“Britain will boost defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 in the face of the threat from Russia and will push Western allies to match the commitment, Boris Johnson has said. The Prime Minister said Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had been asked to start working on a new alliance-wide target for defence spending. He said the “logical conclusion” would be for the UK to increase spending from the current 2 per cent Nato target to 2.5 per cent. i understands Britain is likely to lobby Nato allies in the coming months to agree to making the new commitment cover the whole alliance…At the conclusion of the Nato summit in Madrid, Mr Johnson said that following the invasion of Ukraine, Nato countries were “recognising that they need to spend more.” – The I
“A cut in VAT has been proposed by No 10 to curb inflation and help households with the cost of living crisis. Steve Barclay, the prime minister’s chief of staff, suggested reducing the 20 per cent headline rate of the tax, The Times has been told. He proposed that a temporary cut would reduce the tax bill for millions and ease inflation, which is at 9.1 per cent — the highest for 40 years. However, the Treasury is concerned about the cost of the move and has warned that it could ultimately fuel inflation by overstimulating the economy. It has also raised the point that it would benefit wealthy households as well as poorer ones. Cutting VAT to 17.5 per cent would cost the government about £18 billion.” – The Times
“Boris Johnson has refused three times to rule out an early general election, risking a Tory mutiny. The Prime Minter ducked and dived when asked if he was planning to go to the polls this year or next. Speaking in Spain, Mr Johnson joked the “idea hadn’t occurred” — but repeatedly refused to dismiss it. The next general election is not expected until 2024 and could be held as late as January 2025. But his coyness will likely drive his Tory critics wild after two bruising by-election defeats just a week ago in Tiverton and Honiton, Devon, and in Wakefield, West Yorks. PMs used to have to ask MPs’ permission to go to the country, but after repealing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, he has the power to call one at any time.” – The Sun
“The Tory deputy chief whip sensationally quit last night after allegedly groping two men while drunk. In a bombshell resignation letter, Chris Pincher admitted he had “embarrassed myself and other people” after a boozy session on Wednesday night. Pincher, 52 — the MP for Tamworth, Staffs — is alleged to have groped two fellow guests at the Carlton Club in London’s Piccadilly. Several Tory MPs complained to the whips’ office about his behaviour. Shamed Pincher started his resignation letter to Boris Johnson by admitting: “Last night I drank far too much.” He quit as the deputy chief whip yesterday after he was accused of groping two men while out boozing.” – The Sun
“A stealth tax raid has seen nearly two million more people dragged into higher income tax brackets since the last election. The total will soar further, with one in five taxpayers soon expected to be paying the 40 or 45 per cent rate… It prompted calls by Tory MPs for tax cuts as fears grow that the party is losing its reputation for low taxes… Tory MP Mel Stride, chairman of the Commons Treasury committee, said the Chancellor had only ‘limited’ room for tax cuts until inflation subsided, but added: ‘At that point I would expect him to come forward with a serious move towards getting the tax burden down.’” – The Daily Mail
“Hong Kong was for many years a bastion of liberty and paragon of prosperity. That is testament to how its people embraced their fundamental rights and freedoms. Both China and the UK committed themselves to upholding these foundations of Hong Kong’s success in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. At the handover of Hong Kong 25 years ago, President Jiang of China pledged to honour “unswervingly” what had been agreed. Yet a quarter of a century on, Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and autonomy are in peril. The imposition of the national security law has paved the way for a systematic assault on the rights and freedoms promised… Our obligation to Hong Kong and its people did not end on July 1, 1997.” – The Times
“Priti Patel has signed a major new deal with Nigeria aimed at cracking down on illegal migration and speeding up the removal of foreign criminals. The Home Secretary described the memorandum of understanding as a “landmark agreement” that was an example of Brexit Britain’s new immigration plan in action. The new pact will also help promote “shared bilateral economic interests”, according to Home Office officials. Under the agreement, both countries will issue emergency travel certificates or temporary passports within five days in order to speed up removal…Ms Patel said: “It is an important development that the UK and Nigeria have signed an agreement to co-operate on migration issues, to tackle illegal migration and the significant threat it poses to both nations.” – Daily Express
“The Metropolitan Police has long prided itself on being the world’s first modern police force. But it now finds itself treated like a failing school, and put into special measures. This extraordinary development should worry all those who care about the capital. A city with a dysfunctional police force won’t stay prosperous and successful for long. One might have thought there would now be an urgent debate about how to turn things round, given the Met absorbs a quarter of England’s police budget. But no. Instead: a political row. Sadiq Khan and Priti Patel have wasted no time blaming each other for the mess… the fact that the Met is meant to be accountable to both City Hall and the Home Office is a genuine problem regardless of who is mayor and home secretary.” – The Times
“Nadhim Zahawi has asked the Treasury to give teachers pay rises of up to nine per cent in an attempt to see off strike action, The Telegraph has learned. Mr Zahawi, the Education Secretary, wants to give the 130,000 teachers in England in the first five years of their careers a rise of up to nine per cent from September as part of moves to take starting salaries to £30,000. He is also proposing a pay increase of five per cent for the remaining 380,000 teachers across the country instead of the three per cent originally planned by the Government. Mr Zahawi made the request in a formal letter to Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor. It comes after a pay review board suggested the Government increase its offer to teachers amid record inflation.” – The Daily Telegraph
>Today:
“The British public made huge sacrifices during the pandemic. Being able to travel abroad, whether for a holiday, business, or to see loved ones, has always been a crucial aspect of modern life. Sadly, it was one of the main things we couldn’t do as restrictions were in place to protect public health. Now travel is back, it’s vital we make this summer a success. That’s why we have set out 22 measures on what we’re doing to support the aviation industry to minimise disruption as people go on their well-deserved holidays… It’s now on airports and airlines to commit to running the flights they’ve promised or cancel them with plenty of time to spare so we can avoid the kind of scenes at Easter and half term.” – Daily Express
“BT workers have voted to hold a national strike for the first time in 35 years, marking the latest industrial dispute over pay. More than 25,000 members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at BT and Openreach, the company’s broadband infrastructure business, voted in favour. The potential strike action will have a serious effect on infrastructure, particularly on the rollout of broadband, and may cause significant issues for those working from home. Given that many of those who voted for a strike at BT work in call centres it could also lead to disruption and delays for customers. “ – The Times
“Jacob Rees-Mogg last night suggested civil servants who refused to get back to the office would end up losing their jobs. He spoke out as it was revealed Whitehall offices were still half empty. Ministers are slashing 91,000 civil service jobs as part of a massive drive to cut costs for taxpayers. Mr Rees-Mogg told The Sun: “People will no doubt draw their own conclusions as to whether they think they ought to be in the office when an organisation is reducing numbers.” He also revealed he is deciding which understaffed government buildings could be ditched. He said: “It is probably too early to say which particular body which is very empty is finding that its lease will not be renewed on central London property. But that is happening as we speak.”” – The Sun
“Universities must be candid with students about dropout and graduate employment rates when advertising courses, just as credit card adverts must be open about their interest rates, the government has said. Michelle Donelan, the minister for universities, said that new guidance published today would give students clarity about what universities were offering them, especially for pupils who were the first in their family to attend higher education. “I know from the community I grew up in that choosing where and what to study can be difficult,” said Donelan, who grew up in Whitley, Cheshire, and studied history and politics at York University.” – The Times
“The renegotiated Iran nuclear deal would destabilise the Middle East if adopted, three former Tory Cabinet ministers will argue on Thursday in a warning shot to the Government. Robert Jenrick, the former communities secretary, Liam Fox, the former defence secretary, and Stephen Crabb, the former Welsh secretary, are all backing a critical motion to be debated in Parliament. The motion lists a string of proposed changes to the draft agreement, which seeks to curb Iran’s drive towards developing nuclear weapons. The ideas include bringing in a stricter regime of monitoring on Iran’s nuclear activity and adopting tougher policing of Tehran’s “destabilising” activities.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Theresa May has urged Boris Johnson to ban transgender conversion therapy and said the issue “must not be allowed to slide” after the Government’s controversial U-turn…Mr Johnson faced heavy criticism after the long-awaited Conversion Therapy Bill failed to include specific protections for transgender people. Mrs May, who admits she regrets her opposition to LGBT equality from earlier in her political career, said the Government “must keep to its commitment” and the “matter must not be allowed to slide,” though she acknowledged such a process is complicated. She added that the “indignities and prejudice” faced by trans people in the UK must end.” – The I
“Tony Blair has admitted that Brexit will not be overturned for at least a generation but insisted Britain needs to “fix” its trading relationship with Europe. The former Prime Minister, a leading advocate of a second referendum, conceded that the argument over the decision to leave the EU was now settled. “However passionately I opposed Brexit, I understand we’ve done it,” Sir Tony told a conference in central London organised by his think tank. We’ve done it legally, we’ve done it politically and it’s not going to be reversed any time soon – let’s say any time in this generation.” – The Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday:
“Scottish and Welsh ministers today hit out at the UK Government after £95million was taken from their devolved budgets to fund greater aid for Ukraine. Boris Johnson has announced an extra £1billion of military support to Ukraine as the country continues to battle Russia’s brutal invasion. But the Prime Minister has provoked a political row with Edinburgh and Cardiff after the sum was part-funded by dipping into the Scottish and Welsh Governments’ budgets. Both devolved administrations – led by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford – stressed their support for UK efforts to help Ukraine.” – The Daily Mail
>Yesterday: