Newslinks for Sunday 18th January 2026 | Conservative Home

Trump declares trade war with Britain over Greenland

“Sir Keir Starmer condemned Donald Trump as “completely wrong” for igniting a trade war with Britain in an attempt to force a deal on Greenland. In the biggest crisis in US-UK relations since Sir Keir became Prime Minister, the US president announced a 10 per cent tariff on all goods sent to the US by Britain and its European allies from Feb 1. The levy will rise to 25 per cent on June 1, unless Britain and other European countries agree to let him take control of the Danish territory. On Saturday night, the Prime Minister said he would be “pursuing this directly with the US administration”. Sir Keir’s measured language came in stark contrast with Emmanuel Macron, the French president, who said of the tariffs: “No intimidation nor threat will influence us.” – Sunday Telegraph

• Starmer’s anger as Trump announces tariffs over Greenland – Sunday Times
• Trump vows to slap increasing tariffs on the UK until Greenland deal is reached – Sun on Sunday
• PM issues blistering two-word reply to Trump’s punitive tariffs – Sunday Express
• Starmer attacks Trump’s tariffs – Observer
• Britain will not be Trump’s poodle under the Tories, vows Badenoch – Sunday Telegraph
• Trump’s shock tariffs are the perfect present for Putin and Xi – Sunday Telegraph
• Starmer faces demands to cancel King’s state visit to the US – Mail on Sunday
• ‘We have no ill will for our friends in Greenland’ – Sunday Times

Comment

Sack Streeting for disloyalty, ministers urge Starmer

“Sir Keir Starmer has been encouraged by Cabinet ministers to sack Wes Streeting for disloyalty. Frustrations over the Health Secretary’s tendency to criticise the Labour administration in public are thought to be growing, with ministers believing he still harbours leadership ambitions. Mr Streeting again found himself at the centre of a briefing row as Sir Keir’s allies said his public voicing of outspoken opinions was “undermining” the Labour Party. One Cabinet minister reportedly suggested Sir Keir needed to learn from Kemi Badenoch, who sacked Robert Jenrick, the Tory party’s shadow justice secretary, on Thursday ahead of his defection to Reform UK.” – Sunday Telegraph

• Streeting allies attack No 10 over ‘briefing war’ – Sunday Telegraph
• PM aide Jones accused of ‘briefing war’ on Streeting – Sunday Times

Comment

‘The new sheriff in town!’ – Surreal Jenrick defection notes revealed

“Robert Jenrick was styled as ‘the new sheriff in town’ in a secret defection media memo which fell into Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s hands before his chaotic move to join Reform UK. A private ‘media plan’ drawn up for the former Shadow Justice Secretary while he was plotting to join Nigel Farage’s party also called his move ‘the biggest defection story Reform has ever had (and likely ever will be)’, and urged him to ‘use humour – one of your best skills’. The plan, which has been obtained by The Mail on Sunday, also described him as ‘the most popular Tory Shadow Cabinet member, leader-in-waiting if Kemi ever falls and the most dynamic politician in the Conservative Party’”. – Mail on Sunday

• Badenoch: Jenrick is a pastiche Right-winger. He had nothing to say about world affairs – Sunday Telegraph
• Jenrick’s strategy leaked: meet Reform’s ‘new sheriff in town’ – Sunday Times
• Tories ‘getting act together’ after Jenrick defection, Badenoch insists – FT
• ‘Sadness’ and ‘betrayal’ in Newark after Jenrick defection – FT
• The four big names on Reform defection watch – Sunday Express
• Farage is heading for trouble – and I’ve got the texts to prove it – Sunday Express
• Jenrick says the Tories have become the “party of posh people” – Sun on Sunday
• Farage to attend Davos after calling it a ‘jaunt’ for ‘globalists’ – FT

Comment

• The truth is, there are no policy differences now between the Tories and Reform – Daniel Hannan, Sunday Telegraph
• Who will prevail in the fight on the right? – Henry Hill, FT
• Reform is not a rescue charity for every panicky Tory MP – Nigel Farage, Sunday Telegraph
• Reform and the Tories both have work to do – Editorial, Sunday Telegraph
• Badenoch is bringing Tories back to the light. It’s why I joined – Matthew Syed, Sunday Times
• Jenrick is only following the logic of the New Right – James Orr, Sunday Times
• Tory economic reputation is reviving, as Labour struggles persist – David Smith, Sunday Times
• Brits are tired of political psychodrama – what we need is ideas – Editorial, Sun on Sunday

>Today:

Phillipson to investigate anti-Semitism in schools

“The Education Secretary will review anti-Semitism in schools, The Telegraph has learnt. Bridget Phillipson said she had “genuine concerns” about the ability of schools to deal with “hatred and prejudice”. Earlier this week, it emerged that a Jewish MP’s visit to a school in his constituency was cancelled after a pro-Palestine campaign. Writing for The Telegraph, Ms Phillipson said the treatment of Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, was “completely unacceptable”. She wrote: “But this is not the first concern we’ve heard about anti-Semitism in schools, and that is a problem. “It is clear to me that there is not enough support for school and college leaders across the country, to help them tackle hatred and prejudice whenever and wherever it arises.” – Sunday Telegraph

• Number of schools marking Holocaust has halved – Sunday Times
• West Midlands Police ‘ignored’ string of ‘hate crimes’ against Jews in Birmingham – Sunday Telegraph

Comment

Brown ‘regrets’ not opposing Iraq War

“Gordon Brown regrets not opposing Sir Tony Blair’s drive to wage war on Saddam Hussein, according to a new biography of the ‘Iron Chancellor’. Mr Brown has said former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook ‘had a clearer view’ than the rest of the Government of the claims, which led to Britain’s involvement in the Iraq War. He also admitted for the first time he should have called a snap election when he became prime minister in 2007 – and claimed Sir Tony had assured him he would stand down three years earlier than he did.” – Mail on Sunday

Other political news

• US Speaker raises fears over China’s London mega-embassy – Sunday Times
• Minutes of meeting that led to Maccabi Tel Aviv ban ‘thrown away’ – Sunday Times
• Burnham’s skyscraper tycoon takes £40m dividend after taxpayer loan – Sunday Telegraph
• Councillor who called grooming gang victims ‘white trash’ to keep seat – Sunday Telegraph

News in Brief