No 10 decreases to state whether Mandelson ought to make use of Farage in United States to assist develop excellent connections with Trump
Today the Daily Telegraph has actually sprayed on a story claiming that Peter Mandelson, that will certainly be the brand-new UK ambassador to Washington, will certainly make use of Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, to assist develop excellent relate to the Trump management. Before he was designated Mandelson stated he believed it would certainly be a great concept for the British consular office to be taking advantage of “friends” of Trump, like Farage, and today’s tale is primarily based upon an instruction claiming Mandelson still waits what he said in November. But it consists of a quote from “a source close to Lord Mandelson”, inquired about Labour individuals suggesting Farage ought to be sidelined, claiming:
I make certain that would certainly be a sight held by some however not those that require to carry out UK-US connections in one of the most maximum method.
At the Downing Street entrance hall instruction today, the PM’s representative was asked if Keir Starmer would certainly enjoy for Mandelson to utilize Farage’s links this way. The representative stated he was“not going to get into that” But he explained that Starmer had a half-hour discussion with Trump just recently, and supper with him in New York in September, and he stated that, as the brand-new ambassador, Mandelson was a “highly respected figure with extensive foreign and economic policy expertise”.
Key occasions
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IFS director Paul Johnson says, if economy does not revive, Reeves may think she needs more tax rises next year
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No 10 rejects claim ‘moron’ jibe from Trump ally means Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador problematic
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No 10 declines to say whether Mandelson should use Farage in US to help establish good relations with Trump
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Starmer to take short foreign holiday over new year, No 10 says
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Starmer and Zelenskyy agree in telephone call it’s ‘vital Putin’s ambitions fail in Ukraine’, No 10 says
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Labour claims Badenoch’s Today podcast interview shows Tories ‘haven’t listened, haven’t learned’ and have ‘no solutions’
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Badenoch says her comment about cultures not all being equal was general one, not specifically about Islam
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‘Answer should always be, it depends’ – Badenoch defends refusing to give off-the-cuff answers on policy
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Lib Dems urges government to ‘take brakes off growth’ by reversing budget national insurance rise
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Badenoch says belief in personal responsibility is what distinguishes Conservatives from other parties
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Tories say Labour must ‘revisit disastrous budget’ in light of figures showing zero growth in third quarter of 2024
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Lib Dems could force Commons vote on Waspi compensation, says Cooper
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Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy claims ‘a number of billionaires’ now prepared to donate to party
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Badenoch downplays prospect of huge Musk gift to Reform UK – and claims, if it happened, it could be counterproductive
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State-funded UK scheme to save beloved community sites will close early
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Kemi Badenoch claims that Tory party infighting has ended and leadership is going well
Natalie Bennett, the Green peer and previous event leader, states today’s numbers revealing no development in the 3rd quarter of the year highlight a crucial trouble with the federal government’s method. She published this on Bluesky
The federal government’s Plan A is “rely on growth to tackle our many problems”.
What is Plan B?
Reminder, you can not have unlimited development on a limited earth, and currently when there is development, the revenues most likely to minority, not the several
IFS supervisor Paul Johnson states, if economic situation does not restore, Reeves might believe she requires much more tax obligation increases following year
Paul Johnson, the outbound supervisor of the Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank, has stated it is “a little unfair” responsible the federal government for the absence of development highlighted by today’s modified numbers from the ONS.
Speaking on Times Radio, asked if the federal government was responsible, Johnson stated:
I believe it’s possibly a little unjust. The federal government had no option, truly, however to repair several of the huge troubles, and they’re appropriate regarding this. The last federal government did leave them definitely huge troubles.
I believe several of what they have actually done to repair it has actually been much less than perfect. So what we have actually basically had in regards to tax obligation was the last federal government, I believed really cynically, minimized the worker nationwide insurance coverage price and afterwards this federal government basically made it up by raising the company nationwide insurance coverage price. And in the brief run, at the very least, that is a bottom line to the economic situation since that makes it much more pricey for companies to employ individuals. So I believe there is an issue there …
You have actually obtained a substantial rise in investing loved one, at the very least, to what was intended. Now once again, we can see the requirement for this in the NHS and the justice system and somewhere else, and the exceptional point is, we’re all whining, as it were, regarding the large tax obligation surges, however the investing surges are also larger. So among the concerns right here is the federal government is obtaining much more. In various other words, it’s pumping even more cash right into the economic situation which can have inflationary repercussions.
Johnson likewise stated the chancellor might wish to increase tax obligations once again following year. Asked regarding what may take place following year, he responded:
I’m not anticipating an economic downturn. But once again, the federal government’s mosting likely to be discussing difficult selections. They have actually obtained the hardest of all selections to make in the summer season when they do their investing testimonial and afterwards I believe we’ll have a great deal of unpleasant closet priests due to the fact that they’re not going to obtain quite cash.
And that understands? It’s possible that the chancellor [Rachel Reeves] will certainly feel she requires to find back for yet even more cash next fall if the economic situation does not grab.
Then, once again, she’s embeded this truly tough area– you boost tax obligations in order to money civil services sufficiently or because there’s no development, you do not have the cash you require for the general public solutions and you dissatisfy individuals on that particular front.
Reeves has actually continuously stated that, after increasing tax obligations considerably in the October spending plan, she is not preparing a comparable tax-raising spending plan this parliament.
No 10 declines case ‘idiot’ jibe from Trump ally indicates Mandelson’s consultation as United States ambassador bothersome
At the Downing Street entrance hall instruction the PM’s representative likewise turned down insurance claims that Peter Mandelson’s consultation as ambassador to the United States can be bothersome due to previous remarks from Mandelson criticising Donald Trump.
On Friday Chris LaCivita, an expert associated with Trump’s political election project, defined Mandelson in a post on X as an“absolute moron” He was talking about a newspaper article regarding Mandelson calling Trump a “danger to the world” and a white nationalist 5 years back.
Asked if the PM was fretted the LaCivita remark revealed that having Mandelson as ambassador can trigger troubles, the PM’s representative responded:
No The consultation reveals simply exactly how seriously we’re taking this partnership.
[Mandelson] has actually obtained substantial diplomacy and financial plan proficiency, specifically in the critical concerns of profession, company web links. He’s obtained experience at the highest degree of federal government and he will certainly be a substantial property in the UK’s partnership with the United States.
An imprisoned UK-Egypt pro-democracy protestor really feels “hurt” by Keir Starmer not increasing his instance with his Egyptian equivalent, according to his family members, Media records. states:
Campaigners have actually advised the head of state to tip up his initiatives to assist complimentary Alaa Abd el-Fattah, that has actually been restrained given that 2019 and is incapable to see his young kid that resides in Brighton.
Human legal rights professionals, consisting of Amnesty International assistant basic Agnes Callamard, have actually contacted Starmer firmly insisting Egyptian head of state Abdel Fatah al-Sisi can “resolve this case with the stroke of a pen” and they are “convinced” the head of state’s straight treatment is required.
Succession star Brian Cox, dealing with Starmer in a video clip message, likewise stated: “It’s time to make the call, prime minister. Pick up the phone and bring Alaa home for Christmas. We’re counting on you.”
In December 2021, Abd el-Fattah was punished to 5 years behind bars after being charged of spreading out incorrect information and the Free Alaa project states he must have been launched in September this year based upon his time offered behind bars given that 2019.
His mommy, Laila Soueif, 68, has actually gotten on cravings strike for 85 days and will certainly proceed her activity in London up until she listens to information regarding her kid being launched or “she collapses and is hospitalised”.
Starmer increased Abd el-Fattah’s predicament with Sisi in August however he “did not raise the case” at the current G20 top went to by the set, according to the Foreign Office.
Sanaa Seif, that took a trip to Cairo to see her bro behind bars recently, stated: “Alaa was so, so hurt to hear that the prime minister met Sisi at the G20 and didn’t even raise his name. This is the first time Sisi met a British prime minister and didn’t have to talk about Alaa. On Keir Starmer, Alaa said ‘he’s not treating me as if I am a British citizen’.”
Downing Street stated today Starmer will certainly increase the instance in his following talks with Sisi.
The head of state’s representative stated: “It remains our priority to secure the release of Mr el-Fattah so he can be reunited with his family. We continue to raise his case at the highest levels. The prime minister raised his case with President Sisi in August. The foreign secretary has raised the case multiple times, including most recently a few days ago on 20 December. At all levels, whether ministers or officials, we continue to call for consular access to Mr el-Fattah.”
No 10 decreases to state whether Mandelson ought to make use of Farage in United States to assist develop excellent connections with Trump
Today the Daily Telegraph has actually sprayed on a story claiming that Peter Mandelson, that will certainly be the brand-new UK ambassador to Washington, will certainly make use of Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, to assist develop excellent relate to the Trump management. Before he was designated Mandelson stated he believed it would certainly be a great concept for the British consular office to be taking advantage of “friends” of Trump, like Farage, and today’s tale is primarily based upon an instruction claiming Mandelson still waits what he said in November. But it consists of a quote from “a source close to Lord Mandelson”, inquired about Labour individuals suggesting Farage ought to be sidelined, claiming:
I make certain that would certainly be a sight held by some however not those that require to carry out UK-US connections in one of the most maximum method.
At the Downing Street entrance hall instruction today, the PM’s representative was asked if Keir Starmer would certainly enjoy for Mandelson to utilize Farage’s links this way. The representative stated he was“not going to get into that” But he explained that Starmer had a half-hour discussion with Trump just recently, and supper with him in New York in September, and he stated that, as the brand-new ambassador, Mandelson was a “highly respected figure with extensive foreign and economic policy expertise”.
The Financial Times’ political writer Stephen Bush has a good short thread on Bluesky regarding Kemi Badenoch’s Today podcast meeting, and her case that it would certainly be incorrect to lay out comprehensive plan currently. (See 9.25 am and 11.14 am.) She hasn’t obtained this fairly appropriate, he states.
Badenoch right that resistances ought to lay out wide concepts essentially. Starmer’s resistance had actually introduced 200 plans regarding the subject du jour, by the end of its initial 2 years, the majority of them were unimportant and left no-one any kind of the better regarding what Labour’s leading top priorities were, BUT:
She both isn’t adhering to this (the Tory event under her has actually currently made certain dedications to farmers and independent schools) and appears to have actually puzzled the lesson of “don’t just spam random policies about the news story of the day” with “you can set out your principles & positions without policy”
Her response on Thames Water is an example. There are 3 feasible responses on Thames Water: you believe privatisation can not function, you believe that privatisation can collaborate with a various operator/regulatory background, you are definitely biscuits and believe status is functioning.
What Farage is doing, wisely, by claiming “we would renationalise” is basically him going “I’m with you on everything” to the socially traditional citizens he really did not win last time, and laying the ground for credulous protection of his left-right placement in 2029.
Badenoch is falling short to lay out a clear feeling of where she stands, or to state to truly, any kind of team of citizens“I am with you” The harmful lesson the Tory event has actually drawn from the political election is that the Reform ballot can be won simply by being louder.
Downing Street has stated the federal government has actually constantly been “upfront” regarding the state of the economic situation. Asked regarding the current numbers claiming there was no development in the economic situation in the 3rd quarter of the year, the PM’s spokeperson informed reporters at the early morning entrance hall instruction:
The federal government was ahead of time when it can be found in that it had a challenging financial inheritance, which is why we have actually needed to take several of the challenging choices that we have actually taken given that the head of state entered into federal government.
And it is why we have stated that our concern gets on supplying development that individuals will certainly really feel the influence of … We will certainly remain to burn the midnight oil to supply development, to supply the financial investment and reform that our civil services require and restore the nation.
Starmer to take brief international vacation over brand-new year, No 10 states
Keir Starmer is obtaining a vacation. He was because of obtain a post-election vacation in the summer season, however he cancelled it to make sure that he can remain in the UK to take care of the summer season troubles.
The PM is investing Christmas with his family members atChequers But they will certainly be travelling “for a few days” over the brand-new year, his representative informed reporters at the No 10 entrance hall instruction today. The representative did not expose any kind of additional information regarding where he would certainly be going, or for for how long he would certainly be away.
Asked if Angela Rayner would certainly supervise while he was away, the representative stated Starmer would certainly continue to be accountable.
Starmer and Zelenskyy concur in phone conversation it’s ‘important Putin’s passions stop working in Ukraine’, No 10 states
Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskyy both concurred it was “vital” for Russia to stop working in Ukraine when they talked by phone today, Downing Street stated.
In a read-out of the telephone call, a No 10 representative stated that Starmer begun by informing Zelenskyy regarding his journey to the Joint Expeditionary Force leaders’ top recently, and the willpower of JEF participants “to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position going into 2025”.
The representative took place:
At the top, the team highlighted the value of matching their words with concrete activity, consisting of with additional permissions on the darkness fleet, the velocity of deadly help, and assistance for the Ukrainian support commercial base, the head of state included.
President Zelenskyy reviewed the circumstance on the frontline in Ukraine and the requirement to make certain Ukraine can break down Russian pressures for the long run.
What takes place in Ukraine in the coming weeks and months issues to Europe and Nato, and it was important President Putin’s passions stop working in Ukraine, the leaders concurred.
Most Britons do not desire Elon Musk, the technology billionaire and Donald Trump ally, having an impact over UK national politics, a survey recommends.
Last week Musk satisfied Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, and Nick Candy, his event treasurer, to go over exactly how he may be able to Farage’s event, which is carefully lined up to the Trump/Musk job. An economic payment was gone over, although Musk has actually refuted records claiming he may provide $100m.
But, according to a survey by Survation, 66% of citizens stateMusk “should not be influential in British politics” Only 19% state he must be significant.
Asked if rich international countries ought to be prohibited from contributing large amounts to political events in Britain, 55% of individuals informed Survation that there ought to be a restriction, and just 17% stated there should not.
Under UK political election legislation, an immigrant like Musk is not permitted to give away to a political event as a person. But Musk can obtain round this regulation due to the fact that he has firms that run in the UK and they would certainly be permitted to give away.
Labour insurance claims Badenoch’s Today podcast meeting programs Tories ‘have not paid attention, have not found out’ and have ‘no remedies’
The Labour event has actually produced a declaration regarding the Kemi Badenoch Today podcast meeting. Referring to her hesitation to provide information of plan (see 9.25 am and 11.14 am), a Labour representative stated:
Every time Kemi Badenoch talks it comes to be more clear that she has no remedies to the troubles the Tories developed. Under her management, the Conservatives have actually made unfunded investing dedications worth billions without describing exactly how she would certainly spend for any one of them. The Conservatives have not paid attention and have not found out. Labour’s prepare for modification will certainly repair the structures and restore Britain.
