The war between Hamas and Israel is mostly over. Meanwhile, a battle over the Holy Land is kicking off in Parliament. The APPG for Christianity in the Holy Land held its annual AGM today. The cross-party group, which exists to “promote the heritage and contemporary role of Christianity in the Holy Land,” had long been chaired by Reform defector and evangelical Christian, Danny Kruger. Crusader Kruger, anyone?
Tory wet, Simon Hoare, however, was having none of it and organised for 25 fellow Tory wets to turn up at the group’s AGM and vote Kruger out as chairman in a surprise attack. Israel looks like a beacon of peace and stability in comparison…
This morning Ed Miliband criticised the policy agenda of Starmer’s government so far and insisted the PM would focus on the “class divide.” He said not enough had been done to change the ‘rule’ of the “rich and powerful” and added:
“What angers Keir most is class, the class divide – he exists to change that. I dispute the idea this is not someone driven by burning passion. He knows we need more of that and we are going to see more of that.”
This intake of Labour MPs might not remember this is the same Ed Miliband who used an infamous tax loophole – rewriting his father’s will to reduce his Inheritance Tax bill. That wasn’t very Laboury, was it…
Co-conspirators may recall:
“In 1994 Mr Miliband, his brother David and their mother agreed to make a posthumous amendment to the will of Ralph Miliband, the brothers’ father.
Under the change, the brothers each received a 20% share in the family home in Primrose Hill, an exclusive area of north London. This reduced Mrs Miliband’s share from 100% to 60%, which would ultimately reduce the inheritance tax due on her estate. The legal device used to change the will was a “deed of variation”.
Starmer could think twice about Ed’s credentials on class war. He wages it, he doesn’t live it…
Starmer’s former Director of Communications Matthew Doyle has been suspended from Labour over his links to a convicted sex offender, the i Paper reports. Starmer handed Doyle a peerage at the end of last year…
Doyle had campaigned for ex-Labour councillor Sean Morton in Scotland after he was charged with possessing indecent images of children in December 2016. Moran later admitted to sex offences. Doyle said:
“I want to apologise for my past association with Sean Morton. His offences were vile and I completely condemn the actions for which he was rightly convicted. My thoughts are with the victims and all those impacted by these crimes.
“At the point of my campaigning support, Morton repeatedly asserted to all those who knew him his innocence, including initially in court. He later changed his plea in court to guilty.
“To have not ceased support ahead of a judicial conclusion was a clear error of judgment for which I apologise unreservedly.”
“Those of us who took him at his word were clearly mistaken.
“I have never sought to dismiss or diminish the seriousness of the offences for which he was rightly convicted. They are clearly abhorrent and I have never questioned his conviction.
“Following his conviction any contact was extremely limited and I have not seen or spoken to him in years. Twice I was at events organised by other people, which he attended, and once I saw him to check on his welfare after concerns were raised through others.
“I acted to try to ensure the welfare of a troubled individual whilst fully condemning the crimes for which he has been convicted and being clear that my thoughts are with the victims of his crimes.
“I am sorry about the mistakes I have made. I will not be taking the Labour whip.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, let me conclude where I started. Morton’s crimes were vile and my only concerns are for his victims.”
Another one gone…
A new job advert has popped up on the government’s website as Starmer’s leadership implodes: ‘Deputy Director for the Prime Minister’s Media Strategy’. Who will want to take that on…
The role offers a cushy £81-117,800 annual salary, alongside a pension contribution of 28.9%. The (un)lucky hire will be tasked with leading “digital-first news creation” and ensure “No10 comms has the appropriate blend of digital, traditional and non-traditional media”. There’s a long list of benefits including “interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel” and access to “fitness centres” to sweeten the deal. Guido’s noticed Starmer’s TikTok has been looking a little dry as of late…
More in Common has polled 2,035 British adults between 6 and 10 February, following the Mandelson revelations and subsequent blow-up. The main lines:
Needless to say that is difficult for the PM…
Speaking about Morgan McSweeney’s resignation, skills minister Jacqui Smith told Times Radio:
“It’s clearly not ideal but I do understand why Morgan, as he explained, decided to resign at this point. But the important thing as you say is how we both tackle what this Epstein and Mandelson scandal has identified and also how we make sure, as the prime minister is absolutely determined to, that we continue the change that the country needs and that’s what I’m focusing on this morning.”