Connect with us

Published

on

Sir Keir Starmer has nominated his former top adviser Sue Gray for a life peerage.

Ms Gray, whose report into the partygate scandal contributed to the downfall of former prime minister Boris Johnson, is among several new Labour peerages that have been announced.

The former civil servant left her role as Sir Keir’s chief of staff in October following an internal power struggle in Downing Street.

She was then appointed to a newly created nations and regions position within Number 10, however, it was confirmed in November that she would not be taking up the role.

Back in 2022, Labour unveiled proposals to abolish House of Lords and to replace it with a “reformed upper chamber”.

However, ahead of the general election this year, the plans were scaled back – with Sir Keir instead pledging to remove the 92 hereditary peers and to introduce an age cap of 80.

It is understood Sir Keir has made the nominations in an attempt to tilt the balance towards Labour in the second chamber.

More on House Of Lords

During the 14 years the Conservatives were in power, the number of Tory peers rose to 273 while there are 187 Labour peers, 78 Liberal Democrat peers and 184 crossbenchers, who are not affiliated to any political party.

Other notable names that have been nominated include:

• Carwyn Jones – former first minister of Wales

• Dame Thérèse Coffey – former deputy prime minister

• Toby Young – founder and director of the Free Speech Union, and an associate editor of The Spectator.

• And Thangam Debonnaire – former shadow cabinet minister who lost her seat unexpectedly at the general election

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Continue Reading

Politics

Trump sidesteps question on crypto divesting to pass key bills

Published

on

By

Trump sidesteps question on crypto divesting to pass key bills

Trump sidesteps question on crypto divesting to pass key bills

Several Democratic lawmakers have said that they will not vote to pass crypto regulations if potential conflicts of interest are not addressed.

Continue Reading

Politics

Anchorage ‘Safety Matrix’ faces backlash over stablecoin delistings

Published

on

By

Anchorage ‘Safety Matrix’ faces backlash over stablecoin delistings

Anchorage ‘Safety Matrix’ faces backlash over stablecoin delistings

Nick van Eck, co-founder and CEO of Agora, behind one of the stablecoins Anchorage said it would phase out, claimed inaccuracies and an inconsistently applied framework.

Continue Reading

Politics

Welfare concessions ‘common sense’, says PM – as he defends U-turn

Published

on

By

Welfare concessions 'common sense', says PM - as he defends U-turn

Sir Keir Starmer said changes to his welfare bill “strike the right balance” after making concessions to his backbench MPs.

The prime minister described the U-turn as “common sense” and said it means “we can now get on with the job”.

Politics Live: Starmer defends U-turn

Sir Keir faced a significant rebellion over plans to cut sickness and disability benefits as part of a package he said would shave £5bn off the welfare bill and get more people into work.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, he stood by his position that the welfare system needs reform as “it doesn’t work, and it traps people”.

He added: “We need to get it right. That’s why we’ve been talking to colleagues and having a constructive discussion.

“We’ve now arrived at a package that delivers on the principles with some adjustments, and that’s the right reform, and I’m really pleased now that we’re able to take this forward.

“For me, getting that package adjusted in that way is the right thing to do, it means it’s the right balance, it’s common sense that we can now get on with it.”

The concessions include exempting existing Personal Independence Payment claimants (PIP) from the stricter new criteria, while the universal credit health top-up will only be cut and frozen for new applications.

Analysis: Welfare bill U-turn a humiliating blow for Starmer

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

“No leadership” in Labour says MP

More money will also be front-loaded into helping people find jobs, though it is not clear how much beyond the £1bn already announced.

The changes came after 127 Labour MPs signed an amendment calling for the cuts to be delayed and consulted on with disabled people.

Rebels feared the reforms wouldn’t actually help people find work while pushing thousands of disabled people and children into poverty, as per the government’s own impact assessment.

The discontent threatened to derail the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill when it comes before the Commons for a vote on Tuesday, on the week that marks a year of Starmer in government.

Asked what he would do about a “hole” in the public finances that the changes are said to leave, Sir Keir said the funding will be set out in the autumn budget “in the usual way”.

The concessions on PIP alone will protect an estimated 370,000 people currently receiving the allowance who were set to lose out following reassessment.

Economists at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Resolution Foundation have both suggested that the changes could reduce savings intended in the original package by up to £3bn.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also under pressure to find money to pay for the U-turn on cuts to winter fuel, which followed a drubbing at the local elections in May.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘This week is going to haunt the prime minister,’ says Sky’s Ali Fortescue .

Asked about the series of U-turns, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall earlier said: “Sometimes there’s strength in listening.

“I really believe that to be the case, that you end up in the right position when you talk to all of those with knowledge and experience and actually, if you want decisions to be the right ones and to last for generations to come, I believe that’s how you make the right changes.”

However, she would not guarantee the bill will pass next week.

Some 83 Labour MPs would need to rebel for the government to be defeated.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Govt makes offer to rebels on welfare reforms

Last night Dame Meg Hillier, one of the leading rebel voices, hailed the concessions as “massive changes” to protect vulnerable people and involve disabled people in the design of future reforms.

However, not all the rebels have been satisfied with the changes, with several suggesting they would create a “two-tier system”. Sky News is aware of at least 20 MPs who currently intend to still vote against. Many others are undecided.

The concessions came after Downing Street publicly stuck to its guns while engaging in a frantic ring-around to get rebels onside, which further angered MPs.

Many have called for a reset in relations with Downing Street, as the fallout from the rebellion threatens to cause lasting damage.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the U-turn, saying the government’s failure to make “minor savings” on welfare showed they were unable to deal with major issues.

Continue Reading

Trending