“Kemi Badenoch is facing a battle to avoid dropping to third place in the Tory leadership race as MPs prepare to eliminate another of the contenders on Tuesday. The shadow housing secretary came second in the first round of voting last week, just one vote ahead of James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary. Her supporters now fear she could be overtaken by Mr Cleverly because of “vote lending” by other candidates to manipulate the result. Momentum is important in any leadership race, meaning Mrs Badenoch is keen to avoid going backwards in the pecking order, but her supporters are confident she will be able to use the party conference later this month to reset her campaign and show how much support she has among members.” – Daily Telegraph
>Today: ToryDiary: Our survey: Badenoch, Cleverly, and Tugendhat lead our Shadow Cabinet League Table
“Conservative leadership contenders have called the lacklustre handling of the contest disgraceful after it emerged they may only get a few minutes each to address the party’s conference. The contest, which was expected to be a battle for the soul of the party, had been reduced to leadership contenders being given just 10 minutes on the stage, insiders said. Rishi Sunak, the outgoing Tory leader, was expected to “show his face” only on the Sunday of the conference. Some leadership hopefuls were concerned that the proposal for a “beauty contest” of the final four candidates to address members had been curtailed. Instead of being able to set out their offer to party members – and the wider public, given that the speeches are likely to be broadcast widely – insiders said the MPs could get limited time on stage.” – The Guardian
>Yesterday:
“Tory MPs voice weariness at their leadership race yesterday [MON], as candidates appeared at a final husting ahead of today’s second knock-out vote. The party’s decision to ‘go long’ with the contest and not announce a replacement for Rishi Sunak until early November already appears to be wearing out the party, despite another month to go. The husting event yesterday was described by numerous MPs as having “very poor attendance”, with one warning that the party is quickly becoming “husting’d out”. One party frontbencher’s weariness was clear, calling the event “alright”, while another MP called it “underwhelming” and a third branded it a “non-event”.” – Daily Express
>Yesterday:
“Rachel Reeves has warned Labour MPs threatening to rebel over winter fuel payments that “there are more difficult decisions to come”. The Chancellor and PM have refused to water down their plan to strip nine million OAPs of the benefit — as union bosses accused them of “picking the pockets of pensioners”. Sir Keir Starmer now faces his biggest rebellion as PM, with up to 50 Labour MPs threatening not to vote with the government in a Commons showdown today. But the protest vote will likely fall flat given the scale of Labour’s majority. Last night Ms Reeves told Labour MPs that the elderly can afford to lose the benefit as the triple lock “means pensioners have £900 more in their pockets than they did a year ago”.” – The Sun
More:
Sketch:
>Today: David Willetts’ column: For Thatcher, balancing the books was more important than cutting taxes
“A government minister has failed to rule out means testing free bus passes for pensioners. Lord Hendy, the rail minister, was asked on Monday to promise the benefit would not be restricted to the poorest pensioners. He played down the likelihood of a change but said given the state of the public finances he could not offer a “concrete commitment for all time”. The comments are likely to fuel speculation that the Government could at some point decide that not all pensioners should get free bus passes. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faces a backlash over the decision to end winter fuel payments for all, with only those on pension credit to receive the payments of up to £300.” – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
>Yesterday: David Gauke’s column: ‘Fair prices’ are a trap, and Starmer looks set to march straight into it
“The last Conservative government was aware of these issues and was in the process of changing the rules and putting in a limit to the amount people would have to shell out on their own care costs in their lifetime. The cap was to be set at £86,000 and was due to be implemented in October 2025. Reeves unceremoniously scrapped it to help fill her and Keir Starmer’s now infamous – and many would say mythical – “£22bn blackhole”. She said this would save £1.1bn by the end of 2025-26… I’m definitely not the only one who thinks it unfair – with older people’s charities also condemning the move.” – Daily Express
Editorial:
>Today: Mel Stride MP in Comment: Labour is beatable – and under my leadership, we will beat them
“Sir Keir Starmer will promise to end “cheap and vindictive attacks” on the trade union movement as he promises to work with both businesses and unions to “rewire” the British economy. Starmer on Tuesday will become the first UK prime minister to address the Trades Union Congress in 15 years after winning the general election in July with a landslide victory. The Labour leader will herald the repeal of anti-strike legislation as a shift away from the previous Conservative government’s attacks on trade unions that will “turn the page on politics as noisy performance”. But Starmer will also try to close down the idea that Labour’s financial reliance on the trade unions makes the party unable to understand the business world.” – FT
More:
Comment:
>Today: Simon Fawthrop in Local Government: ULEZ was never about air quality – it was about the money
“For weeks, ministers have taken flak for handing big pay rises to public-sector unions. Now they are under pressure to do so for their own aides, as special advisers sign up to a union over their pay and conditions. Advisers in Downing Street and working for cabinet ministers have agreed to join a union en masse after many said that they had suffered a pay cut for taking jobs in government. The Cabinet Office has agreed to review their pay scale. Informal talks with union representatives are said to be amicable with no threats of strikes, which have crippled other parts of the public sector. While the process has not been officially announced, ministers are said to see little alternative as they plan to change the law to force more companies to recognise unions.” – The Times
“A record 125 cops were assaulted every day last year – and the thugs responsible “must pay”, the Home Secretary has said. Yvette Cooper called the figures “a stain on our society” and vowed to restore the rule of law. A total of 45,907 assaults on the police were recorded in the 12 months to March this year, with 11,479 of those resulting in injury – up 75 per cent on 2018 levels. The figure does not include those injured in the summer riots, when thousands of officers were pelted with bricks and bottles. More than 50 were hurt in the Southport unrest alone, suffering fractures, lacerations and concussion. As well as ensuring those responsible are punished, Ms Cooper has said she will put more bobbies on the beat.” – The Sun
Comment:
>Yesterday:
“Keir Starmer’s hopes of meeting Kamala Harris and Donald Trump during a visit to the US this week may be dashed by their campaign schedules, the Guardian has learned. The prime minister has been advised by civil servants that he should try to secure a meeting with Harris and Trump before the US election in November. UK officials explored the prospect of Starmer meeting both candidates at the end of this week, two government sources have said. The prime minister is making a whistle-stop trip to Washington DC on Friday for a discussion with the US president, Joe Biden. Neither Harris nor Trump are likely to be able to see Starmer on Friday, however, because they are scheduled to be campaigning outside Washington.” – The Guardian