“The knives were out last night for Britain’s ambassador to the EU over his ‘gloomy pessimism’ about Brexit. Sir Ivan Rogers had suggested it could take a decade to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with Europe – and even that could still collapse. Eurosceptics said he was ‘scarred’ by his time spent negotiating David Cameron’s failed referendum deal and, as a veteran of Brussels, was ‘out of his comfort zone’. There were even demands for Sir Ivan to be replaced with a diplomat who is more energetically pro-Brexit, amid speculation that his comments were deliberately leaked to undermine his position.” – Daily Mail
More Brexit:
“The Prime Minister should not be cowed by anything he says, no matter how eminent he may be in the world of officialdom. He is Whitehall personified: anti-change, instinctively hostile to anything that questions the pro-EU consensus, and unable to see Brexit as anything other than a problem to be managed and mitigated. Theresa May, by contrast, says she sees Brexit as an opportunity and wants to make a success of it. If she’s going to do that, she should ignore people like Sir Ivan Rogers.” – Daily Telegraph
Sketch:
Editorial:
>Today: ToryDiary: How is the new Department for International Trade getting on?
>Yesterday:
“Britain will lose one of three tank regiments even as Russia is growing its tank warfare capabilities, it was announced yesterday. The King’s Royal Hussars will swap its 56 Challenger 2 tanks for a fleet of Ajax lightly armoured vehicles. The switch, announced by Sir Michael Fallon in a written statement to parliament, is part of a cost-cutting drive that began in 2010… The newly created Strike brigades will operate Ajax vehicles, which look like mini-tanks but offer much less armoured protection. The platform would be no match for Russia’s latest Armata tank.” – The Times (£)
“Council tax increases will help to raise an extra £900 million for social care over the next two years, ministers have said, but campaigners have dismissed the figure as insufficient. The plans confirmed by Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, yesterday will lead to a rise in council tax bills by an average of £90 a year. Councils will be allowed to bring forward an increase of 3 per cent in April and a further 3 per cent in 2018. Mr Javid said that the changes would raise £208 million in the next financial year and £444 million in 2018-19. In addition, a £240 million adult social care support grant will be created for 2017-18 by reforms to an existing scheme that was designed to encourage councils to build extra properties.” – The Times (£)
Sketch:
More spending:
>Today: Local Government: Let’s celebrate the adult social care success stories
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: The NHS versus pensioner welfare – what happens when sacred cows compete?
“Boris Johnson summoned the Russian and Iranian ambassadors last night to convey “profound disquiet” over the situation in Aleppo as recriminations mounted over the West’s failure to help civilians. The foreign secretary said that Tehran and Moscow “deserve no credit for the fact an evacuation appears to be under way today”, hours after wounded civilians and fighters began leaving, bringing an end to months of siege and four years of fighting. “Having inflicted such suffering on the people of eastern Aleppo, Iran and Russia cannot expect praise for allowing some people to escape at the final hour,” Mr Johnson said.” – The Times (£)
More Johnson:
Comment:
“Jeremy Corbyn has backed the revolutionary left-wing Morning Starnewspaper despite a headline claiming that Aleppo was being “liberated”. The Labour leader insisted he would not stop buying the publication despite an outcry over its stance on Syria. Mr Corbyn said he disagreed with the front page headline that stated: “Final liberation of Aleppo is in sight”, but would continue to read the newspaper. The article was part of a broader editorial stance that has been hostile to Syrian rebels, many of whom the newspaper views as terrorists, and by extension supportive of the Russian and Syrian government position.” – The Times (£)
Comment:
>Yesterday: Garvan Walshe’s column: Will Aleppo be remembered as the start of a slide into general war?
“The Labour Party is “ramping up” preparations to relaunch Jeremy Corbyn as a leftwing populist figure in the new year as the party seeks to ride the anti-politics mood following Brexit. Mr Corbyn is expected to appear more frequently on television, and a newly bolstered team of advisers are said to be working to develop flagship policies to highlight his willingness to lead a revolt against vested interests. Senior party officials reportedly believe the Islington North MP’s unpolished authenticity could gather support from the same anti-establishment sentiment that has heralded the popularity of the likes of Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, and believe this could bolster his chances in a potential early election.” – The Independent
“Too many trade unionists in Britain want to pick a fight and it has to be said that the government is not looking very strong. Claire Perry resigned as a minister saying she was ashamed some days to be a rail minister. So sort it out, then. Don’t run away. You are being held over a barrel by the kids-book Marxists of the RMT. The government should make a point of winning this fight, visibly, in exemplary fashion. This is a test for Mr Grayling, the transport secretary, but he should realise he is in the right.” – The Times (£)
More comment:
>Today: Graeme Archer’s column: Criminalise the RMT – and give season ticket holders a say in deciding railway franchises
>Yesterday: Dr Kieran Mullan in Comment: We need an education revolution to equip workers for the 21st Century
“DUP First Minister Arlene Foster over-ruled her own minister from immediately shutting down a renewable energy scheme which will cost the tax-payer an estimated £400m, it was claimed last night. Mrs Foster’s former ministerial colleague, Jonathan Bell, made a series of explosive allegations to the BBC and said that Mrs Foster should apologise to the people of Northern Ireland for her handling of the ‘Cash for Ash’ scandal. The DUP leader has strenuously denied his claims and has accused the former Enterprise Minister of acting aggressively towards her in a stormy meeting.” – Belfast Telegraph
Comment:
“The SNP’s Finance Minister has used the first Holyrood budget to include control over income tax to stage a £190 million raid on middle Scotland. Derek Mackay confirmed that the Scottish Government intends to raise £79 million by having a lower salary threshold for the 40p higher rate of income tax than the rest of the UK. Those earning more than £45,000 per year will pay £314 more tax next year than if they lived in England. In addition, a compulsory nationwide increase in the top four bands of council tax is expected to generate £111 million next year from middle-class families.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Mundell’s ‘hint’ on a special Scottish deal is nothing of the sort