Sunak 1) Cancel culture has a chilling effect on society, says the Prime Minister
“Rishi Sunak has issued a stark warning about the “chilling effect” of cancel culture on British society. The prime minister said that people feeling scared to express their views openly risked damaging society as a whole. “We must tackle the chilling effect of so-called cancel culture — the shutting down of people’s views and making people fear speaking out,” he said at the Society of Editors 25th anniversary conference event in London on Monday. “Because that’s not who we are,” Sunak said. “That’s not what this country stands for. Democracy depends on the ability to air our views, to challenge and interrogate people’s standpoints and to learn from different perspectives and experiences.”Sunak said that free speech was the cornerstone of a free country…” – The Times
Sunak 2) Tory candidates ‘distance themselves from him’ ahead of local elections
“Conservative candidates are distancing themselves from Rishi Sunak and his party’s brand in the run-up to local elections in England and Wales this week, in a sign of concerns over the party’s tarnished national reputation. Mayoral candidates and prospective councillors have ditched Tory blue for a wide palette of colours and opted against referencing the party in an effort to emphasise local over national issues. Keane Duncan, who is running to be the first mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has few clues on his website that he is standing for the Tories — or that the prime minister represents a parliamentary seat in the region. Susan Hall and Andy Street, Conservative mayoral candidates in London and the West Midlands, have also chosen different colour schemes.” – The Financial Times
- Tory MPs ‘reject overtures from rebels’ plotting to unseat Sunak – The I
- Even Sunak must wonder whether he can hang on as PM for much longer – Philip Johnston, The Daily Telegraph
- The nightmare scenario for the Conservative Party – Anne McElvoy, The I
>Today:
Sunak 3) He will not take back migrants “because of the general election”, says the Irish Prime Minister
“The Irish prime minister has said that Britain agreed to take back its asylum seekers but suggested Rishi Sunak won’t admit it because of the upcoming elections. On Tuesday, Simon Harris warned Mr Sunak that there was “legitimate expectation” that the UK would honour the post-Brexit agreement on migrant returns. Downing Street admitted that there was “an understanding” with Ireland but said it was not legally binding. The Prime Minister has already ruled out accepting any returns unless the EU agrees to take back migrants who have arrived in the UK over the Channel…[Harris] suggested that Mr Sunak’s insistence that the UK would not take back asylum seekers from Ireland was motivated by upcoming local and general elections.” – The Daily Telegraph
- Irish justice ministers says she will push ahead despite Sunak insisting that Britain will not take back asylum seekers – The Financial Times
- First illegal migrant sent to Rwanda under £3,000 relocation plan – The Times
- The programme is separate from planned forced removals – The Financial Times
- Stop the boats? It could be tougher to start the Rwanda flights – The Times
- Patel criticises government failures after migrants earmarked for Rwanda go missing – Daily Express
- Ireland has made its bed with the EU. It must lie in it – Ruth Dudley Edwards, The Daily Telegraph
Immigration levels falling after Home Office visa curbs
“Britain’s record levels of immigration are falling, with figures showing a sharp decline in the number of foreign workers and students coming to the UK. In the first signs that the government’s visa curbs are cutting the number of legal migrants, skilled worker, health and care, and study visas fell by a quarter in the first three months of this year. Since January the UK has granted 139,100 visas to these groups, down from 184,000 in the same period last year, according to data published by the Home Office on Tuesday. These three groups make up the majority of migration to the UK and accounted for a total of 1.13 million visas last year. The tightening of rules on foreign students bringing family members with them to the UK has led to an 80 per cent fall in these dependant visas…” – The Times
- Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats to make direct checks on UK riders’ immigration status – The Financial Times
Cameron says he is a ‘fan’ of the BBC licence fee
“Lord Cameron has said he is a “fan” of the BBC licence fee and believes it will last for “longer than lots of people think” despite Government plans to review the “increasingly anachronistic” funding model. The Foreign Secretary hinted at a Cabinet split over the levy’s future as he argued it “works quite well” as it is, and warned the alternatives would carry “lots of disadvantages”. The Government is currently reviewing the “sustainability” of the model…with ministers taking advice on potential options to replace it… However, when quizzed on the future of the licence fee by the Lords’ International Relations and Defence Committee…Lord Cameron, who pledged to de-criminalise non-payment of the charge as prime minister, said he was a “fan” of the current model.” – The Daily Telegraph
- Investment arm of UK international development plans to boost Africa spending – The Financial Times
Hunt warns FCA against ‘naming and shaming’ businesses under investigation
“Jeremy Hunt has warned the Financial Conduct Authority against its plan to “name and shame” companies under investigation in an unusual broadside against the UK’s top financial regulator. “I hope the FCA re-look at their decision,” the chancellor told the Financial Times, referring to the watchdog’s plan to publicly disclose the identities of companies under investigation more frequently and at a much earlier stage. The comments are a rare intervention by a chancellor on policymaking by the FCA, which is independent from the government. It comes as Hunt tries to revitalise the UK’s capital markets, encourage investment and stimulate economic growth. The FCA has said the plan would boost transparency and increase the deterrent effect of its probes.” – The Financial Times
Gove to appoint police chief to head inquiry into bankrupt Labour-run Birmingham council
“Michael Gove plans to bring in a senior police chief to investigate financial mismanagement at Britain’s largest local authority, the Telegraph can disclose. The Communities Secretary is to invoke powers never before used to order a statutory local inquiry into Labour-run Birmingham council, which declared effective bankruptcy last year. The Government has already sent in commissioners to run the authority, who have so far announced a 21 per cent increase in council tax and drastic cuts to local services, such as the dimming of street lights and fewer bin collections. The inquiry, convened under Tony Blair’s Local Government Act of 1999, will have powers to compel witnesses to attend and to compel the provision of documents. Evidence will be taken under oath.” – The Daily Telegraph
Britain in talks to join Europe’s new ‘Sky Shield’ missile defence system to protect against Putin, says Shapps
“Britain is in talks to join Europe’s new air defence system, Grant Shapps has confirmed. The UK is working with EU allies “on what a SkyShield may look like”, the Defence Secretary said. He also signalled a ship-building boom to boost the size of the Royal Navy on The Sun’s new World At War show. The Sky Shield plan could see missiles such as US Patriots, Israeli Arrow-3s and German IRIS-Ts deployed to UK soil to protect against hostile projectiles, including drones. Mr Shapps dismissed calls from MPs, including Penny Mordaunt, to buy Israel’s Iron Dome defence technology and said the Europe Sky Shield talks were “in early stages”. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz proposed the initiative to boost European air defence…” – The Sun
Badenoch insists slavery had ‘minor role’ in Britain’s wealth…
“Kemi Badenoch has insisted that colonialism played a “minor role” in Britain’s wealth, after she endorsed a book which says that slavery was no more important to the economy than sheep farming. The business secretary said that “free markets and liberal institutions” were far more important than empire in powering the Industrial Revolution. Last month Badenoch hit out at claims that British wealth was down to colonialism, warning that such a belief risked leading to anti-growth policies at home and abroad. In a reference to demands that the West pay reparations for slavery, she complained that at the World Trade Organisation “some of my counterparts spend the entire time in meetings talking about colonialism” and blaming the West for their problems.” – The Times
…as she asks people to report public bodies which fail to offer single-sex spaces
“Kemi Badenoch has urged members of the public to give examples of state bodies failing to provide single-sex spaces. It follows concern that the NHS, local councils and other government bodies are misinterpreting guidance which states that people should be barred from such places on the basis of their sex and not the gender they identify with. The Equalities Minister said her action would “tackle any confusion” around who is allowed in lavatories, changing rooms, and female-only fitness classes. The launch of the “call for input” comes…after the Health Secretary announced plans to overhaul the NHS constitution to “ensure that biological sex is respected”. The Department of Health and Social Care said…that it is “defining sex as biological sex” with the new document…” – The Daily Telegraph
- The Government is right to insist on common-sense terminology in the NHS, but the big problems with the health service remain to be fixed – Editorial, The Times
- Common sense at last on single-sex wards – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- Contempt for the law shows contempt for us all – Daniel Finkelstein, The Times
>Today:
Keegan ‘scraps 50 per cent rule’ on faith school admissions
“Faith schools in England will no longer have to offer up to half of their places to children who don’t belong to their religion, under changes to state school admissions rules announced by the government. Currently, new faith schools can only fill a maximum of 50% of their places using faith-based admissions criteria, but the change announced by the education secretary, Gillian Keegan, will allow them to turn away other children. The consultation opened by the government on Wednesday would also allow churches and religious groups to open faith schools for children with special educational needs, which campaigners warned could raise ethical concerns… The cap was applied in 2010 to new schools launched as part of the government’s free school programme…” – The Guardian
Labour 1) Duffield right to say only women have a cervix, says Starmer
“Rosie Duffield was right to say only women have a cervix, Sir Keir Starmer has said, three years after he criticised the Labour MP for the description. Starmer said that he got on “very well” with Duffield, who last year compared being in the Labour Party to an abusive relationship after being “shouted down” in the Commons over her views on trans issues…Duffield said that Starmer had not spoken to her since 2021. In his first comments on gender since the…Cass review, Starmer said that “biologically”, Duffield was “of course right” to say that only women had a cervix. “She’s a much respected member of the parliamentary Labour Party and I want to have a discussion with her and anybody else about how we go forward in a positive way,” Starmer told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.” – The Times
- Almost half of Labour voters want Starmer to match defence spending pledge, poll reveals – The Daily Telegraph
- Labour ‘will cut rail services to stop last-minute cancellations’ – The Times
- The party is set to unveil a weakened package of workers’ rights – The Financial Times
- Madeley bags another victim as Starmer flunks his case – Tom Peck, The Times
Labour 2) Khan ‘played down machete concerns’ week before Hainault sword attack
“Sadiq Khan played down fears over “gangs running around with machetes” just a week before Tuesday’s sword attack in Hainault, north-east London. Challenged by Susan Hall, his Conservative rival in the London mayoral election, over gang violence at night, the Labour Mayor told her she should “stop watching The Wire – we’re not living in Baltimore, USA, in the noughties.” Although there are no official figures for machete attacks, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data show that knife crime in London has hit a record high, overtaking the previous peak in 2019, when there was also a surge in murders. According to the ONS, 14,577 knife crimes were recorded by the Metropolitan Police last year – equivalent to nearly 40 a day and up by more than 20 per cent…” – The Daily Telegraph
- Mental health services key to preventing violent crimes, he says – The Guardian
- Labour councils ‘wasting time by spending hours discussing Gaza’ – The Daily Telegraph
Swinney ‘emerges as frontrunner’ to be Scotland’s next first minister
“The race to be the next first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National party has whittled down to two likely candidates as the governing nationalists look set to see off an opposition motion of no confidence on Wednesday. SNP grandee John Swinney is an early frontrunner to replace Humza Yousaf as party leader and head of the Scottish government. Swinney could face a challenge from Kate Forbes, who came second to Yousaf in last year’s contest. The SNP administration in Holyrood will be tested on Wednesday by a motion of no confidence brought by Scottish Labour, which is pushing ahead with the vote despite Yousaf saying he would quit. Yousaf plunged the SNP into crisis last week when he collapsed a coalition deal with the Scottish Greens…” – The Financial Times
- Forbes hints that she will stand in SNP leadership contest – The Daily Telegraph
- Who is Forbes? Daughter of missionaries who was close second to Yousaf – The Times
- She is ‘more popular than Swinney’ in SNP leadership poll – The Daily Telegraph
- The battle for the soul of the SNP – The Financial Times
- Yousaf gets standing ovations despite landing SNP in crisis – The Daily Telegraph
- Salmond and Sturgeon told to keep out of SNP leadership contest – The I
- Next first minister will need centre-left allies, says Harvie – The Guardian
News in Brief:
- Are antidepressants making you asexual? – Freya India, The Spectator
- Ukraine is running out of battlefield options – Aris Roussinos, UnHerd
- Deconstructing the pro-EU fantasies of the FT – Catherine McBride, The Critic
- Yousaf: A hoplite without a phalanx – Henry Hill, CapX
- Inside Labour’s immigration dilemma – Andrew Marr, The New Statesman
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