“Theresa May will start work on toughening anti-terrorism measures on Friday if she is re-elected, she said last night, and promised she will not let human rights laws stand in her way. The Prime Minister will make it easier to deport foreign terror suspects and will extend existing laws that restrict the freedom of British suspects. Mrs May has been stung by criticism of her record on counter-terrorism following Saturday’s attack on London, the third terrorist outrage in the space of three months.” – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
>Today:
>Yesterday: James Frayne’s column: Voters want a brutal response to terrorists, but aren’t clear on the best way to combat extremism
“Amber Rudd delivered an apparent rebuke to Boris Johnson yesterday, saying that it was not for the foreign secretary to say how the London Bridge attackers evaded detection by MI5. Mr Johnson told Sky News that the public would justifiably ask how Khuram Butt could have avoided detection despite multiple warnings. Mr Johnson was also caught out criticising Jeremy Corbyn for opposing anti-terror laws that he himself had voted against as the Tories struggled to turn the tables on Labour over security.” – The Times (£)
“Boris Johnson was unleashed against Jeremy Corbyn in the final 48 hours of the election campaign in a last ditch bid to reinforce support for the Conservatives. Theresa May and Mr Johnson, the foreign secretary, both launched attacks on the Labour leader as they sought to refocus the campaign on Brexit talks due to start later this month. Mr Johnson said that they would “founder” if Mr Corbyn wins power.” – The Times (£)
Sketch:
Comment:
“After weeks of campaigning, Britain now has to make up its mind on who it wants as its next Prime Minister. Only two people have any chance of being it: Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn. … They could well be right this time, as it is the most significant decision facing the nation at the ballot box in a generation (at least). Who should you go for? To help make it clear, I’ve put forward five reasons in this video to explain why you should choose Mrs May’s sensible Conservatism on Thursday June 8 and reject Mr Corbyn’s noxious agenda at the ballot box.” – Daily Telegraph
Editorials:
>Today:
>Yesterday: Lord Ashcroft in Comment: My election model’s probabilities suggest a potential Conservative majority of 64
“Ruth Davidson has said Jeremy Corbyn’s views on allowing a second independence referendum are “naïve and dangerous” as she warned Scots that voting Labour on Thursday risked him striking a deal with Nicola Sturgeon. The Scottish Tory leader told the Telegraph there was “a hundred miles” between the statements issued by Labour in Mr Corbyn’s name opposing a second referendum and his promises, when asked first hand, to “open discussions” with the Scottish Government.” – Daily Telegraph
“…In this election there is a solid body of opinion that does not want Jeremy Corbyn to be prime minister but believes that supporting Labour is fine because he cannot possibly win and it will tame Theresa May. So all I want to do in this piece is ask these people this question: what if you are wrong? I recognise that the sceptics only form a part of Labour’s prospective vote. There are many who are enthusiastic about Mr Corbyn and others who, whatever their doubts, would prefer any left government to the Tories. But hopefully the exercise I am about to conduct will be useful to these people too. What if Labour were to win on Thursday?” – The Times (£)
>Yesterday:
“The third London Bridge attacker, who has been named by police, was stopped at Bologna’s airport last year and interrogated by Italian authorities who warned UK intelligence he was a potential risk, a senior Italian official told the Financial Times. The attacker, identified by Metropolitan Police as 22-year-old east London resident Youssef Zaghba, was stopped in Bologna in March 2016 and offered confused and conflicting explanations as to why he had a one-way ticket to Turkey, known as a jumping-off point for Islamists looking to join Isis in Syria.” – FT
Comment:
“French police have shot a man who attacked an officer with a hammer outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The assailant, later found to be also armed with kitchen knives, was brought down as he threatened passersby outside one of the French capital’s busiest tourist attractions on Tuesday afternoon. Hundreds of people took refuge in the cathedral and nearby cafes as more than 100 police officers rushed to the scene.” – Guardian
“Donald Trump took credit for the diplomatic isolation of Qatar today, saying Arab countries were heeding his call to drive out extremists and the move was potentially “the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism”. The US president praised the blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia and other Arab states on Qatar even as other US officials called for dialogue to end the diplomatic crisis which could complicate the fight against the Islamic State (Isil). The American military has 10,000 troops stationed in Qatar and many of its airstrikes against Isil are coordinated from small Gulf country.” – Daily Telegraph