“Theresa May will relaunch her leadership tomorrow with an appeal to Labour to help deliver Brexit. In a surprise move, the Prime Minister will reach out to Labour, saying Jeremy Corbyn has a duty to ‘contribute, not just criticise’ after her snap election produced a hung parliament. Mrs May is seeking to shore up her leadership amid renewed speculation she could face a challenge within months. Former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell did not deny a reports yesterday that he told a private meeting of MPs that the PM had lost all authority and must quit.” – Daily Mail
Comment:
>Yesterday:
“Theresa May faces a Tory rebellion over her energy price cap u-turn – as MPs demanded she took on the ‘Big Six’. Powerful backbencher Rob Halfon and Sarah Woolaston are among four Tory MPs to have a signed a draft letter to No.10 urging the PM to press ahead with her plans to limit gas and electricity bills. And Labour’s former Shadow Energy Secretary Caroline Flint joined up. The move is being coordinated by former Minister John Penrose – who has lobbied for a ‘relative cap’ to be put on gas and electricity prices. MPs from all parties are being invited by the influential Tory to a ‘drop in’ event in the Commons on Wednesday where they are will be asked to add their name to the letter.” – The Sun
“Pro-European Tory MPs are demanding that Theresa May compromise on her plan to pull Britain out of the European Court of Justice. This week David Davis, the Brexit secretary, will outline plans to repeal the 1972 European communities act and transpose EU legislation into UK law at the point of Brexit in 2019. The repeal bill would end the jurisdiction of the European court over British law and create new legal and regulatory structures to oversee the repatriated powers. In a sign of how the bill is likely to be used to influence the outcome of Brexit, however, three former Tory ministers told the prime minister to water down her pledge that the ECJ would have no role in a future relationship with the EU.” – The Times (£)
Comment:
“Jacob Rees-Mogg has hit back as scheming Labour MPs plot to block his bid to lead Parliament’s powerful Treasury watchdog. The Tory MP is slugging it out with five other MPs to become the new chair of the Treasury Select Committee. But the Brexiteer backbencher has come under fire for his Euroscepticism with some Labour MPs arguing that he may not be able to properly scrutinise the Government’s Brexit plans. Critics have also claimed his role as founding partner at Somerset Capital Management could affect his ability to lead the committee and succeed the respected Andrew Tyrie, who gave up the job when he stood down as an MP before the General Election.” – Daily Express
“Britain’s small firms are set to cash in on an estimated £2billion Brexit exports bonanza, it was revealed yesterday. Family enterprises and new start-ups are blazing a trail for the UK as it reaches out to do business with 144 countries. Trade Secretary Liam Fox wants to help 100,000 firms to join the race to access new worldwide markets for their products. Dr Fox said: “We want to help others set their sights on the global market. “There’s never been a better time to export and join the thousands of other British businesses that are doing just that.”” – The Sun
Comment:
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Despite the fantasies of those who hate Brexit, many countries are seeking trade deals with the UK
“Thousands of migrants will be forced to pay for the NHS by the end of the year under new plans drawn up by the Health Secretary. The Sun can reveal that Jeremy Hunt has asked officials to draw up draft rules to introduce fees for “non-urgent care” after huge delays caused by the Brexit and Theresa May’s snap election. A bill included in last year’s Queen’s Speech was dumped from this year’s formal legislative programme. But sources told the Sun that new powers will be introduced into existing legislation later this year to stop “health tourism” – which is estimated to cost the NHS as much as £500 million a year.” – The Sun
“The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, in which at least 80 people died last month, will reveal the “full truth” behind the disaster, a cabinet minister has vowed. The investigation, which will be led by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, a retired Court of Appeal judge, has faced fierce criticism even before its terms have been drawn up… David Lidington, the justice secretary and lord chancellor, stoutly defended Sir Martin’s appointment, however, saying that the judge wanted to “get to the truth and see justice done”. Mr Lidington rejected claims that the inquiry’s scope would be reduced to avoid political embarrassment for the government, although it would not seek to determine where criminal blame lies.” – The Times (£)
Comment:
>Today: Nadhim Zahawi MP’s column: Yes, the Grenfell judge is white. That’s no reason why he can’t do his job.
“Ministers have rejected calls to lower interest rates on student loans, saying that they are being misrepresented as a Wonga-style system that exploits graduates. A government source told The Times that interest charged on student loans was below equivalent market rates and those of payday lenders and they offered protection to borrowers that critics had overlooked. “This is not some kind of Wonga, usurious system we are talking about here,” the source said. “There are no plans to change the overall architecture of the system we have, which is working.” Damian Green, who as first secretary of state is in effect Theresa May’s deputy, appeared to support a review last month when, taking questions at a conference hosted by the Tory think tank Bright Blue, he called for a national debate on tuition fees and loans.” – The Times (£)
Comment:
>Today: Kieron O’Hara in Comment: Seven ways to reach younger voters. Including, as May is doing today, reaching out to other parties.
“Jeremy Corbyn’s promise to wipe out student debts would cost at least £100billion, Labour’s shadow education secretary admitted today. Angela Rayner insisted it was an ‘ambition’ for the party but that it would not become a manifesto pledge until Labour finds a way to pay for it. Just days before last month’s general election, Mr Corbyn said he wanted a way to tackle the ‘historical misfortune’ of those burdened with student debts – promising he would ‘deal with it’. Labour campaigned on a platform of scrapping all tuition fees for new students and the party’s success has shifted debate on the issue.” – Daily Mail
Comment:
Editorial:
>Yesterday: Left Watch: Momentum struggles to tell the truth about its wish to push Labour MPs out of the Party