View from Westminster

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Wednesday, May 1, 2024 Labour plays dirty over pensions Sir Keir Starmer has shown once again he is willing to punch below the belt, dusting off the dirty old "Rishi Sunak doesn't…" online attack ads.  Pasted over a picture of the prime minister on the latest Labour poster is the question: "Do you think working people deserve a retirement?" "Rishi Sunak doesn't," it adds - an obviously false claim.  The assertion is based on the PM's long-term ambition to scrap national insurance, which Labour calls a £46bn unfunded tax cut that puts pensions and people's retirements at risk.  The party has in the past condemned Mr Sunak for suggesting Sir Keir is a "terrorist sympathiser" and Boris Johnson for claiming he "failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile".  But Labour can hardly criticise the Conservatives for making misleading statements while publishing a series of their own.   Quiz question At the 2015 and 2019 general elections, Labour won just one Scottish seat, which one?  Answer at the bottom of today's email Daily briefing Senior Tories wanted right-wing Reform candidate for London mayor instead of Susan Hall Exclusive: A cabinet minister was among senior Tories not to want Susan Hall as the party's candidate Unions back Keir Starmer as Labour accused of watering down worker's rights package Labour are reportedly in talks to water down their employment policies to placate business across the country Sunak accuses Irish of 'cherry picking' agreements as he steps up row over asylum seekers Irish have said they will not be a 'loophole' for other countries' migration 'challenges' as PM claims spat shows Rwanda plan is working What else you need to know today The Home Office detained the first set of migrants for deportation to Rwanda, with flights set to take off at the beginning of July Theresa May ruled out a David Cameron-style return to politics once she steps down at the next election  The US and UK urged Hamas to swiftly accept an 'extraordinarily generous' Israeli proposal for a truce in the Gaza war and the release of Israeli hostages. The Independent View Costly, inhumane, unlawful… now the Rwanda plan is also proving to be counterproductive Politics explained Local elections 2024: how bad must Tory results be to topple Rishi Sunak? Sean O'Grady looks at what the parties hope to achieve at this week's municipal contest...   Read more MOST COMMENTED Tories accused of 'extortionate gimmick' after paying asylum seeker to be deported to Rwanda Tomorrow inside the Westminster bubble  Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for   Much of Westminster will be out of the bubble, as voting takes place in local elections in most of England and Wales, plus a by-election in Blackpool South. Polls will be open between 7am and 10pm.   The results are expected to start coming in around 1.30am on Friday, but many, including the London mayor, won't be declared until Saturday.  So, an even quieter Thursday in the Commons than the usual recent morgue impression. Business opens with questions to Kemi Badenoch's business and trade department at 9.30am, followed by Penny Mordaunt's statement about next week's parliamentary business.  The main business of the day is two backbench debates, one on security in the Balkans, led by Alicia Kearns, Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and one on pensions, led by Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat QUOTE OF THE DAY "On the 25th anniversary [in 2029 of Poland's accession to the EU], Poles will be wealthier than the British. It's better to be in the EU!"   Donald Tusk, Polish prime minister and former European Council president Enjoy 6 months of Independent Premium for just £66 £6 Get unlimited Premium news analysis, advert-free reading, a digital newspaper every morning, and more SUBSCRIBE NOW Quiz answer: Ian Murray's Edinburgh South seat The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Join the conversation or follow us Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy notice and cookie policy