Newslinks for Wednesday 12th March 2025

Ukraine agrees to ceasefire as US restores aid

“The United States declared that the “ball was in Russia’s court” after Kyiv accepted a proposal for an immediate ceasefire and America resumed military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. President Trump said he hoped Russia would agree to the 30-day ceasefire plan drawn up by American and Ukrainian officials at the end of all-day talks in Saudi Arabia, and that he would talk to President Putin. “I’ll talk to Vladimir Putin, it takes two to tango,” Trump said. “Now we have to go to Russia and hopefully Putin will agree to [the ceasefire] also and we can get this show on the road.” There was no immediate response from Moscow, but early on Wednesday local time, Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said that Russia had launched an air attack on the Ukrainian capital.” – The Times

• Russia strikes Zelensky’s hometown hours after Ukraine agrees to truce – Daily Telegraph
• UK helped Ukraine and US reach ceasefire deal – government sources – BBC
• Russia’s aggression cannot be rewarded – Leader, Daily Telegraph
• Putin probably isn’t laughing any more – Tim Collins, Daily Telegraph
• Ukraine may keep fighting a guerrilla war, regardless of a ‘peace deal’ – Richard Kemp, Daily Telegraph
• How Europe can take up America’s mantle – Martin Wolf, Financial Times
• Britain set to be more vulnerable to global enemies than ever, a new report warns – Daily Express

>Yesterday: Rafe Fletcher on Comment: On Ukraine, Washington is forgetting the difference between realism and relativism

EU retaliates after Trump imposes steel tariffs

“The EU has retaliated against Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium within hours of them taking effect, escalating a global trade war. The European Commission said its measures would affect up to €26bn of American goods, matching the US tariffs on European exports, and would take effect in April, leaving some time to negotiate with Washington. “The European Union must act to protect consumers and business,” said commission president Ursula von der Leyen.” – Financial Times

• Starmer will not impose immediate UK counter-tariffs to US steel levies – Financial Times
•  How Team Trump is trying to spin his disastrous economic crash and the dire consequences for us all – Andrew Neil, Daily Mail

Reform 1) Police investigating allegations against Rupert Lowe

“The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into suspended Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe over an allegation of “verbal threats”. Reform reported the Great Yarmouth MP to police on 6 March over alleged threats of physical violence against the party’s chairman Zia Yusuf. A spokesperson for the Met Police said the force had launched an investigation “into an allegation of a series of verbal threats made by a 67-year-old man”. Writing on social media, external, Lowe said he was “unaware of the specific allegations” but denied “any wrongdoing.” – BBC

•  Great Yarmouth residents praise their MP – BBC
• Lowe refuses to rule out defection – Daily Express

Reform 2) Finkelstein: Farage v Lowe is more than a personal spat

“Just before being expelled on suspicion of threatening the party chairman with fisticuffs, Lowe had complained that Reform was a protest party. He demanded a serious policy. He is pressing for mass deportation, as one example. And he has been politically sympathetic to online campaigns about the treatment of Tommy Robinson, championed by the far right. Or joining in a boycott of Arla dairy products, promoted by social media conspiracy theorists. He wants, in other words, a deeper Reform UK, purer, more attuned to its most radical supporters, revelling in the applause of Elon Musk and incapable of being outflanked on the right by anyone. That is what he means by ceasing to be a protest party. But Farage understands that nothing makes a political party more a protest organisation than deepening rather than broadening.” – Daniel Finkelstein, The Times

Other Reform comment:

• This fracas shows why Reform may not survive – Madeline Grant, Daily Telegraph
• Runcorn by-election could be proof of concept for Reform UK  – Stephen Bush, Financial Times
• Labour’s tack to the Right leaves Reform looking moderate – Tim Stanley, Daily Telegraph
• Has Reform reached its breaking point? – Marina Hyde, The Guardian
• Reform’s alpha males need to shut up and get on with the job – Allison Pearson, Daily Telegraph

>Today: Columnist Daniel Hannan: Reform aren’t finished but Farage needs to overcome his demons about ‘rivals’

IDS warns jobs tax will undermine efforts to cut benefits bill

“Labour’s ‘jobs tax’ will wreck any attempt to cut the benefits bill, a former work and pensions secretary has warned. Sir Keir Starmer is expected to bring forward a £6 billion package of benefit cuts next week after branding the welfare system ‘unsustainable, indefensible and unfair’. The Prime Minister told Labour MPs this week that reforms were needed to avoid creating a ‘wasted generation’. But Sir Iain Duncan Smith said Rachel Reeves’s £25 billion raid on employers’ National Insurance would destroy the part-time jobs that are needed to help people back into the workplace after long periods on sickness benefits.” – Daily Mail

• Half of disability benefit rise since Covid due to mental health – The Times
• Sarwar backs Starmer over welfare reform – BBC
• The benefits bill must finally be cut – Leader, Daily Telegraph

EU toughens deportation rules to fend off anti-immigrant backlash

“Brussels has been forced to draw up a plan to forcibly deport failed asylum seekers or illegal migrants to prevent an “existential” popular backlash against the European Union’s migration and refugee system. Under pressure from national governments, EU plans to accelerate deportations will also, for the first time, give the legal green light to set up “return hubs” outside Europe, emulating Britain’s shelved Rwanda scheme.” – The Times

>Today: ToryDiary: The Conservatives are talking a good game on immigration reform – now they must walk it

Farming subsidies scrapped

“Farming subsidies have been halted by the Government in a fresh blow to rural communities. The main replacement to the EU-era subsidies scheme was paused to new applications without warning on Tuesday, leaving some farmers with holes in their budgets. The Government said the sustainable farming incentive (SFI) would be revised after the spending review in June, with a cap on how much money farmers could receive.” – Daily Telegraph

Bin strike in Birmingham

“Rubbish is piling up on the streets of Birmingham as bin workers launched an all-out indefinite strike, with the council accusing the union of holding the city hostage. Almost 400 workers in Birmingham, who have been striking intermittently since January in an escalating row over the scrapping of some roles, began the all-out strike from 6am on Tuesday. More than 1 million people are likely to be affected.” – The Guardian

Labour councils refusing to invest in defence firms

“Labour councils have scrapped investments in defence firms to woo pro-Palestinian voters. At least nine local authorities have voted to divest their pension funds from British defence companies, despite pressure from the Government for arms manufacturers to be considered “ethical” investments. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, is attempting to drive investment in such firms to improve Britain’s industrial base. European nations are also trying to re-arm in the wake of Donald Trump’s call for the Continent to manage its own security and provide arms to Ukraine.” – Daily Telegraph

Natural England to be given powers to seize land

“Britain’s environmental regulator will be given powers to seize farmland, allotments and other green spaces for nature restoration projects, as part of wide-ranging changes to planning laws. In a bid to offset damage caused by new buildings, Natural England will be given powers to compulsorily purchase land elsewhere in the country to rewild or turn into nature reserves. The projects will be funded by fees paid by developers, in a key reform allowing building projects to overcome environmental objections by funding nature projects elsewhere.” – The Times

• Plan to make it easier for councils to seize land for housing – BBC

A Quango to be abolished…

“Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to scrap one quango – after the Labour Government he heads created 27 in eight months. The Prime Minister said he would “abolish” the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), which looks after payment systems such as Mastercard, to reduce the burdens on business and promote growth. It will, however, merely be merged into another quango, the Financial Conduct Authority. Since Labour came to power, a total of 27 quangos have been created, including the Fair Work Agency and the Independent Football Regulator.” – Daily Telegraph

…with “plans” to scrap more

“A radical blueprint for reforming the state is being drawn up by government officials, including a crackdown on quangos and thousands more civil service job cuts, the Guardian understands. Proposals to restructure NHS England, with entire teams axed to save money and avoid duplication, could be replicated across a range of arm’s length bodies that spend about £353bn of public money. Separately, No 10 and the Treasury are understood to be taking a close interest in proposals drawn up by Labour Together, a thinktank with close links to the government, to reshape the state under plans dubbed “project chainsaw”. – The Guardian

• Stop “outsourcing” decisions, Starmer tells Cabinet – The Times
• The problem is not the civil service. It’s the inadequacy of our politicians – Philip Johnston, Daily Telegraph

Other political news

• Treasury will reward whistleblowers for exposing tax avoidance or fraud – The Times
• A senior assistant to Wes Streeting exposed himself to a 13-year-old girl then followed her – The Sun
• UK growth push held back by poor Whitehall co-ordination, watchdog finds – Financial Times
• Container ship that struck tanker failed 10 safety checks – Daily Telegraph
• US education department to lay off 1,300 people as Trump vows to close agency – The Guardian
• Ministers back ‘rapid response’ satellite plan to end reliance on US – The Times
• Landmark inheritance tax ruling could save families six-figure sums – Daily Telegraph
• Labour councillor’s role ‘untenable’ after Nazi salute – BBC
• World Service must be fully state-funded to counter disinformation, say BBC bosses – The Guardian
• Patients died after NHS failed to invite them for cancer screening – Daily Telegraph
• Scottish Ministers scrap green heating plans for new homes – BBC
• Portuguese government collapses as PM loses confidence vote – The Times
• Government backs miscarriage bereavement leave – BBC
• Kurdish forces to merge with Syrian army – The Times

Jenrick: Criminals will be popping Champagne due to soft sentences

“If the police targeted prolific criminals and the courts handed down stronger sentences, we could lock these individuals up for longer and cut crime rates. That’s what a common-sense justice system would do. But instead Starmer is plotting to scrap short prison sentences later this year, meaning fewer of these prolific offenders will be going to jail. If Labour goes ahead with this, criminals will once again be popping champagne corks in celebration at the Prime Minister’s soft touch.” – Robert Jenrick, Daily Mail

• Hardened criminals are ‘laughing at the law’ – Daily Mail
• Jenrick is driving Labour ministers crazy – Quentin Letts, Daily Mail
• It’s so unfair that being an ethnic minority might mean you’re treated more leniently by a court – Professor Andrew Tettenborn, Daily Mail
• Soft justice won’t keep Britain safe – Leader, Daily Mail
• John Hunt’s statement in full: ‘The screams of Hell, Kyle’ – The Times

>Yesterday: Imogen Sadler on Comment: Serious legislative reform is needed to protect the public from sexual offences

News in brief

• Has Ukraine called Putin’s bluff? – Mark Galeotti, The Spectator
• What next for Reform UK? – Gawain Towler, CapX
• Reform has a human capital problem – Luca Watson, The Critic
• Stephen Langton. Archbishop of Canterbury under King John, 1207-1228 – Jacob Rees-Mogg, Substack
• Why you shouldn’t buy a National Lottery ticket – Charlotte Gill, Substack