“The Government must keep the onshore wind ban or Britain’s food security would be at risk, two dozen Conservative MPs have warned. Rishi Sunak is under pressure from rebels to remove the Cameron-era prohibition on new turbines…amid a growing party split on the issue. Backbenchers including former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have signed an amendment laid out by Simon Clarke, Ms Truss’s former levelling up secretary, that demands an end to the ban. But 24 Tory MPs and two peers have now written to Mr Sunak urging him to stand firm…“A change of policy would undoubtedly result in high grade farm land being permanently affected at a time when we are acutely aware of the importance of food security,” their letter reads.” – The Daily Telegraph
>Today:
>Yesterday:
“Suella Braverman, UK home secretary, has welcomed a report calling for a major crackdown on asylum seekers who come to Britain using illegal routes, including putting them into indefinite detention. Braverman is under growing pressure from Tory MPs to control cross-Channel migration in small boats, with 44,000 people arriving in Britain using that route already this year. On Monday, [the Centre for Policy Studies] will publish a report that says “if necessary” Britain should change human rights laws and withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights in order to tackle the problem. Refugee groups said the proposals, if implemented, would represent a significant breach of Britain’s international obligations and mar its reputation…” – The Financial Times
“People smuggling gangs must be smashed to halt illegal Channel crossings, says a Tory minister. It is the only way to stem the tide of migrants on small boats, warns Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. He told The Sun: “Once they’re off the French beach and halfway across the Channel it’s a very difficult place to be. We’re not going to fix that properly without going right upstream.” He wants smugglers and crime mobs — often based thousands of miles away — to be targeted. This year, 40,000 migrants have made the perilous journey. Half arriving before September were from Albania, Afghanistan, Iran, Eritrea and Egypt. Mr Wallace said the UK had a similar problem to Italy which was trying to curb illegal migration from north Africa.” – The Sun
“Our asylum system is overwhelmed. The backlog of cases now stands at 160,000. The number of cases processed within six months has fallen to only 10 per cent. We are spending almost £6 million per day on hotel bills alone, and the overall asylum bill has trebled to £2.1 billion a year – enough to pay the wages of 62,000 nurses. The solutions proposed by many experts, campaigners and Parliamentarians would exacerbate the problem even further. Many insist that the solution is the establishment of more “safe and legal routes” for asylum seekers to come to Britain legally. In fact, such routes do exist…Extending these routes to allow more to apply to come here from other countries would increase the numbers but fail to stop the crossings…” – The Daily Telegraph
“Changes to NHS pension rules will open up extra appointments so patients can see GPs and hospital doctors more quickly, ministers have promised. Older staff will be able to only partially retire and those who have retired be allowed to return and build up more pension benefits…Ministers also hope to remove limits on the hours that recently retired staff can work when returning. Steve Barclay, the health and social care secretary, said: “These proposed changes will help open up extra appointments so patients can see their GP and consultants more quickly. With record numbers of doctors and nurses working in the NHS alongside record funding, I’m focused on giving people the security of knowing the NHS will be there for them when they need it.”” – The Times
“Nadhim Zahawi has urged nurses to accept a lower pay rise to send a “very clear message” to Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. Up to 100,000 nurses plan to walk out on Dec 15 and 20 as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) demands an above-inflation pay rise of 19 per cent for its workers. Mr Zahawi, the Conservative Party chairman, confirmed that the Government has contingency plans in place to minimise disruption across the public sector. But he told unions it was time to “try and negotiate” and insisted soaring costs facing Britons this winter were predominantly because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “We have to come together, this is not a time to be divided,” he told Sky’s Sophie Ridge.” – The Daily Telegraph
>Today:
>Yesterday:
“A senior Conservative MP faces being suspended from the party over allegations of rape and sexual assault. Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi says he will “take action” if cops open an investigation into the MP, who has not been named. Mr Zahawi said yesterday he was made aware of the claims when he took on the position in October and has commissioned independent legal advice. He told Times Radio: “That is something that the police are now looking at. If there is an investigation by the police, then we will obviously take action. But at the moment, I’m waiting for the legal advice on safeguarding on this. It’s right to do this properly.” Mr Zahawi also revealed the party had been discussing the matter with the police, and the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team.” – The Sun
“Matt Hancock has accused Dominic Cummings of being the “chatty rat” who leaked news of the second lockdown before it was announced. An inquiry into the leak was ordered immediately by a furious Boris Johnson, then the prime minister, after the disclosure bounced him into holding a televised press conference – but the source has never been found. Mr Hancock appears to pin the blame squarely on Mr Cummings, Mr Johnson’s former chief adviser, in the latest extract from his book, The Pandemic Diaries. The former health secretary recalled receiving a text message on Oct 30 from Robert Peston, the ITV political editor, while at a curry house with his family in his constituency.” – The Daily Telegraph
“MPs will consider legalising assisted dying in a Commons inquiry starting in the new year. The health and social care committee will look at the role of medical staff in assisting patients who wish to die, as well as access to palliative care. It will also consider how to prevent coercion and the criteria for eligibility for access to assisted dying services. Steve Brine, the committee’s chairman, said MPs would approach the issue “with compassion and an open mind”, before making recommendations to the government: “Some form of assisted dying or assisted suicide is legal in at least 27 jurisdictions worldwide. It became legal in Canada in 2015; the Netherlands in 2001; Oregon in the US in 1994…”” – The Times
“The UK will fall into a year-long recession in 2023 as the “stagflation” combination of rising inflation, negative growth and plummeting business investment weighs on the economy, according to Britain’s largest business group. The CBI warned on Monday that gross domestic product would fall by 0.4 per cent in 2023, a downgrade from its previous forecast of 1 per cent growth set in June. It said consumer spending would drop throughout the year as inflation remained above the Bank of England target. The lobby group gave a particular downbeat forecast on business investment, which it said would start to fall from the middle of next year when an existing “super deduction” tax allowance scheme designed to boost investment came to an end.” – The Financial Times
>Today:
“Former prime minister Gordon Brown has said the House of Lords is ‘indefensible’ – as Labour prepares to water down its reform of the upper chamber. Mr Brown will publish a report today proposing an elected alternative called the Assembly of Nations and Regions, along with measures to tackle corruption. But it comes amid reports that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer may rethink his party’s plans for the Lords. The party may now pledge in its manifesto only to consult on reform. The move will infuriate Mr Brown, who has been working on the Labour Party-commissioned report since 2020. He is adamant change is needed, saying: ‘The current House of Lords is indefensible. Every second chamber in the world, with very few exceptions, is relatively small…’” – The Daily Mail
“Stephen Flynn has launched a bid to become the SNP’s next leader in Westminster. Flynn, who has represented Aberdeen South since 2019, announced his candidacy on his Twitter account on Sunday evening. The news comes just two weeks after Flynn denied rumours he would be standing for the leadership position, following speculation in news articles he was “mounting a coup” against Ian Blackford, 61, who resigned as Westminster leader earlier this week. Flynn, 34, wrote: “Few working-class folk ever make it to parliament, fewer still run to be political leaders. “Even fewer do so having spent almost the entirety of their teenage and adult years battling a physical disability. Your experiences tend to shape you, and I am no different.”” – The Guardian