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Wes Streeting has denied that Labour is “changing into the Tories” with its welfare reforms, amid speculation disability benefits could be cut.

The health secretary told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that it is “not a Labour argument to say that we want people consigned to a life of benefit”.

However he refused to be drawn on how the government is planning to get more people into work, saying contrary to media reports of internal divisions the proposals have “not been discussed” in cabinet yet.

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Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is expected to unveil a series of measures to cut welfare spending next week, ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s spring statement.

File pic: iStock
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File pic: iStock

The plan was thought to include cancelling an inflation-linked rise to the personal independence payment (PIP) – but this has reportedly been scrapped due to backlash from Labour MPs.

Mr Streeting would not be drawn on the supposed division – saying we will “have to wait and see the proposals” and the issue “hasn’t been discussed in cabinet”.

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However he said that what the government is trying to achieve with welfare reform is to make sure the system “does the two things it needs to do”.

“One is to support people who cannot work to make sure they’ve got dignity, independence, and quality of life.

“And secondly, for those who can, to make sure that the welfare system isn’t just a safety net, that it’s a springboard back to work.”

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is money for people who have extra care needs or mobility needs as a result of a disability.

Mr Streeting said one thousand people every day are signing on to PIP and that’s “the size of the city of Manchester” over the course of a year.

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‘Government’s plan to cut welfare is terrifying’

Asked if people get benefits too easily, the cabinet minister said there is a “presumption in favour of the benefits system” and people “need to have the right support to stay and work wherever possible”.

He rejected the claim that Labour is “turning into the Tories”, saying: “I don’t think that it is a Labour argument to say that we would want people consigned to a life of benefits and not able to go to work when we know that they can.”

Labour MPs fear disability benefit cuts

Former Tory chancellor George Osborne – the architect of welfare cuts during the coalition years – said on his Political Currency podcast this week that he resisted freezing PIP because he felt it was going too far.

Former Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who co-hosts the podcast with him and is married to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, also said cutting disability benefits is “not a Labour thing to do…it’s not what they are for”.

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The government’s motivation is the cost of long-term sickness and disability benefits for working-age people, which has risen by £20bn since the pandemic and is forecast to hit £70bn over the next five years.

Ministers have stressed there are currently 2.8 million people not in work due to ill-health, while one in eight young people are not in education, training or employment – prompting fears of a “wasted generation”.

Some of the changes being mooted include making it harder to qualify for PIP and increasing the rate of Universal Credit for those who are in or searching for work to incentivise employment, while cutting the rate for those judged unfit to work.

Many Labour MPs fear drastic cuts to the most vulnerable.

In a post on X, Barry Gardiner, the Labour MP for Brent West, criticised the bankers bonus cap coming to an end and said he doesn’t understand “why it is too difficult to tax a little more those having to manage on £19m a year” instead of cutting the benefits bill.

‘Overdiagnoses of mental health conditions’

Mr Streeting later told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that “the moral of the story is to wait for the plans” when repeatedly questioned on the future of PIP and other welfare benefits.

He also said he thought there was an “overdiagnosis” of mental health conditions with “too many people being written off” and not getting the support they need.

Laura Trott, the Tories’ shadow education secretary, refused to say whether she supported disability benefit cuts or not.

But she said the changes were not in Labour’s manifesto, whereas her party did have a plan to do this.

She told Trevor Phillips: “At the election, Labour said we could save no money on welfare.

“They’ve lost so much time when it was obvious to everyone this was a benefit system that needed to be brought under control after the pandemic.

“Labour is coming to this too late without a plan. They were clearly divided on it. And that is not what our welfare system needs.”

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Second teenager dies after car crash in West Midlands – as two others suffer serious injuries

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Second teenager dies after car crash in West Midlands - as two others suffer serious injuries

Two teenagers have died and another is fighting for his life after a late night car crash in Shropshire.

A collision involving a silver Audi A1 occurred shortly before 11.15pm on Friday in Offoxey Road, Tong – near the town of Shifnal, West Mercia Police said.

It has since been confirmed an 18-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 17-year-old boy died in hospital.

Another 17-year-old boy is still being treated in hospital and is in a critical condition after sustaining life-threatening injuries in the crash.

A fourth, also a 17-year-old boy, sustained what has been described as “life-changing” injuries but is in a stable condition, police said.

“Officers investigating the collision are continuing to appeal for anyone who may have information about the incident to get in touch,” a police spokesperson said.

Anyone with information is footage is asked to contact DC Rich Owen on 07814773916 or SCIUNorth@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident number 554 of 14 March

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Newcastle United beat Liverpool to win Carabao Cup – ending 70-year wait for domestic trophy

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Newcastle United beat Liverpool to win Carabao Cup - ending 70-year wait for domestic trophy

Newcastle United have won their first domestic trophy in 70 years after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup.

Tens of thousands of Magpies fans flooded the capital to watch their team end their drought against last year’s winners at Wembley.

TV presenters Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin were among fans rejoicing in the stands, while celebrations erupted across Newcastle.

The club lifted the European Inter-City Fairs Cup in 1969 but haven’t won a domestic trophy since their 1955 FA Cup victory.

Newcastle win Carabao Cup. Pic: PA
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Newcastle win Carabao Cup. Pic: PA

TV presenters Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin celebrate in the stands. Pic: Reuters
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TV presenters Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin celebrate in the stands. Pic: Reuters

Fans celebrate in a pub in Newcastle. Pic: Reuters
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Fans celebrate in a pub in Newcastle. Pic: Reuters

Liverpool, who have won 38 major trophies since the Black and Whites last got their hands on any silverware, went into the match as heavy favourites.

The last time the teams met, in the league last month, Liverpool eased to a 2-0 win – and they sit comfortably top of the Premier League table, seemingly headed for the title.

But Newcastle had the best of the first half and got their reward as local hero Dan Burn headed home from a corner just before half time, sending supporters into dreamland.

They found the back of the net again early in the second half, but the celebrations were cut short as the goal was disallowed for offside.

Dan Burn (left) and Fabian Schar celebrate winning the Carabao Cup. Pic: PA
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Dan Burn (left) and Fabian Schar celebrate winning the Carabao Cup. Pic: PA

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Minutes later, Alexander Isak struck and this time it did count, doubling Newcastle’s lead and sending the Geordie faithful in the crowd wild once more.

Liverpool gave themselves a lifeline in stoppage time with a goal from Federico Chiesa – after a tense VAR check – but Newcastle held on to secure the win.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe celebrates. Pic: PA
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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe celebrates. Pic: PA

Bruno Guimaraes (left) and Anthony Gordon celebrate. Pic: PA
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Bruno Guimaraes (left) and Anthony Gordon celebrate. Pic: PA

‘For them it’s like the World Cup’

Eddie Howe, who became the first English manager to win a domestic trophy since Harry Redknapp in 2008 in front of a crowd of 88,513, told Sky Sports he was “very emotional”.

“We just knew what was at stake today for all the people here, all the people back in Newcastle and we just wanted to do them proud,” he said.

“We were desperate to try and win the trophy after all the years of hurt. I’m so pleased not just with the result, but with the performance. I thought we deserved the win today.”

Bruno Guimaraes described his side’s win as “one of the best days” of his life, telling Sky Sports: “It’s a lot for these fans, they deserve everything.”

“For them this is like the World Cup. People have not seen Newcastle as champions. We are here to make history and I’m very happy. We deserve this, this is unbelievable.”

Liverpool’s League Cup loss comes just days after the Premier League leaders were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris St Germain (PSG) on penalties.

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Prince Harry immigration files must be made public next week, US court rules

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Prince Harry immigration files must be made public next week, US court rules

Prince Harry’s immigration files must be made public by this Tuesday, a US court has ruled.

Judge Carl Nichols ordered documents relating to the Duke of Sussex‘s US visa application to be released as part of an ongoing Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

The FOI request was brought by conservative US think-tank the Heritage Foundation, which alleges the duke may have concealed past drug use and that should have disqualified him from obtaining a US visa.

Judge Nichols ordered the US Department of Homeland Security to release a redacted version of the documents no later than Tuesday, according to court filings dated 15 March.

However, in September 2024, the same judge previously said that the public did not have a strong interest in the disclosure of Harry’s immigration records.

But the Heritage Foundation wanted the judgment changed.

It questioned why Harry was allowed into the US in 2020 after the royal referenced taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his book Spare.

More on Prince Harry

In his memoir, Harry said cocaine “didn’t do anything for me”, adding: “Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.”

The foundation also said that answers about his prior drug use in his visa application could raise questions over the US government’s integrity.

Despite refusing the previous FOI request, lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security agreed in February to release redacted versions of the forms.

“Specifically, Defendant would propose redacting all information in these items that would reveal information that the Court has determined Defendant can withhold,” department lawyer John Bardo wrote in a court filing.

In February, President Donald Trump ruled out deporting Harry from the US, telling The New York Post: “I’ll leave him alone.”

He added: “He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has been a vocal critic of Mr Trump and called him “divisive” and a “misogynist”.

Mr Trump, in a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March last year, also said Harry should not receive preferential treatment.

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He said: “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.”

The royal moved to the US in 2020, following a brief spell in Canada, with his wife Meghan, after the couple’s split from the rest of the Royal Family. They have lived in California ever since.

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