Newslinks for Friday 25th April 2025

Yvette Cooper considers ‘one in one out’ EU youth mobility scheme

“Yvette Cooper is open to a “one in one out” youth mobility scheme with the European Union that would allow thousands of young British and European people to work and study across the continent. The home secretary had been seen as the biggest stumbling block to a deal amid concerns that any agreement could push up politically sensitive net migration figures. But government sources insisted that Cooper was now supportive in principle of the plan as long as it was “capped” to ensure that there could be no return to pre-Brexit freedom of movement.” – The Times

• Brexit U-turn fears as Germany demands Sir Keir Starmer lets young Europeans live and work in Britain – The Sun
• Migration bombshell as Labour plans ‘one in one out’ deal with EU – Daily Express

Comment:

• Keir Starmer is about to give away our border controls under the pretence of a trade deal – Kemi Badenoch, The Sun
• Yvette Cooper is the government’s new gatekeeper – Patrick Maguire, The Times

> Yesterday: If the Conservative Party is going to demand new immigration data, it must endorse the policy implications

Hotel firm housing asylum seekers in ‘all-inclusive resort’ paid £700m a year

“A hotel firm housing asylum seekers raked in £700million a year in taxpayers’ cash. Stay Belvedere Hotels Ltd, which runs 51 UK sites, has been a big winner from the boats crisis. Crossings stand at 9,638 already this year. Labour has pledged to close the hotels and “save billions”. Providing rooms for asylum seekers costs £5.5million a day, with 38,000 people housed in around 210 sites. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The taxpayer is picking up the bill for Labour’s loss of control of our borders. “So far 2025 has been the worst year ever for migrants crossing the Channel,  who invariably end up in taxpayer-funded hotels or flats.” – The Sun

• Nigel Farage unveils four-point migration plan as Reform makes major deportation promise – GB News

Comment:

• Impossible is nothing when Farage is drafting policies – Madeline Grant, Daily Telegraph

Starmer challenges Trump peace plan for Ukraine

“Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that Ukraine must be allowed to decide the terms of any peace deal with Russia in a challenge to proposals by Donald Trump. The Prime Minister contradicted Mr Trump by saying that the “courageous” Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, was not to blame for the failure to strike an agreement ending the war. Sir Keir also refused to back US plans to formally recognise Crimea as Russian in any negotiated settlement with Vladimir Putin, and demanded that Moscow agree to an “unconditional ceasefire”.” – Daily Telegraph

• Golf, ‘Beer Starmer’ and a toxic gas leak – on board an aircraft carrier with the PM – Daily Telegraph
• Ukraine gets nothing in Trump’s proposals for peace, says Boris Johnson – The Guardian
• UK could scrap plans to send thousands of troops to Ukraine – The Times
• Donald Trump hints at first trade deal – and it’s bad news for Keir Starmer – Daily Express

Comment:

• It’s money that keeps Trump’s chaos in check – Emma Duncan, The Times
• Abandoning Kyiv to a bloody fate at the hands of tyrant Putin would seriously diminish America’s standing – The Sun Says
• These attacks on Kyiv are proof Putin is emboldened by US appeasement – Ian Birrell, Daily Mail
• Trump’s Ukraine plan is light on safeguards and heavy on concessions – The Times View

Trans debate rolls on

“Trans people are seeking asylum abroad amid fears for their safety after last week’s Supreme Court judgment, a Labour peer has claimed. Lord Cashman said friends were looking to leave Britain after the country’s highest court ruled that transgender women are not legally women. It came as Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, suggested that he wished he had listened to women’s concerns about the Government’s trans stance sooner.” – Daily Telegraph

Comment:

• Why our huffy and intransigent PM is still stuck in sanctimonious lockstep with the BBC on trans rights – Jan Moir, Daily Mail
• Britain has finally overthrown the suffocating tyranny of the woke Left – Sherelle Jacobs, Daily Telegraph

> Today: Sarah Ingham: Why did it take the Supreme Court to deliver what 14 years of Conservative government would not?

Mayoralties – and Khan losing control

“Sadiq Khan has been accused of “losing control” of London’s streets after new crime figures revealed the capital accounted for nearly a third of all knife offences in England and Wales last year. Susan Hall, City Hall Conservative Crime Spokeswoman and former London mayoral candidate, said the Labour Mayor had allowed a “knife crime epidemic” to take hold during his time in office — and demanded urgent action to reverse what she called a “catastrophic failure in leadership”.” – Daily Express

• ‘Senseless vanity project’: Sadiq Khan faces backlash over Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans – The Standard
• Mayor accused of ‘power grab’ over Oxford Street – BBC News
• Inside ‘vicious’ mayoral battle that’s seen ex-Miss UK finalist Reform candidate ‘hit by sex smears’ & reported to cops – The Sun

Comment:

• Don’t abolish the Mayor, just get rid of Sadiq Khan – Neil Garratt, CityAM

News in brief:

• Conservatives all over the Anglosphere are paying the price for Trump – Henry Hill, The Spectator
• Will Starmer take on landowners? – Guy Shrubsole, Unherd
• Businesses, get back to work! WFH is harming young people – Joanna Jensen, CityAM
• Is a conservative Briton the future of California? – Harry Phibbs, CapX
• The rise and rise of “The UK” – Michael Reiners, The Critic