UK Politics

Keir Starmer refuses to rule out raising national insurance contributionsYour support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseThe chancellor will announce Labour’s first Budget in 14 years tomorrow, leading one of the most anticipated fiscal events in over two decades.Ahead of her announcement, the chancellor has announced more details of NHS spending, pledging funding for two million extra appointments. But health secretary Wes Streeting has warned that the NHS still faces “real problems this winter,” adding that “one Budget can’t undo 14 years of damage.”The chancellor has also been warned that rumoured plans to increase employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) could hit 700,000 workers with a £400 tax rise.This is the number of individuals estimated to be working for ‘umbrella companies’ as contractors or freelancers. Due to a loophole in these workers’ tax status, they will often find themselves covering their employers’ NICs.Andy Chamberlain, of self-employment body IPSE, said: “It’s difficult to see how this wouldn’t breach Labour’s pledge not to raise taxes for ‘working people’.”We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates ahead of the big event here, on The Independent’s liveblog. Show latest update 1730212849Starmer chairs pre-Budget meetingAhead of the Budget, Sir Keir Starmer chaired a political Cabinet meeting, without civil service officials.A Labour spokesman said: “This Budget is about investment with Labour versus decline under the Conservatives. The Prime Minister opened the political Cabinet meeting by saying that ‘politics is about choices’ and that the Budget tomorrow will show that ‘we are choosing to fix the NHS, rebuild Britain and protect the payslips of working people’, to deliver on our mandate for change.The Chancellor told ministers “there would have to be difficult decisions on spending, welfare and tax” to deal with the legacy she inherited.“She said the Labour Party promised there would be no return to austerity and the Budget tomorrow would deliver on that promise. She said the choices the Government is taking will restore economic stability.“She said the Budget would fix the foundations of the economy and deliver on the promise of change.”Albert Toth29 October 2024 14:401730210449‘No-one is going to be happy’: Unions brace for Reeves’ BudgetUnion leaders are braced for increased taxes and spending cuts in Rachel Reeves’ Budget.The chancellor has already warned she has had to make “difficult” choices in her first Budget, and the first one ever to be delivered by a female chancellor.Labour is expected to increase employers’ national insurance contributions, extend the freeze on income tax thresholds, increase in capital gains tax on shares, and close inheritance tax loopholes.One union leader told the Independent: “The impression we are getting is that no-one is going to be happy”.Kate Devlin29 October 2024 14:001730209249Reeves’ first budget is about ‘protecting the payslips of working people’Rachel Reeves’ first budget is about “protecting the payslips of working people”, the prime minister told a political Cabinet meeting.It comes amid a growing row over the definition of “working people”, with the party having promised not to raise national insurance, income tax or VAT on those individuals.Addressing the meeting on Tuesday, Sir Keir said “politics is about choices”, adding that Wednesday’s Budget will show the party is “choosing to fix the NHS, rebuild Britain and protect the payslips of working people”.The prime minister also said that the “question for the Budget is not whether we must act, it is how we act and what choices we make in the national interest”, a Labour Party spokesperson said.Millie Cooke29 October 2024 13:401730208049We will back the OBR says prime ministerThe Government will back the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), not trash it, the Prime Minister’s spokesman has said after Jeremy Hunt complained about the body publishing a review of the last administration’s spending plans on the same day as the Budget.The former chancellor complained that the body publishing a review into the “black hole” Labour says it inherited on the same day as the Budget is not impartial.Asked if the Government was using the OBR as a political tool, Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “No, the Prime Minister is clear that this Government is going to back the independent OBR, not trash it.“The answer is not to blame the referee, face up to the challenges we faced and be honest about the trade-offs and choices the Government face, not pretend they don’t exist.“That’s why the Government is strengthening the OBR through the Budget Responsibility Act to ensure that it’s never sidelined again, like we saw during the mini budget.“The Government has been up front about the black hole of the nation’s finances and it fully backs the OBR and the independent scrutiny it provides.”Albert Toth29 October 2024 13:201730205049Public wants ‘positive, proactive’ vision from Budget, poll showsThe public wants to hear a “positive, proactive vision” for growing the economy and restoring public services when the Chancellor delivers her Budget on Wednesday, a poll has found.Polling by Ipsos on the eve of the Budget found 84 per cent of people thought it was important to hear about Labour’s plans for improving public services during Rachel Reeves’s speech while 80 per cent wanted to hear about plans to grow the economy.Only 69 per cent said they wanted to hear about the financial “black hole” in current spending plans while less than half the public said it was important for Ms Reeves to talk about the role of the previous government in bringing about the current situation.So far, more people said they had heard negative stories about the problems facing public services and the economy than about Labour’s plans for the future.Trinh Tu, managing director of Ipsos UK public affairs, said the public was “sending a clear message” to the Government – “we know the problems, now give us solutions”.She said: “Awareness of the challenges is high, but people are much less clear on Labour’s plans to address them.Albert Toth29 October 2024 12:301730203249Starmer says ‘working people’ shouldn’t fear the Budget – but who are they?As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver Labour’s first Budget in 14 years, we want to hear your views. How should “working people” be defined? Should high earners or those with investments be included? And how should this affect decisions in the upcoming Budget?Share your thoughts here — we’ll highlight the most insightful comments as they come in.Albert Toth29 October 2024 12:001730201449Tories urge rethink on winter fuel payment changes ahead of BudgetConservative MPs have gathered in Westminster to call on the Government to “think again” about means-testing the winter fuel payment.Later on Tuesday, they will hand in a petition to the Treasury ahead of Rachel Reeves’ first Budget on Wednesday.Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride told the PA news agency that the petition has collected “over a quarter of a million signatures”.Mr Stride said that they are “calling upon the Government to think again about means-testing the winter fuel payment”.He said “many” pensioners are going to “really, really struggle”, adding: “This Government chose to give well above inflationary pay rises to trade union paymasters when it came to wage settlements and chose to take this money away from some of the most vulnerable people in the country. We don’t believe that’s right.”Conservative MPs present petition against planned cuts to winter fuel payment More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseBritish sovereignty over the Falkland Islands is not up for negotiation, Downing Street has said after Argentinian president Javier Milei declared that the territory “will become Argentine again”.The libertarian leader, who idolises Margaret Thatcher, said Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has shown the path for Argentina to claim sovereignty over the Falklands “in the long term”.But, hitting back at the claim on Tuesday, Sir Keir’s official spokesman said: “Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is not up for negotiation.”Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said sovereignty over the islands is ‘not up for negotiation’ More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseA former Tory MP inappropriately touched a woman’s bottom in one of parliament’s bars without her consent, according a damning report by the Commons sleaze watchdog.Aaron Bell, who suddenly stepped down before the general election despite having campaigned for six days, was found to have touched the complainant’s left thigh, waist and bottom “inappropriately and without her consent” last December in Parliament’s Strangers’ bar.The damning report, by parliament’s standards commissioner, described the incident as “brazen and drunken” sexual misconduct. It found Mr Bell “abused his position of power over the complainant”, citing the significant age gap between the two and his role as an MP and assistant government whip.And it said the complainant felt targeted as a young, female and junior member of staff “who would risk considerable adverse impacts on her career if she made a complaint”.The panel investigating Mr Bell found that it was “a serious case of sexual misconduct involving an abuse of power”. And it said, had Mr Bell remained an MP after the general election, it would have considered recommending a significant suspension from the Commons.Had he been eligible for a former MPs’ pass, which lets ex-members access the estate after standing down, the panel would have asked MPs to vote for its indefinite removal.The report concluded: “In the circumstances ‘this Report will stand as a published reprimand for the respondent’s misconduct’.”In May, Mr Bell joined a growing exodus of Tory MPs quitting before the general election, when the party went on to suffer its worst defeat in history.At the time, he  said it was “with a heavy heart” that he was stepping down, raising questions about why he had been on the campaign trail since Rishi Sunak called the snap summer poll.Days into the contest he had been telling constituents in Newcastle-under-Lyme he wanted to be re-elected.In a statement, Mr Bell said: “I am disappointed at the outcome of the investigation but have chosen not to appeal the findings of the Commissioner.“I apologise for any upset caused to the complainant and wish to make it clear that I did not intend to cause any distress.“This investigation was one of the reasons I chose not to seek re-election at the General Election – I have let down the loyal members of my Association and thank them for the support they gave me as a Member of Parliament. I would also like to apologise to the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme, whom it was an honour to serve.“This has been a difficult time for my family, and I would ask that their privacy is respected at this time.” More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseThe man who appeared to have been punched by Labour MP Mike Amesbury in an altercation caught on CCTV has been named.The MP for Runcorn and Helsby was “administratively suspended” from the Labour Party on Monday evening after CCTV footage appeared to show him punching a man to the ground in his Cheshire constituency at 2:15am on Saturday.Bystander footage had emerged the previous day in which Mr Amesbury appeared to stand over a man shouting: “You won’t threaten the MP ever again, will you?”The former shadow minister said in a statement on on Sunday that he had contacted Cheshire Police to report what had happened after he was “involved in an incident that took place after I felt threatened on the street following an evening with friends”.Cheshire Police said they were called to reports of an assault in Frodsham in the early hours of Saturday, and confirmed that a 55-year-old man had been voluntarily interviewed under caution in relation to the incident, having since been released pending further inquiries.Paul Fellows was named as the man apparently punched by Mike Amesbury More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseRobert Jenrick has been accused of “an obnoxious distortion of history” after saying former British colonies should be grateful for the legacy of empire.The Conservative Party leadership hopeful said Commonwealth nations owe Britain a “debt of gratitude” for the democratic institutions they inherited after gaining independence from the UK.Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: “Many of our former colonies — amid the complex realities of empire — owe us a debt of gratitude for the inheritance we left them.”Mr Jenrick, a former Home Office minister, is battling against Kemi Badenoch this weekend to head up the Tory Party.Speaking to The Independent, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Afrikan reparations, described Mr Jenrick’s remarks as deeply offensive.”These comments are deeply offensive and an obnoxious distortion of history,” the MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill said.“Enslavement and colonialism were not ‘gifts’ but imposed systems that brutally exploited people, extracted wealth, and dismantled societies, all for the benefit of Britain.“To suggest that former colonies should be ‘grateful’ for such unimaginable harm disregards the legacy of these injustices and the long-term impact they still have on many nations today.”The MP suggested that such comments from Mr Jenrick may serve to alienate Britain from the international community and harm economic prospects.“Following Brexit, we need to establish ourselves as a nation that everyone can do business with; we cannot afford such vile baseless commentary,” she explained.“Whilst it might send perfectly pitched dog whistles for a Tory leadership contest, these insulting sentiments are catastrophic for international relations.“Any wannabe leader should have the sense to understand that.”Labour councillor Zainab Asunramu suggested Mr Jenrick’s comments show that he’s unfit to be the next Conservative Party leader.“Raping, pillaging, murdering and enslaving Black people and subjecting them to sustained, abhorrent, inhumane and degrading treatment…that is a legacy he is proud of?,” she said.“Jenrick is not fit for office, let alone to be a leader of any political party in the UK.”Writer Ian Birrell added: “Just when you thought Jenrick couldn’t look any more desperate and ridiculous….”Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, lawyer and activist, described Mr Jenrick as a “political illiterate”, adding: “Britain would be nothing without colonised African and Asian nations.”Mr Jenrick has addressed the topic of slavery reparations before, recently calling Britain to reject such calls.During a speech at the Henry Jackson Society, a right-wing think tank, last week, he said: “While the topic of overseas aid and reparations is being discussed, let me confront it head-on.“We must unequivocally reject these claims, they are based on false and misleading narratives about our past, after all it was Britain that worked harder than nearly any other country to eradicate the slave trade.”This comes after dozens of Commonwealth nations, many of whom are former colonies and territories of Britain, lobbied Britain to discuss reparations at a recent summit.Prime minister Keir Starmer rejected the idea of reparations payments which yielded criticism. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseAs Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer assures the public that “working people” have nothing to fear from Wednesday’s Budget, confusion has arisen over who exactly qualifies as a “working person.”Labour has promised not to raise taxes on working people, but the term remains unclear, with care minister Stephen Kinnock recently dodging questions on whether those earning over £100,000 fall into that category. The prime minister triggered a backlash by implying that landlords and those with shares may not be classified as working people. After public outcry, Downing Street clarified that individuals whose primary income comes from work — not investments — are still considered working people.Meanwhile, health secretary Wes Streeting has said he considers himself a “working person,” despite earning £160,000 annually, and suggested that the government’s decisions are primarily focused on those with low and middle incomes. He told Sky News: “In our manifesto we were very clear about the steps we were going to take to protect working people, which was ruling out increases in income tax, national insurance and VAT, and despite all the pressures that we are under and the scale of the black hole in the public finances, we will honour every single one of those commitments.“Just on this ‘working person point’, I think what we mean is when we’re making decisions, especially in the context of a Budget, who do we have in our mind’s eye?”As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver Labour’s first Budget in 14 years, we want to hear your views. How should “working people” be defined? Should high earners or those with investments be included? And how should this affect decisions in the upcoming Budget?Share your thoughts by adding them in the comments — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.All you have to do is sign up and register your details — then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseSir Keir Starmer’s approval rating has collapsed more significantly after winning an election than any other prime minister in modern history, a new poll has shown.Following the July election, which saw the Labour Party win a landslide majority of 174 seats, the prime minister approval rating reached a high of plus 11. But by October, just days before Rachel Reeves’ Budget on Wednesday, new polling from More in Common showed that the prime minister’s personal approval rating has fallen to -38 – a net drop of 49 points.His rating is now lower than that of former prime minister Rishi Sunak, which now sits at -31 following an increase of six points since he lost the election.Sir Keir’s approval rating has collapsed since winning the election More