“Narendra Modi, Indian prime minister, arrives in Britain on Thursday with David Cameron claiming his visit represents a “historic opportunity” and promising that it will be accompanied by “billions of pounds” of trade deals. But Mr Modi’s two-day visit is also attended by frustration that British companies have failed to make more headway in Indian markets, and annoyance in New Delhi over Britain’s student visa policies.” – Financial Times
“David Cameron has been accused of hypocrisy after privately complaining to his own local county council about its proposed cuts to services. The prime minister was accused by the Conservative council leader of drawing up an inaccurate analysis of cuts to local services, misunderstanding its level of efficiency savings and underestimating its attempts to slash back-room spending.” – The Times (£)
“Britain will be represented at a crunch Euro summit today by the Dutch PM — 72 hours after he ridiculed UK prospects outside the EU. David Cameron has asked Mark Rutte to express Britain’s views at an EU Council — the first meeting since his renegotiation demands — in Malta today… On Monday, Mr Rutte said the UK would be little more than a “mid-sized economy in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean” if Brits voted to quit the EU.” – The Sun (£)
Comment:
“If you read any of the biographies of him, or compilations of his speeches and writings, what strikes you is the steady lack of conviction. Almost every position he holds he holds faute de mieux. Had he inherited a more pro-European party he would have been a more pro-European leader. If folks had been kinder about wind farms, there’d still be a big subsidy. His settled view is that he is the prime minister and that’s a lot better than most other people being prime minister.” – The Times (£)
>Today: Daniel Hannan MEP’s column: The game’s afoot – and Eurocrats are delighted with Cameron’s renegotiation pitch
>Yesterday:
“Overall employment in the UK has risen by 430,000 to more than 31million, latest jobs figures show. But employment among EU migrants leapt by almost 20 per cent – some 40 times faster than the meagre 0.4 per cent rise in the number of Britons now in work.” – Daily Mail
“The chancellor has sent an ultimatum to David Cameron that he will support funding for the next generation of boats to carry Trident missiles only if the project is given to a new body that will report to the Treasury. Mr Osborne is concerned that the MoD lacks the skills to ensure that the new submarines would be built before 2028, when the Vanguard-class boats will start to be retired.” – The Times (£)
“Boris Johnson’s planned visit to a Palestinian charity has been cancelled after he criticised Israel boycotters as “left academics” who wear corduroy jackets. The Mayor of London was told he would not be welcome at the Sharek Youth Forum in the West Bank, where he had been due to meet a group of young Palestinians this afternoon.” – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
“A radical plan to end decades of failure at Birmingham City Council by breaking it up and creating ten borough councils has been unveiled. Areas such as Edgbaston, Hall Green or Erdington would have their own local authorities collecting council tax and providing key services, under plans set out by Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell.” – Birmingham Mail
“Jeremy Hunt is facing growing pressure to tighten rules on how doctors manage NHS money after The Times revealed that the GP-led groups in charge of budgets had awarded hundreds of contracts to organisations their members owned or worked for… Sarah Wollaston, chairwoman of the health select committee, said NHS England should issue clearer guidance but said there was no need for a “blanket ban”.” – The Times (£)
“The Scottish Conservative leader called on MSPs to remember that Scotland does not exist “in a vacuum” and how the new tax and welfare powers are used will be watched closely around the world. Ms Davidson said her political opponents will “passionately disagree” with her contention that taxes should not be higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK but they need to take into account how this will be perceived elsewhere.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: Henry Hill’s Red, White, and Blue column: Nationalists forced into tax credits u-turn
“A Conservative MP is boycotting a Treasury minister’s visit to his constituency in protest at tax credit cuts. Stephen McPartland, the MP for Stevenage, said that he refused to meet David Gauke in his constituency because he would not talk about “unacceptable” curbs on child tax credit.” – The Times (£)
“A Tory MP has backed a rebellion of local businesses in his constituency who have copied the same offshore loopholes by global corporations to avoid paying tax. Brecon and Radnorshire MP Chris Davies backed the tax rebellion, telling The Independent that he was proud that his constituents were raising awareness of the injustice in the tax system.” – The Independent
“Jeremy Corbyn put his republican beliefs to one side yesterday to swear “by almighty God to be a true and faithful servant unto the Queen’s Majesty”. The Labour leader may even have agreed to kiss the Queen’s hand when he became a privy counsellor, a gesture included in the protocols of the ceremony at Buckingham Palace.” – The Times (£)
Comment:
>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: The Armistice Day silence
“Jeremy Corbyn has sought to impose discipline on the Parliamentary Labour party by instructing his shadow cabinet that media statements must go through his central office. The serial rebel’s attempt to impose greater collective responsibility was met with “stunned silence” by those in the room. Labour’s leader was spurred into action after Maria Eagle, shadow defence secretary, appeared to take the side of the head of the armed forces in a row with Mr Corbyn over Trident.” – Financial Times
“Gordon Brown has warned Labour that it needs to come up with “desirable” and “credible” policies to win power in a coded critique of Jeremy Corbyn. The former prime minister used a speech in central London to say that hope cannot be achieved with “pie-in-the-sky” thoughts and “sunny but baseless optimism”.” – Daily Telegraph
“Iain Duncan Smith famously said any British political leader has six months to define themselves, after which their opponents and the media finish the job. Jeremy Corbyn has been in post only two months, but his process of self-definition is about to be completed well ahead of schedule. Actually, self-definition is the wrong phrase. In reality it has been a process of self-immolation.” – Daily Telegraph