“A British Conservative MP has been sacked from his role as a ministerial aide after breaking ranks with the government by calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. Paul Bristow was fired as a parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology after he publicly urged Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, to back a “permanent” cessation to fighting. Bristow called for Sunak to change his position on the conflict last Thursday in a two-page letter, which he subsequently posted on social media. Innocent Palestinians “should not suffer collective punishment for the crimes of Hamas”, Bristow said on Facebook, adding: “We need a ceasefire.” His remarks were first reported by The Daily Telegraph on Monday.” – FT
>Today: ToryDiary: Bristow’s sacking. Sunak puts pressure on Starmer over Israel and Gaza.
“Spooks were tonight ordered to war game terror attacks on Britain – as anti-Israel protests were branded hate marches. Rishi Sunak chaired a Cobra meeting today amid growing fears of a strike here sparked by war in the Middle East. The Prime Minister warned of an “accelerated terrorism threat” triggered by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. But security chiefs stopped short of raising the official threat level from “substantial” to “severe”. Instead, police and spies were instructed to “prepare for and mitigate against the risk of incidents”. Measures included “conducting table-top exercises to simulate our response to potential public order and counter terror scenarios”. And the Crown Prosecution Service was told to do everything possible to ensure extremists who glorify Hamas and spout anti-semitism at marches were locked up.” – The Sun
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“Sir Keir Starmer this evening suspended hard left Labour MP Andy McDonald, two days after he referenced the “river to the sea” chant at a pro-Palestine rally. The Labour chief was pushed into action after Rishi Sunak sacked an MP ministerial aide for calling for a ceasefire in Israel. Mr McDonald sparked fury from British Jews after telling tens of thousands of Palestine protestors: “All people, Israelis and Palestinians, between the river and the sea, can live in peaceful liberty.” Community leaders say the river to sea chant is a call for Israel, the world’s only Jewish state, to be wiped from the map… Last night Corbynista backbencher Mr McDonald was slammed for using the incendiary “between the river and the sea” cry at a pro-Palestine rally this weekend.” – The Sun
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“Foreign Office officials suggested excluding Binyamin Netanyahu from the AI summit in Bletchley Park after the ground offensive in Gaza, prompting a row in Whitehall, The Times has learnt. Officials submitted advice to James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, that the Israeli prime minister’s invitation to the event this week should be rescinded. The civil servants believed that after the Israeli incursion into Gaza at the weekend, Netanyahu’s attendance, by remote link, could be a distraction. If he brought up the conflict it would overshadow Rishi Sunak, who is hosting the summit, they suggested. Cleverly and Michelle Donelan, the science and technology secretary, were angered by the advice, which runs counter to the government’s support for Israel. They quickly rejected it, a source said.” – The Times
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>Yesterday: Anthony Browne’s column: The gains and threats of AI, what we don’t know, and the need for flexible regulation – as the Government’s summit looms
“Boris Johnson was called “mad” for believing that his WhatsApp messages would not become public as part of the Covid Inquiry. The description of the former prime minister came in an exchange between Martin Reynolds, his former Principal Private Secretary, and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case during the pandemic. Giving evidence yesterday, Mr Reynolds said Mr Johnson had perhaps not realised his WhatsApp messages would enter the public domain… The extent and nature of decision-making through the messaging app has become a key plank of Baroness Heather Hallett’s probe. Downing Street said yesterday that the use of disappearing WhatsApp messages is permitted as civil servants and ministerial private offices are required to record and log official decisions for the official record.” – Daily Express
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>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Johnson at GB News will be an elder statesman, not an entertainer
“Jeremy Hunt is poised to reject business calls to use next month’s autumn statement to extend a £10bn tax cut aimed at boosting corporate investment in the UK, despite growing concerns over the economy. At the spring budget in March, the chancellor introduced the multibillion-pound “full expensing” investment relief by saying he wanted to make it permanent “as soon as we can responsibly do so” to help kickstart economic growth. Industry leaders are preparing to use a round of Downing Street meetings with Hunt this week and next to lobby for the three-year policy to be extended in the autumn statement on 22 November to help counter Britain’s worsening growth outlook. However, it is understood that Hunt will tell bosses that constraints on the public finances mean he is unable to change course after a sharp rise in government borrowing costs in recent months.” – The Guardian
>Yesterday: Helena Wood in Comment: The Government must work smarter to outwit fraudsters
“Britain faces a 6,000 defence job rout and no homebuilt fighter jets for a decade amid a massive row with the Germans, The Sun can reveal. Berlin is blocking a multi-billion deal to sell 48 Typhoons to Saudi Arabia – with ministers warned that BAE production lines “will close” immediately if the order is blocked. Germany – who has a large stake in the Eurofighter Typhoon programme – is sticking to its veto of selling to the desert Kingdom due to fears they will be used to bomb Yemen. And France is now in line for the massive investment as the Saudis eyes buying their Rafale fighter instead. Sources say a diplomatic battle to “unstick” the Germans led by National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow “is going nowhere” ahead of a deadline next month for the deal.” – The Sun
“Up to three million British citizens living overseas for more than 15 years are set to be able to vote in the next general election. Draft legislation changes on the enfranchisement of the long-term UK diaspora has been published, with the expectation it will become law under the parliamentary process by mid-January. This would give enough time for Britons overseas to register for a vote in the general election if it happens in autumn 2024, as some Conservative sources have hinted. The move brings to an end an almost 20-year battle by the late Harry Shindler, who challenged the former 15-year limit on voting rights in the high court in 2016. When successive governments failed to deliver on their manifesto promises he brought the case to the European court of justice.” – The Guardian
“Tory MP Miriam Cates has warned the UK could be heading for “destabilising mass immigration” unless the decline of fertility rates is reversed. Her warning came as net migration reached record levels last year, rising to 606,000… There were 605,479 live births in England and Wales in 2022, a 3.1% decrease from 624,828 in 2021 and the lowest number since 2002. Ms Cates also warned family breakdown has become an “epidemic”. She said nearly half of British children are experiencing the “dissolution” of their parents’ relationship… Ms Cates also said children believing they can change their gender is a consequence of the “fraying of our social fabric.”” – Daily Express
>Yesterday: Parliament: Do recent selections suggest an end to CCHQ’s female candidate problem? Not quite.
“Labour’s First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford sparked fury today as it emerged he wants to change the law so that transwomen can stand as females in Senedd elections. Mr Drakeford wants to make it a legal requirement that half of all candidates on any list to be members of the Senedd are women. But a leaked draft of the Gender Quotas Bill shows this would include people with a penis who identity as the opposite gender. And it rules that officials who run elections cannot challenge or making inquiries about trans candidates standing as women. Welsh Secretary David TC Davies hit out at the move, warning it would have “a detrimental impact on women’s rights across our country”.” – The Sun
“SNP leader Humza Yousaf launched an astonishing broadside at mutinous party politicians unhappy with his leadership today, telling those ‘not committed’ to Scottish independence: ‘I don’t need you.’ The First Minister made the remarks as he tried to limit the damage from the shock defection of MSP and former leadership contender Ash Regan to Alba at the weekend. Ms Regan, who quit the Scottish Government last year over her opposition to Scotland’s gender reforms, is the third senior figure to leave since Mr Yousaf replaced Nicola Sturgeon earlier this year. The Edinburgh Eastern MSP has been outspoken about her opposition to the party’s direction of travel… Another former SNP politician at Holyrood fuelled suggestions he may also switch to Alba.” – Daily Mail
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