Sir Keir Starmer returns to growing storm over rumoured budget tax rises

Published

2 weeks ago

October 26, 2024

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Is the prime minister declaring war on middle Britain in his definition of a working person and did he mislead the public in his manifesto by giving no inkling of the tens of tens of billions of pounds of tax rises happening in Wednesday’s budget?

Sir Keir Starmer’s emphatic answer to both of these questions at his closing news conference at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (Chogm) in Samoa was “no”.

But the fact they were asked gives you a sense of what he’s flying back to this weekend because the £40bn gap in the public finances that Treasury sources are whispering about will have to be filled by big tax rises and spending cuts.

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The backlash brimming over who is going to bear the brunt comes back to the first principles of what Sir Keir told me in our leaders’ debate interview, which was that he had “no plans” to raise taxes beyond what was in the manifesto.

Back then, Labour was committed to tax rises of about £8bn, based on a tax hike on private equity, the oil and gas industry and VAT on private school fees.

Those measures would pay for more teachers in schools and doctors’ appointments in the NHS.

Now the prime minister and his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, are gearing up to raise tens of billions with a 2p hike in national insurance contributions for employers, which could raise about £20bn, and possible increases in inheritance tax and capital gains tax.

Labour will of course blame the rises on its Conservative inheritance, but voters and businesses hit by tax rises next week will be forgiven for feeling misled.

For his part, the prime minister was clear in the closing news conference at the Commonwealth summit that his campaign pledge not to increase taxes on working people in terms of income tax, national insurance and VAT would be kept.

But the huge tax increases elsewhere will inevitably raise questions about whether the prime minister, who talks a lot about rebuilding trust in politics wasn’t being straight as he fought for election victory.

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He would argue that it was only after Labour lifted the bonnet on the public finances in power that he saw the extent of the damage.

But will it wash with the public given that the Conservatives ran a campaign warning of the big tax rises under Labour that are now surely on the way?

Sir Keir keeps talking about difficult decisions as he returns to what is set to be a defining week as he and his chancellor seek to land a difficult budget.

The pair will be hoping that the chancellor’s decision to change her debt rules to release up to £50bn of capital to invest in Britain’s infrastructure will help tell the story of rebuilding Britain and cushion the blow of tax rises.

The prime minister had a bit of a dry run of that narrative in Samoa when he explained the hard decisions to come.

He told reporters “we are fixing the foundations, which is tough, but we are doing it on purpose because I believe very strongly that if we fix the foundations, take the tough decisions, scrub it down, make sure that our economy is on a very stable footing, which is what it will do, then that is the best platform for rebuilding the country.

“And for me, that’s the characteristics of that and what I want to be judged on is one, have we made people better off? Do they feel better off under a Labour government because we fix the foundations?”

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The problem he has in the more immediate future is that many people out there who are not hugely wealthy, who define themselves as “working people”, fear they are about to become worse off under a Starmer government.

Businesses, which Labour says it needs to rebuild the economy, are bracing for a huge new levy just months after being promised that national insurance would not rise under a Labour government.

Landlords who have properties and those who hold shares worry that this is a Labour prime minister who is coming for them after the election while not flagging he might beforehand.

His gamble is to administer the pain early in the hope of delivering real improvement in public services and living standards by the time voters go back to the polls.

In the meantime, the rocky atmosphere of his first 100 days is likely to extend into the budget and beyond.

UK

Lucy Letby offered ‘tips’ on how to get away with murder, inquiry told

Published

2 hours ago

November 7, 2024

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Lucy Letby offered 'tips' on how to get away with murder, inquiry told

Lucy Letby suggested she could give “tips” to a colleague on how to get away with murder, a public inquiry has heard.

The child serial killer exchanged WhatsApp messages in 2017 with union rep Hayley Griffiths about the US legal drama How To Get Away With Murder.

The discussion took place a year after the neonatal nurse was moved to clerical duties at the Countess of Chester Hospital following concerns she may have been deliberately harming babies.

In a message to Letby, Ms Griffiths wrote: “I’m currently watching a programme called how to get away with murder. I’m learning some good tips.”

Letby replied: “I could have given you some tips x”

Ms Griffiths said: “I need someone to practice on to see if I can get away with it.”

Letby wrote: “I can think of two people you could practice on and will help you cover it up x”

Ms Griffiths replied: “Deal. I will get thinking of a plan. Get the cruise booked as our getaway.”

The pair were working in the hospital’s risk and patient safety department a year before Letby was arrested on suspicion of multiple murders by Cheshire Police.

Ms Griffiths said she was aware of the concerns of foul play and the connection to Letby by September 2016.

Shahram Sharghy, representing some of the families of Letby’s victims, asked: “Given the severity of the allegations that were made, and would you agree they are possibly the most serious allegations that anybody could make against a healthcare professional, were you making light of those allegations when you were referring to potentially committing a crime?”

Ms Griffiths answered: “No.”

Mr Sharghy asked: “Can you even begin to imagine and put yourself in the position of the families of the babies who were harmed when they see those messages?”

Ms Griffiths said: “I know… I am so remorseful. As soon as I saw them myself I was upset and I can’t begin to imagine… I can only apologise and say I have learned. I can’t go back in time but I have reflected absolutely on it.”

Earlier, Ms Griffiths told counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC: “It was nothing more than a conversation. However, I truly and deeply regret having started that conservation… this is completely unprofessional, poor judgement on my behalf and completely insensitive. And for that, I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart.”

Letby, 34, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders.

She was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder six others between June 2015 and June 2016.

The Thirlwall Inquiry into the events surrounding her crimes is expected to sit until early 2015. The findings are expected by late autumn that year.

UK

Newcastle: Three men arrested in connection with deadly house explosion and on suspicion of cannabis production

Published

11 hours ago

November 6, 2024

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Newcastle: Three men arrested in connection with deadly house explosion and on suspicion of cannabis production

Three men have been arrested in connection with a deadly house explosion in Newcastle.

Seven-year-old Archie York and Jason Laws, who was in his 30s, were killed following the blast in Violet Close, in the Benwell and Elswick area of the city in October.

Police said at the time that six others were taken to hospital “with varying injuries” after the blast and subsequent fire.

Three men – two in their 30s and one in his 50s – have been arrested on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter, and the production of a Class B drug, namely cannabis, Northumbria Police said.

They all remain in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith said: “This has been a truly tragic incident which resulted in the loss of two lives.

“As a result of our ongoing enquiries, three men have today been arrested in connection with the explosion.

“Our investigation will remain ongoing as we seek to provide answers to what has happened.

“We would continue to ask people to avoid speculation surrounding this incident both online and in the community.”

The blast tore through a row of six properties divided into two flats each.

Drone footage showed how six flats in the middle of the building appeared to have been completely destroyed by the explosion and fire, while piles of debris could be seen in the street outside.

Superintendent Darren Adams, from Northumbria Police, said on the day of the fire: “As a result of the incident in the early hours of this morning, a seven-year-old boy has sadly passed away.

“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he tragically died at the scene.

“This is a truly devastating outcome.”

UK

Prince William praises ‘amazing’ Kate as he shares update after her cancer treatment

Published

11 hours ago

November 6, 2024

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Prince William praises 'amazing' Kate as he shares update after her cancer treatment

Prince William has given an update on the Princess of Wales’s health, describing her as “amazing”.

Ahead of tonight’s Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town, he was asked how his wife Kate was doing and replied: “She’s doing really well thanks. Hopefully she’s watching tonight and cheering me on.

“She’s been amazing this whole year and I know she’ll be really keen to see tonight be a success.”

Kate revealed in March she was having preventative chemotherapy following the discovery of pre-cancerous cells.

In September, she announced she had completed her treatment and said her focus now is on “staying cancer free”.

Throughout the year, Prince William hasn’t discussed his wife’s diagnosis, despite still continuing with his own public duties.

William answered questions after taking part in rehearsals for tonight’s Earthshot Awards, the environmental prize he launched in 2021 to try to inject some optimism into the climate crisis debate.

Since he’s been in Cape Town he’s been spotted wearing a bracelet with the word ‘papa’ on it, given to him by his daughter Princess Charlotte.

He explained: “This is a relic from a Taylor Swift concert that my daughter decided that she wanted to create a bracelet for, and she gave it to me when I came away so I’ve promised her that I’d wear it and try not to lose it while I was out here.”

He also shared how he’s trying to make sure his three children feel involved in his environmental work, including doing things around the house.

The prince said: “Every family tries to do what they can to help with the environment and we go through the basics of recycling and making sure we minimise water use, turning lights off when you leave the house. We’re sensible with what we do around the environment. I think every family has those conversations.

“The Earthshot is trying to be more global than that – we’re trying to do big-scale ambition and business. I’ve brought the children along on that journey and I hope they’re proud of what we are trying to do here which is to galvanise that energy and enthusiasm to make real impact.”

Asked about the tough political climate for the environment right now, Prince William didn’t make any comment about the US election result and Donald Trump’s climate credentials, but said: “Everyone wants some hope and some optimism and Earthshot comes with urgent optimism.

“And as you’ll see tonight the amount of youth from Africa who will be in here – they’ll be letting you know and letting everyone know that it matters to them.

“Without them, the future is looking pretty bleak so these are the game changers, the innovators, the inventors who are going to make the world a better place for us in future.”

The annual Earthshot Prize awards five entrepreneurs, innovators, startups or conservationists with £1m each to help scale their ideas to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues.

This is the fourth year the awards have been held.