Sunak accuses Lynch of being the “Grinch” who stole Christmas
“Rishi Sunak today accuses Mick Lynch of being a “Grinch” who wants to “steal Christmas” with his crippling rail strikes. The PM said the RMT had caused “misery for millions” with their “cruelly timed” walkouts. In his most outspoken attack on unions yet, he accused Mr Lynch of trying to hold Britain to ransom with his “class war”… Turning the screw on Sir Keir Starmer, he said Labour admit union pay demands are “unaffordable” but they will “still take union money and undermine the interests of the travelling public”. He spoke out as Britain is hit by the biggest wave of industrial unrest since the 1980s. Railway workers, hospital staff, border force guards and posties are all walking out in pay rows.” – Sun on Sunday
- RMT run by a hard-Left cabal of activists who are plotting a general strike – Sun on Sunday
- Pubs and restaurants to lose £2.3 billion because of crippling strikes – Sun on Sunday
Military not ‘sufficiently trained’ to cover NHS strikes, unions say
“Unions have lashed out at plans for the armed forces to cover for striking public sector workers in the run-up to Christmas, claiming the military are not “sufficiently trained” to plug staffing gaps on the frontline. The government is deploying 1,200 troops from the army, navy and RAF to fill in for ambulance drivers and border staff during widespread strikes over the festive period, with more than 1,000 civil servants also drafted in to help. But while ministers have insisted their chief concern is public safety, unions have accused the government of trying to “mask” the “effectiveness” of strike action, having spent time on contingency planning that could have been “better” invested in securing a deal.” – The Observer
- We are not spare capacity for strikes, says Armed Forces head – Sunday Telegraph
- Public support for nurses’ strike divides Tories – The Observer
More:
- How our heroes are being left to freeze in squalor – Mail on Sunday
- Life as a squaddie: poor housing, low pay and now Christmas is ruined – Sunday Times
>Today: ToryDiary: Both Streeting and Javid can see the NHS emperor has no clothes. But neither will produce the fundamental reform it requires.
Prime Minister scraps Truss’s long-term energy deal taskforce…
“Rishi Sunak has scrapped a taskforce launched by Liz Truss to secure long-term energy deals for Britain. The Energy Supply Taskforce has been abolished after just three months. Ms Truss unveiled the initiative in September as part of a package to tackle soaring energy bills caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was inspired by the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce, which was set up during the Covid-19 pandemic with a remit to secure effective vaccines as quickly as possible… In October, the taskforce was reported to have been in talks with liquefied natural gas companies. But on Saturday a Government source said it had been scrapped because it would have committed the UK to paying historically high prices for years on end.” – Sunday Telegraph
…as Shapps launches campaign advising people how to save money this winter
“Grant Shapps has launched a public information campaign advising people how to make financial savings this winter – months after the former prime minister Liz Truss blocked it. The £18m campaign, called It Adds Up, claims people could save £230 a year by implementing what is says are simple measures. Radio and TV adverts will be rolled out and a dedicated website, Help for Households, will be launched to encourage people to restrict use of their electrical appliances. The campaign launched with a video in which the energy secretary encourages people to save money by stopping draughts and turning down boilers and while battling with a pesky Elf on the Shelf.” – The Observer
Millionaires return to the Tory fold in bid to kill off Labour with cash
“Nadhim Zahawi, the Conservative Party chairman, has boasted he expects to rake in up to £15 million in new donations, putting the party on course to overtake Labour’s fundraising efforts and create a significant election war chest. Mohamed Mansour, the Egyptian billionaire and a minister under the Hosni Mubarak regime, is understood to have made a significant donation, which some figures claim could be as much as £4 million. If made as a single donation, it would represent one of the largest such gifts in politics. Graham Edwards, the executive chairman and millionaire co-founder of Telereal Trillium, the largest privately owned property company in the UK, is also set to make a big donation, according to party figures.” – Sunday Times
- Sunak will deliver election victory like Major in 1992, vows top Tory – Sunday Express
Sunak ‘to take on Netflix’ amid Harry & Meghan accuracy row
“Rishi Sunak will give the broadcasting watchdog the power to take on Netflix for the first time, amid a row about accuracy in the Harry & Meghan documentary. Ministers are planning to pass a new law that would bring all streaming giants under the jurisdiction of Ofcom and hand it the power to impose fines of up to £250,000. Viewers would also be able to complain to Ofcom about shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime and other services and see them investigated for breaches of a new code of conduct. The plans are expected as soon as next year and will form part of the Government’s Media Bill, which will also promote “distinctively British content”, The Telegraph understands.” – Sunday Telegraph
- The plans will form part of the Government’s Media Bill and could be next year – Mail on Sunday
Town halls to be given a new legal duty to make roads safer for women
“Michael Gove is launching a massive crackdown on dark and unsafe streets after a spate of brutal murders of women after dark – including Sarah Everard. Councils will be given a new legal duty to take the safety of women and girls into account with all new housing and planning projects. It will mean new houses, streets and towns cannot be built unless they include things like street lights. The radical shake-up comes amid widespread alarm at the safety of women and girls on Britain’s dimly lit streets… The consultation for the new duty of care will be unveiled in the National Planning Policy Framework this week. It will spell out in national policy that town hall bosses must “think about the safety of women and girls in public spaces when setting planning policies and taking decisions”.” – Sun on Sunday
Braverman urges Sunak to go further on immigration
“Suella Braverman has privately urged Rishi Sunak to remove the influence of the European Court of Human Rights when considering the appeals of illegal migrants, The Telegraph can disclose. The Home Secretary has sided with Tory rebels who believe the Government’s immigration reforms announced this week do not go far enough to deal with the migrant crisis, and has proposed tougher legislation to circumvent Strasbourg rulings. Mr Sunak has said that under new rules, all illegal migrants will be placed in detention centres before being flown either to Rwanda or another designated safe country. His plan includes a new law, to be tabled within weeks, that will “make unambiguously clear that if you enter the UK illegally you should not be able to remain here”.” – Sunday Telegraph
- Britain could ignore Euro judges 11th hour orders to block deportation flights – Sun on Sunday
- Home Secretary is fuelling Farage politics, says former adviser – Sunday Times
Comment:
- Who will the Left blame when boats keep sinking under Starmer? – Dan Hodges, Mail on Sunday
Brexit freedoms will see Britain create next Silicon Valley, Hunt declares
“Brexit freedoms will allow us to create the next Silicon Valley here in the UK, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has declared. Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor who featured regularly on TV screens during the Covid crisis, is to draw up new regulations designed to promote innovation and replace burdensome red-tape from Brussels. Leading figures from the UK’s high-tech industries will assist him to ensure Britain can lead the world in digital technology, green industries, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and the creative industries… It’s the latest in a series of Brexit reforms to grow the economy, after the Chancellor last week announced that hundreds of pages of EU laws regulating financial services industries will be repealed and replaced.” – Sunday Express
Tory members furious about ‘insanity’ of ousting Johnson, former chairman says
“Tory members are furious about the loss of Boris Johnson, the party’s former chairman has said, as he warns the Conservatives will struggle at local elections if they cannot rely on activists to knock on doors. Sir Jake Berry said grassroots campaigners had become disillusioned following the “insanity” of ousting Mr Johnson earlier this year, combined with their “perceived disenfranchisement” after Liz Truss was driven from Downing Street. In an interview with The Telegraph, he said it “should be a matter of deep concern” that membership of the Conservative Party has dropped significantly in recent years… Sir Jake, a close ally of Mr Johnson who received a knighthood in his resignation honours list, was Tory party chairman during Liz Truss’s short-lived tenure at Number 10.” – Sunday Telegraph
- Tories ‘at risk from rightwing insurgency’ warns Cruddas – The Observer
More:
- Cabinet Office scraps ‘gender inclusion’ workshops after complaints – Sunday Telegraph
- UKRI splurges £100 million of taxpayers’ cash on ‘woke’ projects – Sun on Sunday
Source link
#Newslinks #Sunday #18th #December #Conservative #Home