Sebastian Payne

Wednesday

Sebastian Payne

Five things affected by the Airports Commission’s decision to back Heathrow

From our UK edition

So, now we know: it’s Heathrow. After three years, numerous representations, a ton of lobbying and much political handwringing, Sir Howard Davies’s Airports Commission has recommended building a third runway at Heathrow Airport. In his report released today (pdf here), Davies says it would create 70,000 jobs by 2050, bring in £157 billion in economic growth and connect Britain to 40 new destinations. This is no small recommendation and it will have significant political consequences across Westminster. Here are five key groups who will be affected by Davies' recommendation. 1. Boris Johnson Along with Zac Goldsmith, Boris has been one of the most ardent campaigners against expanding Heathrow.

Tuesday

Sebastian Payne

Greek government proposes third Eurozone bailout on the eve of IMF default

From our UK edition

The Greek government is making one final throw of the dice. Just hours before Greece is set to default on its €1.55 billion payment to the IMF, Athens has proposed a new two year bailout from the Eurozone, funded by the European Stability Mechanism set up in 2012. Asking for a third bailout within hours of the second one drawing to a close shows just how keen the Greek government is to remain in the Eurozone. But this does not mean they are giving into their creditors' demands. In a statement this afternoon, the Greek government said it still wants better terms: ‘From the first moment, we made clear that the decision to hold a referendum is not the end but the continuation of negotiations for better terms for the Greek people ...

Sebastian Payne

How the three stages of the Labour leadership race could benefit Liz Kendall

From our UK edition

Liz Kendall is continuing to push herself as the ‘change everything’ candidate for the Labour leadership. During a speech at Reuters this morning, Kendall called for the party to make a big shift on fiscal responsibility if it has any hope of winning the next election — a task some think is beyond Labour in its current state: ‘If we continue to stick with the politics that we had at the last election or, indeed, over the last seven or eight years, we will get the same result. Einstein said the definition of madness was to continue doing the same thing over and over again and expect to get a different result. We need big changes.

Sebastian Payne

Nicky Morgan: intolerance of homosexuality in schools may be a sign of extremism

From our UK edition

Nicky Morgan is taking the fight against radicalisation into the classroom. On the Today programme, the Education Secretary outlined what her department is doing to support schools in tackling, what she called, this ‘very real threat’. The DfE will release new guidance for teachers today, offering ‘examples and support in how they might look for young people who are risk at radicalisation – perhaps changes of behaviour or things they might say’.

Thursday

Sebastian Payne

Podcast: Angela Merkel’s burden, Ukip’s American flirtation and Gove’s grammar rules

From our UK edition

This podcast is sponsored by Berry Bros, The Spectator’s house red. Germany has just as much to worry about from a Grexit as Greece. On this week’s View from 22 podcast, economist Fredrik Erixon and James Forsyth discuss this week’s Spectator cover feature on the challenges Angela Merkel faces to keep her beloved European project on the road. It also presents an opportunity for David Cameron to get a better deal for Britain during his renegotiations — can he make the most of the present situation? Freddy Gray and Owen Bennett, author of Following Farage, also discuss Ukip’s flirtation with the American right and the impact it had on the party’s election performance.

Wednesday

Sebastian Payne

Alan Milburn finally confronts Labour with the hard truth about Tony Blair

From our UK edition

Alan Milburn has told Labour something it does not want to hear: Tony Blair was as great for the party as Margaret Thatcher was for the Tories. At a breakfast with the Centre for Social Justice this morning, the former health secretary argued that  Labour ‘could not have got it more wrong’ at the last election and urged the party to snap out of its ‘self-delusion’ that New Labour and Blair were all bad: ‘Great leaders always have a big purpose. For Churchill it was victory in war, for Thatcher victory against a stifling state. For Blair it was victory against old-fashioned attitudes and institutions that held our country back. Today, to be blunt, voters are no longer sure what Labour is for. They do not see a compelling core purpose.

Sebastian Payne

Will the Calais crisis create another EU headache for David Cameron?

From our UK edition

The crisis at Calais has once again raised the issue of UK border security. Some of the 3,000-odd illegal migrants residing at the port took advantage of yesterday’s ferry workers strike by attempting to board the delayed vehicles. The immigration minister James Brokenshire told the BBC this morning the situation is ‘hugely regrettable’ and the government will be taking steps to ensure Britain's border security is beefed up: ‘It is hugely regrettable that we've seen these incidents occurring as a result of industrial action in France. ‘We are putting additional resourcing into the port of Dover to enhance screenings and detections there so that we're looking at this on both sides of the Channel.

Tuesday

Sebastian Payne

Tim Farron strengthens his position in the Lib Dem leadership race

From our UK edition

While the media has been focused on the Labour leadership contest, the Liberal Democrats are also shuffling closer to choosing their new leader. The ballot papers are being sent out tomorrow and the winner will be announced three weeks from now. The Libs have a choice between Norman Lamb, the former care minister who is energetically defending the Lib Dem’s record in office, and Tim Farron, the party’s former president who is arguing a lot needs to change. Farron and Lamb appeared on the Victoria Derbyshire show today for a gentle debate, both admitting there was ‘not a lot’ they disagree on. Both defended the Liberal Democrats’ decision to enter into coalition with the Tories.

Sebastian Payne

Constituents give Zac Goldsmith ‘permission’ to run for Mayor of London

From our UK edition

Zac Goldsmith is in the race to be the Tory candidate for Mayor of London. After announcing his intention to seek the nomination last week, Goldsmith balloted his constituents in Richmond Park for their permission: 79 per cent of those who responded said he should run, while 18 per cent said no. Although the turnout was just under 26 per cent, it’s still a victory for Goldsmith’s brand of direct democracy. In response to his local referendum, Goldsmith said he’d work ‘tirelessly to repay my constituents’ loyalty’: ‘I am hugely grateful to the residents of Richmond Park and North Kingston for taking part in the ballot, and am overwhelmed by the mandate they have given me to run for Mayor.

Sebastian Payne

Michael Gove vs. the ‘creaking’ legal establishment — round one

From our UK edition

Members of the legal profession who were hoping Michael Gove's time would be consumed trying to solve the Human Rights Act puzzle will be disappointed. In a speech to the Legatum Institute this morning, the Justice Secretary confirms he will be bring the same reformist zeal to Britain's legal system as he did to education. Gove’s main concern, according to the extracts of the speech pre-released, is that our justice system at present is tipped too much in favour of the wealthy. Similarly to the rest of the government’s agenda, he wants a One Nation legal system: ‘There are two nations in our justice system at present.

Monday

Sebastian Payne

Business for Britain attempts to show the positive side of the ‘No’ campaign

From our UK edition

The EU ‘out’ campaigners have two troublesome image problems to contend with: the message of ‘No’ is intrinsically negative and will scare off voters, plus they are looking to change the status quo. Business for Britain, which is expected by many in Westminster to be one of the groups forming the ‘No’ campaign, is attempting to remedy the negativity of a Brexit with its new publication ‘Change or Go’. In the 1000-page report, BfB outlines in detail the changes British businesses want to the UK's relationship with the EU. It argues that if these changes can’t be won, then it’s time to leave.

Sebastian Payne

David Cameron makes the case for the Tories’ moral mission

From our UK edition

David Cameron has never particularly warmed to the language of compassionate conservatism. In the past, that side of the conservatism has generally been represented by Iain Duncan Smith — with help from the Centre for Social Justice, the think tank he founded. But in light of the rapidly approaching £12 billion of cuts in welfare spending, the Prime Minister will give a speech today outlining why it is important to end the ‘merry-go-round’ of benefits: ‘When it comes to extending opportunity – there is a right track and a wrong track. The right track is to recognise the causes of stalled social mobility and a lack of economic opportunity. Family breakdown. Debt. Addiction. Poor schools. Lack of skills. Unemployment.

Friday

Sebastian Payne

Syed Kamall enters race to be Tory Mayor of London candidate

From our UK edition

Syed Kamall, the Conservative leader in the European Parliament, has entered the race to be the party's Mayor of London candidate. The field now consists of Kamall, Andrew Boff, Sol Campbell, Stephen Greenhalgh, Ivan Massow and Zac Goldsmith, Kamall announced this afternoon he is ‘really excited about the prospect of doing this.' In a statement announcing his candidacy, Kamall pointed out that he’s a ‘Londoner born and bred’: ‘I look forward to having some robust conversations and debates over the coming months about the issues which affect our city. We need to tackle some of the most important things like housing and transport but we also need to ensure that everyone in our city enjoys the full fruits of London's success.

Sebastian Payne

Suzanne Evans ‘unsacked’ as Ukip spokesman

From our UK edition

Those Kippers just can’t decide whether to stay or go. Suzanne Evans, Ukip’s deputy chairman, was yesterday banned from representing the party, according to a leaked internal email. Evans upset some in the party after telling the Daily Politics that Farage can be perceived as 'divisive figure.' But the party has just released a statement to the contrary: ‘Suzanne Evans has not been sacked as a UKIP spokesman. The email seen by the BBC was issued without proper authority.’ What’s going on here? At present, Ukip is full of murmurings of plots and backstabbing, which have manifested themselves in this latest episode.

Sebastian Payne

The ‘In’ and ‘Out’ EU referendum campaigns begin to take shape

From our UK edition

The campaigns to keep Britain ‘In’ or ‘Out’ of the EU are keen to begin their work. The Times today reveals details of a cross-party Eurosceptic group, which is expected to morph into the Brexit campaign. From the Conservatives, Owen Paterson, Steve Baker and Bernard Jenkin are part of this new group. Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins and Graham Stringer represent Labour, while Douglas Carswell has been attending meetings on behalf of Ukip. Dominic Cummings, Michael Gove’s former adviser, has been brought on board to oversee the committee and Stuart Wheeler, a former Ukip donor, is one of the financial backers.

Thursday

Sebastian Payne

Yvette Cooper attacks David Cameron for a ‘blind spot’ on women

From our UK edition

Yvette Cooper addressed a lobby lunch today and put on an impressive performance. In contrast to her slightly wooden performance during last night’s debate, Cooper came across as straightforward and articulate — and surprisingly funny. She joked that alongside the ten meetings to sign off the Edstone, there were seven meetings for a ‘fiscally responsible water feature.’ She also told the gathered hacks ‘we want more Haribo!’ in reference to the sweet factory in her constituency. Unsurprisingly, Cooper spoke confidently on the economy, demonstrating her years of experience on the frontbench.

Sebastian Payne

Suzanne Evans upsets Farage loyalists with ‘divisive character’ comments

From our UK edition

Nigel Farage has himself admitted that he is a ‘Marmite’ character. It’s one of the reasons given for his party’s patchy performance at the general election and it turns out it is a view others in the party share. Suzanne Evans, Ukip’s deputy chairman, made a similar point about Farage on the Daily Politics today — carefully noting that it's Farage’s views, not his personality that may turn off voters: ‘I think Nigel is a very divisive character in terms of the way he is perceived. He is not divisive as a person, but the way he is perceived is of having strong views that divide people.’ https://twitter.

Sebastian Payne

New select committee chairs elected

From our UK edition

The new chairs of the select committees have been announced. Before 2009, the party whips handed out the chairmanships of these committees but now they are voted in by MPs. As well as several returning chairs, there are a few interesting new appointments. Labour’s Frank Field will be an effective chair of the Work and Pensions committee, holding the government to account over roll out of Universal Credit and the £12 billion cuts to welfare spending. Jesse Norman steps back into the limelight as chair of the Culture, Media and Sport committee, after being passed over for a job in the new government.

Sebastian Payne

Team Burnham: Liz Kendall’s ‘country should come first’ remark was a ‘cheap point’

From our UK edition

The one memorable moment from last night's Labour leadership debate was Liz Kendall's remark that ‘country should come first’, with regards to another leadership contest before 2020. It was a swipe at Andy Burnham, who had said that the ‘party should come first.' Team Kendall is understandably pleased at the Vines and clips of this exchange. It has given her campaign some crucial momentum and ensures that the contest remains a three-horse race. In a debate that was otherwise pretty uneventful, this exchange is likely to stick with both Burnham and Kendall. But a source on Burnham’s campaign suggests that the remark has been misinterpreted: ‘Andy clearly meant “party before individuals and candidates.

Sebastian Payne

Podcast: Greece and the lessons of Black Wednesday, plus the latest on the Labour leadership contest

From our UK edition

As the situation in Greece becomes more serious by the day, is a default or Grexit on the horizon? In this week’s View from 22 podcast, Channel 4’s Paul Mason discusses this week’s Spectator leading article with Ambrose Evans-Prichard from the Daily Telegraph. Which side is being more unreasonable in this stand off, the European Central Bank or Syriza? Is anything drastic likely to happen over the next few weeks? Are the Greek people feeling resentful towards to the rest of the EU? And what effect is the crisis having on the whole European project?