‘There can be no room for doubt or ambiguity about what Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour would do if it formed the next Government. It would pose a direct threat to the security of our country, the security of our economy and the security of every family. Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour would weaken our defences and make Britain less safe. By choosing Jeremy Corbyn over all his rivals, the party has now endorsed deserting our allies like Norway, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands, by leaving the NATO alliance, just as the growing threat from Islamist extremism requires greater international solidarity.’ – Michael Gove MP, Sunday Telegraph
>Today: ToryDiary: Corbyn is a test of what the Conservatives are made of – not what Labour is made of
>Yesterday:
‘Corbyn loses a head-to-head ‘Prime Ministerial’ rating contest with David Cameron by 44 per cent to 27 per cent. Asked if Corbyn is fit to be Prime Minister, a third say no, against a quarter who say yes. One in seven Labour voters says he is not fit to take charge of Number 10. The poll suggests Corbyn’s win could leave Labour out of power until 2030. A total of 39 per cent say Labour is heading for defeat in the next two Elections.’ – Mail on Sunday
>Yesterday: LeftWatch: Labour has failed itself and the nation – eleven observations on Jeremy Corbyn’s victory
‘In a rambling acceptance speech, Corbyn appealed for party unity. But last night he faced open revolt in the shadow cabinet with at least 10 frontbenchers saying they would not work for him. In a blow to Corbyn’s credibility, Rachel Reeves, the shadow work and pensions secretary who has sat out the leadership contest on maternity leave, revealed she was resigning. “He needs to form a shadow cabinet around him who share his vision,” she said. Cooper, Kendall, Tristram Hunt, Chris Leslie, Emma Reynolds, Dan Jarvis, Vernon Coaker and Shabana Mahmood all said they would not serve, and Chuka Umunna is expected to follow them. Stella Creasy, the runner-up for the deputy leadership, said she had no interest in a job either.’ – Sunday Times (£)
‘Labour has picked Tom Watson as its deputy leader in a role that will involve helping to rebuild the party after its bruising election defeat and leadership contest. The result was announced in front of an audience of party members at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre, close to the houses of parliament in central London on Saturday. Watson beat a slate of candidates that included Stella Creasy, the Walthamstow MP, and Angela Eagle, the MP for Wallasey.’ – The Observer
>Yesterday: Profile: Tom Watson, the man who might yet save the Labour Party
‘The Labour Party has again managed to elect a leader who is unelectable. Who before he has even uttered a word, or announced a single new policy, has robbed his party of any prospect of victory at the next general election. Yes, it’s true Labour already had a mountain to climb in 2020. But what it has just done is effectively say to its Sherpa: “we’d like you to take us to the top of Everest. And we’d like you to do it whilst wearing this hood, and carrying this grand piano on your back”.’ – Dan Hodges, Sunday Telegraph
>Yesterday: LeftWatch: From 1979 to now, Labour’s declining powers of self-interrogation
‘Union leaders are to threaten the first general strike since 1926 to fight tighter legal curbs on industrial action. The Trade Union Bill, which will introduce new ballot thresholds for strike action along with other restrictions, is being voted on by MPs tomorrow. The TUC, umbrella body for the unions, will discuss ways to oppose the measures at its annual decision-making conference in Brighton this week.’ – Sunday Times (£)
‘In a message for the Jewish new year, British Prime Minister David Cameron stressed that in the wake of anti-Semitic attacks around the world, Jewish people “must not be left to live in fear.” “As Jewish communities unite in prayer across the world, thoughts will turn to the tragic loss of life that we have seen following a number of horrific and abhorrent anti-Semitic attacks over the past year,” he said in a Rosh Hashanah video message to the Jewish community, published on Sunday.’ – The Times of Israel
‘Angela Merkel will expect David Cameron to drop his opposition to an EU army in exchange for supporting Britain’s renegotiation, the Telegraph has been told. The German chancellor will ask Britain to stand aside as she promotes an ambitious blueprint to integrate continental Europe’s armed forces. It comes as Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, said Britain will get a deal if it gives the green light to a raft of powerful new EU institutions.’ – Sunday Telegraph
‘Bombing Islamic State targets in Syria will keep Britain’s streets safe and strengthen the international campaign in Iraq, the Defence Secretary has said as the Government tries to pave the way for Parliament to authorise air strikes. Michael Fallon praised France and Australia for last week saying they would prepare to strike Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (Isil) targets inside the country.’ – Sunday Telegraph
‘Employment minister Priti Patel hit out after research revealed a huge gap between the “second chances” bosses promise the unemployed and what they actually deliver. A huge 88 per cent of firms say they would consider hiring lone parents but only 38 per cent do. Three quarters of HR chiefs claim they would think about offering the long-term jobless work. But only a fifth deliver. Over a third reckon they would offer ex-convicts a job but just four per cent actually do, the YouGov survey revealed. Ms Patel wants bosses “to start seeing potential instead of problems”.’ – The Sun on Sunday (£)
‘Tory backbenchers are angry about the BBC’s suggestions that the only way it can save money is by closing flagship channels like BBC Four. They have accused the broadcaster of scaremongering and want it to start talking seriously about cutting back on ‘bloated’ staffing costs…Damian Collins, a Tory member of the House of Commons media and sport select committee said: ‘There are all sorts of kites being flown suggesting popular services will be cut when we know that won’t happen.” – Mail on Sunday
‘Mobile phones could be banned from classrooms and tight restrictions placed on using iPads as the government today announces an inquiry into the effect of technology on pupils’ behaviour. The inquiry has been ordered by the Department for Education (DfE) after schools spent millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to give children free tablet computers.’ – Sunday Times (£)
‘The SNP will set out a timetable for a possible second Scottish independence vote, leader Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday. The party will spell out conditions in which it would call for another ballot in its manifesto for 2016 Holyrood elections. Ms Sturgeon said: “It will set out the circumstances and timescale in which a referendum might be appropriate.’ – The Sun on Sunday (£)
‘“Dirty diesel” vehicles could be forced out of Britain’s city centres, with owners facing pollution surcharges, extra parking charges and even a ban on entering towns at certain times, under government plans to improve air quality. Up to a dozen of the UK’s worst-polluted urban areas, including Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Southampton, Leicester and south Wales, may be forced to take the measures. The proposals are contained in a government consultation published this weekend by Defra, the environment ministry.’ – Sunday Times (£)
‘It’s a competition which has proved just as gripping as any political contest, so it’s perhaps only fitting that Samantha Cameron is to do battle on The Great British Bake Off. She will show off her baking skills when she takes part in a special edition of the hit BBC One show, which is being filmed for the charity Sport Relief.’ – Mail on Sunday