PA MediaThe paper says a five-point plan being pushed by Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has the support of the New Conservative group of around 20 MPs. In an article for the paper, its chairman, Miriam Cates, says failing to deliver on migration is more serious than failing to cut taxes. She argues that mass migration is changing the nature of Britain forever.
The Times reports that Mr Jenrick’s plan includes stopping students staying in the UK after their courses finish, and limiting the number of family members migrants can bring. According to the paper, Mr Sunak could even announce measures along these lines next month. They had previously been resisted by some departments because of nervousness about their impact on the economy – but now the Treasury is so alarmed by the new figures it’s prepared to look at “serious” proposals to curb numbers, the paper says.
As far as the Daily Mail is concerned, the former Home Secretary Suella Braverman is leading a “Tory revolt” after the release of the migration data, which it calls a “bombshell”. It highlights her social media statement on Thursday in which she said “enough is enough” and urged Mr Sunak to “act now”. Mrs Braverman said the pressure the numbers put on housing, the NHS and “community cohesion” was unsustainable.
The Financial Times reports that the entrepreneur Lawrence Jones – once considered one of the most influential tech magnates in the UK – has been found guilty of raping two women and sexually assaulting a third. The rapes occurred in the 1990s, while the assault took place when the victim worked at Jones’s webhosting company, UKFast.
The Guardian’s main story is that because of a system dating back to feudal times, King Charles III is able to profit from the assets of some people who die without a will or a known next of kin. Ownerless property in some parts of northern England reverts to the Duchy of Lancaster, the King’s property and land estate. Funds are, claims the paper, being used to finance the renovation of property owned by the King. The Duchy says that anything left from the ownerless properties after deducting costs is given to charity.
The Daily Telegraph says that senior Treasury figures have discussed holding an early Budget, fuelling speculation of a snap general election in the spring. Bringing the budget forward would allow more time for tax cuts to improve voters’ finances before they go to the polls. But a Treasury source tells the paper the department is still planning for a March budget as usual.
