Boris Johnson ‘out of touch’ over cost of living crisis, says Keir Starmer
The Conservatives are on course to lose “hundreds” of seats, an elections guru warned ahead of polls opening across the UK today.
In an article for The Independent, Sir John Curtice warned that the Conservatives were on course to suffer major losses in the first big test of public opinion since the Partygate scandal hit headlines.
Meanwhile, the leader of one grassroots Tory group told The Independent that anger about the No 10 parties, topped up by fears over rising living costs, pointed to the party’s supporters staying at home on Thursday.
“People most affected by lockdown – those who missed weddings and funerals – still consider it a scandalous disgrace, and now they are feeling the impact of higher taxes and energy costs as well,” said John Strafford, head of the Campaign for Conservative Democracy.
It follows claims from Angela Rayner that Tory election candidates are ashamed to be linked with the prime minister, by running as “local Conservatives” and pleading with voters not to “punish” them for the Partygate scandal.
“It speaks volumes that Boris Johnson’s own Conservative candidates are ashamed to be associated with him and trying to pull the wool over voters’ eyes,” Labour’s deputy leader said.
1651707000I was told my body parts got me the job, female former minister saysA Conservative former minister has said she was told soon after being appointed to the role that she had “only been given that job because of certain body parts” she had.
Caroline Nokes, chairwoman of the Women and Equalities Committee, said: “I can remember being told when I was a very new minister that I’d only been given that job because of certain body parts that I had – and that’s what people were saying to my face.
“Who knows what they were saying behind my back.”
Jane Dalton has the story:
Emily Atkinson5 May 2022 00:30
1651703430Watch: Sadiq Khan says Grant Shapps ‘needs to grow up’ over Elizabeth Line announcementSadiq Khan says Grant Shapps ‘needs to grow up’ over Elizabeth Line announcement
Emily Atkinson4 May 2022 23:30
1651699830Martin Lewis condemns minister’s ‘patronising’ advice to buy value food brands amid cost-of-living crisisMartin Lewis has said a minister’s advice to those struggling to afford food amid the cost-of-living crisis was “patronising and difficult”.
Environment secretary George Eustice said on Wednesday morning that shoppers should choose value brands in supermarkets to “contain and manage their household budget”.
Mr Lewis, the founder of MoneySavingExpert.com said it was “bulls**t” to suggest people on the lowest incomes did not already know to shop cheap and do that.
Speaking to Andrew Marr on LBC about Mr Eustice’s comments, he said: “What is wrong is the concept that the people that are on the lowest incomes who are choosing between whether they freeze or starve, don’t know that and don’t do that, that’s the bulls***.”
Liam James has more:
Emily Atkinson4 May 2022 22:30
1651696289Screenshot claims to show Hartlepool council share purdah-breaking informationA screenshot of a Facebook post from Hartlepool Borough Council claims to share quotes from its returning officer, Denise McGuckin, openly announcing a new “flagship leisure development” and endorsing the Conservative Mayor, Ben Houchen.
The post contained in the screenshot appears to have been deleted from the council’s Facebook page.
The Independent has approached Hartlepool Borough Council for comment.
Emily Atkinson4 May 2022 21:31
1651692620Opinion: How the local elections could make or break Boris JohnsonAt first glance, the omens are not good for Boris Johnson. His party shows no sign of recovering the poll lead it enjoyed in this parliament until his probity and ethics became the subject of controversy. On average the Conservatives currently trail Labour by six points. That represents as much as a nine-point swing since the 2019 general election, writes John Curtice.
However, this week’s elections are very different from the general election. Most of the seats up for grabs in England were last fought over in May 2018, when Theresa May was trying to keep her fractious party together on Brexit, while Jeremy Corbyn was fending off claims of antisemitism.
Emily Atkinson4 May 2022 20:30
1651688720Press watchdog IPSO rejects all complaints about Angela Rayner Mail article after more than 6000 objectionsThe press watchdog has rejected all complaints about an article claiming Angela Rayner crossed and uncrossed her legs in the Commons in a bid to distract Boris Johnson.
Anonymous Tory MPs quoted in a Mail on Sunday article claimed the deputy Labour leader tried to knock the prime minister “off his stride” during Prime Minister’s Questions by “crossing and uncrossing her legs” in a scene supposedly reminiscent of the film Basic Instinct.
The article, headlined “Stone the crows! Tories accuse Rayner of Basic Instinct ploy to distract Boris”, sparked outrage across the political spectrum, with many branding it misogynistic.
My colleague Chiara Giordano reports:
Emily Atkinson4 May 2022 19:25
1651687820Local elections 2022: When to expect the resultsMillions of voters will head to the polls across the UK in a matter of hours, with local elections being held across England, Scotland and Wales.
In England there are over 4,300 seats being contested — including all London boroughs — while all of Scotland’s 32 councils and 22 Welsh councils are up for grabs.
They will coincide with Northern Ireland’s 2022 Assembly election, with voters deciding on 90 members, representing 18 constituencies, to send to Stormont.
Here The Independent’s poltical correspondent Ashley Cowburn looks at the estimated timings for key declarations for the local elections.
Emily Atkinson4 May 2022 19:10
1651686920Bristol City Council appears to put out appeal for vote counters day before election, email showsBristol City Council appear to have put out an appeal for vote counters just one day before the local election.
An email sent from a redacted address – and shared via the Twitter of former councillor for Ashley (Bristol), Rob Bryher – reads:
Dear All,
You have been sent this as you have previously worked for us in North Somerset as a Poll Clerk.
We don’t have any scheduled this May (tomorrow!), but Bristol has asked that I contact you to ask if you may be interested in working for them as a ‘one-off’ on Thursday May 5th (tomorrow!) as they are in urgent need of experienced Poll Clerks.
The Independent has approached Bristol City Council for comment.
Emily Atkinson4 May 2022 18:55
1651686020Russian businesses banned from using UK-based accountancy firmsThe UK has announced a new wave of sanctions which will see Russian businesses cut off from Britain’s accountancy, management consultancy and PR sectors.
Moscow is “heavily reliant” on service companies in Western countries, the government say – and cutting off UK services will account for 10 per cent of Russian imports in the sectors affected.
It also also announced 63 new sanctions, including travel bans and assets freezes for individuals linked to Russian broadcasters and newspapers, and sanctions against mainstream media organisations.
Foreign secretary Liz Truss said: “Doing business with Putin’s regime is morally bankrupt and helps fund a war machine that is causing untold suffering across Ukraine.
“Cutting Russia’s access to British services will put more pressure on the Kremlin and ultimately help ensure Putin fails in Ukraine.”
Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, added: “Our professional services exports are extraordinarily valuable to many countries, which is exactly why we’re locking Russia out.
“By restricting Russia’s access to our world-class management consultants, accountants and PR firms, we’re ratcheting up economic pressure on the Kremlin to change course.”
Emily Atkinson4 May 2022 18:40
1651685120Boris Johnson hit by grassroots Tory revolt over Partygate as voters go to the polls The prime minister was also hit by two of his former councillors releasing letters urging voters to back other parties, accusing the prime minister of “spreading lies” and “taking us for fools”.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has the story:
Emily Atkinson4 May 2022 18:25
