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Labour are losing Scotland (again)

Today, I am writing to you from the Shetland Islands, where Nigel Farage is on the campaign trail as Reform attempts to make headway in Scotland. With the Holyrood elections fast approaching, a fascinating story is unfolding. After reaching its nadir only a couple of years ago, the SNP could be about to regain their majority. Annabel Denham, Senior Political Commentator Daily Telegraph 14/04/26 Two years ago, the SNP was in the doldrums. It had lost 38 Westminster seats, a chastening result and its worst since 2010. A contrite John Swinney, the Party’s third leader in two years, described the result as “very, very difficult and damaging”. The party was being interrogated over finance irregularities, and its CEO investigated for embezzlement. For all Nicola Sturgeon’s electoral success, her policy objectives had been a disaster, resulting in a stagnant education attainment gap, record-high drug deaths, worsening health outcomes, deteriorating public services and a large fiscal defi...
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EU rules to be imposed on Britain under Labour plans

Government to introduce legislation which means trade deals with bloc can be rubber-stamped without full vote in Parliament Daily Telegraph 13/04/26 European Union single market rules will be imposed on Britain without a full vote in Parliament under plans being drawn up by Labour. The Government will introduce legislation which means that once a trade deal has been struck with the bloc, any further rule changes can be rubber-stamped by MPs without debate. Ministers have already started negotiations on trade deals covering food and drink, net zero rules and access to the EU’s electricity market. But Sir Keir Starmer wants to go further and said earlier this month he wanted to start talks on an “ambitious” set of new deals, which could include cars, robotics, life sciences and climate technology robotics, life sciences and climate technology. It is the latest step in the Prime Minister’s “reset” with the EU under which Britain aims to align its trading rules more closely with tho...
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Landlords to be banned from selling to highest bidder under SNP plans

Tenants could be given first refusal at ‘fair market price’ on home sales Daily Telegraph 10/04/26 Landlords could be banned from selling their properties to the highest bidder under plans unveiled by the Scottish National Party (SNP) ahead of the election. John Swinney, the First Minister, pledged to introduce new laws that would give private renters “a period of first refusal” if their homes come up for sale, which would prevent landlords from freely selling their properties on the open market. Landlords would be forced to first offer their properties to their tenants “at a fair market price” if they put them up for sale, the SNP leader said. However, Mr Swinney did not explain how that price would be decided or by whom. Properties in areas such as Edinburgh are commonly sold for tens of thousands of pounds above their home report valuation. If that valuation were used as the basis for the new laws, landlords could lose a significant amount compared with selling on the open m...
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Starmer says he is ‘fed up’ with Trump

PM compares US president to Putin and states he is unhappy about impact of Iran war on British families Telegraph 10/04/26 Sir Keir Starmer said he was “fed up” with Donald Trump and appeared to compare him to Vladimir Putin. During a trip to the Gulf, the Prime Minister stated that he was unhappy with the impact of the Iran war on the domestic cost of living. Sir Keir told ITV’s Robert Peston: “I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses’ bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.” He also split with the US president over Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, saying the strikes “shouldn’t be happening”. “That should stop – that’s my strong view – and therefore, the question isn’t a technical one of whether it’s a breach of the agreement or not,” Sir Keir said. “We haven’t all got access to all the details of the ceasefire.” He then added: “Let me be really clear about i...
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Labour rebrands Starmer as global statesman in scramble for votes

Party plans to use Prime Minister’s involvement in Iran peace talks to shore up support before local elections Daily Telegraph 08/04/26 Labour has described Sir Keir Starmer as a global statesman in an attempt to avoid a wipeout at the local elections next month, The Telegraph understands. Party officials are planning to use the Prime Minister’s work on the Iran war to shore up support and keep Sir Keir in office. Although the elections will only directly affect councils in England and devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, a poor result for Labour will be viewed as a referendum on Sir Keir’s premiership. On Tuesday, Labour issued its first party election broadcast, which depicted Sir Keir against a black backdrop and between two Union flags. The video appeared to be an attempt to recreate an official Government podium, which under electoral law cannot be used for political campaigning. In the video, Sir Keir promised to “de-escalate and bring this conflict to an end”...
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Labour launches campaign against Zack Polanski to defeat Greens

Starmer’s strategists test anti-Green messaging, including leader’s former job as a breast enhancement hypnotist Daily Telegraph 06/04/26 Two years ago, before the last general election, voters could be forgiven for thinking of the Green Party as little more than a band of eco-friendly Leftists. The party’s main policies in 2024 included a faster target for reaching net zero, more NHS investment and an end to university tuition fees – funded by tax rises for the rich. But all that has changed with the election of Zack Polanski, the 43-year-old self-described “eco-populist”, who has lifted the party to tie with Labour and the Conservatives in the opinion polls, just four points behind Reform. Under his leadership, the party’s policy platform has shifted dramatically further to the Left and now features pledges to scrap drug laws, legalise prostitution and lower motorway speed limits to 55mph. Concerned by rising support for Mr Polanski among young people, Muslims and the middle ...
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Labour scrambles for candidates to avoid local elections bloodbath

Leaked emails implore party members to stand for office, telling them that ‘no experience is necessary’ Daily Telegraph 04/04/26 Sir Keir Starmer is desperately recruiting council candidates amid fears of a Labour bloodbath at the local elections next month. Leaked emails obtained by The Telegraph show the Labour Party is scrambling to find candidates to stand in the contests, with one local government committee begging its members to sign up. The leak is the latest in a series of embarrassing blows to the Prime Minister, whose premiership may once again be thrown into question if Labour is, as predicted, decimated at the ballot box in May. The Labour local government committee in Sutton, south-west London, has sent out at least three emails in the past seven days imploring members to stand in the elections. On Thursday, an email sent to Labour members stated: “The deadline for candidate nominations is next week and we still have a number of places left for members to stand for...
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