Newslinks for Monday 12th of May 2025

No cap on migrants in Labour’s crackdown

“Labour’s plan to tackle spiralling immigration was last night dismissed as ‘laughable’ for not containing a cap on numbers. Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to cut migration will be unveiled in full today, but critics immediately questioned how he would measure its success. The Prime Minister will vow that ‘migration numbers will fall’. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the plan would mean a ‘substantial’ drop on last year’s net migration figure of 728,000, but refused to put a cap on numbers, saying it was a ‘failed approach’… Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the failure to impose a cap on numbers was ‘laughable’. He told the Mail: ‘Labour won’t set a migration target because they know they’d blow it. When it comes to immigration, Starmer doesn’t back workers, he backs down.’” – Daily Mail

Migrants face 10-year citizenship wait without ‘real contribution’ to Britain – Daily Telegraph
UK should join up with EU to revive Rwanda scheme, leading Tory suggests – The i
Makes no cents: 50 Cent’s rapper pal Bang Em Smurf staying in UK asylum hotel paid for by YOU after fleeing gangs in his native Trinidad – The Sun
Migrants must ‘learn our language’ under Starmer’s immigration crackdown – The i
How Labour is bribing landlords to house migrants and outbid Brits trying to rent – and you are paying for it – The Sun

Comment:

Home Sec finally understands UK’s migrant problem but when will rest of Labour? – Harry Cole, The Sun
Starmer doesn’t know it yet, but by fiddling at the edges on migration today he’ll be signing his own political death warrant – Stephen Glover, Daily Mail
Migrant hotels cost Labour more than money – Will Lloyd, The Times
Another round of political promises on migration is pointless – Kamal Ahmed, Daily Telegraph
Here comes the boldest change to immigration in decades – and the riskiest – Anne McElvoy, The i
‘Will Starmer’s new masterplan ‘substantially’ reduce migration? The answer has to be no!’ – Alp Mehmet, Daily Express

Woke police chiefs forced to apologise after ex-cop nicked for criticising pro-Palestinian activist

“Julian Foulkes, 71, was briefly handcuffed after six officers with batons turned up. He said: “Free speech is clearly under attack.” The police were seen in bodycam footage remarking that some of his literature at his Gillingham home — including a book by Sun columnist Douglas Murray — looked “very Brexity”. … Ex-special constable Julian, who served Kent Police for a decade, had responded to a message backing UK Gaza demos — amid reports of anti-Jewish mobs storming an airport in Russia to confront Israeli citizens after the October 7 2023 Hamas attack. He was locked up for eight hours and given a caution. After a review, Kent Police has said sorry to him for the distress and expunged the caution from his record.” – The Sun

Police face lawsuit after former officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet – Daily Telegraph
British ICC chief ‘used Gaza to silence sexual assault accuser’ – Daily Telegraph

Comment:

Britain’s politicians are terrified of a revolt. Free speech crackdowns won’t save them – Sam Ashworth-Hayes, Daily Telegraph

EU reset continues

“British negotiators preparing for an EU ‘surrender summit’ are operating from a blueprint used by Switzerland – which has agreed to accept EU rules and pay into the Brussels budget in return for access to the single market. The summit, in London on May 19, is the moment Sir Keir Starmer hopes to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with the EU, but Brexiteers fear the term is code for a capitulation to the bloc – despite Britain’s vote to leave in 2016. Labour ministers have confirmed that the Government is ready to sign up to permanent alignment with EU rules in areas such as agriculture in return for a closer trading relationship, but deny that this amounts to reversing Brexit.” – Daily Mail

British troops could join EU forces under new security pact – Daily Express

> Today: Shakespeare told us ‘all the world’s a stage’ – but it’s the world stage that seduces Prime Ministers

Boost our pay or risk new strikes, say nurses – as Labour’s cabinet struggle to stay on track

“Unions and care providers have accused the government of putting services at risk after it confirmed plans to shut down the overseas care worker visa route. The long-awaited immigration white paper, to be published on Monday, includes measures to ban new recruitment from abroad for care roles, as part of a wider effort to reduce legal migration and prioritise UK-based workers. The decision has triggered an angry backlash from industry leaders and trade unions, who say the sector is already stretched to breaking point and still relies heavily on international staff to keep services running. Prof Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, said the government was “kicking us while we’re already down”.” – The Guardian

Rayner’s workers’ rights crush confidence to record low – Daily Telegraph
Angela Rayner warned huge plan will cost taxpayers billions – Daily Express
Higher earners should pay more in tax to let Reeves balance books, poll says – The i
Care homes barred from recruiting workers overseas – Daily Telegraph Ra
Rachel Reeves under pressure as £20,000 increase personal tax allowance showdown today – Daily Express

Comment:

Why should Labour be seen as the party of the workers? Reform UK will take that off them next – Lee Anderson, The Sun
There’s a new middle-class bill crisis brewing – Neil Record, Daily Telegraph
A big, explosive mess is brewing in the NHS – Isabel Hardman, The i
Bridget Phillipson isn’t a victim of ‘sexism’, she’s just useless – Annabel Denham, Daily Telegraph
‘Snatching money from pensioners is a stain on our country’ – Baroness Ros Altmann, Daily Express

Reform shedding councillors

A Reform UK councillor elected to Durham County Council just nine days ago has resigned his seat after failing to declare he worked for the council, the party has said. Andrew Kilburn was elected to the Benfieldside ward as Reform swept to victory in local elections in County Durham winning 65 seats and gaining overall control of the council. His resignation will not affect the party’s majority. A Reform spokesperson told ITV News: “We understand that Mr Kilburn did not declare his employment to the returning officer as expected and is now required to resign his seat.”” – Northern Echo

Lib Dems launch ‘Reform watch’ to monitor party in local government – The Guardian

Comment:

Nigel Farage could well become one of UK’s greatest ever leaders – James Whale, Daily Express
Reform’s council victories will strain relationship with the NHS – David Walker, Health Service Journal

> Today:

Kemi Badenoch: To be ready for next year’s elections we are going to review this year’s and build back stronger

Alexander Bowen: Underestimate local government at your peril – it can push back. We might want to learn how