May ‘rules out early election’ despite Labour’s risk of losing 50 seats
“But despite inheriting predecessor David Cameron’s wafer thin majority of just 12, Mrs May has already ruled out the move. A poll of Tory activists this week by the ConHome website also revealed only one in five back an early election, and 75% oppose one.” – The Sun
- Labour risk electoral humiliation – The Sun
More May::
- MPs urge the Prime Minister to keep her promise to scrap the human rights act – Daily Mail
- May sets new policy direction – FT
- Cameron rated best Prime Minister since Thatcher – The Times (£)
Editorial:
- Some policy shifts are necessary, but May should not go too far – FT
>Today:
Tim Montgomerie: The Prime Minister has an open electoral goal in front of her
“…assuming Labour remains in its biggest mess of the post-war period, it’s not just her opportunity to win a workable majority for her socially just conservatism, it’s her duty. By defeating Mr Corbyn she’ll also do what it is clear moderate Labour MPs are incapable of doing: defeat the idea that Britain wants Corbyn and his reheated 1970s socialism.” – The Times (£)
- Only electoral humiliation can save the Labour Party now – James Bloodworth, Daily Telegraph
Government seeks more anti-terrorism cooperation with Russia
“Britain’s spies will co-operate with Russia to fight terrorism as Theresa May tries to build bridges with the Kremlin. In her first phone call with Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister agreed UK intelligence agencies would work with his agents on aviation security.” – Daily Mail
- Prevent plan ‘eroding trust amongst Muslims – The Times (£)
- Counter-terrorism scheme driving inequality, MPs claim – FT
More Russia:
- Ukraine spills secrets of Putin’s military machine to the UK – The Times (£)
- MoD obtains Moscow secrets after fears Russia is preparing for war – Daily Express
China:
- Chinese partner in Hinkley Point accused of nuclear espionage in the US – The Times (£)
- Mandelson warns May to sign deal in weeks or lose Chinese investment – The Sun
Comment:
- May should beware, Putin doesn’t do ‘cooperation’ – Luke Harding, The Guardian
- Time for a thaw in our relations with Russia – Tony Brenton, Daily Telegraph
- Trade with China is good, but Hinkley Point is a dud – Simon Jenkins, The Guardian
Editorial:
- Is Mandelson really thinking of Britain over Hinkley Point? – Daily Mail
Grayling claims rail unions are seeking an ‘excuse to be militant’
“Transport Secretary Chris Grayling lashed out at rail union chiefs to insist they’re striking as an “excuse to be militant”. Having pledged to stay out of the bitter stand off, the government’s transport supremo waded in last night as the far left RMT called a third walkout threatening to close down the nation’s train network.” – The Sun
- Unpopular unions need to tread carefully on strikes – Juliet Samuel, Daily Telegraph
- The Tories should crush the rail unions once and for all – John McTernan, Daily Telegraph
Former minister calls for probe into company pensions
“The UK’s former pensions minister has called for MPs to launch an inquiry into company pensions, saying they have been pushed into a funding crisis by measures taken by the Bank of England. Baroness Altmann said the low interest rate environment and other Bank of England measures designed to stimulate the economy had already helped push up corporate pension deficits to almost £1tn.” – FT
Labour accused of sexism over all-male mayoral candidates
“Allegations of sexism within Labour threatened to overshadow the selection of one of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest allies as the party’s candidate for the Liverpool mayoral contest yesterday. Steve Rotheram, the Labour leader’s parliamentary private secretary, took the nomination after Andy Burnham and Sion Simon were chosen for mayoral elections in Manchester and the West Midlands.” – The Times (£)
Boost for Smith as he wins GMB backing
“One of Britain’s biggest trade unions has endorsed Owen Smith for the Labour leadership and warned Jeremy Corbyn’s victory would allow the Tories to “run riot” for years. GMB, which remained neutral in last year’s leadership race, endorsed Mr Smith after 60 per cent of its members backed the former frontbencher over Mr Corbyn in a ballot.” – Daily Telegraph
- Major setback for Corbyn as union backs faltering rival – The Sun
Comment:
- Corbyn’s Labour opponents should accept that their failures created him – Owen Jones, The Guardian
Corbyn and Watson clash over far left
“Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson deepened his war of words with Jeremy Corbyn as he handed over a damning dossier revealing sinister practices of hard left groups plotting to take over the party. Watson has hit back at claims from the veteran leftie’s camp that he is “peddling conspiracy theories” by sending him what he says is evidence of Trotskyists infiltrating Labour.” – The Sun
- Watson accuses left-wing activists of using boredom as a weapon – FT
- Civil war heats up as Corbyn ridicules deputy’s infiltration warnings – Daily Telegraph
- Feud between leader and Watson continues – The Sun
- Former leader of Militant expects readmission to Labour – The Guardian
Comment:
- Watson is a piggy caught in several middles – Michael White, The Guardian
Former SNP minister warns against Brexit bid for independence
“One of the SNP’s most senior figures has broken ranks with Nicola Sturgeon by warning that holding a second independence referendum on the back of Brexit risked a devastating defeat that would put the nationalist cause “on the back burner for generations.”” – Daily Telegraph
- Sturgeon plans £100 million spending boost to counter Brexit uncertainty – FT
- Khan urges May to delay Article 50 until after French and German elections – The Sun
- Scotland losing out on oil commissioning because it doesn’t fit nationalist narrative – Daily Telegraph
- Norway may block UK accession to the EFTA – The Guardian
Comment:
- The ‘ignorant Leave voter’ is just a comforting myth – Matthew Holehouse, Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday:
New in Brief:
- Ministry of Defence faces £700m black hole as pound falls against dollar – Daily Telegraph
- Police investigate claim British tennis star was poisoned – Daily Mail
- Heathrow raises security alert after staff fraud arrests – The Times (£)
- Fears for pensions as gilt yields turn negative – FT
- German threat to slash EU funding to rebellious Poland and Hungary – Daily Express
- Olympic gold rush as UK tally rises faster than at London 2012 – Daily Telegraph
- Eurostar next to be hit by union zealots – Daily Mail