“The police’s failure to take violence against women and girls seriously enough is “infuriating”, Boris Johnson has said in the wake of Sarah Everard’s murder. In an interview with The Times, Johnson said that the public are right to feel the police are failing women and girls who are subjected to violence and sexual abuse. Everard, 33, was kidnapped, raped and murdered by Wayne Couzens, a serving police officer who was this week given a whole life tariff at the Old Bailey. The prime minister held talks on Thursday with Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, about how to boost the prosecutions for rape and secure more convictions.” – The Times
“Priti Patel has led calls from across Britain for landmark social change to tackle violence against women declaring: “Enough is enough”, after the murder of Sarah Everard. Speaking to the Evening Standard, the Home Secretary stated that “monster” Pc Wayne Couzens, 48, would rightly spend the rest of his life behind bars. But she also captured a surge in anger and demand for the scourge of male violence against women and girls to be countered once and for all with full force. “I don’t just say this as Home Secretary. I think women have basically said that’s it — enough is enough,” she said. She was joined by victims, their families, MPs and campaigners calling for the horrific abduction, rape and murder of Ms Everard, 33, to galvanise Government, the police and society as a whole into urgent action to combat these “heinous and unspeakable” crimes.” – Evening Standard
“He admits to being a Christmas fanatic, who has already started his shopping list and has to be ‘restrained’ from putting on festive music too early. Can the Government save his favourite festival from the looming shortages that threaten to derail it? At this point, he turns very serious. The shortages, he says, are ‘very real’. The Government will do its best to ‘mitigate’ the impact, but he is not offering any guarantees. Not even to his children? ‘As you can imagine there’s an enormous amount of focus on this from the Government because we know how important this is. My kids will be very upset with me if there isn’t a proper Christmas.’ – Daily Mail
“Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, has accused employers of “resisting” Britain’s post-Brexit shift away from cheap migrant labour as economists warned of a £13bn debt shock from soaring inflation. Mr Kwarteng said prices are rising because the country was in “transition” towards a high-wage economy as Britain weans itself off overseas workers in the wake of Brexit. His comments came as analysts warned that inflation is set to surge above 4pc later this year amid a severe energy shortage and chaos at the fuel pumps. There were even warnings of a recession in 2022 as the Bank of England is forced to raise interest rates. In an interview with ConservativeHome, Mr Kwarteng said: “Having rejected the low-wage, high-immigration model, we were always going to try to transition to something else.” – Daily Telegraph
“Business as usual” must end, NHS bosses will be told as ministers launch what they hope will be the biggest review of health service management for four decades. All aspects of NHS leadership will be scrutinised as ministers seek to ensure any extra cash brings results. Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said management must “change for the better” in exchange for a £16 billion funding over the next three years to deal with Covid-19 backlogs. It will be funded by a 1.25 per cent rise on national insurance and amid Tory backbench concerns about rising taxes, Javid is looking to hold the NHS to account.” – The Times
“Three Tory prime ministers look on in the Conservative Party boardroom as Oliver Dowden, the party’s new chairman, outlines his vision for what comes next. One is Margaret Thatcher, a portrait showing her looking into the middle distance. A second is Winston Churchill, a statue depicting him hunched and determined. And then there is a bust of David Cameron, who led the Tories back into office before accidentally bringing about Brexit. It is Mr Cameron who Mr Dowden has to thank for his rise in politics, having been his deputy chief of staff, as well as Boris Johnson, the man who capitalised on that referendum result. In his reshuffle last month, the Prime Minister handed Mr Dowden the keys to CCHQ, the party’s campaign headquarters in the heart of Westminster. But as Conservative members gather in Manchester on Sunday for the annual conference, the party’s fortunes feel Janus-faced.” – Daily Telegraph
“As I watch the Tories gather this weekend for their Manchester conference, while the massed ranks of media commentators mingle with them, this column is not about finger-pointing. It’s about a human error that’s as old as politics: thinking we have the least idea what’s going to happen. We haven’t a clue. Our future politics is totally up for grabs. We can expect nothing, anticipate nothing. Nobody’s got it sewn up, and nobody should despair. As Margaret Thatcher loved to repeat: “The unexpected always happens.” – The Times
“After a short campaign, and the first election since 2012 with no incumbent and no clear favourite, Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer are the new co-leaders of the Green party of England and Wales, and they take the helm with the wind in their party’s sails. The new leaders focused their pitch on Denyer’s position as candidate for the top target seat of Bristol West, and ex-deputy Ramsay’s long experience of winning elections for the party. Tamsin Omond and current deputy leader Amelia Womack ran an impressive, energetic campaign – but Denyer and Ramsay, whose campaign was backed by Caroline Lucas, won by a close margin.” – The Guardian