“The Democratic Unionist Party has urged Rishi Sunak to “show some mettle” in talks with the EU, saying that key problems remained with the prime minister’s Brexit deal. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, told Eurosceptic Tory MPs that his party would not be bullied into swallowing a bad deal. Although Donaldson praised “progress” in talks, Conservative Brexiteers also said there was “a long way to go” before they could back an agreement. Sunak has been told by some in his own government that he is repeating the mistakes of Theresa May in attempting to force a deal and is heading for “complete disaster” if he tries to ignore Unionist objections. Boris Johnson has privately described Sunak’s negotiating strategy with the EU as “wholly irrational”…” – The Times
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“Meanwhile, Tory infighting over Brexit erupted in public after Theresa May’s former chief of staff told Eurosceptic MPs to back Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland deal…Jacob Rees-Mogg has compared Mr Sunak’s approach to securing a Brexit deal with the EU to that followed by Theresa May when she was prime minister. Speaking on The Moggcast podcast, published by the ConservativeHome website, the former Brexit opportunities minister said: “I don’t know why so much political capital has been spent on something without getting the DUP and the ERG onside first. “It is quite surprising because this is very similar to what happened with Theresa May.” – The Daily Telegraph
“UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is exploring a 5 per cent pay rise for public-sector workers to end an escalating wave of strikes after the Treasury was given an unexpected £30bn windfall. In a sign of a change of mood after months of strife, the Royal College of Nursing on Tuesday called off a 48-hour strike due next week in England to restart “intensive” negotiations with health secretary Steve Barclay. The Treasury has indicated in a private memo, seen by the Financial Times, that public sector awards of up to 5 per cent for 2023-24 would have only a “low risk” of setting a benchmark for protracted high private-sector pay growth. The move came after official figures showed public borrowing was likely to be £30bn lower than expected…” – The Financial Times
“Teacher strikes next week must be STOPPED if unions want fresh pay talks, ministers warned today. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has invited the NEU back to the negotiating table – but only if they halt walkouts. Classroom strikes are taking place next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday across thousands of schools. The NEU has been demanding an inflation-busting pay rise much higher than the 5 per cent offered last year. But Ms Keegan’s olive branch came as she recommended just a 3.5 per cent wage hike for next year. Her department’s submission to the independent pay review body also wants starting salaries to go up to £30,000. It will likely be met with fury from unions at the sub-inflation offer.” – The Sun
“Jeremy Hunt has insisted there is no room for tax cuts in his March Budget, despite a sharp improvement in the public finances and plummeting power costs. The Chancellor dismissed suggestions that he had been handed a “windfall” after the Government achieved a surprise £5.4bn surplus in January. Mr Hunt said that although a drop in the wholesale price of gas has significantly reduced the cost of taxpayer support for households, it will also cut the amount of money the Government makes from its tax on energy company profits. It comes amid pressure from Conservative backbenchers and business leaders to ease the tax burden, which is at a 70-year high.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Tory MPs were furious last night following a Cabinet clash over whether Britain should quit the European Court of Human Rights. Backbenchers want to withdraw from the Strasbourg Court to make it easier to deport foreign criminals and get a grip on the small boats crisis… In the morning, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab told the Commons: “We have made it clear that we would not rule out ever withdrawing from the ECHR in the future.” But later in the day, Attorney General Victoria Prentis said: “The Government’s position is that we are committed to remaining in the ECHR.” … It comes as the 92 Group of Tory MPs warned the PM must speed up the small boat clampdown. It plans to raise this at PMQs this afternoon.” – The Sun
“The Ministry of Defence is facing mounting financial pressure ahead of the budget after being told it must pay £1.4 billion for the disastrous Ajax armoured vehicle programme. Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, is locked in a row with the Treasury as he attempts to secure up to £11 billion a year in additional funding. The Ministry of Defence signed a £5.5 billion contract in 2014 with General Dynamics to deliver 589 light tanks. Wallace halted the payments two years ago after troops suffered hearing loss during trials of the armoured vehicles with some soldiers discharged from the army and paid compensation. General Dynamics claims the noise and vibration problems have been resolved and wants payment to restart by the end of March.” – The Times
“Hero veterans living with injuries from explosions in warzones will be fast-tracked for health help under new plans. Brits living in chronic pain after serving the country for years will be able to get extra aid to stop them living out their retirement in pain. Back, knee and joint pains are the most common long-term injuries from former forces. Vets will be able to get signposted to quicker help through their GPs under the new scheme, set to be revealed by Cabinet minister Johnny Mercer at the end of next month. It comes as ministers today announce £5million extra to fund 22 new projects for ex-squaddies to help swanky new research…Cash will go to projects from Imperial College London to develop state-of-the-art prosthetics, and innovative implants to treat limb pain.” – The Sun
“Kemi Badenoch has said she “admires” SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes for being “honest” about her views on gay marriage. Ms Forbes was once seen as the frontrunner to replace Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland’s First Minister, but her campaign has been derailed by the issue of equal marriage. The current Finance Secretary, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, said this week that she would not have voted for gay marriage. She also said having children outside of marriage is “wrong” according to her faith…Ms Badenoch said: “I actually admire her for not being dishonest. It’s very easy for her to tell lies, just so that she could win that election. And she’s not doing that.” Ms Badenoch was promoted to Business Secretary…earlier this month…” – The Daily Telegraph
“Everyone in Britain should be given a digital ID incorporating their passport, driving licence, tax records, qualifications and right to work as the cornerstone of a “technology revolution”, Sir Tony Blair and Lord Hague of Richmond say today. Writing in The Times, the former prime minister and former Conservative leader say that the British state is no longer fit for purpose and must be dramatically reshaped if the country is to avoid being left behind by global technological advances. The two men, who stood opposite one another at the dispatch box, say that there must be a cross-party consensus to “radically” change politics, putting technology at the heart of the NHS, schools and other public services.” – The Times
“The Home Office’s most senior civil servant has come under fire for excluding plans to tackle illegal migration from the department’s top priorities. In an email sent earlier this month to all civil servants, Matthew Rycroft, the permanent secretary at the Home Office, described the department’s mission as to “expand global talent visa routes”, help victims of the Windrush scandal and end violence against women. Mr Rycroft’s memo, which was part of a weekly news bulletin sent across Whitehall, stated: “In the Home Office, our departmental purpose, or mission, is to contribute to a safe, fair and prosperous UK.” … Mr Rycroft’s comments are in contrast to Rishi Sunak’s stated priorities, with the Prime Minister identifying “stopping the boats”…as one of his five key aims.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Joe Biden heaped blame on Vladimir Putin for waging a war of “choice” in Ukraine that Russia will “never” win, as the US president sought to rally the west for a long and bloody campaign to defend democracy in Kyiv. Speaking against the backdrop of Warsaw’s Royal Castle, Biden delivered a keynote speech that directly challenged claims of US belligerence made by Russia’s president in his own televised speech earlier on Tuesday. “The West was not plotting to attack Russia, as Putin said today . . . this war was never a necessity, it’s a tragedy,” Biden said. “Every day the war continues is his choice.” The separate addresses, delivered just hours apart, laid out starkly different world views ahead of Friday’s anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.” – The Financial Times
“Sir Keir Starmer has said that he “loathed” Boris Johnson because he “had no principles” and has a much better relationship with Rishi Sunak. The Labour leader told…Matt Forde, a comedian: “Johnson and I really loathed each other. It was obvious. We really never spoke behind the scenes very much.” Asked about [Johnson] referring to him as “Sir Crasheroonie Snoozefest”, Starmer replied: “It doesn’t matter — because I really couldn’t give a toss and, you know, I really loathed him. He didn’t stand for anything, he had no principles, he had no integrity, he lied through his teeth…Is there anybody who’s had any relationship with Johnson — in any sense of the word — who hasn’t ended up in the gutter?”… Johnson never gave him his personal phone number.” – The Times
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