“Sir Keir Starmer condemned Donald Trump as “completely wrong” for igniting a trade war with Britain in an attempt to force a deal on Greenland. In the biggest crisis in US-UK relations since Sir Keir became Prime Minister, the US president announced a 10 per cent tariff on all goods sent to the US by Britain and its European allies from Feb 1. The levy will rise to 25 per cent on June 1, unless Britain and other European countries agree to let him take control of the Danish territory. On Saturday night, the Prime Minister said he would be “pursuing this directly with the US administration”. Sir Keir’s measured language came in stark contrast with Emmanuel Macron, the French president, who said of the tariffs: “No intimidation nor threat will influence us.” – Sunday Telegraph
“Sir Keir Starmer has been encouraged by Cabinet ministers to sack Wes Streeting for disloyalty. Frustrations over the Health Secretary’s tendency to criticise the Labour administration in public are thought to be growing, with ministers believing he still harbours leadership ambitions. Mr Streeting again found himself at the centre of a briefing row as Sir Keir’s allies said his public voicing of outspoken opinions was “undermining” the Labour Party. One Cabinet minister reportedly suggested Sir Keir needed to learn from Kemi Badenoch, who sacked Robert Jenrick, the Tory party’s shadow justice secretary, on Thursday ahead of his defection to Reform UK.” – Sunday Telegraph
“Robert Jenrick was styled as ‘the new sheriff in town’ in a secret defection media memo which fell into Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s hands before his chaotic move to join Reform UK. A private ‘media plan’ drawn up for the former Shadow Justice Secretary while he was plotting to join Nigel Farage’s party also called his move ‘the biggest defection story Reform has ever had (and likely ever will be)’, and urged him to ‘use humour – one of your best skills’. The plan, which has been obtained by The Mail on Sunday, also described him as ‘the most popular Tory Shadow Cabinet member, leader-in-waiting if Kemi ever falls and the most dynamic politician in the Conservative Party’”. – Mail on Sunday
“The Education Secretary will review anti-Semitism in schools, The Telegraph has learnt. Bridget Phillipson said she had “genuine concerns” about the ability of schools to deal with “hatred and prejudice”. Earlier this week, it emerged that a Jewish MP’s visit to a school in his constituency was cancelled after a pro-Palestine campaign. Writing for The Telegraph, Ms Phillipson said the treatment of Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, was “completely unacceptable”. She wrote: “But this is not the first concern we’ve heard about anti-Semitism in schools, and that is a problem. “It is clear to me that there is not enough support for school and college leaders across the country, to help them tackle hatred and prejudice whenever and wherever it arises.” – Sunday Telegraph
“Gordon Brown regrets not opposing Sir Tony Blair’s drive to wage war on Saddam Hussein, according to a new biography of the ‘Iron Chancellor’. Mr Brown has said former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook ‘had a clearer view’ than the rest of the Government of the claims, which led to Britain’s involvement in the Iraq War. He also admitted for the first time he should have called a snap election when he became prime minister in 2007 – and claimed Sir Tony had assured him he would stand down three years earlier than he did.” – Mail on Sunday