More than half a million EU citizens in the UK are still awaiting decisions over their status six weeks after the June deadline for applying for the settlement scheme.
EU nationals and their families were asked to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) by 30 June so they can carry on living and working in Britain after Brexit.
But just over 569,000 applications to the scheme were still pending in July, according to the latest Home Office data. The government’s failure to clear the backlog had left a large number of people “in limbo”, campaigners said.
The 3million group, which advocates for the rights of EU citizens, said people waiting on a decision were having problems in applying for jobs, moving house and – in some cases – entering and exiting the UK.
Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of UK politics. Stay tuned as GCSE results put further pressure on education secretary Gavin Williamson and the government is criticised once again for its attempts to fight climate change.
Government spending just 0.01% of GDP on climate targets
A new analysis suggests the current level of UK spending to combat climate change is lagging behind what advisers say is needed.
The study, carried out by conservation group WWF, says new green policies in the March 2021 Budget add up to just 0.01 per cent of GDP. But the government’s own advisory Climate Change Committee has said 1 per cent of national wealth – or GDP – must be spent every year in the UK to ensure climate targets are met.
It comes after Boris Johnson, in November, promised £12bn for a 10-point plan “green industrial revolution”. Yet, WWF says its research also shows that some Budget policies that encourage pollution totalled £40bn – far more than the PM’s plan.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has the full report:
Make part-time furlough scheme permanent, urge unions
The government should establish a permanent part-time furlough scheme to protect workers’ jobs during recessions and downturns, unions have said.
A policy paper drawn up by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) calls for the creation of a “short-time work” scheme that would allow employers to temporarily reduce workers’ hours, but have the state cover most of the lost wages, writes Jon Stone.
The TUC says the the approach could be a “legacy” of the furlough scheme during the pandemic – widely credited with protecting jobs during the sharp recession that battered the British economy but left unemployment relatively low.
UK economy grows 4.8% as hospitality bounces back from lockdown
Sky’s Helen Smith reports the following about the latest post-lockdown figures:
My colleague Adam Forrest has also unpicked the UK’s 4.8 per cent growth – crediting lockdown restrictions lifting and Britons returning to shops, pubs and restaurants.
Crucially, though, the latest figures did fall short of the Bank of England’s forecast, as economists expected GDP to rise by 5 per cent over the period when most of the economy reopened.
Read his full piece here:
Minister refuses to comment on British ‘spy’ arrest in Berlin
A government minister has declined to comment on the arrest of a British embassy employee in Germany, on suspicion of spying for Russia, saying it would “not be appropriate”.
Schools minister Nick Gibb told Sky News: “I don’t feel I am able to talk about this issue. This is now subject to a police investigation.”
Pressed on why a government representative could not say more, Mr Gibb said: “Because this is a matter for police investigation, it would not be appropriate for any minister to come on your programme and discuss this particular issue.”
Asked why the post of security minister had been left vacant for more than a month, he added: “This is a matter for the prime minister. He makes these appointments and I’m sure these things will happen in due course.”
It comes after Conor McGinn, the shadow security minister, questioned the government’s failure to appoint a new security minister after Tory MP James Brokenshire stepped down from the post weeks ago.
“It is beggars’ belief that the prime minister has failed to appoint a replacement for [Mr] Brokenshire. He’s either forgotten or doesn’t think it’s important,” Mr McGinn said yesterday. “This is just the latest security lapse from a prime minister and government that can’t be trusted with national security.”
Starmer warns Tories over Covid lost learning amid GCSE results
The Labour leader is urging the government to do more to address lost learning during the pandemic, after his party estimated that more than half a million Year 11 students receiving their GCSE results on Thursday will leave secondary school without receiving catch-up support.
On a visit to a school in Swindon to meet students receiving their GCSE results today, Sir Keir is expected to say the current plans to catch up on lost learning “risk holding back a generation of kids”.
Labour estimates some 560,000 year 11 students are leaving secondary school this summer without catch-up support, and says that is set to rise to 1.9 million children by 2024.
The party is calling on the government to match Labour’s children’s recovery plan, which it says would provide a £15bn package, including small group tutoring, breakfast clubs, mental heath support, more professional development for teachers, and extra investment to support the pupils who struggled the most with lockdown learning.
“It’s time for the Conservatives to get behind Labour’s plan and match our ambition for children’s futures,” Sir Keir will say during his visit today.
Is Gavin Williamson sackable?
Now seems a good time to think back to our associate editor Sean O’Grady’s think-piece on the education secretary’s future from last night.
“So weak is Gavin Williamson’s grip on his post in the cabinet that Downing Street spin doctors are already briefing the name of his successor as education secretary – Kemi Badenoch, a treasury minister and minister for equalities (who doesn’t seem that bothered about equality),” O’Grady writes.
“Williamson is a former Conservative chief whip, former leadership campaign manager for both Theresa May and Boris Johnson, and has a reputation, at least, for being a master of the dark arts of politics. He famously has a pet tarantula by the name of Cronus, who he used to keep in a tank on his desk, occasionally letting him out for a walk when a recalcitrant backbencher popped by for a chat.”
Read the full piece here:
Is Gavin Williamson sackable?
The education secretary may appear to limp from blunder to blunder but, in Westminster circles at least, he has a reputation for being a master of the dark arts of politics. Sean O’Grady considers whether Williamson can cling on to his job
Minister admits he does not know who is dealing with Gurkha protestors
Nick Gibb, the schools minister, has admitted he does not know who from the UK government has spoken to the Gurkhas currently on hunger strike outside Downing Street.
The group is campaigning for equal pensions for Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and are not eligible for a full UK armed forces pension.
“We do take very seriously the issue of pensions for Gurkhas,” Mr Gibb told Sky News this morning. “And ministers are of course in touch with and will be in touch with those people who are concerned about pensions for Gurkhas – they are a very important part of the British Army and we’ve always taken very seriously the welfare and the pension of Gurkhas who have served in our armed forces.”
However when asked to confirm that government officials had been in touch with the protesting group, the junior minister responded: “I’m not entirely sure who has met who but I do know that we are always keen to speak to people who are concerned about the welfare of our Gurkha regiment and the pensions arrangements for those soldiers.”
Boris Johnson is yet to comment on the protest but a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said yesterday: “We greatly value the huge contribution Gurkhas make to the British army and ensure they are supported with a generous pension and medical care during retirement in Nepal.
“We are committed to ensuring the Gurkha pension scheme is sustainable and fair alongside other UK public sector pensions.”
Inside Politics: More Andrew drama and Starmer wants Williamson out
Stay up to date with the latest political news by reading our daily Inside Politics briefing, which can be delivered to your inbox every morning.
Today, Matt Mathers unpicks everything from Prince Andrew’s unwillingness to cooperate with US authorities and the strain it is having on diplomatic relations, through to the latest GDP figures released in the UK which show a near 5 per cent jump due to the economy reopening after lockdown.
Read it here:
