Newslinks for Thursday 17th August 2023 | Conservative Home

Retirees set for eight per cent pensions boost as Sunak commits to keeping ‘triple lock’ in place…

“Retirees are set for an 8 per cent boost to their pensions after Rishi Sunak tonight committed to keeping the ‘triple lock’ in place. Under the Tories’ manifesto pledge, the state pension rises each April by whatever is highest out of average earnings, prices, or 2.5 per cent. Latest inflation data revealed the headline Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate dipped last month to 6.8 per cent. But pensioners remain on course for a larger increase after figures showed annual growth in employees’ average total pay, including bonuses, was 8.2 per cent between April to June. The figure was 7.8 per cent when excluding bonuses. It means Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is likely to have to find billions of pounds more for state pension rises than previously thought.” – Daily Mail

• Prime Minister says he is comfortable with full uplift despite signs of extra £10bn cost – The Guardian

…but says pay rises should be a ‘reward for productivity’

“Rishi Sunak has said pay rises should be “sustainable” and come as rewards for productivity, risking further criticism from trade unions. The prime minister said in an interview with ITV News it was not for the government to intervene in pay talks between companies and employees, when asked if he would like to see employers showing “more moderation” in relation to pay rises… Sunak’s comments come after Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey expressed concerns that pay increases were fuelling inflation. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data on Tuesday also showed that total pay, including bonuses, rose by 8.2 per cent a year in the three months to June, stronger than the 7.3 per cent analysts expected.” – The Guardian

• His promise: We’ll all feel better off next year – The Times

Editorial:

• Inflation falling, now Sunak must drive growth – Daily Mail
• He and the Bank of England must now stay the course – The Times

Brandon Lewis: Why should the French benefit at our expense because of the UK’s tourist tax?

“Despite our fashion credentials, the allure of the French capital has become irresistible for international shoppers. It’s not just about fashion, but fiscal policy too. Galeries Lafayette and Rue de Rivoli aren’t merely glittering with designer wares. They shimmer with tax incentives, making shopping in Paris financially savvy. Every tourist who spends in these Parisian hubs is sending ripples through the wider economy. Every purchase is supplemented by hotel bookings, restaurant reservations and theatre tickets. The reverse is true in Britain, where our hospitality industry is crying out for pro-growth policies. Tourism is down 24 per cent since 2019, according to Visit Britain, whilst tourism in France is up by 12.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2023. So why is Paris outpacing London in this retail race? VAT refunds for non-EU tourists.” – Daily Mail

Barclay blasts striking doctors in England for harming patients…

“Steve Barclay has savaged striking junior doctors in England for harming patients and wasting NHS cash as Scottish medics crowed about securing a ‘record’ 12.4 per cent pay deal. The Health Secretary said last night the latest walkout had cost ‘huge sums’, which could have been better spent on the front line tackling huge waiting lists. More than 61,000 hospital appointments and operations were cancelled as a result of the four-day walkout, which ended on Tuesday, figures reveal. Junior doctors, who are demanding a 35 per cent pay rise, refused to deliver any care during this period – even in emergencies. It came as the British Medical Assocation yesterday announced that junior doctors in Scotland had overwhelmingly voted to accept a ‘record’ pay offer from the Scottish government.” – Daily Mail

• Health Secretary wrong to say NHS consultants get tax-free pensions, admits Government – The Guardian

>Yesterday: Daniel Hannan’s column: Reducing demand for government. Will it take a 1976-style crisis to reduce supply?

…and unveils ‘hi-tech plans to beat the 8am GP scramble’

“GPs will be freed up to spend more time with patients as part of efforts to beat the 8am scramble for an appointment, the Health Secretary has said. Steve Barclay said significant progress has been made using cloud-based technology to ensure patients are not stuck on the phone trying to get an appointment. GP practices have been told to improve their phone systems so patients can get through and to speed up access so all patients can get an appointment within two weeks. Latest monthly figures show that 5 million people have to wait longer than that. Mr Barclay said more patients will be diverted to see other health professionals – such as physios or pharmacists, so that GPs are able to focus on the cases that really need their attention.” – Daily Telegraph

• Patients could get cancer scans without GP referral, says Barclay – The Guardian

More:

• Number of Brits without jobs due to long-term sickness hits record high – The Sun
• A million patients hit by delays to cancer care in last ten months – The Guardian

Comment:

• Nobody dares admit that GPs aren’t working – J Meirion Thomas, Daily Telegraph

Labour civil war over NHS privatisation revealed

“Labour’s shadow health team of ministers is split from top to bottom over a core Labour NHS policy, research has revealed. In May, shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said Labour “would use the spare capacity in the private sector to get patients seen faster”. “The Conservatives are failing to make use of private sector capacity and patients are paying the price.” The bold policy announcement marked a stark contrast to Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party, which repeatedly warned Brits that the Tories were privatising the NHS. It appears Labour is completely split over the policy, however, with five out of six of Wes Streeting’s Shadow Health ministerial colleagues previously going on the record to slam the idea of NHS private sector involvement.” – Daily Express

• Crisis sparks boom in private health insurance – Daily Mail

Come back to school, Keegan urges pupils demoralised by pandemic

“Absent children have been urged to return to school in September by the Education Secretary, as figures show more pupils than ever are missing from the classroom post-pandemic. Speaking to The Telegraph ahead of A-level pupils collecting their results on Thursday, Gillian Keegan told children who “lost their confidence” during the pandemic to “dig deep” and come back to the classroom. More than half a million pupils will receive their exam results on Thursday, with a record drop in top A-level grades expected as the Government seeks to bring the share of As and A*s down to pre-pandemic levels. This year’s students had the highest ever GCSE results when grades were teacher assessed in 2021, but will be the first Covid cohort to experience pre-pandemic grading in England.” – Daily Telegraph

• Pupils braced for lower A-Level grades today – The Sun

Comment:

• Exams earn top marks for nullifying privilege – James Marriott, The Times

>Today: Richard Harpin in Comment: While university offers many benefits, it isn’t right for everyone. We need to encourage more young people into trades.

UK to host AI safety summit at start of November

“The UK government will host a summit on the safety of artificial intelligence at the start of November, with “like-minded” countries invited to the event in Bletchley Park to address global threats to democracy, including the use of AI in warfare and cyber security. Leading academics and executives from AI companies, including Google’s DeepMind, Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic, will be asked to the AI Safety Summit at the Buckinghamshire site where British codebreakers were based during the second world war. “The UK will host the first major global summit on AI safety this autumn,” a spokesperson for the government said on Wednesday, adding that Downing Street would set out further details in due course.” – FT

• Sunak must hit pause on Online Safety Bill – Iain Martin, FT

>Today: ToryDiary: Germany is heading for a crisis unless the Christian Democrats stop leaving room for the AfD to flourish

TikTok must urgently stamp out posts glorifying deadly migrant crossings, MPs demand

“TikTok must urgently stamp out posts glorifying deadly Channel crossings, MPs have demanded. Smuggling gangs are flogging small boat places on the popular platform — just days after six migrants drowned. One post yesterday promised a “cheap price” and insisted traffickers were doing “very well” in getting people to Britain. Ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the Government should tell the company “either you remove these posts, or you don’t operate here”. He told The Sun: “What they’re promoting is illegal.” … TikTok recently signed up to a government partnership to clamp down on the evil trade — but it is seemingly failing to flush out every post. A migrant woman was helped up a beach yesterday, after surviving a small boat Channel crossing.” – The Sun

• Third of migrants moved off former RAF base in fresh blow to Sunak – Daily Express

Comment:

• Sunak’s solutionism approach to small boats hits a wall – Stephen Bush, FT

Sunak rules out net zero referendum

“Rishi Sunak has ruled out a referendum on Net Zero, despite calls from his party to give the public a vote on the 2050 climate target. The Prime Minister rejected demands to hold a Brexit-style referendum on the zero emissions target, saying that “most people are committed to getting to net zero”. Red Wall MPs were among Conservatives urging Mr Sunak to “rethink the headlong rush for net zero” and commit to a vote on an issue that has become key for both the Tories and Labour in recent weeks. Mr Sunak has appeared to back away from some climate policies in the wake of the Tories’ surprise victory over Labour in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, which was widely seen as a de-facto referendum on the controversial ultra-low emission zone (Ulez).” – Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday: Richard Rout in Comment: East Anglia shows how bulldozing energy projects through hurts our party at the ballot box

Put up ULEZ expansion warning signs, Khan urges Tory councils

“Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has pleaded with three councils to permit new signs warning drivers of the expansion of the capital’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) to be installed on their land. A spokesman for Mr Khan urged the Conservative authorities in Surrey, Kent and Hertfordshire to “do what’s best for their residents and drivers”. Ulez will be extended to cover the whole of London from Aug 29. Non-compliant vehicles that enter the zone from that date will be charged a £12.50 daily fee. Mr Khan is concerned that the failure of some county councils to let Transport for London (TfL) put up signs warning drivers that they are approaching the extended zone could lead some people entering it by mistake.” – Daily Telegraph

• Farage reveals exact law Tories could use to block ULEZ expansion – Daily Express
• Fixing vandalised LTN infrastructure costs London councils more than £850,000 – The Guardian

SNP’s era of Scottish dominance is over, says Labour

“Labour has declared that “the age of SNP dominance is over” in Scotland after a poll showed Sir Keir Starmer’s party rapidly gaining ground on the nationalists. In a huge boost to the chances of a Labour majority at the next election, the findings showed the party is poised to win 22 seats north of the border, up from just one currently. The YouGov survey, for The Times, puts Labour on 32 points – up four since April – in the party’s best results in Scotland since the 2014 independence referendum. The SNP is on 36, down one – its worst result in a YouGov poll in five years. Labour is favourite to win Rutherglen and Hamilton West in a by-election taking place after Margaret Ferrier, who won the seat for the SNP in 2019, was removed by constituents following her suspension from the Commons for breaking Covid rules.” – Daily Telegraph

• Row erupts as Sunak vampire advert by Salmond’s party rejected as ‘slanderous’ – Daily Express
• SNP has been ‘captured and controlled’ by British agents, claims former Nationalist MSP – Daily Mail

Northern Ireland:

• Suspect held over PSNI data breach – The Times

Comment:

• Labour should beware price of too much respect for devolution – Alan Cochrane, Daily Telegraph
• MI5 hardly need to keep independence at bay when the SNP is already doing a first class job – Stephen Daisley, Daily Mail
• British neglect risks Northern Ireland’s future – Stephen Bush, FT

>Yesterday:

News in Brief:

• The UK simply isn’t rich enough to afford the triple lock – Henry Hill, CapX
• Is it really not safe to extradite someone to Japan? – Philip Patrick, The Spectator
• Britain’s Hindu nationalism problem – Sam Bidwell, The Critic
• When will the SNP put itself before the Greens? – Chris Deerin, New Statesman
• The ghost of New Labour haunts Starmer in Scotland – Henry Hill, UnHerd