“Theresa May’s new chief of staff was in the dock last night over claims he ‘sat on’ evidence which showed high-rise blocks were vulnerable to fire. Dozens of people are feared dead and many others remain missing after a devastating blaze ripped through Grenfell Tower block in White City, west London, on Wednesday morning. A series of blunders are being blamed for the disaster with residents claiming there were no working fire alarms, no sprinklers and the only staircase leading to safety was blocked. Gavin Barwell, who was housing minister until he lost his seat last week, promised to respond to a major coroner’s report which demanded safety improvements following a previous fatal blaze.” – Daily Mail
Comment:
Editorial:
>Today: Thomas Turrell in Local Government: Let’s select the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London now
“Theresa May’s hopes of securing the support of the Democratic Unionist Party for her minority government were faltering last night as the Treasury dug in against the costs of a deal. Some ministers were urging the prime minister to call the Northern Irish party’s bluff as negotiations stalled. Britain’s most senior civil servant, however, told the prime minister that she had little choice but to gain an agreement. Without a breakthrough soon, the Queen’s Speech, the crucial test of a government’s viability, may have to be put back by a week from the intended date of this Monday to June 26, senior civil service sources said.” – The Times (£)
More:
Comment:
>Yesterday:
“Theresa May will face Cabinet resignations if she gives in to demands from Philip Hammond to water down Brexit, senior Tories warned last night. The Chancellor will use a major speech in the City tonight to set out his vision on Brexit, amid mounting speculation he is pressing Mrs May to compromise in talks with Brussels starting next week. The leading figure in the Remain campaign told his German counterpart this week that the Conservatives had been punished by young voters for their stance on Brexit at last week’s election. He suggested that Brexit policy could now change. And he is now said to be pressuring Mrs May to adopt a strategy that would keep Britain in the EU customs union – even though this would give EU judges a say over British laws and limit the options for striking new trade deals around the world.” – Daily Mail
More:
>Yesterday: MPs Etc.: Ellwood to Defence. Rolling reshuffle list of junior appointments.
“But however sensible a notion, cross-party co-operation is unlikely to happen for two reasons. First, it is hard to see why Jeremy Corbyn would want to participate. The Labour leader’s overriding wish is for another election to take place quickly. He believes the public mood is increasingly shifting to his party and that, with one more heave, it will win power. Reaching a consensus on Brexit with Mrs May will prop her up in Downing Street for a couple more years… Secondly, Mrs May also wants to avoid cross-party talks. The prime minister has set out a firm vision for a hard Brexit (ending single market membership, leaving the customs union and ending European Court of Justice jurisdiction). Reaching out to other parties could see much of this prospectus being watered down, and leaving her open to accusations of another U-turn. It would also create new rifts between hard and soft Brexiters within the Tory party.” – FT
Editorial:
>Today: Profiles: George Osborne, who could have stayed in Westminster, and returned to the Cabinet. But who left, and is trying to destroy May.
>Yesterday: Sarah Ingham in Comment: After this election result, support for a second referendum on Brexit is gaining ground
“Theresa May’s attempt to deport foreign criminals without long and expensive appeals was dealt a blow by the Supreme Court yesterday. Judges ruled that under human rights laws two drug dealers should not have been thrown out of Britain before they had a chance to appeal. The decision, in a test case over Kevin Kiarie, a Kenyan citizen, and Courtney Byndloss from Jamaica, found that both men were removed from Britain before they could mount an effective appeal. The ruling undermines the 2014 Immigration Act that introduced a ‘deport first, appeal later’ system designed to speed serious criminals on their way out of Britain and allow them to appeal only when back home.” – Daily Mail
“Theresa May’s former chief of staff has blamed the Conservatives’ election strategist for her disastrous campaign. Nick Timothy said Sir Lynton Crosby told them to focus the seven-week campaign on the PM and her “strong and stable” message. But he revealed Mrs May is “never comfortable hogging the limelight” and “expected to make more use of her ministerial team”. The PM’s inner circle also wanted to return to daily press conferences featuring senior figures rather than the PM alone.” – The Sun
Comment:
>Yesterday:
“Jeremy Corbyn today appointed Owen Smith to his shadow cabinet a year after Welsh the MP ran against him as Labour leader. Mr Corbyn brought his former rival into the fold by making him Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary. But the Labour leader snubbed leading moderates in the party like Yvette Cooper and Chuka Umunna who had been tipped to make a comeback to the frontbench. And in a sign that the left-winger is flexing his muscles, he also stripped Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson of his role as party chairman and gave it to his campaign chief Ian Lavery.” – Daily Mail
Comment:
>Today:
“Tim Farron tonight dramatically quit as Lib Dem leader saying that he felt ‘torn’ over his Christian views on being at the helm of the party. It comes after he was dogged by questions over his views whether he believes gay sex is a sin and if he thinks abortion is wrong. Mr Farron said he has struggled to remain ‘faithful to Christ’ while leading a political party. And he said he believes he has been ‘the suspect of suspicion’ because of his strong religious views. His decision comes after Lib Dem peer Brian Paddick, who is gay, stepped down as the party’s home affairs spokesman over Mr Farron’s views.” – Daily Mail
>Today: ToryDiary: Farron’s sideswipe at the ethos of the party he led was truly remarkable
>Yesterday: MPs Etc.: “To be a political leader…and to live as a committed Christian…has felt impossible for me.” Farron’s resignation statement in full.
“The SNP’s new Westminster leader has undermined Nicola Sturgeon’s claims she is still weighing up whether to press ahead with a second independence referendum after arguing it was Scotland’s “insurance policy” against Brexit. The First Minister described as “nonsense” allegations that she has already decided to plough ahead with her blueprint to break up Britain despite the SNP’s General Election mauling. Amid growing pressure on her to make public her stance, a defiant Ms Sturgeon said she would “not be dictated to” over the timing of an announcement and she would set out her plans “in due course after talking to people across the SNP.”” – Daily Telegraph
More:
Comment: