By election results live: Tories ‘doomed to lose power’ without change of course, warns Lord Frost
Rishi Sunak should ditch green policies, says Tory peer
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Your support makes all the difference.Rishi Sunak is “doomed to lose power” if he does not change course ahead of the next general election, a Conservative peer has said.
Lord David Frost, the former Brexit negotiator, pointed to Labour’s defeat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip as evidence green policies are not popular as he called on the prime minister to ditch net zero goals.
In a direct rebuke of Mr Sunak’s five priorities for government, Lord Frost argued that the Tories’ two by-election defeats showed that “sticking to the plan” was not working.
The peer, who supported Liz Truss’s leadership campaign and has announced he will stand as an MP, said Mr Sunak needed to give the public “something to vote for” as he called for tax cuts.
“Getting inflation down is important but won’t be enough,” he wrote in The Daily Telegraph. “There is still time to change course, but it is running out.”
Elsewhere, Keir Starmer is delivering a speech to his party’s national policy forum this morning following, with Ulez and the controversial U-turn on child benefits police are likely to be discussed over the weekend.
Starmer: Lets roll up our sleeves and fix the fundamentals
At the start of a weekend discussing Labour policy, Starmer says he wants the party to “roll up its sleeves” and fix the “fundamentals.”
He described the national policy forum as the “messy business of democracy” and that he understands the importance of representative politics.
“I understand that a lot of work has gone into this already and I thank you again for it,” he says.
Starmer: We must win power first to enact change
Starmer says that Labour must first win power if it wants to enact change.
He says that winning elections is his “ultimate duty” and that the language of Labour’s priorities should be its “religion”.
“Only by the possession of power can you get the priorities correct”.
Economic stability ‘always an imperative'
Starmer says economic stability will be at the forefront of many debates this weekend.
He says it is imperative to get the country back on track and key to the party’s electoral chances next year.
“It is always an imperative”. It is working people who will “pay the price” if the economy is not managed properly, he adds.
Starmer: fundamental reform the economy needed
Starmer reiterates Labour’s plans for cheaper, cleaner energy and making the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7.
Achieving those aims, in the current economic climate, would be a success akin to creating the NHS in 1945, he adds.
He said fundamental reforms are needed in the UK’s economy.
'The Tories are watching us'
Starmer wraps up by saying that Labour’s plan is a long-term one and that spending commitments must always be funded.
He says fiscal responsibility must form the bedrock of all conversations over the weekend for “two reasons”.
“One, because the Tories are watching us, looking for us to slip up...two, because, in the end, power is a partnership...that is the only way to govern our country”.
For Rishi Sunak, two out of three ain’t bad – it’s a disaster
Much has been said and written about Thursday’s by-election results and what they could mean for each party’s prospects at the general election.
Does the Conservatives’ win in Uxbridge show that not all is lost for Rishi Sunak?
“By-elections are a funny old business,” writes Tom Peck. “On the face of it, these results say Sunak will be trounced by Starmer next year. But beware the pernicious pong of Ulez and the lurking ghost of ‘long Boris’...”
Read Tom’s full piece here:
For Rishi Sunak, two out of three ain’t bad – it’s terrible | Tom Peck
By-elections are a funny old business, writes Tom Peck. On the face of it, these results say Sunak will be trounced by Starmer next year. But beware the pernicious pong of Ulez and the lurking ghost of ‘long Boris’...
Blair leads tributes to Labour MP Ann Clwyd
Sir Tony Blair has led tributes to former Labour MP Ann Clwyd who has died at the age of 86.
She represented the Cynon Valley constituency in South Wales for 35 years, becoming the oldest woman to sit in the House of Commons before standing down in 2019.
"Ann was a courageous, fearless, principled political campaigner, whose politics remained steadfastly wedded to representation of the poor and oppressed wherever in the world she found them.
"She didn’t flinch from speaking her mind, no matter what the personal or political cost.
"She fought the case of those employed in the coal industry, persuading my government to correct the failure to compensate former miners for the ill health they suffered through mining.
"She was a stalwart campaigner for better healthcare, typically using her own experience to advocate on behalf of others.
"And having spent a large part of her life standing up against the brutal repression of the Kurdish people in Iraq, she supported the removal of Saddam Hussein, not only when it was relatively easy to do so, but when the going got tough.
"I admired her enormously and am deeply sorry at her passing. A remarkable woman with an outstanding record of service to others."
Rishi Sunak urged not to escalate culture wars in bid to avoid Tory annihilation
Rishi Sunak is facing calls from within his own party not to escalate culture wars that divide the electorate as he eyes policies on small boats and crime in a bid to avoid electoral annihilation.
Government sources made clear the prime minister intended to have “crunchier” political arguments around areas such as immigration, where the Conservatives believe Labour are weak, in the months ahead.
But they indicated he would shy away from a fight on trans rights, a move which risks disappointing the right of his party.
Kate Devlin reports:
Rishi Sunak urged not to escalate culture wars in bid to avoid Tory annihilation
Government sources say the prime minister intends to have tougher political arguments over issues such as immigration in coming months
Will the Ulez be a factor in next year’s general election?
The Uxbridge by-election may well have been decided on the question of the Ulez expansion. Sean O’Grady asks what this means for the parties in 2024:
Will the Ulez be a factor in next year’s general election?
The Uxbridge by-election may well have been decided on the question of the Ulez expansion. Sean O’Grady asks what this means for the parties in 2024
I knew Labour was going to lose Uxbridge – I was there. They want Boris back
I was in Uxbridge last week and I thought a Labour win improbable, writes Tanya Gold. Why? The locals are still in love with their departed hero and long for him to return
Read Tanya’s piece in full below:
I knew Labour was going to lose Uxbridge – they want Boris back | Tanya Gold
I was in Uxbridge last week and I thought a Labour win improbable, writes Tanya Gold. Why? The locals are still in love with their departed hero and long for him to return
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