“Philip Hammond said yesterday that there would be no new money for the NHS in Wednesday’s budget, facing down pressure from Labour and brandishing his credentials as a fiscal conservative. The chancellor insisted that there would be “no spending sprees” as he promised to put more cash into social care alongside a wide-ranging review, but made it clear that he was not contemplating extra cash for the NHS. Mr Hammond challenged the service to reform, saying that he believed that only a minority of trusts were experiencing severe financial difficulties.” – The Times (£)
Public spending:
>Today: Cllr Joel Davidson in Local Government: Councils can prioritise adult social care funding without Council Tax hikes
“Business leaders have made a final plea to the chancellor to reduce the impact of changes to commercial rates that could double the tax bill for some firms. The trade body for retailers, the British Retail Consortium, has written to the chancellor, Philip Hammond, saying the high street needs a “fundamental reform” of the tax, while a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) found that business rates are the biggest concern for one in two small firms. Britain’s live music scene could also be harmed by the changes to the business rates, according to a new report.” – The Guardian
“Britain will pay its bills due as part of the Brexit negotiations voluntarily despite advice to ministers saying that there is no legal obligation to do so, the chancellor suggested yesterday. Philip Hammond said that reports that the European Union could demand up to €60 billion (£50 billion) for projects Britain had signed off as a member which have yet to be paid for were a “negotiating strategy”. Theresa May would honour bills that should be paid, he said. On Saturday The Times reported that government legal advice stated there was no law or treaty that could compel Britain to make post-Brexit payments.” – The Times (£)
>Yesterday: Josh Neidus in Comment: Why May must not give up on Single Market membership
“If, as expected, improved forecasts leave Hammond with £12bn of wriggle roomthat he did not expect, his priority will be to maximise his options once article 50 is triggered rather than to spend his way to easy headlines. There is a theme to his idiom that is instructive: he wants to make the economy “match-fit”, “resilient”, “future-proof”. Though he hopes that the price of secession from the EU will be minimal, he is realistic enough to prepare for more costly contingencies. As he said on the Andrew Marr Show: “We are a nation that abides by our international obligations.” In other words: prepare for a nasty bill from Brussels in the post. Even the promised drive for improved technical education is presented as part of this preparatory strategy, stacking the sandbags in readiness for the blitz.” – The Guardian
Editorial:
>Today:
>Yesterday:
“Britain will seek to boost trade links with African Commonwealth nations this week in a move described by Whitehall officials as “empire 2.0”. Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, will promise to build better links with the 52-member organisation when ministers from each country meet in London on Thursday and Friday. Britain plans to promise all developing nations that their trading relationships with the UK will stay the same or improve after Brexit, guaranteeing that they will not get worse. Ministers want to go further with African nations, however, and start talks to allow Britain to work more closely with an African free trade zone.” – The Times (£)
Comment:
>Yesterday: Dominic Raab MP in Comment: Why Labour and the LibDems in the Lords are wrong about EU nationals
“The Queen’s 65 years on the throne should be celebrated this summer with a public holiday, enabling people to enjoy street parties and other communal events, the Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell has said. Last month the Queen became the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee. The MP for Romford will be given time tomorrow to introduce his Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee Bill into the Commons. He claimed that Theresa May had been “positive in her approach” to his idea.” – The Times (£)
“Ruth Davidson has warned Nicola Sturgeon that her public support would take a “massive hit” if she presses ahead with demands for a second independence referendum in the face of opposition from the majority of Scots. The Scottish Tory leader said the First Minister would pay a “heavy price” at the ballot box and repeated her claim to the Telegraph last week that the Unionist campaign would have “every opportunity” to win a rerun of the 2014 vote by an even larger margin… Her intervention came as an opinion poll showed only one in four Scots want a second independence referendum before Brexit talks are complete, with 51 per cent opposed and 24 per cent uncertain.” – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
“Theresa May should rip up any new Northern Ireland power sharing deal that abandons ageing Army veterans, senior Tories have warned. Dramatic election results for the Stormont assembly over the weekend mean unionists have lost their overall majority on it for the first time. Ministers expect Sinn Fein will use their boosted numbers to try to step up legacy probes on up to 1,000 ex-soldiers who served during the Troubles. The Prime Minister spoke to Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny this evening ahead of intense discussions that begin today to thrash out a new power-sharing deal.” – The Sun
Comment:
Editorial:
“As the Minister for Security I’ve learnt about other children at serious risk of harm but who have been helped by Prevent. We know Isil use children to not only spread fear but to carry out murders. Da’esh see no difference between the UK and the middle east to unleash their terror. ‘Cubs of the Caliphate’ is a real indoctrination programme which Da’esh use in their sick promotional videos… The common denominator in these types of cases is more often than not a teacher who identified a concern. The crucial role of teachers is why schools are covered by the statutory Prevent duty, introduced in 2015, in the same way they have a statutory duty to safeguard children from physical or sexual abuse or neglect.” – Daily Telegraph
“Jeremy Corbyn was facing questions over his tax returns last night after he failed to declare his leader’s salary to the taxman. The Labour leader published details of his tax returns on his website in an effort to force Philip Hammond to do the same. But the move descended into farce because the figures did not add up – with around £40,000 of his earnings missing. Last night his aides admitted they did not know why his published salary was lower than expected and blamed Mr Corbyn’s accountants for the error. They could not explain why he declared he had been paid only £77,019 for the year 2015-16, when he would have received a base salary of £74,962 just for being an MP.” – Daily Mail
Labour:
“Paul Nuttall has asked Ukip to “give me time to sort out this mess” as the row over Nigel Farage’s failed bid for a knighthood escalated. Speaking ten days after losing the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election, the Ukip leader admitted to “moments of doubt” over whether he was the right person to head the party. Mr Nuttall, 40, had faced questions over his leadership after he barely dented Labour’s majority in the by-election, but vowed to press on.” – The Times (£)
>Today: Nadhim Zahawi MP’s column: It isn’t UKIP that stands to gain from the collapse of Labour. It’s the Conservatives.
>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Nuttall – “I’ve never been caught in a paedophile gang or anything”