UK Politics

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UKSign up to our Brexit email for the latest insightLord Heseltine has warned that the 2024 general election campaign “will be the most dishonest in modern times” because of the refusal of the main parties to debate the consequences of Brexit.The former deputy prime minister, who fell out with the Conservatives over leaving the European Union, has written exclusively for The Independent explaining how the big issues in this general election – the economy, immigration and defence – all need to be debated in the context of the UK’s relationship with the EU.But he claimed that Labour and the Tories are too scared to discuss Brexit because of the potential impact on their voter bases.It comes as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer uses his first keynote speech of the election to focus the campaign on himself personally in a presidential style push for victory. But noting that Sir Keir and Rishi sunak are avoiding discussing “the elephant in the room”, Lord Heseltine wrote: “Both major parties are afraid of losing votes to the hard right. Labour needs to rebuild its red wall while the Conservatives run scared of Reform.”However, he argued that almost no major issue can be discussed without reference to the subject which has, in effect, dominated British politics since the EU referendum in 2016 and arguably since the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 which shattered John Major’s government.Michael Heseltine has warned about Brexit and the general election More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailWes Streeting has set out a three-word vision of the guiding philosophy of a Labour government if, as expected, it wins power on 4 July.The shadow health secretary had echoes of Tony Blair’s New Labour when he promised that his party would be “compensatory, not confiscatory”.Mr Streeting was in discussion with The Independent’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig in front of an audience at the Hay Festival, discussing the election, politics and his book One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up.Mr Greig noted that the UK is now “in the foothills of an election campaign” and asked: “Where is Labour going to find out that common centre ground? What is the formula? What are the words?”Wes Streeting insists Labour is a party which celebrates success and encourages ambition and aspiration More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailNigel Farage signalled a return to right-wing shock tactics for his Reform UK party, as he used his first election interview to attack Muslims in the UK for “not sharing British values”.Speaking to Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News this morning, Mr Farage accused Rishi Sunak of “not being a leader” and instead being “a follower of focus groups” who is “not willing to tackle the real issues in this country”.He was dismissive of Tory plans to reintroduce compulsory national service for school leavers, describing the policy as “a joke” but then stunned Sir Trevor by launching into an attack on millions of voters.The ex-Brexit leader is hoping to capitalise on the Tories’ poor performance in the polls, which has seen his Reform Party now at 14 per cent, just five points behind the Conservatives.In a prickly exchange, Mr Farage said: “We have a growing number of young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values, in fact loathe much of what we stand for.”Nigel Farage revealed he had planned to run as an MP, but the early election call ruined his plans More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has announced that 18-year-olds would be made to do national service if the Tories win the general election.It is the Conservatives’ first major policy proposal since Mr Sunak hastily announced the general election in the pouring rain on Wednesday afternoon, with his party now scrambling to find some 190 candidates amid a post-war record exodus of Tory MPs.The prime minister insisted on that his plans for mandatory national service would help unite society in an “increasingly uncertain world” and give young people a “shared sense of purpose”. In an apparent pitch to older voters, Mr Sunak said that volunteering could include helping local fire, police and NHS services, as well as charities tackling loneliness and supporting elderly and isolated people.Below we look at what we know about the plans so far. How would Rishi Sunak’s National Service scheme work?Much of the detail remains unclear, with the Tories saying they would set up a royal commission bringing in expertise from across the military and civil society to establish how the scheme would work in practice.This commission would be tasked with bringing forward a proposal for how to ensure the first pilot is open for applications in September 2025, and the Tories would then seek to introduce a new “National Service Act” to make the measures compulsory by the end of the next parliament.But broadly, the party said that young people would be given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year “volunteering,” in their community.Teenagers who choose to sign up for a placement in the forces would “learn and take part in logistics, cyber security, procurement or civil response operations”, the Tories said.Rishi Sunak met with veterans at a community breakfast during a party campaign event on Saturday More

Labour Party ‘leaks Rishi Sunak’s campaign diary’ in new ad attacking gaffesSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has vowed to bring back national service for 18-year-olds to create a “renewed sense of pride in our country” if he wins the general election. Under the mandatory scheme, teenagers would be given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year volunteering in their community.Labour branded the announcement “another desperate unfunded commitment”, which would cost an estimated £2.5bn each year, while armed forces veteran Justin Crump warned the “ill-thought through” plans would place an “enormous potential burden” on Britain’s military.It comes as Wes Streeting warned striking doctors he would not meet their huge pay demands, and has vowed he would be “a shop steward for patients” as health secretary. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, the shadow health secretary spoke of his plan to tackle of record waiting lists and the ongoing pay disputes, stating: “The NHS is not the envy of the world.”Show latest update 1716734699George Osborne not planning to help Sunak’s campaign, friend saysA friend of Tory former chancellor George Osborne has poured cold water on rumours he could help Rishi Sunak’s campaign.They were quoted as telling The Times: “George thinks Rishi is hopeless. He’s always thought he doesn’t have a big political brain and that Rishi has made two big calls in his career — backing Brexit and backing Boris — and that those are the two most catastrophic things to happen to this country in the last decade.”Andy Gregory26 May 2024 15:441716733222What is mandatory National Service and how would it work as Rishi Sunak announces schemeMuch of the detail remains unclear, with the Tories saying they would set up a royal commission bringing in expertise from across the military and civil society to establish how the scheme would work in practice.This commission would be tasked with bringing forward a proposal for how to ensure the first pilot is open for applications in September 2025, and the Tories would then seek to introduce a new “National Service Act” to make the measures compulsory by the end of the next parliament.But broadly, the party said that young people would be given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year “volunteering,” in their community.Teenagers who choose to sign up for a placement in the forces would “learn and take part in logistics, cyber security, procurement or civil response operations”, the Tories said.Andy Gregory26 May 2024 15:201716732407Watch: ‘No return to austerity’ under Labour government, Rachel Reeves claims’No return to austerity’ under Labour government, Rachel Reeves claimsAndy Gregory26 May 2024 15:061716730989Sunak’s government argued on Thursday against national serviceLabour MP Richard Burgon notes that, only this week, Rishi Sunak’s government was arguing against its new policy of national service on the grounds that it “could damage morale, recruitment and retention and would consume professional military and naval resources”.Defence minister Andrew Murrison told Tory MP Mark Pritchard in a parliamentary response on Thursday – the day after Rishi Sunak called the general election – that: “The government has no current plans to reintroduce National Service. “Since 1963, when the last national servicemen were discharged, it has been the policy of successive Governments that the best way of providing for the defence of our country is by maintaining professional Armed Forces staffed by volunteers. “The demanding, increasingly technical, nature of defence today is such that we require highly trained, professional men and women in our Regular and Reserve Armed Forces, fully committed to giving their best in defending our country and its allies.“If potentially unwilling National Service recruits were to be obliged to serve alongside the professional men and women of our Armed Forces, it could damage morale, recruitment and retention and would consume professional military and naval resources. “If, on the other hand, National Service recruits were kept in separate units, it would be difficult to find a proper and meaningful role for them, potentially harming motivation and discipline. For all these reasons, there are no current plans for the restoration of any form of National Service.”Andy Gregory26 May 2024 14:431716730255Lib Dems mock Sunak’s plans for National ServiceThe Liberal Democrats responded quickly to Rishi Sunak’s plan to reintroduce National Service for school leavers with a campaign ad mocking the prime minister.With the hope of knocking down “the Tory blue wall” in the south of England, the Lib Dems posted on social media and emailed supporters a picture of General Kitchener’s famous First World War poster saying: “Your country needs you!”Lib Dem leader Ed Davey noted: “I never thought I’d be writing this. I agree with Rishi Sunak: we need millions of people to do national service.”He added: “We need millions of people to commit to serving their country in its time of need – by voting this Government out of office. I need you, Jack, to be part of our national service.“This is your moment. This is your time to sign up and to commit to a better future for our country.”David Maddox, Political Editor26 May 2024 14:301716728507Cleverly defends Sunak’s sodden election announcementThe Tories would have been criticised regardless of how they responded to the downpour that left Rishi Sunak sodden as he announced the general election, James Cleverly insisted this morning.The home secretary told Sky News: “Whatever way that we had responded to the rain, whether we’d moved the announcement, whether we had someone with an umbrella, you guys would have criticised us.”He added: “When people are going to the ballot box are they going to ask ‘was it raining when he made the announcement?’“Or are they going to ask ‘who was the person that was instrumental in the furlough programme that kept a roof over my head during Covid? Who was the person that got a grip of inflation … who was the person that started reducing the national insurance contribution’?”Andy Gregory26 May 2024 14:011716727367Sunak to miss Southampton’s Championship play-offRishi Sunak will not attend Southampton’s Championship play-off final against Leeds at Wembley Stadium on Sunday because he is meeting voters in the South East, it is understood.The Prime Minister is unable to go to the game because he is campaigning, but will be keeping a close eye on the score from afar this afternoon, sources said.Andy Gregory26 May 2024 13:421716726287Wes Streeting’s three-word formula for how Labour will governWes Streeting has set out a three word vision of the guiding philosophy of a Labour government if, as expected, it wins power on 4 July.The shadow health secretary had echoes of Tony Blair’s new Labour when he promised that his party would be “compensatory not confiscatory”.Mr Streeting was in discussion with The Independent’s editor Geordie Greig in front of an audience at the Hay Festival discussing the election, politics and his book One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up. David Maddox, Political Editor26 May 2024 13:241716725142Sunak to use key ‘levelling up’ post-EU funds to pay for national serviceRishi Sunak’s team have published “five things you need to know” on his X/Twitter account about his national service plans – which he says will partly be funded by money previously brought in to replace EU structural funding as a major part of the government’s levelling up agenda.The posts state: “Every 18-year-old will get the choice of how they do their National Service. Deciding to either serve their country in the Armed Forces or serve their community by volunteering”.This “bold new model will open up a world of opportunity” and “make sure young people in the UK get the same chance in life as their peers in allies like Sweden, Norway, Denmark and France”, he claims.He added: “Everyone will get the life-changing chance to learn from the best of the best – from the men and women of our Armed Forces, our inspirational NHS staff or the fire service. Gaining skills for life in everything from cyber to leadership.”Andy Gregory26 May 2024 13:051716723321Sunak’s national service scheme would be ‘enormous burden’ on military, veteran warnsRishi Sunak’s national service plans are “ill-thought through” and would be an “enormous potential burden” on Britain’s military, a military veteran of 25 years has warned.“From the military point of view, this is an enormous potential burden,” Justin Crump told Sky News. “It’s certainly not the solution to the military’s problems and I think everyone I’ve spoken to this morning still has their head in their hands slightly in the same way.“I think the aspiration is meritous around the fragmentation of society and the role of service within that and duty, which of course everyone in the armed forces ardently supports. “I think though the scheme, the idea of putting people towards the military for just a year, and the way it’s been described, is very ill-thought through. It would provide a huge distraction of what the military needs to do at the moment and doesn’t address its core funding needs – in fact it makes it worse.“So it’s very close to the sort of thing people might like to see, but I just think the military component of it feels very ill-thought through by comparison. And particularly, the very stark difference between spending a year in the military or spending two weekends a month closer to home.“Those are the big areas that have us scratching our heads a little bit at this point.”Andy Gregory26 May 2024 12:35 More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster email All 18-year-olds in Britain will have to perform a year of mandatory military or civilian national service if the governing Conservative Party wins the July 4 national election, the party said Sunday.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to bring back a form of national service for the first time in more than 60 years, seeking to energize his election campaign after a faltering start.The U.K. introduced military conscription for men and some women during World War II, and imposed 18 months of mandatory military service for men between 1947 and 1960. Since then Britain has had an all-volunteer military whose size has steadily shrunk.Under the plan, a small minority of 18-year-olds — 30,000 out of an estimated 700,000 — would spend 12 months in the military, working in areas such as logistics or cyber defense. The rest would spend one weekend a month working for charities, community groups, or organizations such as hospitals, the police and the fire service.Sunak said the program would help “create a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country.”It remains unclear how it will be made compulsory. Home Secretary James Cleverly said no one would be forced to serve in the military.Cleverly said Sunday that the main goal of the new plan was not boosting the military but building “a society where people mix with people outside their own communities, mix with people from different backgrounds, different religions, different income levels.”The Conservatives estimated the cost of the national service plan at 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) a year. They said it would be paid for partly by taking 1.5 billion pounds ($1.9 billion) from the U.K. Shared Prosperity Fund, which was set up in 2022 to regenerate poor communities.Labour said the national service announcement was a “desperate 2.5 billion pound unfunded commitment” from a party “bankrupt of ideas.”Former Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the Tory plan amounted to “compulsory volunteering” and predicted “it’ll never happen.”Elections in the United Kingdom have to be held no more than five years apart. The prime minister can choose the timing within that period and Sunak, 44, had until December to name the date.He took most people – including those in his own party – by surprise when he announced on Wednesday that the election would be held on July 4. The Conservatives, who have been in office for 14 years, are trailing the opposition Labour Party led by Keir Starmer in opinion polls and are trying to overcome a widespread sense that voters want change.Sunak’s election announcement outside 10 Downing Street saw him drenched with rain and drowned out by protesters blasting a Labour campaign song. One of his first campaign stops was at the Belfast shipyard where the doomed ocean liner Titanic was built — another detail seized on gleefully by opponents. Voters will elect lawmakers to fill all 650 seats in the House of Commons. The leader of the party that can command a Commons majority – either alone or in coalition – will become prime minister. More

Labour Party ‘leaks Rishi Sunak’s campaign diary’ in new ad attacking gaffesSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has vowed to bring back national service for 18-year-olds to create a “renewed sense of pride in our country” if he wins the general election. Under the mandatory scheme, teenagers would be given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year volunteering in their community.Sir Keir’s party branded the announcement “another desperate unfunded commitment”, which would cost an estimated £2.5bn each year. It comes as Wes Streeting warned striking doctors he would not meet their huge pay demands, and has vowed he would be “a shop steward for patients” as health secretary. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, he spoke of his plan to tackle of record waiting lists and the ongoing pay disputes, stating: “The NHS is not the envy of the world.”Sir Keir Starmer has also sought to question why voters should have trust in Rishi Sunak’s general election proposals if Michael Gove appears to have “lost faith” in the PM by joining the record exodus of Tory MPs.Sir Keir also confirmed he wanted to lower the voting age to 16.Show latest update 1716690600Number of migrants passes 10,000 in blow for Rishi SunakMore than 10,000 migrants are thought to have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the Channel, in a blow to the prime minister who has made “stopping the boats” a flagship promise.Migrants, including several children, were brought ashore in Dover, Kent, on Friday.As of Thursday, 9,882 people had made the journey from France this year, according to provisional Home Office figures.This is up 35% on the number recorded this time last year (7,297) and 6% higher than the same point in 2022 (9,326), according to PA news agency analysis of the data.The latest arrivals suggest at least around 130 migrants arrived in the UK on Friday, indicating the number crossing the Channel for 2024 to date has hit 10,000, and more were seen making the journey as the day continued.Holly Evans26 May 2024 03:301716688800Starmer defends New Deal ‘rebrand’ after union backlashSir Keir Starmer has defended Labour’s decision to rebrand its package of workers’ rights pledges following a backlash from one of the UK’s biggest trade unions.The party leader denied he was weakening policies on areas like zero-hours contracts, parental leave and sick pay after Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the plans had “more holes than Swiss cheese”.It comes after the latest flare-up in a row over Labour’s New Deal for Working People, following reports it would go through a formal consultation process with businesses – potentially delaying or toning down the pledges.Read the full article here: Holly Evans26 May 2024 03:001716687000Jeremy Corbyn’s constituents give views on re-election campaign as independentJeremy Corbyn’s constituents give views on re-election campaignJeremy Corbyn’s Islington North constituents have given their views on their MP after he announced he would stand as an independent candidate in the general election. The former Labour leader was suspended by the party in 2020 after he refused to fully accept the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s findings that the party broke equality law when he was in charge. Mr Corbyn has now been banished from the party after announcing he will stand as an independent. Labour has selected Praful Nargund to stand against Mr Corbyn, who has held the seat for more than 40 years.Holly Evans26 May 2024 02:301716685200What makes a great Labour leader – and does Starmer have what it takes?If Keir Starmer wins on 4 July, he will be only the seventh Labour prime minister in the party’s history. Each of his predecessors has brought their own character to the office. Read the full analysis from John Rentoul here: Holly Evans26 May 2024 02:001716683400Watch: Starmer says Labour will give 16-year-olds right to voteStarmer says Labour will give 16-year-olds right to voteHolly Evans26 May 2024 01:301716681600All the MPs standing down at general election as Michael Gove joins the exodusThe UK will go to the polls in July after Rishi Sunak announced the date for the next general election – but scores of high-profile MPs will not be facing the electorate after deciding to stand down.Housing secretary Michael Gove and former business secretary Andrea Leadsom became the latest Tory MPs to announce they would not contest the next election, as the number of Conservative MPs deciding to stand aside hit a new post-war record. In his letter to constituents, Mr Gove cited the “toll” of public office as he said it was time to let “a new generation lead” following a political career spanning nearly 20 years.Read the full article here: Holly Evans26 May 2024 01:001716679800SNP will stand against ‘twin threats’ of austerity and privatisation John Swinney has said the SNP will stand against the “twin threats” of austerity and privatisation, as his party campaigns on public services.The SNP will seek to focus on investing in the NHS and other public services over the coming week of General Election campaigning.On Saturday, the First Minister visited several constituencies around Scotland as part of the SNP’s first national “day of action”.He said the Conservatives and Labour had both embraced austerity.Mr Swinney said: “Ensuring the NHS remains in public hands will be one of the defining debates of this General Election – and the SNP will do whatever we can to protect Scotland from the creeping privatisation and cuts agenda supported by the Westminster parties.“I am deeply alarmed at the language that is coming out of Westminster on the health service – and my pledge to the people of Scotland is that the Scottish Government and the SNP will play no part in it.”Holly Evans26 May 2024 00:301716678000Boris Johnson to be abroad for majority of election campaign The former prime minister has a series of pre-arranged trips over the coming weeks which he will not be cancelling, which ranges from speaking engagements to personal holidays. The Telegraph reports that these were all pre-arranged before the announcement came of the general election, with Mr Johnson categorically ruling out standing in the next election. Boris Johnson will be out largely of the country during the election campaign More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailWes Streeting has vowed he will be “a shop steward for patients” as health secretary, with a warning to striking doctors that he will not meet their huge pay demands of 35 percent.With an election on 4 July, Mr Streeting has attempted to outline what sort of health secretary he would be if Labour, as expected, is victorious but takes power in the face of record waiting lists caused by the Covid pandemic and exacerbated by ongoing pay disputes.And he comes with a message on why things need to change: “The NHS is not the envy of the world.”The shadow health secretary was speaking to The Independent ahead of appearing at the Hay Festival this weekend in conversation with Independent editor Geordie Greig about his biography One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up.Mr Streeting insisted that the book is “not my Obama book” in the way it is meant to promote him as a future leader.Wes Streeting hopes that soon he will be the new health secretary More