UK Politics

Labour MPs are said to be plotting to oust Sir Keir Starmer, despite the prime minister welcoming rebellious backbenchers back into the fold.It comes amid despair about the party’s poll ratings and concern that the government may break Labour’s manifesto promise not to raise income tax to fill a hole in the public finances. The warnings come less than 18 months after Labour won a historic majority, with the government now seeing mounting discontent brewing among Labour backbenchers.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should face further scrutiny from his ethics adviser over the appointment of a Labour donor as the chairman of the new football watchdog, the Tories said (Ben Stansall/PA) More

The home secretary is preparing to announce a major shake-up of the immigration system that would be modelled on Denmark – which has one of the toughest systems in Europe. Officials are thought to be looking at Denmark’s tighter rules on family reunion, as well as considering restricting most asylum seekers to a temporary stay in the country.A delegation of senior officials was sent to Copenhagen last month to learn about their interventions and draw lessons that could be applied to the UK. The plan to copy Denmark comes as the government ramps up its efforts to bring down migration amid growing public anger over the issue. Home secretary Shabana Mahmood is looking at Denmark’s immigration system More

The government is expected to break Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise income tax.The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has told the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) that she intends to increase personal tax in one of several “major measures” planned for the Budget at the end of the month, according to The Times.The watchdog will produce an impact assessment of the chancellor’s proposals to be presented to the Treasury on Monday, ahead of the Budget on 26 November.Lucy Powell, the newly elected Labour deputy leader, has urged the government not to hike taxes at the upcoming Budget, warning that doing so could damage “trust in politics”.But amid speculation that Ms Reeves is plotting to take the plunge, The Independent takes a look at what her options are when it comes to income tax, and what they could mean for you.Chancellor Rachel Reeves may be set to break Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise income tax More

Rachel Reeves will reportedly target employee pension contributions in a bid to raise more money at this month’s crunch Budget. The chancellor, according to The Times, is expected to limit an existing tax break on salary pension contributions by introducing a cap on the amount saved for retirement without incurring national insurance payments. The newspaper claims employee contributions of more than £2,000 a year would be subject to national insurance – a move that could raise up to £2 billion per year.It comes at the end of a week in which Ms Reeves reportedly told the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) that she intends to increase income tax in the budget, which will be unveiled on 26 November.Despite Labour’s manifesto pledge to the contrary, she is said to be weighing a 2p rise in income tax, balanced by a 2p cut in national insurance in order to effectively cancel out the burden on workers.Rachel Reeves is looking to address a hole in public finances worth up to £30 billion More

The government has been urged to implement new ways of reducing energy bills without cutting VAT. Removing renewables subsidies, reducing system costs and introducing efficiency standards for landlords, could cut the typical household’s annual fuel bill by £178 by 2030, the think tank Green Alliance has said.Families living in draughty, inefficient rented homes could see even greater savings, potentially up to £587 per year. through these measures. The recommendations emerge amid reports that the Treasury is considering removing VAT from energy and scaling back efficiency programmes funded through household bills, as it seeks to ease the cost-of-living crisis and address criticism regarding the expense of net-zero policies.The Green Alliance stressed the immediate need for government intervention, noting that the average household is expected to pay £478 more in October 2025 than four years prior. Currently, an estimated nine million UK households are experiencing fuel poverty, highlighting the critical urgency of the situation.But the environmental organisation said cutting VAT and energy efficiency programmes would be the wrong way to do it.The recommendations emerge amid reports that the Treasury is considering removing VAT from energy and scaling back efficiency programmes funded through household bills More

Just one in five voters back Rachel Reeves’s reported plans to break Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise taxes on working people – even if they acknowledge it’s in the country’s interests, according to new polling.But it also indicates that the political damage inflicted by raising income tax would be reparable if it was paired with taxes on the wealthy and a positive vision for change, such as clear, achievable targets to improve public services. A new report from cross-party think tank Demos, shared with The Independent, showed that just 20 per cent of the public believe it is acceptable for the government to break promises on tax, even if that’s what the country needs.Reform supporters hold this view particularly strongly, with 67 per cent saying it would not be acceptable, while just 12 per cent say it would be. Labour supporters, however, are divided on the issue, with 38 per cent either side.It comes after The Times reported that the chancellor has told the Budget watchdog that she plans to increase income tax as she seeks to repair Britain’s battered public finances.Ms Reeves is reportedly considering a 2p rise in income tax, paired with a 2p cut in national insurance, as part of an attempt to shift the burden of the increase from workers and towards other groups, such as pensioners and landlords in a move which could raise more than £6bn a year. In a major speech last week, the chancellor put the country on notice that sweeping tax rises are coming in her Budget, warning “we will all have to contribute” to building a new future for Britain.Promising to put the national interest above “political expediency”, the chancellor signalled she is ready to break Labour’s manifesto commitment not to raise income tax, personal national insurance or VAT.Rachel Reeves would not commit to maintaining Labour’s manifesto promises not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT More

Four Labour MPs – Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff, Brian Leishman and Rachael Maskell – have had the whip restored after they had been suspended for repeatedly rebelling against the government. The backbenchers were suspended after all four voted against Labour’s benefits reforms as part of a wider rebellion that saw the changes postponed in July. Ms Maskell, MP for York Central, claimed she had been suspended for “standing up for my constituents” over the plans.But on Friday, as the party faces a split on breaking manifesto promises on tax hikes ahead of the Budget, the four MPs had their whip restored, following a review of their recent conduct. All aside from York Central MP Ms Maskell were first elected at last year’s election.Ms Maskell told the PA news agency she was “Labour to the core and will always stand up for Labour values”, after having the party whip restored.“I am grateful that the whip has rightfully been restored and want to especially thank all those who have been so kind to me over the last few months,” she said.(left to right) Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell who have had the whip restored, Labour sources said, after they had been suspended for repeatedly rebelling against the Government More

The Conservatives have urged the government’s independent ethics adviser to investigate whether Sir Keir Starmer risked a conflict of interest during the selection process for the new football watchdog’s chairman.In a letter to Sir Laurie Magnus, the ethics adviser, the Tories are demanding further scrutiny over donations Sir Keir received from David Kogan. Mr Kogan was named in April as the government’s preferred candidate to chair the Independent Football Regulator.The new watchdog is designed to bolster the financial sustainability of clubs across the football “pyramid” and prevent major teams from joining breakaway leagues.This call for an inquiry follows a previous probe that found Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy breached the code on public appointments by failing to declare donations she had received from Mr Kogan, a media rights expert.An investigation was launched in the summer after the revelation he had donated money to both Sir Keir and Ms Nandy, as well as other Labour figures.David Kogan, pictured, made donations to Starmer during the 2020 Labour leadership race More