Rishi Sunak tells China: don’t try to seize Taiwan by ‘force or coercion’ As he commits Britain to working to keep the Indo-Pacific region ‘open and free’ Evening Standard · May 18, 2023
Sunak refuses to recommit to Boris Johnson’s manifesto pledge to cut migration Comes after home secretary said the government had ‘to get overall immigration numbers down’ The Independent UK · May 18, 2023
Rishi Sunak arrives in Japan to announce defence pact PM also says Japanese businesses have invested £18bn in UK as he visits country for G7 summit The Guardian - UK · May 18, 2023
Thursday briefing: Three days that proved the radical right has a hold on the Tory party In today’s newsletter: This week’s National Conservatism conference in London saw mainstream Tory MPs straying into far right territory – how did the party get here? The Guardian - UK · May 18, 2023
As G7 leaders start to arrive, Japan PM prepares push in Hiroshima for nuclear weapons pledge Ukraine and China’s Taiwan ambitions are expected to dominate summit discussions, but Fumio Kishida will have a powerful backdrop The Guardian - AU · May 18, 2023
Japan, UK renew security ties, aircraft carrier to deploy in 2025 Tokyo is seeking to shore up its alliances amid heightened tension in the Asia-Pacific over North Korea, Taiwan. Al Jazeera · May 18, 2023
English universities warned not to over-rely on fees of students from China Higher education regulator asks 23 institutions for contingency plans in case of sudden interruption of income The Guardian - UK · May 17, 2023
Rishi Sunak seeks to build stronger defence with Japan at Tokyo G7 PM expected to unveil Hiroshima accord at meeting with Japan’s Fumio Kishida amid fears of China’s rising militarisation The Guardian - UK · May 17, 2023
Rishi Sunak’s upbeat view on economy stokes claims he is out of touch On flight to Japan for G7, PM says ‘economic optimism is increasing’ and insists Brexit is working The Guardian - UK · May 17, 2023
Sunak to unveil agreement with Japan on closer defence, security and cyber ties Rishi Sunak is in Tokyo to attend the G7 summit. The Independent UK · May 17, 2023
Rishi Sunak's wife makes debut on world stage in G7 diplomatic blitz Akshata Murty has travelled to Japan with the Prime Minister, where she will meet with a host of spouses of global leaders, including the US First Lady Jill Biden. Daily Mirror · May 17, 2023
PM declines to recommit to manifesto pledge to bring down legal migration levels Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been publicly pushing for lower immigration. The Independent UK · May 17, 2023
Kwasi Kwarteng again refuses to apologise over economic turmoil The former chancellor said he was ‘not in the business of forgiveness’ The Independent UK · May 17, 2023
Ten things we learned from the UK NatCon conference ‘National Conservatives’ may be on the rise, but their enemy list grows longer still: from woke Marxists to globalists, narcissists and pagans The Guardian - UK · May 17, 2023
Evening Standard · May 17, 2023 Brexit working by making beer cheaper, claims Rishi Sunak Prime Minister insists economy ‘moving in right direction’ after criticism from Tory right
The Guardian - UK · May 17, 2023 The Guardian view on Tory immigration policy: a moral choice The prime minister has a duty to resist the capture of his party by xenophobic nationalism
Daily Mirror · May 17, 2023 Boris Johnson's fan club buy baseball caps from China despite claiming to be patriotic The foreign-made hats were handed out as supporters of the ex-PM gathered in Bournemouth for the inaugural conference of the Conservative Democratic Organisation
The Guardian - UK · May 17, 2023 Alister Jack spares Tories a byelection by ruling out Lords switch Boris Johnson ally says he would not accept peerage while still an MP but will stand down at next election
The Guardian - UK · May 17, 2023 Dowden is perfect fit as Sunak’s dependably mediocre deputy Olive’s one purpose is to make his boss look good – just what a PM heading for opposition needs
The Independent UK · May 17, 2023 PM pledges ‘united and aligned’ position with allies on Taiwan amid Truss speech Ex-PM Liz Truss was accused by Beijing of putting on a ‘dangerous political show’ that will harm the UK when she delivered a hawkish speech in Taiwan.
The Guardian - UK · May 17, 2023 Rishi Sunak cites cheap beer and sanitary products as benefits of Brexit On his way to the G7 summit, the prime minster insists household income is ‘outperforming’ expectations
Evening Standard · May 17, 2023 Could Liz Truss’ visit to Taiwan start a culture war in the Tory Party? ‘Instagram diplomacy’? The ex PM has set a cat among the Tory pigeons and unleashed a mighty foreign policy row as she lands in Taiwan on a one-woman mission to shore up the country’s independence, says Anne McElvoy
Daily Mirror · May 17, 2023 Oliver Dowden handled PMQs with all the gravitas of a career middle-manager The hotly anticipated 'battle of the gingers' wasn't so much 'Holly vs Phil' as it was 'Angela Rayner vs two kids in a trenchcoat'
Daily Record · May 17, 2023 Alister Jack to stand down at next general election but won't take peerage from Boris Johnson Jack, who was first appointed Scottish Secretary by Boris Johnson, won't trigger a by-election by resigning his seat for a peerage.
Reuters · May 17, 2023 Factbox-Why Ukraine is bidding for F-16 jets and will it succeed? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he is making progress in persuading the West to supply Ukraine with fighter jets - with U.S.-built F-16s flown by several NATO nations in particular focus.