No. 10 denied leaking information about Rishi Sunak’s household finances as a senior Conservative lawmaker called for a review of off-site tax rules in the wake of first-time revelations by The Independent. Tobias Ellwood said the current rules were “outdated”, but insisted that did not mean the chancellor or his wife, Akshata Murty, had broken the law. “If the rules as a whole need to change, let this debate take place,” he said. The former minister’s comments came as Emily Thornberry, the shadow attorney general, accused Murty of belonging to the “0.1 percent of the population” who choose to “take advantage” of the non-household system “in order not to pay as much tax”. Speaking on Radio 4’s Today show, Labor MP Murty said she had been living in the UK “for eight years, raising her children here, living on … Downing Street in accommodation provided by the taxpayer … and yet he says that he is not a permanent resident of this country “.
Basic points
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Watch: Starmer Says Sunak Must Clean Up Family Taxes
Keir Starmer says Rishi Sunak needs to clean up family tax affairs Sam Hancock8 April 2022 15:06 1649426559
Dame Cressida warns against “politicization of policing” in recent days as Commissioner
Outgoing Meteorological Police Commissioner Cressida Dick warned against “politicizing policing”, saying it was a “threat not only to policing but to confidence in the entire criminal justice system”. She left Scotland Yard for the last time this morning – although her official Met expiration date is April 24 – and was applauded by police as she left. Sky’s Scott Beasley reports: In a “letter to London”, which she wrote to mark the end of her post, Dame Cressida said: “Of course as I look back there is more that I wish we had achieved. We hear criticism, we know that not everyone trusts us to provide a good service when they need us, and we have seen among us those whose horrible actions have disappointed all of you and us so terribly. “Each of us leads us to become better, to uproot those who do not follow our standards and do not deserve to wear our uniform. To improve our response so that all our communities feel protected by us. “We listen and act according to what you tell us, in order to change for the better. Just this week we launched our plan for violence against women and girls, which was shaped by the views of hundreds of Londoners. “The current politicization of policing is a threat not only to policing but also to trust in the entire criminal justice system. Operational independence from local and central government is vital to an effective democracy and is a model respected around the world. We must all treasure it and protect it. “ Sam Hancock8 April 2022 15:02 1649425790
Sunak: “Non-household” wife’s tax regime is not unusual, minister claims
Chancellor Rishi Sunak and his allies have hit “unpleasant spots” as he came under scrutiny for his wife’s non-resident tax status, while No. 10 has denied being behind the leaks. Mertie, who married the chancellor in 2009, has confirmed she paid .000 30,000 to maintain her homeless status after The Independent revealed the deal earlier this week. Mr Sunak blamed Labor for the tax cuts, but his allies told newspapers they suspected the No. 10 was trying to undermine the chancellor – who is considered a favorite to succeed Boris Johnson in any leadership challenge. A spokeswoman for No. 10 denied that the prime minister’s office had shared details. Sam Hancock8 April 2022 14:49 1649425214
German Scholz reaches No. 10 for talks on Ukraine with the Prime Minister
German Chancellor Olaf Soltz arrived in Downing Street in the last half hour for talks with Boris Johnson on reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas following the attack on Ukraine. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom greeted Mr Scholz at the door of No. 10 at 14.13 on Friday. Mr Scholz smiled and nodded to reporters outside before shaking hands with Mr Johnson. They are scheduled to give a press conference later this afternoon, following closed-door talks. Johnson and Solts meet at 10 Downing Street on Friday afternoon (Reuters) Sam Hancock8 April 2022 14:40 1649424558
Khan “will not hide from the fact” lost faith in the Cressida Dick of the Met
Sadiq Khan says he is “not going to hide from the fact” that he lost confidence in outgoing Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick. Speaking at the start of the Labor campaign for local elections in Barnett, north London, the mayor of London said: “In the recent past, she has worked with many others to help us curb violent crime, but I will not hide from the fact that I have lost confidence in her. “I am not going to hide from the fact that we had in our city a series of catastrophic scandals, overt racism, sexism, discrimination, homophobia, we had the confidence and trust of Londoners in the police service at the bottom. . “It’s one of the reasons I lost confidence and it’s one of the things I’m going to look for in a new Commissioner, how he’s going to deal with some of these serious issues that, frankly, the current Commissioner has not been able to address. ” Dame Cressida and Khan are pictured together earlier this year (PA) Dame Cressida resigned after Mr Khan criticized the handling of racist, half-hearted and homophobic messages shared by a group of officers at the Charing Cross police station and following a series of other scandals by the Met. Her resignation, which came hours after she said in an interview with the media that she had no intention of resigning, was met with disappointment by many officers. Dame Cressida’s last day in office will be Sunday, after which she will receive unused annual leave, with her last working day being April 24th. Sam Hancock8 April 2022 14:29 1649423903
Shapps: “No suggestion that Sunak violated rules and regulations”
Conservative MPs appear to be defending Risi Sunak by sending the message that the chancellor and his wife have not violated the law on their household finances. Asked about the situation by the BBC on Friday, Transport Secretary Grand Saps said: “I do not think it is really right to comment on the wives and families of politicians.” He said: “The most important thing is that the same rules apply to everyone. “There is no suggestion that any of these steps are outside the rules and regulations.” It comes after Tories senior lawmaker Tobias Ellwood suggested that the rules on non-household taxes should be revised, instead of blaming Mr Sunak. “Every minister, when you enter the government, has to make a statement … which is confirmed to be legal before you take office, so there is nothing illegal about what the chancellor is doing,” he told Sky News earlier. . Sam Hancock8 April 2022 14:18 1649422368
Watch: Thornberry Says Labor Defamation Campaign Against Sunak “Nonsense”
Emily Thornberry says Labor’s slander campaign against Rishi Sunak is ‘nonsense’ Sam Hancock8 April 2022 13:52 1649421285
Sunak has to “clean up” family tax matters
Our political reporter Adam Forrest has the following: Labor leader Kir Starmer has said that Risi Sunak should “clear up” his family’s tax cases following revelations about his wife’s non-resident tax status. “There is no argument to say that those who have raised their taxes are not even entitled to even know if the chancellor’s family … is using programs to reduce their tax burden,” he said. “There are simple questions, we need simple answers from the chancellor has his family.” Starmer also said: “I think as we have seen in recent days, I think Sunaks will probably be okay in this cost of living crisis.” He added: “At least we have solved a mystery that has been hinting at me for the last few days – now we know why the chancellor calls himself a chancellor who reduces taxes.” Sam Hancock8 April 2022 13:34 1649420047
Grand Saps fixes the private jet of the Russian oligarch
In other news, the transport minister has pinned down a private jet belonging to Russian billionaire Eugene Shvidler as part of sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that he has canceled the aircraft, which means that any certificates allowing him to fly to the UK have been suspended. The Cessna with the G-LATO registration aircraft is at Biggin Hill Airport, in south-east London, where it was to undergo maintenance and repairs. Andy Gregory8 April 2022 13:14 1649419556
“The public has a right to know about the chancellor’s family’s tax affairs,” says Starmer.
Sir Keir Starmer again urged Rishi Sunak to “clean up” his family’s tax affairs. Speaking at the start of his party’s local election campaign in Barnett, north London, the Labor leader said: “All the chancellor has to do is clean up. “If the chancellor wants to make the political argument in the country that he has no alternative but to impose taxes at the same time that people are really struggling, prices are going up, inflation is going up. “If the chancellor’s family, at the same time, uses programs to reduce its own household tax, then the public has a right to know.” He added: “Right now, it seems to me one rule for them and another rule for everyone else.” Sir Keir Starmer Visits Barnet South Gate College as Labor launches local election campaign (Hollie Adams / Getty Images) Andy Gregory8 April 2022 13:05
