“Jeremy Hunt is drafting plans for up to £9 billion worth of tax rises and spending reductions in an effort to balance the books and pay for a potential 2p cut in national insurance. The chancellor said on Sunday that he would use the budget to “show a path” in the direction of tax cuts, but stressed that any reductions would have to be “prudent”. Hunt is not expected to cut income tax as he focuses instead on further reductions in national insurance, which is only paid by those in work. Cutting national insurance is cheaper than income tax and will allow Hunt the flexibility for further budget announcements.” – The Times
>Today:
>Yesterday:
“The chancellor has been looking at an “emergency package” of revenue raisers to pay for personal tax cuts, including stealing Labour’s plan to scale back the “non-dom” tax regime, securing between £2bn and £3bn a year. Also on Hunt’s list of potential revenue raisers are an increase in air passenger duty for business travel, an extension of the windfall levy on oil and gas producers, a tax on vapes and abolishing the furnished holiday let regime, according to those close to the Budget process.” – Financial Times
“There is a way to generate more scope for tax cuts if the Chancellor announces a tighter squeeze on public spending…Since Covid, believe it or not, the number of civil servants has increased. How can I put this politely? This increase has not been matched by an obvious rise in the quantity or quality of output. If the Government is really serious about getting to grips with Britain’s dire economic predicament it would need to radically reduce marginal tax rates and cut public spending as a share of GDP. Don’t hold your breath.” – Roger Bootle, Daily Telegraph
“Police have failed to solve a single burglary in nearly half of all neighbourhoods in England and Wales in the past three years despite pledging to attend the scene of every domestic break-in to boost detection rates. A Telegraph analysis of police data shows that no burglaries were solved in 48 per cent of neighbourhoods – areas covering between 1,000 and 3,000 people – in the past three years. In October 2022, all 43 police chiefs in England and Wales made the landmark promise to attend every break-in.” – Daily Telegraph
“Ministers are to broaden the government’s definition of extremism as part of a crackdown on people and groups “undermining” Britain’s institutions and values. Rishi Sunak has asked Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, to update the government’s definition of extremism, which was first set out more than a decade ago. It defines extremism as “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values” and is seen by the government as no longer being fit for purpose. A new definition, which is still being finalised, is expected to cover those whose actions more broadly “undermine” the country’s institutions or values.” – The Times
>Yesterday: Video: “I don’t like the Prime Minister’s theatre”. Chakrabarti responds to Sunak’s “sinister” extremism speech.
“Police treat football fans more harshly than jihadists, an ex-Home Office Minister says. Senior Tory Robert Jenrick is demanding cops take stern action to tackle the “cancer of Islamist extremism”. His call comes after MPs were told the threat of a terrorist incident in the UK has increased due to the war in Gaza. Mr Jenrick said: “We must immediately end the two-tiered policing that has consistently let extremists off the hook. “Appeasement has only emboldened them. I’ve seen stronger enforcement against football fans than extremists promoting terrorism and calling for jihad.” – The Sun
>Yesterday: Video: Jenrick: “You cannot integrate people at this pace”
“Foreign hate preachers face deportation in a crackdown on extremism following the Rochdale by-election. Ministers are examining plans to cancel the visas of foreigners caught spreading hate at pro-Palestine events after an upsurge in anti-Semitism in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks on Israel on October 7. Troublemakers could also be barred from travelling to the UK. The Border Force already has powers to block visas for anyone whose presence is deemed to be ‘non-conducive to the public good’.In the past, this has been applied only in cases where there is considered to be a threat to national security.” – Daily Mail
“There will be “no option of a life on benefits” for young people under Labour, its shadow work secretary will declare in a speech on Monday. Liz Kendall is expected to say the party will invest in careers and skills training but warn young people have a “responsibility” to take them up. The party warned the number of people aged between 16-24 who are not in work, education or training is rising. A Tory spokesman said Labour has an “abysmal” record on youth employment.” – BBC
“Families in a Welsh county are facing the UK’s highest council tax increase of more than 16 per cent. Pembrokeshire, which is run by a coalition of Labour, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, was accused of using “strong-arm” tactics on Sunday to pressurise councillors into approving the plans. They will vote on Thursday on a budget including a 16.31 per cent increase in council tax, the highest proposed increase in the country for 2024-25. It would add more than £200 to the council tax bill of a Band D household and would be the highest increase in Wales since 2000-01.” – Daily Telegraph
>Today: Local government: Councils are funding groups seeking to thwart deportations
“A secretive meeting took place in Parliament last week in which Tory MPs were handed the profile of a person — named only as ‘Candidate X’ — who could save the party from catastrophe at the next election…Candidate X backed Brexit, wants lower immigration and would scrap the mad dash to Net Zero by 2050. Candidate Y backed Brexit, but wants higher immigration to support some industries and opposes cutting taxes too quickly. Candidate Z was a Remainer, opposes tax cuts and backs Net Zero. The polling showed that Candidate X romped home with the support of 34 per cent of all voters — while Y received 19 per cent and Z, 22 per cent. Under Candidate X, the Tories would be the largest party in a hung Parliament. Andrew Hawkins, of Whitestone Insight, said: ‘I did not want to give them a name, I wanted them to see what sort of leader they need to win an election.’ ” – Andrew Pierce, Daily Mail
>Today: ToryDiary: YIMBYism is not enough to make young voters Conservatives