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Shadow chancellorJeremy Hunt has accused the Labour governmento of plotting a “great tax betrayal” after Rachel Reeves accused the him of “lying” about the state of public finances.
The Tory MP claimed the Sir Keir Starmer’s government were planning to raise taxes “all along” but “they just didn’t have the courage to tell you”.
It comes as Rachel Reeves was accused of using the fierce attack that the Tories left £22bn hole in the public finances to justify tax rises.
The chancellor admitted the increases will come in the autumn Budget and insisted the government would stick to its promise not to hike national insurance, income tax or VAT, but former Tory chancellor Lord Hammond said the fierce accusations could be “preparing the pitch” for ditching Labour manifesto pledges.
Angela Rayner has removed the Tories’ beauty requirement from new planning rules for homes claiming that “beautiful means nothing really”.
The housing secretary has set up a new towns taskforce to local recommend sites will “to help decide on the right places for these new towns, delivering more homes, jobs and green spaces” as part of her radical reform to the country’s housing planning system.
Badenoch dismisses bullying claims as ‘smears’ amid Tory leadership bid
Kemi Badenoch has dismissed accusations that she bullied civil service staff while serving as business secretary as “smears”.
The Conservative MP, now shadow communities secretary, is alleged to have created an intimidating atmosphere at the Department of Business and Trade in a report by the Guardian newspaper.
“Let’s be clear: these allegations are smears from former staff who I sacked after they were accused of bullying behaviour, lying about other colleagues to cover up their own failures and general gross incompetence,” Ms Badenoch wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Intolerable behaviour I would not stand for,” she added.
The Tory former minister, among those running to be the party’s next leader, also claimed the Department of Business and Trade had confirmed there were no complaints and no investigations against her.
She said the accusations would not “stop me or my campaign” and claimed her bid to be the next Conservative leader following the party’s general election rout had “spooked the lefties and now they’re coming for the one person they know can beat Keir Starmer”.
Ms Badenoch, the MP for North West Essex, added: “The renewal of my party and the country is too important to let the Guardian, acting for the Labour Party, disrupt.”
A spokesman for Ms Badenoch added that she has “high standards and expectations, and she has cultivated high-performing civil service teams who enjoy working with her”.
Atkins warns Labour sends ‘dangerous message’ to striking doctors
Victoria Atkins has slammed the Labour government for settling the pay rise dispute with junior doctors.
The shadow health secretary claimed Wes Streeting’s decision to grant striking NHS staff a 22 per cent pay hike is a “dangerous message” that “strike action will work again in the future”.
Posting on X, she said: “Labour has caved into union demands with a budget-busting pay increase. They have sent the dangerous message that ‘strike action will work again in the future’.
“Labour must stand up to their union paymasters or it is the public who will pay with more strikes and higher taxes.”
It comes as the head of the British Medical Association Robert Laurenson suggested there could be fresh strikes next year despite securing the deal.
Angela Rayner plays down Labour rebellion against housing plan
The deputy prime minister has played down a Labour backbench rebellion against the government’s housebuilding plan.
The housing secretary announced a radical reform to housing plans to lay out the foundations for 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. The minister also set out an annual target of 370,000 homes for local authorities.
But she has dismissed suggestions that she could face MPs opposing the mandatory housebuilding targets on councils if found unpopular in local areas.
Asked by reporters on Tuesday whether she was “gearing up for a fight” with Labour MPs and councils over the new plans, she replied: “Well, Labour councils and Labour MPs know that we’ve got a housing crisis and they’ve been very supportive of our manifesto pledge, which was 1.5 million homes, and knowing full well that that meant we had to really drive that.
“What we need is all areas [is] to recognise the crisis we have and then do something about it, and we’re going to help them do that by driving through these changes so that we get the houses we desperately need.”
Pressed on the issue again, she added: “I think the biggest challenge when I’ve spoken to communities is that often these houses are not for them.”
Lammy hails visit to Qatar ‘absolutely vital’
Councils will be forced to release green belt land for building
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has confirmed local authorities may be forced to release green belt land to make space for new housing.
Mr Pennycook told Sky News: “If local authorities can’t meet their targets through previously developed brownfield land in the first instance or in co-operation with neighbouring boroughs, they should look to then release low quality greybelt land within the greenbelt. Lots of the package yesterday was focused on the targeted release of that greybelt land.
“But in certain circumstances, certain local authorities may, if they can’t through brownfield or in co-operation with neighbours or through greybelt release, need to release some elements of the greenbelt – that happens already.
“Just to be really clear, we’ve not inherited a situation where the previous government didn’t release any greenbelt land at all. They were releasing it in quantity but in a haphazard, unplanned way, and often in a way that didn’t meet local housing needs.
“So what we’re saying is there’s a smarter way to release the right bits of the greenbelt – greybelt low quality land primarily – and to ensure through our golden rules that when it is released, we get development that meets local housing needs.”
Keir Starmer calls Brazil, Nigeria and Cyprus leaders
The prime minister has called leaders of Brazil, Nigeria and Cyprus this afternoon.
Downing Street confirmed Sir Keir spoke with Brazilian president Lula da Silva to discuss “the close areas of collaboration between the UK and Brazil, including on climate and nature”.
He also talked to Nigerian president Bola Tinubu. No 10 said the PM “reflected on the important relationship between the UK and Nigeria, grounded in cooperation on trade and security as Commonwealth partners, with long-standing ties between our people”.
During his call with Cyprus’ president Nikos Christodoulides both leaders agreed to “deepen the invaluable relationship that the UK and Cyprus share, particularly on issues including regional security and migration”.
Taylor Wimpey forecasts housebuilding surge in second half of year
Taylor Wimpey is expecting to build up to 10,000 homes this year, at the top end of previous estimates.
The developer upgraded its annual building forecast on Wednesday, saying that it expects a bounce-back in the second half of 2024, following a slow first half.
Taylor Wimpey’s operating profit fell 22.6% to £182.3 million during the six months to June 30, while sales fell 7% and home completions dropped 7.7% to 4,728.
It said the slow period was caused by a delay in the Bank of England cutting the UK’s base interest rate which meant mortgages were more expensive.
The prospect of a likely rate, cut either this week or in September, means it will meet the “upper end” of previously announced completion guidance of 9,500 to 10,000 homes.
The number would still be lower than the 10,400 homes completed in 2023, but sounded a note of optimism amid a persistent downturn for housebuilders of late.
Experts have said the Bank’s next decision on rates is on a knife-edge ahead of a meeting on Thursday August 1.
The UK’s base rate has been held at 5.25% since August last year as part of the central bank’s task to put a lid on unruly inflation.
Taylor Wimpey also said it expects changes to the planning system by Labour to give housebuilders a boost.
Farage not voting for ‘cruel’ plan to scrap winter fuel payments
Nigel Farage has said he will not back Rachel Reeves’ plan to scrap winter fuel payments for pensioners labelling the Labour decision “cruel and cynical”.
The MP for Clacton told GB News: “I have to say I think it’s rather a cruel thing to do, and I certainly won’t be voting for it as and when I get the opportunity.
“There were times in the past where maybe the argument was that it wasn’t necessary and it had been given as a bribe. But it’s almost like Labour are saying, ‘well, we don’t care about the pensioners, because they’re not going to vote for us anyway’.
“That money that could have gone to pensioners has gone for massive public sector pay rises, including over 22 per cent for junior doctors. This is a very cynical thing she did.”
Foreign Office undertaking ‘concerted effort’ to reduce Israel-Hezbollah tensions
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said cabinet colleagues at the Foreign Office are undertaking a “concerted effort” to reduce tensions after Israel targeted a Hezbollah commander in a strike on a Beirut suburb.
Mr Pennycook told Sky News: “I know our Foreign Office ministers are engaged in a concerted effort to do what the UK can do to reduce tensions in the region. You’re right that they are at a very high level.
“We’ve advised British nationals in Lebanon to leave now on commercial flights and for British nationals not to travel to the region. It’s extremely tense.
“All the effort has to be on de-escalating the situation and getting both parties, the Israelis and the Lebanese, to engage with that US-led process on the diplomatic front and reduce tensions.”
Liz Truss minister urged to apologise for ‘next-level’ £22bn overspend black hole
Labour MP Joe Powell has called a Treasury minister of Liz Truss’ cabinet to apologise for leaving a £22billion public spending shortfall behind.
The MP for Kensington and Bayswater has written a letter to his predecessor Felicity Buchan to “finally apologise” for the “disastrous mini-budget”.
In a tweet, he said: “We knew the public finances under the Tories were a mess, but the £22bn overspend black hole is another level. I’ve written to the former Kensington MP – a Liz Truss Treasury minister – to ask for an apology.
“And I’ve supported measures in parliament so it never happens again.”
