Sunak says Britain ‘faces a hung parliament’…
“Britain is heading for a hung parliament, Rishi Sunak has claimed as he urged Tory MPs to end their divisions and “come together” to take on Labour. In his first comments since the full extent of the party’s local election losses became clear, the prime minister admitted that the results had been “bitterly disappointing” for the Conservatives…However, Sunak seized on a projection…that suggested if Thursday’s results were replicated in a general election, Labour would fall short of enough seats to win power. Sunak conceded for the first time that his party could be on course to lose its majority but said voters would not want to see Sir Keir Starmer “propped up in Downing Street” by the SNP, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.” – The Times
- Routed Conservatives should end Britain’s damaging drift – Editorial, The Financial Times
- Local elections were bleak for the Tories – but all is not list for Sunak – Editorial, The Sun
- After a successful performance in local elections last week, Labour needs to show definitively that it has abandoned fantasy economics – Editorial, The Times
- Dreadful Tory local election results means MPs must answer one big question – Iain Duncan Smith, Daily Express
- Local election battering isn’t all bad for Tories – they can look forward to a hung parliament not a Labour landslide – Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun
- The Conservatives are far behind Labour. They must unite and fight – Nick Timothy, The Daily Telegraph
- Little sign that Sunak will tack towards the centre after local elections rout – Rowena Mason, The Guardian
- Prepare for disaster – that’s all the Tories have left – David Frost, The Daily Telegraph
- Unloved but unchallenged, Sunak appears safe – because only a fool would want his job now – Henry Hill, The Guardian
- Reader, we blew it. The route back for my party is steep and narrow – Miriam Cates, The Daily Telegraph
- A Tory Recovery is not beyond the bounds of possibility – Vernon Bogdanor, The I
- Mayors are the political disrupters we need – Trevor Philips, The Times
- If Labour fights this dirty when they are miles in front, imagine how low they’ll sink if the polls narrow – Dominic Lawson, The Daily Mail
- The seeds for future defeats are already being sown by Labour – Andrew Fisher, The I
- The fact is that Starmer still hasn’t sealed the deal with British voters – Stephen Glover, The Daily Mail
>Today:
- David Gauke’s Column: The lesson of the local elections – more Street, less Hall
>Yesterday:
- Video: “There is no narrative. There is no cohesion around what we are doing as a Party.” – Scully
- Video: Buckland: “Our voters have gone on strike.”
- Video: “The election isn’t a foregone conclusion. You shouldn’t take the voters for granted.” – Harper
…as Number 10 ‘shelves plan for summer general election’…
“Downing Street has shelved plans for a general election this summer, The Telegraph understands, with an autumn vote now widely expected after Tory local election defeats. Rishi Sunak is said by allies to hope that an improving economic picture and the Rwanda deportation flights expected this summer can improve his re-election chances…Number 10 sources had suggested that if a plot to oust the Prime Minister had materialised after the local election results, it could have triggered an election in June or July. But Tory rebels are understood to have given up on changing the party’s leader before the general election and senior figures…now believe it is “80 to 90 per cent likely” Mr Sunak will reject a summer election, instead calling one for October or November.” – The Daily Telegraph
- Sunak may have no choice but to ‘stick to the plan’ – The I
- Labour to target south of England at general election, campaign chief says – The Guardian
- Muslim groups issue Starmer with demand to win back lost votes over Gaza – The Daily Telegraph
- Sunak’s five options to turn the tide for the Tories after local election defeats – The I
…and as Braverman says the Tories will be lucky to have any MPs
“The Tories would be “lucky” to have any MPs left after the next election if Rishi Sunak does not urgently change course, Suella Braverman has warned. The former home secretary said the Prime Minister must “own” the Conservative Party’s’ “terrible” local election results and move to the Right to get the party back on track, as she argued the current plan is “not working”. She also said she regretted backing Mr Sunak for Tory leader, claiming he had broken a number of promises to her on migration and “transgender ideology” in schools. But she said it is not “feasible” to change Prime Minister now, as there is “no superman or superwoman out there” who can transform the Tories’ fortunes in time.” – The Daily Telegraph
- She tells Sunak to ‘get serious’ on tax cuts and small boats – The Sun
- MPs turn on Tory HQ after election drubbing – The I
- Sunak urged to ‘show some vision’ as local polls leave Tories in a hole – The Financial Times
- Anti-Tory tactical voting cost Sunak seats in local elections, pollsters say – The I
- Labour-style policies ‘lost Tories mayoralty’ in Sunak’s backyard – The Daily Telegraph
- Lib Democrats gain most council seats in last five years, party’s data shows – The Guardian
Greens face showdown with government antisemitism adviser over new councillors
“The Green Party faces a showdown with Lord Mann, the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, over the conduct of councillors newly elected under its banner. One who shouted Allahu akbar (God is greatest) and described getting a seat on Leeds city council as a “win for the people of Gaza” had previously been involved in the harassment of a Jewish university chaplain driven from his home…A Peterborough Green councillor has also been shown by the Jewish press to have made insulting anti-Israel comments.Lord Mann is expected to explore the possibility of the Green Party suspending or withdrawing the whip from the elected councillors and improving its candidate selection and vetting.” – The Times
- Palestine has right to ‘fight back’, says Green councillor – The Daily Telegraph
- The moment Green councillor shouts ‘Allahu Akbar’ after winning election in Leeds – The Sun
- Perils of pandering to sectarian politics – Editorial, The Daily Mail
- A yell of ‘Allahu Akbar’ defined the local elections. Our democracy will break apart if the sectarian voting it embodies takes hold in Britain – Daniel Hannan, The Daily Mail
Single-sex lavatories ‘to be compulsory’ in restaurants, bars, and offices under new laws
“Single-sex lavatories will become a legal requirement for all new restaurants, bars, offices and shopping centres, the Government has announced. Building regulations will be changed later this year to make it compulsory to provide separate facilities for men and women after an increase in the use of gender-neutral lavatories. The law will apply to new non-residential buildings, but existing businesses could also be caught by the rules if they undergo major renovations…Lee Rowley, the housing minister, said the Government wanted to challenge activists…and support “what most people thought was common sense”… The policy will be seen by many as an attempt by Rishi Sunak to advertise his conservative credentials…” – The Daily Telegraph
- Number of new homes built in England predicted to drop to half of official target – The Financial Times
Rwanda admits it can’t guarantee how many asylum seekers it will take in from the UK
“Rwanda has admitted it cannot guarantee how many people it will take from the UK under Rishi Sunak’s deportation scheme. The east African country did not give assurances that the estimated 52,000 asylum seekers in the UK who are eligible to be sent to Kigali would be accepted, instead saying it would be “thousands”. Yolande Makolo, a government spokesperson, also described suggestions Rwanda would initially welcome only 200 migrants as a “misconception”, on BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg… The Rwanda scheme involves sending some asylum seekers who arrive in the UK via irregular routes, including small boat crossings via the Channel, to the east African country. People sent to Rwanda will have their asylum claims processed there…” – The Guardian
>Today:
- Michael Gooderham in Comment: Small boat crossings are Macron’s failure – but Sunak’s problem
Farage ‘gives strong signal’ he won’t contest UK general election
“Nigel Farage has given his strongest indication yet that he will not return to front-line politics at the general election, saying the US presidential race is more important than the UK vote. Speaking to The Telegraph from the United States, where he spent the week of the local elections instead of campaigning for Reform, Mr Farage played down the idea that he would run as a general election candidate. Mr Farage said: “Yes, we’ve got an election year, but the biggest election in the world is taking place here. While I’m not ruling out anything in the UK completely, I think where I am this week is an indication of my thinking.”… The news that Mr Farage appears minded not to stand as a Reform candidate or to campaign full-time for the party is a boost to Rishi Sunak.” – The Daily Telegraph
>Today:
- ToryDiary: Smaller parties normally perform better in by-elections, but Reform UK might be different
Rayner’s old neighbour says she ‘let house to her brother’
“About six of Angela Rayner’s former neighbours have been questioned by police investigating the sale of her former council house, The Times understands. One is reported to have said that Rayner was regarded as the landlady of the home rather than its resident. The police are looking at suggestions that Labour’s deputy leader might have been living in her husband’s house while claiming the ex-council home was still her principal property. The difference could be significant in deciding whether capital gains tax ought to have been paid when her house was sold at a profit of £48,500. Other potential issues if Rayner wrongly declared her residence might be breaches of electoral law or the single-occupancy council tax discount.” – The Times
- Scaling back Labour’s workers’ rights plan would be disastrous, warns TUC president – The Guardian
- Labour councils penalize diesel drivers up to £250 extra for parking – The Daily Telegraph
- Investment in rail freight imperilled by government and Labour plans – The Financial Times
- ‘Corbyn economics guru’ urges Starmer to borrow and spend more – The Daily Telegraph
‘Relief for Swinney’ as SNP leadership challenger pulls out of race to succeed Yousaf
“John Swinney is to become the new SNP leader on Monday after he persuaded an activist who threatened to derail his coronation to abandon his leadership bid. Graeme McCormick, a long-standing SNP member, had threatened to plunge the SNP into a costly and divisive leadership contest after he claimed he had secured enough support to force a leadership election. However, he revealed on Sunday night that he had held “lengthy and fruitful talks” with Mr Swinney and had decided to support his candidacy instead. It means Mr Swinney is expected to be the only candidate for SNP leader when nominations close at midday on Monday, and is set to become the new first minister on Tuesday… Mr McCormick…said he had met the threshold to stand in the contest.” – The Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday:
News in Brief:
- Who can blame Johnson for feeling smug? – William Atkinson, The Spectator
- Is Northern Ireland a failed state? – Fergus McCullough, The Fitzwilliam
- The Tories’ day of reckoning – Joseph Dinnage, CapX
- How to fix English cricket – Peter Williams, The New Statesman
- The new Scotland – Sebastian Milbank, The Critic
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