Sunak 1) The Prime Minister wants a general election when people ‘feel things are improving’
“Rishi Sunak said he wants to hold a general election when people “feel that things are improving”, as he again said he was planning to go to the polls in the second half of the year. The prime minister laughed on a regional radio round on Tuesday morning when told that listeners’ most common question for him was when he was going to hold a general election. He acknowledged that “people want to see change” while accusing Sir Keir Starmer of taking voter support “for granted”, as polls show Labour is on course for a decisive victory. A general election has long been expected in October or November, but speculation about a summer poll lingers as Tory rebels consider a leadership challenge in the aftermath of local elections…that are likely to see heavy Conservative losses.” – The Times
- Can Sunak stage the biggest electoral comeback in decades? – The Financial Times
- Only ‘Tory masochists and the selfish with safe seats’ want early election – The I
- ‘Why is that funny?’: the Prime Minister tries to laugh off election date question – The Guardian
- May’s 2017 manifesto bungle holds lessons for today – Stephen Bush, The Financial Times
>Yesterday:
- ToryDiary: For CCHQ, sticking to an 80:20 strategy is easier than admitting the scale of the looming defeat
Sunak 2) He is ‘appalled’ by the killing of three British aid workers in an Israel Defense Force (IDF) strike
“Rishi Sunak told Benjamin Netanyahu he was “appalled” by the killing of three British citizens in an Israeli strike as he described the situation in Gaza as “intolerable”. In a call with the Israeli prime minister on Tuesday night, Mr Sunak demanded answers and called for a “thorough and transparent independent investigation” after aid workers were killed. James Henderson, 33, and John Chapman, 57, who are both said to have served in the Royal Marines, were named alongside James Kirby, a former Army rifleman and sniper marksman, as the three Britons who had died in the bombing of a convoy. Mr Netanyahu admitted the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] were behind the strike on the World Central Kitchen vehicles, which killed seven aid workers in total.” – The Daily Telegraph
- He warns crisis in Gaza is becoming ‘intolerable’ – Daily Express
- Cameron to hold NATO talks on Israel-Gaza ‘pause’ after UK aid worker deaths – The I
- Israel’s highest-ranking officer makes grovelling apology for ‘grave mistake’ – The Daily Mail
- Middle East tensions are rising – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- Israel’s just cause is harmed by tragedy – Editorial, The Daily Mail
- What happened to Israel’s rules of engagement? – Paul Nuki, The Daily Telegraph
- The Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate removes a dangerous militant but raises tensions with Tehran – Editorial, The Times
- Israel risks the enormous goodwill shown by the West after October 7th – Mark Almond, The Daily Mail
- Iran is at war with the West, but only Israel is fighting back – Richard Kemp, The Daily Telegraph
Sunak 3) Criminal Justice Bill paused as Number 10 confirm he ‘does not believe anyone should be arrested simply because they smell’
“Ministers are considering amending a bill to tackle rough sleeping by making clear no-one could be arrested for the way they smell. The move is part of a bid to see off a potential revolt by critical Tory MPs over plans they say will criminalise homelessness. Government sources said the Criminal Justice Bill, which contains the measures and is going through the House of Commons, had been “paused”. Critics of the draft legislation say it is so broadly drawn that someone could be considered a “nuisance” merely for sleeping in a doorway, having an “excessive smell” or looking as though they might intend to sleep rough. Rishi Sunak’s spokesman confirmed on Tuesday the prime minister believed nobody should be arrested “just if they smell” — echoing the view of…Gillian Keegan.” – The Times
Sunak 4) He is ‘confident’ he will still stop boats as Labour says it’s virtually impossible
“Rishi Sunak today insisted he could still “stop the boats” after Labour suggested it was virtually impossible to end Channel crossings entirely. Shadow Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden said anyone pledging to eliminate the Channel crisis was “over-claiming”. It was a direct rebuke to the PM’s flagship promise to stop the boats that has come under pressure in recent weeks. Downing Street said Mr Sunak remained confident in meeting the commitment despite more than 5,000 arrivals already this year in record time. Mr Sunak’s spokeswoman blamed unusually good weather and heightened violence facing French police for the uptick in boat crossings. Smuggling gangs operating in Calais are becoming increasingly ruthless, cramming almost 50 migrants into each dinghy…” – The Sun
- More than 5,400 illegal migrants have made the crossings this year, up 43 per cent on last year – Daily Express
- Nobody has a plan to stop the boats, but it’s Sunak who will pay the price – Philip Johnston, The Daily Telegraph
- If Britain has brought in identity cards, illegal immigration would be a fraction of today’s level – Lord Blunkett, The Daily Mail
Daniel Finkelstein: Would-be heirs to the Tories are fantasists
“One of the striking things about the three alternatives to the Conservative Party is that however much contempt they have for the party in its present form, they have more contempt for each other. Cummings couldn’t find a single parliamentarian to champion his vision. He still hasn’t got even one. He thinks Truss is “truly useless” and “reassuringly mad behind the eyes”. He thought Farage too toxic to front the Brexit referendum campaign. To lead his project to make the British state more efficient, he chose … Boris Johnson. Farage is probably the only person in politics who has fallen out with more allies than Cummings has. Michael Crick’s… recent biography of Farage contains in almost every chapter the story of someone Farage befriends, only for it to end up in mutual hatred.” – The Times
>Today:
- Matthew Goodwin’s Column: Voters are turning to Reform out of a genuine desire for change
Nurseries plan will only work with 40,000 more staff, Keegan admits
“Nurseries will need to hire 40,000 extra staff to implement a “massive” expansion of free childcare, the government has acknowledged. Rishi Sunak said that expanding nurseries was “not the kind of thing you can do overnight” as he was challenged by parents on Tuesday over claims of a shortfall of staff and places for children. But the prime minister argued that the beginning of the scheme was “a really positive moment for families” and defied industry scepticism to insist the flagship policy was on track. Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, accused Labour of putting parents off returning to work by refusing to back the policy, drawing a furious response from the opposition, which said she was “peddling lies”. Two-year-olds are now eligible for 15 hours a week of free childcare…” – The Times
- Labour childcare uncertainty stops some parents returning to work, the Education Secretary claims – The Daily Telegraph
- How will free childcare reforms help parents – and what will Labour do? – The Times
- Phillipson ‘commits to Sunak’s full childcare plans’ amid ‘war of words’ with Tories – The I
- Families risk losing £7,000 worth of childcare under Labour – Gillian Keegan, Daily Express
>Today:
- ToryDiary: Half-baked childcare reforms are another step towards rolling early years provision into schools
Mercer ‘challenges order’ that forces him to name whistleblowing soldiers
“Johnny Mercer is challenging an order forcing him to hand over the names of whistleblower soldiers to the Afghanistan public inquiry. The veterans minister was last month handed a section 21 notice compelling him to hand over the names and faces jail or a fine if he does not do so. He has been asked to identify sources who may have warned him about alleged atrocities committed in Afghanistan by the SAS… Lord Justice Haddon-Cave issued the notice under the Inquiries Act 2005, which gives him the power to compel the minister to hand over the names, and warned Mr Mercer that he had “very significant powers” at his disposal… He has received widespread support for his stance in protecting “vulnerable” soldiers.” – The Daily Telegraph
McVey ‘slams’ Team GB’s ‘woke’ pink and purple rebrand
“Tory Minister Esther McVey has slammed Team GB’s pink and purple rebrand of the Union Jack, stating ‘I can’t imagine what possessed someone to think that the flag needed changing’. Designers from Thisaway have received backlash over the new merchandise they have created ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, ditching the red, white and blue colours in favour of pink and purple. The Bath-based design and marketing agency said they needed to find a way to ‘refresh’ the colour palette in a way that was both ‘flexible and ownable’, but critics have slammed the design labelling it a ‘disgrace’… Tory MP Esther McVey said she was ‘very proud’ of the British flag and wished ‘organisations would leave it alone’.” – The Daily Mail
‘Grassroots Tory group’ urges members to ‘deselect centrist MPs’
“A Tory grassroots campaign has been launched to purge moderate Conservative MPs from the party before the next election. In a dramatic escalation in tensions within the party, the chief executive of the Conservative Democratic Organization (CDO), is calling on Tory members to target centrist MPs in a bid to make the party “more Conservative”. The move marks the latest attempt by right-wing pressure groups to force the party further to the right in a bid to see off the threat of Reform UK. An article by Claire Bullivant on grassroots website Conservative Post, which is linked to Tory peer Lord Cruddas, the founder of the CDO, is urging members to write to their local associations to remove the “dripping wets” from the party.” – The I
Starmer targets voters who want more housing
“Sir Keir Starmer is targeting voters who are pro-housebuilding in a war on nimbyism seen as a critical part of his path to power. The party is targeting dozens of seats where people are significantly more pro-development than average, and has been emboldened by analysis showing housing is the top issue in a quarter of Labour’s 100 most-winnable constituencies. The strong backing for building among Labour’s target voters strengthens the party in its pledge to build on the green belt, with the party accepting that it “cannot meet housing need” without freeing up some protected land. Housing is expected to be central to a Labour manifesto and policies will seek to woo affluent first-time buyers and those on lower incomes wanting better access to social homes.” – The Times
- Former National Trust adviser joins Labour’s shadow environment department – The Daily Telegraph
- Deselected Tarry submits ‘vote rigging’ complaint – The Guardian
- Inside the Labour Left faction hoping to give Starmer a political headache – The Daily Telegraph
- Wales pays huge sum to illegal migrants in ‘nonsensical’ Labour scheme – Daily Express
‘Shocking’ racist graffiti targets Yousaf near his home
“Humza Yousaf has said that it is “increasingly difficult” to shield his children from racism after he was targeted with Islamophobic graffiti near his Dundee home. Racist comments relating to the first minister’s Pakistani heritage were sprayed on the walls and fences of houses close to where he lives in Broughty Ferry with his wife and two children. The graffiti has been removed and Police Scotland are investigating the incident, which happened on the day that hate crime legislation came into force. Residents in Broughty Ferry told The Courier, which first reported the graffiti, that the messages were “absolutely shocking”… Police Scotland said inquiries into the incident were continuing…Last month he also condemned “Islamophobic attacks” on his family…” – The Times
- Police Scotland receives more than 3,000 complaints under new hate crime laws – The Daily Telegraph
- Scottish Labour ‘won’t repeal’ Scotland’s hate law as police say no action against JK Rowling – The I
- How heart-warming to see the SNP’s enforced wokery law fall at the first hurdle – Editorial, The Sun
- Yousaf’s ‘hate crime’ laws have turned Scotland into a nation of stiches. Stalin would be proud – Allison Pearson, The Daily Telegraph
News in Brief:
- House prices aren’t falling any time soon – Ross Clark, The Spectator
- Inside India’s Potemkin election – Pratinav Anil, UnHerd
- Disbanding St John’s voices would be cultural vandalism – Emily Fielder, The Critic
- The secret history of British housing – Robert Colville, CapX
- Bukele’s war for peace – Benjamin Braddock, IM-1776
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