The Number 10 spokesman at the Lobby briefing of political hacks this afternoon:
“[The PM] is very clear, he is very focused on the job. I would refer you back to his previous language that he will continue to lead the government throughout this Parliament and beyond. He’s got a huge amount of work to do, the government’s got a huge amount of work to do… we’ve set out a significant programme of domestic reforms…”
A receipt worth keeping…
One year on from Labour’s announcement that NHS England (NHSE) would be scrapped, new transparency data reveals the quango’s monthly wage bill has somehow increased from £101 million to £104 million. Or an extra £35 million annually, despite Starmer’s promise to “cut bureaucracy”…
As Guido previously reported, efforts to cut the headcount have also gone down the plumbing. Streeting claimed at the despatch box that he expected to halve the combined NHSE and DHSC headcount in two years. Today’s combined headcount is 18,997, down just 849 on last year’s 19,846. At this rate he’ll need to bin close to 9,000 staff this year to hit his own promise…
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy has referred Attorney General Richard Hermer to the Bar Standards Board for his role in the Al-Sweady litigation against British troops. Alleging professional misconduct…
Timothy alleges that Hermer took the case on a conditional fee arrangement instead of off the cab rank, and continued as lead counsel even after it became clear claims against British troops were baseless. A public inquiry in 2014 found that allegations of murder and torture by British servicemen in Iraq were without foundation…
Timothy says Hermer advised Leigh Day in 2008 on a press release, suggesting language about executions be made more explicit to “generate sufficient interest.” He adds that Hermer was still pushing for settlements of between £45,000 and £55,000 for each claimant in 2013 when the case had all but collapsed. Timothy alleges Hermer continued to defend the claims’ legal viability in evidence to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in 2017…
The letter argues that Hermer has breached conduct rules around misleading courts and third parties, advancing improper claims, and pressing for public money in settlement of known false allegations.He also asks the BSB to waive its normal 12-month reporting window on the basis that the documents only became public yesterday and to open a formal investigation. Ball in their court now…
Read the full letter below:
Continue reading “Shadow Justice Secretary Refers Attorney General to Bar Standards Board”
Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Britain if it does not disapply the Digital Services Tax on US companies. Trump told the Telegraph:
“I don’t like it when they target American companies, because basically, you’re talking about our great American companies, whether we like those companies that don’t like them, they’re American companies and the top companies in the world… We’ve been looking at it, and we can meet that very easily by just putting a big tariff on the UK. So they better be careful. If they don’t drop the tax, we’ll probably put a big tariff on the UK.”
The DST was imposed as a “temporary” tax on social media, online marketplace, and search engine revenues back in 2020. It is set to have raked in £944 million this year…
Trump also said Starmer could only recover if he scaled up drilling in the North Sea and dealt with immigration: “If he opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong, which right now they’re not, he can recover, but if he doesn’t, I don’t think he has a chance.” No chance, he’s too busy arguing with the entire Civil Service…
The US administration is currently reviewing a raft of measures to punish NATO allies who didn’t take substantive part in the Iran war, including suspending Spain from the alliance and supporting Argentine efforts to take the Falkland Islands from Britain. Get HMS Dragon out there…
The King’s visit begins on Monday. Trump said of that: “I look forward to having King Charles come. He’s a friend of mine. We’ve spoken and we’re going to have a great time.” Important work for Charles to do…
Today we’re launching Right to Know.
Right to Know is a new campaign to stop Labour’s clampdown on Freedom of Information requests.
Labour is considering lowering the cost ceiling for processing FoIs, using ‘spiralling administrative costs’ as the latest excuse to limit government transparency. Government officials have also suggested that FOIs are dangerous because China could use their answers.
Labour wants you to stop asking awkward questions that embarrass the government. Don’t let Starmer get away with it…
Head to the righttoknow.uk website now to ask the questions you want answering. We’ll sharpen them up and send them off to the relevant department. Those who send a question will even get 50% off their Guido membership…
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”