Lord Cameron has stepped back from frontline politics after last week’s election defeat but will keep his House of Lords seat for life.
He was given a peerage last November so that Rishi Sunak could make him his foreign secretary. But the ex-PM has tendered his resignation and will not serve in the shadow cabinet now the party is out of government.
The Tories named Jeremy Hunt, who narrowly held his seat on Thursday, its shadow chancellor, with James Cleverly shadow home secretary, mirroring the portfolios they held in government.
Former deputy foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell will become the shadow foreign secretary, while Richard Fuller, the former economic secretary to the Treasury, has been made the new Conservative chairman.
Leadership frontrunner Kemi Badenoch has been shifted to become shadow levelling-up secretary, while Kevin Hollinrake will shadow her former Business Secretary post.
It comes as Rachel Reeves has said the new government has inherited the “worst set of circumstances since the Second World War” as she sets out a raft of housing reform in her first speech as chancellor.
Key Points
- David Cameron steps back from frontline politics after election defeat
- Who is in Rishi Sunak’s shadow cabinet?
- Key points from chancellor’s speech
- Starmer meets Welsh first minister as tour of UK continues
- Rachel Reeves says Labour has inherited ‘worst set of circumstances since WWII’
Schedule for today
07:48
Alexander Butler
Good morning. As the House of Commons is to sit with Labour on government front benches for the first time in 14 years, prime minister Keir Starmer and his cabinet are set for a busy day.
This is the schedule for today:
7.30am: Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner will meet metro mayors from around the country.
9.30am: Sir Keir Starmer chairs his Cabinet.
2.30pm: Parliament returns with Labour ministers on the Government frontbench for the first time in more than a decade.
Junior doctors to enter talks with Labour government
07:34
Alexander Butler
Negotiations between junior doctors in England and the new Government are expected to start today with a view to end the long-running dispute over pay.
Medics from the British Medical Association (BMA) are to meet with Department of Health and Social Care officials to try and hammer out a deal to see an end to strikes which have been causing widespread disruption across the health service.
Officials from the union have previously said that they expect the conversation could be “tough”. But the BMA’s junior doctors committee has said Labour comments about pay rises being a “journey and not an event” align with their pay restoration goals.
Health leaders urged the Government to resolve the dispute as a “priority” after it emerged that tens of thousands of appointments were postponed as a result of the latest strike.
NHS England said 61,989 appointments, procedures and operations were postponed as a result of the walkout from June 27 to July 2.
UK mayors arrive at Downing Street
07:31
Alexander Butler
UK mayors have arrived at Downing Street for a roundtable meeting with prime minister Keir Starmer as he pledged to loosen Whitehall’s “tight grip” over big cities and regions.
London mayor Sadiq Khan, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool mayor Steve Rotherham were among those who walked into No 10 this morning.
Before entering No 10, Mr Khan said: “I’m looking forward to meeting the new Prime Minister.”
Monday 8 July 2024 20:36
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
We are now pausing this liveblog. Thank you for tuning in!
Starmer confirms Rwanda policy to be scrapped
Monday 8 July 2024 20:30
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rwanda “has fully upheld its side of the agreement”, its government said after Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the deportation policy is to be scrapped.
The Prime Minister announced over the weekend the previous Conservative government’s plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda was “dead and buried before it started”.
In a statement, a Rwandan government spokesperson said: “Rwanda takes note of the intention of the UK Government to terminate the Migration and Economic Development Partnership Agreement, as provided for under the terms of the treaty passed by both our parliaments.
“This partnership was initiated by the Government of the UK in order to address the crisis of irregular migration affecting the UK - a problem of the UK, not Rwanda.
“Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country.”
Who is in Rishi Sunak’s shadow cabinet?
Monday 8 July 2024 19:57
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak has named his shadow cabinet in the face of Conservative’s devastating election loss.
The party has named Jeremy Hunt, who narrowly held his seat on Thursday, its shadow chancellor, with James Cleverly shadow home secretary, mirroring the portfolios they held in government.
Former deputy foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell will become the shadow foreign secretary as Lord Cameron stepped back from frontline politics, while Richard Fuller, the former economic secretary to the Treasury, has been made the new Conservative chairman.
Leadership frontrunner Kemi Badenoch has been shifted to become shadow levelling-up secretary, while Kevin Hollinrake will shadow her former Business Secretary post.
Breaking: David Cameron steps back from frontline politics after election defeat - but keeps Lords seat for life
Monday 8 July 2024 19:41
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Lord Cameron has stepped back from frontline politics after last week’s election defeat but will keep his House of Lords seat for life.
He was given a peerage last November so that Rishi Sunak could make him his foreign secretary.
But the ex-PM has tendered his resignation and will not serve in the shadow cabinet now the party is out of government.
Rachel Reeves scraps ‘absurd’ Tory onshore windfarm ban
Monday 8 July 2024 19:30
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rachel Reeves has ditched the Conservatives’ “absurd” onshore windfarm ban in a bid to reboot the economy, claiming the new Labour government’s economic inheritance was the worst since the Second World War.
The chancellor has ordered civil servants to compile a dossier on the state of the economy after 14 years of Tory rule.
In a speech at the Treasury, she said she had repeatedly warned about the dire state of the public finances during the general election and “what I have seen in the past 72 hours has only confirmed that”.
Suella Braverman blasts ‘entitled Tories’ in speech seen as a leadership pitch
Monday 8 July 2024 19:00
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Suella Braverman has blasted “entitled Tories’” in speech in Washington that will be widely seen as a leadership bid.
The outspoken former home secretary also said that the Conservatives had yet to wake up to the existential threat of Nigel Farage and his Reform party – despite the scale of the election defeat.
In a blistering speech, she told the audience that at the election: “We were slaughtered. Shellacked. Given a good hiding. Kicked while we were on the ground. Headbutted by reality.”
Full list of 175 Tory MPs that lost their jobs in election bloodbath
Monday 8 July 2024 18:30
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The Conservative Party suffered a crushing defeat in last week’s election, losing grip on power after 14 years in government.
The party lost over 244 seats across the country to a parties across the political spectrum, with seats being handed over to Labour, Reform, Liberal Democrats and even the Green Party in places.
Prior to the vote on July 4, a raft of Tory MP’s including Michael Gove and Nadhim Zahawi made it clear they would not be running again - perhaps pre-empting their fate in the face of dire opinion polls.
Why is Starmer sticking two fingers up at Blair’s advice?
Monday 8 July 2024 18:06
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
If I were to sum up in one sentence the strategy that won Keir Starmer a landslide at this general election, it would probably be: “Hey – do you guys remember Tony Blair?”
It’s a fair tactic – after all, the former leader was the most successful in Labour’s history. His 179-seat majority in 1997 was the high watermark that Starmer aimed for and, to his credit, came within a whisker of hitting.
As my Independent colleague John Rentoul has noted, Labour’s 174-seat majority this time is mathematically the same as New Labour’s, when adjusted for a smaller House of Commons: Blair won 63.5 per cent of 659 MPs, and Starmer won 63.4 per cent of 650.
Naz Shah: ‘The grown ups are backs in charge’
Monday 8 July 2024 17:33
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Leaving the first meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party since the election, MP Naz Shah said the central message of Sir Keir Starmer’s speech to his MPs had been “the grown-ups are back in charge”.
She said: “It’s not a playground, this is running the country and hitting the ground running.”
A full house: UK’s new prime minster stands and his Labour MPs
Monday 8 July 2024 17:20
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer stands with Labour Party MPs, including some who won seats in the recent general election, at Church House in Westminster on July 8, 2024 in London, England.
Photo ID rule may have prevented 445,000 from voting in election, poll indicates
Monday 8 July 2024 16:57
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Some 445,000 voters may not have been issued with a ballot paper in the General Election because they did not have the correct identification, polling has suggested.
Of the 2,047 people surveyed by More In Common, 3.2% reported being turned away at least once because they lacked the necessary ID.
Extrapolated across the UK, this would equate to more than 850,000, according to the pollsters.
More than half of these people either gave up or returned and were still unable to vote.
The poll found that a third of people turned away had ID which was not on the list of valid ID, a quarter said the name on their ID was different from that listed on the electoral register, while 12% said they were told the picture on their ID did not match their appearance.
The data, co-ordinated by the Hope Not Hate campaign group, also suggested there was a disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities, who were more than twice as likely to be turned away than white voters.
It found that 6.5% of voters of colour said they were turned away, compared with 2.5% of white voters.
Keir Starmer will not appoint dedicated veterans’ minister sitting in cabinet
Monday 8 July 2024 16:27
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The new Labour government will not appoint a dedicated veterans’ minister sitting in the cabinet, it has been announced.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced 19 new ministerial appointments for his cabinet on Tuesday, which met for the first time at the weekend following Thursday’s landslide general election victory.
No 10 told The Independent that instead of a separate position, defence secretary John Healey would be representing veterans in the cabinet.
Health sec says ‘we’ve got a big job to do to fix the NHS'
Monday 8 July 2024 16:03
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Speaking to patients as he arrived at the clinic, Wes Streeting said: “We want to hear from staff who are getting stuff right, but we also want warts and all as well - so no polishing the brass before we turn up and all that.
“We want to hear honestly about the challenges as well because if you can’t be honest about the problems, you’re not going to have the right solutions, so we’ve got a big job to do in terms of fixing the front door to the NHS.”
One of the patients said to him: “We’re so glad Labour got in”, to which the Health Secretary replied: “Not as glad as I am.”
He was then shown around the clinic, asking questions about demand versus supply, listening to experiences and meeting doctors and patients.
Wes Streeing: ‘NHS in crisis'
Monday 8 July 2024 15:53
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Speaking to doctors and patients at a clinic in Abbey Wood, south-east London, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “One of the things Keir (Starmer) is really hot on, and the heart of Labour’s health mission, is the social determinants of ill health and recognising that there’s only so much that the NHS can do, even it’s working at the top of its game.
“And we know for all the reasons we are familiar with, it’s going through a real crisis at the moment. And it is things like housing, and heating, income, employment, skills, education, diet, nutrition and exercise, air quality - all of these things are having an enormous impact.
“And the thing that excites me about the way he’s approaching mission-driven government is it sets very clear goals on health outcomes that we will only be able to achieve if we pull every government department in to make a contribution to the health of the nation, as well as business, as well as civil society and charities and all of us as citizens as well.
“So I think there’s a real opportunity for us to have a serious long-term plan to improve the nation’s health and reduce health inequalities and improve health life expectancy.”
Starmer ‘concerned’ about areas Labour missed votes
Monday 8 July 2024 15:28
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “concerned” about the areas where his party was not able to secure votes.
Speaking to reporters in Wales on Monday, the Prime Minister was asked if he accepts there is a problem between the Labour Party and British Muslims, following a drop in vote share in areas with a high Muslim population.
He said: “Very many people voted Labour in that General Election who’ve never voted Labour before.
“We now hold seats in parts of the country that have never had a Labour MP, so this is an incredibly strong mandate.
“Of course, wherever we weren’t able to secure votes, I’m concerned about that.”
He added that where his party did not secure the votes it would work to “address that”.
Starmer insists Emily Thornberry has ‘big part to play’ in Labour
Monday 8 July 2024 15:04
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted Emily Thornberry has a “big part to play” in Labour after she said she was “surprised” not to be given a ministerial job.
Speaking to reporters in Wales, the Prime Minister said: “I’m putting together a very strong team based on delivering.
“We got a very strong mandate at the general election, a mandate for change, a mandate for doing politics differently, and about service. That’s why I’m putting my team together.
“Emily Thornberry has been fantastic, she’s got a big part to play, as has every single one of my now 412 Labour MPs.
“But it’s very important that we demonstrate the progress we’re making, which is why I’ve been to Scotland, to Northern Ireland, and now to Wales to reset the relations.”
UK’s new defence minister forced to flee to bomb shelter during first trip to Ukraine
Monday 8 July 2024 14:56
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Britain’s new defence secretary was forced to take cover in a bomb shelter during his first trip to Ukraine since assuming the cabinet position.
John Healey, who was in the southern city of Odesa to hold meetings with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, presidential advisor Andriy Yermak and defence minister Rustem Umeriv, announced a new weapons package for Kyiv during his visit.
But he was forced to conclude his meeting in a bomb shelter after air raid sirens rang out in the southern city.
Rachel Reeves orders civil servants to compile dossier on 14 years of Tory economic failure
Monday 8 July 2024 14:26
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rachel Reeves has said Labour’s economic inheritance is the worst since the Second World War and ordered civil servants to compile a dossier on the state of the economy after 14 years of Conservative rule.
The chancellor said she had repeatedly warned about the dire state of the public finances during the general election, and “what I have seen in the past 72 hours has only confirmed that”.
“Our economy has been held back by decisions deferred and decisions delayed… political self-interest put ahead of the national interest,” Ms Reeves said at her first press conference as chancellor.
Archie Mitchell reports:
Starmer meets Welsh first minister as tour of UK continues
Monday 8 July 2024 13:48
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Wales to meet their first minister Vaughan Gething as part of a two-day tour of the four nations of the UK.
The new prime minister arrived at the Senedd in Cardiff on Monday afternoon, hours after he made his first visit to Northern Ireland as PM.
He kicked off his tour in Edinburgh yesterday as he vows to push for an “immediate reset” of the relationships between Westminster and the devolved governments.
Rachel Reeves scraps Conservative’s ‘absurd’ onshore windfarm ban
Monday 8 July 2024 13:33
Andy Gregory
Rachel Reeves has ditched the Conservative’s “absurd” onshore windfarm ban as she vowed to reboot the UK’s flatlining economy.
In one Labour’s first major shakeups since taking power, the party scrapped the de facto ban in England which has been in place since 2015.
Ms Reeves also said Labour would look at whether to class onshore wind as a nationally significant infrastructure – a move that would allow large farms to get planning approval more quickly.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has the full report:
Full story: Conservatives delete X account after landslide loss to Labour
Monday 8 July 2024 13:30
Athena Stavrou
The Conservative Party has deleted its official account on X, formerly Twitter.
The removal came on Monday, a few days after the Tories suffered a landslide defeat to Labour in the general election.
Visitors to the page only saw an error message indicating that the account was no longer live. “Something went wrong,” read one of the messages.
The Conservatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. The party does not yet appear to have commented on the deletion, or given any indication of whether the account will come back online.
My colleague Andrew Griffin has the full story:
In pictures: Rachel Reeves makes first speech as chancellor
Monday 8 July 2024 13:15
Athena Stavrou
Treasury minister on Labour’s ‘no money’ note: ‘Tories can’t afford notepaper’
Monday 8 July 2024 13:00
Athena Stavrou
Treasury minister Darren Jones has referred to the infamous “no money” note left by the last Labour government, joking that the Conservatives “can’t afford the notepaper”.
Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands, who lost his Chelsea and Fulham seat to Labour last week, built a reputation for sharing pictures of the note left by Labour minister Liam Byrne to his incoming Tory counterpart in 2010.
In the note left on his desk, Mr Byrne wrote: “Dear Chief Secretary, I’m afraid there is no money. Kind regards – and good luck! Liam”, which was used by subsequent Conservative administrations to suggest Labour could not be trusted with public finances.
Ahead of a speech by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, newly appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury Mr Jones referred to the note, saying: “Well, there was no note in my drawer at all, so maybe they can’t afford the notepaper to write a note on… who knows?”
Watch: Farage set to be ‘Trump’s link to UK’ after Reform victory
Monday 8 July 2024 12:45
Athena Stavrou
Economy could have been ‘£140bn larger’ - Reeves
Monday 8 July 2024 12:33
Athena Stavrou
The economy would have been £140 billion larger if it had grown as it should with more money for public services, Rachel Reeves claimed.
Answering questions from reporters, the Chancellor said: “As the Treasury analysis that was presented to me this weekend shows, if the economy had grown at the average rate of OECD economies these last 14 years, our economy today would be £140 billion bigger, with £58 billion more for public services.
“That is why growth is so crucial, not just for driving up living standards but also for having the money for public services.”
Asked if Labour would revive the northern leg of HS2, Ms Reeves said: “On HS2, I was really clear in opposition that we are not going to make any promises without saying where the money is going to come from. That is not going to change now I am Chancellor of the Exchequer.
“I am not going to make any commitments without being able to say where the money is going to come from.”
Planning reform plans summary
Monday 8 July 2024 12:26
Athena Stavrou
Here’s what you need to know about the chancellor’s raft of housing reform plans announced today:
• Commitment to 1.5m homes being built in next five years
• Mandatory housing targets restored - local councils to still decide where these homes can be built
• Ministerial intervention into stalled planning application if necessary
• Lift on onshore wind ban
• New Taskforce and 300 additional planning officers
• No fault evictions to be banned to protect renters
Key points from chancellor speech
Monday 8 July 2024 12:19
Athena Stavrou
Here are the key points from Rachel Reeves’ first speech as chancellor:
• New government have inherited the ‘worst set of circumstances since the Second World War’
• National Policy Planning Framework to be updated - Ministerial intervention, restoration of mandatory housing targets, priority to energy projects and new taskforce to assist stalled projects.
• Ban on onshore wind farms to be lifted
• No increases in national insurance and the basic higher or additional rates of income tax or VAT
Conservative social media account removed
Monday 8 July 2024 12:03
Athena Stavrou
The Conservative Party’s X/Twitter account appears to have been removed.
As they recoup after a historic general election defeat, social media users visiting their profile are met with a message reading: “This account doesn’t exist”.
Starmer: We can get a better deal with EU than Johnson’s ‘botched’ one
Monday 8 July 2024 11:51
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has said he thinks that he can get a better deal with the EU than the “botched” deal agreed by Boris Johnson.
Asked if he wanted to see the whole of the UK interacting with the EU on the same basis, he said: “You are right to say we want to improve relations with the EU.
“We think we can get a better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnston brought home and we will work on that, understanding the work that needs to be done and the nature of the challenge.
“In the meantime we do have to get on with implementing the important changes that are necessary under the existing arrangements we have got because we are not going to be able to get a better relationship unless we demonstrate a commitment to the relationship and the agreements that have already been put in place.”
PM condemns Russian attack on Kyiv children’s hospital
Monday 8 July 2024 11:48
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the Russian strike on a children’s hospital in Ukraine.
The new prime minister wrote on X: “Attacking innocent children. The most depraved of actions.
“We stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression - our support won’t falter.”
Up to nine people have been killed and dozens injured as Kyiv’s Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital was reduced to rubble.
Attacking innocent children. The most depraved of actions.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 8, 2024
We stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression - our support won’t falter. https://t.co/Ujb28O48EB
No answer on HS2
Monday 8 July 2024 11:43
Athena Stavrou
When asked whether the Labour government would commit to bringing HS2 to Yorkshire, Rachel Reeves said she would “not make any promises without saying where the money is going to come from”.
The conservatives axed the northern leg of HS2 - which was supposed to bring high speed rail connections between London, the Midlands and the North.
The project was a key part of ‘levelling up’ the north of England but has been plagued by delays and huge costs.
Rachel Reeves says Labour has inherited ‘worst set of circumstances since WWII’
Monday 8 July 2024 11:19
Athena Stavrou
Rachel Reeves says Labour has inherited ‘worst set of circumstances since WWII’ in the treasury as she makes her first speech as chancellor.
Speaking about the treasury she inherited from the precious Conservative government she said: “I have repeatedly warned that whoever won the General Election would inherit the worst set of circumstances since the Second World War.
“What I have seen in the past 72 hours has only confirmed thatthere is no money, our economy has been held back by decisions deferred and decisions ducked.”
Reform not ‘green light’ on any type of housing development
Monday 8 July 2024 11:11
Athena Stavrou
The Government is not giving a “green light” to any kind of housing development, Rachel Reeves said, as she insisted she wanted to see social and affordable homes built.
The Chancellor said the Government needed the private sector to build homes, telling the audience at her speech: “We are not going to be in the business of building those homes directly. We need the construction sector, the housebuilding sector, to build those homes.”
Ms Reeves added: “We are not going to let people off the hook, we want affordable housing and we want housing for social rent as well. That is an important part of the mix.
“So this is not a green light for any type of housing. We want… and I said in the speech that the deputy prime minister will take an interventionist approach to make sure that we have got the housing mix that our country needs, that our people need.”
Asked if she considered herself to be a Yimby (Yes in my back yard) she said she did “support development” and pointed to examples as a constituency MP.
Mandatory housing targets back so answer “cannot always be no"
Monday 8 July 2024 11:08
Athena Stavrou
Rachel Reeves has said she will bring back mandatory housing targets so the answer for new building projects “cannot always be no”.
She added that it was still up to local authorities to decide where housing is built but it must be built somewhere.
No fault evictions will also be scrapped for renters.
Government to make ‘tough’ and ‘hard choices’ to fix economy
Monday 8 July 2024 11:04
Athena Stavrou
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the Government will make the “tough” and “hard choices” to fix the UK’s economy.
She said: “The question is not whether we want growth, but how strong is our resolve? How prepared are we to make the hard choices and face down the vested interests? How willing, even, to risk short-term political pain to fix Britain’s foundations?
“The story of the last 14 years has been a refusal to confront the tough and the responsible decisions that are demanded. This Government will be different and there is no time to waste.”
Britain is “a place to do business”, says Rachel Reeves
Monday 8 July 2024 11:03
Athena Stavrou
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said “Britain is a place to do business” as she said Labour will not use their large majority to renege on their tax promises.
She said: “Over the weekend, I made clear to Treasury officials that the manifesto commitments that we were elected on will be kept safe and they will be delivered on. That includes robust fiscal rules and it includes our commitments to no increases in national insurance and the basic higher or additional rates of income tax or VAT.
“Now I know that there are some who will argue that the time for caution has passed. Who hold that the platform on which we were elected, the platform that the British people voted for last week, can now be simply forgotten. That we can toss aside those fiscal rules or renege on our tax pledges as a large majority in Parliament means we have the licence to roll back on the principles of sound money and economic responsibility.
“I know that many of you aren’t used to hearing this after recent years, but I believe that the promises that a party is elected on should be delivered on in Government and we will do so.”
She added: “To investors and businesses who spent 14 years doubting whether Britain is a safe place to invest. Then let me tell you, after 14 years, Britain has a stable Government. A Government that respects business, wants to partner with business and is open for business. In an uncertain world, Britain is a place to do business.”
Ministers to prioritise decisions on delayed infrastructure project
Monday 8 July 2024 11:03
Athena Stavrou
“Sixth - as well as unlocking new housing, we will also reform the planning system to deliver the infrastructure our country needs,” Rachel Reeves continued.
She said the government will ask the transport and energy minister to prioritise decisions on infrastructure projects that have been sitting unresolved
She concluded her planning reform plans by saying the government would be setting out “new policy intentions within the year”.
She added: “With these steps we have done more to unblock the planning system in the past 72 hours than the last government did in 14 years.”
“Be in no doubt were are going to get Britain building again.”
Ministers to intervene on planning applications - Reeves
Monday 8 July 2024 10:58
Athena Stavrou
“Fourth - we will also support local authorities with 300 additional planning officers across the country.
“Fifth - if we are to put growth at the centre of our planning system that means changes not only to system itself but to the way ministers can use our powers for direct intervention.
“The Deputy prime minister has said that when she intervenes in the economic planning system the benefit of development will be a central consideration that she will not hesitate to review an application where the potential gain for the regional and national economies warrant it.”
She added that she has recovered two planning appeals already.
Planning reform continued - Rachel Reeves
Monday 8 July 2024 10:54
Athena Stavrou
“Second - we will give priority to eneergy projects in the system to ensure that they make swift progress and we will build on the spatial plan for energy by expanding this to other infrastrucure sectors.
“Third - We will create a new Taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites in our country. Beginning with Liverpool Central Docks, Worcester Parkway and Langley Sutton Coldfield.”
Planning reform - Rachel Reeves
Monday 8 July 2024 10:50
Athena Stavrou
Rachel Reeves has laid out planning reform in her first speech as chancellor.
She said she had discussed how to get rid of the “years of red rape” with Sir Keir Starmer over the weekend to give the system a “new signal”.
She said: “First we will reform the national planning policy framework, consulting on a new growth focused approach to the planning system before the end of the month including restoring mandatory housing targets.
“And as of today we are ending the absurd plan on new onshore wind in England. We will also go further and consult on bringing onshore wind back into the national infrastructure - meaning decisions on large developments will be made nationally not locally.”
