Connect with us

Published

on

A watch-list for potential ministerial resignations over Labour’s welfare reforms is in place, Harriet Harman says.

Speaking to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harman reckons there could be resignations over the matter.

While this week’s spending review was taking up most of the headlines, the government told their MPs that controversial reforms to disability benefits would go ahead.

The measures – headed up by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall – have proved mightily unpopular in Labour circles.

More than 100 MPs from government benches are thought to have concerns about the plans to cut nearly £5bn from the welfare bill by restricting personal independence payments (PIP) and the health top-up to Universal Credit.

Spiralling welfare costs, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, have been singled out as an area where the government could save money.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants more people returning to the “dignity” of work.

Asked by Beth if resignations could be on the cards, Baroness Harman said: “There might be. But I don’t think, not cabinet.”

She added: “There is people on a watch list at the moment, but not cabinet ministers.”

Read more:
Disability benefit reforms will go ahead
What is PIP and how is it changing?

Liz Kendall .
Pic: PA
Image:
Liz Kendall is heading up the reforms. Pic: PA

A report released by a House of Lords committee earlier this year revealed that around 3.7 million people of working age get health-related benefits, 1.2 million more than before the pandemic.

It also found that the government spends more (£65bn as of January) on incapacity and disability benefits than on defence.

It added that if 400,000 people out of the workforce were able to find employment, it would save the government around £10bn through tax income and lower spending on benefits.

Another area is the number of PIP claims being made – PIP is a benefit to help disabled people with the increased costs of day-to-day living.

Rebel MPs have concerns about making this harder to access.

Continue Reading

Politics

PM urged to take three key steps ahead of emergency cabinet meeting on Gaza

Published

on

By

PM urged to take three key steps ahead of emergency cabinet meeting on Gaza

British Palestinians have called on Sir Keir Starmer to take “immediate, concrete” steps on Gaza instead of “focusing on a symbolic gesture” of recognising it as a state ahead of an emergency cabinet meeting.

The prime minister has recalled his cabinet ministers from parliamentary recess for a meeting at 2pm, when they will discuss what the UK’s next steps should be, after Sir Keir held meetings with Donald Trump yesterday.

Ahead of the cabinet meeting, the British Palestinian Committee (BPC), which represents the experiences of Palestinians in the UK, has sent Sir Keir a letter urging him to take actions they say could make a real difference to people in Gaza.

Gaza latest: ‘Worse-case scenario of famine’ unfolding

The war has now been going on for 21 months after it was sparked by Hamas militants killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages on 7 October 2023. The militant group still holds 50 hostages, of whom only 20 are believed to be alive.

The BPC said recognising Palestine as a state is now “symbolic” as it “will not end the genocide and must not be used to deflect from accountability”.

Sir Keir has been under pressure from his own MPs and other UK political parties, notably since France said it will recognise Palestine as a state, but has so far resisted – saying recognition needs to be part of a wider peace plan.

He has so far refused to say whether “genocide” is taking place in Gaza – a claim Israel has vehemently denied.

Israel has paused fighting in three areas for another 10 hours today to help aid distribution, the third day it has done so amid mounting international condemnation of the scenes of hunger unfolding in Gaza.

David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, said: “There is no intent, (which is) key for the charge of genocide… it simply doesn’t make sense for a country to send in 1.9 million tonnes of aid, most of that being food, if there is an intent of genocide.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky News on board Gaza aid plane

The BPC, an independent group, said the government has “not only a political and moral obligation, but a legal obligation” to take three steps.

They are:

• Preventing and punishing Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza and to end “all complicity in it”

• Apply “immediate and comprehensive sanctions on Israel”

• Safeguard the rights to freedom of expression and assembly in the UK

More specifically, the group has called on Sir Keir to end “all forms of military collaboration, urgently review all public contracts to ensure they are not aiding unlawful occupation or genocidal acts, and support universal jurisdiction mandates”.

Read more:
25% of young children and pregnant women malnourished in Gaza
The view from a plane dropping aid into Gaza

Palestinians wait to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Gaza City, July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khamis Al-Rifi
Image:
The BPC said the UK could take immediate steps to help starving Gazans. Pic: Reuters

The group said these steps would help towards ending the starvation crisis in Gaza, which it said had been made possible “due to the impunity granted to” Israel and “compounded by the active military, economic and diplomatic support from states such as the UK”.

The group also accused the UK government of introducing “draconian legislation to limit the rights” of British citizens campaigning to end the atrocities “and British complicity in those atrocities” – in reference to Palestine Action being designated as a terrorist organisation.

‘Immediate steps’ Britain can take

Dr Sara Husseini, director of the BPC, said: “We wrote to the prime minister to remind the UK cabinet of their legal obligations towards the Palestinian people.”

She said there are a “number of immediate steps” the British government “can and should be taking”, as outlined in the letter.

Dr Husseini said 147 countries have already recognised Palestine as a state, and instead of “focusing on a symbolic gesture” it is essential the UK severs diplomatic ties with Israel, institutes a full arms embargo, applies comprehensive sanctions and cuts trade.

“Anything short of this amounts to complicity,” she added.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Has Trump broken from Netanyahu over Gaza?

Ahead of the cabinet meeting, senior minister Peter Kyle told Sky News the PM had decided to call an emergency meeting “to discuss all of the actions that Britain can and should be taking at a time like this”.

He said recognising Palestine as a state is a manifesto commitment but the “real priority” right now is to try to get aid into Gaza.

Continue Reading

Politics

How Corbyn’s new party is preparing for battle – and where insiders think they could win

Published

on

By

How Corbyn's new party is preparing for battle - and where insiders think they could win

Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new party will offer “unapologetically socialist” policies, with the pair to embark on a nationwide tour to listen to ideas, Sky News understands.

The former Labour MPs are aiming to hold the party’s first conference in the autumn to help decide what it stands for and models of leadership.

Farage condemns ‘disgusting’ Savile remark – politics live

Ms Sultana told Sky News its policies will include “democratic public ownership of key industries, universal free childcare, rent controls, free public transport and much more”.

Mr Corbyn, the ex-Labour leader, added there is “huge appetite for the policies that are needed to fix society”, including “wealth redistribution, housing justice, and a foreign policy based on peace and human rights”.

The autumn conference will be for paid members rather than those who have simply signed up to the party’s website.

How to translate signups into membership, and exactly how members will have their say on policies, will be discussed as part of a “founding process” over the next few months.

This will involve local engagement with communities up and down the country, including rallies and meetings fronted by Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana, as well as “other public figures”, a source close to the party told Sky News.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Corbyn’s new party shakes the left

Election goals

While there are many details to be fleshed out, including the name, the pair’s “primary aim” is to make gains at the local elections next May, it is understood.

Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana announced their new venture last Thursday, and claim more than half a million people have signed up, but “Your Party” is only an interim name. Members will decide the official one in due course.

Insiders have claimed they are attracting support from a wide geographical area, the strongest bases being in London, the North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber.

It remains to be seen whether those who have expressed an interest will go on to join the party.

However, there is a risk it could eat into Labour’s vote share by attracting those on the left unhappy with the direction of the Starmer government, particularly on issues like Gaza and welfare.

Read more:
PM’s warfare vs welfare dilemma
‘Worst-case’ famine warning in Gaza

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Corbyn open to ideas on new party name

Mr Corbyn led the Labour Party from 2015 to 2020 before being suspended following a row over a report into antisemitism. He retained his seat in Islington North after standing in last year’s general election as an independent.

Ms Sultana was suspended as a Labour MP last year after rebelling against the government over the two-child benefit cap, and announced she was quitting the party to launch a new one with Mr Corbyn earlier this month.

Polling by More in Common before the new outfit was officially announced suggested it could take 10% of the vote at a general election, mainly from Labour and the Greens.

This has raised the prospect of Mr Corbyn striking a deal with the Greens, where both sides would agree to stand down in seats where the other has a stronger chance of winning

Could Farage benefit?

The Islington North MP has suggested he is open to collaboration with progressive parties, but it is understood that electoral strategy will be informed by conference. It is also not clear if the Greens would agree to any such pact.

Some MPs are worried the split in the left vote could make it easier for Nigel Farage, already ahead in the polls, to enter Downing Street.

Patrick Hurley, the Labour MP for Southport, told Sky News: “The thing I’m worried about with regard to the unnamed but already chaotic Corbyn Party is that they let Reform through the middle by taking votes off a progressive centre left party like Labour.

“They won’t be a threat electorally, but they may well let the radical right wing into power by splitting the vote.”

However, Labour was dismissive of the threat the party posed, with a source saying: “The electorate has twice given its verdict on a Jeremy Corbyn-led party.”

Continue Reading

Politics

Corporations have acquired 1% of Ether supply: Standard Chartered

Published

on

By

Corporations have acquired 1% of Ether supply: Standard Chartered

Corporations have acquired 1% of Ether supply: Standard Chartered

Corporations have accumulated 1% of all Ether since June, with Standard Chartered forecasting 10% ownership as institutional appetite for ETH continues to grow.

Continue Reading

Trending