Category Archives: yvette cooper

‘Cold War Threat Is Back’: Yvette Cooper Issues Stark Warning About State Of The World

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Yvette Cooper issued a bleak warning about the state of the world by claiming the “Cold War peace dividend…has gone”.

The foreign secretary’s words come after the UK and its European allies claimed they had evidence Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed by the Kremlin state with lethal frog toxins, while in a Russian prison.

Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Cooper said Navalny’s death shows the “willingness by the Russian regime to use these lethal toxins against their own citizens” and proves Russian aggression will continue.

Speaking from the Munich Security Conference, she said: “We had hoped after the Cold War that threat to Europe, to UK security, would go away. It hasn’t. It is back.”

She said that the “Cold War peace dividend… has gone, and we need to be ready for Russian aggression continuing towards Europe”.

Cooper warned that Britain needs to be ready to respond to that aggression which could include hybrid threats and sabotage.

The foreign secretary said the UK “continues to look at co-ordinated action, including increasing sanctions on the Russian regime” to punish Moscow for the killing of Navalny.

The Kremlin has rejected the claims, calling it a “planted story” and “nonsense about a frog”.

The UK announced its findings with France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands at the Munich summit amid wider concerns about Russian aggression against Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

The US secretary of state Marco Rubio told reporters that the findings were “troubling” and “we don’t have any reason to question it.”

But when asked why the US did not join the five countries in making a statement, he said: “Those countries came to that conclusion. They coordinated that… Doesn’t mean we disagree on the outcome.”

America has been withdrawing from western alliances during Donald Trump’s second term.

The president has pushed Nato allies to increase their own defence spending, telling them they cannot rely on the US for so much support.

He’s also sparked fears about his commitment to Ukraine by trying to get a peace deal as quickly as possible – even if that means rewarding Russian aggression.

Rubio notably did not attend a key meeting in Munich about Ukraine due to scheduling conflicts, according to reports.

Cooper also admitted to Sky News that it’s clear the US has “shifted its focus”.

But the cabinet minister added: “That Nato alliance is still immensely strong and important, and the transatlantic partnership is still very strong and important for our security.

“However, they are changing their focus and they are no longer going to be funding so much of Europe’s security, as the US did in the past.

“And that means that Europe has to step up to the plate and the UK is part of that.”

She said Nato still really matters but “we have to use them differently” in a world where China is on the rise and there is much more “protectionism, use of tariffs or economic coercion”.

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Yvette Cooper ‘Blindsided’ By Tax Break For Indian Workers In UK Trade Deal

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Yvette Cooper was not told about plans to give Indian workers in the UK tax breaks as part of a trade deal between the two countries.

Home Office officials did not deny claims the department was “blindsided” by the move amid concerns it could push up immigration to the UK.

One said: “It’s tax policy, so was worked on in the Treasury.”

Labour MPs have also expressed their anger at the deal, which will exempt Indian workers seconded to the UK from India-based companies from paying National Insurance for three years.

One told HuffPost UK it had “gone down like a cup of cold sick” among those in Red Wall constituencies in the Midlands and north of England.

But another Labour MP said: “We need growth. This is one of the fastest growing economy in the world. The Tories talked about doing a deal but never delivered. This government has in less than 12 months.”

Opposition parties said the deal will make it cheaper for employers to take on Indian workers rather than British ones.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “This government doesn’t give a damn about working people. The Labour Party has this time in a big, big way betrayed working Britain.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Keir Starmer of introducing “two-tier taxes”.

In a post on X, she said: “I refused to sign this deal because: Tax refunds for Indians not available to us. Visa requests too high. Ceramics and aluminium industries would be screwed. When Labour negotiates Britain loses.”

But Labour insisted similar tax arrangements are in place with more than 50 other countries, who offer the same deal for British workers abroad.

A spokesperson said: “This deal will provide an annual £4.8 billion boost for British businesses, create more jobs, raise wages by more than £2 billion a year and bring down prices for hard-pressed consumers.

“Kemi Badenoch is desperately seeking to distract from her failure with a made-up row about a standard tax agreement that will benefit British workers abroad.

“Where the Conservatives failed to seal the deal, Labour is putting more money in working people’s pockets through our plan for change.”

Keir Starmer said the government had agreed “a landmark deal with India – one of the fastest growing economies in the world, which will grow the economy and deliver for British people and business”.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as an “ambitious and mutually beneficial” trade agreement that will “catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies”.

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Yvette Cooper Hits Out At ‘Really Damaging’ Tariffs As Trump Slaps Them On Canada And Mexico

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Yvette Cooper has described import tariffs as “really damaging” for the world economy as Donald Trump slapped them on Mexico and Canada.

The home secretary said the UK government was focused on “removing barriers to trade” rather than putting up new ones.

Trump said most goods entering the US from Mexico and Canada will have a 25% tariff added to them, except for Canadian oil, which will see a 10% tariff.

He said it was because the two countries were not doing enough to stop drugs entering the US, or tackle illegal immigration.

Trump also said he was imposing a new 10% tariff on goods from China on top of existing duties.

The US president has also threatened to impose tariffs on EU exports to America – raising fears that he could do the same for British goods being sold to the US.

Asked about the move on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme this morning, Cooper said: “Tariff increases right across the world can have a really damaging impact on global growth and trade so I don’t think that’s what anybody wants to see.

“The focus for Johnny Reynolds, our business and trade secretary, is on building trade links and better trading relations and removing barriers to trade with the US and also with other European countries and with countries right across the world.

“We want to reduce the barriers to trade, make it easier for businesses.”

Tariffs are charges placed on imported goods as they enter the country, paid by the company or individual bringing the good in.

Economists are almost unanimous that tariffs are passed on to the consumer as higher prices.

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Yvette Cooper Rules Out The UK Signing Up To Giving Young People Free Movement To The EU

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Yvette Cooper has ruled out agreeing a deal with Brussels to allow young people to move freely between the UK and the European Union.

In comments which will be a huge blow to millions of young Brits, the home secretary said it was “not the right starting point for us at all”.

A so-called “youth mobility scheme” is believed to be one of the EU’s main demands in negotiations over a new trade deal with the UK.

Cooper’s comments came as Keir Starmer prepares to travel to Brussels on Monday as part of the Labour government’s attempts to “reset” relations with the bloc.

On Sky News this morning, the home secretary told presenter Trevor Phillips that not returning to free movement, the EU’s customs union or the single market were the government’s “red lines” in the talks.

Phillips then said: “Let’s test that out. How are you getting on with negotiating a youth mobility scheme with the EU?”

Cooper replied: “We’ve been clear that we need net migration to come down. Under the Conservatives, net migration quadrupled in the space of four years. That’s the wrong thing for the UK.

“So we’re clear that net migration needs to come down, so that’s why this is not an approach that we are looking for.”

Phillips then said: “So no youth mobility scheme?”

The home secretary said: “That’s not the right starting point for us at all because what we need to do is to bring net migration down.”

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Yvette Cooper, moments ago, ruling out any chance or possibility of a Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU.

\"This is not an approach we are looking for\" pic.twitter.com/smr92c3yOA

— MrBounceBack.com (@Bounce_BackLoan) February 2, 2025

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Yvette Cooper, moments ago, ruling out any chance or possibility of a Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU.

“This is not an approach we are looking for” pic.twitter.com/smr92c3yOA

— MrBounceBack.com (@Bounce_BackLoan) February 2, 2025

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said: “The government’s refusal to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU is short-sighted and a bitter blow to young people across the UK.

“A youth mobility deal would be good for our economy, especially our tourism and hospitality sectors, while giving young British people the opportunity to work and study abroad.

“This would be a win-win, Labour ministers need to stop repeating the failed approach of the Conservatives and listen to young people instead.”

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