POLITICS: Newslinks for Tuesday 24th December 2024 – USSA News

Starmer fails to rule out more tax rises as recession fears grow…

“Sir Keir Starmer has warned a return to economic prosperity “won’t happen overnight” as Downing Street failed to rule out having to raise taxes again next year to balance the books. Official figures released on Monday showed that the UK economy flatlined in the third quarter of the year, raising fears a recession could be on the horizon. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said she knew that the challenge of fixing the economy was “huge” but that it was “only fuelling our fire to deliver for working people”. Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, told Times Radio that while Reeves “had no choice, really, but to fix some of the massive problems”, it meant she may need to “come back for more money” from the public next year.” – The Times

• UK economy unexpectedly failed to grow in third quarter – The Financial Times
• Flatlining growth risks another Reeves tax raid, says IFS chief – The Daily Telegraph
• Domestic abuse victims ‘will pay price of national insurance hikes’ – The Times
• Reeves needs ‘Christmas miracle’ to boost economy – The I
• Is Labour to blame for slowing the UK economy? – The Guardian
• ‘Waste of time’: how Starmer fumbled his first months in power – The Financial Times
• Tax raid is a betrayal of abused women – Editorial, The Daily Mail

…as he hints about sending troops to train Ukrainians

“Sir Keir Starmer has hinted that British troops could be deployed to western Ukraine to train soldiers. The prime minister agreed with President Zelensky that “refining” the offer of training was important as Ukraine struggles to recruit troops. About 51,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained in Britain under Operation Interflex. However, getting troops to Britain involves a multi-legged journey and there are concerns that Ukrainians are reluctant to sign up because of fears they will not receive proper training or equipment before being sent to the front line. Moving the training to western Ukraine could potentially reassure those seeking to avoid the draft and increase the number of Ukrainians passing through the basic course.” – The Times

• Starmer to have first holiday since taking office – after cancelling last one over riots – The Daily Telegraph

>Today:

Labour ‘split’ over Mandelson plan to work with Farage to woo Trump

“Labour is facing a split over Lord Mandelson’s plan to work with Nigel Farage to woo Donald Trump. On Monday, The Telegraph revealed that Lord Mandelson, the new ambassador to the US, was set to call on Mr Farage, the Reform UK leader, to help him win over the president-elect’s team. But some Labour MPs have warned that it would “damage” the party if the former business secretary was allowed to work with Mr Farage. One told The Telegraph that no British government should provide a platform for “the values of the Reform Party”. The Telegraph revealed that Lord Mandelson is ready to engage with the Reform leader, a friend of Mr Trump, as part of a push to persuade the president-elect not to risk a trade war by hitting Britain with tariffs.” – The Daily Telegraph

• Mauritius demands more from Britain in deal for Chagos Islands – as Labour are desperate to sign it off before Trump enters the White House – The Daily Mail
• Starmer’s approach to China is reckless and incoherent – Tom Tugendhat, The Times

Alexander launches review of targets for sales of electric vehicles

“The UK government has announced a consultation on its zero emission vehicle targets, following complaints from carmakers that the current regime could lead to job cuts as demand for electric vehicles stalls. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has given the automotive and charging industries eight weeks to submit their views on the existing EV targets including how existing “arrangements and flexibilities are working”. The zero emission vehicle mandate was drawn up by the previous Conservative government at a time when EV sales were expected to take off. Under the current targets, a certain percentage of each carmakers’ annual sales need to be zero emission vehicles, with the percentage rising from 22 per cent in 2024 to 80 per cent in 2030.” – The Financial Times

• Labour waters down electric vehicle 2030 manifesto pledge – The I

Conservatives 1) Badenoch: ‘I’m not a dictator. Conservatives must be patient’

“Kemi Badenoch has said she is “not a dictator” as she urged voters to remain patient with the Conservative Party. The Tory leader said she would not “rush out” new policies despite the challenge posed by Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, who she accused of “telling people easy things without thinking them through”. She contrasted Reform’s blitz of policy announcements with her own leadership style and said that the next election was a “marathon, not a sprint”. Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform, has called for the renationalisation of Thames Water and said that the struggling British Steel plant in Scunthorpe should be taken into public ownership if foreign investment cannot be found. Asked for her party’s position on those two issues, Badenoch declined to comment…” – The Times

• Donation by Musk to Reform UK would be ‘counterproductive’, she says – The Financial Times

Conservatives 2) Reform UK membership set to be higher than the Tories’ within a month

“Reform UK hopes to surge past the Tories in membership numbers within a month after publishing figures showing they are only around 11,000 members short. Nigel Farage’s party has launched an online membership tracker, which put the number at 120,549…on Monday. The last published Conservative membership figure was 131,680. Reform membership has surged thanks to an influx of younger members attracted by a cheaper fee, and a spokesman said the party expected to surpass the Tories in January… The Conservatives do not regularly publish their…numbers. The latest figure was released in November when activists elected Kemi Badenoch as leader. Some Tories have criticised her for not announcing any policies on major issues such as immigration…” – The Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday:

Revival in SNP fortunes raises fresh questions about Scottish independence

“Almost six months after the Scottish National party’s heavy defeat in the UK general election, polls suggest its fortunes are already reviving as sentiment cools towards Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government. A recent poll also found 54 per cent support for Scottish independence — the SNP’s defining goal — the highest level in four years. “The UK Labour government hasn’t set the heather alight,” said Ian Blackford, former SNP leader at Westminster. “The key question is whether people are going to feel better off at the end of this parliament, and it doesn’t look that way.” First minister and SNP leader John Swinney has argued, since taking the top job in May, that to build support for independence his party has to deliver on core voter issues…” – The Financial Times

News in Brief:

• Reform is rattling the establishment – Patrick O’Flynn, The Spectator
• Beware A&E at Christmas – Dr Emma Jones, UnHerd
• Embrace uncool Britannia – Guy Dampier, The Critic 
• CapX’s books of 2024 – Marc Sidwell and Joseph Dinnage, CapX
• Labour humoured the Waspi women for too long – David Gauke, The New Statesman
• Here’s your 2024 in politics, wrapped – Tim Chapman, J’accuse

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