Sunak 1) The Prime Minister ‘buys off Tory defence hawks’ with military budget boost to 2.5 per cent
“Rishi Sunak has agreed a plan with Tory defence hawks to increase the UK’s military spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030. During a visit to Poland – where he unveiled a £500m package of military support for Ukraine – the Prime Minister promised a boost to the UK defence industry to put it “on a war footing”. Before the trip he personally rang several former defence ministers to get them to support his policy announcement, i understands. These included former defence secretary Ben Wallace, who has previously warned the UK Armed Forces have been “hollowed out” by underfunding, and James Heappey, who quit as Armed Forces minister last month, partly in protest over defence spending.” – The I
- The UK will also forge closer military links with Germany, he announces – The Daily Mail
- He says the £75 billion in new funding will ‘show our enemies that we are resolute and determined’ – The Daily Telegraph
- He sends Typhoon and 16,000 troops to Poland – Daily Express
- ‘Biggest boost in a generation’ will see more servicemen, more typhoons flying, and the Army, Navy, and RAF all bolstered – The Daily Mail
- He ‘plans to axe’ 70,000 civil servants to pay for defence spending hike – Daily Express
- Will a turnaround on defence spending get Sunak out of a hole? – The Times
- What would an Israel-style Iron Dome for the UK look like? – The Daily Mail
- Britain is leading by example on defence, says NATO chief – The Daily Telegraph
- The Prime Minister leads from the front in boosting defence – Editorial, The Daily Mail
- Big boost to defence reflects the new dangers facing Britain – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph
- The Prime Minister is right to commit to spending more on defence – Editorial, The Times
- We’re cementing our place as the biggest defence power in Europe – Grant Shapps, The Daily Mail
- Britain has just cemented its role as Europe’s leader in the battle against tyrants – Ben Wallace, The Daily Telegraph
- Does Britain need its own Iron Dome? – Penny Mordaunt, The Daily Mail
- Sunak is leading from the front with defence spending pledge – Liam Fox, Daily Express
- Britain can position itself in dangerous era thanks to defence spending commitment – Tony Radakin, The Daily Telegraph
- Love him or loathe him, Sunak may have just saved your life by ramping up defence spending – Jerome Starkey, The Sun
- Germany has no right to lecture Britain on defence – Eliot Wilson, Daily Express
Sunak 2) Channel migrant deaths show why Rwanda bill is needed, he says
“The deaths of five migrants while trying to reach the UK in a small boat underscores why the Rwanda scheme is needed, Rishi Sunak has said. French officials said that three men, a woman and a seven-year-old girl died after an unprecedented number of migrants were crammed into a dinghy whose engine stopped working after it collided with a sand bank shortly after leaving a beach in northern France. There were 112 people were on board; 49 were taken back ashore but 58 refused to return to France even after the five deaths, instead continuing towards British waters. An estimated 300 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats on Tuesday after a week of no crossings, which would take the total for this year to more than 6,500.” – The Times
- France accused of ‘irresponsible’ actions after Channel migrants die – The Daily Telegraph
- Rwanda flights will only carry ‘couple of dozen’ migrants each, ministers indicate – The I
- What next for Sunak’s plans to fly UK asylum seekers to Rwanda? – The Financial Times
- What could stop the Rwanda flights? – The Times
- How Sunak’s Rwanda plan could still be stopped, according to lawyers – The I
- Sunak’s efforts to stop the boats too slow, say majority of Tory voters – The Daily Telegraph
- Thousands of illegal migrants are skiing their bail checks to avoid the threat of deporation, figures show – The Daily Mail
- The latest appalling tragedy in the Channel graphically proves the urgent need to stop small boats to save lives – Editorial, The Sun
- After a rough passage, the Rwanda bill is law – Editorial, The Times
- Plans to remove some small boat migrants to Africa is costly, flawed, and sets a bad precedent – Editorial, The Financial Times
- Rwanda will help us take back control of our borders – Priti Patel, Daily Express
- A constitutional crisis may be Sunak’s last hope of avoiding wipeout – Philip Johnston, The Daily Telegraph
- How Sunak’s Rwanda gamble fits into his election bid – George Parker, The Financial Times
- Lords and Labour should hang your heads in shame over today’s migrant tragedy – Carole Malone, Daily Express
- Labour has its own Rwanda problems – Anne McElvoy, The I
- Don’t be fooled, the Rwanda plan is a flight of fancy – Enver Solomon, Daily Express
>Today:
- ToryDiary: A wish called Rwanda
- Daniel Hannan’s Column: Labour did its level best to scupper the Rwanda Bill, knowing the Tories would be blamed
Sunak 3) He refuses to rule out July general election
“Rishi Sunak has refused to rule out a July general election, repeating his intention to call a vote in the second half of the year. The Prime Minister, travelling to Poland on Tuesday to announce a defence spending boost and a military aid package for Ukraine, told reporters: “All I’m going to say is the same thing I say every time. “As I said, I think it was in the first week of January, my working assumption is an election in the second half of the year.” Many Westminster analysts see October or November as the favoured period…The latest possible date for a ballot is Jan 28 next year. But a disastrous set of local election results next month could force Mr Sunak’s hand, either by bringing a challenge to his leadership or by persuading him that an earlier polling day could be better…” – The Daily Telegraph
- Summer or autumn? Sunak’s election date dilemma – The Financial Times
- ‘We’ll get rid of the Tories’: Inside the hyperlocal plan to smash the Blue Wall – The I
- Sunak can’t tell us ‘we’re on the right track’ – Daniel Finkelstein, The Times
- Maybe the Tories are doomed, but at least under a reinvigorated Sunak they won’t go down without a fight – Leo McKinstry, The Daily Mail
First national security adviser with a military background appointed
“Britain’s new national security adviser will have a military background for the first time, with the appointment of a former special forces officer. The prime minister praised General Gwyn Jenkins’s “distinguished career” in the military and in government, but the former head of the Special Boat Service has faced allegations of failing to act over claims about the unlawful killing of detainees in Afghanistan. BBC Panorama claimed last year that Jenkins was given a report of a conversation in which SAS soldiers claimed to have killed handcuffed prisoners in Afghanistan but locked the evidence in a safe for four years instead of referring it to military police. Claims that the SAS unlawfully killed dozens of detainees in Afghanistan in 2011 are the subject of an inquiry…” – The Times
Hunt’s pre-election tax cuts plan ‘could be ruined’ by high borrowing
“Jeremy Hunt may be unable to cut taxes again before the general election after Britain’s borrowing figures took a turn for the worse, economists have warned. The Chancellor is hoping to cut employee national insurance contributions by another 2p in an Autumn Statement held in September, if the general election is called for October or November as is widely expected. Mr Hunt is also said to be weighing up a cut to stamp duty. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the Government borrowed £120.7bn last year – less than the previous year, but £6.6bn more than the Budget watchdog had forecast. The Treasury took in lower tax receipts than expected following persistent weakness in income growth for the highest earners.” – The I
Frank Field, former Labour minister and anti-poverty campaigner, dies aged 81
“The former Labour minister and crossbench peer Frank Field has died aged 81…A statement from Lord Field’s family, issued by his parliamentary office, said: “Frank Field (Rt Hon Lord Field of Birkenhead, CH) has died at the age of 81 following a period of illness. “Frank was director of the Child Poverty Action Group between 1969 and 1979, and the member of parliament for Birkenhead between 1979 and 2019.”…He served as welfare reform minister in Tony Blair’s first government…and went on to chair the work and pensions select committee. He later resigned the Labour whip in protest at antisemitism and “nastiness” in the party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. The veteran politician was made a member of the order of the companions of honour in 2021…” – The Guardian
Labour ‘pledges to fund’ 13,000 more police officers…
“Labour has revealed plans to set up a national police savings body to buy police cars, IT equipment, forensic services and other kit to pay for 13,000 extra neighbourhood police officers. The move is designed to tackle huge disparities between police forces on the cost of vital equipment. Figures revealed in freedom of information requests submitted by Labour have found that the cost of patrol vehicles ranged from £12,500 for Staffordshire police to £22,361 in Cheshire. The cost of a high-performance vehicle in Merseyside was £55,000 — double the £27,000 paid by Lancashire. A standard police baton ranged from £20 in Leicestershire to more than £120 in Northamptonshire… There are similar variations for other types of policing equipment and services…” – The Times
…as Starmer drops Corbyn pledge to make St George’s Day and others a bank holiday
“Labour has dropped a pledge to make St George’s Day a bank holiday if it wins the next general election. The party had promised under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership to give workers a day off on April 23 to celebrate Britain’s “tradition of fairness, inclusivity and social justice”. It also advocated for nationwide public holidays on St David’s Day on March 1, St Patrick’s Day on March 17 and St Andrew’s Day on Nov 30. But a Labour source confirmed on Tuesday that the promise had been dropped as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to “start from scratch” and abandon Mr Corbyn’s pledges across several policy areas. Earlier this week, Sir Keir declared patriotism “a force for good” and said his party must not flinch at flying the flag of St George…” – The Daily Telegraph
- Anderson posts St George’s Day video mocking what he calls ‘advacado eating vegans’ and saying England has been a ‘gift to the world’ – The Daily Mail
- Sunak and Starmer’s St George’s Day antics require patience of a saint – Tom Peck, The Times
- Commons descends into red and white madness – Tim Stanley, The Daily Telegraph
- Starmer’s claim that Labour is patriotic is the oxymoron of the century – Ann Widdecombe, Daily Express
>Yesterday:
Harvie: I’ll quit as Green leader if coalition with the SNP is scrapped
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