Starmer ally leaves government with parting shot at ‘disloyal’ MPs
Steve Reed has left government within hours of Andy Burnham’s appointment as prime minister with a parting shot at “disloyal” MPs. Reed, a longstanding ally of former prime minister Keir Starmer, said he was “disappointed to be leaving government now” but wished Burnham’s “new team every success”. Reed was appointed to the post of secretary […]
The surprise strengthening of Rachel Reeves
Rachel Reeves made a surprise, symbolic appearance this morning to aid the prime minister and health secretary Wes Streeting in setting out the government’s 10-year plan for a “Neighbourhood Health Service”. The chancellor told her audience, gathered at a hospital in east London, that it was “great to be here today”. She said Labour would […]
‘We didn’t get the process right’ on welfare reforms, admits Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer has admitted that his government “didn’t get the process right” in the handling of its package of welfare reforms. The prime minister conceded that “it matters to” Labour MPs to ensure the process is correct and that his government “didn’t engage” in the way it should have done. The welfare bill, officially the […]
PMQs verdict: Labour’s woes are bigger than Rachel Reeves
After the capitulation come the recriminations. A beleaguered Keir Starmer appeared for PMQs in the commons this afternoon for the first time in three weeks — with Angela Rayner having subbed in for the prime minister across recent sessions. He did so against an immediate backdrop of political chaos. It took just days for the government’s […]
Westminster returns: what next for the government’s growth agenda?
As MPs and their staff prepare to return to parliament, the political pressure on Keir Starmer’s government to deliver economic growth is ramping up. With inflation, unemployment and the cost of government borrowing all rising, the political fundamentals aren’t looking favourable. As Labour approaches the party conference season and what is shaping up to be […]
From ‘tough choices’ to ‘Labour choices’: spending review marks major strategic shift
From “tough choices” to “Labour choices”. The spending review delivered by Rachel Reeves in the House of Commons this afternoon marks a tangible tone shift. Apportioning £2.24 trillion of public cash across Whitehall departments, Reeves announced significant funding increases for the NHS, defence and schools, as well as tens of billions for major infrastructure projects. […]
Rachel Reeves: Reform UK ‘tough on workers, tough on patients but soft on Putin’
The chancellor has claimed Reform UK is “tough on workers, tough on patients but soft on Putin”. Delivering a speech to the GMB union conference in Brighton on Tuesday, Rachel Reeves said that Nigel Farage is “not on the side of the heroic people of Ukraine”. The attack came as the chancellor unveiled a £14.2 […]
Winter fuel payment cut was not a mistake, insists Ed Miliband
Cutting the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners last July was not a “mistake”, Ed Miliband has insisted, despite the government now having set out the details of its U-turn on the policy. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday morning, Miliband was asked repeatedly about chancellor Rachel Reeves’ decision to change […]
The government needs money — clinical negligence reform is a solution
On 11 June Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is due to stand at the despatch box and announce what is arguably the most significant set of decisions the government is set to make this parliament – the spending review. Whilst it might sound technical, it will undoubtedly be of huge importance. The spending […]
Labour seen as biggest factor behind Britain’s economic woes, poll finds
The decisions taken under the incumbent Labour government are seen as the biggest factor behind Britain’s economic woes, polling has found. The new research, conducted by Ipsos, points to widespread pessimism in the country about Britain’s economic prospects and the cost-of-living. Almost half of Britons (47 per cent) believe the UK is currently in recession […]
