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Wales could introduce a “tourism tax” to overnight visitors, Senedd lawmakers have announced.Finance secretary Mark Drake explained that local authorities would be able to choose whether or not to introduce the levy.The tax would mean the costs of maintaining public infrastructure and services will be shared by all those who benefit from them, including visitors.The considerable bulk of these costs will continue to be borne by local residents, Mr Drakeford added. More

A voter who started a petition calling for another general election has conceded that Labour should be given more time to win the electorate over.Michael Westwood launched the petition last week after growing “fed up” with Sir Keir Starmer just four months after Labour won the general election in a landslide.When Sky News host Kay Burley declared: “I think we should give them a bit more time,” the pub landlord agreed.”But what they promised and what they’re delivering is a different thing altogether,” he added. More

Sir Ed Davey challenged Sir Keir Starmer to a “1v1” FIFA match in a bizarre TikTok dancing video filmed outside the Houses of Parliament.The Liberal Democrats leader posted a series of videos asking the prime minister to face him.The first clip was captioned that it would be for charity.In a third video, Sir Ed danced next to images of Mr Bean and Shrek.It received mixed reactions on social media, with one viewer commenting: “Currently in one of the darkest economic and social periods of British history and this is what politicians are doing.”The Independent has reached out to the Liberal Democrats for comment. More

An employment minister squirmed live on television as she was confronted with Sir Keir Starmer’s comments on benefits fraudsters.In an article for the Mail on Sunday, the prime minister wrote that the public would see the government “get to grips with the bulging benefits bill blighting our society” and pledged to “crack down hard on anyone who tries to game the system, to tackle fraud so we can take cash straight from the banks of fraudsters.”When questioned if she considers people who sign themselves off work to be criminals, Alison McGovern asked if the question was quoted from Sir Keir and did not say whether she considers this to be criminal activity. More

Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed an online petition calling for an immediate general election.Appearing on ITV’s This Morning on Monday (25 November), the prime minister brushed off questions about his popularity.“I remind myself that very many people didn’t vote Labour in the last election,” he told hosts Cat Deeley and Andi Peters.“That isn’t how our system works. What I focus on is the decisions that I have to make every day.”Questions have been raised on the legitimacy of the petition’s signatures. More

Sir Keir Starmer has said that the UK is “not at war” and suggested there had been “irresponsible rhetoric” from Russia.Ukraine has fired British long-range Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory for the first time, The Independent understands, the latest sign of a change in stance from Western countries on involvement in the conflict.Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol as part of a local radio round on Friday, 22 November, Sir Keir Starmer was asked “are we at war” in relation to the conflict in Ukraine.“No, we’re not at war, but Ukraine certainly is, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia, and that war has now been going on for just over 1,000 days,” Sir Keir responded.After Russia threatened to use weapons against nations that allow their own weapons to be used inside Russia, the PM said: “There’s irresponsible rhetoric.” More

Sir Keir Starmer was confronted by a BBC radio listener who warned him that “elderly people are going to die” following cuts to winter fuel allowance.BBC Radio Lincolnshire caller Maxine asked the prime minister how he was “going to live” and urged him to back down on the announcement.Sean Dunderdale told the PM the listener had been wearing extra layers and couldn’t put the heating on this week.Sir Keir pointed the caller, who was not entitled to pension credit, in the direction of the warm homes discount which is available to those who receive the guarantee credit of pension credit or are on a low income and have high energy costs. More