‘Refused to rule out’ – an old journalistic favourite

How to judge last week's local elections

SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE May 10, 2023 View in browser 'Refused to rule out' – an old journalistic favourite Ruling out coalitions has become the media fashion of the moment in the village. Ed Balls asked Ed Davey on Good Morning Britain if rejoining the EU would be his demand for a Labour coalition in a hung parliament (see below).  Lobby journalists in the huddle after Prime Minister's Questions asked Rishi Sunak's press secretary if he ruled out a coalition if he lost his majority. Labour, relieved that the pressure had moved on from them, put out a press release pointing out that Sunak had "refused to rule out a desperate deal with the Scottish National Party in order to cling on to power". Like as if. If Starmer had hoped that insisting he was on course for a majority Labour government would silence hung parliament speculation, it has not worked. The only headline to come out of the three post-local-election victory-lap interviews he did yesterday was that he refused to answer questions about a deal with the Lib Dems.   Quiz question Which newspaper became part of the Guardian Media Group in 1993, when a bid by The Independent was rejected? Answer at the bottom of today's email Daily briefing Archbishop of Canterbury slams 'morally unacceptable' bill Justin Welby said the small boats legislation "fails to live up to our history". Major Brexit climbdown on scrapping of EU laws Ministers confirmed they will gut the EU Retained Law Bill's "sunset clause". Andrew Bridgen sues Hancock and joins Reclaim The ex-Tory has formally begun libel action against the ex-health secretary as he joins Lawrence Fox's party. Articles driving the biggest conversations Brexit red tape risks winter of empty supermarket shelves, food chiefs warn Articles available exclusively to subscribers Was new law really to blame for coronation protest arrests? What else do you need to know today? George Eustice, the former environment secretary and a Leaver, criticised the government's "ideological" approach to Brexit trade deals  Prince Harry's case against The Mirror was in court today; Tom Peck was there  Thanks to Adam Forrest and Archie Mitchell, without whom this newsletter would not be possible Rentoul's reading list Bianca Jagger writes for The Independent on why Donald Trump must not be allowed to stand for public office    Chris Mullin: the second exclusive extract from volume 4 of his diaries, Didn't You Use to be Chris Mullin? Paul Goodman, editor of Conservative Home, surveys MPs to find that the grassroots "Bring Back Boris" campaign is a Potemkin operation I wrote about Prime Minister's Questions for Independent Premium: I thought Keir Starmer finally looked like Rishi Sunak's equal I also wrote "Politics Explained" about why Ed Davey refuses to admit that Lib Dem policy is "ultimately" to rejoin the EU £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 Thin business in the Commons: Cabinet Office questions from 9.30am, followed by Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the House, setting out forthcoming business. She is too modest to make anything of her recent coronation-based celebrity. Then there will be backbench debates on overseas territories, led by Alicia Kearns, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee; and on "no recourse to public funds" status, an important but underreported subject, led by Stephen Timms, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee.  The Public Accounts Committee will hold a hearing on fraud and mistakes in the Covid business rates rebate scheme, also from 9.30am.  Quotation of the Day "It is isolationist. It is morally unacceptable and politically impractical to let the poorest countries deal with the crisis alone and cut our international aid." Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury Quiz answer: The Observer. 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