Newslinks for Sunday 30th March 2025

UK prepared to retaliate against US tariffs, No 10 sources say

“The UK would not hesitate to retaliate against US tariffs if needed, according to Downing Street sources. The government is in last-minute negotiations with the White House ahead of a 25% tax on car imports and threats of wider tariffs on other goods on 2 April. It is trying to get an exemption, arguing that – unlike other countries – the UK has a relatively equal trading relationship with the US. The prime minister has said he does not want to jump into a trade war. US President Donald Trump has introduced a series of tariffs targeting goods from other countries, arguing the measures will help American manufacturers and protect jobs despite warnings prices could go up for consumers.” – BBC News

• PM urged to get tough with Trump – Observer
• Starmer braces for impact as Trump ‘escalates’ tariff war – Sunday Telegraph

Comment

>Today:

Home Secretary insists no more ‘jobs on tap’ for illegal migrants

“Yvette Cooper has pledged to end “jobs on tap” for illegal immigrants by closing loopholes in Britain’s lax border laws. The Home Secretary has vowed to “restore order to the asylum system” by targeting takeaway delivery services and beauty salons that hire on the black market. She is announcing that rogue bosses of “gig economy” companies that employ workers without a visa could face unlimited fines and five years behind bars. She told The Telegraph: “We are restoring order to the asylum system.” – Sunday Telegraph

• Cooper: 10,000 who came on visas now in asylum hotels – Sunday Times
• Criminal gangs are making over £200m a year smuggling people across the Channel – Sun on Sunday

Police arrest parents who complained in school WhatsApp group

“When Maxie Allen complained to his daughter’s primary school about the recruitment process for a new head teacher, he hoped it would result in more openness and transparency. Instead six uniformed officers from Hertfordshire police were sent to arrest Allen and his partner after the school objected to them sending numerous emails and to their criticisms including “disparaging” comments on a parents’ WhatsApp group. Allen and Rosalind Levine were detained in front of their young daughter before being fingerprinted, searched and left in a police cell for eight hours. After a five-week investigation, police concluded there should be no further action.” – Sunday Times

• Councillor warned by police about helping parents who complained about school – Sunday Telegraph
• Police told councillor not to help parents in school WhatsApp group row – Sunday Times
• School row – Sun on Sunday
• Met smash down door of Quaker meeting house to arrest activists – Sunday Times
• Last-ditch law could block ‘two-tier’ sentencing in 24 hours – Sunday Times

Comment

Tories call for Cobra meeting over Birmingham bin strike

“Angela Rayner is facing demands to call an emergency Cobra meeting in Downing Street over the spiralling bin strike crisis in Birmingham. The Tories are urging the Deputy Prime Minister to send in private cleaning firms to break the unions’ grip over the rubbish-strewn second city. On Saturday, two senior Tory frontbenchers wrote to Ms Rayner, who is in charge of local government, urging her to personally intervene. Alex Burghart, the shadow cabinet office minister, and Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow housing secretary, said the chaos was “putting residents at risk”. – Sunday Telegraph

• Rayner told to call emergency Cobra meeting – Mail on Sunday
• Fury as Labour MP in British city piled high with rubbish requests new airport is built… in Kashmir – Mail on Sunday

MPs to vote on disability benefit cuts without knowing ‘full impact’

“MPs are set to vote on Labour’s disability benefit cuts without any idea of how many of those affected will be able to find work, after it emerged that Britain’s economic watchdog may not publish its forecast of the employment impact of the plans until the end of October. The Department for Work and Pensions’ own impact assessment last week predicted that the cuts announced in the disability benefits green paper would drive at least 300,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children.” – Observer

Wealth tax fears as Labour uses AI to value all homes

“Fears are growing that Labour could introduce a wealth tax after it backed AI software that can value people’s homes. The Welsh Government ordered the computer programme, which runs on artificial intelligence, to review council tax bands. Rachel Reeves is facing growing calls from Left-wing MPs to slap a levy on the rich, which would be based on assets such as property. Ministers admitted the software could be adapted for use in England as they failed to rule out introducing such a wealth tax in the autumn. The Tories have warned that the new system could ultimately be used to “clobber middle Britain”. – Sunday Telegraph

‘Arrogant’ BBC bosses rejected anti-Semitism training for staff

“Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, refused anti-Semitism training for the broadcaster, the Government’s adviser on anti-Jewish hatred has revealed. Lord Mann, Sir Keir Starmer’s independent adviser on anti-Semitism, said he had visited BBC bosses to offer training on three occasions since taking up his role in 2019. However, he said senior figures, including Mr Davie himself, turned down his repeated offers despite growing fears of an anti-Semitism problem at the BBC. In a strongly worded condemnation of the broadcaster, Lord Mann accused it of failing to take seriously allegations of anti-Semitism and alleged anti-Israel bias in its reporting, saying there was an “arrogance at the top”. – Sunday Telegraph

A Labour MP has claimed back £900 from the taxpayer in “pet rent”

“Taiwo Owatemi, a government whip and the MP for Coventry North West, made the expenses claim in August last year, a document published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) revealed. Ms Owatemi’s landlord at her second home in London issued the extra charge in order to let the MP’s dog stay at the property, according to The Times newspaper. Parliamentary authorities paid the expenses claim, which is not in breach of the rules governing MPs’ expenses. Labour defended Ms Owatemi’s expenses claim, with a party spokesman telling The Times: “MPs are required to work in two locations, and this is a requirement for living in this house.” – Sunday Telegraph

Other political news and comment

• Nandy set to be ousted – Sunday Express
• Brit Hollywood actor revealed as Labour’s top choice to replace Khan – Sun on Sunday
• Labour considers using terror laws to nationalise British Steel – Sunday Telegraph
• England’s road-building budget cut by 5% – FT
• American freed by Taliban thanks Trump for release – Sunday Telegraph
• It’s becoming obvious that Starmer simply isn’t a leader – Robert Jenrick, Sunday Telegraph
• We win if the Right unites: that is the lesson from Canada and Australia for the Tories and Reform – Daniel Hannan, Sunday Telegraph
• We must realise war is Putin’s natural state – Dominic Lawson, Sunday Times
• Yes, Chancellor, the world has changed. But you ain’t seen nothing yet – Liam Halligan, Sunday Telegraph
• Putin must be stopped now, or he will devour the East – David Grigorian, Sunday Telegraph
• Our obsession with the middle class is a comfort in troubled times – Sophia Money-Coutts, Sunday Telegraph
• Labour is not yet done with its sinister assault on aspiration – Michael Mosbacher, Sunday Telegraph

News in Brief