Rishi Sunak Slammed By Statistics Watchdog Over Misleading Debt Claims

Posted on 19/12/2023 by Boris Clair

Rishi Sunak has been slammed by the UK statistics watchdog for wrongly claiming that government debt is falling.

The prime minister made that one of his five pledges to voters at the start of the year.

He claimed in a social media video, and also in the House of Commons, that debt was falling.

But Sir Robert Chote, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, said that was misleading.

In a letter to Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney, he said Sunak’s office said the claims referred to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast that net debt would be falling as a proportion of GDP in the final year of its five year forecast.

Sir Robert said: “The average person in the street would… likely have assumed that he was claiming that debt was already falling or that the government’s policy decisions had lowered it at the fiscal events – neither of which is the case.’

He added: “This has clearly been a source of confusion and may have undermined trust in the government’s use of statistics and quantitative analysis in this area.”

Sarah Olney said: “Rishi Sunak knows he has no good story to tell on the UK economy so he has resorted to making one up.

“The least this no-growth Prime Minister could do is be honest about it with the British public.

“Instead, he has reached for the Boris Johnson playbook and is undermining trust in politics. This is desperate stuff from a desperate prime minister and it is right that he has been called out on it.

“Rather than using smoke and mirrors to cover up his own failings, Rishi Sunak needs to come forward with a real strategy to rebuild the economy after the Conservative Party crashed it.”

Sky News Presenter Slams Rishi Sunak For Using ‘Extreme’ Language Over Immigration

Posted on 17/12/2023 by Boris Clair

Trevor Phillips has accused Rishi Sunak of using “extreme” language on immigration after the prime minister claimed the UK risks being “overwhelmed” by foreigners.

The prime minister said that could “destroy” British democracy unless the government takes tough action to crack down on the issue.

He made his comments at a conservative political festival in Rome, where he also heaped praise on the Italy’s right-wing prime minister, Georgia Meloni.

On his Sky News programme this morning, Phillips asked deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden: “Does Rishi Sunak, son of east African Asians, really believe that immigrants are going to – as he put it yesterday – overwhelm us and destroy our democracy?”

Dowden said: “We do have to reassure people that we have got control of our borders, and we cannot have this unsustainable situation where we’re enriching people smugglers, the worst people on the Earth, through allowing this trade in human beings across the Channel.”

But Phillips hit back: “You know I’m not a nit-picker for language, but really ’immigrants are going to overwhelm us and destroy out democracy’?

″This is quite extreme language, isn’t it? If you hear that from your own prime minister and you are of an immigrant background, it’s not nice.”

Trevor Phillips attacked the PM on his Sky News programme this morning.

The clash came after Sunak won backing from MPs for his emergency legislation which is designed to finally allow the government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

The prime minister is under huge pressure from the right of his party to bring down the numbers coming to the UK from abroad.

Figures revealed last month that net migration – the difference between those leaving and entering the country – hit 750,000 last year.

That is despite the last Tory election manifesto promising to bring immigration down below 226,000.

Exclusive: Most Voters Do Not Believe Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Plan Will Stop The Boats

Posted on 15/12/2023 by Boris Clair

Most voters do not believe that Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda plan will help him stop the small boats carrying asylum seekers across the Channel, HuffPost UK can reveal.

Polling by the More in Common think-tank shows that barely one in four people (27%) think it will reduce the numbers making the perilous journey.

By contrast, 47% believe it will make no difference and a further 8% think it will lead to more refugees coming to the UK.

The poll also shows that nearly half of voters – 45% – think ministers should not break international law to make the deportation policy work, compared to 32% who think they should.

Overall, fewer than half – 46% – say they support the policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, compared to 28% who do not.

The findings are a major blow for the prime minister, who has staked his personal authority on getting flights to Rwanda off the ground.

Luke Tryl, More in Common’s UK director, said: “It continues to be the case that more people support the Rwanda project than not – although crucially not a majority.

“The truth is that for all the political capital that has been spent on the Rwanda project, the public just don’t think that it is going to work and there continues to be limited public support for the UK to break international law in order to try and get flights off the ground.

“It does make you question the wisdom of making this the centrepiece of the Tories plans to tackle illegal immigration – and issue which itself is important to voters.”

Last Tuesday, Sunak won a crunch vote in the Commons on the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which the PM said is vital to finally getting flights to Rwanda off the ground.

It was drawn up after the Supreme Court last month ruled the scheme illegal because of the risk of asylum seekers being sent from the east African country to another nation.

More in Common polled 2,041 adults between December 12 and 14.

Rishi Sunak Scraps Dedicated Disabilities Minister Job During Disability History Month

Posted on 14/12/2023 by Boris Clair

Rishi Sunak has scrapped the dedicated post of disabilities minister — during UK disability history month.

Downing Street confirmed on Thursday that an “existing” minister will be handed the disabilities brief on top of their current job.

It was later announced that health minister Mims Davies will take on responsibility for disbaility issues.

She said: “I’ll work as hard as I can to ensure disabled people’s voices are heard loud and clear.”

Until last week the position was its own minister of state level job, having first been created when Labour came to power in 1997.

Davies holds the more junior parliamentary under-secretary post and shadow disabilites minister Vicky Foxcroft said that showed the disabilities brief had been “downgraded”.

The last MP to hold the standalone disabilities role was Tom Pursglove, but he was made minister for legal immigration earlier this week.

The prime minister also appointed Michael Tomlinson as minister for illegal immigration.

It means there are now two dedicated immigration ministers but no specialist disabilities minister.

The move comes during UK disability history month, which runs from November 16 until December 16.

Sunak’s official spokesperson denied the change was a “downgrading” of the role.

“It’s not right. We will have a minister for disabled people who will lead on that important work,” the spokesperson said.

“It is actions that matter. What you will continue to see is a government showing strong support for disabled people and for disabled issues.”

But Foxcroft said: “Shocking that Rishi Sunak has chosen not to appoint a new minister for disabled people, health and work.

“After 13 years of Tory austerity, pandemic and cost of living crisis, disabled people feel their voices aren’t being heard and represented in Government. This confirms it.”

James Taylor, director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said: “This is an appalling and retrograde move by the government.

“What kind of message does this give to Britain’s 16 million disabled people? That – in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis – we are now less important?

“Life costs more if you are disabled. There hasn’t been cost of living payment for disabled people this winter. And negative welfare rhetoric has ramped up this year.

“We must have a Minister for Disabled People in government, to be a champion of disabled people and disability, and make sure policy doesn’t leave disabled people behind and disadvantaged.”

A government spokesperson said: “Minister Davies will build upon this Government’s track record of supporting disabled people, having delivered millions of cost of living payments and helping over one million more disabled people into work five years earlier than planned.

“The minister will help ensure there is always a strong safety net for the most vulnerable in our society, while tearing down barriers so that every disabled person can realise their potential and thrive.”

Of Course, Joe Lycett Had Something To Say To Rishi Sunak After That Ill-Fated Press Conference

Posted on 07/12/2023 by Boris Clair

And while Sunak’s press conference didn’t get the best of reactions from either the public or his political peers, one place he can look to for some words of encouragement (albeit sarcastic ones) is Joe Lycett’s social media account.

Speaking directly to the prime minister, the comedian wrote on X: “Well done hunni, you came across really calm and in control there. Job done.”

In recent history, the former Great British Sewing Bee host has become known for his political commentary, always delivered in his own inimitable style.

Rishi Sunak Urged To Ignore Hardliners In Tory Battle Over Human Rights Laws

Posted on 05/12/2023 by Boris Clair

A fresh Tory civil war over immigration has erupted after Rishi Sunak was warned not to give in to his right-wing backbenchers by ignoring human rights laws.

The prime minister is planning to unveil emergency legislation within days to ensure deportation flights to Rwanda finally get off the ground after the Supreme Court ruled the policy was illegal last month.

Members of different groups of right-wing Tory MPs are joining forces to pile pressure on Sunak to opt out of European Convention on Human Rights rulings on asylum cases as a way of preventing that happening again.

They are prepared to vote against the government bill if they do not think it goes far enough.

But in a fresh headache for the PM, the One Nation Caucus of moderate Tory MPs has warned him it would be “a mistake” to ignore the ECHR.

The group’s chair, Damian Green, said: “The UK has for generations been a world-leader on human rights. We have set the standard on what a law-abiding, well-functioning democracy should look like.

“Successive Conservative governments have played a vital role in creating and protecting the ECHR as well as the refugee and torture conventions. We have continued to hold these treaties dear and they should be seen as a fundamental part of protecting the UK’s democratic legacy.”

Green, who was Theresa May’s de facto deputy when she was prime minister, added: “The government should think twice before overriding both the ECHR and Human Rights Act and not rush such long term, difficult decisions.”

Matt Warman, another member of the One Nation Caucus, said: “Overriding the ECHR is a red line for a number of Conservatives.

“Protecting and reforming institutions and upholding human rights should be the cornerstone of any Conservative government.”

The row comes as James Cleverly became the third Tory home secretary to sign an agreement with the Rwandan government over the deportation plan.

Priti Patel first announced the controversial policy in April 2022, but since then not a single asylum seeker has been sent to the east African country.

The new treaty seeks to address the concerns raised by the Supreme Court, especially the judges’ concerns that migrants could end up being sent back to their home countries.

Cleverly said: “I am grateful to our Rwandan partners for their willingness, dedication and commitment to strengthening this partnership further.

“The Supreme Court recognised that changes may be delivered which would address their conclusions – this treaty responds directly to that.”

James Cleverly Announces Major Crackdown On Migration Following Record Numbers

Posted on 04/12/2023 by Boris Clair

Foreign workers will need to earn at least £38,700 to be given a visa to come to the UK under plans to slash net migration.

Home secretary James Cleverly told the House of Commons that the move was part of a five-point plan to bring down the numbers of immigrants coming to the UK by 300,000 a year.

It comes after new figures revealed two weeks ago that 672,000 more people entered the UK than left it in the 12 months to June.

The Tories’ 2019 general election manifesto pledged to bring the figure down to less than 229,000.

Right-wing Tory backbenchers have warned Rishi Sunak that the party could cease to exist unless it keeps its promise to voters.

Cleverly said he was increasing the minimum salary threshold for foreign workers from £26,200 to £38,700, although it will not apply to those coming to work in health and social care.

The minimum income requirement for anyone wanting to move foreign family members with them will also more than double to £38,700.

Overseas care workers will be banned from bringing dependents with them to the UK, while the shortage occupation list, which allows companies to hire overseas workers for 20% less than the going rate, will be scrapped.

The immigration health surcharge, paid by foreigners who use the NHS, will also be increased from £624 to £1,035, while the graduate visa route will also be reviewed amid concerns it is currently being abused.

He told MPs that immigration was “far too high” and that ministers were now “taking more robust action than any government before” to deal with it.

He said the government’s plans would lead to the “biggest ever reduction in net migration” and mean 300,000 a year fewer people coming to the UK in future.

The home secretary added: “We have taken decisive action to reduce legal migration – enough is enough.”

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said Cleverly’s statement was “an admission of total failure for years by the Conservative government – failure on the immigration system and failure on the economy”.

Christina McAnea, general secretary of the Unison trade union, said: “These cruel plans spell total disaster for the NHS and social care. They benefit no one.

“Migrant workers were encouraged to come here because both sectors are critically short of staff. Hospitals and care homes simply couldn’t function without them.

“There’s also a global shortage of healthcare staff. Migrants will now head to more-welcoming countries, rather than be forced to live without their families.

“The government is playing roulette with essential services just to placate its backbenchers and the far-right.”

‘It’s Going The Wrong Way’: Health Secretary Shown How The Tories Have Failed On NHS Waiting Lists

Posted on 03/12/2023 by Boris Clair

A Tory minister was told NHS waiting lists were “going the wrong way” despite Rishi Sunak’s pledge to bring them down.

Health secretary Victoria Atkins was shown a damning graph setting out how the lists have almost doubled in the last five years to almost 8 million.

That is despite the prime minister vowing at the start of the year that they would be lower within 12 months.

Appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC One this morning, Atkins refused to confirm that the lists would be down in time for the next election.

Pointing to the graph, Kuenssberg said: “This is what has happened to waiting lists. We know of course the pandemic made things much more challenging, but our viewers can see it was going up well before the pandemic.

“Lots more money has gone in, there are many, many more staff. This is the situation that people are having to deal with.

“This is the prime minister’s target and it’s going the wrong way.”

The minister claimed the long-running industrial action by doctors and nurses was to blame for the government’s failure.

“Since December last year we’ve seen some 1.1 million appointments have to be rescheduled,” she said.

Atkins said the government has reached a pay agreement with unions representing NHS consultants, and that talks were ongoing with junior doctors as well.

But Kuenssberg pointed out that Atkins’ predecessor as health secretary, Steve Barclay, had refused to negotiate with the trade unions for months.

“You’ve said that the strikes are a big reason why the waiting lists are sky high and people are suffering,” she said. “Why then did the government sit on its hands for months refusing to talk to the doctors. Isn’t that responsibility on you too?”

The presenter went on: “With the numbers going the wrong way, can you commit that you’re actually going to hit these targets before the general election?”

The minister replied: “We are looking to meet those targets, but I need the consultants to pass this settlement that we have put forward.”

Kuenssberg replied: “You’re saying that if the doctors accept the new deal, the prime minister might hit his targets. But if you don’t, he won’t.”

Atkins said: “We’re doing everything we can.”

The graph Atkins was shown setting out how waiting lists have soared.

Dominic Raab Had ‘Five Minutes Notice’ He Was Taking Over Running The Country

Posted on 29/11/2023 by Boris Clair

Dominic Raab has said he was given “five minutes notice” that he was taking over the running of the country from Boris Johnson during the pandemic.

The former foreign secretary told the Covid inquiry on Wednesday he believed the government “did a reasonable job” during his time in charge.

He stepped up as de facto prime minister in April 2020 when Johnson was incapacitated due to being serious ill with Covid.

At the time, Raab was also first secretary of state, with Johnson having told him “you’ve got my back” if he ever became unable to do his job.

Raab revealed he was told by officials he would need to take charge moments after wrapping up one of the Downing Street daily press conferences on April 6.

“I was effectively told on five minutes’ notice,” he told the inquiry.

The chance Johnson could die triggered a crisis at the top of government and Raab said he needed to “steady the ship”.

“We actually did a reasonable job during that four, five weeks”, Raab said, thanks to “British pragmatism”.

Raab also said he was wary of imposing too much of his own will on the government while serving as interim-PM.

“I didn’t want anyone saying Dom Raab is enjoying this just a bit too much,” he said. “I wasn’t. I was there to do a job.”

“I was mindful of not looking like I was camping out in No.10 while my prime minister was ill-disposed.”

The Covid inquiry is still due to hear from Rishi Sunak, Johnson and Matt Hancock.

‘We Need Them’: Tory MP Sums Up Why Politicians Have Gone Too Far With Immigration Crackdown

Posted on 27/11/2023 by Boris Clair

A Tory MP has called on politicians to be “honest with the public” about why the UK needs immigrants.

Former health minister Steve Brine said there wouldn’t be enough social care workers to “look after your ailing parents” without an influx of foreign labour.

Official figures last week revealed how net migration hit 672,000 in the year to June – three times higher than the government’s target.

Right-wing Conservatives have warned that the party could cease to exist if it fails to bring the number down before the next election.

Rishi Sunak has vowed to “clamp down” on immigration with new measures to reduce the numbers coming to the UK.

But on Times Radio today, Brine said “we need these workers” to do the jobs British people won’t.

And he took aim at former home secretary Suella Braverman, who said the immigration numbers were “a slap in the face to the British public”.

Brine, who is chair of the health and social care select committee, said: “Would that be a slap in the face to the care workers from outside the UK who look after your ailing parents?

“Would it be the Ukrainians that are living among us and contributing to our society, are they the slap in the face? Or would it be the people coming here from British Hong Kong?

“I hear this talk all the time and Labour has fallen into this trap as well. Oh, you know, ‘we need to get to the numbers down’, but which of the groups?”

The Winchester MP added: “We need these workers. We need them, particularly in social care.

“We’ve got around 152,000 vacancies in adult social care. And I just say it again, they are the people who look after your ailing parents and grandparents when families can’t because they’re working. They’re the people that pick up the slack.

“And we need to have a very serious look at ourselves as a society as to what do we actually want to be? Do we do we want to be honest with the public, because we need migration into this country.

“And if we’re just going to slash migration so that we can, you know, meet a political priority, and please the former home secretary then I don’t think we’re serving the society and the economy as we should be.”

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