“Rishi Sunak today vows that those whose lives are blighted by antisocial behaviour will have a say in how the culprits are punished. Heralding a major Government blitz on crime and vandalism, the Prime Minister pledges to put ‘community justice’ at the heart of the clampdown. It will mean giving victims and local residents a say in what punishments are meted out – such as placing vandals in shaming jumpsuits while they publicly repair the damage they caused. Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday ahead of the launch of the new package, the Prime Minister said: ‘The community fightback starts now.’ On-the-spot fines for those caught fly-tipping will more than double from £400 to £1,000, while those littering or spraying graffiti face being hit with £500 fines…” – The Mail on Sunday
>Today:
“Rishi Sunak on Friday warned Benjamin Netanyahu of “international concern” over “growing tensions” with Palestinians and a controversial judicial overhaul, as a visit by Israel’s prime minister generated protests from members of the UK Jewish community. The UK prime minister issued the unusually blunt message following events in Israel that prompted a leading Conservative MP to suggest that London should start being a “critical friend” of the country. In recent weeks, protests over bitterly contested reforms that would weaken the powers of the judiciary have drawn tens of thousands of demonstrators across Israel and sparked political turmoil. On Friday, hundreds of Jewish protesters stood near pro-Palestine groups and heckled Netanyahu…” – The Financial Times
“Rishi Sunak told friends last week that Wednesday gave him one of the rare enjoyable moments of his premiership so far. He was not referring to the landslide support for his new Brexit deal, passed with only 22 Tory “no” votes. Nor had the prime minister been watching Boris Johnson facing a parliamentary inquiry the same day into whether he lied to parliament over the partygate scandal. Instead, while Johnson was giving evidence, Sunak was batting and bowling in the Downing Street garden with youngsters from the Ace academy for aspiring black cricketers… The view of some close to the committee is that while Johnson is likely to face a sanction, it might not reach the threshold of a ten-day suspension from the Commons…” – The Sunday Times
“Suella Braverman could ban the European Court of Human Rights from grounding migrant deportation flights in a deal to pacify Tory rebels, The Telegraph can reveal. The Home Secretary is locked in talks with up to 60 Conservative MPs who are attempting to strip Strasbourg of the ability to interfere with Britain’s immigration policy. In an attempt to quell what is set to be the biggest rebellion of Rishi Sunak’s premiership, ministers may agree to block the use of a controversial mechanism used by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to ground the first flight to Rwanda last June. It would mean migrants who arrive in the UK illegally could be deported even if they challenge the Government under human rights law.” – The Sunday Telegraph
“The Health Secretary has written to the heads of NHS quangos to demand that they review their membership of Stonewall and ban diversity officers. In a letter…Steve Barclay insisted that organisations including NHS England report on whether inclusion schemes were value for money. He also said that they should no longer employ dedicated diversity and inclusion officers and instead give these duties to existing managers. The letter was sent to the chief executives of ten NHS arm’s-length bodies including the Care Quality Commission, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the UK Heath Security Agency. In it, Mr Barclay pointed out that the Department of Health and Social Care had not renewed its membership to Stonewall in February 2021…” – The Mail on Sunday
“Ministers are planning to slash green taxes on electricity bills — saving families up to £100 a year. The move, pitched as a rebalancing of levies on different energy sources, will help the 2.1million homes across England and Wales with electric-only heating. At present, about 12 per cent of electricity bills is made up of environmental and social levies, which cost the typical household £119 a year. In contrast, green levies on gas are just 3.4 per cent — or £33 a home. This week, Energy Secretary Grant Shapps will announce a consultation on the levies, which have been in place since 1989… Earlier this month the Treasury extended the Energy Price Guarantee scheme until June to help with energy costs.” – The Sun on Sunday
“A leading figure behind Liz Truss’s economic policy and a key figure in the Brexit vote campaign could both become peers after their names were pencilled in for the honour on the former prime minister’s draft resignation honours list. A person familiar with the process confirmed that a preliminary version of Truss’s resignation honours list included Mark Littlewood, director of the Institute for Economic Affairs think-tank, and Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the pro-Brexit Vote Leave campaign. Truss has also asked for Jon Moynihan, a Conservative party donor, and Ruth Porter, Truss’s deputy chief of staff, to be elevated to the Lords… The process of bestowing the honours on the four figures is so far at an early stage…” – The Financial Times
“The former chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, and former health secretary, Matt Hancock, agreed to work for £10,000 a day to further the interests of a fake South Korean firm after apparently being duped by the campaign group Led by Donkeys. Kwarteng attended a preliminary meeting at his parliamentary office and agreed in principle to be paid the daily rate after saying he did not require a “king’s ransom”. When Hancock was asked his daily rate, he responded: “It’s 10,000 sterling.” Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee, also attended an online meeting for the fake foreign firm from his parliamentary office. When asked about the limits on arranging meetings, he made clear he could not advocate on behalf of the interest…” – The Observer
“Donald Trump used the first major rally of his 2024 campaign on Saturday to declare prosecutors have “nothing” on him, that the allegations are “bulls–t,” and that he is the “most innocent man in American history”. In front of thousands of cheering supporters holding “WITCH HUNT” signs, the former president said criminal investigations into him were “prosecutorial misconduct” and like “something out of Stalinist Russia”. He also lambasted his closest Republican rival Ron DeSantis and called Stormy Daniels, the porn star he denies having an affair with, “Horse Face”. Mr Trump opened the rally by playing a song, “Justice for All,” which features a choir of men imprisoned for their role in the US Capitol riot on Jan 6, 2021.” – The Sunday Telegraph
“King Charles’s state visit to France and a banquet at the Palace of Versailles could have had “echoes” of the French Revolution, according to a former British ambassador to France. Peter Ricketts, who was Britain’s envoy in France from 2012 to 2016, said the dinner would have been poorly timed, coming during widespread protests against the French president, Emmanuel Macron’s, plans to change the pension system and raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The visit was postponed on Friday as the revolt continued. On Thursday night 441 police officers were injured in violent protests, and 903 fires had to be put out by French firefighters. A total of 457 people were arrested. A visit could instead take place at the start of the summer.” – The Guardian
“Since 2009-10 the proportion of English state schools rated “inadequate” has fallen by more than half. The number of schools judged good or outstanding at their most recent inspection has risen from 68 per cent to 88 per cent. So either the inspection framework is doing its job in raising standards or Ofsted is going much easier. Inspections typically take up just two days every four years. In part because of the pandemic, 64 per cent of schools have not been inspected for at least five years, and 14 per cent for at least ten (Caversham, for example, had won its outstanding rating in 2009). If inspections are so stressful, it may be because they are such a rarity — and because the wait to overturn a verdict can be so long.” – The Sunday Times
“The Partygate investigator who triggered a row by applying for a job as Sir Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff was in negotiations with Labour for around a year, The Mail on Sunday has been told. There was outcry when it was revealed earlier this month that Sue Gray, who conducted an inquiry into Boris Johnson’s behaviour in Downing Street during the pandemic, would be switching to a party political role. Officials speculated about whether the civil servant had been leaking Government information to Labour – something her friends categorically deny. Senior advisers to Sir Keir urged him to U-turn on the plan. This newspaper has also established that on November 7 last year – when Ms Gray is understood to have been in discussions… – she sent a letter to Harriet Harman…” – The Mail on Sunday
Nicola Sturgeon is in the “early stages” of learning to drive as she prepares to stand aside as Scottish First Minister. The outgoing SNP leader described the move as being “part and parcel of the next phase of life”. It comes as she prepares to leave office after more than eight years at the helm of the Scottish Government. Friend Ricky Bell said the lessons are a signal Ms Sturgeon is preparing for life after being First Minister… The Nicola Sturgeon Podcast will be available from Monday March 27 – the same day the new SNP leader is announced. Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and former community safety minister Ash Regan are all hoping to be the next SNP leader – and therefore Scotland’s sixth first minister.” – The Sunday Telegraph