Newslinks for Friday 16th May 2025 | Conservative Home

Starmer left squirming by Albania asylum farce

“Keir Starmer faced humiliation over his latest attempt at a migrant crackdown yesterday. In a surprise move, the Prime Minister used a trip to Albania to unveil plans to create Rwanda-style centres abroad to house failed asylum seekers from the UK. But the initiative imploded on live TV just an hour later when his host, Albanian PM Edi Rama, ruled out ever taking part in the scheme. The plan is a major U-turn for Sir Keir, who branded the previous government’s Rwanda deportation scheme a gimmick and scrapped it within days of taking office. Towering over Sir Keir at a press conference in the capital Tirana, 6ft 7in Mr Rama said his country had no interest in expanding a similar deal it had struck with Italy… Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp was highly critical of the diplomatic setback.” – Daily Mail

• Starmer scrambles for Balkan migrant deal after Albania snub – The i
• Keir Starmer ‘not squeamish’ about deporting failed asylum seekers to third countries & reveals ‘Return Hubs’ talks – The Sun
• Talks with up to nine nations for asylum deal – The Times
• Starmer’s bid to send failed asylum seekers abroad – a year after Rwanda scheme scrapped – The Independent

Comment:

• We have let far, far, too many people into UK… finally Keir Starmer has recognised it, but I don’t trust him an inch – Rod Liddle, The Sun
• Labour is running scared and we’re not buying Keir Starmer’s ‘tough guy’ act – Leo McKinstry, Daily Express
• Enoch Powell’s shadow is troubling Labour – Patrick Maguire, The Times
• Does Labour really believe Albania is safer than Rwanda? – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph

Labour try to avoid welfare rebellion, including by putting Chagos deal on hold

“Downing Street has delayed plans to hand over the Chagos Island to Mauritius, amid fears of a backlash from Labour MPs over the cost of the multi-billion pound settlement. Senior government sources said an agreement with Mauritius was “ready to sign” after President Trump lifted US objections to the plan in February. But No 10 has put the deal on hold amid concerns that it will result in a “toxic” political backlash at a time when Labour MPs are being asked to vote for welfare cuts. Ministers have refused to reveal the final cost of the deal, but the figure is understood to be in the region of £90 million a year for the next century.” – The Times

• Starmer faces rebellion of 130 Labour MPs over benefits cuts – Daily Telegraph
• Keir Starmer doubles down on benefit shakeup despite Labour rebellion – Daily Mirror
• £9.5bn staggering cost of benefit fraud and claim clangers – The Independent
• Reeves has ‘things up sleeve’ in desperate bid to avoid tax hikes – The i

Comment:

• Starmer wants to cut benefits, but he’ll slash his majority too – Kitty Donaldson, The i
• Labour is defiant against public anger – but we can’t go on like this – Hugo Gye, The i

Assisted dying returns to the chamber – with much division

“Troubled plans to legalise assisted suicide have suffered another blow as the Government quietly admitted it had got key figures wrong. On the eve of the controversial legislation returning to Parliament, the official forecast of how many people are likely to seek to end their own lives was corrected – but MPs were not alerted… Campaigners told the Mail that the error highlighted the ‘chaotic’ nature of the legislation, which is being led by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater in a Private Members’ Bill rather than by the Government. She has repeatedly made major changes to the plan, such as removing the role of High Court judges to approve applications, and has continued to table amendments to it until this week. Labour MP Melanie Ward told the Mail: ‘This shows just how chaotic this whole process has been.” – Daily Mail

• Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter says ‘please give mum peace of mind’ on assisted dying – Daily Express
• ‘I don’t think I should be God’: Labour MP withdraws support for assisted dying – Daily Telegraph
• Royal College of Physicians joins criticism of assisted dying bill – The Times
• Five ways Kim Leadbeater is trying to rescue her assisted dying Bill – Daily Telegraph

Comment:

• ‘Assisted dying is not progressive – we need to stand up for the vulnerable’ – Jess Asato, Daily Mirror
• The assisted suicide Bill isn’t just defective, it’s dangerous – David Frost, Daily Telegraph
• MPs are voting on the next stage of the assisted dying bill. This is their chance to create a legacy – Polly Toynbee, The Guardian
• Two Friday afternoons is not enough time for life-and-death legislation – Eliot Wilson, Daily Telegraph
• Assisted dying bill is crumbling under late amendments – Joan Smith, Unherd
• MPs waver once again as ’emotive’ assisted dying bill heads back to the Commons – Jon Craig, Sky News

> Today: Danny Kruger: The major problem with the Assisted Dying Bill is not just assisting suicide – it’s the Bill itself

> Yesterday: Gregory Stafford: Legalising assisted suicide would be to cross the Rubicon for our National Health Service

David Lammy’s foul-mouthed French tirade, and Starmer’s arson attacker charged

“Foreign Secretary David Lammy shouted “f***ing French” twice during a furious row over a taxi fare, the driver claimed. Nasim Mimun, 40, said the minister, who oversees His Majesty’s Diplomatic Service, got aggressive when asked to pay for a six-hour trip last month from Italy to a ski resort in France. The French chauffeur told The Sun: “When he got out of the vehicle, he said, ‘f***ing French, f***ing French’. I was afraid.” He claims Mr Lammy’s £588 fare is still unpaid following last month’s trip from Forli in Italy to Flaine in the French Alps. Mr Lammy, who was with his wife Nicola Green, has said he “totally refutes” the allegations and insists the fare was paid in full. The Sun has obtained photos showing the filthy state in which the Ford Kuga was allegedly left, with food wrappers and an apple core visible in the back.” – The Sun

• Taxi driver faces theft charges after Lammy ‘refused to pay £590 fare’ – Daily Telegraph
• David Lammy aides take a back seat after taxi fare claims – The Times Diary
• Keir Starmer ‘arson attacker,’ 21, pictured as he’s charged over blaze on PM’s home – The Sun
• Pictured: Ukrainian charged over Starmer firebombs – Daily Telegraph

State of the Tories vs Reform, and could Rupert Lowe join the party?

“Ousted Reform MP Rupert Lowe has not ruled out joining the Conservatives or starting his own party to challenge Nigel Farage at the next election. Mr Lowe, the independent MP for Great Yarmouth, said he spoke to the Tories “all the time” but that the party needed to “reform” in order to become a “powerful force” again in British politics. He was speaking a day after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed it was not charging him following allegations of making threats towards Reform chair Zia Yusuf.” – Sky News

• ‘I won’t be disloyal!’ Tory grandee dismisses Reform defection rumours but issues Badenoch ‘crisis’ warning about Farage – GB News
• Tory MPs are ‘praying that Nigel Farage dies before the next election’ – Daily Express
• ​​Farage is running a cult, says ex-Reform MP Lowe – BBC News
• Reform UK councillor Wayne Titley quits after less than two weeks following social media post – ITV News
• Pints are £2.60, Nigel Farage is toasted… but no ‘drinking Remainer Tears’: Inside Britain’s first ‘Reform UK pub’ after it was rebranded from Conservative – Daily Mail
• Richard Tice hints he would be chancellor in Reform government – Daily Telegraph

Comment:

• Leaving the ECHR can become Badenoch’s big cause – Sebastian Payne, The Times
• Would voters back a Tory-Reform pact? – Steerpike, The Spectator
• Are the Tories doomed this time? – George Eaton, New Statesman

> Today:

Our Survey: Kemi Badenoch falls to nil point rating in latest Shadow Cabinet League Table

> Yesterday:

Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how you behave whilst waiting

News in brief:

• How Islamism infiltrated Downing Street – David Rose, Unherd
• Ed Miliband does not understand economics – Steve Loftus, The Critic
• Will Sadiq Khan finally build some houses? – Harry Phibbs, CapX
• Britain could pay a big price for Starmer’s ‘EU Reset’ – John Keiger, The Spectator
• Is Labour’s Planning Bill putting private equity at risk? – Robert Oates, CityAM