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Washington Bureau Chief
Reform leader Nigel Farage has branded the EU’s former Brexit negotiator and new French prime minister Michel Barnier an “EU fanatic”.
The 73-year-old, who became a bête noire for Brexiteers due to his tough negotiating style when Britain was leaving the EU bloc, has been tasked with forming a new government by French president Emmanuel Macron.
Staunch Brexiteer Mr Farage, said on X: Michel Barnier becomes the new French Prime Minister. An EU fanatic that will suit sell-out Starmer.”
It comes as MPs will be given the chance to vote on the government’s controversial move to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners as Sir Keir Starmer fights a backlash against the policy.
Commons Leader Lucy Powell announced a motion relating to the changes would be debated on September 10.
At PMQs the prime minister defended the policy and argued the “tough decision” was required to “stabilise our economy”.
Tory MPs heckled the prime minister with shouts of “shame” throughout his answers. The divisive policy has also attracted criticism from within Sir Keir’s own party as Labour MP Melanie Onn urged ministers to consider changes to scheme to ensure older people are “not left in the cold this winter”.
Absolutely shameful’: Grenfell campaigners criticise MPs for leaving before Starmer statement on tragedy
Grenfell campaigners have criticised MPs who left the House of Commons chamber just before Keir Starmer made a statement on the damning inquiry report.
The long-awaited findings of an inquiry into the tragedy that cost 72 lives were finally published on Wednesday, including strong criticism of successive governments for failing to address warnings over fires in high rise blocks.
Sir Keir gave a speech to parliament following prime minister’s questions in which he apologised to victims’ families and survivors for being let down “before, during and in the aftermath of this tragedy”.
Watchdog launches investigation into Ticketmaster over Oasis ticket sales
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over its handling of Oasis tickets.
CMA said its investigation would include how so-called ‘dynamic pricing’ may have been used and would scrutinise whether the sale of tickets by Ticketmaster may have breached consumer protection law.
The investigation would consider whether Ticketmaster had engaged in unfair commercial practices, if people were given clear and timely information to explain that the tickets could be subject to so-called ‘dynamic pricing’, and if consumers were put under pressure to buy tickets within a short period of time – at a higher price than they understood they would have to pay.
Starmer ‘deeply saddened’ by death of Royal Navy member
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of a member of the Royal Navy after a Merlin helicopter ditched in the English Channel.
The Royal Navy said the helicopter crashed off the coast of Dorset on Wednesday night during the training exercise with the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.
He said in a post on X: “Deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of a member of the Royal Navy.
“My thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this painful time.”
Sir Keir paid tribute to the ship’s company “particularly those involved in the search-and-rescue operation”.
Green Party co-leader denies being hypocrite for opposing Labour’s wind farm pylons
In an interview with The Independent ahead of his party’s conference in Manchester this weekend, Adrian Ramsay dismissed the personal claims made against him by prime minister Keir Starmer, among others.
The debate has centred around objections to pylons being built through his picturesque Waveney constituency, which straddles the Norfolk/Suffolk border in East Anglia.
David Maddox and Archie Mitchell report
Farage reacts to Barnier being new French PM
WATCH: Rayner backs Right to Buy as she recalls benefiting from social housing as single mother
Former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier named France’s new prime minister
Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has been appointed as the new French prime minister following weeks of political deadlock.
Mr Barnier, who negotiated Britain’s departure from the European Union between 2016 and 2019, has been tasked with forming a new government by French president Emmanuel Macron.
Mr Macron has spent weeks trying to find a compromise candidate for his minority government that would not be blocked by the powerful left-wing alliance in parliament or the hard right National Rally (RN).
Martin Lewis issues message to pensioners who could miss out on winter fuel payments
On the verge of extinction’: Nadine Dorries ramps up war on Tory Party with new book Downfall
Nadine Dorries will ramp up her war with the Conservatives in another bombshell book promising to lay bare “the story of a political party on the verge of extinction”.
The former culture secretary, who last year attacked the behind-the-scenes power players at the top of the party in her previous book, promises to “pick up where The Plot left off”.
Scheduled for release on 21 November, Downfall promises to expose events behind the scenes during LizTruss’s disastrous 49-day stint in Downing Street and during “the self-serving drift of Rishi Sunak’s time in office”.
Archie Mitchell reports
Lucy Powell confirms MPs will vote on winter fuel payment cuts for pensioners next week
MPs will be given the chance to vote on the government’s move to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
Commons Leader Lucy Powell announced a motion relating to the changes would be debated on September 10.
People in England and Wales not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will lose out under the policy.
It is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the up to £300 payment by 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving around £1.4 billion this year.
