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Badenoch challenged to sack Jenrick after he suggests Tories and Reform UK wish to shape ‘coalition’ sooner than election
Good morning. Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs these days and, given her enthusiasm for speaking about trans problems – her Commons efficiency in this the day past were given rave opinions in rightwing circles – it’s exhausting to consider that she received’t need to revist this at midday these days. As the Today programme’s interview with Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay confirmed this morning, UK politics continues to be caught with the ‘can a woman have a penis?’ query. (More on that later.) But there’s every other query at the desk this morning about whether or not two binary opposites fit. Can you be a Conservative when you’ve were given a Nigel Farage?
This has revived as a subject matter because of a excellent scoop by way of Sam Coates at Sky News. He has bought a recording of Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary and runner-up within the remaining Tory management contest, pronouncing that, if the Conservative celebration has now not observed off the danger from Reform UK by the point of the following election, “one way or another” the 2 events must shape some form of electoral coalition.
Jenrick made the remarks when talking to a UCL Conservative affiliation dinner in past due March. According to Coates’ record, Jenrick mentioned:
[Reform UK] continues to do smartly within the polls. And my concern is they turn into one of those everlasting or semi-permanent fixture at the British political scene. And if that’s the case – and I say, I’m looking to do the entirety I will be able to to forestall that being the case – then lifestyles turns into so much tougher for us, since the proper isn’t united.
And you then head against the overall election, the place the nightmare situation is that Keir Starmer sails in in the course of the center because of the 2 events being disunited. I don’t find out about you, however I’m now not ready for that to occur.
I need the best to be united. And so, a method or every other, I’m made up our minds to do this and to convey this coalition in combination and ensure we unite as a country as smartly.
No different member of the shadow cupboard has been reasonably this particular concerning the want for a Tory/Reform UK coalition. Jenrick certified this by way of pronouncing that he didn’t need Reform UK to turn into an enduring fixture of British politics, however there’s virtually nobody in Westminster politics who thinks Farage’s celebration goes to fizzle out sooner than the following election, and so when Jenrick talks cases the place a coalition can be wanted, he isn’t floating some outlandish hypothetical; he’s speaking about what he expects to occur.
And Jenrick isn’t just any member of the shadow cupboard. According to the newest ConservativeHome survey, he’s by way of some distance the preferred shadow cupboard minister with celebration participants, and co-workers imagine is is actively making ready for every other bid for the management.
Kemi Badenoch has dominated out doing an electoral care for Reform UK. But there are lots of other people within the celebration who suppose that her place is unrealistic and who would accept as true with Jenrick, or with Greg Smith, the shadow trade minister, who mentioned remaining month that on the subsequent election the Tories and Reform UK would possibly have “play nicely” in combination.
In his tale, Coates quotes a “source close to Jenrick” pronouncing: “Rob’s comments are about voters and not parties. He’s clear we have to put Reform out of business and make the Conservatives the natural home for all those on the right.” But that is simply an try to deny that Jenrick mentioned what he did; the that means of his on-the-record feedback is obvious.
Labour and the Conservatives are each pronouncing that, if Badenoch does now not sack Jenrick, she will likely be implying that she has the same opinion with him. Ellie Reeves, the Labour celebration chair, mentioned:
Kemi Badenoch must urgently come blank as as to whether she backs her shadow justice secretary in doing grubby offers with Reform in the back of the voters’s again or if she is going to rule it out.
If she disagrees with Robert Jenrick, how can her management have any credibility while he stays in her shadow cupboard?
We know Kemi Badenoch has opened the door to offers with Reform at a neighborhood degree, which Labour has categorically dominated out and now Robert Jenrick has let the cat out the bag. Between the Tories who decimated the NHS and Reform who need to make other people pay for regimen remedies, it’s a recipe for chaos and can be a crisis for Britain.
And Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem deputy chief, mentioned:
The cat is out of the bag, senior Conservatives are plotting a grubby election care for Nigel Farage.
Kemi Badenoch will have to sack Robert Jenrick now if she’s eager about ruling out a pact with Reform. Anything much less would display she’s both too susceptible to sack him or that she has the same opinion.
Here is the time table for the day.
9.15am: Heidi Alexander, the delivery secretary, provides proof to the Commons delivery committee.
9.45am: John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, chairs a gathering in Glasgow on democratic values.
Noon: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs.
Also, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is in Washington for the IMF spring conferences. And David Lammy, the overseas secretary, is web hosting talks on Ukrain in London. Martin Belam is overlaying this on our Ukraine reside weblog.
If you need to touch me, please submit a message beneath the road when feedback are open (typically between 10am and 3pm these days), or message me on social media. I will be able to’t learn all of the messages BTL, however when you put “Andrew” in a message aimed toward me, I’m much more likely to look it as a result of I seek for posts containing that phrase.
If you need to flag one thing up urgently, it’s best to make use of social media. You can succeed in me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its reliable accounts on X however particular person Guardian newshounds are there, I nonetheless have my account, and when you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I can see it and reply if vital.
I in finding it very useful when readers indicate errors, even minor typos. No error is just too small to right kind. And I in finding your questions very fascinating too. I will be able to’t promise to answer all of them, however I can take a look at to answer as many as I will be able to, both BTL or every now and then within the weblog.
Key occasions
Alexander says extra using take a look at slots being presented, however reasonable ready occasions not really to be lower to 7 weeks till 2026
Heidi Alexander, the delivery secretary, has mentioned the federal government goal to transparent the listing prime backlog of using assessments will likely be overlooked by way of as much as 8 months, PA Media stories. PA says:
Alexander informed MPs her division is aiming to finish the backlog by way of summer time 2026.
This is in spite of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) having a goal of lowering reasonable ready occasions for assessments throughout Britain to not more than seven weeks by way of the tip of this yr.
Giving proof to the Commons delivery committee, Alexander mentioned: “The waiting times that people are experiencing are totally unacceptable.”
She introduced that a minimum of 10,000 additional assessments monthly will likely be presented to newcomers as a part of new measures to take on the problem.
The DVSA has been prompt to make “additional overtime incentive payments to everyone delivering extra driving tests”, she mentioned.
DVSA personnel certified to habits assessments are being requested to voluntarily go back to the entrance line, whilst the choice of everlasting running shoes for brand new examiners will likely be doubled.
Alexander additionally mentioned the Government will seek the advice of on adjustments to the using take a look at reserving gadget, in an try to forestall bots mass-booking new slots and reselling them at the black marketplace for inflated costs.
Recent research by way of the AA Driving School confirmed the common ready time to guide a sensible take a look at in Britain used to be 20 weeks in February, up from 14 weeks a yr previous.
The choice of take a look at centres with a 24-week ready time – the utmost imaginable – just about doubled over the duration, from 94 to 183.
Questioned about when reasonable ready occasions will likely be lowered to seven weeks, Alexander mentioned: “We think that this package of measures I’m announcing today could result in us meeting that target again in the summer of next year.”
The DVSA has prior to now attributed the backlog to “an increase in demand and a change in customers’ booking behaviour”.
Police officials who fail background tests to be robotically sacked
Police officials in England and Wales who fail background tests will likely be robotically sacked beneath regulations entering power to reinforce self belief in policing, Rajeev Syal stories.
Foreign Office postpones Ukraine peace talks after Marco Rubio pulls out
Dan Sabbagh
Dan Sabbagh is the Guardian’s defence editor.
The UK Foreign Office has showed that ministerial Ukraine peace talks with US and European opposite numbers because of be held these days had been postponed, amid hypothesis that Russia has deserted its claims to Ukrainian territory it does now not occupy, and after US secretary of state Marco Rubio mentioned he may now not attend.
A brief commentary from the Foreign Office introduced that ministerial conferences that were scheduled to begin this morning would now not now happen and would get replaced by way of in the back of the scenes discussions held by way of officers, clarifying a sparsely worded commentary made past due remaining night time by way of overseas secretary David Lammy after he had spoken to Rubio.
Posting on social media simply sooner than nighttime, Lammy mentioned his discussions with Rubio had been productive however hinted that they’d happen at a quite decrease degree. “Talks continue at pace and officials will meet in London tomorrow. This is a critical moment for Ukraine, Britain and Euro-Atlantic security,” he had mentioned.
Britain had positioned a very powerful emphasis at the talks, with delegations from France and Germany additionally because of take part, however the downgrade to the discussions comes as leaks recommend that Russia is prepared to desert its territorial claims to 3 Ukrainian areas it most effective partly occupies in go back for the United States recognising the annexation of Crimea.
Martin Belam has extra in this on our Ukraine battle reside weblog.
Green celebration participants will have to now not be expelled for pronouncing trans girls are not girls, co-leader Adrian Ramsay says
At the Downing Street foyer briefing the day past, the PM’s spokesperson mentioned that Keir Starmer not argues {that a} trans lady is a girl. In his interview at the Today programme this morning, Adrian Ramsay, co-leader of the Green celebration, which has all the time been a powerful suggest for trans rights, used to be now not ready to mention that. But he did say that Green celebration participants who do say that trans girls aren’t girls will have to now not be expelled.
When the presenter, Nick Robinson, requested Ramsay if trans girls had been girls, Ramsay answered:
What the verdict from the perfect courtroom remaining week has accomplished is to offer some readability with regards to the Equality Act.
At that time Robinson interrupted, and mentioned he used to be in search of readability from Ramsay. He requested the query once more. Ramsay answered:
I believe the vital factor right here, Nick, isn’t to get hung up in divisions.
Robinson attempted a 3rd time. Ramsay mentioned what used to be vital used to be to make sure “everybody, regardless of how they define their identity, has access to the services that they need”. He went on:
Last week’s ruling has highlighted the opportunity of some services and products to be equipped according to intercourse. The query is, how can we make sure that each girls and trans other people have get right of entry to to the services and products that they want in some way that meets their wishes and preserves their dignity.
Robinson then requested why Ramsay used to be relucant to respond to the query immediately. Ramsay mentioned: “People know what the definition of a woman is.” But, Robinson mentioned, previously participants of the Green celebration were expelled for gender important ideals. He requested if it used to be imaginable to be a member of the Green celebration, and to imagine that trans girls don’t seem to be girls. Ramsay mentioned celebration participants may take that view. He went on:
I do shield the best of other people to specific that view, and in our celebration and within the wider society, we’d like so as to have an open and respectful dialog about how we be sure services and products are delivered in some way that meets everyone’s wishes.
The Gender Critical Greens crew has a listing on its web page of participants it says had been suspended or expelled for his or her gender important perspectives.
Badenoch challenged to sack Jenrick after he suggests Tories and Reform UK wish to shape ‘coalition’ sooner than election
Good morning. Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs these days and, given her enthusiasm for speaking about trans problems – her Commons efficiency in this the day past were given rave opinions in rightwing circles – it’s exhausting to consider that she received’t need to revist this at midday these days. As the Today programme’s interview with Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay confirmed this morning, UK politics continues to be caught with the ‘can a woman have a penis?’ query. (More on that later.) But there’s every other query at the desk this morning about whether or not two binary opposites fit. Can you be a Conservative when you’ve were given a Nigel Farage?
This has revived as a subject matter because of a excellent scoop by way of Sam Coates at Sky News. He has bought a recording of Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary and runner-up within the remaining Tory management contest, pronouncing that, if the Conservative celebration has now not observed off the danger from Reform UK by the point of the following election, “one way or another” the 2 events must shape some form of electoral coalition.
Jenrick made the remarks when talking to a UCL Conservative affiliation dinner in past due March. According to Coates’ record, Jenrick mentioned:
[Reform UK] continues to do smartly within the polls. And my concern is they turn into one of those everlasting or semi-permanent fixture at the British political scene. And if that’s the case – and I say, I’m looking to do the entirety I will be able to to forestall that being the case – then lifestyles turns into so much tougher for us, since the proper isn’t united.
And you then head against the overall election, the place the nightmare situation is that Keir Starmer sails in in the course of the center because of the 2 events being disunited. I don’t find out about you, however I’m now not ready for that to occur.
I need the best to be united. And so, a method or every other, I’m made up our minds to do this and to convey this coalition in combination and ensure we unite as a country as smartly.
No different member of the shadow cupboard has been reasonably this particular concerning the want for a Tory/Reform UK coalition. Jenrick certified this by way of pronouncing that he didn’t need Reform UK to turn into an enduring fixture of British politics, however there’s virtually nobody in Westminster politics who thinks Farage’s celebration goes to fizzle out sooner than the following election, and so when Jenrick talks cases the place a coalition can be wanted, he isn’t floating some outlandish hypothetical; he’s speaking about what he expects to occur.
And Jenrick isn’t just any member of the shadow cupboard. According to the newest ConservativeHome survey, he’s by way of some distance the preferred shadow cupboard minister with celebration participants, and co-workers imagine is is actively making ready for every other bid for the management.
Kemi Badenoch has dominated out doing an electoral care for Reform UK. But there are lots of other people within the celebration who suppose that her place is unrealistic and who would accept as true with Jenrick, or with Greg Smith, the shadow trade minister, who mentioned remaining month that on the subsequent election the Tories and Reform UK would possibly have “play nicely” in combination.
In his tale, Coates quotes a “source close to Jenrick” pronouncing: “Rob’s comments are about voters and not parties. He’s clear we have to put Reform out of business and make the Conservatives the natural home for all those on the right.” But that is simply an try to deny that Jenrick mentioned what he did; the that means of his on-the-record feedback is obvious.
Labour and the Conservatives are each pronouncing that, if Badenoch does now not sack Jenrick, she will likely be implying that she has the same opinion with him. Ellie Reeves, the Labour celebration chair, mentioned:
Kemi Badenoch must urgently come blank as as to whether she backs her shadow justice secretary in doing grubby offers with Reform in the back of the voters’s again or if she is going to rule it out.
If she disagrees with Robert Jenrick, how can her management have any credibility while he stays in her shadow cupboard?
We know Kemi Badenoch has opened the door to offers with Reform at a neighborhood degree, which Labour has categorically dominated out and now Robert Jenrick has let the cat out the bag. Between the Tories who decimated the NHS and Reform who need to make other people pay for regimen remedies, it’s a recipe for chaos and can be a crisis for Britain.
And Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem deputy chief, mentioned:
The cat is out of the bag, senior Conservatives are plotting a grubby election care for Nigel Farage.
Kemi Badenoch will have to sack Robert Jenrick now if she’s eager about ruling out a pact with Reform. Anything much less would display she’s both too susceptible to sack him or that she has the same opinion.
Here is the time table for the day.
9.15am: Heidi Alexander, the delivery secretary, provides proof to the Commons delivery committee.
9.45am: John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, chairs a gathering in Glasgow on democratic values.
Noon: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs.
Also, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is in Washington for the IMF spring conferences. And David Lammy, the overseas secretary, is web hosting talks on Ukrain in London. Martin Belam is overlaying this on our Ukraine reside weblog.
If you need to touch me, please submit a message beneath the road when feedback are open (typically between 10am and 3pm these days), or message me on social media. I will be able to’t learn all of the messages BTL, however when you put “Andrew” in a message aimed toward me, I’m much more likely to look it as a result of I seek for posts containing that phrase.
If you need to flag one thing up urgently, it’s best to make use of social media. You can succeed in me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its reliable accounts on X however particular person Guardian newshounds are there, I nonetheless have my account, and when you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I can see it and reply if vital.
I in finding it very useful when readers indicate errors, even minor typos. No error is just too small to right kind. And I in finding your questions very fascinating too. I will be able to’t promise to answer all of them, however I can take a look at to answer as many as I will be able to, both BTL or every now and then within the weblog.
