Steve Baker on how to organise a successful rebellion
He also blames Labour's problems on their 'bombs not benefits' approach, explains why the current welfare rebellion demonstrates that 'the facts of life are Conservative' and argues that it has been a mistake for the Conservatives not the support Labour's original approach to reducing the winter fuel allowance.
Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.
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South Wales Guardian
17 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Swinney: My focus is on the future and Scotland – not Sturgeon's book
John Swinney said while he has read some extracts from the former first minister's memoirs, Frankly, which were published last week, he has not yet read yet the entire book. But he refused to comment on her claims about Alex Salmond, with the current SNP leader saying: 'For me, in my role today, and what I have got to do for Scotland just now, I have got focus on the country and the future.' He insisted: 'That's what is driving everything I do in my political life, what is the future of Scotland, what is the best future for Scotland. 'That is what I am best to concentrate my thinking on.' Mr Swinney was pressed on the matter by Chris Deerin, director of the think tank Enlighten, which was formerly known as Reform Scotland. At an event in Edinburgh on Tuesday, Mr Deerin said Ms Sturgeon had portrayed her predecessor 'at times as a bully, a bit of a drunk, as a man who was detached from the details'. In her book, Ms Sturgeon, who was first minister in Scotland and SNP leader between 2014 and 2023, set out how her relationship with her predecessor Mr Salmond deteriorated – claiming in the book that after she took on the top job her former mentor had wanted to 'destroy' her. She insisted her relationship with the late politician began to started to sour after she became leader of Scotland. She added that her infamous falling out with her predecessor was a 'bruising episode', as she claimed Mr Salmond had created a 'conspiracy theory' to defend himself from reckoning with misconduct allegations, of which he was cleared in court. Mr Swinney said, on Tuesday, that the memoirs gave a 'fascinating insight into Scottish political history', as he praised Ms Sturgeon for her leadership during the Covid pandemic. The SNP leader, who was deputy first minister at that time, told the audience at the Enlighten event: 'We were all taking big decisions in difficult circumstance.' He added: 'In a moment of absolutely unparalleled difficulty for the country, in which there was no manual, there was no precedent, I saw Nicola Sturgeon deliver considered and careful leadership as we moved our way through the pandemic, under enormous strain of delivering against those expectations, those difficulties.' He went on to state that 'leadership is not easy', with Mr Swinney explaining: 'I feel that way, it is not straight forward, the decisions I take are invariably contested decisions.' As a result, he said, making such decisions was 'inevitably' a 'very lonely place'. The First Minister added: 'Ultimately, it is your call, you have got to decide. 'And I think some of that is explained in Nicola's book about what she felt at times.'
Daily Record
17 minutes ago
- Daily Record
John Swinney refuses to comment on Nicola Sturgeon's claims about Alex Salmond
The First Minister refused to comment on claims made by Nicola Sturgeon about former SNP leader Alex Salmond in her memoirs. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has said he must "focus on the country and the future" as he declined to comment on claims made by his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon. Speaking after excerpts from Ms Sturgeon's memoir Frankly were published last week, Mr Swinney said he had read some sections of the book but had not yet finished it in full. When asked about her claims regarding Alex Salmond, the current SNP leader said: "For me, in my role today, and what I have got to do for Scotland just now, I have got to focus on the country and the future." He insisted: 'That's what is driving everything I do in my political life, what is the future of Scotland, what is the best future for Scotland. 'That is what I am best to concentrate my thinking on.' Mr Swinney made the comments at an event in Edinburgh on Tuesday, where he was pressed by Chris Deerin, director of the think tank Enlighten, formerly known as Reform Scotland. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Mr Deerin said Ms Sturgeon had portrayed her predecessor "at times as a bully, a bit of a drunk, as a man who was detached from the details." In her memoir, Ms Sturgeon, who served as First Minister and SNP leader from 2014 to 2023, described how her relationship with Mr Salmond broke down. She insisted her relationship with the late politician began to started to sour after she became leader of Scotland. She added that her infamous falling out with her predecessor was a 'bruising episode', as she claimed Mr Salmond had created a 'conspiracy theory' to defend himself from reckoning with misconduct allegations, of which he was cleared in court. Mr Swinney said, on Tuesday, that the memoirs gave a 'fascinating insight into Scottish political history', as he praised Ms Sturgeon for her leadership during the Covid pandemic. The SNP leader, who was deputy first minister at that time, told the audience at the Enlighten event: 'We were all taking big decisions in difficult circumstance.' He added: 'In a moment of absolutely unparalleled difficulty for the country, in which there was no manual, there was no precedent, I saw Nicola Sturgeon deliver considered and careful leadership as we moved our way through the pandemic, under enormous strain of delivering against those expectations, those difficulties.' He went on to state that 'leadership is not easy', with Mr Swinney explaining: 'I feel that way, it is not straight forward, the decisions I take are invariably contested decisions.' As a result, he said, making such decisions was 'inevitably' a 'very lonely place'. 'And I think some of that is explained in Nicola's book about what she felt at times.'
The Guardian
17 minutes ago
- The Guardian
High court asylum hotels ruling leaves Cooper scrambling for alternatives
Yvette Cooper, thanks to Tuesday's high court ruling, is facing potentially explosive decisions over where to house asylum seekers if courts rule that they must leave hotels. The Home Office, usually under Conservative ministers, has been struggling for five years to find an alternative to hotels so they can house a growing number of asylum seekers reaching these shores. Labour has said that it expects to empty the 200-odd hotels housing asylum seekers by 2029. Ministers may be forced to rip up that plan and move at a rapid pace because of the ruling's implications. If councils take to the high court to complain about the use of a hotel for housing asylum seekers – and many will be under immense political pressure from the public to do so – it could force officials to find alternative housing for thousands of people. Legal sources believe that there will be similar grounds to launch applications for interim injunctions from a number of councils. This case has centred on an alleged breach of planning laws by owners of the Bell hotel, who it was claimed did not get permission to switch use from a hotel to hostel-style accommodation. Other hotel owners are thought to be in similar positions to Somani Hotels Limited, which originally housed families in the Bell, but faced a legal challenge after the asylum seekers were switched to single men. Ominously for the government, the Reform UK deputy leader, Richard Tice, said his party would look at pursuing similar cases regarding hotels within the 10 council areas it controls, which include both North and West Northamptonshire councils, Doncaster, and Kent and Staffordshire county councils. And the high court rulings can require a rapid response. Epping's application for an interim was launched on 12 August. By 4pm on 12 September, all asylum seekers will have to be removed from The Bell hotel. There may yet be a lifeline for the government. They could convince the court of appeal to overturn the decision. The fact that the Home Office was not allowed to intervene in a case which was directly related to the home secretary's duties to house asylum seekers could well be seized upon by government lawyers. If they fail to overturn the decision, they will face the same dilemma as successive Tory home secretaries going back to Priti Patel, who promised and failed to find alternatives to hotels to house asylum seekers. The number of asylum hotels soared to 400 under successive Tory home secretaries because of a shortage of housing, a growing backlog in asylum applications, and a failure to establish large accommodation sites in buildings such as disused military barracks. Since coming to power, Labour has increased the speed at which applications are processed, by using more 'dispersal accommodation' such as flats and housing in the community. Questions will no doubt be asked inside the department as to why it took the Home Office until Monday to try to intervene in the case. If it had done so last week, when the case came to court, it would have stood a better chance of preventing the injunction. The political implications of the ruling will continue to unsettle Cooper and No 10. Yet again, the government has been caught flat-footed on an immigration-related issue, as it struggles with soaring numbers of small boats crossing the Channel. Anti-asylum seeker protesters will see this as a victory in response to their demonstrations across the country this summer. Reform UK and its leader, Nigel Farage, currently leading in most polls, will be buoyed by the prospect of further embarrassment for the government.
