Hello there, I'm Matt Mathers and welcome to The Independent's Inside Politics newsletter. The man appointed to investigate a potential conflict of interest in the appointment of Richard Sharp as BBC chairman has recused himself…over a potential conflict of interest. Sharp has, of course, already referred himself for an investigation by the BBC board, which he chairs. We can only hope there are no conflicts of interest there either. |
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Inside the bubble Our chief politics commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for today. Slightly more space around the cabinet table this morning after Nadhim Zahawi's departure, unless a new Tory chair is announced earlier than expected. The Commons sits from 11.30 with Foreign Office questions and opposition day debates. The Health and Social Care Committee will question the head of the NHS pay review body at 10, and will then hear from Steve Barclay, health and social care secretary, at 4. The Justice Committee will take evidence from senior Ministry of Justice officials, including on recent failures of the probation service, at 2.30. |
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Inflation nation The International Monetary Fund, in its latest economic outlook update, says that the UK is expected to be the only G7 country likely to see its economy shrink over the year ahead. UK GDP will contract by 0.6 per cent - some 0.9 percentage points worse than economists at the fund had pencilled in three months ago. So why is the UK performing worse than its neighbours in Europe and elsewhere? Economists say we are faring more poorly because of higher levels of inflation and interest rates, both of which are eating into people's spending power following Truss's tax-cutting Budget bonanza sent the markets into meltdown. There is some light at the end of the tunnel in that growth for 2024 has been nudged up slightly from 0.6 per cent to 0.9 per cent, but today's downgraded forecast is more unwelcome news for Rishi Sunak, who continued to face questions yesterday about his judgement and decisiveness over the sacking of outgoing Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi, while on a visit to a hospital in county Durham to outline the government's plans for improving urgent and emergency care. We've heard plenty in recent weeks about the prime minister's five priorities. And today's IMF news serves as a stark reminder of why number one on that list - halving inflation - is so important. Sunak believes that getting the economy growing again is dependent upon first cutting inflation, which has been described by Jeremy Hunt, his chancellor, as public enemy number one. Hunt has a date with the 1922 Committee of Tory back benchers later, which could be interesting after he recently disappointed some of their number by ruling out tax cuts. The economy and level of inflation not only determine how much money we have in our pockets, but it could well also decide whether or not Sunak gets to stay in No 10 beyond next year Tory strategists know that their chances at the next general election, which they concede are slim, hinge largely on whether inflation comes down enough so that people feel better off. But any economic recovery risks being drowned out by a seemingly never-ending stream of sleaze allegations, the latest of which appears to have put a dent in the standing of Sunak, who had been quietly outpolling his party in recent surveys. A new Ipsos survey published yesterday found that only one in three voters (32 per cent) believe Sunak what it takes to be a good prime minister – down ten points since November. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pulled ahead of Sunak on credibility, with 36 per cent saying he has the qualities to be PM, according to the poll. |
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Sharp latest I'm not sure even the writers of the W1A mockumentary on the BBC could come up with this sort of stuff. Public appointments commissioner William Shawcross said he was recusing himself from the inquiry into Richard Sharp's appointment because he has met Mr Sharp in the past. Shawcross had planned to conduct an inquiry into whether the rules were properly followed, after reports that Mr Sharp helped then-prime minister Boris Johnson secure the loan. But in a letter to the chair of the Commons digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) committee on Monday, he wrote: "As I have met Mr Sharp on previous occasions, I have decided to recuse myself from this particular investigation. Labour's shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell shared Shawcross's letter on Twitter, saying: "It's taken him a week to realise a conflict of interest, sharing these cosy relationships. "The truth must come out about this appointment." |
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On the record Sir Laurie Magnus, government ethics adviser, says Nadhim Zahawi updated his declaration of interests on 15 July 2022 to say that his taxes were under investigation. "Only following receipt of HMRC's letter received on 15th July 2022 (dated 13th July), did Mr Zahawi update his declaration of interests form to acknowledge that his tax affairs were under investigation, but he provided no further details other than the statement made previously that he was clarifying queries." |
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From the Twitterati Mikey Smith, Daily Mirror Whitehall correspondent, on Shawcross withdrawal "Huh. He's recused himself because he 'has met Mr Sharp'. And definitely not, say, because his daughter is head of the No10 policy unit, and donated £20,000 to Rishi Sunak's leadership campaign…" |
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