Conservatives 1) Tories now just four points ahead of Reform UK
“The Conservative Party is now only four points ahead of Reform UK, according to a new poll, after sinking to a level of support last seen during the final days of Liz Truss’s premiership. A YouGov survey conducted on March 19 and 20 put the Tories on 19 per cent of the vote and Reform on 15 per cent. The Conservatives were down by one point and Reform up by one compared with the company’s previous poll, conducted on March 12 and 13. Labour was unchanged on 44 per cent in a further indication that Sir Keir Starmer’s party is on track to win a comfortable majority at this year’s election. YouGov said the Conservatives’ share had fallen to the same level as “at their lowest ebb” just before Ms Truss quit at the end of October 2022.” – The Daily Telegraph
>Today:
Conservatives 2) Tory MPs ‘urge Bank of England to cut interest rates in May’ for election boost
“Conservative MPs have urged the Bank of England to bring down interest rates as soon as possible after the base rate was held at 5.25 per cent. Bank governor Andrew Bailey fuelled hopes of a cut within the next few months after saying “we are on the way” to a downward turn thanks to a faster than expected fall in inflation last month. But many Tory MPs want the monetary policy committee to reduce the rate at its next meeting in May – allowing voters to feel the benefit before the general election later this year. There is even speculation among economists that there could be two cuts before an October or November polling day, allowing Rishi Sunak to go to the country with a rosier economic outlook than at the end of 2023.” – The I
- Sickness benefits bill to surge by a third as worklessness crisis deepens – The Daily Telegraph
- Britain is reaching its spending limit – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- The Chancellor should have been more understanding of Dyson’s concerns – Editorial, The Times
- Why Bailey risks derailing Britain’s recovery – Szu Ping Chan, The Daily Telegraph
Robert Jenrick: Liberal elites put their reputation at Davos ahead of Britain’s interests
“Liberal elites will talk about anything and everything except what actually diminishes our ability to influence. Indeed, we have more to fear from our failures domestically to tackle problems like violent crime on our cities’ streets. We have weak growth, a high trade deficit, low productivity and a shrinking military. From the police to universities, institutions consistently fail to defend our national heritage and identity. How can we ask the world to advance our values and interests when we struggle to do so ourselves? If nation states are to succeed in an age of intensifying great power competition, politicians must relentlessly pursue the interests of their country’s citizens over those outside it. That means reaffirming the enduring principle of national interest to deliver the common good.” – The Daily Telegraph
The Home Office has no plane for Rwanda flights amid ‘migration emergency’
“The Home Office has still not found an airline to operate Rwanda deportation flights and is exploring using the RAF. It is investigating “multiple options,” according to sources, including chartering a plane from a private contractor but has ruled out buying an aircraft. However, it is understood that the Ministry of Defence is resisting attempts to use RAF aircraft, such as Voyager passenger jets, as they are in high demand and are used for other purposes, like air-to-air refuelling. The MoD is also understood to be reluctant to get involved because of possible repercussions of involving personnel in implementing a highly controversial policy. Airlines have previously refused to sign contracts when the Home Office tried to line up planes after concerns about reputational damage.” – The Times
- Downing Street admits that the UK is in the grip of a ‘migration emergency’ – The Daily Mail
- Cleverly spent £165,000 on flight to Rwanda to sign deportation deal – The Guardian
- Farage: Rwanda flights unlikely to ever take off – The Daily Telegraph
- Tory MPs ‘giving up hope on Rwanda migrants flights happening’ after latest delays – The I
- The sabotaging of Rwanda Bill by left-wing Lords is shamefully and revoltingly cynical – Editorial, The Sun
- The Rwanda Bill is a mere distraction from the real issue – Lee Anderson, The Daily Telegraph
- Sunak has no alternative but to ‘Get Rwanda Done’ – Sebastian Payne, The I
- Basket Case Britain is becoming ungovernable – Richard Littlejohn, The Daily Mail
Israel arbitrarily denying entry of aid to Gaza, says Cameron
“Israel’s “arbitrary denials” of aid being sent to Gaza is now the “main blocker” to providing humanitarian assistance to the territory, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton has warned. In a marked escalation of criticism of the Israeli government, Cameron told the foreign affairs select committee that it was “an enormous frustration” that aid had been “routinely held up waiting for Israeli permissions”. The foreign secretary also contradicted claims by the Israeli government spokesman, Eylon Levy, that the Kerem Shalom crossing in the southern Gaza Strip had been closed on Saturdays at the request of the UN… His comment followed an online dispute with Levy after the foreign secretary publicly called for more aid to be allowed in.” – The Times
- He says the UK will ‘withhold weapons’ from Israel unless it follows international law – The Daily Mail
- The Foreign Secretary ‘vows to work with Trump’ on defence – The I
Shapps signs defence treaty with Australia in face of rising Chinese power
“Australia and the UK have signed a defence and security treaty and announced £2.4bn in Australian investment in Rolls-Royce’s nuclear reactor facilities as the two nations tighten ties in the face of rising Chinese power. The treaty, signed in Canberra on Thursday by Australian defence minister Richard Marles and his UK counterpart Grant Shapps, formalises consultation over national security matters between the two countries and makes it easier to operate together on joint exercises and maritime security. The pact builds on the Aukus partnership that Australia signed in 2021 with the US and UK to overhaul its defence strategy and respond to China’s military build-up… Aukus is intended to deliver nuclear-powered submarines to the Pacific country…” – The Financial Times
- Whispher it, but Britain is getting slowly drawn into World War 3 – Jonathan Saxty, Daily Express
- The generals are right: Britain needs a New Model Army – Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, The Daily Telegraph
- Our army has been run down by cowards – it needs true leaders to fight its corner – Stuart Crawford, Daily Express
>Today:
Councils axe housing projects under Gove’s planning reforms
“Councils in England have begun cancelling previously authorised housing developments, in the first sign that the government’s planning reforms are reducing housebuilding across the country. Under pressure from Conservative backbenchers, Michael Gove, the housing secretary, last year announced changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that made it easier for councils to block developments opposed by locals. Senior industry figures said that since the changes were made they had seen examples of councils reassessing previously agreed developments. This month, Wiltshire council rescinded initial approvals that it had granted in November for three housing projects covering nearly 200 houses.” – The Times
Jack offers to help hand Scots the power to sack MSPs
“Alister Jack has offered to help Humza Yousaf hand Scots the power to sack MSPs after the disgraced former SNP health secretary, Michael Matheson, went missing from Holyrood. The Scottish Secretary offered to help the First Minister legislate to introduce a “recall mechanism” so that parliamentarians guilty of wrongdoing could be removed from office, suggesting that doing so would boost Scottish democracy. While he did not mention by name Mr Matheson, who was found to have breached Holyrood rules by seeking to claim back an £11,000 iPad data bill from taxpayers, the intervention is designed to increase pressure on Mr Yousaf to denounce his ally. Mr Matheson on Thursday appeared to attempt to rubbish claims that he was off sick from Holyrood…” – The Daily Telegraph
- Yousaf lacks ‘big vision’ for Scotland, suggests Forbes – The Times
- Scottish Parliament ‘bans rainbow lanyards’ over bias fears – The Daily Telegraph
Ministers set out new media ownership rules to block Telegraph takeover
“The UK government has ruled out any direct foreign state ownership of a British newspaper in a strongly worded amendment to a law that would in effect block Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI’s takeover of Telegraph Media Group. Direct investment in UK newspapers of any size by a foreign state will be banned under the new regime being drawn up by Whitehall officials, according to a legislative amendment published by the government on Thursday. Ministers are also pushing for a more strongly worded definition of foreign state, and the extent to which it could be seen to have control or influence, than the national security act when applying to a newspaper. RedBird IMI is already considering a potential sale of the Telegraph following the government’s move…” – The Financial Times
Starmer urges Nike to change St George’s cross colour on new England shirt
“Sir Keir Starmer has called on Nike to change the colour of the St George’s Cross on a new England football shirt to traditional red and white after a row over its design. The Labour leader said he believed the flag was a “unifier” and insisted the sporting brand should “reconsider” the decision to modify it. The call comes after Nike revealed it had altered the cross using purple and blue horizontal stripes in what it called a “playful update” to the shirt ahead of Euro 2024. The US firm said the colours were inspired by the training kit worn by England’s 1966 World Cup winners… Some football pundits and fans have criticised the design and price of the shirt since it was launched earlier this week… The Labour leader also called on Nike to reduce the price.” – The I
- He defends giving legal advice to Islamist group – The Times
- Starmer refuses to commit to state pension triple lock in Labour manifesto – The I
- He refuses seven times to deny taking drugs while studying to be a lawyer – The Daily Mail
- “We can’t go back” on Brexit, he insists – The Sun
- Labour ‘will resurrect part of HS2 northern leg’ – The Daily Telegraph
- They will give police emergency powers to charge domestic abuse suspects – The Guardian
- How Starmer’s next intake of MPs could change the future of Labour – and Britain – The I
- Starmer talking to Blair ‘a lot’ about how he prepared for power – The Daily Telegraph
- People say they like Fiona Wilson, a Labour MP – but she doesn’t exist – The Times
- Rayner refuses to explain why she does not owe any capital gains tax on council house – The Daily Mail
- Music is instrumental to Starmer’s biggest gig – Patrick Maguire, The Times
- Is Labour going to cause the collapse of the SNP at the next election? – Simon Johnson, The Daily Telegraph
- Reeves’s plan isn’t radical but it is exciting – Emma Duncan, The Times
- Battle of the Iron Lefties as Rayner and Reeves fight for control of Labour’s plans for business – Harry Cole, The Sun
- Starmer endures a long overdue squrimathon – Tom Peck, The Times
- Is Reeves the new Thatcher? Dream on – Ross Clark, Daily Express
News in Brief:
- What do plummeting birth rates mean for the future of the planet? – Annabel Denham, The Spectator
- The Tories have been overtaken by history – Aris Roussinos, UnHerd
- Entering the Populist Pyongyang – Tim Chapman, The Critic
- The Bank of England has committed its latest misstep – Gerard Lyons, CapX
- The dog map of Britain – Neil O’Brien, Neil’s Substack
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