Newslinks for Monday 3rd February 2025 | Conservative Home

Brexit has failed, Macron will tell Britain…

“President Macron will tell Sir Keir Starmer that his appearance at a key EU summit on Monday shows that Brexit has failed. Starmer, who is trying to reset relations with the bloc, will become the first UK prime minister to attend an EU summit dinner since Brexit in 2020. He will attempt to use Britain’s leadership on Ukraine to make a pitch for an ambitious UK-EU defence and security pact. He will urge EU countries to “shoulder more of the burden” to keep Europe safe from Russian aggression and will say that now is the time to capitalise on Russia’s weakening economy by applying more sanctions. The prime minister will urge them to emulate the recent sanctions imposed on the Kremlin by the UK and US and will praise President Trump for threatening more…” – The Times

• Starmer is to discuss European defence with all 27 EU leaders – The Guardian
• Europe must prepare to defend itself without Trump’s help, Starmer to warn – The I
• Starmer’s pick for EU negotiator backed a second Brexit referendum – The Daily Telegraph
• EU opens door to UK and Norway for defence ‘coalition of the willing’ – The Financial Times
• Starmer’s hope that EU leaders would be willing to give the UK a good deal remains a deluded one – Editorial, The Sun

…as Starmer ‘considers visa deal for under-30s’

“Sir Keir Starmer has opened the door to negotiations with the EU for a revamped youth visa scheme to allow greater freedom of movement for under-30s. The EU has maintained that Sir Keir is unlikely to secure a reset in relations with Brussels without an agreement that would allow 18 to 30-year-olds in the UK and EU to live, work and study in each other’s countries. But Labour has branded European Commission plans for an expansive youth mobility scheme as a return of “free movement for young people”. On Sunday, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, insisted that Labour was not in favour of such a scheme, saying that it was not the right approach or starting point for negotiations with the EU…” – The Daily Telegraph

• Britain must not be plunged into Brexit surrender as part of Starmer’s EU reset, warn critics – The Sun
• Struggling businesses will ‘pay the price’ of Starmer’s Brexit reset, experts warn – The Daily Mail

>Today:

Starmer ‘forced to scrap personal email account after security services proved suspected Russian hack’

“Sir Keir Starmer was reportedly forced to scrap his personal email account after the security services investigated a suspected Russian hack. Jill Cuthbertson, his office head, told staff not to message the then opposition leader under any circumstances in 2022. Starmer then changed his email address, which a source said had been “dangerously obvious”, adding security checks. The PM’s account was compromised shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. There was no evidence emails were published, but the security services could not guarantee that sensitive information had not been stolen. This was during a similar time when Kremlin operatives hacked accounts of British Eurosceptics including Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6.” – The Sun

Britain ‘to remain WFH capital of Europe’ thanks to Rayner’s workers’ rights plan

“Angela Rayner’s plan to make flexible working the “default for all” is set to cement Britain’s status as the working from home capital of Europe. Figures compiled by Linkedin show 40pc of all jobs advertised across the UK in November were hybrid roles, where staff are not required to come into the office five days a week. 43pc of job applications were for hybrid roles. By contrast, less than one in three job postings in Germany and France offer staff the chance to work from home for some of the week. LinkedIn said Britain had the highest proportion of part-time office roles on offer across Europe. Linkedin said it was “highly likely” that Britain would remain the capital of working from home in Europe for the foreseeable future.” – The Daily Telegraph

Reeves’s plan ‘unlikely to work’, says ex-chief at Bank of England

“Rachel Reeves’s plan for growth is “very unlikely” to work, a former chief economist at the Bank of England has warned. Andy Haldane…said the measures the Chancellor announced last Wednesday wouldn’t be enough. In an interview with The i Paper, Haldane said that in order to deliver on growth, the Government should support older people to work for longer and focus on investing in projects outside the major cities. He also added that Reeves’ gloomy language on the economy in the months after Labour took power…was “among the reasons why we snuffed out the growth in the first half of the year and flatlined it in the second half”. “Gloomy narratives… were very damaging for business confidence,” Haldane said…” – The I

• It’s a miracle Reeves delivered her growth speech with a straight face – Liam Halligan, The Daily Telegraph
• The long hard slog to reach the goal of faster growth – Martin Wolf, The Financial Times
• Reeves must abandon Britain’s net zero zealotry to achieve growth – Roger Bootle, The Daily Telegraph

Streeting hits out at health charities over NHS targets

“Wes Streeting has hit out at health charities after a backlash against his NHS priorities, saying he wants to “break the culture of the voluntary sector”. The health secretary has expressed frustration at organisations that complained about their favoured targets being dropped from orders given to the NHS last week, saying they would have to “bear with us” at a time when the health service is under pressure. Last week Streeting set out a slimmed-down set of NHS objectives that focus more squarely on reducing waiting times for routine operations, A&E treatment and GP appointments. He argued that “if everything is a priority nothing is”, as he ditched almost half the previous NHS pledges, including on women’s health and dementia.” – The Times

• Streeting – the NHS’s only hope – is running out of time – Kate Andrews, The Daily Telegraph

Cooper: Tech firms have gone backwards on child abuse

“Tech companies have gone “backwards” on efforts to catch paedophiles, the home secretary has said. Yvette Cooper said artificial intelligence was putting child abuse “on steroids” by enabling content to be produced on an industrial scale. The National Crime Agency has estimated that up to 800,000 people viewed child sexual abuse material online last year. Cooper said such material was increasingly a “gateway” for offenders to carry out physical abuse against children. An estimated half a million children in the UK are victims of child abuse every year. Cooper also took aim at social media companies who have still not removed some of the content viewed by Axel Rudakubana before his murderous stabbing spree at a children’s dance class in Southport last July.” – The Times

• She defends Starmer after book says chief of staff called him an ‘HR manager’ – The Guardian

UK ‘Iron Dome’ needed to guard against Russian attack, defence review set to warn

“A major review into the UK’s defence is expected to recommend increasing the country’s homeland protection against attacks from Russia and other hostile states, The i Paper understands. General Sir Richard Barrons, one of the authors of the Strategic Defence Review, is “really into the idea of ‘hedgehog Britain’” where the UK’s missile defence systems would be strengthened, according to military insiders. This follows calls for the UK to develop its own version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system. The review is also expected to include recommendations on protecting the UK’s critical infrastructure, including undersea telecommunications cables, after increased attempts at interference by Russia in the Baltic in recent months.” –  The I

Dodds to unveil £100 million development finance drive

“The UK foreign ministry will unveil £100mn in seed funding for businesses focused on tackling poverty and climate change on Monday, in a pivot to the way the UK government approaches international development. Development minister Anneliese Dodds will announce the anchor funding as part of the UK’s move towards financing businesses with a focus on development rather than the traditional approach of handing out aid. In a speech at the London Stock Exchange, Dodds will say that the money will unlock an extra £400mn-£600mn of private sector investment towards delivering the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office funding is intended to help companies in emerging markets…” – The Financial Times

Hermer worked with self-styled ‘tribunal on Palestine’

“The attorney-general worked with a self-styled “tribunal on Palestine” that included academics, lawyers and the Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters. Lord Hermer KC, the government’s chief law officer, co-wrote a submission on “corporate complicity in Israel’s occupation” of Palestine to a “jury”. In the tribunal’s compilation of submitted views, the editors said: “It is our hope that this book will prove useful in the fight against Israeli war crimes, occupation and apartheid”. It is the latest controversy to hit the beleaguered attorney-general, who is a long standing friend of Sir Keir Starmer. Revelations around the tribunal report emerged as Andy Burnham…said he was “extremely concerned” by reports that Hermer had held up implementation of the Hillsborough Law…” – The Times

• The influence of Lord Hermer is growing across government and frustrating ministers – Editorial, The Times

MPs warned over lack of drug oversight in assisted dying bill

“Ministers would be given too much power to decide what drugs are used end the life of patients under the assisted dying bill, parliamentary experts have warned. The legislation, which is currently being debated by MPs, does not specify which drugs or other substances may be provided to patients to cause their deaths. Instead, it would be at the discretion of the health secretary to specify “approved substances” that doctors would be authorised to supply. The Hansard Society, an independent parliamentary think tank that scrutinises legislation, raised concerns over the lack of oversight in the decision making process… The society has called on Kim Leadbeater…to amend the legislation to guarantee MPs are given a vote on what drugs are used to cause death.” – The Times

• The ‘father of assisted dying’ helped three of his relatives kill themselves. His sinister life story highlights the flaws at the heart of today’s bill – Dominic Lawson, The Daily Mail

Plans to exempt China spies from toughest security laws branded ‘humiliating’ for UK

“Ministers face questions in parliament over the expected decision by the Government to exempt China from the toughest restrictions of the UK’s new spying laws. MPs from both sides of the House have raised concerns over the likely move not to place Beijing in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), revealed by The i Paper on Friday. Sources said Russia and Iran will be included in the upper tier, which will be published shortly following sign-off from Downing Street, but China will not. Senior Labour and Conservative MPs are expected to criticise the move in parliament, amid concerns that Sir Keir Starmer’s Government is trying to avoid a stand-off with Beijing in order to pursue its goals on economic growth.” – The I

Sadiq investigators in Bangladesh assisted by National Crime Agency

“Britain’s National Crime Agency is assisting investigators in Bangladesh as they probe corruption claims against Tulip Siddiq. Officers from the UK travelled to Dhaka to offer support to authorities who are looking into claims that the former economic secretary to the Treasury benefitted from a controversial nuclear power plant deal. Ms Siddiq is accused of enjoying privileges through her aunt Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladeshi dictator who was ousted last year…The Labour MP was forced to resign from the frontbench last month after Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser found that she had inadvertently misled the public over the scandal. Ms Siddiq…had referred herself after weeks of questions over her use of properties in London linked to her aunt’s…party.” – The Daily Telegraph

Conservatives 1) Badenoch to meet King Charles in revived royal practice

“The King is to revive the lost tradition of the monarch holding a formal meeting with the new leader of the ­opposition in a celebration of the ­importance of parliamentary scrutiny of government. Kemi Badenoch will become the first Conservative opposition leader in 19 years to have a one-to-one audience with the monarch when she goes to Buckingham Palace on February 3. David Cameron was the last opposition leader to be accorded a formal ­audience with the monarch after being elected to the role in 2006 but Queen Elizabeth dropped the practice after that. Palace officials have been unable to explain why. They say the King has decided to ­revive the meeting as a one-off each time a new leader of the opposition is elected…” – The Times

• Labour attacks Badenoch ‘shambles’ after breach of corporate rules – The Guardian

>Yesterday:

Conservatives 2) Trott: ‘Labour are pursuing education with a Corbynite agenda’

“Despite her position as shadow education secretary, responsible for schools and universities, Laura Trott isn’t strictly required to get in on the act of grading other people’s homework. Yet when it comes to the progress of Bridget Phillipson, her opposite number in Government, she’ll gladly take out the red pen.“I’d give her a U, I’m afraid,” Trott says…Of all the many fronts on which the Conservative Party is mounting a defence to Sir Keir Starmer’s reforms, education is arguably its strongest. And in Phillipson, Trott has a formidably stubborn foe. From the introduction of a 20 per cent VAT charge on private school fees…to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill…the education secretary is nothing if not persistent in her attempts to reshape the system.” – The Daily Telegraph

• Phillipson: ‘I’m no Marxist, I just want better schools’ – The Times
• The trouble with Ofsted grade cards – Editorial, The Daily Telegraph

Conservatives 3) Voters trust Tories more on the economy despite Labour push for growth

“The Conservatives are more trusted than Labour to handle the economy after a slump in the UK’s performance since the Government took power last year, a new poll has shown. The survey carried out for The i Paper by BMG Research found that the Opposition had gained a slim lead on which party is backed by voters on the issues of the economy and security. But Labour remains in front in some other key areas including the NHS, education, housing and crime. Meanwhile Reform UK is the public’s preferred party on immigration and the Greens are favoured to tackle environmental policy. The poll is the latest confirmation of a highly divided electorate, with no party gaining the support of more than around a quarter of voters on any one policy area.” – The I

Farage vows to hold ‘biggest launch rally in British history’

“Nigel Farage has vowed to hold the “biggest ever” launch rally in British political history as he sets his sights on winning big at the local elections. The Reform UK leader claimed the vote on May 1 will be the party’s “first real test” at the ballot box after it pulled ahead of the Tories in every major poll for the first time. Reform, which is drawing support from both Tory and Labour voters, has begun describing itself as the “real opposition” to supplant Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives. It has added around 10 points to its support since the general election when it won 14.3 per cent of the popular vote and five seats. On Sunday, new analysis of a mega-poll made up of nearly 18,000 voters suggested that Reform’s winnings would soar to 76 seats if an election were held now.” – The Daily Telegraph

• ‘Reform is a challenge’: Morgan hits south Wales valleys in constant campaign mode – The Guardian

SNP 1) Scotland heading for largest pro-independence majority in history

“A Scottish Labour “implosion” means voters are set to return the largest pro-independence Holyrood majority in the history of devolution, a poll has found. The survey carried out by Find Out Now suggests that the scale of a dramatic fall in Labour support since the general election in July suggests that the party is now at risk of being overtaken by the Tories, Greens and Lib Dems in seat tallies at next year’s election. SNP support is at 31 per cent on the constituency vote and 25 per cent on the regional list, which Sir John Curtice, the UK’s leading pollster, said would translate to 51 Holyrood seats. Although a significant reduction on their current tally, it would see the nationalists emerge comfortably as the largest party, with Labour on 16, a drop of six on its previous record low…” – The Daily Telegraph

• Why Trump could help boost Reform UK’s rise in Scotland – The I

SNP 2) Scotland’s offshore wind risks ‘stalling of momentum’, warns Forbes

“Scotland’s offshore wind industry risks a “stalling of momentum” if developers fail to do better in the UK’s renewables subsidy auction this year, deputy first minister Kate Forbes has warned. She urged “broader” access for its developers, who argue that bureaucratic hurdles and transmission charges restrict Scottish offshore wind’s competitiveness in the auction. Last year only one new Scottish bidder won subsidies in the auction. “It was disappointing that not many Scottish developments got through CfD allocations. We want to see more get through,” Forbes told the Financial Times, who added that the UK government had been “responsive” in discussions over the issue. “I don’t want there to be a stalling of momentum,” she said.” – The Financial Times

SNP 3) The Scottish Government ‘to consider banning cats’

“SNP ministers are to consider banning pet cats, in a bid to protect birds and other wildlife. An official report for the Scottish Government suggests establishing containment zones where residents can be forced to keep their pets indoors, or stopped from owning them altogether. The report claims that domestic cats have a “significant impact on wildlife populations” as they hunt for fun, torture prey through play, and bring maimed animals home to their owners. SNP ministers said they were “fully considering” the report, by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, which claims domestic cats are threatening rare wildcat populations by competing with them for food and habitats and passing on diseases.” – The Daily Telegraph

News in Brief:

• The key to finding the best pubs in Britain – John Sturgis, The Spectator
• Britain is Europe’s odd man out on immigration – Tom Jones, UnHerd
• Mass immigration won’t solve Britain’s care crisis – Guy Dampier, CapX
• The fall of the German firewall – Elisabeth Dampier, The Critic 
• The cost of net zero in the town that steel built – Megan Kenyon, The New Statesman