Minister 'weaponising' Savile will make Labour MPs queasy - but there's a bigger risk
is most definitely the later of these two.
The science secretary's reference to was no slip of the tongue.
Ministers seem to believe has made a misjudgement in pledging to scrap internet safety laws, given the massive unease across the country about what children are viewing online.
As a result, Kyle is trying to point at their position by stoking a spat with (some would say) inflammatory language that sucks up media attention.
It's not exactly a new technique.
Think back to 2023 and Labour did something very similar when it ran attack ads accusing of not wanting to lock up child abusers - in a bid to draw attention to the criminal justice system.
Go even further back, and it's essentially the same strategy employed on the red Brexit bus in 2016 with its pledge to divert money from the EU to the NHS.
All heavily disputable claims that are made to start a row and move the spotlight onto a politically convenient topic.
But the risk inherent in tactics like this is that it makes some on your own side feel a little icky.
The last politician to invoke Jimmy Savile as part of a political attack was when he accused of failing to investigate the serial child abuser when he was the country's head prosecutor.
That led to the resignation of the then prime minister's top policy aide.
Read more from Sky News:
There will be plenty in who feel similarly queasy about a cabinet minister weaponising one of the country's most notorious paedophiles to lay into an opposition party.
The bigger risk though is whether Peter Kyle will really emerge victorious from this fight.
is going for the in part because it fits with his party's narrative around mainstream politics trying to silence the concerns of ordinary people.
Those disenfranchised sections of society are a key group of voters that Reform are trying to reach.
Whether they are outweighed by those put off the party by its recent pronouncements remains to be seen.
But for now, this seems to be a fight that Nigel Farage is also keen to have.
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Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
Troubled OAS pitches a new Haiti intervention
With help from Jacob Wendler, Sam Skove, Connor O'Brien, Felicia Schwartz, Daniel Lippman Subscribe here | Email Eric FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY: The head of the Washington-based Organization of American States — a grouping of 35 Latin American and Caribbean countries focused on regional development — has a plan to mobilize its members to end the chaos in Haiti. The organization's Secretary General ALBERT RAMDIN called for a $1.4 billion OAS-led and European Union-backed intervention in Haiti starting next month in a closed-door speech to OAS representatives Tuesday. In the speech — which NatSec Daily got a transcript of — Ramdin outlined a plan to defeat the gangs sowing chaos in Haiti's cities, allow unimpeded humanitarian aid to the country's 1.3 million displaced people and restore order to pave the way to national elections. That will include the creation of six European Union-funded 'forward operating bases' tasked to resolve the 'dire' security situation in and around the capital Port-Au-Prince. In his speech Ramdin thanked the EU for 'providing the resources' for that initiative but did not say what commitments he had received from the EU. Neither the OAS nor the EU responded to requests for comment. Haiti — the poorest country in the Western hemisphere — has been tormented by violent gangs since the assassination of President JOVENEL MOÏSE in 2021 led to a collapse of the country's government. A Kenyan-led U.N.-backed multinational security force deployed to the island in 2024 has failed to restore order. And U.N. Security Council members Russia and China have nixed U.S. efforts to send U.N. peacekeepers. Ramdin said that of the $1.4 billion that the OAS requires for the plan, a total of $900 million will fund 'humanitarian response' in Haiti. If OAS members approve his proposal 'by early September, we can start the process of execution' of the plan. Ramdin's pitch for OAS intervention in Haiti comes as the organization is in the Trump administration's crosshairs. The U.S. has historically funded about 50 percent of the OAS' annual budget. The Trump administration has withheld that money during a 180- day review of U.S. support for multilateral organizations that concludes Saturday. So far OAS has not impressed the Trump administration with its actions in Haiti. Secretary of State MARCO RUBIO criticized the OAS in May for failing to 'provide a force' to stabilize Haiti. Then in June, Deputy Secretary of State CHRISTOPHER LANDAU piled on. 'If the OAS is unwilling or unable to play a constructive role in Haiti, then we must seriously ask ourselves why the OAS exists,' he said in a speech at the group's General Assembly. But that ignores structural restraints on how the OAS operates. 'The OAS is not equipped, bureaucratically or legally, to organize a military force,' said FRANK MORA, who was U.S. ambassador to the grouping during the Biden administration. When asked if Ramdin's proposal was an implicit bid for continuing U.S. support for the OAS ahead of the administration's funding decision, Mora said 'I think you just nailed it.' The State Department didn't respond to a request for comment. Ramdin described his proposed OAS intervention as strictly temporary. 'Once the security environment improves, we will go into long-term security management, which means that we won't need troops anymore from outside,' Ramdin said. That may underestimate the challenges of confronting the violence in Haiti. 'It will take a sustained effort — a mini–Marshall Plan — that no country has been willing to support so far,' said LELAND LAZARUS, a former special assistant to the head of U.S. Southern Command. The Inbox FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — HAMAS HOSTAGE'S WIFE PLEADS FOR MORE TALKS: LISHAY MIRAN-LAVI, the wife of an Israeli hostage in Gaza, told our own Daniel Lippman that Rubio assured her talks to free the hostages continue, even though U.S. and Israeli negotiators pulled out of talks with Hamas last week. Miran-Lavi and several other hostage families met with Rubio last Friday — the day after U.S. negotiators abandoned the talks in Doha. She said that Rubio told them to ignore the 'background noise' from the various parties and that negotiations were continuing, though he didn't provide details. She said she urged Rubio to pressure both sides to make a deal to free her husband OMRI MIRAN, who Hamas militants abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on the Nahal Oz kibbutz. She and the other families also met with administration officials at the White House and Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-S.C.) during their Washington trip. 'I really hope that the administration, Rubio and others that we met understand that freeing the hostages is really the key, and this is really the solution to a lot of problems that we have,' she said. A person with knowledge of the discussion confirmed that Rubio told the hostage families that efforts to free their relatives would not stop. 'President Trump and Secretary Rubio remain focused on releasing the hostages, including the remains of two Americans,' a State Department spokesperson said. TARIFFS TAINT FOREIGN POLICY: Several of President DONALD TRUMP's updated reciprocal tariff rates unveiled Thursday are hitting countries at risk for instability and could conflict with Trump's aim to create stability in the Middle East, our own Felicia Schwartz writes in. Take Syria, which faces a 41 percent tariff that matches the reciprocal levy Trump imposed on the country's imports in April. 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A blend of the White House's proposed 25 percent cut in the agency's budget and the retirement of a large swathe of its senior staff has fueled the exit of almost 4,000 employees since January. Hughes is fine with that. 'Even when some senior people have left, there's an additional cadre behind them,' Hughes said. Hughes' words carry extra weight thanks to his strong ties to the White House — an unusual feature for a NASA chief-of-staff. Hughes had no NASA background before taking on his post, but he has proven loyalty to Trump after running his Florida campaign in last year's presidential election. With no permanent NASA administrator selected, Hughes is the top politically appointed Trump official at NASA, after Transportation Secretary SEAN DUFFY, who heads NASA on an interim basis. DRINKS WITH NATSEC DAILY: At the end of every long, hard week, we like to highlight how a prominent member of the national security scene prefers to unwind with a drink. Today, we're featuring DREW THOMPSON, who served as the Pentagon's director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia from 2011 and 2018. Thompson is now a fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. Singapore's weather year-round mirrors what we've endured here in the DMV the past few weeks. Think constant high heat and sweltering humidity that makes a drink — any drink! — the highlight of one's day. No surprise that Drew's go-to libation is an icy cold beer. But not one from some soulless corporate manufacturer. Drew's brew comes from his own home-blending of water, hops and yeast that produces a pint that can strip the stripes off the local Tiger Beer brand. 'After I left the Department of Defense and moved to Singapore in 2018, I learned how to make home-brewed beer and have been making my own beer ever since. It's a great discussion starter when I bring a few bottles to a friend's house and introduce the latest batch.' 乾杯 ! IT'S FRIDAY! WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily! This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at ebazail@ and follow Eric on X @ebazaileimil. While you're at it, follow the rest of POLITICO's global security team on social media: @dave_brown24, @HeidiVogt, @jessicameyers, @RosiePerper, @ @PhelimKine, @felschwartz, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @reporterjoe, @JackDetsch, @samuelskove, @magmill95, @johnnysaks130 and @delizanickel The Complex UNDER THE DOME: The Pentagon has scheduled its first major test of the Trump administration's planned Golden Dome missile defense system for 2028, CNN's Natasha Bertrand and Zachary Cohen scooped today. That aggressive timeline would deliver on the three-year target announced by Trump in May for the $175 million project and, if successful, give the administration a high-profile win to tout in November 2028. Defense Secretary PETE HEGSETH gave Space Force Gen. MICHAEL GUETLEIN, who Trump charged with spearheading the project, 60 days to come up with an initial architecture and 120 days to draft an implementation plan in late May, per a memo obtained by CNN. But, as our colleagues Connor O'Brien and Joe Gould reported Thursday (for Pros!), the defense appropriations bill heading to the Senate floor doesn't allocate any new money for the defense system, which was awarded $25 billion in the GOP megabill. UKRAINE'S PATRIOT GAINS: Germany has brokered a deal with the Trump administration for the delivery of two Patriot missile systems to Ukraine in the coming days, the German Defense Ministry announced today. 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The threat came after Trump and Medvedev traded epithets on social media Thursday, with Medvedev — the deputy chair of Russia's security council — threatening Trump with a Cold War-era Russian doomsday weapon designed to automatically launch a retaliatory nuclear strike, as our own Eli Stokols and Paul McCleary report. On the Hill FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — SENATE DEMS HIT TRUMP ADMIN ON HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT: Sen. JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-N.H.) and her fellow Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are introducing legislation today to safeguard the credibility of the State Department's annual human rights report after officials delayed the release of last year's report to make changes to sensitive sections. As our own Nahal Toosi scooped Thursday, the 2024 report was initially scheduled for release today but has since been sent for more edits overseen by Rubio's top aides on topics including Israel and Gaza. 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'China is appalled by the U.S. sanctioning officials of the Palestinian Authority and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization,' said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson GUO JIAKUN. Guo said the sanctions symbolized the Trump administration 'turning a blind eye to the international effort for peace' between Israelis and Palestinians. The State Department said Thursday that the sanctions are punishment for the groups' 'continuing to support terrorism. The sanctions are administration pushback against threats by countries including Canada, France and the United Kingdom to recognize Palestinian statehood unless Israel ends its military operations in Gaza. Transitions — JULIA REESE, former senior legislative assistant to Rep. ASHLEY HINSON (R-Iowa), is now federal government affairs principal at Nucor Corporation. — TÕNIS SAAR is the new director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence. Saar most recently served as secretary general of the Estonian Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs. What to Read — Mitch McConnell and Chris Coons, Washington Post: How to ensure America is ready for the next war — Lev Nachman and Wei Ting-yen, Foreign Affairs: Taiwan's Democracy is in Trouble — Mark McKinnon, The Globe and Mail: Movement to recognize Palestinian statehood reflects Israel's growing isolation Monday Today — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, 10 a.m.: Spacepower in Action: Leading the Fight for Space Superiority — Foreign Policy, 11 a.m.: The Future of European Defense — Stimson Center, 8 p.m.: Assessing North Korea's '20×10' Regional Development Progress Thanks to our editors, Heidi Vogt and Emily Lussier, who deliver danger-free aid daily.
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Labour statistics director removed from job by Trump administration after bad jobs report
Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said on X that the head of the Bureau of Labour Statistics had been removed from her post after Trump called for her firing. 'A recent string of major revisions have come to light and raised concerns about decisions being made by the Biden-appointed Labor Commissioner,' Chavez-DeRemer wrote to justify her removal of Erika McEntarfer as commissioner. While the Trump administration searches for a replacement, deputy commissioner William Wiatrowski will lead the bureau.
4 hours ago
Switzerland, the land of luxury brands, could see prices skyrocket from Trump's 39% tariffs
Prices for the eponymous Swiss watches, Swiss chocolate and Swiss cheese could skyrocket in a week as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war. Switzerland, home to some the world's most recognizable luxury brands, now faces an upcoming 39% tariff from the U.S. Industry groups on Friday warned that both Swiss companies and American consumers could pay the price. Trump signed an executive order Thursday placing tariffs on many U.S. trade partners — the next step in his trade agenda that will test the global economy and alliances — that's set to take effect next Thursday. The order applies to 66 countries, the European Union, Taiwan and the Falkland Islands. In Switzerland, officials failed to reach a final agreement with the U.S. after Trump initially threatened a 31% tariff in April. Swiss companies will now have one of the steepest export duties — only Laos, Myanmar and Syria had higher figures, at 40-41%. The 27-member EU bloc and Britain, meanwhile, negotiated 15% and 10% tariffs, respectively. The Swiss government spent Friday — the country's National Day — reeling from the news. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter said that the 39% figure was a surprise, because negotiators had hashed out a deal last month with the Trump administration that apparently wasn't approved by the American leader himself. 'We will now analyze the situation and try to find a solution," Keller-Sutter told reporters. 'I can't say what the outcome will be, but it will certainly damage the economy.' The U.S. goods trade deficit with Switzerland was $38.5 billion last year, a 56.9% increase over 2023, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Keller-Sutter said that she believes Trump ultimately chose the 39% tariff, because the figure rounded up from the $38.5 billion goods trade deficit. 'It was clear that the president was focused on the trade deficit and only this issue,' she said. For Swiss watch companies, whose products already come with price tags in the tens of thousands — if not the hundreds of thousands — of euros, a timepiece for an arm could cost a leg, too, come next week. The 39% figure was especially galling to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, because Switzerland in 2024 got rid of import tariffs on all industrial goods. 'As Switzerland has eliminated all custom duties on imported industrial products, there is no problem with reciprocity between Switzerland and the U.S.,' the federation said in a statement. 'The tariffs constitute a severe problem for our bilateral relations.' Swiss watch exports were already facing a prolonged slowdown, with significant declines in the United States, Japan and Hong Kong, according to the federation's June figures, the most recent available. Swatch and Rolex declined to comment Friday. Representatives for Patek Philippe, IWC and Breitling didn't respond to requests for comment. Multinational chocolatiers Nestlé and Lindt & Sprüngli said they have production lines in the U.S. for American customers. But small- and medium-sized Swiss companies are predicted to suffer under the tariffs. Roger Wehrli, chief executive of the Association of Swiss Chocolate Manufacturers. also known as Chocosuisse, said Switzerland exports 7% of its chocolate production to the U.S. It's not just the 39% tariff that's the issue. Once the manufacturers factor in the exchange rate between U.S. dollars and Swiss francs ($1 to 1.23 francs on Friday), Wehrli said, it's close to a 50% increase in costs for the Swiss companies. And that's a big number to pass on to American consumers, if the already-slim margins aren't further reduced. 'I expect that our industry will lose customers in the United States, and that sales volumes will decrease heavily,' he told The Associated Press. Wehrli said that he wants Swiss chocolatiers to sell to other markets around the globe to make up the difference. Still, he hopes American customers remember that Swiss quality beats cheaper quantity. 'I think even if prices for Swiss chocolate increase due to the very high tariffs, I think it's worth (it) to buy Swiss chocolate," he said. 'It's worth (it) to really eat it consciously and to really enjoy it instead of eating a lot.' Swiss pharmaceuticals powerhouse Roche says that it's working to ensure its patients and customers worldwide have access to their medications and diagnostics amid the Trump tariff war. 'While we believe pharmaceuticals and diagnostics should be exempt from tariffs to protect patient access, supply chains and ultimately future innovation, we are prepared for potential tariffs being implemented and confident in managing any impacts,' the statement said. The company in April Meanwhile, Novartis, another major Swiss pharmaceutical firm, said in a statement that it was reviewing Trump's executive order.
