Outrage over Starmer’s refusal to have a public inquiry into the rape gang scandal continues to rumble on. The Tories have now proposed a reasoned amendment for today’s second reading of the government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to call for an inquiry. CCHQ kicking into gear on this one…
The full reasoned amendment, which if voted for will kill the bill, states:
That this House, while welcoming measures to improve child protection and safeguarding, declines to give a Second Reading to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill because it undermines the long-standing combination of school freedom and accountability that has led to educational standards rising in England, effectively abolishes academy freedoms which have been integral to that success and is regressive in approach, leading to worse outcomes for pupils; because it ends freedom over teacher pay and conditions, making it harder to attract and retain good teachers; because it ends freedom over Qualified Teacher Status, making teacher recruitment harder; because it removes school freedoms over the curriculum, leading to less innovation; because repealing the requirements for failing schools to become academies and for all new schools to be academies will undermine school improvement and remove the competition which has led to rising standards; because the Bill will make it harder for good schools to expand, reducing parental choice and access to a good education; and calls upon the Government to develop new legislative proposals for children’s wellbeing including establishing a national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, focused on grooming gangs.
Bridget Phillipson was on the morning round today slamming the Tories’ for being a bunch of ‘bandwagon jumpers with no shame’ – repeating Starmer’s ‘far-right’ smear that’s already been blasted by critics. CCHQ had expected the amendment would be voted against by the Lib Dems and Labour. Now Starmer has confirmed he will order his MPs to vote it down. Elon Musk claims it’s because the PM is “hiding terrible things.” How much backlash can Starmer weather before he’s forced into U-turn on this…
Kemi Badenoch’s latest interview with the Mail’s You magazine over the weekend serves up some more entertaining reading. Reflecting on her time as Tory leader, she admits the relentless schedule has left her out of the loop. When asked about what newspapers she reads, she says: “I don’t have time to read anything… So that’s a bit frustrating because I worry that I’m missing things.” She reveals that people assume she know what’s happening, but “I’m actually knowing less because you’re busier than ever.” Refreshingly candid…
Kemi laments that her poor A-Levels, two Bs and a D in maths – a subject she “was always good at” – was due to her part-time job at McDonald’s. Not just for the cash, she explains, but also so she could eat as many burgers as she wanted. Though she’s still “very angry” about the results. The Golden Arches leaving a bitter taste..
Meanwhile, Kemi was quick to pour cold water on any political aspirations for her husband, saying one of the first things she did when she became an MP was to strike him off the “approved candidates” list because he was a “white public schoolboy”. She explained her foray into politics was driven by “anger at things not being done properly.” A pivot from last month, where she said she joined the Tory Party because it seemed like a “bit of fun”…
Net migration fell by 20% this year compared to 2022—but the spotlight remains on last year’s staggering 906,000 figure. Still, the drop is partly thanks to the Conservatives’ tougher stance on student and family visas. Though Kemi Badenoch admitted yesterday the Tories “did not deliver” on their migration promises…
Speaking at a press conference, Badenoch slammed decades of immigration mismanagement, targeting lenient judges and Labour’s long-standing love of open borders. Pointing to Starmer’s past criticisms of immigration laws having a “racist undercurrent,” she branded Labour as fundamentally unserious on migration control. Meanwhile, a senior Tory source tells Guido:
“The numbers have dropped because of the last Conservative Government, but they’re still far too high. Labour won’t do anything to bring them down, Reform will never get the chance. Yesterday Kemi Badenoch admitted the Tories had got it wrong, and laid out the path to making sure the party gets it right in future. We just have to hope Labour haven’t completely broken the system by the time she gets in.”
The Tories are now promising to draw a firm line, unveiling a four-point overhaul:
Edging closer to some actual policies…
Tees Valley’s Tory Mayor Ben Houchen has fired off a letter to Donald Trump, applauding his stunning “political comeback” and extending an open invitation to visit the North East. Meanwhile, Starmer’s not yet mustered up a formal invite for the President-elect to visit the UK…
Houchen took on board Farage’s advice: roll out the red carpet for Trump. Houchen wrote:
“I would be delighted if you were able to visit the Tees Valley…please know that you have admirers here, and, we hope that this term brings even greater success and opportunity for the American people and the special relationship.”
Making the most of Trump’s well-known love of Britain. Starmer better take notes…
Read the full letter below:
Continue reading “Tory Mayor Beats Starmer to the Punch in Inviting Trump to the UK”
Tory shadow ministers are plodding along without any personal advisers while CCHQ “sorts the money” and looks to hire within two months. They’re being aided by central staff from CCHQ and CRD in their briefs – though Guido hears many of them aren’t long for this world either, especially with an eye on the lack of funds. There will be a shakeup before too long…
The expectation in central office was that a Jenrick win would facilitate rapid sackings over a night-of-the-long-knives weekend or two. Guido hears from staff that it was “all happy families in the office” when Kemi came in. That moment having passed, senior Tories are now eyeing a date to push through more extensive personnel changes. If they can find the talent or the cash to replace them…
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.”