Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden defended Labour’s welfare reforms, saying they aim to support those who cannot work while encouraging employment for those who can.
Report by Covellm.
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"The target was never particularly ambitious," says the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) about Labour's plan to add two million extra NHS appointments during.. Sky News
At Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says: "Inflation was 2% when Conservatives left office, 2%, it's now nearly double that. When will he recognise that it’s Labour's budget driving up inflation?" Sir Keir Starmer says, “we are taking measures to bring prices down”, citing the government’s trade deal with the EU. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Responding to reports of Labour back bench criticism over policy, cabinet minister Steve Reed insists the government is “absolutely focussed on supporting those people who are struggling the most with the cost-of-living crisis”. The environment secretary lists increases to pensions and the National Minimum Wage plus increased investment in the NHS as a “Labour thing to do”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
David Lammy announced new measures against Israel but Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat backbenchers urged him to go further. The Government will impose new sanctions on three individuals and four entities involved in the settler movement, and has suspended negotiations with the Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Pat McFadden has rejected the comparison between the prime minister's recent speech on illegal migration and Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster added, "It's very different from what we're saying this week, which is migration can make a great contribution to the United Kingdom, but it's got to be done with some rules around it". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood insists her priority is to avoid running out of prison places after agreeing to most of the proposals of former Conservative minister David Gauke. The independent report advocates allowing some criminals to be released from custody early to ease pressure on overcrowded prisons. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says the fall in net migration "is important and welcome” but admits the government needs to go “significantly further”. The figure stood at an estimated 431,000 in the year ending December 2024, down 49.9% from 860,000 a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Keir Starmer confirms he has signed an agreement to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal that will cost £101 million per year. Speaking from the UK's military headquarters, the prime minister says the base is "one of the most significant contributions that we make to our security relationship with the United States". Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Tottenham Hotspur players and staff fly home to the UK with the Europa League trophy after beating Manchester United on Wednesday night in Bilbao. Aerial footage shows the plane being sprayed with water from fire engines then players posing with the cup on the steps of the plane at Stansted Airport. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claims the Chagos Islands deal was an example of "Labour chaos", saying, "we should not be paying to surrender British territory to Mauritius”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The Conservatives have branded the Government’s welfare reforms as too little, too late, with Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall being urged to be tougher. Shadow work and pensions secretary..
Shadow Scotland Secretary Andrew Bowie said Labour’s welfare reforms may have more support from Conservatives than Labour MPs, accusing Sir Keir Starmer of walking back on ambitious plans. Bowie..