UK

Sir Keir Starmer is bracing for the biggest backbench rebellion of his leadership to date after the publication of his flagship welfare reforms sparked an immediate backlash from MPs and campaigners.The government’s plans to cut disability benefits have been described as “horrendous”, “harmful” and “a disaster”, with campaigners warning it will drive already struggling disabled people into poverty. The reforms – aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work – are set to include the tightening of criteria for personal independence payment (Pip), which is the main disability benefit, as well as a cut to the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) and delayed access to only those aged 22 and over.The bill will remove PIP from up to 800,000 people and the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) own impact assessment, published earlier this year, estimated the reforms would see an additional 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – pushed into relative poverty.Liz Kendall is responsible for the cuts More

Shabana Mahmood has said the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) must be reformed to restore public confidence as Keir Starmer’s government seeks to tackle the issue head-on.The justice secretary joined calls for an overhaul of the convention, warning that “public confidence in the rule of law is fraying” and “there is a growing perception human rights laws are a tool for criminals to avoid responsibility”. It comes after similar comments were made by Tory party leader Kemi Badenoch, who this month warned human rights laws had gone from being a “shield” to a “sword used to attack democracies”. Shabana Mahmood called for the ECHR to be reformed More

Sir Keir Starmer has refused calls from dozens of his own MPs to delay the crunch vote on assisted dying later this week.A letter from 52 Labour backbenchers, first published by The Independent, had appealed to the government to allow more time to scrutinise Kim Leadbeater’s backbench bill to allow assisted dying.But Sir Keir’s rejection of their request means that the final crunch third reading vote will go ahead on Friday as planned, before it is sent to the Lords.The news comes as polling revealed voters’ concerns that disabled people will face coercion to end their lives early if Ms Leadbeater’s bill becomes law.Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is behind the assisted dying Bill More

Rachel Reeves is considering climbing down on her non-dom crackdown to stem the flow of ultra-rich taxpayers leaving the UK.The chancellor is deciding whether to U-turn on the decision to tax non-domiciled individuals inheritance tax based on their global assets. The changes, which formed a key part of Labour’s general election campaign, have raised concerns about an exodus of the wealthy as they flee in search of lower taxes. And a senior City figure told the Financial Times “there will most likely be some tweaks to inheritance tax to stop the non-dom exodus”.Billionaire steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is among those said to be considering leaving Britain as a result of the chancellor’s changes. Rachel Reeves is considering a change to her non-dom crackdown More

Angela Rayner has hit back at critics of Labour’s ambitious plan to build 1.5 million homes, warning them to “underestimate me at your peril”. The deputy prime minister has come under increasing pressure over the flagship target after property agent Savills forecast that there would be only 840,000 new homes – just over half.Ms Rayner, who is the cabinet minister in charge of the policy, said she had been underestimated “all my life” as she announced the launch of a new government-backed project to support builders.She says the National Housing Bank will unlock new housing schemes across the UK, thanks to low-interest loans provided to developers hampered by rising inflation and higher interest and mortgage costs.The move, backed by £22bn in government finance, will see more than 500,000 new homes built, including many social and affordable properties, says Ms Rayner.It comes after warnings to the local government secretary that Labour’s election pledge for 1.5 million homes over this parliament is unachievable. In its forecast on housebuilding published earlier this month, Savills said 840,000 new homes will be completed over the next five years, with the property firm blaming a low demand from buyers.Government figures for 2024 also show a 28 per cent fall in new-build starts in England compared to 2023.However, writing exclusively for The Independent, Ms Rayner tells critics to “underestimate me at your peril” as she announced the housing bank scheme, which she claims would finally give access to housing for many hard-working families.Angela Rayner says the task ahead is ‘tough’, but has warned critics to ‘underestimate me at your peril’ as she targets the 1.5 million homes plan set by Labour before the election More

MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in a historic step that will usher in the most far-reaching change to reproductive rights in decades. After an emotional and impassioned debate in the House of Commons, MPs voted by 379 to 137 in favour of the reform. They overwhelmingly backed an amendment by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi to remove “the threat of investigation, arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment” of any woman who acts in relation to her own pregnancy.The reform is designed to protect women while retaining penalties for abusive partners or medical professionals who terminate a pregnancy outside the current framework of the law.During the debate, MPs had argued that the UK’s “Victorian” abortion law was “increasingly used against vulnerable women and girls”. Under the current law, abortion in England and Wales is a criminal offence but is legal up to 24 weeks, with the sign-off from two doctors. It is also allowed under limited circumstances after this time, including when the mother’s life is at risk. Women can also be prescribed medication to end a pregnancy at home if they are less than 10 weeks pregnant.Campaigners had called for a change in the law More

The vote to decriminalise abortion will herald the largest changes to the law on terminations in decades. The changes are designed to ensure women cannot be prosecuted for terminating their own pregnancy at any stage. While access to abortions is generally available in practice, this legal aspect imposes unnecessary stigma, restricts autonomy, and risks criminalising women and healthcare providers, campaigners say.Removing abortion from criminal law allows it to be treated like any other healthcare issue – governed by clinical guidance, not courts.This decision aligns England and Wales with countries like Canada, New Zealand, and parts of Australia, which have seen improved access and no increase in abortion rates – only safer outcomes.( More

Sir Keir Starmer has signalled a new hardline approach to tackling illegal immigration by limiting visas for countries which did not do enough to tackle the irregular migration crisis, like taking back failed asylum seekers.The prime minister revealed the plans on Tuesday after holding talks about illegal migration at the G7 in Kananaskis, Alberta, with French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and German chancellor Friedrich Merz.The readout from the meeting with President Macron talked about “innovative approaches” to be adopted to stop small boats crossing the Channel.Some 16,545 people have crossed in small boats so far in 2025 according to Home Office figures, a 45 per cent increase on the same period in 2024 and higher than at the same point in 2022, the overall record year for crossings. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit on Tuesday More