UK Politics

Keir Starmer has moved to get a grip on the political agenda and toughen up his government by bringing Rachel Reeves’ former deputy from the Treasury to strengthen his Downing Street operation.With concerns over the focus of the Downing Street operation, Labour languishing eight points behind Reform in the polls and a sense that the prime minister is not in control of the political agenda, Darren Jones has been moved to help strengthen the operation.The prime minister has also brought in world-leading economist Baroness Minouche Shafik as his new chief economic adviser in a move which will allow him to take more control of economic policy.The shake-up follows growing criticism of Ms Reeves, who faces a difficult few months ahead amid growing speculation she is likely to have to announce major tax rises in the Budget. While she is expected to remain in post, her authority – and the power of the Treasury, which has been vehemently criticised by Labour backbenchers – will be much diluted.Mr Jones is replaced as chief Treasury secretary by loyalist James Murray and Daniel Tomlinson, who only became an MP last year, is promoted to a junior Treasury ministerial role.Chief Secretary Darren Jones More

Domestic abuse victims could be at risk if the upcoming emergency alert drill sends an alert to any hidden devices they have, charities say.On Sunday September 7 at around 3pm, mobile phones on 4G and 5G networks will vibrate, emit a siren for up to 10 seconds, and display a message confirming the alert is a drill.But there are concerns that the sound could reveal hidden phones belonging to domestic abuse victims and groups are advising them how to opt out of the alert.To opt out, iPhone users should go to settings, search for “Emergency Alerts”, and turn off Severe & Emergency Alerts.Android users can do the same by searching “Emergency Alerts” in settings and switching off Severe & Emergency Alerts.Meanwhile, theatre-goers will be advised to turn their phones off and drivers are urged not to be distracted if they are behind the wheel when the alert takes place.Emma Pickering, of charity Refuge, said: “During the initial roll-out of the Government’s emergency alert system, Refuge expressed concerns about how the alerts could indirectly impact survivors who have hidden devices by making their abuser aware of the device.“We must be clear – abuse is always a choice a perpetrator makes, and technology itself is not responsible.“When used correctly and as intended, technology can make vast improvements to our lives, and we know that having a hidden device that can be used to access support without fear of being tracked can offer a lifeline for many survivors.“However, in the hands of a perpetrator of abuse, technology becomes another tool to misuse and weaponise, often with devastating effects.”A spokesperson for women’s aid charity Solace said: “These alerts may put domestic abuse survivors at risk, if they are concealing devices from perpetrators.“Survivors may hide devices because they use them to seek and receive support, or to seek employment to increase their financial independence.”Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre said its members have been advised about the alert.A spokesperson said: “Theatres are updating their pre-show announcements to remind audiences to turn phones off completely, helping to minimise disruption.“Theatre is a uniquely live experience where the unexpected can happen – but it’s always best when the surprises come from the stage.”The AA recommended that drivers familiarise themselves with the alert sound and vibration and do not interact with the message until stopped in a safe place with the engine switched off.Edmund King, AA president, said: “We support the testing of the emergency alerts system, which is an important tool the Government uses to keep people safe in a crisis.“On the day, drivers should simply stay calm and focus on the road. As always, only check your phone when you’re parked safely with the engine turned off.”RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Anyone driving on Sunday afternoon needs to be ready for the 3pm emergency alert test, so we’d encourage people to share the message far and wide with anyone they know.“The loud siren-like sound that will be emitted by millions of phones is, of course, designed to get everyone’s attention but it’s important drivers stay focused while it’s going off for 10 seconds or so.”The system is designed for use during the most likely emergencies to affect the UK and warnings would also be transmitted on television, radio and locally by knocking on doors.Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “On Sunday September 7 we will hold a UK-wide test of the emergency alerts system to ensure it works when we need it most.“It is a vital tool for keeping the nation safe when lives are on the line – and every minute matters.“During Storm Darragh and Storm Eowyn, as millions faced dangerous extreme weather, I saw first-hand how effective it was at getting life-saving advice to at-risk communities in an instant.“We do not use the system often, but like the fire alarm in your home, it is always on standby should we need to act.” More

Rachel Reeves has admitted that hardworking people feel “stuck” as economic growth continues to lag and pressure mounts on her to raise new taxes.In stark comments on the state of Britain’s economy, the chancellor acknowledged that families are “squeezing every penny to make ends meet” and that more needs to be done to help working people “get ahead in life”.But a defiant Ms Reeves also hit back at critics such as Nigel Farage who claim that “Britain is broken” – insisting she was working to boost the economy and “build a stronger Britain”. Writing exclusively for The Independent, she said: “Britain isn’t broken, but for working people, it feels stuck.Rachel Reeves (Anthony Devlin/PA) More

A shock new poll has revealed that even a majority of Reform UK supporters now want to unpick parts of Brexit and move the UK closer to the EU.The major YouGov survey of 2,224 voters has underlined a significant shift in attitudes to the Brexit debate and suggests that Nigel Farage’s continued hostility towards the EU is not even landing with his own party’s supporters.According to the findings, 55 per cent of Reform UK (previously the Brexit Party) voters want a permanent youth mobility scheme for young people in the UK and Europe to be put in place with just 34 per cent opposing.Even Reform supporters are now leaning towards closer ties with the EU More

While shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has become the British political poster boy for weight-loss jabs, one of his former colleagues has been less impressed.Tory peer Ed Vaizey has been left frustrated in his bid to trim his weight by taking Mounjaro.The ex-culture minister told The Independent that despite hundreds of thousands of people shedding pounds from taking weight-loss jabs, in his experience it was “certainly not a miracle drug” – but admitted he could have taken other measures to help him lose weight.“My suspicion is that I am a typical man in the sense that I think ‘I buy this drug, I inject it, it should do all the work.’ But I suspect that if I stop drinking and had a reasonably sensible diet, it would probably have helped me lose weight quicker than if I was just doing it as a diet,” he said. Ed Vaizey is a little frustrated with weight-loss treatments More

A senior cabinet minister has accused Nigel Farage and Reform UK of “whipping up anger” as tensions mount around migrant hotels.Education secretary Bridget Phillipson claimed that Reform leader Mr Farage has “no interest” in finding solutions to the migrant crisis and small boats and is using it to build political support.Her comments came less than 24 hours after Reform was forced to suspend a councillor in Epping, James Regan, over racist comments on social media while he was taking part in protests outside the Bell Hotel in the Essex town.The 61-year-old councillor described the hotel as “a third world paedophile babysitting centre”, among other remarks.Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (Lucy North/PA) More

Sir Keir Starmer has been warned that Labour must take decisive action on the migrant crisis or risk losing voters to Reform UK, after the government won a significant court challenge over asylum hotels. Lord Falconer, who served under former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, backed the government’s decision to fight an injunction that would have seen asylum seekers moved out of the protest-hit Bell Hotel in Epping. He said people were demanding action to close asylum hotels. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We’ve obviously got to move forward in relation to closing the hotels and also stopping the crossings.“The government always has the burden of doing what’s possible and the government is doing the right thing in relation to it, but there’s a lot more to do, and if we don’t, as a government, do it, then you’ll see those opinion polls raised yet further for Reform, because they don’t have the burden of having to be practical.”His intervention comes after Court of Appeal judges revoked a ban on housing asylum seekers at the hotel, which has been plagued by unrest. They said the move would have “obvious consequences” for the government’s duty to house asylum seekers and could “incentivise” other councils to seek similar legal action if allowed. Labour grandee Lord Falconer has said Labour must take decision action or risk losing voters to Reform UK More

Rachel Reeves has been warned she faces having to break Labour’s manifesto pledge not to increase taxes on working people after leading economists said “fiddling around” with smaller taxes – like a mansion tax and a gambling levy – would not be enough to fill the black hole in the Budget.The warning has been led by Lord Jim O’Neill, the economist, former Treasury minister and ex-Goldman Sachs chairman who was brought in by Ms Reeves as a top advisor.He told The Independent: “I don’t think fiddling around with smaller taxes any longer is likely to yield much fruit.”Instead, the chancellor has been told by leading think tanks that, if she wants to maintain her spending plans and fiscal rules on borrowing, she will likely have to raise income tax, VAT or employee national insurance – breaking one of Labour’s key manifesto pledges. Rachel Reeves is faced with a potential £41.2bn black hole in government finances (Oliver McVeigh/PA) More