Politics
Labour looks to seize Tory “crown jewels” in local elections
Labour is set to cast its gaze on the Tory "crown jewels" in the May local elections, chasing some seats which have been Conservative-held for more than 50 years. Jeremy Corbyn's party sent tremors through the Conservative ranks in last year's General Election when it stole several safe seats in the capital. And now they are looking to replicate that success, targeting Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea for the first time, as well as Wandsworth council and Barnet, which is currently...
Fall in police numbers “likely to have contributed” to rise in serious violent crime, leaked Home Office document reveals
A leaked Home Office document has confirmed suspicions that a fall in police numbers is likely to have contributed to a rise in serious violent crime. Former Met Commissioner Ian Blair echoed sentiments of Jeremy Corbyn last week saying "if you take 20 per cent of the Met’s funding away something gives". And now an official document leaked from Amber Rudd's office has hammered the last nail into the coffin, confirming that a lack of resources and fewer charges may have "encouraged"...
Rees-Mogg receives legal letter from Beano for impersonating one of its characters
“A swift response on the matter would be greatly appreciated to avoid getting Teacher involved.”
Universal credit leading to “unprecedented” levels of debt and people “stealing” to survive
Appeals for the Conservatives to drop universal credit have been aired after new research revealed up to 100,000 children are set to miss out on free school meals because of new government thresholds. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned the roll-out of benefit system reforms ‘will create a substantial number of losers’ among families whose children receive free school meals. Up to 100,000 children from low-income families will lose out on free school meals because of the government’s method for...
Forty senior academics write to condemn anti-Corbyn bias in media coverage of the antisemitism debate
More than forty senior academics have written to the Guardian to condemn what they see as an anti-Corbyn bias in media coverage of the antisemitism debate. The letter condemns journalism that "so blatantly lacks context, perspective and a meaningful range of voices in its determination to condemn Jeremy Corbyn", saying the media has weaponized antisemitism against Corbyn ahead of important elections. Signed by a range of influential academics from many London institutions, it comes as political parties gear up for the local...
Jacob Rees-Mogg joins LBC
Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg is joining LBC to host a live phone-in as part of the new spring schedule. The prominent politician will take calls every other week for a 30-minute phone-in during Nick Ferrari at Breakfast. He joins Nigel Farage and Theresa May's PR man Tom Swarbrick on the books at the broadcaster, with "no topics off limit" according to an official statement. Rees-Mogg said: “I am greatly looking forward to conversing with LBC’s listeners every fortnight. "In the programmes I have...
Brexit has given people license to be openly racist, says mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence
Brexit has given people license to be openly racist according to Baroness Lawrence. Speaking to LBC this morning the mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence said instances of racism are on the rise in Britain, and the Brexit vote is to blame for bringing it to the surface. Stephen Lawrence was killed in a racist attack in Eltham 25 years ago, the murder that led to the Macpherson Report which revealed an institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police. According to the latest...
Everyone should read the Migration Advisory Committee’s first report into the UK labour market and Brexit to dispel some dangerous myths
Despite the atmosphere of fear created in the Brexit debate: European workers in general do NOT take British jobs. They do NOT drive down wages or undercut minimum wages. They are less inclined to come to the UK in the current climate. Our economy is set to suffer if fewer arrive to work here. This could also lead to shrinking populations in some regions of the UK. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) interim report into the effects of Brexit on...
“The Shadow Foreign Secretary has a name”: Boris Johnson gets a dressing down in parliament over sexist remarks
Boris Johnson was given a dressing down by Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow for sexist remarks aimed at Emily Thornberry today in parliament. The Foreign Secretary used Thornberry's husband's title to address his shadow counterpart, calling her a "noble and learned lady" in a condescending spat at the Labour front bench. He said: "Say no said the noble and learned lady the Baroness whatever it is", before being helped out by his Conservative colleagues. Bercow was quick to intervene following...