Author: Fatimah Idera

Sir Keir Starmer is under fresh pressure from within his party as Labour MPs prepare to rebel against plans to scale back inheritance tax relief for farmers measures critics warn could devastate family-run farms. More than 40 MPs are weighing up amendments to dilute the policy, which they say could leave farming families saddled with unaffordable tax bills. Their defiance follows a successful revolt this week that forced the Prime Minister to U-turn on proposed welfare cuts the government’s third major reversal in just two months. These repeated U-turns on disability benefits, the winter fuel allowance, and a promised grooming…

Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to roll back parts of his Government’s welfare reform plans could cost the Treasury as much as £3 billion, according to the Resolution Foundation. In a major concession to Labour rebels, the Prime Minister announced that existing recipients of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will continue to receive their benefits, with tougher eligibility rules only applying to new applicants. The move followed a mounting rebellion from Labour MPs over proposed £5 billion a year welfare savings, set to be in place by 2030. Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, told the BBC that the…

The Conservative Party is developing plans for a new investment visa aimed at luring wealthy individuals back to the UK, in a bid to counter the exodus of high-net-worth individuals following Labour’s tax reforms. Shadow Business Secretary, Andrew Griffith announced the proposal during a speech at the Prosperity Institute, describing it as part of a “world-beating offer for wealth creators.” Griffith criticised Labour’s decision to abolish the non-domiciled tax regime and extend inheritance tax to global assets, arguing it has driven entrepreneurs, investors, and top talent away from the UK. “Instead of increasing wealth, Labour has attacked those who create…

Labour has turned down calls from one of its own MPs to offer council tax exemptions for families struggling to sell inherited retirement properties. Labour MP for Shipley, Anna Dixon had urged the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government led by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to extend the period during which grieving families are exempt from the second home council tax premium when trying to sell retirement homes. These homes, which can only be sold to people aged 55 and over, are notoriously difficult to sell and often sit on the market for extended periods. They are also…

British Gas is preparing to take a significant multibillion pound stake in Sizewell C, a nuclear power plant championed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. The deal, led by British Gas’s parent company Centrica, is expected to be announced within weeks and will see the company acquire a 15% stake in the project. Centrica’s investment will match the stake held by French state-owned energy giant EDF, giving a major boost to Sizewell C after extended delays and financing hurdles. The move comes shortly after the Government confirmed it would inject an additional £14 billion into the project by 2029 bringing the…

Cabinet ministers have insisted that the government’s welfare reform plans will improve mental health outcomes, arguing that supporting people into work is key to tackling rising rates of anxiety and depression. Health Secretary, Wes Streeting and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall made the case for the reforms, stating: “Good work is good for mental health.” Their intervention comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces backlash within Labour ranks over the proposed tightening of eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP). The Prime Minister made a major concession on Thursday night to avoid a potential Commons defeat, agreeing that current…

Sir Keir Starmer’s own veterans commissioner for Northern Ireland has launched a fierce attack on Labour’s plans to repeal the Legacy Act, warning that scrapping protections for British soldiers who served during the Troubles would create an immoral and two-tier system of justice. David Johnstone, appointed by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in January, said that removing the current legal shield for veterans could drag dozens of elderly former soldiers into court for actions taken decades ago while fighting the IRA. He estimated that 50 to 70 former servicemen could be prosecuted, despite doing their jobs under government orders. The…

Sir Keir Starmer has made a significant concession to head off a major Labour rebellion, agreeing that current disability benefit claimants will not lose their support under planned welfare reforms. The Prime Minister has decided that existing recipients of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP),a benefit that helps cover the extra costs of living with a disability, will be protected. The changes will now only affect new claimants going forward. The decision dramatically reduces the expected savings from the government’s original welfare shake-up, cutting the projected £4.6 billion by 2029/30 to £3.1 billion, a reduction of around £1.5 billion. This move…

Dozens of Labour MPs rebelling against Sir Keir Starmer’s proposed welfare cuts could lose their seats at the next election if benefit claimants turn against the party. The Prime Minister is facing the most significant rebellion of his leadership over controversial plans to cut Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) , the latter a benefit supporting people with disabilities. The proposed changes, designed to save £5 billion annually, have triggered widespread discontent after the government’s impact assessment warned that around 50,000 children could be pushed into poverty as a result. More than 120 Labour MPs have signed a rebel…

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to soften key elements of Labour’s welfare reform plans in a bid to avoid his first major defeat in the House of Commons. Facing a growing revolt from within his party, the Prime Minister is considering last-minute amendments to his flagship welfare Bill to prevent a damaging rebellion from more than 120 Labour MPs. Sources in No 10 confirmed that officials are examining ways to avert a showdown in Tuesday’s Commons vote, including options such as accelerating the rollout of support payments for people returning to work and pledging to publish reviews of disability and…