Tag: ‘rishi
STEPHEN GLOVER: As the shadow of war grows, Rishi might win more respect – and votes – by putting defence ahead of tax cuts
Rishi Sunak is told to cut bill for benefits and encourage more Brits back to work to reduce UK’s debt crisis instead of relying on immigration
Rishi Sunak faces calls to apologise over trans jibe to Starmer at PMQs
Furious Tories take aim at Rishi Sunak in series of speeches after local election drubbing
LEADING Tories took aim at PM Rishi Sunak in speeches yesterday.
Liz Truss branded China the “largest threat to the free world” — despite Mr Sunak defying calls to classify the country as such in March.
At the National Conservatism conference in London, Home Secretary Suella Braverman railed against migration and leftie wokeism — two key Tory battlegrounds.
And Jacob Rees-Mogg labelled the PM’s decision to scrap a deadline to ditch thousands of EU laws as “pathetically under-ambitious”.
The PM is under siege after his party lost 1,060 council seats this month.
Last night Sunak continued his international diplomacy blitz in Iceland for a Council of Europe Summit – where he vowed to double down on his migration promises.
The PM is set to say: “It is very clear that our current international system is not working, and our communities and the world’s most vulnerable people are paying the price.
“We need to do more to cooperate across borders and across jurisdictions to end illegal migration and stop the boats.
“I am clear that as an active European nation with a proud history helping those in need, the UK will be at the heart of this.”
Sue Gray ‘lobbied against Rishi Sunak’s policies while in secret talks to join Labour’
SUE Gray actively lobbied to try to block Rishi Sunak’s policies while in secret talks to join Labour, government insiders have claimed.
The partygate inquisitor objected to the PM vetoing Scotland’s new trans law, which made it easier for over 16s to change their sex on their birth certificate.
Sue Gray actively lobbied to try to block Rishi Sunak’s policies while in secret talks to join Labour, government insiders have claimed[/caption]
Gray objected to the PM vetoing Scotland’s new trans law[/caption]
The legal change sparked a furious political row, with womens rights campaigners warning it would mean biologically male prisoners in female prisons.
And in a fresh controversy, government insiders now claim Ms Gray actively tried to kill off the plan behind the scenes in late December.
A source said she directly contacted political advisers behind the backs of ministers to lobby against the move – known as triggering Section 35.
At the time the row was a major embarrassment for Labour because their Scottish politicians had backed the Gender Recognition Act.
Ms Gray was in cloak and dagger talks with Labour to become Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff at the time.
A Government insider said: “We know the use of Section 35 embarrassed Sir Keir Starmer by highlighting Scottish Labour’s support of putting men in women’s prisons.
“Given Sue had already lined up her Labour job, was she already working for him in the heart of Government and seeking to save his blushes?”
Ms Gray’s move to work for Sir Keir is on hold while it is probed by Whitehall appointments watchdog ACOBA.
They are meeting over the next week and are expected to make their decision within the next month.
She could be barred from taking up her new job until after the next election.
Ms Gray declined to comment
Rishi Sunak warned to return to traditional Tory tax cuts or he’ll lose the next election
RISHI Sunak must return to traditional Tory tax cuts and freedom or lose the next election, he will be told today.
As the Tories mark 13 years in power, the PM will be warned after last week’s dire local elections results he must buck up and listen to his grassroots Tory army.
Rishi Sunak warned to return to traditional Tory tax cuts or he’ll lose the next election[/caption]
Tory big beasts including Priti Patel, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries will call on party bosses to return to proper Conservativism or risk another drubbing at the ballot box.
The allies of Boris Johnson will speak to thousands of party members at the Conservative Democratic Organization conference in Bournemouth today, organised by big beast Lord Cruddas, and show them some love after the worse-than-expected results.
Many are furious with the party for booting out BoJo, then putting Rishi Sunak in No10 without giving them a say.
The former PM is not himself expected to attend, but allies including former MEP David Bannerman want him back in Downing Street.
Former Home Secretary Ms Patel is expected to say: “We risk losing votes if we forget who we are and what we stand for.
“The solution to these challenges is not more state control, more spending, and more taxes – which sadly have featured in recent budgets.
“As Conservatives, we must never forget that we are here to serve the public, and to do so in a way that promotes freedom, enterprise and opportunity.”
She lashed out at party chiefs who “rarely seem to be out there meeting the people”, adding: “perhaps if they did that, last week we could not have seen 1,000 of our friends and colleagues lose their seats”.
Former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries told The Sun: “Members are quite bruised over what’s happened over the last year – many of those campaigned and voted for Boris and are dismayed at how the party has behaved.
“We want to prevent such a catastrophe from ever happening again.” The Tories lost more than 1,000 seats during the local elections as thousands opted to give them a bloody nose and put Labour in power.
Downing Street failed to shut down speculation of tax cuts – after DWP boss Mel Stride suggested they could slash 2p off income tax if enough Brits went back to work.
No10 insisted the PM wanted to cut taxes “as soon as possible”.
But the PM’s spokesperson said it would be a decision for the Chancellor at the next budget.