“A Home Office review into armed policing will consider time limits for criminal and civil investigations into officers involved in shootings. It is among proposals to ensure the police are able to use their powers “with legal certainty and clarity” following a revolt by armed officers after a colleague was charged with the murder of Chris Kaba. Other safeguards to be considered include stronger recognition of the need for self-defence, higher thresholds for launching criminal or misconduct investigations and stricter guidelines, preventing an officer being prosecuted if they have complied with training. The army has stood down from supporting the Metropolitan Police after an emergency request for help at the weekend.” – The Times
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>Today: ToryDiary: The eternal quandary of regulating armed policing: the margin for error
“Migrants picking where to claim asylum is “absurd and unsustainable”, Suella Braverman will declare today. The Home Secretary will say that the “global asylum framework” – underpinned by the 1951 Refugee Convention – “creates huge incentives for illegal migration” and must be reformed. She will also argue Channel migrants should not be treated as refugees because they have travelled through safe countries, such as France, to reach the UK… The Home Secretary will again question whether international refugee rules are “fit for our modern age” and demand reform, saying “we now live in a completely different time”. She has blasted the European Court of Human Rights, which oversees the European Convention on Human Rights as “interventionist” and a “politicised court”, accusing it of “thwarting” the first deportation flight to Rwanda.” – Daily Express
“The PM’s decision to stall the Net Zero ban on selling new petrol cars has seen him catch up eight points in the polls. It has cut the Labour lead to 16 percentage points – down from 24 just ten days earlier. While still a hefty gap, Tories were last night taking comfort in the speed and scale of Rishi Sunak’s comeback. Survey firm Deltapoll found Labour fell three points to 44, with the Conservatives up five to 28. Pollsters quizzed voters through last weekend, in the immediate days after Mr Sunak pushed back the Net Zero car deadline from 2030 to 2035. A separate poll by Redfield & Wilton showed Labour’s lead down to 15 points from 18 a week ago.” – The Sun
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>Yesterday: Parliament: ‘Very impressive’ Obese-Jecty selected for Huntingdon from a ‘very competitive field’
“Rishi Sunak could announce a series of transport improvements for the north of England including bringing forward the high-speed link between Manchester and Leeds as he seeks to limit the political fallout over the future of HS2. Government sources suggested the prime minister still planned to press ahead with a proposal to axe the Birmingham to Manchester link of HS2 despite a furious response and Tory fears that it would fatally undermine their commitment to levelling up. However, the sources claimed that ministers were looking at boosting Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) at the same time, as well as providing more funding for bus services and trams in the region. “The different parts of it have to go hand in hand,” one said. Senior rail industry insiders said it would be “madness” to cancel the multibillion-pound HS2 scheme.” – The Guardian
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Editorial:
>Today: David Willetts’ column: Why Sunak is right about A-levels and what should be done next
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: We asked Conservative MPs for their views about Sunak’s Net Zero speech. Here’s what they told us.
“The UK is set to unveil a £725billion trade deal with a US state in another major boost for Brexit Britain. The deal with Washington State will be the sixth signed in the US and means British business has access to a combined £2.2trillion GDP in America. Washington State is home to major companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft and Boeing, and has a £725billion GDP roughly equivalent to Poland. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed today by trade minister Nusrat Ghani giving British business and services access to US markets. Ms Ghani will lead a delegation of 35 UK businesses attending the 2023 Boeing Supplier Showcase, handpicked by Boeing to meet with their procurement and supply chain teams.” – Daily Express
“Birmingham city council has voted to approve spending control measures, as well as endorsing a “financial recovery plan” that is already under way. The council debated the plan to tackle an estimated £760m equal pay liability before giving the go-ahead for the section 114 notice it issued earlier this month. The notice in effect declared the authority bankrupt and it is now expected to receive a revised emergency budget… The vote came six days after the communities secretary, Michael Gove, announced commissioners are to be sent to run the council as part of a series of drastic emergency measures. Gove said commissioners would be parachuted into the stricken authority to preside over decision-making, with the selling of council-owned assets, job cuts and a rise in council tax all anticipated.” – The Guardian
>Yesterday:
“Labour was accused last night of ‘recklessly’ eroding civil service impartiality by hiring a host of Whitehall officials. In the latest sign of ‘the Blob’ moving to the opposition party, it emerged that Sir Keir Starmer has recruited civil servants from No 10, the Treasury and other departments. But his bid to bolster Labour’s preparation for government was lambasted by Greg Hands, the Conservative Party chairman, who said last night: ‘First it was Sue Gray. Now it looks like Labour are trying to recruit impartial civil servants to their cause. ‘I have been a strong defender of civil service impartiality, and for Labour to recklessly seek to erode that is deeply irresponsible.’ At least a dozen Whitehall officials have jumped to the party in the past 18 months, analysis by The Guardian found.” – Daily Mail
>Today: Lee Rotherham in Local Government: I’m standing for Lambeth Council to provide a functioning opposition to Labour
“Labour government would push through long-delayed reforms to the UK’s audit and corporate governance regimes, which were first promised years ago after a rash of scandals, shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has told the Financial Times. Ministers in the current Conservative government have long pledged to shake up the audit and corporate governance regimes after scandals at companies including retailer BHS in 2016 as well as cake chain Patisserie Valerie and outsourcer Carillion in 2018. An overhaul of the audit and corporate governance regimes has been on the cards since a report by Sir John Kingman almost five years ago that recommended the replacement of the Financial Reporting Council with a more powerful watchdog for UK boardrooms and accountants.” – FT
“The Liberal Democrats were forced to promise to build hundreds of thousands of homes after losing a conference vote in a rebellion led by young members. Sir Ed Davey, the party leader, wanted to scrap national targets but members backed an amendment to reinstate a countrywide goal of building 380,000 homes annually, ignoring senior figures who described it as a pointless gesture. During the debate at the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth Janey Little, chairwoman of the Young Liberals, said: “We as young people feel ignored and let down by those at the top of our party.” … Tim Farron, the former leader, told the debate that the target was “vague and vacuous” and would achieve “naff all”. He accused those who wanted to retain it of “pure Thatcherism” and said it would be an “electoral gift to the Tories, including right now [in the Mid-Bedfordshire by-election campaign]”.” – The Times
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>Today: Comment: Reducing demand for government 7) Housing
>Yesterday:
“Deputy First Minister Shona Robison has been accused of disrespecting the Royal Family after showing up for an event with Princess Anne 40 minutes late. Humza Yousaf’s second-in-command attended the Royal opening of Aberdeen South Harbour on behalf of the Scottish Government but angered many of the 350 guests by keeping them waiting. It is understood Princess Anne filled in the time by speaking to members of the public for far longer than intended. When she eventually made her speech, Ms Robison surprised the audience by failing to thank the Princess Royal for attending – in sharp contrast to the UK Government representative Andrew Bowie. The Scottish Government said she was late to Friday’s event due to ‘urgent government business’ and apologised to organisers.” – Daily Mail
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