‘The Cabinet Office will pilot the use of ID for votes at local elections in 2018 after government anti-corruption tsar Sir Eric Pickles found local authorities were “turning a blind eye” to electoral fraud. Authorities will trial different forms of ID including driving licences and passports. They will also try using formal correspondence like utilities bills to verify voters’ addresses. Constitution minister Chris Skidmore dismissed concerns that the plans could disenfranchise poor people who don’t have ID.’ – The Sun
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‘Nail bars have been targeted by immigration officers, leading to dozens of arrests as part of an operation last month, the Home Office has announced. Robert Goodwill, an immigration minister, revealed there has been a week-long operation that saw 97 people held, 68 businesses warned they could face fines and 14 people identified as potentially at risk of modern slavery. The majority of the people arrested were Vietnamese nationals, but there were also people from Mongolia, Ghana, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and India. The Home Office said those who are potential victims of trafficking will be offered support, while those who have no right to be in the UK will be removed.’ – Guardian
‘The armed forces are secretly preparing for further defence cuts, despite David Cameron’s pledge to meet Nato spending figures. “Very tough” savings are going to have to be made to fulfil spending commitments, a senior source told The Daily Telegraph. In July David Cameron pledged to increase defence spending to the equivalent of 2 per cent of GDP in line with Nato recommendations. However, the Commons defence committee found that this was intended to cover extra expenditure such as pension payments. Orders placed for American-sourced equipment have also increased in cost because of the fall in the value of sterling compared with the dollar. As a result, last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), which fixed defence plans for the rest of the decade, may have to be reopened.’ – The Times (£)
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‘Theresa May will face a new Brexit legal challenge if she fails to give the House of Lords a vote before triggering the process of leaving the European Union. Gina Miller, the businesswoman leading a Supreme Court case to prevent the Prime Minister from triggering Article 50 without parliamentary approval, said that there must be a “proper debate” in the Lords. She said that if she wins her case then the Government must introduce legislation that will have to pass through both the Commons and the Lords.’ – Daily Telegraph
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>Today: ToryDiary: Daniel Hannan tops our survey as the Conservative politician who did most to achieve Brexit
‘What worked when she became prime minister might not work next year when circumstances will require much more than calming balm. In other words, Mrs May’s taciturn approach on the important questions might have been a boon in phase one, with Britain processing the referendum result, but it is of much less use as the country enters phase two. (…) The charitable explanation is that a new leader is taking time to adjust to the requirements of her role. But another less comforting thought forms. An enigmatic front in a leader does not always mask great depth. Is there less to Mrs May than her supporters assume? Is the emperor wearing any clothes?’ – The Times (£)
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>Today: Local Government: Police are constrained from chasing moped thieves in London
‘Fresh details of the plan being hatched to bring down Jeremy Corbyn’s chief power broker Len McCluskey, have come to light in a document obtained by The Independent. It shows Mr McCluskey’s opponents believe they can topple him as general secretary – a result that could fatally weaken Mr Corbyn as Labour leader – if turnout in the forthcoming Unite election rises above 20 per cent and union members are reminded of his “excesses” at the top.’ – Independent
‘Donald Trump and Theresa May have vowed in phone calls to “build on the legacy of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher,” according to Britain’s ambassador in Washington. Sir Kim Darroch praised Mr Trump’s election victory as “a historic and impressive win like no other in history”. He added: “In their phone calls so far, Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May have made clear that the special relationship between Britain and the United States is stronger than ever. “They will work together closely, building on the legacy of previous leaders such as President Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.”’ – Daily Telegraph
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>Yesterday: Ted Yarbrough in Comment: The Anglosphere is the perfect launchpad for a global Britain