut away from his speech, and Geeta Guru-Murthy, the newsreader, said: “Nigel Farage with his … customary inflammatory language there at a Reform UK press conference.” Farage, now the honorary president of Reform UK, asked on social media “what happened to impartiality”… Guru-Murthy, 56, is a chief presenter on the channel, and sister of Krishnan Guru-Murthy, the lead presenter of Channel 4 News.” – The Times
- Reform party calls for crackdown on cash-only barbershops – The Daily Telegraph
- Tice prepares legal challenge to Labour’s ‘discriminatory’ private schools tax raid – The Daily Telegraph
- Farage fires first salvo and hoists his colours in election campaign – Patrick Kidd, The Times
- His salty yacht club broadsides steal the election show – Tim Stanley, The Daily Telegraph
News in Brief:
- Shakespeare wasn’t a woman – Gareth Roberts, The Spectator
- The end of the Conservatives – Mary Harrington, UnHerd
- Labour’s housing plans rest on shaky foundations – Henry Hill, CapX
- Australian insights into Britain under Labour – Daniel Pitt, The Critic
- How to follow the election – Sam Freedman, Comment is Freed
