Category: UK Politics

Miliband defends winter fuel payment U-turn Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has defended Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ original decision to cut winter fuel payments and the subsequent partial U-turn. He told the BBC the chancellor would not apologise for withdrawing the payment from more than 10 million pensioners last year, arguing that she had to take measures… Continue reading Miliband defends winter fuel payment U-turn

Three-quarters of pensioners to get winter fuel payment after U-turn 15 hours ago Michael Race Business reporter, BBC News Johner Images/Getty Images More than three-quarters of pensioners will receive the winter fuel payment this year after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed a major policy U-turn. Nine million pensioners in England and Wales with an annual income… Continue reading Three-quarters of pensioners to get winter fuel payment after U-turn

Sizewell C nuclear plant gets £14bn go-ahead from government 34 minutes ago Alice Cunningham BBC News, Suffolk Sizewell C The government has committed £14.2bn of investment to build the new Sizewell C nuclear plant on the Suffolk coastline, ahead of the Spending Review. Sizewell C will create 10,000 direct jobs, thousands more in firms supplying… Continue reading Sizewell C nuclear plant gets £14bn go-ahead from government

Chris Mason: Labour hopes to put winter fuel misstep behind them The final act in this slow motion U-turn has played out. The arc of this row runs to almost a year. It was late July last year when I was among a bunch of reporters called into the Treasury to question the then new… Continue reading Chris Mason: Labour hopes to put winter fuel misstep behind them

Home secretary yet to agree deal days before spending review Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has still yet to agree a deal with the Treasury before Wednesday’s Spending Review, despite an offer of above inflation increases to police funding in each of the next three years. Ministers have been locked in talks with Rachel Reeves and… Continue reading Home secretary yet to agree deal days before spending review

Fraud culture was ‘pervasive’ at union, auditors say 16 minutes ago Joe Pike Political correspondent PA Media There was a “pervasive fraud environment” at one of the UK’s largest trade unions, an auditors’ report obtained by the BBC has concluded. Unite, which used to be Labour’s biggest donor, also faced an “impairment” – effectively a… Continue reading Fraud culture was ‘pervasive’ at union, auditors say

Chris Mason: Why Zia Yusuf’s resignation matters for Reform UK The resignation of Zia Yusuf as Reform UK’s chairman matters because he was a central character in the stand out trend in British politics since the general election – the rise and rise of Nigel Farage’s party. After 11 months in the role, Yusuf said… Continue reading Chris Mason: Why Zia Yusuf’s resignation matters for Reform UK

Free school meals to be extended to 500,000 more children 34 minutes ago Hazel Shearing Nathan Standley BBC News Getty Images Any child in England whose parents receive Universal Credit will be able to claim free school meals from September 2026, the government has said. Parents on the credit will be eligible regardless of their… Continue reading Free school meals to be extended to 500,000 more children

UK spared from Trump’s 50% steel and aluminium tariffs The UK has been spared from US President Donald Trump’s executive order doubling steel and aluminium tariffs from 25% to 50%. The order signed by Trump on Tuesday evening raises import taxes for US firms buying from other countries – but the levy remains at 25%… Continue reading UK spared from Trump’s 50% steel and aluminium tariffs

Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war, minister says 28 minutes ago Sam Francis Jonathan Beale Getty Images The government will invest billions of pounds to move the UK to “war-fighting readiness” in the face of a new era of threats from nuclear powers like Russia and China, the defence secretary has said.… Continue reading Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war, minister says