Newslinks for Friday 3rd May 2024 | Conservative Home

Local elections 1) Sunak ‘on rack’ as Tory election losses mount

“Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives were on the rack on Friday after the party was trounced by Labour in the Blackpool South parliamentary by-election and faced huge losses in local elections across England and Wales. Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader, said his party’s victory in Blackpool, secured with a 26 per cent swing, was “seismic”, while early returns suggested the Tories could lose half of the council seats they were defending. Sunak’s leadership of the UK governing party is expected to come under renewed pressure as Tory MPs wake up to the electoral carnage, knowing they will soon face a general election that has to be called this year.The prime minister’s allies hope the Conservatives can hold on to key mayoralties in Tees Valley…and the West Midlands…” – The Financial Times

Tories suffer ‘worst result in 40 years’ – The Times
They could lose 500 seats in ‘near-catastrophic’ result – The Daily Telegraph
Labour wins Rushmoor, which was been run by the Tories for the last 24 years – The Daily Mail
When are the local election results announced? Hour-by-hour guide – The Times
Key results that could decide Sunak’s fate – The I
Conservatives don’t need to be populist to be popular – Tim Stanley, The Daily Telegraph
In 1997, Blair filled me with hope, but I’m afraid Starmer is just going around stirring up apathy – Stephen Pollard, The Daily Mail
Tories are in deep trouble but only a maniac would oust Sunak – Ross Clark, Daily Express
The Tory infantry is taking an absolute hammering – Henry Hill, The Daily Telegraph

>Today:

Local elections 2) Tories lose Blackpool South by-election with just 100 votes more than Reform

“The Conservatives have lost the Blackpool South by-election to Labour, beating Reform UK to second place with just over 100 votes. The swing from the Conservatives to Labour in the Blackpool South by-election was just over 26 per cent, the third-largest since the Second World War. Keir Starmer hailed a “seismic win” as Labour took the seat…with a 7,607 vote landslide majority, winning 58.9 per cent of the vote. Reform’s 16.9 per cent…was the largest in its history as Richard Tice’s party came just 117 votes behind the Conservatives. He told The Telegraph that it was “onwards and upwards” for his party, which has steadily gained in the polls over the last year… Mark Butcher, Reform’s candidate, said his vote share was “incredible” and he would run again…” – The Daily Telegraph

Starmer hails Blackpool South win as a result points to big Labour victory at general election – The Guardian
Historic Tory collapse in Blackpool South can’t only be blamed on Reform – The I
Tice hails ‘outstanding’ Reform results as party hammers Tories in Brexit land – Daily Express

Local elections 3) Labour loses control of Oldham Council ‘amid Gaza backlash’

“Labour has today sensationally lost control of Oldham Council after Muslim voters punished the party over Gaza. Sir Keir Starmer’s party has lost power in the town in Greater Manchester – and outgoing councillors say the leader’s face has been plastered on leaflets of independents who took their seats. Despite gains all over England from the Tories in yesterday’s local elections, Labour lost control of Oldham after gains by Independents. The party’s national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden has admitted the crisis in Gaza has been an ‘issue’ on the doorstep and ‘does get raised’ when asked about Labour’s poor showing in Oldham. Polling guru John Curtice said there is a trend of the Labour vote falling in areas with high Muslim populations.” – The Daily Mail

Local elections 4) Johnson tuned away from polling station after forgetting ID

“Boris Johnson was turned away from a polling station on Thursday after not providing acceptable photo ID. The former prime minister — who oversaw the Elections Act 2022, which mandated proof of identification for voting — was rebuffed by staff in South Oxfordshire, according to Sky News. Johnson was attempting to cast his ballot in the election for a police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley. A spokesman for Johnson confirmed to The Times that he had managed to vote… Since last year, voters have been required to provide ID as the government tries to stop voter fraud. The impact of the change on Thursday’s results will be the last test of the new rules before the general election this year…” – The Times

Local elections 5) Mercer apologises to veteran turned away from polling station after ID refused

“Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, has apologised to a former soldier who was turned away from a polling station because his veteran card did not count as proper ID. Adam Diver, an ex-Army officer, said he was “gutted” he could not use his pass to take part in Thursday’s local elections after learning that it did not meet the Government’s criteria at the ballot box. Taking to social media to express his frustration, Mr Diver said: “I’m not one for complaining, but I am gutted. I spent 27 years in the Army, and today I was going to vote in my local elections. “I was sadly turned away at the door as my veteran ID was not allowed as formal ID. I will be fighting for this ‘special ID’ to be ‘more’ formal.” In response, Mr Mercer, also a former soldier, apologised for the situation…” – The Daily Telegraph

He ‘would got to jail before giving up SAS whistleblowers’ – The Times

Sunak ‘to offer Ireland chance to join Rwanda scheme’…

“Downing Street has offered Ireland the opportunity to join the Rwanda scheme, amid a row over asylum seekers fleeing the UK to the Republic. No 10 said it was open to exploring Ireland’s participation in the scheme after Irish ministers blamed the deterrent effect of deportation to Rwanda for the surge in asylum seekers arriving in Dublin from Britain. Rishi Sunak has rejected demands by Simon Harris, the Irish prime minister, to take back the asylum seekers, unless the EU agrees to receive migrants who have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel… Mr Sunak is relying on the Rwanda scheme to stop the flow of migrants across the Channel, and has made the policy a key dividing line with Labour, which says it would axe the scheme.” – The Daily Telegraph

Three-quarters of Rwanda removals will be halted because of successful legal challenges by migrants, the Home Office forecasts – The Daily Mail
Protestors block coach taking Channel migrants to Bibby Stockholm – The Times
Protest mobs will not stop removal of illegal migrants, Cleverly vows – The Sun
Why Labour can’t be trusted on migration – Editorial, The Daily Mail
Revolting civil servants are undermining elected government to serve woke European Court of Human Rights – Editorial, The Sun
If Starmer’s party wants to stop small boats it must avoid sending mixed signals to migrants – Editorial, The Times
It’s appalling to see legal challenge to Rwanda scheme after Parliament passed bill – Esther McVey, The Sun
Dublin pulling tent cities down sends a message to the UK on asylum – Henry Hill, The I
Ireland is getting its Brexit comeuppance – but let’s not rub it in – Robert Taylor, Daily Express
Ireland’s years of welcoming open border policy has backfired and, in true form, they’re blaming us – Harry Cole, The Sun
Starmer has just admitted that Labour are the party of open borders – Miriam Cates, The Daily Telegraph
The crucial missing piece of Labour’s immigration plan – Andrew Fisher, The I
Starmer’s asylum plan signals to migrants the UK is soft touch with wide-open borders – Jonathan Gullis, Daily Express

…as he is to ‘allow oil and gas exploration at sites intended for offshore wind’

“Fossil fuel companies will be allowed to explore for oil and gas under offshore wind-power sites for the first time, the government will announce on Friday, in a move that campaigners said is further proof that ministers are abandoning the climate agenda. The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), which regulates North Sea oil and gas production, will confirm that it is granting licences to about 30 companies to look for hydrocarbons on sites earmarked for future offshore windfarms. The move has brought renewed criticism of Rishi Sunak from environmentalists, including from the prime minister’s own former net zero tsar, who worry that any future oil and gas production could hamper clean energy generation.” – The Guardian

‘Blue Wall’ Tory seats ‘hit hardest’ by Hunt’s ‘stealth’ tax

“Voters in “blue wall” Conservative seats will be worst hit by Jeremy Hunt’s stealth tax rises, a new analysis of official figures shows. For the first time, HM Revenue & Customs has released data breaking down its estimates for the number of basic and higher-rate tax payers in each constituency. An analysis of the figures suggests that in some Tory-held seats in England, more than 10,000 voters will either have been brought into a tax for the first time or moved into the higher rate compared with what they were paying when the rate band freezes were announced in 2022. Among these seats are a large number of constituencies in which the Tories face a strong electoral challenge. These include the chancellor’s own seat of South West Surrey…” – The Times

Cameron commits £3 billion a year in aid to Ukraine ‘for as long as necessary’

“The UK has promised £3bn a year “for as long as it is necessary” to help Ukraine, David Cameron said on Thursday as he made his second visit to Kyiv since becoming UK foreign secretary. He also said he had no objection if weapons supplied by the UK were used to strike inside Russia. Lord Cameron – who met the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and the foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on his trip – has made securing extra arms for Ukraine one of his top priorities as foreign secretary. His announcement is the UK’s biggest spending pledge since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. In January the UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, pledged £2.5bn in military aid to Ukraine for 2024-25, an increase of £200m on the previous two years. He gave no commitment beyond that date.” – The Guardian

He says Ukraine has a right to defend itself with British weapons – The Daily Telegraph
British-made bombs will be used by US fighter jets under plans to boost Ukraine’s air force – The Sun
He says Ukrainians ‘have the right to strike inside Russia’ – The Guardian

Mordaunt: ‘I won’t be installed in Number 10 like a new boiler’

“Penny Mordaunt has insisted that she will not challenge Rishi Sunak after the local elections, denying that there are plans to install her in No 10 “like a new boiler”. The leader of the Commons vowed to continue to back the prime minister despite the heavy Conservative losses expected in the local elections, as Tory rebels press for a change of leader. The Conservatives have slipped to 18 per cent in the latest YouGov poll for The Times, one point lower than their previous nadir under Liz Truss, with disaffected MPs braced for “truly awful” election results to be announced on Friday. Some of those plotting to replace Sunak believe that Mordaunt is the best short-term option to take over after Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, rejected their overtures.” – The Times

Removing Tory whip from Anderson ‘a mistake’, says Kwarteng

“Removing the Tory party whip from Lee Anderson was a mistake that “inflamed the situation”, Kwasi Kwarteng has said. Mr Kwarteng, a former chancellor, said the party had overreacted by suspending the MP for Ashfield, who went on to become Reform UK’s first MP. Mr Anderson was suspended from in February after refusing to apologise for his claims that “Islamists” had “got control” of Sadiq Khan. Mr Kwarteng said he did not believe the remarks were “really inflammatory” and that removing the whip from Mr Anderson had allowed him to campaign against the Tories… Mr Kwarteng, who was the architect of Liz Truss’s ill-fated mini-Budget in 2022, said the Tories had not moved significantly in the polls since her tenure because of Reform UK.” – The Daily Telegraph

Anderson ‘explodes’ at Robinson in ‘furious radio clash’ – Daily Express

Labour ‘woos Trump’ as Starmer prepares for power…

“Senior Labour figures are to step up their contact with Donald Trump’s camp ahead of expected election victories this autumn for both Sir Keir Starmer and the Republican candidate. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who has been meeting senior figures from both Republican and Democratic parties in recent weeks, is to continue those talks as both elections approach, i understands. The increased contact is a sign that – despite Starmer and Mr Trump coming from different ends of the political spectrum – the two men may have to forge a new alliance in office at a time of growing fears about global instability. It comes as a senior ally to Mr Trump heaped praise on Mr Lammy by describing him as “far preferable to David Cameron” after the Foreign Secretary visited Washington…” – The I

Trump ally says he would rather work with Labour than ‘panda hugging’ Tories – The Daily Mail

…as councils ‘slash housebuilding plans’ before Labour has a chance to scrap Tory planning reforms

“Councils have been accused of pursuing a “scorched-earth strategy” as they slashed housebuilding targets in anticipation of a Labour government. Research seen by The Times shows that local authorities have cut plans to build thousands of homes by taking advantage of Michael Gove’s planning changes. It creates a serious obstacle to Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes within the first term of a Labour government. In recent months 15 local authorities have cut the number of homes they intend to build over the next decade by 10 per cent on their previous plans. South Staffordshire council has reduced its annual housing target by more than 40 per cent and Hertsmere council in Hertfordshire has cut its plans for new development by 25 per cent.” – The Times

Rayner’s humiliation is a rare gift to Britain – Annabel Denham, The Daily Telegraph
Delivering Starmer’s promises will depend on rewiring UK ‘Treasury brain’ – Harry Quilter-Pinner, The Financial Times
We’re witnessing the slow death of the public school and Starmer will deliver the nail in the coffin – Peter Hitchens, The Daily Mail

Swinney set to become First Minister of Scotland

“Veteran politician John Swinney is on course to become the head of the Scottish National party and the next first minister of Scotland after his main challenger Kate Forbes said she would not enter the race to lead the party. If elected SNP leader to replace Humza Yousaf, who resigned this week, Swinney would have to work with other parties to lead the Scottish government, since his party has 63 seats and the opposition has 65. But Forbes’ decision to stand aside means that the SNP will probably avoid a repeat of last year’s bruising leadership contest, which she narrowly lost to Yousaf. The 60-year-old Swinney, who announced his intention to stand on Thursday, is so far the only formal candidate for leader.” – The Financial Times

SNP will be stupid to accept snake oil salesman Swinney as leader – Alan Cochrane, The Daily Telegraph
To win back Holyrood, Scottish Labour may go rogue – Patrick Maguire, The Times
Forbes has still won a significant victory – for religion in public life – Fraser Nelson, The Daily Telegraph
Nobody was hard enough to have a go at the SNP ‘unity candidate’ – Tom Peck, The Times
The sinking feeling as King John prepares to captain the SNP Titanic – Madeline Grant, The Daily Telegraph
The new SNP leader looks like a Bond villain, but get past the boiled egg and there are flashes of humour – Quentin Letts, The Daily Mail