There is currently a row over Downing Street’s spin last night that its negotiating work had lowered tariffs from Trump: “We don’t want any tariffs at all, but a lower levy than others vindicates our approach.” This was lapped up last night by Lobby hacks who hailed the Starmer-Trump White House meeting as an unmitigated triumph. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp jumped on that one this morning…
When Starmer’s spokesman was asked to defend that claim at midday the line had changed: “It’s up to the US to set out the reasons behind their tariff decision…. It’s a fact the UK received the lowest rate… direct questions to the US on their calculations.” The US has an elucidation of its own…
The explanation from the White House is: “The numbers have been calculated by the Council of Economic Advisers … based on the concept that the trade deficit that we have with any given country is the sum of all trade practices, the sum of all cheating.” I.e. nothing to do with negotiations…
This is why there is no rate lower than 10%, which is the base rate. Some charm offensive…
Keir Starmer is in the East Midlands to launch Labour’s local election campaign, with Angela Rayner and Ellie Reeves also giving speeches. They’ll be using the government’s record on the NHS as a reason to vote Labour. Another new(ish) slogan deployed: Bring Change to Britain…
UPDATE: Starmer hits out at Reform, saying “they say they want to run the country, they can’t even run themselves”, they are“fawning over Putin” and will “charge people to use the NHS”.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds is in the Commons to respond to Trump’s announcement of 10% tariffs on all UK imports. Expect more talk of “cool heads” and “all options on the table“. A reminder that Reynolds said this morning it was wrong to suggest a deal had been reached and was imminent…
UPDATE: Reynolds says he is seeking businesses’ thoughts on potential retaliatory tariffs over the next four weeks, asking them for input on products that could be included in response. May 1 is the deadline for the consultation, though he adds this will be “paused” if a deal is struck in the meantime.
In a brutal blow to Sadiq Khan’s grip on London, all 32 borough leaders – Labour, Tory, LibDem, and Independent – have united to demand a share of his powers, calling for a radical shake-up of the Mayor’s dominance. They want to use the English Devolution Bill to strip Khan of his total control, calling for a ‘Combined Board’ to establish joint decision-making arrangements between the Mayor and council leaders. A sign of just how unpopular Khan really is…
This is the biggest intervention on the Mayor of London’s powers since the role was first created 25 years ago. Khan’s much-hated ULEZ expansion and wasteful spending might have something to do with it. Cllr Claire Holland, Chair of London Councils said:
“Giving boroughs a seat at the table and a proper say in regional decision-making will put us in a far stronger position to tackle the challenges we face as a city and drive growth in London. We must seize this opportunity to hardwire collaboration between the Mayor and boroughs into our devolution deal so that we can all deliver better outcomes for Londoners.”
Could Khan go down in history as the London Mayor so disastrous, his own office was stripped of much of its powers?
Read the joint statement in full below:
Continue reading “London’s Borough Leaders Demand Share of Mayor’s Powers in Revolt Against Khan “
A new centre-left think tank has sprung from the ground. The ‘Centre for British Progress’ is absorbing the ‘UK Day One’ think tank which presented policy ideas to Labour before the election. Former Labour PPC and onetime Lammy staffer David Lawrence is running the group alongside Day One founder Julia Garayo Willemyns. Labour MPs Chris Curtis and Yuan Yang are also in support. YIMBY wonk John Myers is chairing the board…
The think tank has connections to Starmerite Labour Together. It launches with an essay attacking blockers in society: “British institutions have become quietly addicted to caution. This is not a partisan impulse, but a deeper reflex embedded in our public life, our boardrooms, our research institutions, and even our collective imagination.” It is to focus its research on infrastructure, energy, and technology…
Those aware of the policies that stimulate growth will raise an eyebrow at the think tank’s paean to Beveridge’s “war not on fascism or a foreign power, but on the “Five Giant Evils” of poverty, disease, ignorance, squalor and unemployment.” It also attacks people who believe in “dismantling programmes, indiscriminately deregulating, or tearing down institutional guardrails.” Light on their own proposals so far…
Survation has done a poll for LabourList surveying 1,053 Labour members and it’s grim reading for Number 10. A whopping 68% of members say Labour is on the wrong track (up from 49% two weeks ago). Only 24% say it’s heading in the right direction. The Spring Statement only made Labour more unpopular, then…
Since the Statement, all Cabinet members saw net popularity declines by an average of -13%. Reeves’ net favourability has fallen by 30 points to -41% while Starmer slipped by 26 points to -13%, though Rayner and Miliband are still well ahead of the rest of the Cabinet. Meanwhile 80% say the welfare reforms will hurt Labour electorally and 53% of members expect Reform to win the Runcorn by-election. Things can only get worse…
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”
