“Elon Musk has called the prime minister “two-tier Keir” and compared Britain to the Soviet Union as he ramped up his criticism of the government’s response to nationwide riots. Sir Keir Starmer rebuked the billionaire on Monday…but that seems to have only encouraged Musk to release a new volley of tweets. The Twitter/X owner retweeted a video that purported to show a group of Muslims in Birmingham looking for white rightwingers to attack, with the police not present. Musk repeated a question he posed Starmer: “Why aren’t all communities protected in Britain?” and labelled the prime minister #TwoTierKeir. Right-wing groups have claimed the police are engaged in “two-tier policing”: cracking down harder on far-right groups than counter-protesters from ethnic minorities.” – The Times
>Today:
“Rioters will face “the full force of the law”, Sir Keir Starmer has vowed ahead of a further expected wave of riots across the UK. The Prime Minister, speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting at Downing Street, said rioters should expect “substantive sentences” on conviction. More than 400 people have been arrested following the violent unrest in nearly two dozen cities and towns in England, Wales and Northern Ireland over the past six days. Sir Keir promised communities “will be safe” and that the criminal justice system has shown a “robust and swift response” in the face of the unrest. Police forces are bracing themselves for up to 30 potential gatherings of rioters…A list of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies has been shared in chat groups as possible targets for gatherings…” – The Daily Telegraph
“The NHS should turn away racist patients, the health secretary has said, as Muslim GPs said that they were scared to carry out home visits. Wes Streeting said that he “will not tolerate” racist abuse against NHS staff and attacks “bring shame on our flag and on our country”. It comes as two GP surgeries in London closed their doors early on Tuesday amid fears over staff and patients’ safety. The Firs Medical Centre and St James Medical Practice in Walthamstow said that there was “threatened disruption” nearby with “plans to target the Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau” and bosses had decided to close early. Elsewhere, Muslim GPs have said that they were afraid to carry out home visits and the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) advised that staff should travel in groups for safety.” – The Times
>Today:
“Jess Phillips was yesterday accused of ‘making excuses’ for the behaviour of masked men who threatened journalists in Birmingham. Former Tory home secretary James Cleverly called for the Labour frontbencher to ‘think about the consequences’ of a social media post appearing to defend ‘shouting, abusing and intimidating members of the media’. Large groups, some sporting Palestinian flags, had gathered in the Bordesley Green area on Monday after false rumours of a far-right rally. Sky News journalist Becky Johnson had to abruptly end a live report as men in balaclavas approached, disrupting the broadcast and throwing gun signs. One masked attendee attempted to slash the tyre on her crew’s van.” – The Daily Mail
“Rachel Reeves would put UK growth at risk by putting up capital gains tax, leading economists have warned. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) has used a new report to call for £50bn a year more investment into the British economy…The think-tank said the additional funding would need to be paid for by higher taxes – but warned against taxing capital more because that would lead to less private investment… NIESR deputy director Stephen Millard insisted that putting more tax on capital would be a mistake. An entirely new tax on land would be the best option, he suggested, because it does not change the behaviour or individuals or companies and is…hard to avoid. The think-tank is calling for Ms Reeves to increase Government investment to 5 per cent of GDP…” – The I
>Today:
“UK ministers have confirmed that the repeal of anti-strike laws passed by the previous government will form part of a bill to boost workers’ rights that it will introduce… The Conservative government brought in the contentious measures, allowing ministers to enforce minimum levels of service in key parts of the economy, in response to the biggest wave of public sector walkouts for a generation. But they have not been used. Employers in the sectors concerned — including education, health, transport and the Border Force — took the view that forcing employees to work on strike days would be more likely to inflame industrial disputes than resolve them. “Attempting to clamp down on the fundamental freedom of working people has got us nowhere,” said Angela Rayner…” – The Financial Times
“Baroness Eluned Morgan has been appointed as the new first minister of Wales, becoming the country’s first female leader and replacing Vaughan Gething, who resigned in July after four months in the role. Morgan, who has been health minister since 2021, was named leader of Welsh Labour on Tuesday. The party confirmed her candidacy was uncontested. Gething’s decision to step down on July 16 followed the resignation of three Welsh assembly ministers over concerns relating to donations he received during his leadership race. The move came weeks after he lost a confidence vote in the Senedd. “It is the greatest pleasure and privilege of my life to stand before you as the first woman to become first minister of Wales,” Morgan said in her victory speech.” – The Financial Times
“Tory MPs and grassroots Conservatives have cast doubt over whether the winner of the party’s leadership contest can lead them into the next election. Sources told i that there “isn’t much enthusiam” among Conservative members for the race and that some Tories do not believe the next leader will remain in post for long. Six Tory MPs, all of whom are former Cabinet ministers, have thrown their hats into the ring to succeed Rishi Sunak as party leader – Robert Jenrick, Mel Stride, Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat, Priti Patel and James Cleverly. The contest is set to conclude in November, despite some members hoping it will be over before autumn, with leadership hustings due to take place at the Conservative Party conference in September.” – The I
>Today:
>Yesterday: