Sunak ‘insists’ best way to slash the £4 billion asylum bill of taxpayers is to ‘stop the boats’…
“Rishi Sunak has insisted the best way of slashing the “unacceptable” £4billion-a-year asylum bill is to “stop the boats in the first place”. But he admitted that the Government has more to do to reduce the “vast expense” to taxpayers. The cost of the asylum system ballooned to £3.96billion from £2.11billion in a year as the total of migrants waiting for a decision rose to a record high. Tory MPs last night said the immigration system is “not fit for purpose” and urged “root and branch reform”. The Home Office spent £3.97billion on the asylum system in 2022/23, up from £2.12billion in a year. A decade ago the cost to taxpayers was £500.2million.Around £2.3billion a year is being spent on hotel rooms for 51,000 migrants.” – Daily Express
- Cost of UK asylum system ‘nearly doubles’ – The Financial Times
- Tories tell Sunak to get a grip on immigration as asylum claims rocket to 20-year high and 1 million visas are handed out to students – The Daily Mail
- Asylum queue reaches 175,000 people – The Sun
- King’s visit to France will give Sunak ‘some much needed help’ in resolving small boats crisis – The I
- When will the Tories beef up our borders? – Editorial, The Daily Mail
>Today:
…as he is found to have ‘broken parliamentary code’ over wife’s childcare firm shares
“Rishi Sunak broke parliamentary conduct rules by failing to correctly declare his wife’s shareholding in a childcare company. Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, said the breach came about because Sunak was “confused” by the rules on declaration and said the omission had been inadvertent. Sunak has apologised but Labour said his lapse showed the system by which politicians declare their interests was in need of an overhaul. Greenberg opened the inquiry in April after concerns that Sunak had not detailed Akshata Murty’s stake in Koru Kids, which stood to benefit from some measures announced in the budget. Sunak had made the declaration in the ministerial register of interests but did not mention it when questioned by an MP…” – The Times
- Call for ministers to be more open about finances after the Prime Minister’s code breach – The Guardian
- Sunak risks election hopes if governing takes a back seat – Stephen Bush, The Financial Times
Fraser Nelson: The Tory blob has squeezed the life out of the free school revolution
“When Michael Gove started school reform, he spoke of a battle against “the blob,” the name given to the various forces of resistance. He had in mind Labour-run councils, trades unions and law firms who’d use legal aid to sue any new school. Gove made decent progress against enemies on the Left, but forgot his own side. The blob that seems to have won in the end is that within the Conservative Party… Once, it was hoped that hundreds of these schools would open annually. This week, they announced just 15 more for this year, not much movement on the 650 already open. After 10 successive Tory education secretaries, just 5 per cent of pupils attend free schools. The revolution that was once promised – having one in every community – didn’t quite happen.” – The Daily Telegraph
India ‘demands more visas for nurses and care workers’ as price for Badenoch trade deal
“India is demanding more visas for nurses and care workers as its price for a post-Brexit free trade deal with Britain, according to reports. The 12th round of negotiations has begun with the talks entering the most difficult and complex phases. New Delhi is pushing for more UK visas for nurses, caregivers, IT professionals and financial consultants…A senior official in India’s commerce ministry told the newspaper: “There are some areas like visa and protection of Indian industries where we have to iron out some differences.” But UK officials are said to have made it clear there will be no special cases made for workers from India under the points-based immigration system introduced after Brexit.” – Daily Express
Cheaper bills show Putin can never hold Brits to ransom again, says Shapps
“Cheaper bills show Vladimir Putin is losing his grip over the global energy market, Grant Shapps said today. The Energy Secretary insisted Britain is decreasing its reliance on foreign gas by securing cheaper and cleaner sources of power at home. It comes as regulator Ofgem confirmed the price cap will fall from £2,074 to £1,923 on October 1. It means the average household will see their annual bill drop by £151. For those four million customers on pre-payment meters the average bill will drop to £1,949 a year… Although the price per unit of energy is falling, economists have warned that this will be offset by a rise in the daily standing charge and the fact that last winter’s £400 energy bill discount isn’t being repeated.” – The Sun
- Energy price cap ‘could be ditched’ to make gas and electricity bills even cheaper – The I
- Ofgem cuts energy price cap to £1,923 from October – The Times
Patel ‘thrown under the bus’ for daring to question security decision over the Duke of York
“Dame Priti Patel was “thrown under the bus” for suggesting that decisions about the Royal family’s security should receive proper scrutiny, it has been claimed. A letter sent by Dame Priti to Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s private secretary, in which she mooted a potential review of the decision to strip the Duke of York of his taxpayer-funded police protection was leaked to a tabloid newspaper. The leak forced the former home secretary to apologise to the King for the “embarrassment and difficulties” it had caused. But a source familiar with the situation said she had done nothing but point out the “blindingly obvious” when it came to the activities of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures…which is responsible for such decisions.” – The Daily Telegraph
MPs ‘to propose’ a motion to expel Dorries…
“MPs will force Rishi Sunak’s hand next month on whether to allow Parliament to oust Nadine Dorries after she refused to follow through on her promise to resign, i can reveal. The Prime Minister is facing growing calls to remove the former culture secretary by tabling a motion in the Commons that would give MPs the chance to vote in favour of her dismissal. And in a drive to push Mr Sunak into making a decision, the Liberal Democrats will put forward a motion when Parliament returns from summer recess calling for Ms Dorries’s removal. Deputy leader Daisy Cooper will table a motion on the first day that Parliament returns on Monday 4 September, demanding Ms Dorries returns to the Commons by Thursday 14 September or face a 10-day suspension, triggering a recall petition.” – The I
…as financial support to double for those who lose seats in UK election
“MPs who lose their seats at the next general election will receive double the financial support. Winding-down payments designed to help departing MPs close their office and manage the departure of staff will also now be available to those who step down at the election. MPs received two months’ wages after losing their seats at the previous general election, but the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which governs MPs’ expenses, has ruled that should be increased to four months. The payments will not be made to MPs who opt to stand down before an election period. IPSA said the decision was made because the time to fully close down an MP’s parliamentary and financial affairs was longer than the time covered.” – The Guardian
Trump mugshot revealed as former president surrenders in Georgia
“The defendant listed as inmate number PO1135809 stared down the barrel of a jail officer’s camera, his large brows knitted into a frown, his yellow hair catching the light. It was Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, a man with one of the most famous faces in the world, now appearing in a mugshot taken in the Fulton county jail. Trump was dressed, as usual, in a dark suit, white shirt and red tie. His orange complexion appeared a little paler and he looked out in the mugshot from beneath a sweep of pale gold hair. The image was released into the world about an hour after Trump himself was released from the jail, after posting a $200,000 bond. He had been arrested on 13 counts relating to an attempt to overthrow the 2020 election in Georgia.” – The Times
- He hires Georgia’s ‘best criminal defence attorney’ – The Daily Telegraph
- BRICS expansion has been facilitated by the Biden administration’s blunders – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- Republicans can’t answer the Trump question – Gerard Baker, The Times
- America is now Trump country – Tim Stanley, The Daily Telegraph
- His jail spectacle is historic, but it won’t harm him politically – Sam Levine, The Guardian
- There’s no show without Trump – Richard Littlejohn, The Daily Mail
- Republican field looks crowded – but Youngkin is one to watch – Douglas Murray, The Sun
The SNP plunges ‘more than £800,000 into the red’ as membership and donations slump
“The financial crisis engulfing the SNP was laid bare yesterday after it emerged the party plunged more than £800,000 into the red last year. It recorded a deficit of £804,278 as membership and donations slumped, while legal fees rocketed amid the ongoing police probe into its finances. First Minister Humza Yousaf insisted his party was on a ‘steady footing’. But the SNP was only able to state it can continue as a ‘going concern’ because it is withholding £837,600 of membership income it was due to hand to local branches. The latest loss for 2022 follows a £729,845 deficit in the previous year – meaning it has spent all of the £1.3million reserves it had at the start of 2021. It has instead fallen into the red, with the SNP’s liabilities now outweighing its assets by £219,629.” – The Daily Mail
News in Brief:
- I’ve spent my life hunting the Loch Ness monster – Steve Feltham, The Spectator
- Cornwall is a Northern fortress – Dan Jackson, UnHerd
- The case for kids – Henry Hill, The Critic
- Building transport in Britain doesn’t have to be this hard – Ben Hopkinson, CapX
- The self-delusions of Sarkozy – David Broder, The New Statesman
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