Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Rishi Sunak has accused the prime minister of “repeatedly refusing to admit or to publish the consequences of his decision” to means-test winter fuel payments for pensioners.
In a fiery clash at Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir’s predecessor in No 10 called on the Labour government to publish an impact assessment of the move, which will take the payment from all but the poorest pensioners.
Labour was hit by criticism over cuts to winter fuel payments, and as MPs voted to cut the allowance, 52 of their own memberss abstained from yesterday’s Commons vote on withdrawal of the blanket benefit.
Ahead of the vote, The Independent revealed that an assessment had been conducted of how many people would be pushed into fuel poverty.
The government has been accused of punishing pensioners but it insisted the proposed changes are needed to fill a £22 billion “black hole” in public finances left behind by previous Conservative governments.
Chancellor Racher Reeves said the government would not water down the decision, despite the revolt by Labour MPs and warnings about the effect on the elderly.
Poll: NHS waiting lists outweigh economic stability in public
A new YouGov poll has revealed that voters overwhelmingly prioritise cutting NHS waiting times over economic stability, with only 10 per cent believing the government should focus on the economy.
Conducted between September 9-10, the survey shows that 39 per cent of respondents see reducing NHS backlogs as the top issue, while 18 per cent rank the launch of the Border Security Command as their second priority.
Baroness Altmann warns winter fuel payment cuts threaten pensioner wellbeing
Slashing winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners poses a “significant risk” to the health and wellbeing of many on low incomes, it has been warned in the Lords.
Tory former pensions minister Baroness Altmann is attempting to block the move in the unelected chamber.
The Conservative peer has tabled a so-called “motion to annul”, which would scupper the planned cut, if agreed to.
It is calling for the regulations to “be annulled because they would significantly reduce state support for pensioners without sufficient warning and without a proper impact assessment, and because they present a significant risk to the health and wellbeing of many pensioners on low incomes”.
Two regret motions, criticising the plans, have also been proposed by peers.
Labour rebels could face disciplinary action over winter fuel vote
Labour MPs who defied the party line by opposing changes to the winter fuel payment will face action, Sky News reports.
Jon Trickett was the only Labour MP to vote with the Conservatives in a failed attempt to block the changes, while 12 others were absent without authorisation.
The Tory motion was defeated by 348 to 228, with Labour maintaining a majority of 120.
Despite 52 Labour MPs not voting, it’s unclear how many abstained or had prior approval to miss the vote.
Labour leadership is expected to take action against those who broke the whip.
Rent hikes limited to once a year under Labour’s rent reforms
Labour has unveiled sweeping rent reforms, limiting landlords to raising rents just once a year and only to the market rate.
The upcoming legislation, set to take effect by next summer, will ban in-tenancy rent increases from being written into contracts.
Currently, landlords can raise rent through contract clauses or by issuing a Section 13 notice.
Under the new rules, tenants will have stronger protections, with the ability to challenge increases before enforcement.
Labour also confirmed plans to ban rental bidding wars and prevent landlords from discriminating against housing benefit claimants or parents, practices that are already illegal.
Former bishop offers government help with Hillsborough Law
The former bishop of Liverpool has said he has offered to help the government with the introduction of a Hillsborough Law, which he believes should be shaped by families’ experiences.
The Right Reverend James Jones, who chaired the Hillsborough Independent Panel, said he had contacted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after the government committed to the legislation, which would incorporate a legal duty of candour, in the King’s Speech earlier this year.
He said: “We’re aware of other public inquiries, we’re aware of millions of words being written about various public tragedies and the families’ feeling is there’s got to be more than words, there’s got to be action and it’s got to lead to change – a change in culture and a change in law.
“So, the Hillsborough families are reassured that in the King’s Speech the new government has promised to put on statute the Hillsborough Law.
“I’ve written to the Prime Minister offering my help, having been involved with the families, and I look forward to the government reaching out to those of us, especially the families, who have experienced these tragedies so that future legislation can be shaped by the families’ own experiences.
“It would be sad if a Hillsborough Law was produced and the families and survivors looked at it and said ‘well that wouldn’t have made any difference’.
“Let’s listen to the families of the Grenfell Tower scandal, of the infected blood scandal, of the Covid pandemic, of the Post Office scandal. Let’s listen to the people that have been badly treated, learn from their experience and change what needs to be changed.”
The former bishop spoke after meeting Hillsborough families as a review of the forensic pathology which followed the 1989 disaster was published.
Pictured: Lammy and Blinken meet Ukrainian foreign minister
David Lammy, Antony Blinken and the new Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha have met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv.
It marks the first time Mr Sybiha has met with the pair in person since he was appointed as part of a reshuffle earlier this month.
Minister: Nothing can be done to “erase the deep pain that was caused” during Troubles
MPs can do “nothing” to “erase the deep pain that was caused” during the Troubles, the Northern Ireland secretary has said, but they can “help provide answers to families”.
At the despatch box, Hilary Benn said: “Many of us in this House remember the savage brutality of the Troubles, a truly terrible time in our history, and we must never forget that most of the deaths and injuries were the responsibility of paramilitaries including the Ulster Defence Association, the Provisional IRA and others.
“We should also always pay tribute to the work during that time of the armed forces, the police, the security services, the vast majority of whom served with distinction and honour, and so many of whom sacrificed their lives in protecting others.
“It is very hard for any of us to understand fully the trauma of those who lost loved ones – sons and daughters, spouses and partners, fathers and mothers – and what they have been through, and there is of course nothing that any of us can do to bring them back or to erase the deep pain that was caused.
“What we can do is to seek transparency, to help provide answers to families and to work together for a better future for Northern Ireland, which has made so much progress since these terrible events.”
No 10 refuses to comment on review of effect of curbing fuel payments
Downing Street has declined to comment on whether the government will publish an assessment of the effect of restricting winter fuel payments.
A No 10 spokeswoman said: “Ministers will receive advice on the development of all policies but we don’t routinely provide a running commentary on the advice that they receive.”
She added: “We have spoken to the necessity of setting out the plans promptly, given the need to lay the regulations to come into effect in September.
“The chancellor was very clear upon receiving the results of the audit in setting out the steps that she needed to take to address the £22 billion black hole in the public finances and that also enabled us to set out the plans and ensure that we could encourage people to apply for pension credit.
“That work is ongoing. We have seen a 115% increase in the claims but that work is still ongoing and we encourage people to apply and payments will be backdated.”
Reeves defends claiming energy expenses on second home
Rachel Reeves has defended claiming expenses for energy bills at her second home after the government’s plans to scale back winter fuel payments for pensioners cleared the Commons.
Records of the chancellor’s energy bill claims show that she claimed back more than £3,000 over five years.
“Being a constituency MP means that you have to have a house in London as well as, of course, living in the constituency, and that’s the same for all MPs. Those are long-standing rules,” she told GB News after being asked whether it was fair for taxpayers to pick up the bill to heat her second home.
The chancellor was also asked whether the savings from the cut to winter fuel payment would be wiped out if all 800,000 pensioners who have not yet signed up for the pension credit did so.
She did not dispute that full take-up could negate the savings, replying: “I would prefer the poorest pensioners to get the support that they’re entitled to, I would rather pay money to the poorest pensioners than to continue with a universal winter fuel payment, which meant that some people who didn’t need the money, were getting it and weren’t using it to pay their energy bills.”
Minister met Finucane family before inquiry announcement
Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn met the family of Pat Finucane the day before announcing a public inquiry into his murder:
