Newslinks for Monday 21st July 2025

Wealth tax expected to come off the table

“Rachel Reeves is expected to reject pressure from left-wing Labour MPs to implement a wealth tax after cabinet ministers warned that it would not raise any money because wealthy people would simply leave the UK. The chancellor is being pressed by backbenchers and unions to levy a new tax on the savings, investments and property of the wealthy. Lord Kinnock, the former Labour leader, has suggested there should be a 2 per cent tax on assets worth more than £10 million. Cabinet ministers told The Times that a wealth tax was a “non-starter”. The government is trying to fill a hole of as much as £30 billion in the public finances. “Wealth taxes don’t work,” one cabinet minister said. “Just look at what’s happened in other countries that have introduced them. They just don’t raise money, certainly not the kind of money that we’re looking for.” Another cabinet minister said a wealth tax was “off the table”. They said: “Wealthy people are mobile, they can move their assets to other more favourable jurisdictions.” However, a senior government source said that Reeves was reluctant to rule out wealth taxes publicly. They said that other options, such as increasing capital gains tax and a tax raid on pensioners, could arguably be described as a wealth tax and therefore both remain under consideration.” – The Times

• Rachel Reeves ‘considering tax raid on pensioners’ as she defies Labour left’s calls for wealth tax – GB News
• How Labour is ‘taxing the high street into bankruptcy’: Family-run pubs, bakeries and shops are hit with sneaky 200% hikes in business rates – Daily Mail
• Rachel Reeves warned to avoid ‘harmful’ move that could ‘define’ her – Daily Express
• Wealth tax would be a ‘dangerous road to go down’, BNP investment chief warns – CityAM

Comment:

• Making pensions popular is tough but vital – James Kirkup, The Times
• Starmer’s Labour Party has found a new enemy: baby boomers like me – Daniel Johnson, Daily Telegraph
• Starmer’s government is becoming a Blairite tribute band – without the hits – The i
• Farm tax outrage must not be forced down the agenda by Labour’s meltdown – Duncan Barkes, Daily Express

Reform’s plan to tackle crime, including plans to rent prison space overseas

“Twisted criminals like child-killer Ian Huntley would be sent to jails in El Salvador to serve their sentences under a Reform UK government. Party leader Nigel Farage is today set to unveil plans to rent prison space overseas — including in Central America — to cage Britain’s most depraved murderers and paedophiles. The proposed scheme would see more than 10,000 serious offenders locked up in “partner” nations — with a Reform source yesterday confirming: “We would consider multiple partners including El Salvador.” And Mr Farage told The Sun: “For too long, ­Labour and the Tories have sent the message that crime in Britain carries little to no consequence. Reform will change that. “If you’re a criminal, we are putting you on notice. In 2029 you have a choice to make: be a law-abiding citizen or face serious justice.” In Westminster, Mr Farage will outline proposals to lease overseas cells, providing a cost-effective ­solution at a time when our jails are nearing breaking point.” – The Sun

• Farage: Reform will end early release of serious criminals – Daily Telegraph
• Nigel Farage to build ‘Nightingale prisons’ if he wins election – The Times
• Nigel Farage says ex-Reform chair liking antisemitic post about Robert Jenrick and his family is ‘one little mistake’ – Sky News

Comment:

• My part in Britain’s illegal immigration crisis – Michael Mosbacher, Daily Telegraph
• Keir Starmer’s end-of-term report card is in and it makes for grim reading – Kate Ferguson, The Sun

Islamophobia definition row continues

“Angela Rayner’s proposal for an official definition of Islamophobia would hand Reform a 100-seat majority at the expense of Labour, a poll has found. The Deputy Prime Minister has appointed a panel to draw up a new definition to be applied across the public sector, despite fears it will prevent politicians speaking up about Asian grooming gangs. Now a survey of 2,000 people has found that Labour polls significantly worse among voters who are told about the Islamophobia plan. Before voters were told about the proposal, Reform polled 29 per cent, Labour 23 per cent, Conservatives 17 per cent, and the Liberal Democrats 14 per cent. But when the people polled were asked how they would vote if Labour brought in a definition of Islamophobia, Reform rose by one point to 30 per cent and Labour fell three points to 20 per cent. If replicated at a general election, that would be the difference between a Reform majority of 20 without the Islamophobia definition, and 106 if it were brought in. Bringing in the definition would cause a loss of one million votes to Labour, and a fall in its seats in the Commons from 155 to 103.” – Daily Telegraph

• Ministers are under pressure to ditch ‘two-tier’ plans for a new definition of Islamophobia – Daily Mail
• Shock poll finds Angela Rayner’s Islamophobia plan will hand Nigel Farage 100 seats – Daily Express

Comment:

• If the rape gang scandal taught us anything, it’s that we must be free to criticise ANY religion – Matt Goodwin, Daily Mail
• The Centre for Media Monitoring is a threat to free expression – Damon L. Perry, The Critic

News in brief:

• The hypocrisy of Labour’s attacks on Reform’s net zero plans – Ross Clark, The Spectator
• How Western democracy died – Thomas Fazi, Unherd
• The decline and fall of Great Britain – Jonn Elledge, The New Statesman
• What nation, whose interests? – Max Lacour, The Critic