Newslinks for Monday 12th January 2026 | Conservative Home

MPs to urge sacking of police chief in fans ban

“Senior MPs are preparing to tell the home secretary to sack the chief constable of West Midlands police after concluding that he “misled parliament” over the decision to ban Israeli football fans from a match in Birmingham. Members of the home affairs select committee are understood to be “unanimous in their disappointment” at the evidence given by the force, with several believing it had “retrospectively gathered evidence to suit their decision making” rather than basing the ban on genuine intelligence at the time. Pressure is mounting on Craig Guildford, the West Midlands chief constable, to go after Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were barred from travelling to the game at Villa Park in November by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which cited safety concerns based on advice from the police force. The decision sparked political outrage and doubts have grown over the intelligence used by police, including disputes over the accuracy of information. One MP told The Times that sacking Guildford would be “the nuclear option” but said there was now “no other option” if their suspicions were confirmed that the force had given a misleading account.” – The Times

• Channel 4 exposé revealed extremism at mosque that advised police – The Times
• Mosques praised Maccabi row police chief’s handling of pro-Palestine protests – Daily Telegraph
• West Midlands Police chief constable blamed for the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan fiasco could be sacked in days after report is given to the Home Secretary – Daily Mail
• Muslim leader helped appoint police chief in anti-Semitism football row – Daily Telegraph
• Badenoch condemns police and protesters at Israeli restaurant – The Times

Comment:

• The police have compromised themselves over Maccabi Tel Aviv – Telegraph View

Badenoch pledges Tories would introduce social media ban for under-16s

“Kemi Badenoch has announced that the Tories would ban under-16s from accessing social media if the party won the next election. The Conservative leader said a “common sense” age limit was needed, and warned that online culture was fuelling a surge in mental health problems. Her calls were backed by Andy Burnham, the Manchester Mayor, but dismissed by Downing Street, which said it has no plans for a ban. Concerns around the dangers of social media have been heightened by the use of X’s artificial intelligence tool to create undressed images of women and children. In an interview, Mrs Badenoch said social media was contributing to worklessness amongst young people by fuelling a rise in anxiety and depression. She told the BBC she had even had issues with spending too much time on the platforms themselves, which are “designed to be addictive”. Describing the internet as a “Wild West” she said the Tory plans would provide “common sense protection for children and freedom for adults”… Mrs Badenoch acknowledged some youngsters would find ways to get around a ban, just as some obtain fake IDs to buy alcohol. But she said introducing a ban would get a “critical mass” of under-16s off social media, and make it easier for parents to say no to their children.” – Daily Telegraph

• Pressure grows on No 10 as Burnham backs Tory call for under-16s social media ban – The Guardian
• Tories would ban under-16s from social media – BBC News
• Tories will channel anger at Labour, vows Badenoch – BBC News
• ANOTHER manifesto pledge gone as Labour cuts asylum case worker numbers after promising to fix Tory backlog – Daily Mail
• Defence spending must be hiked at expense of welfare bill, says Kemi Badenoch – The Sun

EU demands ‘Farage clause’ in talks over Starmer’s Brexit reset

“The EU is demanding that any future British government pays significant financial compensation if they quit a post-Brexit “reset” deal as part of negotiations with Sir Keir Starmer. Brussels has included a termination clause that would require London to pay a high level of restitution if it chose to exit a proposed EU-UK “veterinary agreement” to remove Brexit red tape for British food and drink exporters, according to a draft text seen by the Financial Times. EU diplomats have dubbed the stipulation a “Farage clause” that they said was designed to insure the bloc against the risk of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage becoming prime minister and making good on his threat to reverse Starmer’s attempted move closer to Brussels. Reform has promised to overturn the deal and Farage on Sunday told the FT he would not hand over any money to Brussels under any deal signed by Starmer. “I would break it,” he said. “No parliament may bind its successor, we will not honour any clause. If Starmer signs this, it is a democratic outrage.” – Financial Times

• EU demands Britain pay compensation dubbed ‘Farage clause’ if it quits post-Brexit deal – The Sun
• EU demands ‘Nigel Farage clause’ as part of Brexit reset talks – The Times
• EU wants ‘Farage clause’ in Brexit ‘reset’ talks with UK – The Guardian
• Keir Starmer faces Red Wall revolt to Reform if anti-Brexit rebels defy PM, veteran Labour MP warns – GB News

Comment:

• It’s time for a Brexit from Nato – Philip Cunliffe, Daily Telegraph
• It’s time for Keir Starmer to exercise his power – Jenni Russell, The Times
• Starmer’s fight for survival rests on one final shot at connection – Anne McElvoy, The i

> Yesterday:

All Reform councils to raise taxes despite campaign pledges

“Reform will raise council tax in all the areas it controls this year — but sources say the increases will be smaller than those made by rival parties. All 12 councils run by Nigel Farage’s party will be forced to increase council tax despite campaign promises suggesting otherwise. Derbyshire, North Northamptonshire, West Northamptonshire and Leicestershire councils plan to raise council tax by the maximum 4.99 per cent legally allowed before the increase has to go to referendum. Worcestershire council has applied for special permission from the government to increase taxes by as much as 10 per cent. Kent and Staffordshire hope to increase taxes by 3.99 per cent, lower than the maximum but still higher than forecast inflation. Sources in Lincolnshire and Warwickshire said Reform councillors were trying to push against officials’ plans for a maximum tax increase, instead advocating greater use of reserves. Reform sources said a “handful” of the councils it controlled would keep rises below the rate of inflation. Despite Farage’s promises to save “a lot of money” from “wasteful spending”, Reform leaders have faced similar problems to those of other councils in providing for the spiralling cost of children’s and adult social care, which accounts for about two thirds of local authority budgets.” – The Times

• Reform wants to run Britain. A divided Kent is its political experiment – Daily Telegraph
• Reform will win councils in London at May local elections, says Tice as it races to recruit 1,800 candidates – The Standard

Comment:

• Sorry, Trump and Farage – London is no lawless ‘warzone’. Violent crime is lower than ever – Sadiq Khan, The Guardian

> Today:

News in brief:

• Labour’s humiliating MAGA-whispering – Jenny McCartney, UnHerd
• Rebranding suicide – Adam James Pollock, The Critic
• Iran’s uprising and the moral bewilderment of Western youth – Brendan O’Neill, The Spectator
• Union members could decide who the next Labour leader is – Morgan Jones, The New Statesman