Leadership race 1) Cleverly says no more ‘grumpy party’, Tories’ best is yet to come
“James Cleverly will urge a future Tory government to slash the welfare budget to fund higher defence spending and tax cuts as he sets out his brand of conservatism for the first time. In his debut speech of the leadership campaign, the former foreign secretary and home secretary will argue that it is no use the Tories claiming to be the party of low taxation if they are not prepared to grasp the nettle and cut public spending in other areas. He also warns that they need to snap out of being “the grumpy party”, railing at the world, and instead come up with pragmatic plans to improve it.” – Sunday Times
- Leadership race picks up pace with Patel campaign launch – FT
- Tugendhat given major boost – Sunday Express
- ‘Obsession’ with Reform UK could leave Tories out of power for 20 years, warns Street – Observer
Comment
>Yesterday:
Leadership race 2) Former Badenoch backer endorses Jenrick in Tory leadership race
“A former minister has endorsed Robert Jenrick in the Tory leadership race after having supported rival Kemi Badenoch two years ago. Neil O’Brien hailed Mr Jenrick as the best-placed candidate to tackle immigration and win back voters from Reform, as well as someone who understands the centre ground of British politics. But Mrs Badenoch secured two major backers of her own on Saturday in Laura Trott, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, and Tony Abbott, a former Australian prime minister. Voting among Tory MPs begins this week, with the six-candidate field being cut down to five on Wednesday and then to four the following week.” – Sunday Telegraph
- Badenoch hailed ‘new Thatcher’ by rising star Tory backer – Sun on Sunday
Comment
Labour 1) Reeves drive to soften blow of winter fuel cut
“Rachel Reeves is seeking to soften the blow from her raid on the winter fuel allowance with a drive to encourage more pensioners to take up benefits they may not know they are entitled to. On Monday the Department for Work and Pensions will launch a “week of action” to encourage the elderly to check their eligibility for pension credit, worth up to £3,900 annually. The campaign will involve charities, broadcasters and local authorities and will urge the families, friends and neighbours of elderly people to ask them to look into whether they could benefit.” – Sunday Times
- Reeves scrambles to ease winter fuel backlash – Mail on Sunday
- Pensioners in non-Labour constituencies more likely to lose winter fuel payments – Sunday Telegraph
- Chancellor hopes to defuse winter fuel allowance outcry – Sun on Sunday
- Councils beg Reeves for the power to implement unlimited tax hikes – Mail on Sunday
- Scrooge Starmer’s misery manifesto is all part of the plan – Sunday Times
- Social care chiefs sound alarm on Labour’s ‘deafening silence’ on the sector – Observer
- Blair: ‘I would have stayed if I could, is the truth’ – Observer
- Former PM tells Starmer to ignore social media criticism – Observer
Comment
Labour 2) Stop testing children on times tables, unions tell ministers
“Times tables tests should be scrapped and grammar exams “stripped back”, teaching unions are urging the Government. Ministers are being urged to cut down the number of tests in primary schools, which unions say lead to high levels of anxiety in children. Tests on times tables are compulsory for all Year Four pupils at state schools in England. Unions have also argued in favour of simplifying Year Six SATs – the exams pupils take at the end of primary school in reading, writing and maths – to cut out the most difficult grammar questions. The demands will be handed to Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary”. – Sunday Telegraph
Comment
Labour 3) Phillipson warns parents ‘wreck’ pupils’ futures by letting them stay at home
“Parents who allow their children to regularly skip school are significantly denting their future earning potential, the education secretary has warned. As millions of pupils are due to return to school tomorrow, Bridget Phillipson said too many parents believed truanting was acceptable in pursuit of “cheaper holidays”, to avoid “unpopular subjects” or for “birthday treats or even a runny nose”. A new analysis compiled by the Department for Education (DfE) has found that every day missed from the classroom will cost absent children “hundreds of pounds” in wages over their lifetime.” – Sunday Times
Comment
Number 10 refuses to say where Thatcher portrait has gone
“Downing Street has refused to say what it has done with Margaret Thatcher’s portrait after Sir Keir Starmer had it removed from her former study in No 10. The painting was taken down from the Thatcher Room just weeks after the Prime Minister took office, provoking outrage from Conservatives. The decision to remove the artwork was revealed by Tom Baldwin, Sir Keir’s biographer, who claimed the Labour leader found it “unsettling” and opted to “get rid of it”. He later clarified: “I believe it’s hanging somewhere else in the building now, or that’s what’s planned.” Baroness Smith of Malvern, a Labour education minister, also said she believed the painting would be displayed elsewhere. But Downing Street has refused to say where it has been moved to, raising questions over its future in the residence.” – Sunday Telegraph
>Today:
We had ants and mould. We were told to like it or go, say MP’s tenants
“Tenants of a Labour MP who lets 15 properties have claimed they were told, “If you don’t like it, leave,” after complaining about ants and damp in their homes. Jas Athwal is the biggest landlord in the House of Commons and has described himself as a “renters’ champion”. However, a BBC investigation found evidence of black mould and ant infestations at the properties in question, and tenants said they had to regularly clean their bathroom ceilings to remove mould. The Sunday Times has also seen evidence that calls into question whether he had all the selective property licences required under a scheme he introduced when he was the leader of Redbridge council.” – Sunday Times
Why rough sleeping is surging in the shadow of Parliament
“As the light fades in Christchurch Gardens, a man, hooded with a soiled blanket hanging across his shoulders, rummages through a bin. Another is having a violent argument with an invisible enemy under a streetlamp. A drunk retches loudly into a flowerbed. Welcome to Westminster, the gilded backdrop for a crisis that mixes mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, migration and homelessness into a horror show for tourists. It is home to the Houses of Parliament and one of the richest boroughs in the country – but also where the number of rough sleepers is highest. Between April and June this year, there were 752 rough sleepers in Westminster, up 39pc compared to a year earlier”. – Sunday Telegraph
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