“Rachel Reeves has said that she is “up for” taking Britain closer to the EU. The Chancellor described current negotiations over youth mobility, food standards and energy policy as “first base” and said closer relations with the bloc represented the “biggest prize” for the British economy. Speaking at an event in London organised by the Bruegel think tank, Ms Reeves said Labour was willing to cede more powers to Brussels to secure a better economic deal. The comments are a significant shift in tone from the Chancellor, who just weeks ago told an audience in Davos that Britain could not go “back in time” in its relationship with the EU.” – Daily Telegraph
“Sir Keir Starmer nominated a former adviser for a peerage despite being told that he provided a paedophile councillor with “support” because he “believed in his innocence”. Lord Doyle, a former director of communications in Downing Street, told Number 10 he had been “supportive” of Sean Morton after he was charged with possessing and distributing indecent images of children. The disclosure will raise further questions about the prime minister’s judgment in the wake of the scandal over the former British ambassador to the US Lord Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, the paedophile financier. Starmer stood by his decision to ennoble Doyle for more than six weeks after he had been made aware that his communications chief had campaigned for Morton as an independent councillor despite him being charged with sex offences.” – The Times
>Today:
>Yesterday: Video: PMQS: Badenoch accuses PM of sacking a string of allies to save himself
“Female Labour MPs have demanded that Keir Starmer appoint a senior woman as his de facto deputy to oversee a “complete culture change” in Downing Street after a series of scandals that they say have exposed a No 10 “boys’ club”. Harriet Harman, one of the party’s most senior figures, urged Starmer to revive the role of first secretary of state on Wednesday, a post occupied by Peter Mandelson under Gordon Brown.” – The Guardian
“The former boss of the mandarin widely tipped to become the next Cabinet Secretary has urged Sir Keir Starmer to undertake full due diligence checks on her. The Prime Minister is set to appoint as his most senior civil servant to replace Sir Chris Wormald, who is expected to resign after a year in post. The Home Office permanent secretary will become Britain’s first female Cabinet Secretary as part of a wider shake up of the top team at Downing Street. While serving as British consul general in New York in 2017, she was investigated, and subsequently cleared, over allegations of bullying and misusing expenses.” – Daily Telegraph
The economy grew by 0.1% in the final quarter of last year, ONS figures show. This is in line with what economists had predicted. As well as the quarterly figure, the ONS also published December’s monthly GDP figure this morning. This shows the economy also grew by 0.1% on a monthly basis. But the figure for the previous month of November was revised down from 0.3% to 0.2%.” – BBC
“Keir Starmer has demanded Sir Jim Ratcliffe apologise for saying “the UK has been colonised by immigrants”. The Prime Minister hit back on Wednesday night by calling the Manchester United co-owner’s comments “offensive and wrong”…In an interview with Sky News, the businessman said politicians needed to “do some difficult things with the UK to get it back on track”. The founder and chairman of one of the world’s largest chemical companies, Ineos, shared why he believes Britain faces profound political, social and economic challenges. He said: “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in.” – Daily Express
“Reform UK is drawing up plans to bypass the House of Lords in order to push through a radical agenda if it gets into government. Senior figures in the party are concerned that opposition peers will block or hold up its legislation in the Upper Chamber. Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, has urged the Government to allow him to appoint some life peers, but his party would have to stack the Lords with hundreds of new members to compete with Labour and the Conservatives. The party is working on ways to circumvent the Lords’ veto by beefing up the power of ministers and backbench Commons committees.” – Daily Telegraph
>Today: Albert Ward on Comment: Reform UK refute suggestions they’ve ‘hit a ceiling’ but they have and here’s why
“Vulnerable children are being put at risk by Labour’s free schools review, campaigners have warned. Pausing plans for 20 new state schools for excluded pupils could force more children into low-quality provision, according to a report from the New Schools Network (NSN). In December, the Government announced it was cancelling dozens of planned free schools, including 18 for children with special needs or those unable to attend mainstream education.” – Daily Telegraph
“Labour will end the use of “dodgy front companies” that hide the source of dark money for political donations as part of its sweeping elections bill, which will give votes to 16-year-olds and pave the way for “opt-out” voter registration. Gifts and hospitality for politicians sponsored by foreign states or companies will also be severely curbed, the Guardian understands. The government also intends to put new restrictions on cryptocurrency donations and the size of foreign donations, a key concern of Labour MPs about money that may be funnelled to Reform UK.” – The Guardian
“As many as four in 10 Channel migrants earmarked for deportation under Sir Keir Starmer’s “one in, one out” scheme are claiming to be victims of modern slavery in an attempt to thwart their removal. They are claiming to have been victims of trafficking when they were in their home country, in transit or in the UK, according to the Home Office. The disclosure comes as the Government faces a High Court legal challenge by 16 migrants attempting to block their deportation.” – Daily Telegraph
“The Green Party has been reported to counter-terrorism police by an internal whistleblower. Fears are growing that the party is becoming a breeding-ground for anti-Jewish extremists. Hard-Left activists have joined the Greens in recent months in protest at Labour’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. But a push by pro-Palestine Greens to declare the party ‘anti-Zionist’ has horrified many existing members, who fear extremism, sectarianism and anti-Semitism are being tolerated under Zack Polanski’s leadership.” – Daily Mail
“A team of Green Party activists was thrown out of an assisted living complex in Gorton and Denton after “distressing” elderly residents with their campaigning. The party has apologised and promised to investigate the incident, which occurred last weekend at the Dahlia House apartment centre in Burnage, Greater Manchester, ahead of the by-election on February 26. The facility is designed for retirees who wish to live independently but want shared facilities or require regular help from carers. The Telegraph understands that a team of Green Party campaigners gained access to the complex and began door-to-door canvassing, which elderly residents found confusing and frightening.” – Daily Telegraph
“Holiday bosses have told the Chancellor that getaways are for “relaxing, not taxing” amid fears staycations could rocket by an extra £100 or more. Two hundred bosses from firms such as Butlin’s, Haven and Parkdean Resorts have written to Rachel Reeves, blasting the proposed “holiday tax”. The campaign comes amid concerns £10 per night could be added per night away for a family of five. Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: “We’ve a one-trick, miserablist, tax raising government. They’ll tax you more if you drive your car, get on a plane and now if you stay in a bed on holiday.” Ms Reeves has been told it could lead to shorter trips, abandoned travel plans or holidaymakers going abroad.” – The Sun
“There will be jubilation across the land when Starmer, a nasty, dishonest avatar of a Prime Minister is ousted but the Labour rebels’ confirmation bias makes them incapable of understanding why he is so hated, or the historic paradigm shift upending British society. Yes, voters despise Starmer’s character flaws but public opinion is shifting more profoundly. Despite demographic change and welfare creep, voters are moving Rightwards, not Leftwards, as many ludicrously believe.” – Allister Heath, Daily Telegraph