“Treasury officials are drawing up plans for a £30bn tax raid on the wealthy, businesses, pensions and foreign aid — to plug a hole in the nation’s finances caused by the coronavirus crisis. Under proposals that are due to form the centrepiece of the budget in November, the government is planning to raise both capital gains tax and corporation tax. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, is also considering a proposal to increase corporation tax from 19% to 24%, a move that would raise £12bn next year, rising to £17bn in 2023-24, but would put the government on a collision course with businesses hit by the pandemic.” – Sunday Times
“The media are enjoying a little competition: which publication can come up with the biggest number of U-turns recently performed by what, if it were really a car, would have the numberplate BJ1. The Daily Mail, under the headline “Four months of U-turning”, came up with 10 examples, from May 21’s reversal of a policy of charging overseas health workers for NHS care, to last week’s flip-flop on the wearing of masks by pupils in secondary schools (when they finally reopen, that is). This beat the Politico website’s “8 U-turns in 8 months from Boris Johnson’s government”, which “keeps back-pedalling”. But the winner was the Financial Times: “U-turns by the dozen: Boris Johnson’s pandemic response”. – Sunday Times
“The Brexit negotiator, Lord Frost, has signalled to Michel Barnier, the EU’s frontman, that he will recommend Britain leaves without a trade deal unless Brussels drops demands the UK continue to align with its rules on state aid. Frost took a tough stance a week ago in private meetings with Barnier, which failed to advance the talks. Barnier then demanded to see the UK’s blueprint for its domestic subsidy regime after the transition, which is not likely to be published until the end of September.” – Sunday Times
“Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, is standing by plans to bring an algorithm into the heart of a new planning system, but does not rule out “tweaking it” to soothe anger on the Conservative back benches about its potential impact on the suburbs. This month Jenrick, 38, launched a plan to build more than 300,000 homes a year, giving councils compulsory targets and creating local zones in which development is automatically approved. The plan will use an algorithm to produce targets for every area in England, based on its “relative affordability” and the extent of development locally.” – Sunday Times
“The Electoral Commission should be abolished or radically overhauled because it has become “accountable to no-one”, the Conservative Party has said. Amid mounting concerns over the regulator’s performance and accountability, Tory chairman Amanda Milling claimed it is “not fit for purpose” and should not be allowed to hand itself the ability to prosecute parties and campaign groups. The Telegraph can reveal the Conservatives have now lodged a submission with the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is currently reviewing the Commission’s remit and whether it should be handed more powers. The Commission, which has faced accusations of bias against bodies that campaigned for Brexit – a charge it strongly denies – confirmed plans earlier this year to hand itself a “prosecutions capability”. – Sunday Telegraph
“Sir Ed Davey has vowed to make the Liberal Democrats the party of Britain’s 10 million carers — as the new leader talked powerfully about the challenges of looking after his disabled son during lockdown. Davey and his wife Emily found much of their support was withdrawn when the coronavirus hit and said his political goal was to “give a voice” to the army of people caring for sick and disabled relatives, who live with “stress upon stress upon stress”. In his first newspaper interview as leader, Davey attacked Boris Johnson as an “absentee prime minister”, called on him to immediately set up a public inquiry into the handling of Covid-19 and said he would be willing to co-ordinate in the Commons with Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer to get the Tories out.” – Sunday Times
“Boris Johnson has tried to recruit Riz Lateef, the leading presenter on BBC London, to become the face of his government. A senior Tory has revealed that Lateef was Johnson’s initial choice to front the government’s daily press conferences, which are due to start this autumn. The job comes with a salary of at least £100,000. Work has already begun to turn a former colonial courtroom at 9 Downing Street into a television studio where the new spokesman will hold a televised briefing every tea time. When Johnson was mayor of London, Lateef was known for giving him a tough time in interviews, but he appears to have enjoyed the experience.” – Sunday Times