Five small boats have crossed the channel this morning in calm conditions. Figures to be confirmed by the Home Office later today will push small boat arrivals past the 10,000 mark for this year so far. Last year that number was only reached on 25 May. 10,000 is over 40% higher than the figure for this time last year…
The Home Office has issued a panicked release after Serco published a list of authorities in which it said it would offer landlords five-year deals to house migrants at the taxpayer’s expense. It denies that this is part of its plans…
Starmer told reporters just now: “I mean, obviously whilst people are waiting for their claims to be processed we’ve got to find accommodation.” Labour’s defensive line for the small boats situation is that it is removing individuals at a faster rate – 24,000 since entering government. Not nearly close enough to make a dent…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”