Starmer 1) The PM discusses Albania and Africa migrant solutions with Giorgia Meloni who has had success in driving down numbers
“Sir Keir Starmer declared that a “return to British pragmatism” would govern his approach to tackling illegal migration and that he would prioritise policies that prevent migrants leaving their home countries over untried “gimmicks”. His Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni… revealed he had shown “great interest” in her groundbreaking offshore asylum deal with Albania. However, Starmer signalled he was more interested in copying Italy’s efforts to help prevent migrants from leaving north Africa in the first place. Starmer met Meloni …to discuss how Britain could emulate what he described as a “remarkable” and “profound” reduction in illegal migration” – Times
- Keir Starmer showing ‘great interest’ in Italy’s migration deal to send asylum seekers to Albania, Giorgia Meloni says – Sun
- Giorgia Meloni: Starmer showed great interest in our Albania migration deal – Guardian
- How Italy migration deal compares to Rwanda scheme – and if it could come to UK – The i
- Keir Starmer may be under Meloni’s spell – but that doesn’t mean he’ll stop the boats – Daily Express
- Why Italy can do what Britain cannot with migration – Daily Telegraph
- Starmer sets sights on Italy-style migration deal to stop small boat crossings – The i
- EU in crisis as Germany angers neighbours by ending freedom of movement – Daily Express
- Watch: Hundreds of migrants storm Spanish border from Morocco – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
Does Starmer have the gall to send asylum seekers to Albania? – Spectator
Labour’s pre-election gloss is fading fast – and nowhere faster than on immigration – Daniel Hannan Daily Mail
Starmer 2) PM refuses to rule out further gifts from Labour donor and peer
“Sir Keir Starmer has defended accepting gifts from a millionaire Labour donor who was later given a pass to access No 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister suggested he would continue to take gifts from Lord Alli, despite a row over some of his donations not being declared in line with parliamentary rules. The Labour peer has given Sir Keir tens of thousands of pounds to spend on suits and spectacles, and over the weekend it emerged that Lady Starmer, the Prime Minister’s wife, had also been given £5,000 worth of clothes and personal shopping” – Daily Telegraph
- Keir Starmer suggests he will continue accepting donors’ gifts – Guardian
- Keir Starmer refuses to rule out accepting more donor freebies – The Times
- Lady Starmer wears ‘borrowed’ outfit at London Fashion Week amid free clothes row – Daily Telegraph
- Angry, Ange? Chancellor Rachel Reeves gets the keys to government’s plush 18th-century grace-and-favour mansion Dorneywood instead of Angela Rayner… despite it going to previous Labour Deputy PM John Prescott – Daily Mail
Comment:
Private jets, cronyism, free clothes….the hypocrisy of the Starmers is quite something – Clemmie Moodie The Sun
What kind of a socialist dips his hand in the goody bag as it passes while depriving poor pensioners of their winter fuel allowance? Stephen Glover Daily Mail
Conservative leadership front runner attacks Starmer over winter fuel payments cut
“Tory leadership frontrunner Robert Jenrick has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “declaring war” on pensioners and vowed to fight “tooth and nail” against more punishing cuts…The former communities secretary accused the Prime Minister of making “selfish choices” to bung cash to train drivers while taking the winter fuel allowance off 10million pensioners just as bills go up…He also took aim at the new Government for making “terrible” choices that will hurt older people and raised concerns about what Labour is planning next.” – Daily Express
>TODAY
Robert Jenrick: A smaller state. Smarter regulation. And lower taxes. My manifesto for national prosperity.
Comment:
Too many still won’t admit the truth about child grooming gangs – Suella Braverman Daily Telegraph
EU nations continue to wrangle over best ways to aid Ukraine
“The EU is preparing to provide up to €40bn in new loans for Ukraine by the end of the year regardless of US participation, after a G7 plan to use frozen Russian assets to aid Kyiv faltered. The unilateral push comes amid concern in Brussels that Hungary will prevent the bloc from delivering safeguards that the US needs for it to participate in the frozen asset scheme, according to three people involved in the talks. The government of Viktor Orbán, the EU’s most pro-Russia leader, has sought to delay a decision on the frozen assets scheme until after the US presidential election on November 5.” – FT
- Stop benefits for Ukrainian refugees so they go home and fight, Poland tells EU – Daily Telegraph
- Russia dials up pressure on Ukraine’s Kursk offensive – FT
- Starmer urged to break away from US as pressure mounts over Russia threats – The i
Comment:
We must give Ukraine the weapons to strike back – and fast – Lord Ashcroft Daily Telegraph
World of work 1) Labour suggests working from home is a right
“Labour has pledged to end the “culture of presenteeism” in Britain’s workplaces, saying that a default right of flexible working will make staff more productive and loyal. Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, said that giving employees the right to work from home or ignore work emails and calls in the evening will make them more “motivated and resilient”. In an interview with The Times, he said it was “bizarre” that one of his Conservative predecessors, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, had been “declaring war on people working from home”. He stressed there were “real economic benefits” to more flexible working.” – The Times
- Labour’s WFH overhaul could harm British firms: French-style worker’s rights plans will see Brits getting the ‘right to switch off’ and ignore bosses – but government insists productivity will be boosted – Daily Mail
- People are getting ‘stuck’ in insecure work for years, says UK thinktank – Guardian
World of work 2) Another large pay deal granted by Ministers, this time to Junior Doctors
“Junior doctors have voted to end 18 months of strike chaos in exchange for a whopping 22 per cent pay rise. The British Medical Association accepted ministers’ offer of a settlement worth up to an extra £12,000 a year. Members voted 66 per cent in favour of the deal after strike leaders told them it was the best they would get.It brings to an end the NHS’ longest ever industrial action, which saw 44 days of walkouts by more than 20,000 doctors over a year-and-a-half.More than 1.5million appointments were cancelled and waiting lists increased from 7.3million to 7.6m. Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi on Monday called the salary boost: modest.” – The Sun
- Junior doctors vote to accept 22% pay rise – The Times
- Junior doctors accept 22pc pay rise – but could strike again – Daily Telegraph
>YESTERDAY
The NHS has been a political football for too long. MPs must work together to improve it.
Suspect in court after Trump is targeted again by a would-be assassin
“The suspect in Sunday’s assassination attempt against Donald Trump hid in bushes at the former president’s Florida golf club for 12 hours before being confronted by the US Secret Service. Ryan Routh did not get a shot off at the agent who spotted him hiding on the public side of the golf course, Ronald Rowe, acting director of the service, told a press conference on Monday. Routh, 58, never had Trump in his sights, Rowe added.The suspect appeared at a federal court on Monday. He was led into the courthouse in West Palm Beach with shackles around his hands and feet and was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number” – The Times
- FBI says Trump shooter suspect Ryan Wesley Routh was on their radar since 2019 as it’s revealed whether he acted alone in assassination attempt – Daily Mail
- Suspect charged as Trump accuses Biden and Harris of incitement – Guardian
- Comment: What doesn’t kill Trump makes him stronger – Freddie Gray Spectator
News in Brief
- Labour is betraying women – The Critic
- Keir Starmer and his wife don’t need a personal shopper – Spectator
- How did Starmer not know how it would look? (The donation, not the clothes) – The Critic
- A trade deal with the US is in everyone’s interest – CapX
