Sir Keir Starmer is facing down a revolt from within his own Cabinet as multiple ministers have written to him in alarm at spending cuts facing their departments.
Several ministers have already filed “formal letters” with Starmer over the cuts – set to be unveiled alongside Rachel Reeves’s looming Budget later this month.
Labour’s top brass are concerned the cuts are politically infeasible – and are worried that under current plans, the Government will struggle to deliver on its manifesto promises, people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named told Bloomberg.
Though a Downing Street spokesman insisted the complaints were a standard part of the process, one minister described the spending cuts as a “nightmare”.
At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Starmer told his team that the Budget would be taking “tough decisions so we can invest in the future”, according to an official readout, while Reeves again blamed Labour’s economic “inheritance” from the Conservatives – which she said would force “difficult decisions on spending, welfare, and tax”.
Despite the pledges from No10 – and No11 – several ministers still wrote to the PM asking for his backing to reverse some of the impending cuts.
Bloomberg’s report details how “a broad range of ministers” are involved in the revolt – rather than just those heading up the highest-spending departments or from particular factions of the party.
Late last night, Starmer, his new chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, chief Treasury secretary Darren Jones and a raft of aides met to discuss how to frame the Budget politically.
According to the outlet’s sources, the meeting concluded that it would be tough – but Labour would push on “future investment”.
Jones, who has been personally involved in “difficult negotiations” with departments on their spending packages, sources said, also told aides the Budget would be a chance to reset after a difficult first 100 days in Government.
Ex-Labour adviser defends Starmer over Swift security row
Labour take ‘generic’ jibe at Jenrick after ‘dull speech’
Robert JenrickPA
A Labour Party insider has labelled Robert Jenrick “generic” after his Centre for Policy Studies speech earlier today.
The source said: “Robert Jenrick’s big moment to shine was as dull and generic as him.
“Complaining about university degrees, slashing civil servant numbers, and failing to grasp the urgency of house building – it’s like the 2024 Conservative manifesto all over again.
“While the endless moaning continues, Labour is fixing the foundations and sorting the £22billion financial blackhole the Tories left behind.”
Starmer blasted as ‘woeful’ as alarm raised over free speech
Starmer accused his Tory counterpart of making the issue a “party political point”, spurring on a chorus of jeersPOOL
Sir Keir Starmer has been blasted as “woeful” for making free speech a “party political point” at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Rishi Sunak raised the alarm over Chinese influence on Britain’s universities despite his party’s move to protect freedom of speech on campuses last year – calling them a “rich feeding ground” for China’s political power.
He lauded his own Government’s passing of the Freedom of Speech Act last year to “help defend universities from this threat” – and hit out at current Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for blocking it once Labour came into power this year.
But then, Starmer accused his Tory counterpart of making the issue a “party political point”, spurring on a chorus of jeers from the Commons.
Tory MP and shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho labelled his retort “one of the most woeful answers I’ve seen at PMQs” in response.
Writing on social media, Coutinho said: “Free speech is not a party political point.
“There are 650 academics, including many Nobel Laureates, who are campaigning for the Free Speech Act to go ahead to protect academic freedom.
“Keir needs to get up to speed.”
Her comments followed Damian Hinds’s own address to the the Commons last week in the aftermath of Suella Braverman’s cancellation at the hands of “militant” pro-Palestine protesters.
Again taking aim at Labour for their “chilling” free speech crackdown, Hinds said: “This evening, a member of this House was due to speak at an event at Cambridge University. It will not go ahead as planned because of safety concerns.
“Now, it is absolutely not for us to question operational decision-making, but it absolutely is for us to question this Government about legislation and the effects, direct, indirect and chilling, of the decisions that they have made since coming to office.”
‘Clueless!’ Home Office seeking even MORE hotel spaces for illegal migrant crossings
The Home Office would not initially be drawn on the new accommodation arrangements
PA
The Home Office is looking for even more hotel spaces to house illegal migrants after a recent surge in small boat Channel crossings, sources have confirmed.
Just four days ago, GB News exclusively revealed how an average of 135 small boat migrants had crossed over into the UK on each of Labour’s first 100 days in office.
When pressed on reports that it was seeking fresh hotel space for the thousands of illegal migrants, the Home Office refused to comment.
But then, sources confirmed to GB News that the department was indeed looking for more spaces up and down the country.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Starmer fails to rule out sanctions on Israeli ministers – despite labelling them ‘abhorrent’
Ed Davey tore into two “extreme” Israeli ministers – but Starmer has ruled out sanctionsPOOL
Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out sanctioning a pair of Israeli ministers over what he called their “abhorrent” comments on Gaza.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey had torn into Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gevir – the former of whom said starving two million people in the region would be “moral”.
Davey said he had urged the former Conservative Government to sanction the “extremist” pair – which refused – but then drew attention to Lord Cameron’s claim that he had, in fact, been planning to punish them.
In response, the PM decried a “dire” humanitarian situation in Gaza – but would not be drawn on sanctions for the two figures, whose remarks he labelled “abhorrent”.
He said, simply, “We are looking at that”.
Later, Starmer urged Israel to abide by its humanitarian obligations when pushed by Scottish Labour’s Blair McDougall.
Yesterday, Lord Cameron said he had been advised that sanctions would have been “too much of a political act” during the election.
But, speaking to the BBC, he added: “So, actually saying to Netanyahu: ‘Yes, we support your right to self-defence, no, we are not going to end the sale of arms, but actually when ministers in your government who are extremists and behave in this way, we are prepared to use our sanctions regime to say this is not good enough and has to stop.'”
The former Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister urged the current Government to “look again at this sanctions issue” rather than go down the “wrong path” of suspending arms exports.
RAF’s refusal to repatriate Alex Salmond’s body forces John Swinney to pay for chartered flight
The pro-independence firebrand died after speaking at a North Macedonia conferenceACADEMY FOR CULTURAL DIPLOMACY
The RAF has refused to repatriate Alex Salmond’s body from North Macedonia – forcing John Swinney to pay for a chartered flight back to Scotland.
On Saturday, the former First Minister passed away at the age of 69 after delivering a speech in North Macedonia.
Though the British and Scottish Governments had been in talks about the return of the late SNP and Alba firebrand’s body, officials have settled on a private jet as the best option to bring Salmond home.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Keir Starmer ‘weakening’ Britain with ‘disaster’ plan to reform UN Security Council
Critics have warned the PM would be “diluting Britain’s influence” at the UNPA/REUTERS
Sir Keir Starmer has been ripped into by senior Tories for pushing to increase the number of permanent UN Security Council members to 10.
Attorney General Lord Hermer has said the UK will try to enshrine permanent representation for Africa, India, Brazil, Japan and Germany – which would join the current five: the USA, the UK, France, Russia and China.
Speaking at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, Lord Hermer said the UK wanted to “ensure that those with seats at the top table truly represent the global community” – but the idea has been lambasted as a “disaster for the free world”.
Ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said opening the door to more permanent members would mark a “dramatic weakening” in British foreign policy in the wake of the surrender of the Chagos Islands just weeks ago.
He also warned that letting in heavyweights like Brazil and India would only play into Russia and China’s hands – China invests in and trades with Brazil to the tune of billions of pounds, while India and Russia are increasingly aligned on defence and security.
Duncan Smith said: “China and Russia would be the net beneficiaries as they are hugely allied with the wider list of countries.
“With the exception of Germany, that would be a disaster for the free world. It is utterly naive and dangerous.”
Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps joined in, saying: “First they surrendered the Chagos Islands in the British Indian Overseas Territory, and now they want to dilute Britain’s influence at the United Nations.
“When Sir Keir Starmer told us he’d bring change, he failed to mention it would involve shrinking Britain’s global responsibilities!”
Despite Shapps’s attacks, James Cleverly had pushed for similar proposals in his time as Foreign Secretary – where he called for reform of the UN Security Council, and even wanted the same countries around the table.
That wasn’t lost on Labour, who hit back at the comments in a cutting swipe at Shapps.
A source close to Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “That was a Government that Grant Shapps served in and he supported that policy.
“His comments are a bit absurd. They should have raised their objections to UK Government policy… When they were in Government!”
But senior Reform figures also slammed the idea, with Richard Tice saying: “Starmergeddon strikes again. Now he wants to reduce British influence on UN Security Council! After Chagos… This man is a danger to British interests.”
Farage unconvinced by England’s new manager – but Jenrick unaware altogether
Why can’t we have an English manager? pic.twitter.com/jD4d6GaoNV
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) October 16, 2024
Nigel Farage appears to be unconvinced by the FA’s pick for the England managerial gig.
Reposting the back page of today’s Daily Mail, which reads: “A DARK DAY FOR ENGLAND” alongside a photo of new – German – Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel, the Reform UK leader asked: “Why can’t we have an English manager?”
That followed Robert Jenrick’s reaction to the news at a press conference just minutes earlier.
Jenrick said he hadn’t “even seen the news” while speaking to the media at the Centre for Policy Studies in central London – but declared Tuchel a “good choice” for the job.
Protesters descend on Westminster as they warn of ‘slippery slope’ of assisted dying Bill
Protesters from a range of groups have joined forces to condemn the Bill
PA
Demonstrators protesting against Labour’s controversial assisted dying Bill have descended on Westminster ahead of its formal introduction to Parliament today.
Members of Distant Voices, Christian Concern, the Christian Medical Fellowship and the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children have joined forces to condemn the Bill – echoing concerns raised by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The proponent of the Bill, Labour’s Kim Leadbeater, has said she is speaking to doctors, lawyers and campaigners on all sides to “make sure we get this right”.
But the Archbishop has warned the move could lead to a “slippery slope” in which at-risk patients are pressured to end their lives – with protesters pointing to examples of this happening in Canada to make their concerns known.
Welby told the BBC: “I think this approach is both dangerous and sets us in a direction which is even more dangerous, and in every other place where it’s been done, has led to a slippery slope.”
But Leadbeater hit back, telling ITV’s Good Morning Britain she would not have such concerns so long as “we get this legislation right”, adding: “That’s why the next six weeks and the debates that will come in the following months are really important.”
She told the broadcaster: “We’ve got the benefit in this country of looking at what other countries have done.
I’m very clear, based on what I’ve seen so far and the research that I’ve done – if we get this right from the start, which some places have done, places like Oregon and certain states in Australia, we have very strict criteria, then those jurisdictions do not broaden out the criteria.
“So we have to get it right from the start with very clear criteria, safeguards and protections.”
Jenrick: We should never again be reliant on foreign labour to power our economy
Robert Jenrick vowed that Britain should “never again” rely on foreign labour as he pushed for more apprenticeships
PA
Robert Jenrick has vowed that Britain should “never again” rely on foreign labour “for the brickies, welders and electricians that build this country”.
In a speech on his vision for the economy as ballots opened for Conservative party members to vote for their next leader, Jenrick made the pledge as he called to cull “Blair’s failed experiment” of student loans.
The current bookies’ outsider to lead the Tories argued that the Government should withhold student loans from the 10 per cent of Britain’s worst-performing degree courses – and fund apprenticeships instead.
He said: “We are sending people to university who would benefit far more from building practical skills.
“It’s time to end Blair’s failed experiment with higher education, close down failed institutions, and replace them with apprenticeship hubs for young and old alike, giving people the real chance at a better life they deserve.
“We should never again be reliant on foreign labour for the brickies, welders and electricians that build this country and power our economy forward.
“If we were to withhold student loans to the worst performing 10 per cent of courses for graduate outcomes, we would have 130,000 fewer students going to university.”
A reminder that Jenrick will face Kemi Badenoch in a special GB News show tomorrow evening.
DECISION TIME: THE RACE TO LEAD WILL AIR ON GB NEWS THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, AT 7PM – READ MORE HERE
London braces for more union chaos as Aslef sets new Underground strike dates
TfL commissioner Andy Lord said he was “disappointed” with the news
PA
London Underground workers, including drivers, are to stage a series of strikes next month in a dispute over pay, Aslef, the Tube drivers’ union, has said.
The 24-hour walkouts are set to fall on November 7 and 12 – and are practically guaranteed to shut down the entire Tube network.
The strikes were revealed on Wednesday by the Transport for London (TfL) commissioner Andy Lord in his regular update to the TfL board, in which he said he was “disappointed” that both Aslef and RMT members had voted in favour of the action in an attempt to secure an improved pay offer.
Lord said TfL had put forward a revised pay offer of 4.6 per cent – with train drivers offered a 4.5 per cent salary bump – but despite hailing Labour’s “New Deal for Working People” just days ago, the union is going ahead with the strike.
Tories wage war on the CHURCH OF ENGLAND as MP looks to oust bishops from the Lords
Gavin Williamson said he would be tabling an amendment to the Bill to abolish the Lords Spiritual
PA
Numerous Conservative MPs have hit out at bishops in Parliament in a growing religious row over Labour’s Hereditary Peers Bill.
Yesterday, Tory MP Gavin Williamson, with the support of the National Secular Society (NSS), announced he would be tabling an amendment to the Bill to abolish the Lords Spiritual – the 26 bishops in the House of Lords – in a drive for a “fairer and more reflective chamber”.
The group’s chief executive Stephen Evans said the bishops’ bench in the Lords “is a hangover from the Middle Ages when – like the hereditary peers – they were feudal landholders”, and urged the Government to reconsider its Bill.
Williamson was lambasted by the Rev Marcus Walker, Rector of the City of London’s St Bartholomew the Great – who called the MP “awful”.
Fellow Tory Andrew Murrison has joined in the row, writing on social media: “Bishops in parliament – they rarely turn up, represent a UK minority and make us look like a theocracy.
“As an Anglican, I’d rather they went back to their dioceses, focused on the cure of souls and stopped being dog-collared politicians. Be gone!”
Jeremy Hunt prods Reeves’s ‘economic inheritance’ claim as inflation tumbles
Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has taken a dig at Rachel Reeves’s claims
PA
Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has taken a dig at Rachel Reeves’s claims over Labour’s gloomy economic inheritance in light of today’s surprise drop in inflation.
His Cabinet counterpart had, throughout the campaign cycle ahead of the General Election, attacked the Conservatives for apparently leaving Britain with the worst set of economic circumstances since World War Two.
But thanks to tumbling air travel and fuel costs, the CPI rate of inflation has taken a dive – leading Hunt to poke fun at Reeves’s complaints.
“Worst economic inheritance since WWII? Of course,” he wrote.
REMINDER: PMQs kick off at noon today – follow live
Prime Minister’s Questions will be kicking off at midday today
REUTERS
Prime Minister’s Questions will be kicking off at midday today – with Sir Keir Starmer likely to be pressed on “Swiftgate”, national insurance and a looming litany of tax rises to the tune of £40billion.
A reminder that you can follow PMQs live on GB News – and here, on the Politics LIVE blog.
CPI rate falls below 2% for first time in three years
Inflation in the UK has fallen below the Bank of England’s desired two per cent target for the first time in three years, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
The consumer price index (CPI) rate eased to 1.7 percent for the 12 months to September 2024 in a boon for Britain’s economy following the cost of living crisis.
The drop comes below the forecasts of economists who were pricing in inflation coming in at around 1.9 per cent for September.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
ICYMI: ‘Illegal immigrant’ who ‘threatened’ Farage arrives in UK and demands meeting with Reform UK leader
‘Illegal immigrant’ who ‘threatened’ Farage arrives in UK and demands meeting with Reform UK leaderGETTY/TIKTOK
An “illegal immigrant” who appeared to “threaten” Nigel Farage has arrived in the UK and urged the Reform UK leader to meet him after the pair became embroiled in a social media spat.
TikToker Mada Pasa, who documented his journey across Europe on the social media platform, released the video after Farage claimed he made a “threat on my life”.
Pasa, who is believed to originate from Afghanistan, posted more than 60 videos about his journey across the continent.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
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