Newslinks for Tuesday 8th April 2024

Conservatives lose major donor in ‘latest blow to Badenoch’

“The Conservative Party has lost one of its largest donors in the latest blow to its funding. Richard Harpin, the founder of the home repairs company HomeServe, has ended his donations to Kemi Badenoch’s party. The move could mean the Tories’ northern HQ – which has until now been funded by Mr Harpin’s donations – has to close… A Conservative Party spokesman did not deny the reports when contacted by The Telegraph. It comes as the Tories face a funding crisis in the wake of their historic general election defeat, with some donors defecting to Reform UK.” – Daily Telegraph

• Move will result in closure of party’s northern HQ, insiders say – The Guardian

>Yesterday:

Tories and Reform leave door open to co-operation after English local elections

“The Conservatives and Reform UK have kept open the door to limited co-operation at town hall level after the local elections in England next month, according to officials in both parties. While both right-wing parties have vetoed a pre-poll pact or post-election formal coalition, neither is ruling out a “confidence and supply” agreement that would allow one to prop up the other to take power in some scenarios in a local authority. The prospect of such co-operation – which could be an option in local authorities where no party achieves overall control on May 1 but Tory and Reform councillors form a majority – will bolster the hopes of outriders in both parties who want to more formally “unite the right” before the next general election.” – FT

• ‘Unite the right’ ideas put to town hall test – Lucy Fisher, FT

>Today:

Truss deployed to criticise Carney over economics in Canadian election

“The Canadian Conservative Party has suffered a big setback due to its links with Donald Trump, but they shouldn’t despair, another right-wing visionary is riding to the rescue. Liz Truss, the novella of British leaders, has been deployed to say the new Liberal prime minister Mark Carney did “a terrible job” as governor of the Bank of England and “created a lot of the problems that blew up on my watch and that I got blamed for”. It’s characteristic of Truss to so bravely blame another, but she also said that Carney was now backing policies which were “leading the country to bankruptcy”. You’d have thought she would rejoice upon finding such a like-minded soul.” – The Times

>Yesterday: William Prescott in Comment: Tories should learn from the Australian opposition’s struggling against a unloved Labor government

Migration 1) Labour MPs launch campaign for digital IDs to crack down on illegal migration

“More than 40 Labour MPs from three influential backbench groups have called on ministers to introduce digital IDs, which they claim would boost productivity in delivering public services and crack down on illegal employment. The open letter – organised by the Rother Valley MP, Jake Richards – has been signed by the co-chairs of the Labour Growth Group, Chris Curtis and Lola McEvoy, as well as Jo White, who convenes the Labour Red Wall Group. Other signatories include Dan Carden and Jonathan Brash, members of the Blue Labour group of socially conservative MPs. The letter, which has been shared with the Home Office, Cabinet Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, has also been signed by some of the most prominent names in the 2024 intake, including MPs Polly Billington, Jess Asato, Mike Tapp, Joe Powell and Emily Darlington.” – The Guardian

• Migrant ‘madness’ as 400 in small boats currently crossing Channel – Daily Express

Migration 2) Home Office’s reform of graduate visas runs into opposition from DfE

“Home Office officials have accused the Department for Education of encouraging universities to lobby against reforms to the graduate visa that are part of government efforts to cut immigration. Home Office insiders are frustrated at the education department’s stance on its proposal to tighten the terms of the graduate visa, which allow overseas students to stay in the UK for up to two years after they finish their university degree, even if they are not working. Under the reforms, such students would be required to find a graduate-level job to remain in the UK, people briefed on the plans said. Home Office officials highlighted previous estimates by government advisers suggesting that a graduate salary would be above £30,000 per year.” – FT

• Legal migration curbs delayed again amid Cabinet bickering – The Sun

‘Buy British’ campaign to combat Trump tariffs

“Major public sector projects will be told to “buy British” under plans to protect UK industry from Donald Trump’s tariffs. Sir Keir Starmer is understood to be considering changing procurement rules to give an advantage to British firms bidding for government contracts. It could apply to new transport infrastructure, offshore wind or defence investments that will be announced in this year’s industrial strategy and spending review. The plan is modelled on Labour’s Buy, Make and Sell More in Britain campaign, launched by Rachel Reeves in 2021, when the party was in opposition. Government sources said the plan had been revived amid concerns about the vulnerability of the UK’s manufacturing base and the effect of Mr Trump’s tariffs on British firms.” – Daily Telegraph

• Trump’s trade war wiped £6.6tn off world’s stock markets – The Sun
• Reeves humiliated as economy in ‘dire’ state – Daily Express

Comment:

• Tariffs show we have to take Trump literally – William Hague, The Times
• Starmer has golden opportunity but right now he’s screwing up the tactics – John Longworth, Daily Express

>Today: David Willetts’ column: With his tariff revolution, Trump has misjudged his newer, bigger coalition

Starmer ‘must nationalise steel industry’ as Britain’s last blast furnaces prepare for closure

“Britain’s last blast furnaces are in line to be nationalised within weeks as the Chinese owners prepare to shut up shop. Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out taking over British Steel’s Scunthorpe site, where up to 2,700 jobs are at risk. While visiting a car factory in Birmingham with Rachel Reeves yesterday, the PM said “all options are on the table” as talks continue. Both Nigel Farage’s Reform and Tory MPs are urging Labour to nationalise the site to keep the furnaces open. It comes amid reports owner Jingye is spending £20million on a rail steel mill in China, trying to lure British workers there. Unions also revealed Jingye has cancelled orders for iron ore and coal, meaning the furnaces could shut in May.” – The Sun

• Carmakers demand more help from Starmer to survive Trump tariffs – The Times
• EV overhaul slammed as ‘not far enough’ to save British jobs – The Sun

Comment:

• Starmer’s net-zero U-turn has nothing to do with Trump tariffs – Ross Clark, The Sun

Editorial:

• Starmer must stop tinkering and deliver bold, game-changing action – The Sun

Trump’s tariffs could hit UK medicine supply, says Streeting…

“US tariffs could adversely affect the supply of medicines to the UK, the health secretary has said. Donald Trump announced a wide range of “reciprocal” tariffs on goods imported into the US, including a 10% levy on the UK as well as 20% on the EU, 34% on China and 46% on Vietnam. It triggered a rout on stock markets worldwide, with plunges not seen since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, wiping out trillions of dollars in value. Wes Streeting told Sky News that the chaos caused by the fears of a global trade war could disrupt supplies of medicine… Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Streeting said patient data was “not for sale” as part of any trade negotiations with the US designed to mitigate the impact of the tariffs.” – The Guardian

• Starmer pledges centralised service for researchers to mine health data… – FT
• …and admits 8am GP appointment scramble is ‘frustrating’ as 1,500 GPs hired – Daily Express
• Hospitals in England could shed 100,000 jobs in response to cost-cutting orders – The Guardian

Analysis:

• As markets tumble, what are Labour’s options for keeping Britain afloat? – The Times

…as he ‘hammers’ union over Birmingham bin strike

“Wes Streeting warned that a bin strike that has left rubbish piling high on Birmingham streets is a ‘public health’ problem as he lashed out at the union behind the dispute. The Health Secretary accused Unite of creating a situation where ‘bin bags are piling up (and) we see rats and other vermin crawling around’ in England’s second city. It has been preventing refuse collection lorries from leaving the depot for weeks in a dispute over pay and jobs that has left Birmingham streets filthy with tons of rubbish… It came after a city MP again urged ministers to deploy the army to clear the streets – amid fears the strike could spread to other cities.” – Daily Mail

‘Arrogant’ SNP introduces more rent controls

“SNP ministers have been accused of “arrogantly” ignoring the failure of their previous rent controls after unveiling plans for another cap on rises. They tabled plans at Holyrood that would see rent increases in “control areas” capped at 1 per cent above the CPI measure of inflation, up to a maximum of 6 per cent. Under the amendments lodged to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, the cap would apply both to rent increases during the term of a tenancy and in-between tenancies. Ministers would be tasked with determining which areas in Scotland should fall under control areas, with 12 of Scotland’s local authorities having declared a housing emergency.” – Daily Telegraph

News in Brief:

• How Jenrick became the unofficial Leader of the Opposition – Tom Jones, The Critic
• Is the ‘Office for Value for Money’ just another quango? – Tim Knox, The Spectator
• Labour’s timid reforms won’t get Britain off benefits – Daniel Herring, CapX
• Trump was a decoloniser all along – Mary Harrington, UnHerd
• The unpalatable truth about Patrick Harvie – Stephen Daisley, Substack