“Liz Truss has ditched scrapping the 45p tax rate in a humiliating climb down. Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng confirmed the dramatic U-turn in a tweet on Monday. He wrote: “We get it, and we have listened.” Mr Kwarteng told the BBC: “What was clear, talking to MPs, voters, constituents, that the 45p rate was becoming a huge distraction on a very strong plan.” The Chancellor went on to reel off why the government had scrapped the planned cuts. It came after a day of brutal Tory backlash the PM summoned her Chancellor to crisis talks where they drew up plans to ditch the controversial tax cut for people earning £150,000 and over.” – The Sun
>Today: ToryDiary: Our survey. Over two in five Party members want spending cuts as well as tax cuts – not more borrowing.
>Yesterday:
“Liz Truss has been challenged by two former cabinet ministers over her plan to scrap the 45p rate of income tax, a move that she has been told is “tin-eared” and will damage the Conservative Party’s economic credibility. Grant Shapps, the former transport secretary, joined Michael Gove in warning against tax cuts for high earners when people are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. Writing in The Times, Shapps says that the government should not be making “big giveaways to those who need them least”, adding: “When pain is around, pain must be shared.”…Gove, the former levelling-up secretary, said that Truss had “no mandate” to abolish the 45p tax rate, adding that it was “not Conservative” to use “borrowed money to fund tax cuts”. He cast himself as the leader of the internal Tory opposition, saying that cutting rates for the highest earners was the “wrong balance” and that Truss would have to back down.” – The Times
>Yesterday:
“People should be offered money off their energy bills in return for agreeing to fracking in their local areas, the Conservative Party chairman has said. Jake Berry suggested that communities will be offered cash incentives if they approve of shale gas extraction. Speaking at a Tory conference fringe event hosted by The Telegraph, he said that the plan would help boost Britain’s energy production. Liz Truss has lifted the ban on fracking, but has said projects will go ahead only where there is clear support from the community.” – Daily Telegraph
“Tory MPs were chased, booed and pelted with abuse as they tried to enter the party conference in Birmingham last night. Party chiefs were fuming as politicians were wrongly directed through crowds of waiting protestors who yelled “Tory Scum!” at them on their way into their annual bash. Business Secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg had to be escorted into the venue by at least a dozen police officers. One tried to launch herself at him and shouted abuse and tried to blow a horn in his face. Speaking to Sky News while being escorted through the crowd by police officers, Mr Rees-Mogg defended the right of protestors to voice their opposition, shrugging it off.” – The Sun
>Yesterday: Andrew Gimson’s conference sketch: Rees-Mogg sets out to woo a small businesswoman from West Belfast
“Steve Baker has apologised to the European Union for ”not always behaving” during Brexit negotiations. The new Northern Ireland minister was a staunch supporter of the Leave campaign and is a former chairman of the European Research Group, made up of backbench Conservative MPs. He was one of 28 “Spartan” Tories who voted against Theresa May’s Brexit deal on all three occasions, and resigned as Brexit minister in 2018 over his fears she had accepted compromises that effectively kept Britain in the EU. However, he struck a more conciliatory tone in the main hall of the Conservative Party conference on Sunday, saying that relations between Britain and Ireland were not ‘where they should be’.” – Daily Telegraph
“Social media companies are “chipping away at children’s innocence” and behaving immorally, the new culture secretary has said as she pledged to do more to protect children online. In an interview with The Times, Michelle Donelan said she would improve protections for children after a landmark ruling found that social media firms had contributed to the death of Molly Russell.” – The Times
“Ben Wallace has not ruled out a future Conservative leadership run, as he warned against cuts to “unsexy” defence budgets. The Defence Secretary was an early favourite to succeed Boris Johnson in Downing Street before he confirmed in July he would not be standing. Mr Wallace hailed Liz Truss, who he endorsed in the later stages of the leadership campaign, and said she would be “fantastic” as Prime Minister. But at a fringe event organised by the think tank Onward, he said he was “conflicted” about a run at the top job after polling suggested he was the most popular Cabinet minister among party members.” – Daily Telegraph
Other conference news
“Benefits may only rise in line with earnings rather than inflation next year, as ministers look to cover the cost of the £650 energy bailout for Universal Credit claimants. Eight million low income households were given a one-off stipend to help with spiralling costs – but that may now be “factored in” to next year’s planned hike to the UC rate.” – The Sun
“Brazil’s election is going into a second round in which left-winger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will face far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. With almost all the votes counted, Lula had won 48% against Bolsonaro’s 43% – a much closer result than opinion polls had suggested. But Lula fell short of the more than 50% of valid votes needed to prevent a run-off. Voters now have four weeks to decide which of the two should lead Brazil.” – BBC
Lawson: Russia’s forces are approaching mutiny
“Russia’s troops are not just short of food and the most basic equipment; in the recent call-up, they have even been told to take their wives’ and girlfriends’ tampons for putting in any wounds they receive, as no tourniquets are available. Putin sees himself as the successor to his country’s most revered rulers — notably Peter the Great — in restoring what he regards as territory rightfully Russia’s. Instead, he faces the fate of the last of the Tsars.” – Dominic Lawson, Daily Mail
News in brief