Keir Starmer Hit By Labour Commons Rebellion Over Plan To Axe Winter Fuel Payments

Posted on 10/09/2024 by Boris Clair

Keir Starmer has suffered his biggest Commons rebellion since becoming prime minister as Labour MPs made clear their anger at the decision to means test winter fuel payments to pensioners.

A total of 52 Labour backbenchers failed to vote in favour of the controversial policy, while one – Jon Trickett – voted against it.

In addition, five former Labour MPs who were suspended by the party in July for not backing its policy on the two-child benefit cap, also voted against the government.

However, the Tories’ attempt to cancel the policy was still comfortably defeated by 348 votes to 228, even though Labour’s 167-seat majority was slashed.

Rachel Reeves announced shortly after becoming chancellor that the winter fuel payment – which is worth up to £300 – would only be paid to those receiving pension credit.

That means that around 10 million old people who used to receive it will no longer do so.

Labour has said the move is necessary to help fill the £22 billion “black hole” in the government’s finances it says the Tories left behind.

But critics have said the move will plunge many old people into poverty and could even lead to some of them dying from the cold.

Labour sources insisted that only 12 of the 52 MPs who failed to vote with the government had not had their absence authorised.

Explaining his decision to rebel, Jon Trickett said: “I fear that removing the payment from pensioners will mean that many more will fall into poverty this winter.

“We know that the consequences of pensioner poverty are devastating. It can even be a matter of life and death.

“I could not in good conscience vote to make my constituents poorer. I will sleep well tonight knowing that I voted to defend my constituents.”

Tory chairman Richard Fuller said: “The country should not forget that Labour made a political choice to make this callous decision that will hurt pensioners just as their energy bills are set to increase this winter.”

Lib Dem work and pensions spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said: “Millions of pensioners will be left deeply worried about how they will get by this winter with this cut to the winter fuel payment.

“So many pensioners are already facing another winter of a cost of living crisis and this will make things worse.

“The damage left by the Conservatives to our economy is unforgivable but cutting payments to vulnerable pensioners is no way to bring about the change the country deserves.

“We’ll keep fighting this cut tooth and nail anyway we can, we’ll continue to be a constructive opposition to the new Government and we’re fighting for the real change people want to see.”

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “Voters in Scotland were promised ‘change’ but instead the Labour Party is wielding the austerity axe and cutting billions of pounds from public services and household incomes.”

No.10 Wants Everyone Eligible To Claim Pension Credit – But That Could Present 1 Problem

Posted on 09/09/2024 by Boris Clair

Downing Street wants every person eligible to go on pension credit, even though a think tank says it would undo any savings from the changes to the winter fuel allowance.

MPs will decide whether or not to back the government’s plan of restricting winter fuel payments just to individuals on pension credit on Tuesday.

The controversial move could mean around 10 million pensioners in England and Wales end up without the payment of up to £300.

It is also estimated around 880,000 (37%) eligible pensioners do not claim pension credit right now – which is why the government is encouraging anyone who thinks they may be entitled to the benefit to apply.

The proposed cuts are expected to save around £1.4bn a year.

The government claims this will go some way towards filling the ″£22bn black hole” left by the Tories.

However, reporters pointed out that if everyone signed up to pension credit, it would actually cost the government £2bn, therefore overshadowing any savings.

As ITV’s Anushka Asthana posted on X on Monday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has also confirmed the take-up would eliminate savings.

That counters a claims from ministers that winter fuel payments had to be cut in order to fill the “black hole” in our finances.

Yet, the spokesperson told reporters anyone eligible should apply for pension credit.

She also told reporters on Monday that the government’s efforts to boost those applying for pension credit had already had a significant result.

She said: “As a result of that work, we’ve seen a 115% increase in pension credit claims in the last five weeks compared to five weeks before – 38,500 pension credit claims, compared to 17,900.”

“This government is determined to make sure those who should be claiming pension credit are and are supporting them to do so,” she said. “We’ve seen the impact of that already.”

Asked if the prime minister was happy with this rate of progress, she said: “There is still more to do the campaign is ongoing, and there is activity from HMRC today as part of that.

“We continue to urge people to check their eligibility and support people in making those applications.”

She said that this level of effort towards increasing the applications in pension credit had not been “seen before.”

When pressed over the backlash PM Keir Starmer has faced because of the plan to restrict the winter fuel payments, the spokesperson said it was one of many “tough choices” the government have to make.

She said: “It is not a decision he wants to make, the government wants to make, but we have to fix the foundations of our economy and that means tough choices and one of those is making sure we are targeting to those who need it the most.”

Downing Street also added that there would be no softening of the impact of the policy after Home Office minister Diana Johnson “misspoke” during broadcast interviews this morning.

Johnson told BBC Breakfast: “We generally want to get energy bills down. We know over the past few years what trouble that’s caused to household budgets and the cost of living crisis, so there is a lot of work going on around that social tariff for the poorest members of our society.”

Shortly after the interview, the government said the minister had “misspoken” over this claim – and Downing Street later told journalists there would be no mitigating measures to ease the pain of the winter fuel payment restrictions.

Up to 50 Labour MPs are said to be uncomfortable with the idea of voting for the government’s plan, sparking speculation they could rebel and vote against Starmer.

It’s not clear if that could result in MPs losing the whip.

Labour suspended seven MPs just days after the party was elected when the rebels voted against the government over its two-child benefit cap.

Kate Middleton Reveals She Is Now ‘Cancer Free’ In Intimate Family Video: ‘A Renewed Sense Of Hope’

Posted on 09/09/2024 by Boris Clair

The Princess of Wales has just revealed she is “cancer free” in a heartfelt family video released on social media.

She did not specify the type of cancer, but explained in a video filmed with BBC Studios: “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous.

“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.”

“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” she said at the time, explaining that the news was a “huge shock” to her family.

Since announcing the health news, the Princess of Wales has appeared at public events just twice.

She attended the military parade, Trooping the Colour, in June and attended the 2024 Wimbledon men’s final in July.

The heartfelt video posted on Monday showed Kate and her family having fun together in nature, while gentle music plays in the background.

The clip, filed by Will Warr, seems to show a different side to the royals, as the family appear much more affectionate with one another than they usually allow themselves to show in public, and in a more casual setting.

The children are also seen messing around together, while William and Kate have several quiet moments of reflection together.

In a voiceover accompanying the clip, she said:

“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment.

“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family.

“Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.

“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.

“With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.

“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted.

Of simply loving and being loved.

“Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus.

“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.

“I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.

“Despite all that has gone before I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.

“William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time.

“Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling.

“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.”

Fresh Fury Towards Tories As Unsettling Study Uncovers Corruption ‘Red Flags’ Over Covid Contracts

Posted on 09/09/2024 by Boris Clair

The Conservatives are facing renewed public fury after a study found some of the former government’s Covid contracts, worth more than £15 billion, raised corruption “red flags”.

The report from Transparency International UK looked into more than 5,000 contracts across 400 public bodies and discovered 135 high-risk contracts were worth investigation.

Those contracts alone were worth a collective value of £15.3bn – almost one in every three pounds spent on the pandemic – and were flagged because they raised three or more concerns over corruption.

“Most of these contracts exhibited red flags across multiple areas of risk – including those associated with the supplier profile, the procurement process and the contract outcomes – and often spanning all three. Some contracts displayed as many as eight red flags,” the researchers explained.

At least 28 of those deals – worth £4.1bn, almost a tenth of the total money spent on the pandemic response – went to firms with known connections to the Conservative party, Transparency International UK claimed.

Eight contracts allegedly went to suppliers which were had been established for no more than 100 days.

The department of health and social care also wrote off £14.9bn of public money over that two-year period, according to the report. That is the same amount as the government’s overall spend on PPE (personal protective equipment).

The government allegedly used a VIP lane to give 51 contracts priority, 24 of which were referred to by Tory politicians or their offices, too.

Transparency International UK said it is now calling for authorities to investigate the high-risk contracts.

In response to the findings, a Tory spokesperson referred to a National Audit Office report from November 2020 which found ministers had properly declared their interests.

They told the Guardian: “Government policy was in no way influenced by the donations the party received – they are entirely separate.”

The new Labour government is intending to appoint a Covid corruption commissioner to look at the £7.6bn of fraud recorded during the pandemic.

A Treasury spokesperson said this will help “get back the money that is owed to the British people”.

They added: “The commissioner will report directly to the chancellor, working with the secretary of state for health and social care, and their report will be presented to parliament for all members to see.”

The survey from Transparency International UK also sparked furious backlash across X, with users calling out the supposed corruption and “pure unadulterated greed”.

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In an international crisis with people becoming seriously ill and dying, an enormous disruption to everyone’s life in many countries, those involved in this saw an opportunity to make money. Thats what strikes me as the most appalling aspect of the corruption.

— lesleyb (@Lesley_London) September 9, 2024

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Thats what strikes me as the most appalling aspect of the corruption.— lesleyb (@Lesley_London) September 9, 2024\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_thread":{"label":"Hide previous Tweet in conversation thread","value":true},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"lesleyb on Twitter / X","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/Lesley_London/status/1833053222073704675","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"66defca3e4b01b464f3e24f4","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/fury-towards-the-tories-as-study-examines-covid-contracts_uk_66defca3e4b01b464f3e24f4","entryTagsList":"boris-johnson,conservative-party,covid","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"66defca3e4b01b464f3e24f4","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"boris johnson","slug":"boris-johnson","links":{"relativeLink":"news/boris-johnson","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/boris-johnson","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/boris-johnson"},"relegenceId":4161435,"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Boris Johnson","slug":"boris-johnson","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/boris-johnson/"},{"name":"conservative party","slug":"conservative-party","links":{"relativeLink":"news/conservative-party","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party"},"relegenceId":3696340,"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Conservative Party","slug":"conservative-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party/"},{"name":"covid","slug":"covid","links":{"relativeLink":"news/covid","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/covid","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/covid"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/covid/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

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In an international crisis with people becoming seriously ill and dying, an enormous disruption to everyone’s life in many countries, those involved in this saw an opportunity to make money. Thats what strikes me as the most appalling aspect of the corruption.

— lesleyb (@Lesley_London) September 9, 2024

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That would be more than enough to keep the winter fuel payment if they could recover a fraction of it.

— Andrew Hobbs (@drewster_1965) September 9, 2024

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That would be more than enough to keep the winter fuel payment if they could recover a fraction of it.

— Andrew Hobbs (@drewster_1965) September 9, 2024

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Tory Covid contracts worth £15.3bn had corruption ‘red flags’, study finds.

Almost two-thirds of all high-value Covid contracts by value lacked competition.

Way to get rich in the UK – know someone in high places.

Money unlikely ever to be recovered.https://t.co/scJNmdDoC6

— Prem Sikka (@premnsikka) September 9, 2024

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Tory Covid contracts worth £15.3bn had corruption ‘red flags’, study finds.

Almost two-thirds of all high-value Covid contracts by value lacked competition.

Way to get rich in the UK – know someone in high places.

Money unlikely ever to be recovered.https://t.co/scJNmdDoC6

— Prem Sikka (@premnsikka) September 9, 2024

The health secretary Wes Streeting has claimed the NHS will effectively “go bust” unless the government takes action, and soon.

The cabinet minister’s remarks come ahead of a landmark report into the health service from Lord Darzi, a leading surgeon, commissioned by the government in July.

Darzi’s report is expected to say the NHS reduced its “routine healthcare activity by a far greater percentage than other health systems” in many key areas during the Covid pandemic – and that the service is still suffering as a result.

The crossbench peer, who was a minister in the last Labour government but who has since left the party, has also warned the NHS was “seriously weakened” by disastrous government policies over the last decade.

Speaking to LBC’s Sunday with Lewis Goodall, Streeting said: “If we do not act now to make the right long-term decisions, we will end up with the NHS effectively going bust.”

He added that Darzi’s report will show the NHS was “so badly prepared and resourced before the pandemic, we ended up cancelling more operations and appointments and procedures than any other major country”.

While he suggested that investment and reform were needed to “deliver results” within the health service, Streeting added that the NHS was “broken by the botched reforms of the previous government”.

PM Keir Starmer also told the BBC in his first major interview since getting into No.10 that the NHS had been “broken” by past governments.

“Everybody watching this who has used the NHS, or whose relatives have, knows that it’s broken. That is unforgivable, the state of our NHS,” he said.

Starmer added: “Our job now, through Lord Darzi, is properly to understand how that came about and bring about the reforms, starting with the first steps, the 40,000 extra appointments.”

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“[It is] unforgivable, the state of our NHS”

In his first major interview in Number 10 Prime Minister Keir Starmer tells the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the Conservatives “broke\" the NHS ahead of a government review of the servicehttps://t.co/cLzMdI7zUv pic.twitter.com/L7JzRIQgD4

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 7, 2024

","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"BBC Politics","author_url":"https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics","cache_age":86400,"description":"“[It is] unforgivable, the state of our NHS”In his first major interview in Number 10 Prime Minister Keir Starmer tells the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the Conservatives “broke\" the NHS ahead of a government review of the servicehttps://t.co/cLzMdI7zUv pic.twitter.com/L7JzRIQgD4— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 7, 2024\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"BBC Politics on Twitter / 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“[It is] unforgivable, the state of our NHS”

In his first major interview in Number 10 Prime Minister Keir Starmer tells the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the Conservatives “broke” the NHS ahead of a government review of the servicehttps://t.co/cLzMdI7zUv pic.twitter.com/L7JzRIQgD4

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 7, 2024