UK Politics

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailJeremy Hunt is said to be looking at cutting national insurance and introducing a vape tax as part of his upcoming March Budget.The chancellor is reportedly considering a 1 per cent NI reduction which will cost about £4.5 billion a year, in a bid to satiate calls within his party for tax cuts.But Mr Hunt has considerably less headroom than previously thought after official forecasts downgraded the amount of money available to the government.The chancellor is considering introducing a levy on vapes But the chancellor is still keen to push forward with some tax cuts, and is said to be looking at alternative sources of income to fund itIt is thought he may introduce a “vaping products levy” to be paid on imports and by manufacturers to try to make the habit unaffordable for children, The Times reports.The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has pushed back against the chancellor’s plans to introduce tax cuts, warning it would be “very challenging” to achieve considering Britain’s ageing population and mounting debt pile.It further cautioned the transition to net zero and protecting the UK’s public services like hospitals and schools would need higher spending in the medium term than current government plans.The chancellor has already scaled back his plans after he was said to be considering a 2p cut in national insurance tax, but the £13.7 billion a year cost made it unaffordable with current figures.Mr Hunt is also said to be considering only increasing public spending by 0.75 per cent rather than 1 per cent, a move that could save about £5 billion a year.But economists have warned this would lead to considerable spending cuts for unprotected departments. The IFS said this could worsen already struggling public services, such as courts and prisons, higher education and the Home Office.Rishi Sunak announced he would phase out the sale of cigarettes The IFS said during the Autumn statement the chancellor “ignored the impacts of higher inflation on public service budgets and instead used additional tax revenues to fund eye-catching tax cuts.”It warned against doing the same this time, stating that “until the Government is willing to provide more detail on its spending plans in a spending review, it should refrain from providing detail on tax cuts.”The plans to introduce a vaping duty are expected to raise more than £500 million a year by 2028 and 2029, and will be accompanied by a one-off increase in tobacco duty to ensure that vaping remains a cheaper alternative.The scheme forms part of Rishi Sunak’s push to stop children taking up vaping while creating a “smoke-free generation”. The prime minister announced he would phase out the sale of cigarettes in his Autumn conference speech, in what he dubbed the “biggest public health intervention in a generation”.The proposed vape tax is modelled on 15 similar schemes across Europe and will align the UK with the EU’s plans to introduce a bloc-wide vaping levy.Last week the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) informed the government that it would have about £13 billion of fiscal headroom, of which Hunt will leave about £6 billion in reserve.Typically, chancellors leave themselves £25 billion of headroom to cope with changes in interest rates and inflation without needing to change tax and spending policies, but Mr Hunt’s room for manoeuvre has been heavily impacted by inflation falling faster than expected, resulting in lower tax revenues, and increased borrowing costs.The final forecasts before the budget are expected on Friday. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak was left squirming as he repeatedly refused to condemn as racist Lee Anderson’s widely criticised rant about Sadiq Khan being controlled by “Islamists”.The prime minister has consistently declined to say whether the Tory former deputy chair’s remarks were Islamophobic or anti-Muslim, saying he was suspended only because they were “wrong”. And, as Mr Anderson doubled down on the controversial rant, the prime minister also left the door open for his return to the Tory benches. Sir Keir Starmer ramped up the pressure on the PM, accusing him of “lacking the backbone” to call out Mr Anderson’s “Islamophobia”.The Labour leader said Mr Sunak is “too weak” to condemn the former Tory deputy chairman’s anti-Muslim rant as racist.And as Mr Anderson said it would be “a sign of weakness” to apologise, Mr Sunak continued with his refusal to describe the comments as Islamophobic.Rishi Sunak made Lee Anderson deputy chair of the Conservative Party Appearing on GB News last week, Mr Anderson said Muslim mayor Mr Khan is controlled by “Islamists”.He was suspended as a Tory MP after refusing to apologise for the remark, but the prime minister has refused to describe it as racist and ministers have not ruled out restoring the whip to Mr Anderson.As the fallout from Mr Anderson’s remarks grew:A Tory minister said the whip was removed from Mr Anderson “because anti-Muslim hatred is wrong”A Labour former minister said Mr Anderson’s comments led to a torrent of far-right abuse, forcing her to seek extra police supportMr Anderson said the “vast majority” of Muslims in the UK are “decent”, but refused to apologise for his comments Reform UK appeared to extend an invite for Mr Anderson to join the insurgent right-wing partySir Keir said Mr Sunak “lacks the backbone to call out “Islamophobia” after the remarks.The Labour leader said: “I think this is straightforward. It’s Islamophobia and the prime minister should call it out for what it is. The reason he won’t is because he is so weak.”He added: “I don’t think anyone can make any excuses for this prime minister and say it’s all too difficult.“It’s very straightforward, he lacks the backbone to call this out for what it is because he’s leading a divided party, a chaotic party and it’s no wonder people have just had enough of this after 14 years, and desperately want change.”Keir Starmer said Rishi Sunak is ‘too weak’ to call out Lee Anderson’s Islamophobia Asked about Mr Anderson’s comments during a visit to East Yorkshire, Mr Sunak said: “I’ve been very clear that what he said was wrong, it was unacceptable, and that’s why we suspended the whip.”But, pressed on whether he considered Mr Anderson’s remarks Islamophobic, the PM simply said: “I think the most important thing is that the words were wrong, they were ill-judged, they were unacceptable.”Earlier the PM denied the Conservative party has “Islamophobic tendencies”.It came as Mr Anderson sought to row back on his comments, but stopped short of offering an apology over the rant.He said: “If you are wrong, apologising is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.“But when you think you are right, you should never apologise because to do so would be a sign of weakness.”He said he had made comments “that some people thought were divisive.“Politics is divisive and I am just incredibly frustrated about the abject failures of the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.”He also said: “My words may have been clumsy but my words were borne out of sheer frustration at what is happening to our beautiful capital city.”Lee Anderson said his words ‘may have been clumsy’ after claiming Sadiq Khan is controlled by IslamistsThe row erupted last Friday when, discussing pro-Palestinian protests in London, Mr Anderson said: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they’ve got control of Khan and they’ve got control of London… He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”In a slight climbdown from his initial outburst, Mr Anderson said: “The vast majority of our Muslim friends in the UK are decent, hardworking citizens who make an amazing contribution to our society and their religion should not be blamed for the actions of a tiny minority of extremists.”After calling for the Conservatives to tackle the “moral rot” of anti-Muslim hatred in the party, Mr Khan said it was “remarkable” the PM had failed to call out “Islamophobia” directly. The mayor pointed to a statement issued by Mr Sunak which called out rising incidents of “prejudice and antisemitism”, but neglected to mention anti-Muslim hatred specifically, despite a surge since 7 October last year.“This speaks volumes,” Mr Khan said. Writing in the Evening Standard, Mr Khan added: “It shouldn’t be hard to call out comments that are so unambiguously ignorant, prejudiced and racist. Yet those at the top of the Conservative Government are stubbornly refusing to do so.“It’s a tacit endorsement of anti-Muslim hatred and can only lead to the conclusion that anti-Muslim bigotry and racism are not taken seriously.”Senior Tory Tom Tugendhat came the closest to describing Mr Anderson’s comments as “anti-Muslim” and suggesting that is why he was suspended from the party. The home office minister said: “The whip was removed immediately because anti-Muslim hatred is wrong.”Meanwhile, a Labour former minister told MPs she had to seek extra police support over the weekend due to receiving far-right abuse following “racist, Islamophobic, anti-Muslim hate” she said had been partly encouraged by Mr Anderson.Speaking in the Commons, Dawn Butler said: “I have had to seek extra police support this weekend due to the far-right abuse that I have suffered inspired and unleashed in part by the conspiracy theory, the racist, Islamophobic, anti-Muslim hate.”It came as Reform UK appeared to extend an invite for Mr Anderson to join the party after his suspension from the Conservatives.The former Brexit Party, set up by Nigel Farage, said Mr Anderson speaks “for millions who are appalled by what is happening to our country”.Richard Tice, who took over from Mr Farage as Reform’s leader, said: “Lee Anderson may have been clumsy in his precise choice of words, but his sentiments are supported by millions of British citizens, including myself.”It is widely thought Mr Anderson will consider joining Reform to contest his Ashfield seat at the general election. Mr Farage on Saturday called for Mr Anderson to join the party and take on the Tories.And on Monday, Mr Tice added: “Never has Westminster and the craven left-leaning establishment been so out of touch with ordinary people.“I do not and will not give a running commentary on any discussions I have with any MPs, but those MPs have my number.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster email Hungary’s parliament on Monday elected a new president after its previous head of state resigned in a scandal over a pardon she granted to an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case.Lawmakers in a secret vote approved the appointment to the presidency of Tamás Sulyok, 67, a lawyer who previously served as the head of Hungary’s Constitutional Court.Several opposition parties did not participate in the vote, and called for direct presidential elections instead of appointments by vote in parliament. They argued that the new president would be a “party soldier” of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.Sulyok received 134 votes in favor of his presidency while five lawmakers voted against. In a speech following his appointment, Sulyok presented himself as a follower of the letter of the law who would seek to refrain from engaging in Hungary’s political life.The role of president in Hungary is largely ceremonial, though they do have the power to send bills back to lawmakers or to the Constitutional Court for review.In his speech, Sulyok referenced procedures currently ongoing against Hungary in which the European Union has frozen billions in funding over rule-of-law and democracy concerns.“We can see how the correctly defined concept of the rule of law is being lost, transformed from an ideal into an idol in today’s Europe as part of a purely utilitarian political approach,” he said.He also spoke about his belief that member states of the European Union retain their legal national sovereignty despite their membership in the bloc.Sulyok is expected to formally assume the role on March 5.The election of a new head of state came after Hungary’s conservative president resigned on Feb. 10 amid public outcry over a pardon she granted to a man convicted of helping to cover up child sexual abuse in a state-run orphanage. That decision unleashed an unprecedented political scandal for Orbán’s long-serving government.Before the vote on Monday, opposition lawmaker Bence Tordai requested that members of parliament rise to observe a moment of silence for the recent death of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison.While most members of the opposition rose from their seats, members of Orbán’s Fidesz party, which has among the closest relations with Russia in the EU, remained seated. In later remarks in parliament, Orbán criticized Navalny for comments he made during Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia that were criticized for their nationalist tone.”I thank the ruling party caucus for keeping their nerve in the Navalny case. Chauvinists do not deserve respect in the Hungarian parliament,” Orbán said. “But anyway, may he rest in peace.” More

Sunak condemns Lee Anderson’s comments as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘wrong’Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailSuspended Tory MP Lee Anderson has doubled down on his Islamophobic remarks about London mayor Sadiq Khan, insisting that apologising would be “a sign of weakness”.“When you think you are right you should never apologise because to do so would be a sign of weakness,” he told GB News on Monday, as Rishi Sunak finally condemned his claims that “Islamists” have “got control” of the London mayor as “wrong”.The prime minister insisted that his party did not have Islamophobic tendencies in BBC local radio interviews on Monday, as Tory peer Barones Warsi accused the government of having “dragged its heels on any work” to tackle racism against Muslims.And Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds alleged she had written to Tory party chairs seven times over the past three years calling for them to take action against Islamophobic racism in the party.“This isn’t something that popped up five minutes ago, it is a continuing concern,” Ms Dodds told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.Show latest update 1708959116Sunak refuses to say Lee Anderson’s comments were IslamophobicRishi Sunak has refused to describe Lee Anderson’s comments about Sadiq Khan as Islamophobic when pressed repeatedly.Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to East Yorkshire, the prime minister said: “I’ve been very clear that what he said was wrong, it was unacceptable, and that’s why we suspended the whip.“And it’s important that everybody, but particularly elected politicians, are careful with their words and do not inflame tensions.”Asked again whether the remarks were Islamophobic, he said: “Well, I think the most important thing is that the words were wrong, they were ill-judged, they were unacceptable. And that’s what I believe and that’s why the whip has been suspended.”Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent26 February 2024 14:511708958110Tory MP Paul Scully says areas of London and Birmingham have become ‘no-go areas’Tory MP Paul Scully has claimed there are “no-go areas” in some parts of the UK due to “changing neighbourhoods”, reports my colleague Lucy Leeson.Tory MP Paul Scully says areas of London and Birmingham have ‘no-go areas’Mr Scully told BBC Radio London: “The point I’m trying to make is if you look at parts of Tower Hamlets, for example, where there are no-go areas, parts of Birmingham – Sparkhill – there are no-go areas, mainly because of doctrine, mainly because of people abusing in many ways their religion – because it’s not the doctrine of Islam – to espouse what some of these people are saying. That’s the concern that needs to be addressed.”Mr Scully has responded to criticism of his remarks by saying:Andy Gregory26 February 2024 14:351708956896‘He has my number,’ Reform UK appears to extend invite to Lee Anderson after ‘Islamist’ rantReform UK appears to have extended an invite for Lee Anderson to join the party after he was suspended from the Conservatives for Islamophobic comments.The former Brexit Party, set up by Nigel Farage, said Mr Anderson speaks “for millions who are appalled by what is happening to our country”.It came after Mr Anderson, who was deputy Tory chairman until last month, was suspended from the party for refusing to apologise for claiming Muslim London mayor Sadiq Khan is controlled by “Islamists”.Richard Tice, who took over from Mr Farage as Reform’s leader, said: “Lee Anderson may have been clumsy in his precise choice of words, but his sentiments are supported by millions of British citizens, including myself.”It is widely thought Mr Anderson will consider joining Reform to contest his Ashfield seat at the general election. Mr Farage on Saturday called for Mr Anderson to join the party and take on the Tories.And on Monday Mr Tice added: “Never has Westminster and the craven left leaning Establishment been so out of touch with ordinary people.”I do not and will not give a running commentary on any discussions I have with any MPs, but those MPs have my number.”Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent26 February 2024 14:141708955816No 10 refuses to say Lee Anderson’s comments were IslamophobicThe government does not tolerate “anti-Muslim hatred in any form”, Downing Street has said.The prime minister’s spokesperson was challenged over his refusal to refer specifically to Islamophobia or anti-Muslim hatred while condemning prejudice more generally.The official told reporters: “The PM has been clear that we don’t tolerate any anti-Muslim hatred in any form and we will combat that and any sort of discrimination of that kind, as we do any racism or prejudice and intolerance, wherever it occurs.”The spokesperson declined to describe Lee Anderson’s comments about Sadiq Khan as Islamophobic.Andy Gregory26 February 2024 13:561708954676Watch: Labour’s Chris Bryant admits disrupting debate before Gaza ceasefire voteChris Bryant admits disrupting debate before Gaza ceasefire voteAndy Gregory26 February 2024 13:371708953536No 10 reiterates government’s position on defining IslamophobiaDowning Street reiterated the government’s position of refusing to back the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims’ 2019 definition of Islamophobia.After Lee Anderson’s comments put a spotlight on the ongoing row over the classification of Islamophobia, Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson told reporters: “As the government has stated previously, there are issues in relation to the APPG’s definition of Islamophobia, which conflates race with religion, does not address sectarianism within Islam, and may unintentionally undermine freedom of speech.“But as I’ve said, we have always been clear that this government does not and will not tolerate anti-Muslim hatred.”He added: “More broadly in terms of any racism, any prejudice in relation to Islam, the government clearly does not tolerate anti-Muslim hatred in that respect and will always seek to combat it, wherever it occurs.”Andy Gregory26 February 2024 13:181708952435Lee Anderson says his attack on Sadiq Khan was ‘clumsy’Here is more from Lee Anderson’s statement via GB News:The suspended Tory MP said he had made “clumsy” comments “that some people thought were divisive”, adding: “Politics is divisive and I am just incredibly frustrated about the abject failures of the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.”He continued: “My words may have been clumsy but my words were borne out of sheer frustration at what is happening to our beautiful capital city.”Andy Gregory26 February 2024 13:001708951725Lee Anderson launches fresh attack on Sadiq KhanIn a fresh attack on Sadiq Khan, Lee Anderson accused the London Mayor of “double standards for political benefit”.The now-independent Ashfield MP said Mr Khan had called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war “weeks ago with no conditions while the hostages are still there being held at gunpoint by a terrorist organisation.“Hundreds of people had been arrested for racist abuse on these marches and we barely hear a peep from the mayor. If these marches were about something less fashionable Sadiq Khan would have been the first to call for them to be cancelled. It’s double standards for political benefit.”In a statement released via GB News, where he presents a weekly show, he continued: “Khan has stood by and allowed our police to turn a blind eye to the disgusting scenes around Parliament. It is not my intention to upset anyone, I believe in free speech and have 100 per cent respect for people of all backgrounds.”He concluded: “We’ve got to get Khan out at the elections in May.”As reported by the website OpenDemocracy, police data suggests only 153 people were arrested at pro-Palestine protests between October and the end of December, just 36 of whom were actually charged.Andy Gregory26 February 2024 12:481708948973SNP demands investigation into Labour ‘dirty tricks’ Gaza vote as senior MP admits delaying debateThe SNP is demanding an investigation into the chaos surrounding the Gaza ceasefire vote after a Labour frontbencher admitted intentionally delaying the debate.Shadow digital minister Sir Chris Bryant said he was encouraged by Labour figures to stall parliamentary proceedings last Wednesday ahead of a vote on the SNP’s motion calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.The disruption was aimed at giving Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer time to convince Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to allow MPs a vote on Labour’s amendment to the SNP motion.The SNP accused Labour of using “every dirty trick in the book” to wreck the vote.Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the details:Andy Gregory26 February 2024 12:021708947456Lee Anderson says it would be a ‘sign of weakness’ to apologise over Islamophobic commentsLee Anderson has said it would be a “sign of weakness” for him to apologise over his Islamophobic remarks about Sadiq Khan. “If you are wrong, apologising is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength,” he told GB News. “But when you think you are right you should never apologise because to do so would be a sign of weakness.”Andy Gregory26 February 2024 11:37 More