“In the next few weeks, ministers will set out plans to do something about a trend that puts millions of us at risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Barring a last-minute change of heart, advertising for products high in sugar, salt and fat will be banned before the 9pm watershed. “Buy one, get one free” (bogof) deals on such products will end, cartoon characters will no longer be allowed to advertise them, sweets and chocolates will be banished from shop tills and restaurants will be told to include calorie counts on menus. That a Conservative government is preparing to introduce such measures shows how far and fast the politics of food has moved. Five years ago Andy Burnham, then shadow health secretary, was mocked when he suggesting banning Tony the Tiger, the Frosties mascot.” – The Times
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Editorial:
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Wollaston’s pudding taxes and bans on cartoon characters are the opposite of Davidson’s call for more joyful politics
“A dying Army veteran has appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene to end his prosecution over the death of an IRA suspect during the Troubles. Dennis Hutchings, who is seriously ill with kidney failure and heart disease, said the stress of the court case had ‘the potential to prematurely end his life’. The 77-year-old expressed concern that politicians were ‘washing their hands of their responsibilities’ to UK troops sent to fight terrorism in Northern Ireland. He said his arrest and interrogation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland 41 years after the killing was ‘a form of torture’. Mr Hutchings made his plea to No 10 after being hauled to court – despite no fresh evidence – to face attempted murder charges over the fatal shooting of John-Pat Cunningham, 27, in June 1974. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to a maximum 16 years in prison.” – Daily Mail
“Three former cabinet ministers are attempting to unite warring Conservative MPs behind a “sensible Brexit” compromise. Amber Rudd, Damian Green and Justine Greening held a private meeting with Theresa May yesterday at which they told her that there was a large majority in the parliamentary party in favour of a compromise with the EU. It followed a series of informal consultations with backbench MPs on both sides of the Brexit divide in an attempt to build a consensus on a “pragmatic approach” to the negotiations in Brussels. The trio told Mrs May to ignore the noisy protests on both extremes of the party and pursue a policy that kept the UK closely aligned to the single market and customs union.” – The Times
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“A Brexit coin to mark the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union has received the tentative backing of the Treasury with Tory MPs calling for it to feature Britannia. Robert Jenrick, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said “there could be an argument for” a Brexit coin and it could be used to “commemorate the next chapter in our national story”. His comments are likely to kickstart a race to design the coin and to decide on which image could be used to represent the UK’s divorce from Brussels. Tory MPs have already come up with one suggestion: Britannia, the female personification of Britain, which has traditionally been used as an emblem of national unity. Sir Bill Cash, the leading Eurosceptic and chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, said: “I think I would go back to past coins – there may be other ideas – but if you had Britannia again on the other side with the shield.” – Daily Telegraph
“The chief of the Best for Britain campaign today compared Brexit to the appeasement of the Nazis just days before group launches its push for a second EU referendum. Lord Malloch-Brown insisted Britain still needed to learn from centuries of trying to ignore problems on the continent and in a Radio 4 interview specifically highlighted the rise of Hitler. The incendiary intervention comes a day after billionaire financier George Soros – who is bankrolling Best for Britain – revealed the referendum push would start in days. Ex Ukip leader Nigel Farage has lashed out at the campaign warning the country has already made up its mind about Brexit.” – Daily Mail
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“More than 200 people from the Windrush generation who retired to the Caribbean have sought help amid fears they may be barred from returning to the UK. Home Secretary Sajid Javid revealed the number of West Indian migrants who inadvertently ‘forfeited residence’ in Britain when they went back to the country of their birth. Every Commonwealth migrant was given an automatic right to stay if they arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1973. But many never applied for passports or were formally naturalised. Some went back to the Caribbean, despite having worked all their lives in the UK. But Mr Javid said they ‘retain strong ties to this country, which we should respect and nurture’.” – Daily Mail
>Yesterday: MPs Etc.: “I see neither the sense nor the need to stick to an immigration figure devised…a decade ago, which has never been met” – Davidson
“The rail industry “failed the passengers it serves” by the chaotic introduction of a new timetable, Chris Grayling has said as he was accused of trying to “wash his hands” of the issue. The Transport Secretary said there had been “wholly unsatisfactory levels of disruption” on Northern and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) services since departure times were changed on May 20. Commuters are suffering their second week of travel disruption as a result of the new timetable with numerous trains cancelled and many others running late. Mr Grayling laid the blame for the problems at the door of Network Rail’s System Operator division which is responsible for timetables and ensuring that changes are “workable”.” – Daily Telegraph
“Open justice has been dealt a fresh blow after the Justice Secretary warned Parole Board officials could keep their anonymity in case mobsters target them in a bid to spring gang members from jail. David Gauke said concerns over blackmail and intimidation ahead of key prisoner release decisions “must be taken into account” – to the fury of victims rights campaigners. The Government is currently consulting on whether justice officials who make decisions about who to let out should be named in the wake of John Worboys scandal. They are currently kept secret, but campaigners want them to be available to public scrutiny following their decisions after the bungle that almost saw the notorious black cab rapist released back onto London’s streets.” – The Sun
“Jeremy Hunt has had to apologise “unreservedly” for a second time to MPs for breaking Parliamentary rules over his purchase of seven luxury flats. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has concluded that the Health Secretary breached the MP Code of Conduct, but has decided to take no further action. The inquiry was launched in April, following revelations by the Daily Telegraph that Mr Hunt failed to disclose his interest in Mare Pond Properties, a company he used to buy seven luxury flats, on the Parliamentary Register of Members’ interests within the required 28 days. He took nearly five months to declare his 50 per cent shareholding.” – Daily Telegraph
“Conservative party deputy chair James Cleverly has hit out at MPs campaigning for a change in Northern Irish abortion law, accusing Labour of exploiting the issue for party political gain. Cleverly made his attack despite the fact that at least 13 female Conservative MPs have publicly supported a change to the law in Northern Ireland, which has some of the most restrictive rules on abortion in the world. A number of senior Conservatives have backed a free vote on Labour MP Stella Creasy’s proposed amendment to the domestic violence bill, which would extend abortion rights to Northern Ireland. The consultation on the bill ends on Thursday. No 10 has made it clear it considers abortion to be a devolved matter, which can only be legislated on by politicians in Northern Ireland.” – The Guardian
>Today: ToryDiary: Britain and abortion. Women are more likely to support new restrictions.
“Free schools have failed to transform education and show little of their promised innovation or parental involvement, a report will say today. Michael Gove’s much-vaunted policy when education secretary is simply replicating the academies programme, with an increasing number of free schools opened by multi-academy trusts, according to the Sutton Trust, a foundation that works to improve social mobility. Only a third of free schools – state schools outside local authority control – have demonstrated novel approaches and a dwindling number are being set up by parents, the analysis finds. When the first free schools were launched in 2011, parents, teachers and community groups were encouraged to bring their own ethos or creative approach. However, today’s report, the most comprehensive analysis of the project, says that newer schools are less innovative.” – The Times
“The Conservative Party’s incoming treasurer, Ehud Sheleg, donated £500,000 to the party this year, it emerged yesterday. The Tories accepted donations of £4.7 million over the first three months of the year, more than three times as much as Labour, the Electoral Commission disclosed. The donations reported by all parties amounted to £6.9 million. Labour received £1.49 million, with Unite, the trade union, its biggest donor. The gift from Mr Sheleg, an art gallery director, was the second biggest from any single donor over the period. He also gave the Tories £550,000 last year. The biggest donation was from Gerda Winder, who left the Conservatives £582,358 in a bequest after her death, aged 86, in an old people’s home in Colchester, Essex.” – The Times
“Labour has conceded that its handling of antisemitism complaints appeared to be vulnerable to “political forces” in the senior ranks, a leaked report discloses. The party is examining a 13-point plan to improve its ability to tackle antisemitism amid concerns about delays in the complaints procedure and a lack of consistency in its approach. A specialist panel has been proposed to expedite the complaints, according to the report leaked to The Jewish Chronicle. Training on the issue will be offered to all 39 members of the party’s national executive committee (NEC). The report recommends making antisemitism cases anonymous amid claims that outcomes were being influenced by partisan factions.” – The Times
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“Nicola Sturgeon has attempted to paper over a major split among nationalists about the SNP’s new blueprint for independence after a fierce backlash from Left-wingers warning it will mean years of austerity. The First Minister took to Twitter to post seven messages in a “desperate” defence of her party’s Sustainable Growth Commission report, published last Friday, which recommended imposing severe public spending restrictions for a decade. She insisted the report “explicitly rejects austerity” and claimed that even with “worst case scenario” independence would be better that sticking with a Westminster system that “created” Scotland’s huge deficit. But the commission’s proposal to continue unofficially using the pound for at least a decade, before a new currency was possibly adopted, would mean the remainder of the UK dictating a separate Scotland’s monetary policy.” – Daily Telegraph
“George Osborne’s London Evening Standard has been accused of blurring the line between journalism and advertising after offering “money can’t buy” news coverage of campaigns backed by brands. Google and Uber are among six big companies who paid £500,000 each to sign up to the newspaper’s “London 2020” scheme, it was claimed yesterday. Under the £3 million deal each brand will be partnered with a “themed project” relating to issues such as clean air, plastic pollution and housing. In return for their money the companies have been promised monthly print sections devoted to their particular issue, in addition to “native and advertorial” content – a reference to sponsored articles that look similar to genuine pieces of editorial.” – The Times