“Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today declares Liz Truss has what it takes to be Britain’s next PM at a time of massive global unrest. In a huge boost, he says the Foreign Secretary is “authentic, honest and experienced” with the “integrity” for the top job — as he put the boot into rival Rishi Sunak for going AWOL. Blasting the ex-Chancellor’s coup against Boris Johnson, he raged: “What would have happened that day if the markets had crashed?” Mr Sunak’s walkout from the Treasury triggered an astonishing two days of government collapse that ended in Johnson resigning, with Wallace clearly livid at the chaos. He hit out: “I don’t have the luxury as Defence Secretary of just walking out the door — I have roles in keeping this country safe.”” – The Sun
>Today:
>Yesterday:
“The Tory leadership debates have been combative affairs. Barely a day goes by without a party grandee urging the two candidates to stop these blue-on-blue attacks. They worry it hands ammo to Keir Starmer. Labour has already got a slick video out using the candidates’ own words against the government. But the Tories need to distinguish between necessary combat of ideas and pointless arguments about the cost of suits or earrings. There are some arguments that political parties, like families, need to have. But as with families, the tone matters hugely. Having been friends with Rishi Sunak for decades and known Liz Truss since she became an MP 12 years ago, I’d say they can both argue constructively. So the genuine differences between them should help improve debate.” – The Times
“Rishi Sunak backed the reintroduction of grammar schools and Liz Truss ruled out imposing windfall tax on energy giants as both candidates pitched directly to Tory members in the race to No 10.The rivals were grilled by a live audience of Conservative Party members about their policy pledges and records in Government at the first live hustings event of the contest, held in Leeds… Mr Sunak said…”I believe education is the most powerful way we can transform people’s lives. But I also think there’s lots we can do with the school system as we have it,” he said. “But that’s a Conservative way to do it. It’s not about throwing more money at the problem, it’s about reforming the system to get better outcomes. And that’s what I would do with education as well.” – The I
“Rishi Sunak has unveiled another new policy in the battle between the Conservative leadership candidates to be tougher on immigration, promising that as prime minister he would double the number of overseas offenders who are deported each year. In a plan immediately criticised by his rival Liz Truss’s camp as unworkable, the former chancellor said he would change the deportation rules so that overseas nationals convicted even of relatively minor crimes such as shoplifting could be deported. Under what was billed as a “radical new approach to cutting crime”, Sunak said deportation orders would be considered if people had been jailed for at least six months continuously, rather than 12 as is currently the case.” – The Guardian
“Rishi Sunak was close to signing a new economic agreement with China which aimed to “deepen trade links” and make the UK the “market of choice” for Chinese companies, a leaked Treasury document suggests. The former chancellor has positioned himself as a China “hawk” during the Tory leadership contest, warning that Beijing represents the biggest long-term threat to the UK’s interests. He accused China of stealing technology and bullying smaller nations. However, this year Sunak and the Treasury were in the advanced stages of preparing an “economic and financial dialogue” with China which would have significantly strengthened ties between the two nations.” – The Times
“Boris Johnson has mocked Rishi Sunak’s pledge to scrap VAT on energy bills, saying the policy “turns out to be easier than we thought”. Before Sunak resigned as chancellor he opposed cutting VAT on energy bills. But this week he said that if he succeeds Johnson as prime minister he would scrap the tax for a year because the energy price cap is now expected to rise above £3,000. Speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Birmingham, Johnson briefly addressed his impending departure from Downing Street. “We come now to the next stage in the great relay race of politics,” Johnson said. “I didn’t think it was meant to be a relay race, by the way, when I started it. They seem to have changed the rules halfway through, but never mind.” – The Times
“Liz Truss on Thursday night described herself as a “freedom fighter” on Ukraine, telling Conservative Party members they could trust her to do all she can to ensure Vladimir Putin is defeated. The Foreign Secretary said she would make Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, the first foreign leader she calls if she is chosen as the next prime minister, pledging to follow in Boris Johnson’s footsteps and be Kyiv’s “greatest friend”. Ms Truss said she would…“commit completely to ensuring Putin fails and suffers a strategic defeat, and that Russia is constrained in the future”. She also pledged to rewrite the integrated defence and security review to focus on threats from Russia and an “increasingly assertive” China, which will include a promise to spend three per cent of GDP on defence by 2030.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Sources have said that the Foreign Secretary will choose the current Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey, described as “a close friend” who backed her from the start of the contest, to steer her economic policy and bring in tax cuts if she becomes Prime Minister…The bold move would make Ms Coffey Britain”s first female Chancellor… But the choice has split Tory MPs with some horrified by the prospect of Ms Cofffey in the Treasury despite her holding the difficult Department for Work and Pensions steady during the pandemic.Ms Truss’ chief backers in the European Research Group (ERG), who helped her get to the final two, are pushing for Sir John Redwood to be given the post.” – Daily Express
>Today:
“Foreign secretary Liz Truss has rejected suggestions of a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies, despite British Gas owner Centrica’s announcement of huge earnings amid calls for increased support with fuel bills for struggling UK households. Truss, who in recent weeks has led the polling in the race to become leader of the Tory party and the next prime minister, said the move would “send the wrong message” to the world, adding that the government should be encouraging Shell and other companies to invest in the UK. Speaking to Conservative members in Leeds on Thursday during the first of 12 party hustings, Truss argued that, in the face of a global economic crisis and war in Ukraine, now was “not the time for the status quo”…” – The Financial Times
“Civil servants are being taught Britain is a ‘racist’ country and to not contradict ethnic minorities on racial issues. A training video for civil servants at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which is in charge of race relations, said white civil servants should be aware of their “privilege”. Urging white people to be allies by becoming “cheerleaders”, it says “When we become an ally, this primarily means acknowledging that we, ourselves, are part of a society, norm, culture or a system that is racist.” It says white allies should be a “supporter”, meaning they “listen and do not contradict” ethnic minority people. “When talking about issues that concern them, try to defer to them, supporting them to field relevant questions,” it says.” – The Sun
“A controversial NHS clinic that led the way in prescribing puberty blockers to children who questioned their gender is being shut down. The gender identity development service at Tavistock & Portman NHS trust will close next spring after a review found that it was not a “safe or viable long-term option”. The clinic in north London has been accused of rushing teenagers into life-altering treatment on hormone-blocking drugs. Legal experts said the trust could now be sued by patients who felt they did not receive the right treatment. Care will be handed over to children’s hospitals, which the NHS says will offer a more “holistic” approach with “strong links to mental health services”.” – The Times
>Today:
“Who can imagine a world in which private cars are banned? Even in the Soviet Union, if you can get one, they don’t stop you driving it around. No government is going to take people’s cars away from them. Well, Western governments haven’t quite done that, it is true. But there are advocates for car bans in some large cities, and one day some feeble Red-Green mayor somewhere in Europe will surely give in to it. Meanwhile, our leaders are doing everything short of it. For a start, the best currently viable technology for cars – the internal combustion engine plus battery – is being withdrawn from the market in just eight years. We are told that by then electric cars will be better and cheaper. It is hard to be confident of that, or that we will have the electricity to power them.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Sir Keir Starmer cosied up to the unions yesterday in a bid to avert an escalating row after sacking his deputy’s boyfriend. After sacking Angela Rayner’s partner Sam Tarry the Labour boss schmoozed his paymasters following their furious reaction. Sir Keir said the partnership with the barons would be “the future” of the party, as he desperately tried to avoid Unite axing funding to the party. And he desperately said he sacked Mr Tarry for appearing on TV “without permission” and “then made up policy on the hoof.” He added: “That can’t be tolerated in any organisation because we’ve got collective responsibility. So that was relatively straightforward.” Asked if he is worried the row could damage the relationship with Unite – who give millions to the opposition every year.” – The Sun
“Nicola Sturgeon’s “national mission” to tackle Scotland’s drugs epidemic is failing and she should be ashamed of her record, campaigners have said after the death toll fell by only one per cent to the second highest total ever. Official figures disclosed that the number of drugs deaths in 2021 was 1,330, with the total almost flatlining after declining by only nine from the previous year’s record high. Scotland’s death rate remains almost five times higher than that of England and Wales, and 3.8 times higher than that of the next worst European nation, Norway… Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, said the death toll was a “badge of shame for Nicola Sturgeon”, saying she had presided over the increase after admitting she had taken her “eye off the ball”.” – The Daily Telegraph