Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
Sir Keir Starmer said there is “no silver bullet” to end child poverty but that “it’s good that we’re having a debate about it” as he faces growing pressure for the two-child benefit cap to be dropped.
It comes as education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government could consider removing the two-child benefit cap “as one of a number of ways” of lifting children out of poverty.
As Labour backbenchers push Sir Keir to lift the ban, which prevents parents from claiming benefits for any third or subsequent child born after April 2017, Downing Street denied the government has changed position on the cap.
The prime minister launched a new plan to curb legal migration levels and Britain’s reliance on foreign workers by improving skills training.
Speaking from Hampshire, the PM set out a new organisation, Skills England, in a bid to address the “fragmented and broken” training system.
He said the body will work with the Migration Advisory Committee to identify where there are currently skills gaps and where these might appear in future, and introduce plans to tackle any shortages.
Home secretary claims Tories ‘planned to spend £10bn’ on Rwanda scheme
Yvette Cooper has revealed the Conservative government “had planned to spend over £10 billion” on the Rwanda scheme.
The Home Secretary told the Commons: “I can report it has already cost the British taxpayer £700 million in order to send just four volunteers. Those costs include £290 million payments to Rwanda, chartering flights that never took off, detaining hundreds of people and then releasing them and paying for more than 1000 civil servants to work on the scheme.
“A scheme to send four people. It is the most shocking waste of taxpayers’ money I have ever seen.”
She added: “Looking forward, the costs are set to get worse. Even if the scheme had ever got going, it’s clear it would only cover a minority of arrivals, yet a substantial proportion of future costs were fixed costs.
“And most shocking of all, over the six years of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership forecast, the previous government had planned to spend over £10 billion of taxpayers’ money on the scheme.”
Yvette Cooper: Home Office decision making has dropped
Home secretary Yvette Cooper is now on her feet delivering a statement to the House of Commons on illegal migration.
She told the Commons: “Criminal gangs have been allowed to take hold, along our border, and they are making huge profit from undermining our border security, and putting lives at risk, they should not be able to get away with it.”
She added: “Crossings in the first half of 2024 are up by 10 per cent on last year. Numbers going up instead of coming down and at the same time, the asylum backlog is getting worse as decision making in the Home Office has dropped, and Home Office spending on asylum support has increased sevenfold in the space of just three years.”
Negotiations on EU-UK trading will not involve reversing Brexit
Sir Keir Starmer has said that negotiations on EU-UK trading arrangements will not involve re-joining the EU or freedom of movement.
Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell asked: “Working together and collaborating is important, not least in an unstable world that we’re in. Could he set out for the House what discussions he had about the EU-UK Trade and cooperation agreement in the light of its renegotiation deadlines next year?”
Sir Keir replied: “I’m pleased to have appointed a minister who will take responsibility for that important work. It does not involve re-joining the EU, it does involve resetting and improving the relationship we have with our EU allies.”
In response to an earlier question on EU-UK trade Sir Keir said: “The reset with our European allies was well received and there was clearly an appetite to work in a different and better way with the UK and I think that will stand us in good stead as we go forward.
“We did have discussions about a closer relationship with our EU allies, but I made it very clear from the outset, as I have done in opposition, that does not mean re-joining the EU, that does not mean going back into the structures of the EU, and it does not mean freedom of movement. And I took the early opportunity to make that clear to our European allies so we can move forward progressively, but with the right framework in mind.”
Corbyn urges Starmer to push for the ‘withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces’ from Palestine
Jeremy Corbyn has called Sir Keir Starmer to go even further on his stance on Palestine and call Israel to withdraw its “occupying forces” from the territory.
He started his speech saying: “I congratulate the Prime Minister on the officer he has achieved and thank him for the statement he has given today and I am pleased with the decision to remain as part of the European Convention on Human Rights.”
The former Labour leader then asked the PM whether the issue of global war was considered during the Nato and EPC summits.
The independent candidate for Islington North added: “The issues not just of the wars in Ukraine and Palestine but also in Sudan, in Congo and Yemen, and the possibilities of involving the UN much more in looking towards a much more peaceful future.”
Mr Corbyn added: “And if we were to follow on the role of international law, he needs to go a bit further and call for the withdraw of the Israeli occupying forces in both Gaza and the West Bank and an end to our complicity by the supplying of arms to Israel.
In response, Sir Keir Starmer said conflict resolution did come up during meetings with world leaders. On Palestine, he said: “The prospect of ceasefire is there and I’m urging all parties to be involved. “
Starmer: There is an EU ‘appetite’ to discuss relations with the UK
Sir Keir Starmer has said there is an “appetite” in the EU to discuss new ways to improve the relationship between the UK and the bloc.
The prime minister told the Commons: “I do think that there is an appetite now for a different discussion about our future relations with the EU, whether that is trade, whether that is education and research or whether it is security cooperation, I think particularly in light of what has happened in Ukraine, there is a shared sense that there is room for closer work and ties there.
“They are the three main areas. It is at very early stages. But the reset was very well received by very many European allies.”
Providing financial support to shipbuilder risked public money, says minister
The Government has not stepped in to offer financial support to troubled Belfast shipbuilder Harland and Wolff due to the risk of losing of public money, the Business Secretary has said.
The company, which is part of a consortium that landed a major contract to build new Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Navy, had applied for a £200 million loan guarantee from the Government as part of efforts to restructure its finances.
In a written statement to Parliament, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds explained why the Government had rejected the request to act as a guarantor on fresh lending sought by the company.
Mr Reynolds said the Government would also not offer direct funding to help maintain the company’s liquidity.
“After a detailed review of an application by Harland and Wolff for a UK Export Finance Export Development Guarantee (EDG), His Majesty’s Government has decided not to proceed with the provision of a guarantee,” wrote Mr Reynolds.
“This decision was based on a comprehensive assessment of the company’s financial profile and the criteria set out in our risk policies. We have also decided not to provide any form of emergency liquidity funding.
“While such a decision is not easy, it is my assessment, following extensive engagement by my officials with market players, that HM Government funding would not necessarily secure our objectives and there is a very substantial risk that taxpayer money would be lost.
“The Government believes, in this instance, that the market is best placed to resolve the commercial matters faced by Harland and Wolff.”
Starmer wants a bigger army
Keir Starmer has opened up the possibility that his government could increase the size of the army as part of the defence review, David Maddox writes.
Pressed by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, the prime minister confirmed that concerns about the fact that the army is at it lowest level of numbers since the Napoleonic War will feed into the strategic defence review.
Sir Keir said: “I take the point about the low numbers of troops, that will be looked at in the strategic defence review.”
Green’s Carla Denyer apologises for praising Joe Biden after backlash
On Tuesday night, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer wished Biden well after announcing he is standing down from the 2024 presidential race.
She said: “This cannot have been an easy decision for him. But to take a decision that is personally difficult, but that is in the public interest, is a true sign of leadership.”
The post has been criticised by party members, who saw the message as an endorsement of Biden’s political agenda, including his continued support for Israel’s actions in Palestine leading to thousands of deaths in the Gaza Strip.
Apologising, she said today: “Last night I was positive about President Biden’s decision to stand aside as a candidate. Some people read into this that I was offering my unmitigated support for his presidency, including the policy of selling arms to Israel.
“Given my long-running work campaigning for peace, this is the last thing I wanted and certainly not my position. I am sorry for not making it clearer, and that my comments left some in doubt and concerned.”
Starmer: ‘We need an immediate ceasefire in Gaza’
Sir Keir Starmer said the situation in Gaza is “intolerable” and an immediate ceasefire is required.
On his talks with the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the Prime Minister told the Commons: “I’ve been clear that I fully support Israel’s right to security, the desperate need to see the hostages returned and I’ve also been clear that the situation in Gaza is intolerable and that the world will not look away as innocent civilians – including women and children – continue to face death, disease and displacement.
“It cannot go on, we need an immediate ceasefire, hostages out, aid in, a huge scale-up of humanitarian assistance. That is the policy of this Government and an immediate ceasefire is the only way to achieve it. So we will do all we can in pursuit of these goals.”
Sir Keir said this is why the Government has restarted UK funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), adding: “We’ve received the ICJ (International Court of Justice) opinion on Friday and we’ll consider it carefully before responding.
“But let me say that we’ve also always been opposed to the expansion of illegal settlements and we call on sides to recommit to stability, peace and normalisation and the two-state solution – a recognised Palestinian state, the right of the Palestinian people, alongside a safe and secure Israel.”
Rishi Sunak warns Starmer of ‘trade-offs’ as he seeks defence deal with EU
Responding to Sir Keir Starmer’s statement in the House of Commons, Rishi Sunak has said that allies know that “whilst our government has changed Britain remains an active, involved and reliable partner”.
Reacting to Sir Keir’s plans to forge a stronger defence pact with the EU, the Tory leader said: “I know the Prime Minister is also interested in pursuing a security and defence cooperation pact with the European Union and here I’d just urge him to be alert to the trade-offs involved in this and I hope he can reassure the House that any closer cooperation with the EU will not adversely affect the technological and procurement aspects of our other alliances such as Aukus.
“Because of course we are a pillar of European security… but we also have alliance and interests that extend beyond the European continent.”
Mr Sunak said he hopes to see the Prime Minister committing to a 2.5% of GDP spend on defence by 2030.
The Prime Minister thanked Mr Sunak for the “consensus” in relation to foreign policy, he added: “I’m glad that we managed to get that consensus over recent years, because we are in a more volatile world and the world is looking-in to see unity in the United Kingdom, that is particularly so in relation to Ukraine.”
Sir Keir added that cooperation with the European Union is for “our mutual benefit”, adding: “I can assure him and the House that that does not cut across or come at the cost of other alliances.”
