UK

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has been warned his “stick to the plan” slogan is useless because voters feel worse off than when the Conservatives came to power in 2010.The prime minister has been told that repeatedly contrasting his own “plan” with Labour, who he says will take the country “back to square one”, will likely backfire.“Most people would really quite like to go back to square one instead,” pollster Luke Tryl, of More in Common, told The Independent.Rishi Sunak has been warned his ‘stick to the plan’ mantra will not win over voters who feel worse off His warning came after polling the country on the infamous so-called “Reagan question”, to find out whether the public feel better off than when David Cameron entered Downing Street 14 years ago.Ronald Reagan asked voters during a debate in the final week of the 1980 US presidential election if they were “better off today than you were four years ago”. Mr Reagan’s rival, then-incumbent Jimmy Carter, saw his polling numbers plummet and Mr Reagan won by a huge margin.And More in Common’s latest poll, seen by The Independent, showed voters in the UK also feel worse off with the general election looming. More than half of the public say they are worse off than they were 14 years ago, with just a quarter saying they feel better off.Meanwhile, 48 per cent of those who backed the Tories under Boris Johnson in 2019 say they feel poorer, with just a third of Conservatives saying they feel better off than 14 years ago.As well as the public themselves feeling poorer, eight in 10 voters said they think the country as a whole is worse off than 14 years ago, with only one in 10 saying it is better off.Mr Tryl told The Independent: “Asked Ronald Reagan’s famous maxim of whether they are better, voters across the board answer that both they and the country are worse off than they were 14 years ago when the Tories took over.Mr Sunak has claimed that Sir Keir Starmer will take the country ‘back to square one’ “That is the fundamental problem the Tories face with trying to convince the public to ‘stick with the plan’ – most people would really quite like to go back to square one instead.”Mr Sunak has repeatedly urged voters to “stick” with the Tories in the next general election – saying that while his party was now “starting to deliver”, putting Labour into power would “take the UK back to square one”.The poll comes after Mr Sunak ruled out a snap election on 2 May amid mounting speculation in Westminster that he wanted to coincide with the local elections.Mr Sunak did not indicate when the election would be called, but Downing Street sources told The Independent that the date has been pencilled in for 10 October.Polls have repeatedly put the Conservatives on course for a landslide defeat, with Sir Keir comfortably on course to win the keys to No 10 Downing Street.And a poll on Friday will add to the headache facing Mr Sunak. British Polling Council member PeoplePolling found the Tories were backed by just 18 per cent of voters, 28 points behind Labour on 46 per cent of the vote.With Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on 13 per cent, it would spell electoral oblivion for the party, likely setting them on course to lose hundreds of seats.The Conservatives declined to comment. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailBoris Johnson’s secret trip to meet Venezuela’s autocratic president Nicolas Maduro last month was paid for by a hedge fund that stands to gain from improved relations between the West and the Latin American republic, it has been claimed.The former prime minister was accompanied on the visit by Maarten Petermann, the founder of Merlyn Advisors, for which he works as a paid consultant.Mr Johnson took time out from a holiday in the Caribbean to travel by private jet for the talks, and Mr Peterman sat in on discussions with the president, The Sunday Times reported.Boris Johnson’s spokesman said the visit was to ‘emphasise the need for Venezuela to embrace a proper democratic process’ He has said the talks were to “emphasise the need for Venezuela to embrace a proper democratic process”.A spokesman for Mr Johnson also said he “set out the case for the cause of Ukrainian victory to the government of Venezuela.”And they said the ex-PM “repeatedly made clear there can be no hope of normalisation in relations until Venezuela fully embraces democracy and respects the territorial integrity of its neighbours”.The UK does not accept the legitimacy of Mr Maduro’s administration, with the president having been in power for 11 years.But Mr Johnson did not mention that the trip was funded by Merlyn and that he has been paid for consultancy work and speeches by the firm, or that Mr Petermann had accompanies him.But The Sunday Times reported that Mr Petermann, a former senior banker at the investment bank JP Morgan, sat in on his talks with the Venezuelan president.Mr Petermann has privately expressed frustration at the state of relations with Venezuela, warning that it would drive Mr Maduro into the hands of hostile countries such as Russia.Sources told The Sunday Times Mr Petermann has repeatedly raised his inability to trade the country’s sovereign debt, the buying and selling of which was banned under Trump-era US sanctions designed to force Mr Maduro from office.And, describing the exchange between Mr Johnson and Mr Maduro, one told the paper: “It was a robust exchange which focused entirely on democracy and human rights and Ukraine. The Chavistas have banned their principal opponent Maria Corina Machado from appearing on the ballot paper. Boris Johnson told Maduro that in a democracy the people, not politicians, decide who should be elected.“He said there was no hope of normalisation with the West as long as she was off the ballot paper. Maduro said she was a traitor who sided with the United States. Boris said it should be up to the people to judge.”Mr Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but only after judges banned his main opponents from taking part, a move which plunged the country into a severe political and economic crisis.Nicolas Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but only after judges banned his main opponents from taking part Since then, Venezuela has come under intense international pressure to hold a free and fair election.Tensions were also inflamed last year when the country claimed sovereignty over a disputed oil-and-mineral-rich area of neighbouring Guyana.The UK minister for the Americas and Caribbean, David Rutley, met with Guyanese president Irfaan Ali in December to stress the government’s backing for the former British colony.Foreign secretary Lord Cameron was told of the summit via text message when Mr Johnson was already en route.Boris Johnson and Merlyn Advisors have been contacted for comment. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA number of factions of the Conservative Party are reported to have held discussions about replacing Rishi Sunak as prime minister – and uniting around Penny Mordaunt instead.In a desperate bid to boost their dire electoral prospects, MPs on the Tory right have met with both moderates and members of Ms Mordaunt’s team this week, according to The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail.The mutinous Tories are said to have discussed replacing the prime minister in a “coronation” following a no-confidence vote, as opposed to putting their party and country through another leadership contest ahead of the looming general election, after Mr Sunak finally ruled out a May ballot.Mutinous Tories are said to have discussed replacing the prime minister in a ‘coronation’ following a no-confidence voteThey are said to be hoping that a new cabinet resignation will trigger the collapse of Mr Sunak’s premiership and usher in the party’s fourth leader since the last election – despite the fact that the recent departure of moderate-turned-hardliner Robert Jenrick from his post as immigration minister failed to inspire others to follow suit.The outlook among Tory MPs darkened this week after the Budget failed to make a dent in polling, which has recently put support for their party at a 40-year low, and as No 10 struggled to deal with the fallout from allegations that racist remarks were made by major donor Frank Hester. Mr Sunak eventually condemned the comments as “racist and wrong” after cabinet ministers broke ranks to do so.Some Tory MPs were baffled by Mr Sunak’s speech on extremism outside No 10 following George Galloway’s by-election victory, while others were exasperated by his failure to anticipate former deputy chair Lee Anderson’s defection to Reform, claimed GB News, quoting one as saying: “The sad reality is he’s just not very good at politics.”A source on the Tory right told the Telegraph: “Some Right-wing MPs met with Team Penny this week, where they expressed the view they were prepared to back her. They take the view that Penny is preferable to Rishi Sunak right now.”The source added: “Penny Mordaunt is now seen as the most likely person to stem the losses.” Ms Mordaunt, currently the leader of the House of Commons, was the last to fall to Mr Sunak and eventual victor Liz Truss in the 2021 Tory leadership race, since when her profile has been somewhat boosted by her sword-wielding role in the coronation.Penny Mordaunt carrying the sword of state at the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023 A spokesperson for Ms Mordaunt told the paper: “Penny is getting on with the job of serving the nation as leader of the House of Commons and serving her constituents in Portsmouth North.”While Ms Mordaunt has previously lacked the support of some Tory right-wingers who view her as too liberal on transgender rights, despite her protestations to the contrary, a rebel source claimed a deal was emerging in which they could support her if she “sub-contracts” the issue to them, according to the Telegraph.“The mood has shifted a long way this week,” the source said. “There is a feeling that we cannot go on as we are, and that even Penny would be better. “She would have to allow social policy to be set by others, but if you got over that hurdle, you could see the right prepared to swing behind her if it was the only way to get rid of Rishi and avoid a contest.”A former minister on the moderate wing of the party also told the paper that replacing Mr Sunak was becoming “much more likely” – and that Ms Mordaunt was the only candidate the party could unite around without a contest.The source said: “Until very recently, I thought the idea of changing leader again was ridiculous. But No 10’s handling of some recent events has been so astonishingly bad that I think it is becoming much more likely to happen.”Last week, Ms Mordaunt overtook fellow leadership favourite Kemi Badenoch to top the cabinet popularity rankings in the Conservative Home website’s regular survey of Tory members for the first time since June 2019, when she was defence secretary. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailDiane Abbott was offered the Labour whip back but refused because she would have had to undergo antisemitism training, The Independent has been told.An investigation into the long-serving black MP has been ongoing since her suspension last April following an article she wrote about Jewish people, with pressure mounting on the party over why it has been taking so long.But sources from the left and right of the Labour Party have told The Independent that the investigation is dragging on in part because of Ms Abbott’s own refusal to compromise.The revelation comes as senior Labour figures have rallied around Ms Abbott in the wake of a racism row involving the Conservative Party’s biggest donor, who said the MP made him “hate all black women” and that she should be shot.Abbott had the whip suspended last April after writing a letter suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minoritiesShadow deputy leader Angela Rayner and mother of the House Harriet Harman are among those who have said they want her allowed back into the party.Ms Abbott had the whip suspended last April after writing a letter suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minorities.She immediately apologised and said the letter published in The Observer had been an “initial draft” sent by mistake.According to sources, Ms Abbott was offered the opportunity to have the whip restored if she offered a “more fulsome” apology and took an antisemitism awareness course. One said this led to her doing a “reverse ferret” after her initial apology, and said she would not apologise or undertake the requested training.“And that is why this has been going on for 10 months and not 25 minutes,” a shadow minister told The Independent. Another MP on the left of the party added: “I don’t know why she didn’t just do it.” Ms Abbott said “key aspects” of what The Independent was told were wrong, but did not offer any more detail: “I cannot disclose details of this process because, under Labour rules, that would be another disciplinary offence.” She also repeated a claim she has made previously that the Labour investigation is “fraudulent”. In her contested letter she stated that Jewish, Irish and traveller communities have experienced “prejudice”, but added: “This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable.”Ms Abbott had added: “It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism.”Angela Rayner said on Thursday she would like to see Abbott back in the Labour Party The investigation into Ms Abbott is ongoing, with Labour refusing to explain why it is taking so long or when it will be completed.Supporters of Ms Abbott, who was elected MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington in 1987, believe the probe is being used to force her out at the next election. If her suspension remains in place when the election is called, Labour’s national executive committee will have to decide whether she can stand or to impose a new candidate.Another shadow minister told The Independent Ms Abbott was being “stubborn” and that the party was “desperate to do a deal with her”. The figure said the Labour leadership wants to bring her back into the parliamentary party as long as she agrees to “bow out gracefully” at the next general election, a compromise they believe will allow her to stand as a Labour MP “with her legacy intact”.Ms Abbott has given no indication that she intends to stand down at the next election.Pressure has been growing on Sir Keir Starmer to restore the whip after the alleged comments by the Tories’ biggest donor Frank Hester. Mr Hester, who is believed to have given the party £15m in the past year, said looking at Ms Abbott “makes you want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”, a Guardian investigation found.Labour leader Keir Starmer has dampened hopes of an imminent return to the party for Abbott Ms Rayner spoke out on Thursday in support of Ms Abbott, adding to calls from across the political spectrum: “Personally I would like to see Diane back. But the Labour Party has to follow its procedures… so it does not matter what I think.”Ms Harman has called for the investigation into the suspension to be sped up, admitting that the processes can sometimes be slow, while former shadow chancellor Ed Balls and Tony Blair’s former political secretary John McTernan called for Sir Keir to restore the whip.Ms Abbott told The Independent: “I cannot disclose details of this process because, under Labour rules, that would be another disciplinary offence. But your sources are wrong in key respects. Yet their claims also show that the investigation process is fraudulent. The Labour Party has used this sham in an effort to bully me.”She also implied on X/Twitter that she doesn’t think she will ever get the whip back, claiming Labour’s “real agenda” is to force her out.On Thursday, Sir Keir would not be drawn on whether or not Ms Abbott, who currently sits as an independent, could expect to become a Labour MP again, saying only that the 10-month investigation into her alleged antisemitic remarks was “not resolved”.The Labour leader said she was a trailblazer and described the language allegedly used by Mr Hester as “abhorrent”, but he told BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine that allowing the MP back into the party was an “entirely different issue”.“That was about allegations of antisemitism in relation to a letter… which is subject to an ongoing investigation, which is separate from me. That’s not something which I conduct.”Labour did not respond to The Independent’s request for comment. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailSadiq Khan has warned that new voter ID rules could prevent him from being re-elected as London mayor.In just six weeks, Londoners will head to the ballot box and vote for who they would like to see running the capital for the next four years.The latest YouGov/Mile End Institute Poll has Mr Khan with a substantial lead of 49 per cent compared to his closest rival, Conservative Susan Hall on 24 per cent.Despite the commanding lead, Mr Khan writes in The Independent that changes to the voting system to select the mayor and rules meaning you have to bring an approved form of ID to vote could scupper his chances of re-election on 2 May. In previous mayoral elections you would be able to get a first and second choice for mayor, however this time you will only get one vote.Mr Khan writes: “This means a vote for any party other than Labour only makes it more likely that Londoners end up with a Tory Mayor.”Londoners will head to the ballot box in just six weeks The London mayor also displayed concerns that new rules that mean voters have to bring photographic ID in order to cast their choice at the ballot box could also negatively impact his chances.He said: “New rules making it compulsory to have an approved form of ID – a deliberate attempt to reduce turnout – also puts the election on a knife-edge. “Analysis shows more than 900,000 Londoners – likely to include large numbers of young people and those from minority communities – might not have valid ID and will thus be barred from exercising their democratic right to vote. “At the last London Mayoral election, in 2021, I was less than five per cent ahead after the first round of voting. These are the finer margins we’ll now be dealing with.”Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall Mr Khan has urged supporters of rival progressive parties, such as the Green Party and Liberal Democrats, to back him to keep the Tories out of power in the capital.He added: “I am asking for their help so that we don’t wake up in six weeks’ time to find our city’s cherished values at serious risk with a hardline Conservative in City Hall.“I’ve always stood up for London’s open, outward-looking, pro-European and anti-racist values – as well as for climate science, women’s rights, our diversity, our LGBTQI+ community, and liberal democracy.Mr Khan went on to attack his main rival Ms Hall, claiming that she “supported a hard Brexit” and voted against his initiatives to deal with air pollution and climate change.He added: “We must protect the gains we’ve made and the modern, plural, inclusive outlook that makes London the greatest city in the world. “But to do that, I’m asking Lib Dems and Greens to lend me their votes, using their first and only choice at this election. This is the only way we can safeguard everything that makes London so special and continue building a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailNHS Dumfries and Galloway has been hit by a cyber attack, with the health board saying a “significant quantity” of data has been put at risk and services could potentially be disrupted.In a statement posted to its website on Friday, the board said the attack was “focused and ongoing” and the files accessed could include “patient-identifiable and staff-identifiable data”, with NHS workers and the public encouraged to “be on their guard”.The nature of the attack is currently unclear, but Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish Government is offering support to the board.The health board’s statement said: “NHS Dumfries and Galloway has been the target of a focused and ongoing cyber attack.“This prompted a swift response in line with our established protocols, working with partner agencies including Police Scotland, the National Cyber Security Agency and the Scottish Government.There is a risk that hackers have been able to acquire a significant quantity of dataNHS Dumfries and Galloway“There may be some disruption to services as a result of this situation.“During these incursions into our systems, there is a risk that hackers have been able to acquire a significant quantity of data.“Work is continuing together with cyber security agencies to investigate what data may have been accessed, but we have reason to believe that this could include patient-identifiable and staff-identifiable data.“Breach of confidential data is an incredibly serious matter. We are encouraging everyone, staff and public, to be on their guard for any attempt to access their systems or approaches from anyone claiming to be in possession of data relating to them.”Police Scotland confirmed the attack had taken place.Mr Gray said: “I am aware that NHS Dumfries and Galloway has been affected by an ongoing cyber attack.“Scottish Government officials have been in close contact with the board, Police Scotland and other partners. including the National Crime Agency and NHS National Services Scotland (NSS).“There are well established procedures for dealing with a situation of this kind. We are providing assistance and support to NHS Dumfries and Galloway as they handle this incident, and NHS NSS is engaging with the rest of NHS Scotland and providing updates as necessary.”A spokeswoman from the National Cyber Security Centre said: “We are working with law enforcement, NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government to fully understand the impact of an incident.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailPressure continues to mount on the government to return a £10 million donation from business mogul Frank Hester following the resurfacing of racist and sexist remarks targeting Diane Abbott.Hester, chief executive of The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), which has won more than £400m in government and NHS contracts, allegedly made derogatory comments about Abbott during a 2019 company meeting, suggesting she “should be shot”.The comments, brought to light by The Guardian newspaper, prompted Hester to admit to being “rude about Diane Abbott,” although he vehemently denied accusations of racism.Leading Tory figures have condemned the language used by the Conservative donor, who gave the party £10m in 2023.However, Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake asserted that retaining the donation was justifiable since Hester “is not a racist” and had issued an apology.In contrast, Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, voiced his support for returning the donation.While the Tory party appear divided on what to do with the funds, Independent readers were largely united on the issue when we put the question to them this week.Here’s what you had to say: ‘Give all his donations to anti-racist charities’By accepting it in the first place the Tories demonstrated their lack of judgement and morals. Hester has a reputation for making this type of comment about people he dislikes. They should tell this odious little man they won’t accept his money and give all his donations to anti-racist charities.Stardust‘An inquiry needs to happen immediately’The money should never have been accepted in the first place because the money comes from profits on taxpayer funded contracts. Surely the Tories knew this? An inquiry into party funding needs to happen immediately, but the tories won’t call one because they need all the money they can get to campaign in an election they’ll likely lose.As for Hester’s comments, he needs to be held to account for inciting racial and gender violence. Let’s see what the police do about it, nothing I suspect.Tabbers‘They need it to cling to power’They will not give the money back as they need it in a desperate effort to cling to power. Hopefully, the electorate will see through them and oust them when the election eventually comes.Rob‘A moral obligation to donate’Returning the money to Hester is out of the question but donating it to charity, particularly one that combats racism, is a moral obligation. Of course, the Tories will keep it because decency and integrity are not currency in their world.IanHall‘It should be illegal’Given that his profits come from contracts awarded to him by the Tories, the money he gave to the Tories originated with the taxpayer. This is typical Johnson-era malfeasance. In other words corruption. It should be illegal. In fact, it probably is, but as usual in this country, Westminster will turn a blind eye to the malpractices of its own.TrussedUpTurkeys‘Their credentials are clear’If the Tories don’t either return the money OR donate it to some good causes including those in Hackney, then their credentials are clear. Be as racist and insulting as you like. We will forgive and forget if you give enough money to the Conservative Party.voxtrot‘Return the money’Return the money and use it to support services in Abbott’s constituency.And then an independent inquiry into lobbying. It makes a mockery of the democratic process.stoniaSome of the comments have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.The conversation isn’t over – there’s still time to have your say. If you want to share your opinion then add it in the comments of this story.All you have to do is sign up, submit your question and register your details – then you can then take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen.Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment click here. More