“A senior UK minister said on Monday there was “a strong case” for tough new action against Beijing, amid cabinet tensions over how to deal with China following a spying scandal at Westminster. Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said ministers were looking at whether to include China in an “enhanced tier” of countries under the government’s new National Security Act, which is intended to “protect the safety or interests” of the UK. Including the country could result in anyone working in Britain “at the direction” of China having to identify themselves on a UK “foreign influence registration scheme” or face up to five years in jail. Such a scheme could cover thousands of people, including those employed by Chinese companies.” – FT
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“The arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for China will not stop Beijing being invited to the UK’s upcoming artificial intelligence summit, No 10 hinted yesterday. Despite calls to ban Beijing from attending the world-first summit this autumn, Downing Street insisted ‘we do need to be in the room arguing the case for the UK with China’ on issues such as AI. MPs have urged Rishi Sunak to bar China from the summit in the wake of the Chinese spying allegations, saying inviting them would make Britain look ‘weak’. Downing Street said yesterday that the Government would ‘robustly defend’ Britain’s democracy… In November, Britain will host a major meeting of countries to discuss the risk of the rise in the technology and bid to agree on global safety measures.” – Daily Mail
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Sketch:
Editorial:
“The parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China has said he is “completely innocent”. Chris Cash was a director of an influential China policy group in Westminster and worked as a researcher for a Tory MP before his arrest in March. Friends who knew him at school and university have described him as an intelligent and sociable character who was renowned for his networking skills. On Monday, in a statement issued through the law firm Birnberg Peirce, he addressed the allegations for the first time, saying they were “against everything I stand for”. Cash, who was not named by his lawyers, said he had spent his career “trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party”.” – The Times
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>Yesterday: ToryDiary: The ‘Chinese spy’. How much work presented by MPs is actually done by anonymous 28-year-olds?
“More than half of voters say there are no circumstances in which they would consider backing the Conservatives at the next election, according to a survey. The polling, by YouGov, suggests the party is seen as too right-wing on the issues that matter most to the public. While voters shared Tory concerns on issues such as trans rights and illegal migration, they were aligned with Labour in areas they cared most about, including spending on public services. Another YouGov poll recorded Rishi Sunak’s lowest approval rating since he became prime minister, with only 26 per cent of voters having a favourable opinion. Just under 40 per cent of Conservative voters in 2019 said they had an unfavourable view of Sunak and the party. The YouGov research attempted to gauge voter attitudes by asking them on a scale of one to ten to say how closely they agreed with a number of statements.” – The Times
>Today:
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Reducing demand for government. What new polling tells us.
“Small boat migrants face MRI scans to stop men posing as children sneaking into Britain. New measures to tackle illegal migration will permit the use of scientific age assessments to prevent adults making fake claims to be kids. MRIs of knees and collar bones could be used in the crackdown – and X-rays of teeth, hands and wrists. The Home Secretary, not courts, will have the power to decide how long to detain people before deportation. Failing to produce ID or hand over phones could count against arrivals in their claims. It came as the public ratings for the handling of the immigration crisis fell to their lowest since Brexit. Just one in ten are happy with the UK’s immigration policy, said a Ipsos and British Future poll.” – The Sun
“Disposable vapes will be banned to stop children becoming addicted to the devices under government proposals to be unveiled as early as next week. The Telegraph can reveal that health ministers are preparing to act, having decided that single-use vapes are overwhelmingly targeted at those aged under 18. Disposable vapes are often sold in bright colours and with flavours such as “bubble gum”. In some shops they are positioned by front counters near sweets. The decision will be revealed in a consultation issued by the Health Department shortly. It has been pencilled in for next week, though timings could yet slip. Ministers are understood to have decided not to go a step further and copy Australia by banning all vaping without a prescription, because they have accepted the benefits of e-cigarettes to help smokers to quit.” – Daily Telegraph
“There is “unlikely” to be any spare money for tax cuts in the autumn statement, Jeremy Hunt has said. In a downbeat assessment that will have disappointed many Tory MPs, the chancellor predicted that taxes were more likely to rise than fall unless the government could find a way to improve growth. He said “stickier” inflation had pushed up debt interest payments, meaning there would be little money to play with when he made his autumn statement on November 22. Bringing down inflation remained the priority, Hunt said, signalling further measures to get people into work, stem wage increases and expand the economy. Conservative backbenchers have persistently pushed for tax cuts. Ministers have been keen to dampen such expectations while they struggle to meet fiscal rules…” – The Times
Comment:
>Today:
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: An Indian trade deal. Sunak has an ally in Modi. Unlike Johnson and Truss, he aims to put quality before speed.
“Ministers have proposed an overhaul of rules governing the UK insolvency sector after criticism of standards in the industry, but have stopped short of creating a new independent regulator. The government on Tuesday will unveil plans to regulate insolvency firms rather than just individual practitioners, bringing them in line with the rules governing other regulated sectors such as audit and legal services. The proposals means that firms will be held accountable for failures in the insolvency process for the first time. Ministers have also proposed a new public register that will list all individuals and firms authorised to provide insolvency services and show whether they are subject to sanctions. But the government has dropped plans for a single, independent watchdog.” – FT
“A government unit accused of seeking to suppress free speech should be suspended immediately and face an independent review, a cross-party group of MPs has said. David Davis, the Conservative MP, and Caroline Lucas, the Green Party leader, have written to Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State for Digital, Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), raising concerns that the Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) is “monitoring online dissent”. The secretive unit was set up by ministers in 2019 to combat disinformation – false information that is spread deliberately – and initially focused on foreign interference in the European elections. However, reports have highlighted how the CDU turned its attention to the Covid pandemic the following year, and monitored social media posts by members of the British public.” – Daily Telegraph
“A former Whitehall mandarin sparked calls for the reform of the Civil Service yesterday after he appeared to admit breaking impartiality rules over Brexit. In an extraordinary revelation, former Foreign Office chief Simon McDonald said he had told staff he voted Remain in the wake of the 2016 referendum to show solidarity with his shell-shocked officials. Lord McDonald said the move was necessary to ‘maintain credibility’ in a department which was left ‘in mourning’ after Britain voted to leave the EU. But his decision appeared to be in breach of the Civil Service code and fuelled concerns that senior officials tried to frustrate Brexit. Former Cabinet minister Liam Fox described Sir Simon’s comments as ‘completely inappropriate’.” – Daily Mail
“Lee Anderson has hailed “more proof that we can succeed outside the EU” after BMW announced a £600 million UK investment. The German manufacturer confirmed the bumper investment to prepare its Mini factory in Oxford to build new electric cars after securing Government funding. BMW said it will transform the plant to enable production of two new electric Mini models which will begin in 2026. Mr Anderson, the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, hailed the move. He said: “Brexit booming Britain. Remember when they said Brexit would kill off car production in the UK? I do…. More proof that we can succeed outside the EU.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Government is securing jobs and growing the economy “by backing our car manufacturing industry”.” – Daily Express
>Yesterday: David Gauke’s column: Rejoining Horizon. The right decision – and the shape of things to come.
“Union bosses have blasted Sir Keir Starmer for ditching pledges made in 2020 when he won the Labour leadership. They told him to stick to radical promises and avoid following in the footsteps of Tony Blair. PCS leader Mark Serwotka, who represents thousands of civil servants, hit out after Sir Keir changed position on the common ownership of utilities and university tuition fees. The union chief said: “We want Keir Starmer to enthuse people to vote for Labour with a real radical vision, not rely on the fact that people are fed up with the Conservatives… The blast came just 24 hours after Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said Labour risks being seen as a “Nineties tribute act”.” – The Sun
“A Labour government would rapidly introduce measures to disbar NHS managers found guilty of wrongdoing and boost protections for whistleblowers, in the wake of failings uncovered by the trial of child serial killer Lucy Letby. In a letter seen by the Financial Times, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told the two biggest NHS membership bodies that his party would reform regulation of health service administrators if it won the general election expected next year. Streeting said the need for a shake-up had been sparked by Letby’s conviction for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six more between June 2015 and June 2016, which he termed “acts of unspeakable evil”.” – FT
“The collapse-risk concrete at the centre of a crisis in school buildings has been found in parliament. The presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) poses no “immediate risk”, a parliamentary spokesperson said. Ministers remain under pressure over the issue, with concerns about the state of school buildings sparking anxiety about the presence of Raac in other publicly-owned buildings and infrastructure. “As part of routine ongoing investigations, Raac was identified in one area of the palace,” the spokesperson added. “Structural engineers have confirmed there is no immediate risk. Where Raac is found, mitigations will be put in place as necessary.” Concerns about the safety of the parliamentary estate are longstanding, amid repeated delays to plans to restore and refurbishment the site.” – The Guardian
>Yesterday: Tim Goodwin in Comment: Why I, as a committed environmentalist and ecologist, support the Government’s plans for nutrient neutrality