Is Keir Starmer going forward or back?

Is Keir Starmer going forward or back?

SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE May 17, 2023 View in browser Is Keir Starmer going forward or back? Keir Starmer has just spoken to the British Chambers of Commerce and said: "We choose the builders, not the blockers. The future, not the past. Renewal, not decline." His speech contained many more cliches in that vein, but few specifics.  Even his central message, that he will reform planning rules to "make sure that many more houses are built", lacked detail, and I am not sure that he meant to say that this means "the price comes down", on Times Radio. Usually, politicians want to promise affordable homes for first-time buyers without telling existing homeowners their house price will fall. Meanwhile, in another pre-speech interview on BBC Breakfast he managed to suggest that Labour would renegotiate Brexit to try to save Vauxhall's electric car business. An air of making it up as he goes along... Quiz question Who said, "The soft option, the devaluer's option, the inflationary option, that would in my opinion be a betrayal of Britain's future," five days before what? Answer at the bottom of today's email Daily briefing Sunak's bid to save thousands of UK car industry jobs  The prime minister is lobbying the EU to delay a change in manufacturing rules House prices will fall under Labour, says Keir Starmer Labour leader wants to see more houses built – and the price coming down Independence supporters can trust SNP with their money, Yousaf says The SNP leader said backers will still "dig deep" for the party  Articles driving the biggest conversations Sunak's push for European court reform on Rwanda flights knocked back Articles available exclusively to subscribers Could Nigel Farage be preparing another Brexit comeback? What else do you need to know today? Andy Burnham, Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, had a minor rant on Times Radio about the "negative Westminster machine" briefing against him, but said it wasn't the Labour leader, or the shadow cabinet or the party that was trying to do him down – so who did he mean? The Renters (Reform) Bill has been published by Michael Gove: to end so-called "no-fault" evictions, but now leasehold reform will come later Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, is standing down at the next election Kevin Maguire reports that "trade unionists" are trying to persuade Jeremy Corbyn to stand down rather than run as an independent in the hope that Sam Tarry, Angela Rayner's "soulmate" and deselected MP, could be the Labour MP for Islington North  Thanks to Adam Forrest and Archie Mitchell, without whom this newsletter would not be possible Rentoul's reading list Sean O'Grady, who voted Leave, on why Brexit has gone wrong for Vauxhall's electric car business, owned by Stellantis, which used to be Peugeot   Andrew Grice thinks housing will be a winning issue for Labour at the election Verity Harding on the anti-alarmist end of the "artificial intelligence will kill us all" argument (part paywall) Send Angela Rayner into the Commons without notes: I wrote for Independent Premium about (Deputy) Prime Minister's Questions £99 £20 for 1 year ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more SUBSCRIBE NOW Inside the bubble What to look out for tomorrow Local elections in Northern Ireland: an important test of party strengths while the assembly remains unassembled.  Business and trade questions in the Commons from 9.30am, Kemi Badenoch the only secretary of state I think who uses an iPad in the chamber. The government and Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, may pad out a thin timetable by scheduling a ministerial statement or an urgent question, but otherwise the main business will be two general debates on subjects chosen by backbenchers: Caroline Lucas on access to nature (before a Labour government builds on it), and a cross-party group of MPs on the medical use of magic mushrooms (psilocybin).  Rishi Sunak will have meetings in Tokyo before the G7 summit formally opens on Friday.   Quotation for the Day "Before we get to 'god-like AI' we'll need to get through 'dog-like AI'." Yann Le Cunn, chief artificial intelligence scientist at Meta, via Verity Harding  Quiz answer: John Major on 11 September 1992, five days before the pound left the European exchange rate mechanism We noticed that you might not be registered By registering, you will enjoy limited access to Independent Premium articles, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists REGISTER FOR FREE OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE Morning Headlines Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by the UK team Join now Health Check Every Thursday, 7am (UK time) Written by Rebecca Thomas Join now Morning Headlines Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by the UK team Join now Health Check Every Thursday, 7am (UK time) Written by Rebecca Thomas Join now The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating FIND OUT MORE If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. 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