Newslinks for Sunday 13th September 2015

Corbyn 1) Gove: Labour’s new leader threatens the security of us all

‘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

The lefty loons actually did it – The Sun on Sunday Says (£)
Sinn Fein, Hamas, Argentina and Syriza welcome the news – Sunday Times (£)
Cameron plans to annihilate Labour – Toby Helm, The Observer
‘Team Corbyn’ t-shirts made in sweatshops – Mail on Sunday
He could be the best thing since Attlee – Damian McBride, Mail on Sunday
Now Labour are proper socialists, can we have a real conservative? – Peter Hitchens, Mail on Sunday

>Today: ToryDiary: Corbyn is a test of what the Conservatives are made of – not what Labour is made of

>Yesterday:

ToryDiary: The Tory plan to wield Corbyn against Labour
WATCH: The new Labour leader’s victory speech

Corbyn 2) Voters expect Labour to lose the next two General Elections

‘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

Power without real opposition is a risk for the Tories – Sunday Times Leader (£)
Watch Corbyn sing the Red Flag – The Sun on Sunday (£)
He changed his Party, but can he change his ideas? – The Observer Leader
Now for the purges – Adam Boulton, Sunday Times (£)

>Yesterday: LeftWatch: Labour has failed itself and the nation – eleven observations on Jeremy Corbyn’s victory

Corbyn 3) Shadow Cabinet members resign

‘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 (£)

Who’s gone, who might stay – Sunday Times (£)
He’s on probation – Simon Danczuk MP, Mail on Sunday
He isn’t remotely up to the job – John Mann MP, Mail on Sunday
Watch the zealots and thugs return – David Blunkett, Mail on Sunday
Part of this is my fault, and it’s time to fight back – Peter Mandelson, Sunday Times (£)

Corbyn 4) Tom Watson elected deputy leader

‘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

He’s a man to watch – James Kirkup, Sunday Telegraph
In fact they’re all men- why won’t Labour elect women? – Yvonne Roberts, The Observer

>Yesterday: Profile: Tom Watson, the man who might yet save the Labour Party

Corbyn 5) Hodges: The day the Labour Party died

‘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

Now we get to see Labour’s dislike of real voters – Janet Daley, Sunday Telegraph
The Corbynites would never forgive him if he compromises – Mary Riddell, Sunday Telegraph
The burden of expectation is huge – Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer
But this shows there’s an appetite for change – The Independent on Sunday
Hurdles ahead – The Independent on Sunday

>Yesterday: LeftWatch: From 1979 to now, Labour’s declining powers of self-interrogation

Corbyn 6) Emboldened union bosses consider a general strike

‘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 (£)

Cameron’s Rosh Hashanah message focuses on the rise of anti-semitism

‘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

Corbyn considers appointing a Shadow ‘Minister for Jews’ – Jewish Chronicle
The new Labour leader sucks up to Britain’s enemies – Stephen Pollard, Mail on Sunday
Imams, rabbis and other religious leaders to face vetting – Sunday Telegraph

Defence 1) Merkel wants Cameron to support an EU army in return for a renegotiation

‘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

Germans annex territory in Belgravia – The Sun on Sunday (£)

Defence 2) Fallon urges Syria strikes to keep Britain safe

‘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

The drone age brings new ethical and legal challenges – Max Hastings, Sunday Times (£)
Syria is our problem whether we choose it or not – Sunday Times Leader (£)
ISIS hackers target Ministers’ email accounts – The Independent on Sunday

Patel accuses firms of failing the unemployed

‘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 (£)

MPs tell BBC to stop spinning and start saving

‘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

An insight into BBC bias – Christopher Booker, Sunday Telegraph
The Corporation cannot the impartiality battle – Peter Preston, The Observer
Kawczynski might sue Newsnight editor for libel – The Independent on Sunday

Department for Education investigates effect of phones and tablets in classrooms

‘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 (£)

Sturgeon to lay out plan for a second independence referendum

‘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 (£)

A dozen cities may ban diesel vehicles

‘“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 (£)

News in Brief

107 killed in Mecca crane disaster – Mail on Sunday
Anti-doping watchdog tried to bury bad news – Sunday Times (£)
Mitchell selling Val d’Isere apartment to pay legal fees – Mail on Sunday
Marchers welcome refugees – The Independent on Sunday
Win a Jeremy Corbyn vest – The Sun on Sunday (£)
The IRA never went away – Simon Heffer, Sunday Telegraph
Yours for half a million pounds – a dinosaur – The Independent on Sunday

…And finally

Can Samantha Cameron win the Bake Off?

‘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