Reform told the Express last night that an inquiry into inward migration during the last government would seek to establish whether policies enacted by Boris and Priti Patel “amounted gross negligence rising to the level of criminal conduct.” Should be a hoot…
The party has launched a website on the matter:
“The ‘Boriswave’ is the unprecedented surge in mass immigration perpetrated by the Conservative Party between 2021 and 2024.
The long term cost of the Boriswave will hit the British taxpayer with a £622 billion bill in lifetime costs.
That is £20,000 per household.
Reform UK will abolish indefinite leave to remain. We will terminate welfare payments to foreign nationals. We will put the national interest first and we will leave the ECHR.”
Yusuf on the attack…
For Women Scotland (FWS) has accused Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson of refusing to meet campaigners a year on from the Supreme Court victory on the legal definition of ‘woman’. All while the government umms and ahhs on issuing single-sex guidance in the wake of the ruling…
FWS director Susan Smith told the Telegraph it was “outrageous“:
“We’re really disappointed that Phillipson has not met with us yet. I don’t know whether it’s being blocked by Phillipson or the civil service. Somebody, somewhere does not want to meet us. It’s outrageous. I cannot believe we cannot get her in the same room as us.”
There was growing chatter over the weekend that Phillipson is prevaricating on the guidance because she is afraid of a backlash from Labour backbenchers. ‘Twas ever thus. It must have been lost in the same postbag as the elusive defence investment plan…
Starmer has walked back his attack on Donald Trump after comparing to the US President to Vladimir Putin last week. Too rich for his blood?
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the PM was asked if he blamed Trump personally for rising prices as a result of the war:
“In terms of where the blame lies, it’s Iran that has caused the restriction on traffic and vessels through the Gulf, and they’re doing that in breach of international law… look we, the United Kingdom, were very clear that we weren’t going to get dragged into this war, and we’re not. But equally, we have been involved in defensive action, protecting British lives and British interests in the region.”
Asked again if he blamed Trump at all Starmer said “the increased costs are largely because of Iran’s actions in closing or partially closing the Strait of Hormuz.” Pressed on whether that is in retaliation to US and Israeli action, Starmer said “I mean, I’m not, look, I’m not going to get involved in that”…
On his trip to the Gulf just last week, Starmer said pointedly:
“I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy businesses bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.”
Add that to the list of U-turns from the PR PM…
Labour has not worked out what line to take on the USA’s blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. In fact Labour does not appear to know how it is operating…
Early education minister Olivia Bailey was asked on Sky News if the British government agreed with the US strategy:
“So the US’s ambition as is ours is for the Strait of Hormuz to be open.”
Bailey was asked six subsequent times if the government agreed. Eventually it got to this:
- Sophy Ridge: “So, does that mean you don’t agree with the blockade?”
- Bailey: “It means that we won’t be taking part in the blockade and we want to see free navigation of the Straits of Hormuz.”
- Ridge: “I’m struggling here. I I don’t understand if you agree with it or not.”
- Bailey: “Um, I think I’m hope I’m being clear that we will not be taking part in it. We think freedom freedom of the strait of for is really important. We don’t want to see anything that isn’t free navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.”
As laid out the US blockade strategy ‘interdicts’ vessels that have paid Iran for passage through its own territorial waters. It remains the case that the only ships passing through the strait – with the exception of very few – are taking this route. The US Navy is clearing the international passage in the Strait and has said it will stop vessels that have co-operated with Iran to pass through its own waters. Labour is just stonewalling until it can come up with a line that looks clever once more facts on the ground are known – Starmer’s golden strategy…
A self-declared optimist speculates…
Starmer said to Robert Peston this afternoon:
“I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy businesses bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.”
