UK Politics

Controversial plans to freeze some disability benefits may be dropped as ministers consider abandoning the plans to avoid a potentially damaging vote in the Commons. Initial reports had suggested that Personal Independence Payments (PIP) would be frozen from rising in line with inflation for a year, but the plan has been met with strong opposition. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is set to lay out the reforms to our current welfare system next week, with the government expected to announce billions of pounds worth of cuts. However, plans for the PIP not to rise in line with inflation for a year, could be dropped, as reported by the BBC.It was one of several elements of a wider package to welfare cuts that are designed to save between £5bn and £6bn, but it has drawn the ire of several Labour MPs and peers. Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall is set to lay out the reforms on Tuesday More

Watch as Sir Keir Starmer held a press conference after hosting a meeting with world leaders to discuss peace in Ukraine on Saturday, 15 March.The prime minister urged countries in his “coalition of the willing” to keep pressure on Moscow after he warned Vladimir Putin not to “play games” over a ceasefire deal.Around 25 world leaders joined Sir Keir for a virtual call on Saturday, including Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.The meeting was aimed at discussing plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.Sir Keir has accused Putin of having “complete disregard” for 30-day ceasefire proposals put forward by Ukraine and the US earlier in the week.Despite Donald Trump describing “good and productive” talks with Russia on Friday, Mr Putin has been accused of using delaying tactics by raising “nuances” and further questions, as well as suggesting that Ukraine would not be permitted to rearm, mobilise or receive Western military aid during the truce. More

Rachel Reeves reportedly accepted free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert last week, in a move which threatens to reignite the freebies row which rocked the government last year. According to the i, the chancellor sat in a corporate box last weekend to watch the O2 arena show, for which some resale tickets cost almost £1000, as the Cabinet geared up to announce sweeping cuts to disability benefits. There is no suggestion the chancellor broke any rules, as it is not against lobbying rules for ministers to accept free tickets if declared in the normal way. Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Yui Mok/PA) More

Sir Keir Starmer has warned Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Ukraine as he urged Western leaders to ramp up economic pressure to force him to the negotiating table. The prime minister accused the Russian leader of “playing games” over peace talks, as he prepared to host a virtual summit of around 25 countries on Saturday. The countries in the “coalition of the willing”, which include Britain, France, Australia and Canada, will discuss how to help Kyiv deter future Russian aggression in the event of any peace deal.Starmer has accused Putin of playing games More

Nigel Farage should consider sacking Reform chairman Zia Yusuf to stop the bitter feuding that threatens to destroy their party.That is the controversial message from Raheem Kassam, a close ally of Mr Farage and who is also closely linked to Donald Trump’s White House.It comes as Techne’s weekly tracker poll for The Independent has shown Reform falling to their lowest point since January in the wake of Mr Farage’s suspension of fellow Reform MP Rupert Lowe over claims that he made threats against Mr Yusuf.Mr Lowe claimed Mr Farage threw him out of Reform because he had challenged Mr Farage’s leadership, deriding him as a “Messiah.”Farage and Yusuf at a press conference More

Rachel Reeves has defended huge welfare cuts set to be unveiled next week amid reports of a cabinet backlash and claims ministers are on “resignation watch”. The chancellor said the government had to “get a grip” of spiralling costs and a “broken” system, days before Labour announces proposals which would save an estimated £5bn.Ministers are facing a rebellion from dozens of Labour MPs over the cuts, overs fears of the impact of cuts on the vulnerable and those genuinely too ill to work. Ms Reeves was challenged over her plans to slash welfare and other spending during a cabinet meeting this week, with some ministers said to be considering quitting, depending on the size of the cuts and who they affect. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing pressure over the cuts (Yui Mok/PA) More