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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The plan would see parking meters installed on streets within one kilometre (0.6 miles) of the seafront.

Ministers are weighing plans to tighten regulations on alcohol advertising, including potential bans before the 9 pm watershed and online. The proposed changes, described as partial restrictions, aim to align ethanol marketing rules more closely with those already in place for unhealthy food. Health officials are exploring measures that could see a complete ban on alcohol advertising online, including across social media and influencer content. Similar to junk food ad…

An Ofsted inspector has called on special schools to decolonise their curriculum and move beyond a colour-blind approach to education. Priya Bhagrath, who is also the head teacher of Bishopswood School, a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school near Reading, Berkshire, said that pupils in special education deserve an inclusive curriculum that reflects their identities and lived experiences. Bhagrath highlighted that following the 2020 murder of George Floyd in…