Robert Jenrick has been named shadow justice secretary in Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s new-look shadow cabinet.
It comes just two days after the conclusion of a long Conservative leadership contest, in which Ms Badenoch comfortably beat Mr Jenrick in a run-off.
But Mr Jenrick was not the only high-profile addition to Ms Badenoch’s shadow cabinet.
Priti Patel will return to the front bench as shadow foreign secretary, while Mel Stride will take on under-fire Rachel Reeves as shadow chancellor of the exchequer. All three of them were Ms Badenoch’s rivals in the leadership contest, and will join what is being dubbed a “unity” shadow cabinet.
Earlier today, Badenoch-ally Laura Trott was named shadow education secretary, while Jenrick-supporter Neil O’Brien was named shadow minister for education.
The upheaval of the Tory front bench came as Labour unveiled plans to increase tuition fees for the first time in eight years.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson announced on Monday afternoon that fees will rise to £9,535 from April 2025 in order to “secure the future of higher education”.
Key Points
- Robert Jenrick named shadow justice secretary
- Priti Patel returns to the front bench
- Tuition fees will rise next year, says education secretary
- Martin Lewis: Tuition fee rise is ‘misunderstood’
- Badenoch's first message as leader to Tory HQ staff
- First members of new Tory shadow cabinet revealed
Report: Starmer warned over ‘militant’ backlash by farmers over inheritance ‘tractor tax’
Monday 4 November 2024 18:55 , David Maddox, Political EditorMinisters have been warned that they face a “militant” backlash from farmers over the so-called tractor tax of imposing inheritance death duties on family farms worth more than £1m.
The warning came from National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw as he met with environment secretary Steve Reed over the shock measure in the Budget, while a protest has been planned for 19 November when angry farmers are set to descend on London.
The row over inheritance tax changes came on top of a lack of extra funds for farming in Rachel Reeves’ announcements last week coupled with extra costs through increases in national insurance for employers and a 6.7 per cent rise in the minimum wage.
The Independent’s Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Starmer warned over ‘militant’ backlash by farmers over inheritance ‘tractor tax’
Schools to be compensated for rise in employers’ NI contributions, minister confirms
Monday 4 November 2024 18:36 , Alex CroftSchools will receive national-level compensation for the national insurance rise for employers, educatio secretary Bridget Phillipson has confirmed.
She told the Commons: “What I can say is that where it comes to schools and colleges, they will be compensated at a national level.
“What I would however just point out to [new Tory shadow education minister Neil O’Brien] is that when I became Secretary of State in July, I was presented with the Teachers’ Pay Review Body award – 5.5 per cent – that the last government received, put in a drawer, ran away and called an election.
“We have backed our teachers who are crucial to the life chances of our children, and that’s why I was delighted that we were able to honour that award and recognise the vital contribution our teachers make.
“And that’s how we will recruit 6,500 new expert teachers. If they are refusing to back our commitments on VAT, then they should set out how many teachers they intend to cut.”
Starmer has congratulated Badenoch on her election as Tory leader, says No 10
Monday 4 November 2024 18:11 , Andy GregorySir Keir Starmer has spoken to Kemi Badenoch following her election as Conservative Party leader.
The PM’s official spokesperson confirmed on Monday that the pair had spoken over the phone since Saturday’s announcement.
Robert Jenrick named shadow justice secretary, according to reports
Monday 4 November 2024 18:05 , Alex CroftConservative leadership race finalist Robert Jenrick has been named the shadow justice secretary in Kemi Badenoch’s brand new shadow cabinet, according to reports.
Mr Jenrick accepted the role after Ms Badenoch offered it following the long leadership selection process, which ended on Saturday, Steven Swinford of The Times reports.
According to Mr Swinford, an ally of Mr Jenrick said he is “eager to expose Labour’s dreadful record on law and order”.
BREAKING:
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) November 4, 2024
Robert Jenrick has accepted the role of shadow justice secretary in Kemi Badenoch's new shadow cabinet
Badenoch offered him the role after a bitterly fought leadership contest
An ally of Jenrick said: 'Rob thinks the party needs to come together and take the fight to…
Labour has ‘declared war’ on students, says new shadow education secretary
Monday 4 November 2024 17:45 , Alex CroftThe new shadow education secretary, Laura Trott, has spoke in her new role for the first time.
Labour has “declared war” on students, Ms Trott warned.
In response to the tuition fee hike announced earlier, Ms Trott told the Commons: “We had a Budget last week which declared war on business, private-sector workers and farmers. It seems today that the secretary of state [Bridget Phillipson] wants to add students to that list.
“Not content with pushing up the cost of living for everyone with an inflationary Budget and pushing down wages with the national insurance increase, we are now in a situation whereby students will suffer from the first inflationary increase in a number of years at a time when students can least afford it.
“And yet again, there was no sign of this in the Labour manifesto.”
Increase is the ‘right thing to do’ - Universities UK
Monday 4 November 2024 17:25 , Alex CroftUniversities UK (UUK), which represents 140 institutions around the country, has called the increase in tuition fees “the right thing to do”.
UUK chief executive Vivienne Stern said: “Thriving universities are essential to a thriving UK, delivering stronger growth, better public services and improving individual life chances.
“University leaders and government must work together to ensure that our universities are able to fire on all cylinders.
“A decade-long freeze in England has seen inflation erode the real value of student fees and maintenance loans by around a third, which is completely unsustainable for both students and universities.”
Tuition fee rise is ‘economically and morally wrong, says universities union
Monday 4 November 2024 17:22 , Alex CroftThe University and College Union (UCU) says the Labour government’s tuition fee increase is “economically and morally wrong”.
General secretary Jo Grady said: “Taking more money from debt ridden students and handing it to overpaid, underperforming vice-chancellors is ill-conceived and won’t come close to addressing the sector’s core issues.
“As Keir Starmer himself said last year, the current fees system doesn’t work for students and doesn’t work for universities.
“The model is broken; it has saddled students with decades of debt, turned universities from sites of learning into corporations obsessed with generating revenue, and continually degraded staff pay and working conditions.”
Maintenance loans to increase in line with inflation
Monday 4 November 2024 17:17 , Alex CroftEducation secretary Bridget Phillipson says maximum maintenance loans will increase in line with inflation.
This will give students an additional £414 per year in 2025/26, Ms Phillipson says.
There is no use in keeping tuition fees down if “students can’t afford to support themselves while they study”, the education secretary told the house.
A “lower fee limit of £5,760 will also be introduced for foundation years in classroom based subjects such as business, social science and humanities”, she added. This will be in place from the start of the 2025/26 academic year.
‘Increasing fee has not been easy decision’, Phillipson says
Monday 4 November 2024 17:08 , Alex CroftBridget Phillipson has just confirmed a rise to tuition fees for the first time in eight years.
Here’s what she had to say about the choice:
“Increasing the fee cap has not been an easy decision. But I want to be crystal clear that this will not cost graduates more each month as they start to repay their loans.
“Universities are responsible for managing their own finances and must act to remain sustainable.
“But members across the house will agree that it is now use keeping tuition fees down for future students if the universities are not there for them to attend.”
Reeves faced ‘very difficult’ choices in Budget, says No 10
Monday 4 November 2024 16:59 , Andy GregoryDowning Street said that Rachel Reeves had “very difficult” choices at last week’s Budget.
Pressed about the impact of the tax changes on farmers, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson told reporters: “The chancellor had to set out a range of very difficult, tough choices at the Budget on Wednesday in order to address the fiscal black hole that the government inherited.
“Those decisions were never going to be easy but it means that the government’s able to wipe the slate clean and put our public services and our economy on a sustainable footing.”
Breaking: Education secretary Bridget Phillipson confirms tuition fee rise
Monday 4 November 2024 16:57 , Alex CroftEducation secretary Bridget Phillipson has confirmed the tuition fee cap will increase for the first time since 2017.
The fees will increase to £9,535 from April 2025 in order to “secure the future of higher education”, Ms Phillipson told parliament in a statement.
“I understand some students may worry about the impact this increase will have on their loan debt. So I want to reassure students already at university: when you start repaying your loan, you will not see higher monthly repayments as a result of these changes to fee and maintenance loans.
“Student loans are not like consumer loans, monthly repayments depend on earnings, not simply the amount borrowed or interest rates,” the education secretary added.
Breaking: Mel Stride appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer
Monday 4 November 2024 16:41 , Alex CroftMel Stride has been appointed as Kemi Badenoch’s new Chancellor of the Exchequer.
He previously served as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions following the general election earlier this year.
Mr Stride took part in the Conservative leadership election this year, being knocked out in September.
University tuition fees: What it means for students and why are they increasing?
Monday 4 November 2024 16:39 , Holly EvansIn a move that will dismay thousands of prospective students, Sir Keir Starmer is set to increase tuition fees for the first time in eight years.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will make a statement in the Commons on Monday afternoon, which will see an increase in line with the Retail Price Index inflation, The Independent understands.
Previous reports have speculated that fees could rise from £9,250 to £10,500 and come into force in September 2025, affecting school students who are currently sitting their A-Levels.
It comes as university leaders have warned of significant financial concerns as a result of frozen tuition fees paid by domestic students and a drop in international students.
Holly Evans reports:
University tuition fees: What it means for students and why are they increasing?
Breaking: Priti Patel returns to the front bench
Monday 4 November 2024 16:37 , Alex CroftPriti Patel has returned to the front bench after being appointed shadow foreign secretary by new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
She was formerly the Secretary of State for International Development under Theresa May and, most notably, the Home Secretary under Boris Johnson.
Watch: Starmer compares people-smuggling threat to terrorism
Monday 4 November 2024 16:20 , Andy GregoryTory MP Andrew Mitchell ‘returns to backbenches’
Monday 4 November 2024 16:00 , Andy GregoryTory MP Andrew Mitchell has said he is returning to the backbenches, GB News’ political editor reports.
Mr Mitchell said: “It has been an honour to serve under Rishi Sunak as Deputy Foreign Secretary and Shadow Foreign Secretary. But it is time to pass the baton! I look forward to continue serving my constituents in the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield.
“Kemi Badenoch will have my full support from the backbenches as she rebuilds the Conservative Party, exposes the terrible Labour government and sets us on a path to victory at the next general election.”
NEW
— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) November 4, 2024
Another Tory big beast has quit frontline politics.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Andrew
Mitchell says he is returning to the backbenches joining Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, James Cleverly and Sir Oliver Dowden.
He said: “It has been an honour to serve under Rishi Sunak as…
Government insists majority of farmers ‘will be able to pass family farm down to their children'
Monday 4 November 2024 15:41 , Andy GregoryThe vast majority of farmers will still be able to “pass the family farm down to their children”, the government has insisted, amid worries about changes to inheritance tax.
Following a meeting between environment secretary Steve Reed and NFU president Tom Bradshaw, a government spokesperson said: “The government’s commitment to our farmers remains steadfast. It’s why we have committed £5bn to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production.
“We understand concerns about changes to Agricultural Property Relief and the Defra secretary of state and Exchequer secretary to the Treasury met with NFU president Tom Bradshaw today.
“Ministers made clear that the vast majority of those claiming relief will not be affected by these changes. They will be able to pass the family farm down to their children just as previous generations have always done.
“This is a fair and balanced approach that protects the family farm while also fixing the public services that we all rely on. We remain committed to working with the NFU and listening to farmers.”
‘The last thing the government should do is put up tuition fees’ - Alastair McCall
Monday 4 November 2024 15:23 , Alex Croft“Cars loaded with clothes, mattress toppers, table lamps, posters, pots, pans and other paraphernalia of student life have been a familiar sight recently as the the latest year group of freshers have been heading for campuses across Britain. Meanwhile, another cohort will be busy checking the latest Good University Guide to make their choices for their Ucas forms.
“But if the dire warnings of recent week are to be believed, will some of these institutions even be open for business in the next few years? The higher education sector is at immediate risk of collapsing under debts created by a decade of frozen UK students’ tuition fees and a shrinking number of overseas students scared off by the hostile environment towards foreigners, which include spiralling costs for visas and fees.”
University professor and former journalist Alastair McCall makes the argument against increasing tuition fees...
In France a degree costs around £200 – the last thing our students need is more fees
Martin Lewis: Tuition fee rise is ‘misunderstood’
Monday 4 November 2024 15:06 , Alex CroftMoney Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis has weighed in on the reported rise in tuition fees, explaining that it isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
In a post on X, he clarified some key points. Here is the rundown of what he said:
- Higher fees won’t change what most pay yearly. This is because the amount you pay - 9 per cent over the earnings threshold - depends on what you earn, not what you borrow.
- Only those who clear loans in full over 40 years will pay more. This means mid to high earning university leavers and the more affluent will be the ones hit, Mr Lewis said.
- The rise will be “trivial” compared to changes made by the last government. The Conservatives reduced the repayment threshold from £27,295 to £25,000 for 2023 starters, and increased the time they had to continue repaying to 40 years from 30 years. The amount people have to pay for going to university over their life increased by 50 per cent as a result, Mr Lewis says.
- Biggest issue is that maintenance loans are too small. Maintenance loans have failed to keep pace with inflation, which Mr Lewis says is the biggest issue. “I’d urge the govt to couple the tuition fee loans with bigger living loans - if not it is a real risk to social mobility,” he said.
IMPORTANT PLS SHARE. It's rumoured the English £9,250 tuition fee cap may be raised this pm for the 1st time in 8yrs, as University's finances are strained. As student finance misunderstandings abound, I've bashed out a few notes to help...
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) November 4, 2024
1. Higher tuition fees WON'T change…
PM: Butler was ‘quite right' to delete repost about Kemi Badenoch
Monday 4 November 2024 14:48 , Alex CroftSir Keir Starmer has said a Labour MP was “quite right” to delete a repost of social media comments about new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
Dawn Butler appeared to share a tweet describing Ms Badenoch as a "member of white supremacy’s black collaborator class".
The tweet by Nigerian-British author Nels Abbey also described “Badenochism” as “white supremacy in blackface”. Ms Butler deleted the retweet shortly after sharing it.
At the Interpol general assembly in Glasgow, the prime minister said: "She shouldn’t have said what she did and she has deleted it and quite right too."
Why is the government planning to raise tuition fees?
Monday 4 November 2024 14:24 , Alex CroftThe decision to raise tuition fees would likely be an unpopular one among the electorate.
But many universities say they are facing financial crisis. This is because government grants and fees have not kept pace with rising costs, according to Universities UK (UUK), which represents more than 140 institutions.
In September, UUK president Dame Sally Mapstone told the BBC’s Today programme: “What we’re looking for from the new Government is the opportunity for a reset, and the opportunity to look right across the funding arrangements for fees and with students.
“The major problem with university finance is that for the past eight to nine years, direct government grants and fees haven’t kept up with the cost of teaching and with inflation, so more and more institutions are facing a budget deficit overall,” Prof Mapstone, who is also the vice-chancellor of St Andrews’ University, added.
The government has not yet confirmed the plans, so have not outlined their reasoning.
Full report: Sir Keir Starmer set to increase university tuition fees for first time in eight years
Monday 4 November 2024 14:11 , Millie Cooke, Political CorrespondentUniversity tuition fees will increase for the first time in eight years, The Independent understands, as part of a major overhaul of the higher education system.
Fees, which have been frozen at £9,250 since 2017, are expected to rise in line with the Retail Price Index inflation from September 2025. Matching them to the current rate of inflation at 2.7 per cent would mean they increase to around £9,500.
It comes amid growing concern over the state of the education sector, with many universities facing financial crisis. As many as 40 per cent of English universities are expecteed to fall into a budget deficit this year.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Starmer increases university tuition fees for first time in eight years
Pictured: Kemi Badenoch meets and greets CCHQ staffers
Monday 4 November 2024 14:06 , Alex Croft
Watch: Home secretary confirms £75m to tackle people smuggling is new funding from Budget
Monday 4 November 2024 13:47 , Lucy LeesonHome secretary Yvette Cooper has said an additional £75 million for the Government’s border command is new funding from the Budget.
Ms Cooper was pressed on Labour’s plans to tackle people smuggling ahead of the Interpol General Assembly in Glasgow on Monday (4 November).
The home secretary told BBC Breakfast: “It’s part of the Budget settlement. It’s in addition to the £75 million we’d already talked about, which is only just starting to be invested now.”
The further amount doubles the border command’s funding to £150 million over two years.
The money will be used to fund high-tech surveillance equipment and 100 specialist investigators who will target criminals engaged in people smuggling.
Keir Starmer poised to increase tuition fees to first time in eight years
Monday 4 November 2024 13:28 , Millie Cooke, Political CorrespondentSir Keir Starmer is expected to increase university tuition fees for the first time in eight years.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson is expected to confirm the plans this afternoon, which will see fees rise in line with the Retail Price Index inflation from September 2025, The Telegraph reported.
University tuition fees have been frozen at £9,250 since 2017. Matching them to the current rate of inflation at 2.7 per cent would mean they increase to around £9,500.
The Department for Education declined to comment.
Small boat smugglers to be fast-tracked through courts like rioters
Monday 4 November 2024 13:16 , Andy GregoryThe government is preparing to fast track people people smugglers through the courts in the same way as those who participated in the summer riots.
As part of a £150m package of measures to tackle the small boat crisis announced on Monday, the prime minister will order the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to speed up charges for people smugglers.
The prime minister is looking to replicate efforts earlier this year that delivered swift justice following the August riots that swept England and Northern Ireland after three young girls were killed in Southport, Downing Street said.
The claim of government intervention playing a role in the swift justice which faced rioters was criticised last month by the head of the judiciary, with lady chief justice Baroness Carr saying: “Suggestions that the listing of riot cases speedily in the criminal courts was a consequence of government action or pressure was a false constitutional narrative.”
The listing of court cases was “a judicial function – it cannot be otherwise”.
Tackling migrant crisis as important as climate change, Starmer says
Badenoch makes first major frontbench appointment
Monday 4 November 2024 12:58 , Andy GregoryOur political correspondent Millie Cooke has more information about the first Tory shadow cabinet appointments:
Kemi Badenoch has made two appointments to the Shadow Department for Education, ahead of Education Questions in the House of Commons this afternoon.
Laura Trott – who served as the the chief secretary to the Treasury in Rishi Sunak's government – has been appointed shadow education secretary, Ms Badenoch's first major appointment to the shadow frontbench. She was a prominent Badenoch-backer during the leadership contest.
Meanwhile, Neil O’Brien has been appointed as shadow minister for education. While he previously backed Ms Badenoch in 2022, he lent his support to rival Robert Jenrick during this year's contest.
No 10 refuses to be drawn on targets for small boat crossings
Monday 4 November 2024 12:45 , Andy GregoryDowning Street insisted the government wants to see small boat crossing numbers falling, but would not reveal if ministers have a target.
Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson insisted the government is “going to make progress as rapidly as is possible” on migrant crossings, pointing to its record of 9,400 returns recorded since Labour took power.
But he would not be drawn into revealing if the government has a target for when crossings will start to reduce, telling reporters: “I am not going to set out new targets here today. You have got the manifesto commitment, you have got the prime minister’s words.
“Clearly the government’s ambition is to reduce small boats crossings and that is why we are putting significant resource focus into this crisis.”
Asked if the government would be satisfied were numbers making the crossing to remain the same next year, he replied: “No, the government wants to do everything it can to reduce small boats crossings.
“It inherited a situation where small boats crossings before the election were up 18 per cent on the same period from the year before. That is not an acceptable position and that is a reflection of the system in chaos, and that is why the government is focused on putting in place the practical steps that will bring small boats crossings down.”
Kemi Badenoch announces first shadow cabinet appointments
Monday 4 November 2024 12:23 , Andy GregoryThe first members of Kemi Badenoch’s new shadow cabinet have been named.
Laura Trott has been appointed shadow education secretary and Neil O’Brien has been appointed shadow education minister in Kemi Badenoch‘s opposition team, it is understood.
Both will be on the opposition front bench for education oral questions in the Commons on Monday afternoon.
Badenoch tells CCHQ staff that Tories can turn their fortunes around at next election
Monday 4 November 2024 12:04 , Andy GregoryNew Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is understood to have told Conservative Party staff that they can turn their fortunes around in one political term, but must initially focus on principles over policy.
Ms Badenoch has been at the party's headquarters in Westminster on Monday morning as she is in the process of deciding who will be in her top team.
In an address to CCHQ staff, it is thought Ms Badenoch said the first challenge for the party will be winning back council seats at local elections.
She is also understood to have said the party can turn their situation around in one term and that policy will come soon, but the party needs to start with principles such as freedom of speech and personal responsibility.
Watch: Starmer hits out at Tory Rwanda plan as he 'resets plan' to tackle people smuggling
Monday 4 November 2024 11:57 , Andy Gregory‘Nothing progressive about turning a blind eye to small boat crossings’, PM says
Monday 4 November 2024 11:48 , Millie Cooke, Political CorrespondentThere is “nothing progressive” about turning a blind eye to people making dangerous channel crossings to reach the UK, Sir Keir Starmer told Interpol’s general assembly.
In total, 31,904 people have made the journey so far this year, up 16.5 per cent on the same point in 2023.
“Security doesn't stop at our borders”, the prime minister said, adding that illegal migration is a “massive driver of global insecurity”.
“There is nothing progressive about turning a blind eye as men women and children die in the channel. And you don't advance the cause of global justice or compassion for those individuals to pretend that there is”, he said.
Starmer announces funding boost for Interpol in ‘clear message’ to criminals
Monday 4 November 2024 11:44 , Millie Cooke, Political CorrespondentThe UK will increase its funding for Interpol projects, investing £6m this year, Sir Keir Starmer said.
Speaking at the organisation's general assembly in Glasgow, the prime minister said the money will support improved data sharing and faster communications capabilities, as well as a global fraud threat assessment network.
“We want to send a clear message to the world's most hardened criminals that there is no safe haven. There is no place you can hide from justice”, he said.
“Together, we've got the whole world covered, and together we will defeat you.”
Analysis: Yvette Cooper makes the case for international law against isolationists
Monday 4 November 2024 11:40 , David Maddox, Political EditorWhile the home secretary was really just the warm up act in Glasgow at the Interpol conference for the prime minister, she made a very important point at a tipping point in world history.
With the Tories still considering withdrawing from the European Convention of Human Rights (EDHR) as they try to ape Nigel Farage, and Americans considering voting for an isolationist president in Donald Trump, Yvette Cooper made the case for international law.
She told the audience: “International security and domestic security are one and the same thing.”
At a time when political parties want to start to unpick the network of international agreements, Ms Cooper’s statement carries special significance.
UK to draw up new agreements with other nations to tackle smuggling gangs
Monday 4 November 2024 11:38 , Millie Cooke, Political CorrespondentThe UK is drawing up new agreements with other countries to tackle people smuggling gangs and tackle the small boats crisis, Yvette Cooper has said.
Announcing a £150m package of measures to tackle the small boat crisis, the home secretary said the new agreements will “strengthen law enforcement, disrupt supply chains, break the business models of the gangs and to bring offenders to justice”.
“We know that the best way to strengthen UK Border Security, is to work in partnership with other countries”, she said.
Ms Cooper called for an “integrated global response” to tackle people smuggling gangs, saying they are “profiting from human misery, putting lives at risk, undermining border security and destabilising communities.”
She said: “Here in the UK, our new Border Security Command is leading the fight against the criminal gangs who, every week, are crowding vulnerable people into flimsy dinghies on the coast of France, leaving dozens this year to drown or be crushed to death as they attempt to cross the channel.
“But we know those gangs operate not just on our shores, but all across Europe and beyond - a network of exploitation stretching around the globe.”
Yvette Cooper calls for greater cooperation on tackling people smuggling gangs
Monday 4 November 2024 11:20 , Andy GregoryHome secretary Yvette Cooper has said she wants stronger international cooperation to tackle violence against women and girls, and child sexual abuse, the “scale of which should continue to shame us all”.
She told delegates at the Interpol conference in Glasgow: “We must also have a much stronger and more integrated global response to the organised immigration crime, which is growing around the world and profiting from human misery – putting human lives at risk, undermining border security and destabilising communities.”
Ms Cooper added: “We know these gangs operate not just on our shores but all across Europe and beyond, a network of exploitation stretching around the globe.”
Yvette Cooper says UK ‘proud to be at the heart’ of international policing efforts
Monday 4 November 2024 11:14 , Andy GregoryHome secretary Yvette Cooper is speaking at the Interpol conference in Glasgow.
Ms Cooper said: “At a time when networks of organised and serious crimes fan the world, it matters more than ever to have equally integrated and global networks of law enforcement agencies working together to fight crime and to keep our communities safe.
“The UK is proud to be at the heart of those efforts. Every year our Interpol bureau in the National Crime Agency sends out 20,000 requests to partners around the world. And every day, they manage more than 1,000 incoming messages, and we see the impact of that cooperation here on our streets.”
Badenoch arrives at Tory HQ to unveil shadow cabinet
Monday 4 November 2024 10:50 , Andy GregoryKemi Badenoch has arrived at the Conservative Party headquarters to unveil her new shadow cabinet after winning the Tory leadership contest, ahead of its first meeting on Tuesday.
Ruth Davidson gives just 40 per cent chance of Kemi Badenoch leading Tories into next election
Monday 4 November 2024 10:25 , Andy GregoryEx-Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has said she believes there is a 35 to 40 per cent chance that Kemi Badenoch will lead the Conservative Party into the next general election.
Speaking on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Ms Davidson said: “We don’t hang around with this sort of thing. We want the leader to be a net plus any time we go to the polls. And if they’re not, we don’t mess about.
“I would say, to put a figure on it, 35 per cent, 40 per cent? She’s got every opportunity to start the rebuilding. But there are things you really have to do when you’re in opposition, and part of that is you’ve got to put in the legwork, you’ve got to be humble. You’ve got to ask people for their vote, listen to them about what they need.
“You’ve got to show that the party’s changed. You don’t just stand up there and try and scold them into submission and become Conservatives. And I am yet to see any evidence that that is going to be her approach.”
Yvette Cooper says new Border Security Command funding is from Budget
Monday 4 November 2024 10:12 , Andy GregoryHome secretary Yvette Cooper has said that the additional £75m announced today for Labour’s new Border Security Command is new funding from the Budget.
She told BBC Breakfast: “It’s in addition to the £75m we’d already talked about, which is only just starting to be invested now.”
Yvette Cooper refuses to commit to targets on reducing Channel crossings
Monday 4 November 2024 09:39 , Andy GregoryThe home secretary has avoided committing to specific targets on bringing down Channel crossings.
Pressed on when a drop in the number of migrant crossings could be expected, Yvette Cooper told BBC Breakfast: “We obviously want to make progress as far and as fast as possible. The prime minister has said we need to see significant progress being made.
“We know, of course, it does take time to get the investigators in place, to make sure that we can get the new technology in place. So we’re going to try and make progress as rapidly as possible.
“What I’m not going to do is what Rishi Sunak did ... [and] just, you know, set out slogans and say everything was going to be solved in 12 months, and all on the basis of a slogan, because I don’t think people will take that seriously anymore.”
She said high numbers of crossings in October were “linked to the weather” but that “we’ve actually got to go after the criminal gangs at the heart of this, rather than it simply being dependent on the weather”.
'What I'm not going to do is what Rishi Sunak did and set out slogans and say everything was going to be solved in 12 months'
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) November 4, 2024
On #BBCBreakfast Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was questioned about when there will be a reduction in small boat crossings as she promised an extra £75m… pic.twitter.com/LONLUo671X
Politics Explained | Who will fill new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet?
Monday 4 November 2024 09:20 , Andy GregoryOne of the main reasons the Tories suffered so heavily in July was division. Divided parties do not win elections, and since Brexit Tory politics has been a soap opera, with the Conservative ranks riddled with infighting.
In a piece setting out what Kemi Badenoch needs to do to get the party back on track, pollster Luke Tryl tells The Independent that ending the infighting and picking a united top team will be one of her most important tasks.
On Sunday her first shadow cabinet appointment was revealed when interim chief whip Stuart Andrew tweeted that he was being replaced by Rebecca Harris, the MP for Castle Point in Essex. Dame Rebecca has been an MP since 2010 and a Conservative whip since 2018.
But Ms Badenoch is picking from a depleted pool, with the Tories having returned just 121 MPs in July. And a slew of Tory heavyweights including Rishi Sunak, James Cleverly, Jeremy Hunt and Oliver Dowden have said they will not serve in Ms Badenoch’s shadow cabinet, opting for stints on the backbenches instead.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has more analysis in this latest Politics Explained piece:
Who will fill new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet?
James Dyson condemns Rachel Reeves’s first Budget as ‘spiteful’
Monday 4 November 2024 09:02 , Andy GregorySir James Dyson has condemned Labour’s Budget as “spiteful”, warning her so-called tractor tax will be the “death of entrepreneurship”.
The leading British businessman – who employs more than 2,000 people in the UK - claimed that the new government will “kill off home-grown family businesses”, dubbing the changes an “ignorant swipe at aspiration”.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
James Dyson condemns Rachel Reeves’s Budget ‘tractor tax’ as ‘spiteful’
Yvette Cooper condemns ‘appalling’ tweet shared by Labour MP
Monday 4 November 2024 08:30 , Andy GregoryHome secretary Yvette Cooper has said she strongly disagrees with a tweet that a backbench MP appeared to have reposted saying Kemi Badenoch represents “white supremacy in blackface”.
Ms Cooper told LBC she did not see the post that Dawn Butler appeared to have shared, saying: “I didn’t see the post, I clearly strongly disagree with that.”
Pressed on why no action had been taken against Ms Butler, she said: “As I said, I haven’t seen the post and I think those sorts of issues around party issues, those are always ones for the Whip.”
Asked whether the words in the post had a “racist sentiment”, Ms Cooper said: “The words that you have read out are clearly appalling and I would strongly disagree with them. So, I haven’t seen the post. I don’t know the circumstances around it but I think we should congratulate Kemi Badenoch on her election.
“I will continue to disagree with her on all sorts of issues, but, nevertheless, I congratulate her on her election.”
Badenoch appoints new chairs of Tory party
Monday 4 November 2024 08:05 , Andy GregoryKemi Badenoch has appointed Nigel Huddleston and Lord Dominic Johnson as joint chairs of the Conservative Party.
They will reportedly join the new Tory leader at party headquarters on Monday morning to meet staff.
Full appointments are set to be announced in time for the first meeting of Ms Badenoch’s shadow cabinet on Tuesday.
Badenoch’s Partygate claim labelled ‘insulting’ by Covid bereaved
Monday 4 November 2024 07:47 , Andy GregoryPeople whose loved ones died during the Covid pandemic have expressed anger over Kemi Badenoch’s suggestion that the Partygate row was “overblown”.
Lobby Akinnola, a spokesman for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice who lost his father during the pandemic, told The Independent Ms Badenoch’s comment was “cruel and highlights just how detached politicians can be from the people they represent”.
Nazir Afzal, a former chief crown prosecutor whose older brother Umar died of Covid while self-isolating, told TheGuardian: “Ms Badenoch needs to remember that people were dying and being stored in industrial fridges while those in government partied in breach of the rules that they created for the rest of us.
“It was a question of trust and integrity and such a failure cannot ever be overblown.”
Naomi Fulop, whose mother Christina died in January 2021 told the outlet that Badenoch’s comments were “insulting and extremely painful”.
Ms Fulop, who is a member of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, said: “It is not possible to overblow the impact of those in government partying while my mother died alone. We then had to have a very restricted funeral, as did thousands and thousands of other people.”
She added: “Badenoch said the Tory party needs to have an honest conversation about what’s gone wrong and one of the big things that went wrong was Partygate so I’m quite mystified that she doesn’t realise the impact that’s had on families like mine and the wider public.”
Starmer to double funding for new Border Security Command
Monday 4 November 2024 07:29 , Andy GregorySir Keir Starmer is set to double the funding Labour’s Border Security Command as he fixes his sights on ending small boat crossings.
The prime minister is expected to use a speech to the Interpol General Assembly in Glasgow on Monday to kick off a week-long blitz on the issue that will see him travel to Hungary for talks on tackling people smuggling.
Monday’s speech will see Sir Keir pledge another £75m for his new border command, taking its total funding to £150m over two years, with the new money to be used to fund high-tech surveillance equipment and 100 specialist investigators.
The PM will say: “The world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge. I was elected to deliver security for the British people. And strong borders are a part of that. But security doesn’t stop at our borders. There’s nothing progressive about turning a blind eye as men, women and children die in the Channel.”
Reforming council tax would've led to some ‘paying significantly more’, Reeves argues
Monday 4 November 2024 07:00 , Tara CobhamReforming council tax would have led to some people “paying significantly more”, Rachel Reeves said as she was charged with “dodging” the issue.
Asked whether her Budget had “dodged” the question of whether to reform council tax by uprating property values, the Chancellor told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Philips: “That’s a very complicated and tricky issue to address and it would result in some people paying significantly more in tax.”
Asked what happened to making “tough choices”, she added: “I think we made plenty of tough choices in the Budget this week.”
Shadow culture secretary happy to hold any position in new shadow cabinet
Monday 4 November 2024 06:00 , Tara CobhamThe shadow culture secretary has said she would be happy to hold any position in Kemi Badenoch’s new Conservative shadow cabinet.
Julia Lopez told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Philips: “My main priority is to be part of the team that rebuilds the Conservative Party.
“Kemi wants to lead a renewal of the whole movement from top to bottom, so I will serve in whichever capacity she thinks I am best suited. It’s the mission for me, rather than the position.”
Ms Lopez said she had not yet had discussions about what her new role may be.
Kemi Badenoch’s first duty must be to provide an effective opposition
Monday 4 November 2024 05:00 , Tara CobhamThe election of Kemi Badenoch as leader of the Conservative Party is an intriguing moment. Not only have the members of the party finally disposed of the calumny that they would never elect a non-white candidate, but – given the options available to them – they have to some extent made up for their folly in electing Liz Truss the last time they were asked to vote.
Robert Jenrick’s rather unconvincing reinvention as a hardline anti-immigration candidate required him to adopt an unrealistic position on the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). While recognising that the European Court is an imperfect organisation, The Independent will have no truck with any politician who seeks to renounce a document drawn up by British lawyers after the trauma of world war that underpins the protection of fundamental rights across the continent.
Not only would withdrawal from the ECHR have been wrong in principle, it would not be the magic solution to the problem of irregular immigration – a point made with some courage by Ms Badenoch – and the policy would have plunged the Tory party into a prolonged civil war, because a large share, probably a majority, of its reduced contingent of MPs remain rightly committed to the ECHR.
Read more here:
Kemi Badenoch’s first duty must be to provide an effective opposition
Watch: Badenoch dismisses Reeves’ position as first female chancellor as ‘low glass ceiling’
Monday 4 November 2024 04:00 , Tara CobhamWorst of Britain’s Brexit pain is still to come, admits Treasury minister
Monday 4 November 2024 03:00 , Tara CobhamThe majority of Brexit’s impact on Britain’s economy is still yet to be felt, a minister has warned.
In a damning assessment of Britain’s departure from the European Union, Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq said 60 per cent of the impact of Brexit is yet to materialise.
The Treasury economic secretary cited Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts that the economy would shrink by 4 per cent in the long run due to Brexit. And Ms Siddiq said that Britain’s imports and exports would end up 15 per cent lower than they would be had the UK stayed in the EU.
Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Worst of Britain’s Brexit pain is still to come, admits Treasury minister
Lopez says Badenoch would take ‘very rounded approach' to tackling immigration
Monday 4 November 2024 02:00 , Tara CobhamThe shadow culture secretary said new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch would take a “very rounded approach” to tackling immigration.
Asked if Ms Badenoch would not support any of the immigration policies argued by her leadership rival Robert Jenrick, including withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), Julia Lopez told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Philips: “I think what happened in the leadership election was that we started talking about these things as if leaving the ECHR was an end in itself, and that’s not the end that we were seeking.
“We are seeking lower immigration overall, and Kemi wants to take a very rounded approach to taking that immigration level down. That means looking at every aspect of the challenge. Leaving the ECHR may end up being one of those policy prescriptions.
“Visas may end up being one of those policy prescriptions, but what she doesn’t want to do is to start writing a manifesto at this stage of the Parliament before we know what we are likely to be taking on at the next general election.”
Pressed on whether leaving the ECHR was still on the table, Ms Lopez added: “She said that if that’s what is required, that is what she will do.”
Kemi Badenoch made ‘rape joke’ on social media in unearthed post
Monday 4 November 2024 01:00 , Tara CobhamNewly elected Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has been condemned over an unearthed image that shows her making a joke about rape on her personal Facebook page.
The former women and equalities minister has been criticised by anti-domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid, which said it was appalled by the image.
In a post on her own page dated from January 2008, which was still visible on her profile as recently as this week, Ms Badenoch shared an image of three men with the caption: “The Drummond beer rape incident.”
Political Correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Kemi Badenoch made ‘rape joke’ on social media in unearthed post
Watch: Reeves admits she was wrong about public finances during election
Monday 4 November 2024 00:00 , Tara CobhamBadenoch makes first senior appointment as Conservative leader
Sunday 3 November 2024 23:46 , Joe MiddletonRebecca Harris has been appointed Conservative chief whip, according to her predecessor Stuart Andrew.
In a post on X, Mr Andrew said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the Conservative Party chief whip.
“Rebecca Harris is a great friend and a brilliant whip. I wish her all the best in the role.”
The MP for Castle Point in Essex has been a Conservative whip since 2018.
There has been no official announcement from the party, with further appointments expected before Tuesday.
Non-recent allegation of sexual assault made against late Alex Salmond received by police
Sunday 3 November 2024 23:00 , Tara CobhamA non-recent allegation of sexual assault made against Alex Salmond has been received by police.
Mr Salmond was leader of the Alba Party up until he died suddenly aged 69 during a visit to North Macedonia last month.
The politician was first minister of Scotland from 2007-2014 under the Scottish National Party (SNP) government, but resigned from the SNP in 2018 after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct came to light.
Read the full story here:
Non-recent allegation of sexual assault made against Alex Salmond received by police
Shadow culture secretary dismisses suggestions Badenoch has ‘abrasive’ character
Sunday 3 November 2024 22:00 , Tara CobhamThe shadow culture secretary dismissed suggestions Kemi Badenoch had an “abrasive” character, saying people “want to see politicians who are straight talking”.
Put to her that Ms Badenoch might need “a personality transplant” as new Tory leader with some colleagues saying she is “rude”, and asked whether she was going to be “nice” to people, Julia Lopez told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Philips: “We’re in a situation now where Kemi secured the most MP votes, Kemi also secured the most votes among the membership.
“People want to see politicians who are straight talking. She speaks with clarity, she speaks with truth.
“She’s already had a discussion in a different media outlet about how she might start to change some of the ways in which she deals with people, if that’s necessary, but I don’t know it’s necessary right now.”
Chancellor refuses to back down in face of national insurance hike backlash
Sunday 3 November 2024 21:00 , Tara CobhamRachel Reeves is refusing to back down in the face of criticism over her government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions.
The chancellor also said she did not consider or discuss raising the rise before the general election.
Asked if she will think again about increasing employer national insurance contributions amid concerns from GPs, care homes and charities, Ms Reeves told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “I’m not immune to their criticism.
“But we’ve got to raise the money, we’ve got to put our public finances on a firm footing.”
Asked if she considered or discussed raising employer national insurance contributions before Labour’s election win, Ms Reeves replied: “No, this was not something that was on the agenda before the election.”
The Chancellor said the previous Tory government cut employee national insurance contributions on a “false premise” but she thought it would be “wrong” to put that back up.
She said: “It would have been felt immediately in the payslips of working people rather than asking businesses to contribute, and second it would have been a direct breach of our manifesto commitment. So we had to make difficult choices but leadership is about difficult choices.”
