Newslinks for Wednesday 7th May 2025

Starmer signs ‘two-tier’ tax deal for Indian migrants

“Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of implementing a two-tier tax system after signing a trade deal that exempts Indian migrants from paying National Insurance. The change was contained in an agreement struck between the UK and India that was hailed by No 10 as the most economically significant since Brexit. Government insiders welcomed a large reduction in Indian tariffs on UK exports of whisky and cars as they completed a deal after three years of negotiations. But the announcement was overshadowed by the decision to exempt Indians who move their jobs to the UK and their employers from paying National Insurance for three years. The change was a key demand made by Indian negotiators who said the move would result in “significant financial gains” for Indian companies.” – Daily Telegraph

• Anger at Indian payoff in ‘biggest deal since Brexit’ – The Times
• Fury as Indian workers are given a major tax break under Labour’s free trade deal – Daily Mail
• India trade deal overshadowed by tax row, days after Reform’s election gains – The i
• What’s in the UK-India trade deal? – Sky News

Comment:

• This two-tier trade deal is a shameful missed opportunity and a blunder of the first order – Alex Brummer, Daily Mail
• Those on the Right should be taking credit for the India trade deal, not sniping at it – Daniel Hannan, Daily Telegraph
• This Indian trade deal could be a disaster for Labour – Matthew Lynn, The Spectator
• Starmer has undercut, sidelined and betrayed British workers – Nigel Farage, Daily Mail
• Our destiny is not with Europe but India and the rest of the world – Andrew Lilico, Daily Telegraph
• Why are the Tories now against free trade? – Ross Clark, The Spectator

Labour turmoil over winter fuel allowance cut intensifies as Starmer rules out U-turn

“Labour turmoil over cuts to the winter fuel allowance for pensioners intensified as Sir Keir Starmer defiantly ruled out a U-turn. Downing Street said there won’t be a change to the hated policy despite the party’s local elections disaster. The intervention came just hours after Wes Streeting appeared to leave the door open to a reverse, admitting that axing the payments for 10 million pensioners had been an issue with voters on the doorstep. The Health Secretary said the government would be “reflecting on what the voters told us”. Welsh Labour leader Baroness Morgan also urged a “rethink” of the policy amid growing disharmony within the party.” – Daily Express

• Benefit cuts second wave risks fresh Labour mutiny for Starmer – The i
• Keir Starmer rules out U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts – The Times
• Starmer defies calls to scrap cuts to the winter fuel allowance – Daily Telegraph

Comment:

• This is Keir Starmer’s ‘Thatcher, milk snatcher’ moment – Kitty Donaldson, The i
• Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves face pensioner backlash over winter fuel payment cuts – Helen Whately, Daily Express
• Kemi Badenoch’s future hinges on stopping Nigel Farage winning over Britain’s pensioners – David Williamson, Daily Express

Tories unveil ‘Deportation Bill’ with sweeping curbs

“The Tories have unveiled a “Deportation Bill” packed with sweeping curbs on both legal and illegal immigration. Policies include disapplying human rights laws from immigration court cases. This is intended to stop foreign nationals using lawyers to make spurious asylum claims. Kemi Badenoch would also enforce a legally binding annual cap on overseas arrivals to wrestle net migration, down from the mammoth 700,000 last year. She would also impose scientific age-testing on small boat migrants to “end the scandal” of adults posing as kids. The Conservatives – who oversaw record legal migration while in government – announced the Bill as an “alternative” to an imminent Labour crackdown.” – The Sun

• Keir Starmer’s visa crackdown will ‘fail to dent’ asylum claim abuse – The Times
• Tories to toughen stance on migration after heavy election defeats, accusing Labour and Reform of ‘empty slogans’ – LBC

Comment:

• Migrants are cynically gaming our visa system and leaving you with the bill – here’s how we can stamp it out – Tony Smith, The Sun

> Today: Stephen Herring: The Conservatives need a bold tax policy that promotes growth and is not hampered by the wrong lessons

Nicola Sturgeon: Trans lives could be almost unliveable after ruling

“Nicola Sturgeon has warned that the lives of trans people will become “almost unliveable” if they are banned from spaces and services that align with their gender identity. The former first minister, in her first detailed remarks on the Supreme Court ruling which clarified biological men cannot legally become women, declined to apologise to gender-critical campaigners who she maligned when advocating gender self-ID policies while in office. She instead raised concerns about how the judgment would be “translated into practice” and said that she would be “very concerned” if an interim update from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) became final guidance.” – The Times

• SNP ministers will not cut ties with Stonewall after trans ruling – Daily Telegraph
• Tories Accused Of ‘Dystopian’ Attack On Trans Community – Huffington Post

Comment:

• Effects of court ruling will trickle down at the loos – Matthew Parris, The Times

> Yesterday: John Wall: The Supreme Court’s judgement on biological sex was badly needed after such a dystopian debate

News in brief:

• Are India and Pakistan heading for war? – Michael Evans, The Spectator
• Why is Keir Starmer giving tax breaks to Indian workers? — Henry Hill, Unherd
• To be the party of opportunity, Conservatives must be the party of YIMBYs – Simon Clarke, CityAM
• Britain’s broken state offers an orchard of opportunity – Tom Ough, CapX
• The Conservatives must change or die – Senior Source, The Critic