“Cold-calling will be banned for all financial products as part of a national strategy to tackle the £7 billion-a-year cost of fraud in Britain. The ban will include unsolicited phone calls from those trying to sell any type of insurance or cryptocurrency schemes as they are seen as the most common scams used against victims, particularly older people. It emulates a ban on cold-calling about pension products…introduced in 2019. The ban will be combined with an advertising campaign so that, over time, fraudsters who try to con victims with unsolicited calls will be shut out. Rishi Sunak, who promised in November that a new national fraud strategy would be introduced “shortly”, said that plans to attack scams at their source would prevent more “cold-hearted crimes”…” – The Times
>Today:
“Sue Gray refused to co-operate with the official inquiry into the way she resigned as a senior civil servant in order to take a job with…Sir Keir Starmer, ministers said on Tuesday…Gray led the probe into coronavirus lockdown parties in Downing Street…and is expected by officials to be facing between six and 12 months of gardening leave before she can take up her role…But Oliver Dowden…pulled his punches in an official statement to MPs on Tuesday, declining to say whether the inquiry had discovered that Gray had broken the civil service code. Dowden said that in order to maintain “confidentiality” towards Gray he could not give MPs further information about the circumstances of her appointment and when she first held talks with Labour…” – The Financial Times
>Today:
“The cabinet secretary forced ministers to weaken a highly critical statement on the departure of Sue Gray from the civil service to become Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, The Times has been told. Simon Case intervened yesterday to block plans to accuse Gray of breaching the civil service code in a statement before the local elections. He is said to have got “cold feet” about allowing publication of details of an interim report accusing Gray of failing to act with honesty, integrity and impartiality. Ministers have submitted the accusation to the Whitehall watchdog that is considering whether to ban Gray from taking up her job with Starmer for up to two years. The Labour leader yesterday said that he was confident that she did not breach the rules.” – The Times
Dowden heavily implies that she broke the Civil Service code – but stops short of saying it explicitly. Though we have yet to see the full report, it is clear that Gray’s lack of co-operation hampered the process. This raises constitutional questions; for a senior civil servant to seemingly engage in secret meetings with…the Opposition, and then refuse to explain…seems little short of extraordinary. At this stage, it would be astonishing if Labour were allowed to proceed with the appointment, but whatever happens next, the damage is done. When Starmer took over…Labour… he pitched himself as a man of…integrity; a refreshing change from Tory sleaze and the turmoil of the Corbyn years. Looking “forensically” at the Sue Gray affair, it’s a major own goal.” – The Daily Telegraph
“NHS workers including nurses, physios, midwives and porters will receive pay rises of at least 5 per cent and a lump sum bonus this summer after their unions accepted a government pay offer. This afternoon the NHS Staff Council, made up of 14 unions, recommended that the deal be implemented. It covers all NHS workers apart from doctors, dentists and senior managers. Each union had polled its members separately for their views and there was a majority on the council in favour of accepting the deal. Unison, the GMB, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and the Royal College of Midwives were among those who voted in favour. The Royal College of Nursing and Unite voted against it and have announced plans to re-ballot their members…” – The Times
>Today:
“Hopes are rising of a breakthrough in the junior doctors dispute after their leaders held several hours of talks with the health secretary, Steve Barclay. Sources said the two sides were making some progress in a renewed effort to try to settle a bitter row over pay that has led to junior doctors staging two very disruptive strikes. Representatives of the British Medical Association’s junior doctors committee (JDC) met Barclay on Tuesday afternoon for two hours, soon after he had attended a meeting at which the NHS staff council voted by a majority to accept an improved pay offer for this year and the last one for more than 1 million frontline NHS personnel in England…Junior doctors in England want a 35% pay rise…” – The Guardian
“Teaching unions have threatened to cause chaos in schools next academic year in the run-up to the general election. Kevin Courtney, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, the largest union representing teachers, said coordinated strike action in the months leading up to the election would provide “leverage” in its pay dispute with the Government. He spoke as thousands of NEU members across England walked out on Tuesday for the sixth day this year, causing major disruption in schools, including for A-Level and GCSE students. Approximately 10 per cent of schools are believed to have closed completely… However, James Cleverly said a “good offer” has been made to teachers over pay and workload reduction.” – The Daily Telegraph
“Voters were warned “don’t risk waking up” to a “lefty” town hall that erodes women’s rights in this week’s council elections. Conservative party chairman Greg Hands said failing to vote on Thursday could land residents with expensive, but badly run Labour councils. Backing the Daily Express crusade to protect women’s rights, he said left-wing local authorities are more likely to put protections like single-sex spaces at risk. Mr Hands said: “I commend the Express for its campaign. I think single-sex spaces are really, really important.” He said given how many public spaces are run by local authorities it is an issue for voters to consider… He pointed out voters even get better Coronation bunting under the Tories than the “poundland” Labour efforts.” – Daily Express
“Orange juice should be taxed and smoking banned, George Osborne has said. Calling for sweeping public health interventions to reduce obesity and cancer, the former chancellor insisted that “anti-nanny state Conservatives” are “not worth listening to”. He told The Times Health Commission that Britain should look at “the long-term legality of smoking” and follow the lead of New Zealand in gradually raising the legal age of tobacco… The former chancellor also called for the sugar tax on soft drinks, which he introduced in 2016, to be expanded to cover fruit juice and milkshakes as well as biscuits and cakes…Osborne compared introducing new taxes on unhealthy foods to the ban on smoking in pubs and laws which require people to wear seatbelts in cars.” – The Times
>Yesterday:
“Despite some challenges, the institution looks secure for now. But my research found that in the Commonwealth realms – the 14 other countries in which the King is head of state – the picture is much more mixed. In six of these countries – Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Canada, Jamaica and the Solomon Islands – more voters said they would choose to become a republic than would opt to stay with the Crown. The question is not settled – in all but two, the proportion saying they didn’t know or would not vote was bigger than the gap between the two sides – but it shows the balance of forces and perhaps the direction of travel… At first glance, this suggests a division of varying magnitude as to what people think about…the institution of the monarchy.” – The Daily Mail
Other political news:
“Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that he is set to U-turn on his pledge to abolish university tuition fees. The Labour leader admitted he is “likely to move on from that commitment”, arguing it is now unaffordable because of the economic situation. He also played down suggestions that he would increase income tax on top earners, and raise the level of capital gains tax. His remarks will anger Left-wing MPs and activists who have accused him of abandoning the socialist platform he used to win the leadership. Sir Keir unveiled 10 pledges when he stood to replace Jeremy Corbyn at the top of the party in early 2020. In his second commitment, titled “social justice”, he promised to “support the abolition of tuition fees and invest in lifelong learning”.” – The Daily Telegraph
“A senior SNP politician has confronted colleagues by tearing up a contentious consultation to limit human activity in Scotland’s seas. Fergus Ewing, the former rural economy secretary, described it as a notice of execution that would haunt the Scottish government. Ewing suggested that plans to impose highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) would be considered a betrayal of coastal communities. Kate Forbes, who lost to Humza Yousaf in the recent SNP leadership contest, also raised concerns in her first speech to the Scottish parliament since returning to the backbenches. Ewing, 65, told MSPs that it would risk the SNP losing votes in the same manner as Ted Heath, the former Conservative prime minister when he joined Europe’s common fisheries policy in the 1970s.” – The Times