After Keir Starmer's year of humiliation, Anas Sarwar will be feeling the heat in Holyrood
CHRIS DEERIN After Keir Starmer's year of humiliation, Anas Sarwar will be feeling the heat in Holyrood
Read on as Chris Deerin also explores the success of Reform in Scotland
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Macron blames Starmer for migrant crisis
Emmanuel Macron is demanding that Sir Keir Starmer make Britain less appealing to Channel migrants to secure a ' one in, one out deal '. The French president believes the UK bears the blame for record numbers of small boats crossing the Channel and has three key demands to reduce its 'pull factors'. Mr Macron, who arrived in Britain on Tuesday for the first state visit by a European head of state since Brexit, was due to announce the new agreement with the Prime Minister at an Anglo-French summit on Thursday. A deal with Paris would allow Britain to legally return illegal Channel migrants to France for the first time since Brexit. But Sir Keir is scrambling to rescue the pact after five EU member states bearing the brunt of European arrivals raised concerns that a deal would see them forced to take more migrants. The Telegraph understands that Mr Macron wants Sir Keir to crack down on the UK's black market for labour and welfare payments and make family reunification for genuine asylum seekers easier as conditions for the deal. An Elysée source warned that Mr Macron expected measures 'addressing the root causes of the factors that attract people to the United Kingdom', adding: 'These causes must also be addressed by the British.' They added that France would be willing to discuss ways to stop more small boats leaving its shores during the Anglo-French summit on Thursday. Mr Macron's allies have said the ease in which migrants can get under-the-table employment means Britain is viewed as 'an El Dorado' – a city of riches, where it is easy to work. The demands emerged as Mr Macron enjoyed a day rich with pomp and pageantry during a visit celebrating what the Elysée called a 'pragmatic rapprochement'. After being greeted at RAF Northolt by the Prince and Princess of Wales and treated to a royal procession, he addressed Parliament before the King hosted a state banquet in his honour in Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening. Starmer must address 'pull factors' In Westminster in the afternoon, Mr Macron went public with his concerns, telling an audience including Sir Keir that the British Government would have to address 'pull factors' to drive down migrant numbers. Channel crossings have hit a record high this year with 20,600 migrants so far, the highest since the first arrivals in 2018. Mr Macron said that a third of migrants entering the EU's Schengen area illegally were aiming for the UK as their final destination. He said: 'France and the United Kingdom have a shared responsibility to address irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness.' The president added: 'We will only arrive at a lasting and effective solution with action at the European level [...] as well as addressing migration pull factors. 'But let's be clear we will deliver together, as this is a clear issue for our countries.' He also warned that French and British societies risk 'growing apart' and that Brexit was a 'regrettable' decision, although he said he respected it. Mr Macron is making three demands to Sir Keir to get their 'one in, one out' deal over the line in time for Thursday. The French president wants to make it harder for illegal immigrants to work in Britain. While asylum seekers are not allowed to work legally, the French view is there are not enough controls to prevent them from doing so. The gig economy and delivery drivers are seen as areas that can be easily exploited, and Britain does not have European-style ID cards. Mr Macron also sees benefits for migrants successfully granted asylum as another pull factor attracting migrants to Britain and another root cause that should be addressed. Legal routes for genuine asylum seekers His third demand centres on the number of small boat migrants trying to reach their families who are already in the UK. Mr Macron wants Britain to accept one genuine asylum seeker from France who wants to rejoin a family member in Britain for each illegal migrant France takes back. It is thought migrants will be less incentivised to make the dangerous crossing if they have a legal route into Britain. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has already prioritised a crackdown on illegal foreign workers and a blitz on delivery drivers, announced last week, in an attempt to counter criticism of the UK as a 'soft touch'. Raids on companies suspected of employing illegal workers passed 10,000 in the past year, a 48 per cent rise and fines for doing so have tripled to £60,000. In May, a Telegraph investigation revealed that asylum seekers housed in Home Office hotels are paying off people smuggler debts by illegally working as food delivery riders. Meanwhile, a new law will make it a legal requirement for all companies, including the gig economy, to check workers are legal. Plans are being drawn up to throw small boats migrants working illegally out of taxpayer-funded hotels and widen European-style digital IDs for overseas citizens. The King addressed the small boats crisis on Tuesday night at the state banquet, saying: 'Our security services and police will go further still to protect us against the profound challenges of terrorism, organised crime, cyber-attacks and irregular migration across the English Channel.' He added that there are no borders between Britain and France in the nations' joint quest to solve 'complex threats'. Earlier in the day, the King was seen deep in conversation with the French leader, with whom he shares a good relationship, during a carriage ride through Windsor. The King also kissed the hand of Brigitte Macron, the president's wife. More than 950 servicemen and women from all three armed services, and 70 horses, took part in the ceremonial welcome, from troops lining the carriage procession route to a guard of honour featuring guardsmen from two of the British Army's oldest regiments the Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards. Later in the evening, the state dinner at Windsor Castle saw the Princess of Wales attend her first evening banquet since November 2023, before her cancer diagnosis. She and Mr Macron were among guests who enjoyed a Franco-British menu created by Raymond Blanc at which the King raised a toast to the French in a speech peppered with jokes. Speaking partly in French, the King said: 'The summit that you and the Prime Minister will hold in London this week will deepen our alliance and broaden our partnership still further.' Addressing the French president as well as Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John, he joked: 'We would not be neighbours if we did not have our differences' with 'amicable competition and occasionally even, dare I say, confusion' across cultures.
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
James McMurdock says he will not return to Reform UK after Covid loan questions
The MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock 'removed the party whip from himself' last week pending the outcome of an investigation relating to allegations around 'business propriety during the pandemic'. The Sunday Times published a story on Saturday which alleged two businesses connected to Mr McMurdock took out Covid-19 loans totalling £70,000 during the pandemic, one of which had no employees. On Tuesday, the MP said he 'had a chance to take specialist legal advice from an expert in the relevant field' since the loans came to light. Writing on social media site X, he added: 'In light of that advice, which is privileged and which I choose to keep private at this time, I have decided to continue my parliamentary career as an independent MP where I can focus 100% on the interests of my constituents.' Further to my statement tweeted on 5th July 2025. I have now had a chance to take specialist legal advice from an expert in the relevant field. In light of that advice, which is privileged and which I choose to keep private at this time, I have decided to continue my… — James McMurdock MP (@JMcMurdockMP) July 8, 2025 According to Companies House, Mr McMurdock is listed as the current director of Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited, and a former director of J A M Financial Limited, a position he resigned in 2021. Both firms are shown to have overdue accounts and confirmation statements, and both have an 'active proposal to strike off'. Mr McMurdock insisted when the Sunday Times news story broke that 'all my business dealings had always been conducted fully within the law and in compliance with all regulations and that appropriately qualified professionals had reviewed all activity confirming the same'. He said he had asked for the Reform whip to be suspended temporarily as a 'precautionary measure'. The chairwoman of the Labour Party said Nigel Farage 'sat on his hands' over the allegations and that the Reform UK leader should 'come clean with the public about what he knew and when'. 'After these serious allegations surfaced, Nigel Farage sat on his hands. He took no action against James McMurdock and instead outsourced the problem – that's not leadership,' MP Ellie Reeves said. She added: 'Farage's Reform has proven once again that they simply cannot uphold the high standards expected in public life.' Of the five MPs elected under the Reform UK banner in July 2024, two now sit as Independents. Rupert Lowe, who represents Great Yarmouth, was suspended earlier this year following allegations about his conduct which he has denied. Sarah Pochin won the Runcorn by-election in May, meaning that Reform now has four MPs.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Macron: UK and France risk growing apart
Emmanuel Macron has warned there is a risk of French and British societies 'growing apart'. In an address to members from both houses of Parliament during his state visit, the French president voiced concerns that the English Channel could 'grow wider' after Brexit. Mr Macron argued for new exchange programs for students, researchers and artists, saying: 'Let's allow our children to have the same opportunities as the one we had.' That section of the speech, which was listened to by hundreds of MPs and peers, received one of the largest rounds of applause of his 30-minute address. The intervention puts pressure on Sir Keir, who was watching from the front row of the audience, to sign off details for a new youth free movement agreement with the European Union. The Prime Minister agreed to one in principle in his 'reset' summit with the EU in May after strong lobbying from European capitals but has not agreed on the timings or numbers. Elsewhere in the speech, Mr Macron took a swipe at Brexit, calling it 'deeply regrettable', and urged the UK not to diverge from the bloc's rules and regulations. He issued a plea for the UK and France to join forces to cut the 'dependence' on America – which is waging a trade war under Donald Trump – and China. Mr Macron also confirmed that the Bayeux Tapestry will return to England for the first time in 900 years. The treasures of Sutton Hoo will in turn be displayed in France. The address to Parliament came on day one of his three-day UK state visit – the first by a French president since the British public voted to leave the EU in June 2016. Mr Macron said: 'As Channel Tunnel is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, let's make a wish here today. Let's not allow the Channel to grow wider. 'Although there are 300,000 French people living in the United Kingdom and 150,000 British people living in France, there has been a decrease in movement in recent years when it comes to school, university, professional and researcher exchanges. 'And today there is a risk that our societies are growing apart, that our young people do not know each other as well and may end up strangers at a time when international current events remind us on a daily basis of our common future. 'Let's face it, let's work together, in order to facilitate the exchange of students, researchers, intellectuals, artists. This is so important. Let's allow our children to have the same opportunities as the one we had.' Elsewhere in the speech, there were nods to Brexit, a decision that Mr Macron fiercely opposed and has since been involved in shaping via numerous signed agreements. The French President called Brexit 'a decision we respect, even if we found it deeply regrettable'. He also joked about how long post-Brexit negotiations had taken. At one point Mr Macron said that 'the point is not to diverge and to move forward side by side on these strategic choices we are facing'. The message is in stark contrast to Brexiteers who have long argued that the UK could prosper most by diverging from European rules and regulations. Sir Keir recently struck an agreement on agricultural products to copy EU requirements in return for lowering barriers to trade. Mr Macron notably welcomed the Prime Minister's re-engagement. There were also calls to action in the international arena. In recent weeks there have been tensions between London and Paris about exactly when and how to recognise Palestinian statehood, as revealed in The Telegraph this weekend. British ministers have been resisting Mr Macron's push to make the declaration that would drive forward a two-state solution, instead wishing to attach more conditions on Hamas in return for the move. Mr Macron used the speech to argue his case: 'Today, working together in order to recognise a state of Palestine and to initiate this political momentum is the only path to peace.' He also condemned what is happening in Gaza, as he said: 'A war without end and without a strategic objective poses a huge threat to the region and our collective security. Today, dehumanisation is occurring there that can never be justified.' There was a call for both nations to work together to counter not just the threats from China but the challenges from the US under Mr Trump's second presidency. Mr Macron said: 'If we still depend on both China and the US I think we have a clear view of our future and the future of our children. 'On one side, over-capacities and over-subsidies are a clear threat to fair trade and they are destabilising a lot of value chains and creating new dependencies. 'On the other side, the trade war is clearly an explicit decision not to be compliant any more with WTO and this due commerce we loved until now.' Mr Macron said 'we have no other choice' but for Europe to become more self-reliant, adding: 'We want an open world. We want to co-operate, but not to depend.' The French President also singled out the influences of algorithms made in America and China which are impacting the lives of children in Europe, including via social media addiction. He warned: 'What is at stake as well today in Europe is the defence of democratic models amid foreign interference, information manipulation, domination of minds by negative emotions and addictions to social media. These are the big other risks.' 'Finally, we meet again' The address was wrapped up with an emotional reference to the shared history between France and Britain from two world wars, via a nod to singer Vera Lynn. Mr Macron said: 'I came here today to renew the French people's message of friendship and fraternity. 'Yes, finally, we meet again. And let's be sure that we will meet again for years and decades. 'Because we are linked by our geography, by our past, but we are linked by our common future. And the only way to overcome the challenges we have, the challenges for our times, will be to go together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. This is our common destiny. 'Long live our French-United Kingdom friendship. Long live the United Kingdom. Long live France.'
