“Britain is calling for a political solution in Syria rather than military escalation as backbenchers warned Theresa May not to rush to join the conflict. Downing Street, the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence were informed “as a courtesy” late on Thursday night that America was about to begin bombing raids. Sir Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, was called by his American counterpart, James Mattis, to inform Britain that the strikes would proceed. Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, spoke to Rex Tillerson, America’s secretary of state, while Downing Street is understood to have been kept informed of developments through the two governments’ respective national security teams.” – The Times (£)
More British responses:
“Now that the US president has shown that he can and (if provoked) will intervene in the Syrian conflict, a restraining cord has snapped and it will be difficult for America to resist responding to the next atrocity. Putin knows how to goad him. Meanwhile the rebel resistance in Syria has never been less convincing. No credible alternative government is imaginable. Here, then, is a power vacuum, and with Moscow’s help Assad will resume his brutal drive to refill it. The US missile strike does not alter that. What it alters is a capricious American president’s picture of himself, a picture importantly formed by watching both himself and others’ response to him on television.” – The Times (£)
Editorial:
>Today: ToryDiary: Syria shows how Trump may end up a more traditional Republican
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Britain must not be drawn into the civil war in Syria
“Secretary of State James Brokenshire went to the front line of healthcare yesterday – to warn politicians they must come up with a cure to restore devolution urgently. And Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill also warned last night: “The next week is critical in the political talks. The political stakes are high.” On a visit to Antrim Area Hospital, Mr Brokenshire stressed that the ongoing talks cannot continue indefinitely and only a “narrow window” remained. He said he would make a call on the state of negotiations over the Easter weekend – in 10 days – to enable him to move legislation in Westminster once MPs return from recess on April 18.” – Belfast Telegraph
“A deposit scheme aimed at curbing the toxic blight of plastic bottles on the environment is being considered by ministers. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom last night ordered a review to weigh up the costs and benefits of a scheme that would offer cash for returned bottles. The move follows a campaign by the Daily Mail to clamp down on the tide of plastic bottles polluting our streets, countryside and seas. Ministers had ruled out including a deposit scheme in the Government’s litter strategy due to be published on Monday, saying it was not clear how effective it would be.” – Daily Mail
“Gina Miller, who won a Supreme Court battle in January to give parliament a say in approving Brexit, has joined forces with luminaries from business, the arts and the charity sector to campaign against Theresa May’s plans for leaving the EU. UK-EU Open Policy Limited, which was incorporated last October, is backed by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and is due to launch publicly within weeks. Campaigners want to put pressure on Mrs May to negotiate a so-called soft Brexit, with as much access to the single market as possible and few new restrictions on immigration. They also want to offer the impetus and infrastructure for a second referendum campaign should opinion turn against leaving.” – The Times (£)
Bank of England:
Comment:
>Today: ToryDiary: What are your Brexit red lines? Take our monthly survey.
>Yesterday: Syed Kamall MEP’s column: Secretive Verhofstadt, constructive Barnier
“Labour was plunged into a fresh anti-Semitism row last night as police launched an investigation into abuse allegedly sent by backers of union baron ‘Red’ Len McCluskey. A Twitter account supporting the ally of Jeremy Corbyn targeted a rival with a smear campaign accusing him of having ‘shadowy backers’ in a ‘Jewish Mafia’. The messages sent to Gerard Coyne, who is challenging Mr McCluskey for the leadership of the Unite union, are now being investigated by police. It comes as Labour faces criticism for failing to expel former London mayor Ken Livingstone for repeatedly claiming that Adolf Hitler supported Zionism.” – Daily Mail
Sketch:
>Yesterday: