“Top Tories have broken cover to publicly demand Rishi Sunak cough up more cash for defence. Security minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Office minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan say the UK must “lead the way” amid growing threats to Britain. They piled pressure on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in a 1,100 word joint essay on LinkedIn just two days after the Budget failed to boost defence spending. And called for spending to be hiked at least 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product – the nation’s wealth. It currently stands at around two per cent of GDP. Whitehall insiders said the ministers had “gone rogue” with the post that had not been cleared with Downing Street first. Despite the astonishing act of defiance by two minsters – neither are expected to be sacked.” – Sun on Sunday
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“Rishi Sunak is preparing a new benefits squeeze to fund his ambition to abolish national insurance contributions for workers by the end of the next parliament. In an interview with The Sunday Times, the prime minister said he was drawing up plans to curb the growing welfare bill to fund further tax cuts. Senior Treasury sources claim that there will be another “fiscal event”, possibly as soon as September, before polling day. Sunak has all but ruled out a May election, saying he “stood by” what he said in January: that he expected an election in the second half of the year. In the past week.. the prime minister has come under pressure to explain how he would pay for his unfunded pledge to abolish national insurance contributions (NICs), with projections suggesting it could blow a £40 billion hole in the public finances.” – Sunday Times
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“Tory MPs have launched a new drive to remove Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister after the Budget failed to improve his polling figures – with Boris Johnson top of their wish-list as his replacement. The moves are being co-ordinated by long-term Boris fans, led by Lady McAlpine. The widow of construction tycoon Sir William McAlpine, she played a key role in organising a recent meeting of more than 50 MPs and peers to be talked through polling data she had funded. This poll concluded that only Mr Johnson could save the Tories from a catastrophic defeat… Last night Lady McAlpine said the Budget – which cut 2p from National Insurance but did not include any dial-shifting surprises – had not altered her view that the party needed a change of leadership.” – Mail on Sunday
“Rishi Sunak paid tribute to “a relentless campaigner, a fiercely loyal MP to the people of Maidenhead” who “defines what it means to be a public servant”. This is the myth that has crystallised around May. A figure who even when she was in office seemed like something from the past. The vicar’s daughter. The fields of wheat. Meeting her husband at a Tory party disco. Bonding over a fondness for cricket. The passion for John Lewis. A former prime minister with no entourage, no global institute, no money-grubbing entanglements with billionaires or autocrats or American headbangers. An MP so dedicated to her constituency that she announced her departure in the local paper. Just a shame about that whole Brexit thing. But seeing May as an archaic figure… misses so much about her.” – Sunday Times
“Britain is at risk of becoming a “hostile environment for Jews”, the government’s anti-Semitism Tsar has warned. Lord John Mann said there has been a massive increase in anti Jew race hate since the October 7 Hamas terror attack. His stark warning comes as we reveal that anti-Semitism at universities is now so bad, Jewish teenagers are being trained in how to deal with it. Lord Mann told The Sun on Sunday: “What is happening to the Jewish community is people are being targeted because they are Jewish. Since I took up my role in 2019 anti-Semitism has grown. It has grown dramatically since the October attacks.” … Jewish children as young as 9 years-old are being bullied and branded “baby murderers” by their classmates in the playground, he warned.” – Sun on Sunday
“Michael Gove is set to announce a controversial plan this week to ban individuals and groups who “undermine the UK’s system of liberal democracy” from public life, despite fears inside government that the scheme is at risk of a legal challenge, leaked documents reveal. Officials working for Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, have drawn up plans for “trailblazer” departments to pilot the scheme, according to documents that have been circulated to the Home Office and Downing Street and seen by the Observer. Organisations and individuals that breach a new official definition of extremism will be excluded from meetings or any engagement with ministers, senior civil servants, government advisory boards and funding.” – The Observer
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“Conservative MPs have accused David Cameron of “sniping” at Israel over its handling of the situation in Gaza and have claimed the Foreign Office shows “anti-Israel sentiment”. A group of pro-Israel Tory MPs is due to raise its concerns with the Foreign Secretary at a meeting on Tuesday. Last week, Lord Cameron met Benny Gantz, the Israeli cabinet minister, to discuss the flow of aid into Gaza. After the meeting, he posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter, saying that he had “made clear the steps Israel must take to increase aid” and that “we are still not seeing improvements on the ground”. He also said he was “deeply concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah” and that Israel’s performance in making aid available would have “consequences” for the UK’s assessment about “whether Israel is compliant” with international law.” – Sunday Telegraph
“Boris Johnson secretly flew to Venezuela last month for unofficial talks with its autocratic leader, Nicolás Maduro, it can be revealed. The former prime minister took a private jet from a family holiday in the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean country, to a location outside of Caracas, where he spent less than 24 hours. Johnson spoke to Maduro about the war in Ukraine amid concern in western diplomatic and intelligence circles that the oil-rich socialist republic could supply weapons or other military support to Russia, a close ally. Since leaving Downing Street he has championed President Zelensky on the world stage. He also discussed the conditions for normalising relations with the UK, which does not accept the legitimacy of Maduro’s administration.” – Sunday Times
“Ministers could back new laws that would give Parliament a veto over the proposed UAE-backed takeover of the Daily Telegraph. Government officials have contacted Tory peer Baroness Stowell within the past 48 hours about potentially backing an amendment she has tabled. It would allow the sale of UK publications to foreign states to be blocked. More than 100 MPs have already pledged to back the amendment to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. But the Government may also throw its weight behind it if officials are satisfied the wording is watertight. A decision will be made in the coming days. ‘It would have to do what it says on the tin,’ a Government source said.” – Mail on Sunday
“The cruel puppy smuggling trade would finally be banned under a plan being pushed by a Tory MP. Selaine Saxby says legal loopholes must be closed to stop criminals importing trendy dogs and cats in a poor condition. Pet sellers would be banned from importing puppies and kittens under six months, according to her proposal. And heavily pregnant cats and dogs would not be allowed to travel. It would also stop the import of pets that have undergone “mutilations” that are illegal in the UK. This includes dogs with cropped ears and cats that have had their claws removed… Her Private Members’ Bill will have its second reading in the Commons on Friday. Ms Saxby said that the “huge” surge in puppy smuggling started during the pandemic and demand still remains.” – Sun on Sunday
“The former prime minister Liz Truss will seek to change the legal definition of sex to “biological” this week in a move that could bar trans women from female-only spaces. Truss’s private member’s bill, which is due to receive its second reading on Friday, would prevent anyone in an official capacity, including teachers, from claiming that a child is the opposite sex. It would also ban the prescription of hormones to children questioning their sex, both privately and on the NHS… Truss’s bill is set to go further than the NHS, which is expected to lay out plans as soon as this week to restrict the use of puberty blockers. The consultation on the government’s draft trans guidance for schools and colleges, issued in December, is due to close on Tuesday.” – Sunday Times
“Labour has been branded a party of cowards and hypocrites for opposing plans to send illegal migrants to Rwanda. Home Secretary James Cleverly accused them of cynically fighting the flagship policy because they are afraid it will work. In a blistering attack, he said Sir Keir Starmer’s party would rather “carp from the sidelines” than take bold action to tackle the small boats crisis. And he warned that Labour’s “do nothing” approach could send the cost of asylum hotels and support rocketing to £11billion if they win power. Mr Cleverly lashed out as the Rwanda Bill – which Labour has voted against 10 times – reaches its final stages in Parliament this week. Writing exclusively for the Sunday Express, he accused the opposition of hypocrisy, cynicism, ambiguity and cowardice.” – Sunday Express
“Labour is launching a new push to go after the “grey wall” of pensioners after a backlash over the budget. Party activists are trying to woo the elderly who they believe are key to winning the General Election. One senior shadow minister told The Sun on Sunday: “You have heard of the Red wall and the Blue Wall – but we are going after the grey wall. “Pensioners will be fed up after that Budget. They are the only voter group we are behind with. But we are going to try to woo them.” Pensioners were singled out as the biggest losers in Jeremy Hunt’s Budget this week with experts calculating they will lose an average of £1,000 each. And fresh Labour Party analysis claims the Tories’ plan to scrap National Insurance in the future could cost pensioners another grand if it means income tax going up.” – Sun on Sunday
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>Today: ToryDiary: Labour’s plan to target the ‘grey wall’ shows why there is so little distance between Reeves and Hunt on the economy