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☆ Opinion | The Cruel Spectacle of British Asylum Policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Daniel Trilling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Rwanda, the court said, might send them back to countries where their lives could be at risk. The law that passed last week aims to override that court ruling by declaring that Rwanda is safe. Legality aside, it has never been clear that the policy is even capable of working. So what is the point of the Rwanda policy? But Mr. Sunak — under pressure from his party’s right to accede to their demands on immigration — needs an emphatic win, or at least something that looks like one.

Persons: —, Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel, ” It’s, Sunak’s, Sunak, Liz Truss, Mr, He’s Organizations: United Nations ’, Rwanda —, Conservative Party, Labour, Mr, Conservative Locations: Rwanda, Kigali

☆ U.K. Conservatives Hold Their Breath: How Bad Will Local Elections Be?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Mark Landler | More About Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When voters in England and Wales go to the polls on Thursday to elect mayors and local council members, the outcome will inevitably be seen as a barometer for Britain’s coming general election. Given the sour public mood and the Conservative Party’s dire poll ratings, the storm clouds are already forming. The big question is not whether the governing Conservatives will lose seats — that is a foregone conclusion among pollsters — but whether the losses will exceed or fall short of expectations after 18 months in which the Tories have consistently trailed the opposition Labour Party by yawning margins. “If a party has been 20 points behind the opposition for 18 months, how much worse can it get?” said Tony Travers, a professor of politics at the London School of Economics. “The losses would have to be very, very bad for it to be viewed as a negative result for the Conservatives, and they are unlikely to be good enough for Labour for it to be viewed as a success.”

Persons: pollsters, ”, Tony Travers Organizations: Wales, Conservative, Conservatives, Tories, Labour Party, London School of Economics, Labour Locations: England

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak escalated his war of words with the leader of Greece on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of trying to “grandstand” over the disputed Parthenon Marbles and breaking a promise to the U.K. government. Athens wants them returned so they can be displayed alongside the rest of the Parthenon sculptures at a purpose-built museum in Athens. Sunak said Mitsotakis had reneged on a promise not to talk publicly about the marbles during his visit. The leader of the U.K. opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, met with Mitsotakis in London on Monday. It’s not that difficult, prime minister.”___Associated Press writers Nicholas Paphitis and Derek Gatopoulos in Athens contributed to this report.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, Lord Elgin, Sunak, Leonardo da Vinci’s, Mona Lisa ”, ” Sunak, “, Critics, Keir Starmer, Starmer, ”, ” Starmer, It’s, Nicholas Paphitis, Derek Gatopoulos Organizations: British, British Museum, ”, “, European Union, Conservative, National Health Service, Labour Party, Mitsotakis, Associated Press Locations: Greece, Athens, loggerheads, United Kingdom, ” Greece, Brexit, London

☆ Rwanda deportation plan: UK Supreme Court blocks asylum seekers plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The UK’s highest court ruled unanimously against the government, siding instead with a previous appeals court ruling that found the policy – which has been roundly condemned by humanitarian bodies – was not lawful. Protesters waited outside the Supreme Court ahead of Wednesday's ruling. The Rwanda plan was unveiled in response to a soaring number of perilous small boat crossings made by asylum seekers across the English Channel. Under the policy, some asylum seekers would be sent to Rwanda for their asylum claims to be processed. The court found that concerns about the Rwandan asylum processing system, and its human rights record, were serious enough to rule the policy illegal.

Persons: London CNN —, Rishi Sunak’s, –, Leon Neal, ”, Sunak, “, ” Sunak, Britain’s, Priti Patel, Suella Braverman, Braverman, Natalie Elphicke, Yvette Cooper, Rishi, ” Cooper Organizations: London CNN, Conservative, Conservative Party, Human Rights, Protesters, Getty, Channel, Home, BBC, European, of Human Rights, Dover, “ Locations: Rwanda, London, France, British, England, Europe, Britain

☆ Sunak rolls the dice with Cameron resurrection
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Rishi Sunak's latest pivot is riskier than it might look. The British prime minister has appointed former leader David Cameron as foreign secretary, part of a reshuffle in which he sacked firebrand Home Secretary Suella Braverman. The move suggests Sunak may be looking to appeal to centrist voters ahead of next year’s national ballot, but that may also make his party more fragile. Cameron, who left parliament in 2016 after proposing a referendum on Brexit he then lost, isn’t an obvious choice for Sunak. Centrist voters may not forgive him for allowing an EU referendum and jumping ship shortly afterwards.

Persons: David Cameron, Suella Braverman, Cameron, Keir Starmer, Sunak, Neil Unmack, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, firebrand, Greensill Capital, Conservative, X, Thomson

☆ A Look at Suella Braverman’s Turbulent Time as Home Secretary.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Megan Specia | More About Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Here’s a look at some of Ms. Braverman’s most prominent disputes. Despite her dismissal, Ms. Braverman was again appointed home secretary six days later, on Mr. Sunak’s first day in office. While the plan was first announced by Ms. Braverman’s predecessor, Priti Patel, Ms. Braverman has been an ardent supporter and put the policy front and center. Ms. Braverman had for weeks characterized these protests as “hate marches,” despite the fact that the demonstrations have been mostly peaceful. But then Ms. Braverman, who as home secretary oversees policing in Britain, went a step further later in the week.

Persons: Braverman, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Braverman’s, Truss, Sunak’s, Priti Patel, Sunak, ” Organizations: Conservative, Appeal, London’s Metropolitan Police Service, Islamists, Hamas Locations: Britain, Rwanda, Israel, Gaza, London

The week starts off with a bevy of unpleasant surprises for the markets and the economy but with maybe a hope of good news on the inflation front. “The decline in oil prices will feature prominently in explaining October's CPI and PPI reports. Core CPI likely slowed in October as well, with lower prices of new and used cars, lower airfares, and lower shelter costs all leaning the same way. PPI inflation likely moderated in October, too, with diesel prices following crude oil prices lower, albeit not by as much as gasoline. Powell’s comments were not anything new, but the timing seemed to suggest he was dampening down enthusiasm in the markets.

Persons: Moody’s, Mike Johnson, ”, Bob Doll, Republican Sen, Tim Scott of, David Cameron, Rishi Sunak, Stocks, Bill Adams, Waran Bhahirethan, ” Adams, Jerome Powell spooked, ” Powell, Oliver Rust, Sam Bullard, ” Bullard Organizations: U.S, AAA, Louisiana Republican, GOP, Senate, Crossmark Global Investments, Republican, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Conservative, Analysts, Comerica Bank, PPI, CPI, Federal Reserve, International Monetary Fund, Central Bank, “, Wells Locations: U.S, Louisiana, Tim Scott of South, London, Iraq, Syria, Gaza City, September’s, Israel, Washington

☆ Turmoil in UK government after key minister slams police ahead of pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

On Saturday, the UK will mark Armistice Day – the date commemorating the de-facto end of World War I. Also on Saturday, pro-Palestinian protesters will march through central London demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Every living UK Prime Minister lays a wreath at the monument, along with other senior politicians, visiting dignitaries and members of the royal family. Banning such a protest in the name of those who died for precisely these sorts of freedoms is not the best look on Armistice Day. The Conservative Party’s poll ratings are poor and Sunak is already barely holding together a fragile coalition of parliamentarians.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Leon Neal, Banning, Sunak’s, Braverman, ” Braverman, Keir Starmer, Downing, Mark Kerrison, ” Sunak, Brexit, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, – Organizations: London CNN, Getty, London’s Metropolitan Police Service, Conservative, National Conservatism Conference, Emmanuel Centre, Conservative Party Locations: London, Israel, Downing, Times, England, Gaza, Northern Irish, Charing, Westminster

☆ Labour Party Conference: Meet Keir Starmer, Britain's likely next Prime Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

At least that’s how it felt in Liverpool, where the opposition Labour Party held its annual conference this week. In front of a packed hall, Labour leader Keir Starmer gave an upbeat speech painting the ruling Conservatives as the party of national decline and Labour as the party of stability. A protestor throws glitter over Labour party leader, Keir Starmer during the leader's speech at the Labour Party conference on October 10, 2023 in Liverpool, England. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves makes her keynote speech during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on October 9, 2023. The story Labour is telling right now isn’t just the story of Keir Starmer, leader in waiting, but Keir Starmer and his political allies, who are the government in waiting.

Persons: Keir Starmer, “, Ian Forsyth, wilder, Jeremy Corbyn, –, Corbyn’s, Starmer, Corbyn, Boris Johnson’s “, Liz, ”, Queen Elizabeth II, David Lammy, Lammy, he’d, Johnson, Rachel Reeves, Peter Byrne, Jeremy Hunt’s, won’t, Trump, Labour – Organizations: Liverpool CNN, Labour Party, Labour, Conservative, Conservative Party’s, CNN, Conservative Party, Northern, Conservatives ’, Government, University of Leeds, Oxford, Cambridge, Public Prosecutions, Labour Party Conference, Corbyn, Biden, Conservatives Locations: Liverpool, Manchester, England, Corbyn, Israel, Britain, America, Germany, Labour’s

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — U.K. Home Secretary Suella Braverman railed against unauthorized migrants, human rights laws and "woke" critics of her hard-line policies Tuesday, as she tried to secure her place as the flag-bearer of the Conservative Party’s authoritarian law-and-order wing. Political Cartoons View All 1196 ImagesBraverman's speech to party activists contained little new policy and had the feel of an election rally. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are lagging behind Labour in opinion polls with an election due by the end of 2024. Many members attending the four-day conference are looking ahead to a leadership contest that would likely follow a defeat. Braverman makes some Conservatives worry the party is regaining its image as “the nasty party,” as former Prime Minister Theresa May once called it.

Persons: Suella Braverman, Braverman, ” Braverman, Rishi Sunak’s, ”, shouldn't, Theresa May, Sunak, “, Gideon Skinner, Ipsos, Andrew Boff, ” Sunak Organizations: Home, Conservative, Conservatives, Labour, Human, Englanders, Kingdom's, Delegates, London Assembly, Conservative Party, BBC Locations: MANCHESTER, England, Britain, Rwanda, Cambridge

☆ Britain’s Rishi Sunak has a month to shake his party from its slumber. If he fails, the next election could already be over
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

London CNN —Rishi Sunak has just under a month to answer the most critical question he faces as British Prime Minister: why does his Conservative Party deserve another five years in power at the next election? They trail the opposition Labour Party in the polls and there is a distinct stench of a party nearing the end of its time in office lingering in the air. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gives an update on the progress made since he introduced the Illegal Migration Bill, under his plans to "stop the boats," on June 5, 2023 in Dover, England. Unfortunately for the prime minister, his own MPs are divided on even that question. As the UK’s finance minister, Sunak won praise for the financial support he offered people who could not work during lockdowns.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Yui Mok, Ben Stansall, ”, Labour Party’s Keir Starmer, Starmer, “, Chris J Ratcliffe, Covid, Rob Ford, ” Ford Organizations: London CNN, Conservative Party, Conservative, Labour Party, Police, Bibby, Getty, Labour, Commons, Conservatives, CNN, That’s, University of Manchester Locations: Manchester, England, United Kingdom, Dover , England, Britain’s, Birmingham, Bibby Stockholm, AFP, London

☆ Rishi Sunak suffers two election losses as British voters reject ailing Conservative government
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Conservative Party lost to the resurgent Labour Party in Selby and Ainsty, a region in the north of England where the Sunak’s party had enjoyed a commanding majority. But the results indicate that the opposition Labour Party, which under the leadership of Keir Starmer is on course to clinch power when Sunak calls a general election. But in Selby, in the north of England, Labour overturned a huge deficit to win the seat with 46% of the votes, according to PA. The results amount to a significant rejection of Sunak’s Conservative Party, which has been in power for 13 years and has seen its opinion poll ratings nosedive towards the end of Johnson’s tenure, and since. Sunak will now look to steady his leadership and fight off any growing murmurs of a challenge within his party.

Persons: London CNN — Britain’s, Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, Sunak, Keir Starmer, Liz Truss’s shambolic, Steve Tuckwell, Johnson, “, Nigel Adams, Johnson’s, ” Organizations: London CNN, Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Labour, Conservative, Britain’s Press Association, Sunak’s Conservative Party Locations: Selby, Ainsty, England, Somerton, Frome, Uxbridge, South Ruislip

Although it is clearly a historic achievement, we should not be fooled into thinking this is a milestone for the U.K.’s minority communities. Sunak, and the ruling Conservative Party he now heads, have been no champions of minority communities like mine. Sunak pointed to his pride in being an immigrant in such a country of opportunity in an early campaign video. Yet it is people of color who make up much of the working-class population that Sunak avoids associating with. Although politicians like Sunak come from immigrant communities, their policies have been to those communities’ detriment.

☆ U.K.'s Sunak face Parliament for the first time as prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Rishi Sunak faced the opposition in Parliament for the first time as Britain’s prime minister Wednesday, seeking to provide assurances that his new government would offer economic stability and continuity after his predecessor’s tax plans triggered market tumult. He also quietly reinstituted a moratorium on fracking that was part of the Conservative Party’s 2019 election platform. “We will have to take difficult decisions to restore economic stability and confidence,” Sunak told the House of Commons. Sunak is seen by Conservatives as a safe pair of hands they hope can stabilize an economy sliding toward recession — and stem the party’s plunging popularity. Sunak brought in people from different wings of the Conservative Party for his Cabinet.

☆ Massive fiscal U-turn leaves UK in political funk
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Pierre Briancon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

By the tax year ending in April 2027 this should help the government claw back 32 billion pounds of the 45 billion pounds a year Kwarteng and Truss had planned. Beyond that, the scheme, which the government had estimated might cost some 60 billion pounds over six months, will become less generous. The pound strengthened against the U.S. dollar while yields on 10-year UK government bonds declined by nearly 45 basis points. But they remain at 12-year highs, suggesting that the UK has much to do to regain credibility with global investors. Government spending cuts will also be required to narrow a hole in public finances that the Sunday Times reported was as big as 72 billion pounds ($81 billion).

LONDON — British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Monday ditched her signature plan to cut taxes for the country's top earners after it triggered market turmoil and a huge domestic outcry. The pound rose after the announcement to around $1.12 — about the value it held before the Sept. 23 budget announcements. The dramatic reversal comes just hours after Truss defiantly defended the tax cut and her broader radical economic agenda, saying it was necessary to solve the country’s long-term economic woes. Faced with a growing political rebellion after days of economic chaos, the government said early Monday it was abandoning the plan. The plan to cut taxes for the wealthy was part of a broader "mini-budget" announced soon after the new administration took office.

☆ Factbox: A history of UK currency crises and crashes
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The currency fell as low $1.0327 at one point. read more It has fallen almost 8% since Thursday and 21% since the start of the year, a pace drawing comparisons with the currency crises that have marked Britain’s post-war history. Britain also used some creative accounting to hide the extent of its foreign exchange reserves losses, such as in a 12.5 billion pound "secret negative forward book". Against a soaring U.S. currency swelled by global trade imbalances, parity with the dollar - once unthinkable - became a real possibility. A briefing to the media in January 1985 from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s press secretary, intended to reassure financial markets, backfired badly.

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