Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has declared that the UK is living the “most acute housing crisis in living history” as she announced a radical reform to the country’s housing planning system.
Addressing the Commons, the housing secretary has promised to fix the Tories’ legacy by bringing back mandatory housing targets of 370,000 a year on councils.
Under the plans, Ms Rayner announced a review of the green belt if councils do not meet the housebuilding targets.
It comes as Rachel Reeves warned “more difficult choices” are coming after axing winter fuel payments for many pensioners in a bid to help plug a £22bn black hole in the public finances.
The chancellor unveiled plans to tackle the projected overspend, including cuts to infrastructure projects and an end of winter fuel payments for people not in receipt of means-tested benefits.
Following her speech, Ms Reeves doubled down on accusations that Jeremy Hunt “lied” to the public and to MPs during the election campaign about the state of public finances.
Key Points
- Angela Rayner declares UK faces ‘most acute housing crisis in living memory’
- Labour introduces mandatory housebuilding targets of 370,000 per year
- Kemi Badenoch: Labour already breaking planning reform election pledges
- Councils call for long-term funding to build 200,000 social homes
- Rachel Reeves accuses Jeremy Hunt of ‘lying’ about state of public finances
- Hunt ‘angered’ by Reeves’ £22bn black hole claim
Rayner: Council housing masterplans will go to ‘square one’
14:19
Salma Ouaguira
Housing masterplans which councils have in draft may have to return to square one under new planning rules, Angela Rayner has suggested.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper asked: “For those local authorities which are at an advanced stage of their draft local plan, will they need to start again with the new standard method or will they continue?”
Ms Rayner replied: “In terms of local plans, it depends on where they’re up to, in terms of the direct question you asked, and there will be a transition, and we outline that within this consultation because we recognise areas have got quite far on.
“In terms of where that’s up to, it very much depends on what the difference is between what their local plan says and what we’ve asked.”
Tories accused of putting ‘developer greed over community needs'
14:18
Salma Ouaguira
Planning measures put “developer greed over community needs” under the previous Conservative government, the Liberal Democrats’ deputy leader has said.
Daisy Cooper said: “For too long under the Conservatives, we had a planning system that put developer greed over community needs – a system which did not deliver the homes we needed to tackle the crisis but did destroy swathes of our green belt.”
Conservative MP Paul Holmes, who represents an area of Hampshire between Southampton and Portsmouth, said: “This announcement, quite frankly, will be a disaster for my Hamble Valley constituency.”
Also from the Conservative benches, former cabinet minister Kit Malthouse urged deputy prime minister Angela Rayner to confirm protections would exist for national landscapes, designated areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs).
Ms Rayner said those protections would remain and added: “I think it’s very important and, again, what we’re saying in terms of the release of the grey belt is that it has to be for the benefit of local, natural spaces.”
Peers call for curb on PM’s power to appoint House of Lords members
14:15
Salma Ouaguira
Restrictions should be imposed on the Prime Minister’s power to appoint members of the House of Lords, a cross-party group of peers have suggested.
The Prime Minister currently has “absolute power” to appoint whoever they like and however many they like to the upper chamber.
Peers have suggested imposing certain restrictions, such as a cap on prime ministerial appointments, and a requirement to abide by the recommendations of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac) could improve the situation.
Holac is responsible for vetting for proprietary of all nominations to the Lords, but the Prime Minister is not currently required to acquiesce to their advice.
Indeed, Boris Johnson ignored the concerns of the Commission about the appointment of Lord Lebedev in 2020.
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Wallace of Saltaire noted: “The prerogative power of the Prime Minister to appoint to this House remains absolute, as we saw under Boris Johnson.”
He suggested that Sir Keir Starmer could announce that, from now on, Prime Ministers would not make appointments without consulting certain bodies.
Former Holac member Conservative peer Baroness Browning urged the Government to have a “complete discussion” about the role of the Prime Minister in the appointment process.
Lee Anderson points out at Rayner’s council house row
14:09
Salma Ouaguira
Reform MP for Ashfield has pointed out at Angela Rayner’s council house row during the Commons debate.
Mr Anderson told MPs Rayner is an expert on council homes.
He then asked if families, pensioners and veterans will get priority for council homes under her plans.
His remarks come as Ms Rayner faced no police action over her past council house sale after a row about her living arrangements before becoming MP.
Right to Buy scheme to be reviewed in October budget
14:00
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner said between 110,000 and 130,000 affordable homes are due to be built under the previous government’s programme, telling MPs: “Down from their original target of 180,000.
“In our worst-case scenario, some 70,000 fewer families in need of a secure home will lose out. How have they let that happen?
“And once again it’s this government which will have to pick up the pieces. This is why today I am announcing immediate steps for the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation.”
Ms Rayner said the government will introduce “more flexibilities” in the current affordable homes programme and bring forward details of future government investment as part of the spending review, adding councils and housing associations would also be given “rent stability” to help them borrow and invest.
On changes to the Right to Buy scheme, Ms Rayner said a review of the increased discounts introduced in 2012 was under way and the government will consult in the autumn on wider reforms.
She added: “We’re immediately increasing flexibilities for councils when using Right to Buy receipts. In addition, to help councils provide homes for some of the most vulnerable in society, I can also confirm today that the £450 million of the local authority housing fund will flow to them to provide 2,000 new homes.”
In full: Rayner to review greenbelt while prioritising low-quality greybelt land
13:56
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner said the “first port of call must be brownfield land”, adding in the Commons: “But it’s only part of the answer. This is why we must create a more strategic system for greenbelt release, to make it work for the 21st century.
“Local authorities will have to review their greenbelt if needed to meet housing targets, but they’ll also need to prioritise low-quality greybelt land – for which we’re setting out a definition today.
“And where land in the greenbelt is developed, new golden rules will require provision of 50% affordable housing with a focus on social rent, as well schools, GP surgeries and transport links that the community needs, and improvements to accessible green space.”
Ms Rayner, on affordable homes, said housing minister Matthew Pennycook will meet with major developers to ensure “they commit to matching our pace of reform”.
She added: “But an active, mission-led Government must also play its role. This is why today I’m calling on local authorities, housing associations and industry to work with me to deliver a council house revolution.
“This isn’t just a nice add-on, it is vital to getting the 1.5 million homes built because we know schemes with a large amount of affordable housing are likely to be completed faster. Injecting confidence and certainty into social housing is how we get Britain back to building.”
Rayner cuts London housebuilding targets from 100,000 to 80,000
13:52
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner, addressing concerns including on whether the Government is demanding too much housing provision from some area, told the Commons: “To this I say we have a housing crisis and a mandate for real change, and we all must play our part.
“Second, that some areas might appear to get a surprising target – well, no method is perfect and the old one produced all sorts of odd outcomes. Crucially, ours offers extra stability for local authorities.
“Third, that we are lowering our ambition for London. I’m clear we’re doing no such thing. That London had a nominal target of almost 100,000-homes-a-year based on an arbitrary uplift was absolute nonsense. The adoption of the London plan has a target of around 52,000 and delivery in London last year was around 35,000.
“The target we’re now setting for London – roughly 80,000 – is still a huge ask but I know it’s one that the mayor is determined to rise to and I met with him last week about this.
“Fourth, some will say a total of 370,000 is not enough. To this I say ambition is critical but we also need to be realistic.”
Rayner: Labour believes ‘people should have the right to buy'
13:50
Salma Ouaguira
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said Labour believes “that people should have the right to buy”.
Taking questions about residents’ right to buy their council homes, Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, said: “The right-to-buy formula that the government set out in 2012 – the discount – means that councils just cannot replace the houses that are bought under the Right to Buy scheme.
“We believe that people should have the right to buy but it has to be balanced against what the public give in discounts on our social housing stock, and making sure that we can replace that stock for those that desperately need it.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper had asked in the Commons: “There seems to be a conspicuous absence of a particular target on social homes – not affordable homes but on social homes. Will the Deputy Prime Minister take up the Liberal Democrat target of building 150,000 social homes every single year?”
She also said: “We welcome the review of the right to buy. Will the Government allow local authorities to use that money to replace lost stock?”
Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree Paula Barker said: “Councils will be reluctant to build (their own homes) if they know they will simply end up in the hands of private landlords who exploit the right to buy.”
Rayner hits out at Badenoch over Tory election defeat
13:42
Salma Ouaguira
Replying to Kemi Badenoch, Angela Rayner has wished the Tory leadership hopeful luck with the contest.
The housing minister said it was Badenoch’s ambition to be leader of the opposition, not hers.
But Ms Rayner believes there are a few things the shadow minister “has not understood”.
One is that the Tories lost the election and the second is that they left services in “a mess, including failing to meet their housing targets.”
She added the Conservatives “are talking to themselves, not the country”.
Badenoch: Rural local authorities ‘afraid’ of Labour housing plans
13:39
Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch has said rural authorities are worried the Labour government will force them to build houses if urban areas fail to meet targets.
The shadow housing secretary said: “Councillors have repeatedly told me that they are afraid that they will be forced under a duty to cooperate to sacrifice their own green spaces to take the housing need that the urban leaders who are her friends fail to meet.”
Ms Badenoch asked Angela Rayner what penalties would be imposed on urban councils failing to meet 370,000-per-year housebuilding target.
Badenoch: Labour already breaking planning reform election pledges
13:34
Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch has accused Labour of breaking planning reform pledges from the manifesto.
The shadow minister told the Commons the party “mustn’t make promises which any impartial observer knows can’t be delivered and crucially they mustn’t break their commitments early” as she responded to Angela Rayner’s planning reform announcement.
She added: “And yet, already we are seeing changes to what they committed to.”
Mrs Badenoch claimed that the plan set out by the housing minister is “not as straightforward as she is laying out”.
“The Government will not be able to deliver its ambitions unless it recognises that,” she said.
Watch live: Angela Rayner sets out Labour housebuilding plans
13:28
Salma Ouaguira
Badenoch: Labour planning to build 1.5m ‘ugly’ homes
13:28
Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch has hit back at Angela Rayner’s plans to “boost” housebuilding in the UK.
The shadow business minister claimed with the reforms, the housing minister will drop “beautiful” from rules.
Mrs Badenoch told the Commons that local residents wanted new homes to look good.
She added: “Now she [Ms Rayner] is telling us that she is going to be replacing what they want with a requirement to meet 1.5 million ugly houses instead.
“Why on earth would they take out something which means so much to local communities? People deserve to live in beautiful homes and the fact that the Labour Party doesn’t care about that shows exactly how they are going to develop their policies.”
Green belt to be reviewed if councils cannot meet housing targets
13:22
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner has announced councils will have to review their green belt designations if the government needs more land to meet housebuilding targets.
But, as part of her radical planning changes, the housing secretary said she wanted councils to building on “grey belt” areas first.
Ms Rayner confirmed there would be “golden rules” for development on the green belt with 50 per cent of new homes being affordable.
The Labour minister also said the government will work closely with local authorities to deliver a “council house revolution”.
Labour introduces mandatory housebuilding targets of 370,000 per year
13:18
Salma Ouaguira
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has said the Government will introduce “mandatory” housing targets and a new method for calculating housing need.
She told the Commons: “Decisions about what to build should reflect local views… well, that should be about how to deliver new homes, not whether to.
“Whilst the previous government watered down housing targets, caving into their anti-growth backbenchers, this Labour Government is taking the tough choices putting people and country first.
“For the first time we will make local housing targets mandatory, requiring local authorities to use the same method to work out how many homes to build. But that alone is insufficient to meet our ambition, so we’re also changing the standard method used to calculate housing need so it better reflects the urgency of supply for local areas.
“Rather than relying on outdated data, this new method will require local authorities to plan for homes proportionate to the size of existing communities, and it will incorporate an uplift where house prices are most out of step with local incomes.
“The collective total of these local targets will therefore rise from some 300,000 a year to just over 370,000 a year.”
Rayner declares UK facing ‘most acute housing crisis in living memory’
13:16
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner has declared the Tories have left behind “the most acute housing crisis in living memory”.
She said Rishi Sunak failed to get anywhere near their target of 300,000 per year.
The deputy prime minister claimed the work is now “urgent”.
As part of the plans Ms Rayner said local views should be considered around housebuilding, but decisions “should be about how to deliver new homes, not whether to”.
Rayner: Tories caused fewer than 200,000 new homes will be built this year
13:12
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner has accused the Tories of not delivering on their promise to build new homes but instead drop the rate for the next years.
The deputy prime minister said the number of new homes likely to be built this year will be fewer than 200,000 as she accused the previous government of ignoring statutory targets to appease “anti-housing backbenchers”.
She told the Commons: “There are simply not enough homes. Those on the benches opposite knew this but what did they do for 14 years? As (Chancellor Rachel Reeves) said yesterday they ducked the difficult decisions. They put party before country.
“They pulled the wool over people’s eyes by crowing about getting one million new homes in the last parliament but they failed to get anywhere near their target 300,000 homes a year and, in a bid to appease their anti-housing backbenchers, they made housing targets only advisable.
“They knew that this would tank housing supply, but they still did it.
“And as I stand here today, I can now reveal the result. That the number of new homes is now likely to drop below 200,000 this year – unforgivable.
“This legacy makes our job all the harder, but it also makes it so much more urgent.”
Rayner admits radical planning reform will be controversial
13:09
Salma Ouaguira
The Housing secretary told MPs that she plans to “get Britain building” with her planning housing reform.
She said: “Delivering economic growth is our number one mission.
Ms Rayner added that “what I say won’t be without controversy, but this is urgent”.
She has set out Labour’s “radical” plan to build homes as part of the Government’s “number one mission” of driving growth.
She told MPs: “I’ve come to the House to make a statement about this government’s plan to get Britain building.
“Delivering economic growth is our number one mission. It’s how we’ll raise living standards for everyone, everywhere. The only way we can fix our public services.
“So today I am setting out a radical plan to not only get the homes we desperately need, but also drive the growth, create jobs and breathe life back into towns and cities.
“We are ambitious, and what I say won’t be without controversy, but this is urgent because this Labour Government is not afraid to take on the tough choices needed to deliver for our country.”
Angela Rayner pays tribute to Southport stabbing victims
13:07
Salma Ouaguira
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is now up on her feet to announce a radical housing reform.
Before delivering her planning statement, she has remembered the Southport stabbing victims.
She told MPs: “I know the whole house will join me in sending my condolences.”
Ms Rayner added: “As a mother and a grandmother I can’t begin to imagine the suffering of those involved.”
Government to set out single national living rate for adults
13:04
Salma Ouaguira
The business secretary claims the government is committed to deliver on the promise of a genuine living wage for working people.
Jonathan Reynolds confirmed he has written to the Low Pay Commission to ensure that the body takes into account cost of living factors when setting national minimum wage rates.
He also announced Labour will set out a single rate for adults instead of the current higher rate for people aged 21 or over.
Mr Reynolds said: “I have written to Baroness Stroud, the chair of the LPC, to set out an updated remit.
“Following the cost of living crisis which has harmed working people in recent months and years, the remit asks the LPC to consider the cost of living for the first time. The remit highlights the need to also consider the impact on business, competitiveness, the labour market and the wider economy.
“We are ambitious in developing a path towards a genuine living wage, but we know that this path must be backed by evidence and consistent with delivering inclusive growth for workers and businesses.
“As part of the government’s commitment to a genuine living wage that benefits every adult worker, we also pledged to remove discriminatory age bands.”
Coming up: Rayner set to reveal a radical reform to fix homelessness and social housing
12:56
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner is set to address the Commons for the first time as housing secretary to unveil her plan to build 1.5m homes.
Speaking during the cabinet meeting this morning, the deputy prime minister claimed the country faces “an acute housing crisis” that has causing high levels of homelessness, social housing waiting lists, homes costing more than eight times average incomes and “fewer than 200,000 homes forecast to be built this year”.
Her announcement will introduce “golden rules” to ensure development works for local people and protects the environment, Ms Rayner has said.
Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, the guidelines which govern the planning system, which were brought in under the Tory government are also expected to abandoned.
Scottish ministers must ‘act decisively’ on doctor pay after uplift in England
12:52
Salma Ouaguira
Scottish ministers have been told to “act decisively” to increase pay for doctors after a more-than-20% uplift for junior medics in England.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the 22.3% average increase over the next two years on Monday in a statement to the Commons.
The deal brings an end to a long-running dispute between the UK Government and junior doctors, at a cost of £350 million, the Chancellor said on Times Radio on Tuesday.
Dr Iain Kennedy, chairman of BMA Scotland, said the only way to fix issues facing the NHS is to invest in the retention of staff, but the pay increase south of the border could put the Scottish health service at a “serious competitive disadvantage”.
Pay negotiations with junior doctors have already begun, he said, with further talks for consultants and specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors due to start in August and September, respectively.
“This is the first year of direct negotiations for both of these parts of the profession, and with fresh deals made in the other nations, our senior doctors are now the worst paid anywhere in the UK, putting Scotland’s NHS at a serious competitive disadvantage,” Dr Kennedy said.
Foreign Secretary insists ‘no-one has a veto’ on recognising Palestinian state
12:44
Salma Ouaguira
Foreign secretary David Lammy has insisted no-one has a “veto” on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
The Labour minister was repeatedly pressed by MPs to outline the UK Government’s plan to recognise Palestine, amid suggestions such a move would “kickstart” the peace process.
Mr Lammy did not commit to a time frame but told the Commons that the Palestinians have a “just cause” and the UK will work with its partners towards a two-state solution.
Speaking at Foreign Office questions, Labour MP Paula Barker (Liverpool Wavertree) said: “I believe recognition would level the playing field and would kickstart the peace process, which has been recognised by so many of our European counterparts.
“Recognition should not be at the conclusion.
“What will the Government do if Israel refuses to entertain any moves towards a two-state solution, which they have persistently and vocally rejected?”
Mr Lammy replied: “No-one has a veto on recognition.
“As I’ve said, we want it to be part of a process, it does not deliver a two-state solution in (and) of itself but it is absolutely right that the Palestinians are enabled to have a sovereign state.
“It is a just cause and we will work with other partners to bring that about.”
Angela Rayner to unveil radical plan to build 1.5m homes
12:36
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner told cabinet the government would be “setting out the first steps” for building 1.5 million homes over this parliament today.
The deputy prime minister, who is making a planning announcement later, told colleagues the country faces “an acute housing crisis” that has resulted in “high levels of homelessness, over one million households on social housing waiting lists, homes on average in England costing more than eight times average incomes and fewer than 200,000 homes forecast to be built this year.”
Downing Street said: “She outlined that later today the government would set out plans to lay the foundations for 1.5 million new homes across Britain over this Parliament.
“Working people are facing huge challenges to find a safe and decent home to call their own and this government is setting out the first steps to make this happen.”
Government expands flagship Afghan resettlement scheme
12:33
Salma Ouaguira
Immigration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra has announced that the government is extending the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).
Under the flagships programme is for Afghans who were evacuated to the UK when the Taliban took Kabul in August 2021.
Those who had to leave behind close family members will now be able to use the scheme to bring those relatives to the UK.
No 10 refuses to commit to new cap on social care
12:23
Salma Ouaguira
Downing Street has refused to commit to introducing a new cap on social care costs in the next five years after Rachel Reeves announced that she is scrapping the one planned by the Tories.
No 10 confirmed the government will carry out a “deep reform” of the sector and the cabinet is in discussions to set out the best way forward.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said the Tories’ cap, which was planned to be rolled out in October next year, was “unfunded and undeliverable”.
Labour accused of ‘tragic betrayal’ after scrapping social care cap
12:18
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Andrew Dilnot has accused Labour of “tragic betrayal” after Rachel Reeves scrapped a planned cap on social care costs.
Mr Dilnot, whose government-backed commission proposed a cap on social care costs, told Times Radio: “I think we know what the choices are here. And so we should get on with it.
“So I think the thing to do is, as you say, let’s be positive. Let’s dust ourselves down, say, well, this is another pretty tragic betrayal of another generation of families who thought that they were going to be looked after properly. What we have to do now is build a consensus for some action and action quickly.”
Lammy urges British nationals to leave Lebanon
12:06
Salma Ouaguira
My message to British nationals in Lebanon is clear – leave. https://t.co/obWtG8Kzzv
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) July 30, 2024
Dilnot: Labour has ‘failed another generation of families’ with cancellation of social care reforms
12:05
Salma Ouaguira
The Labour government has “failed another generation of families” with the cancellation of a series of planned social care reforms, the architect of the plans has warned.
Rachel Reeves announced the cancellation of the Dilnot Reformson Monday, alongside a swathe of other spending cuts to address a black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government.
Sir Andrew Dilnot, whose government-backed commission proposed a cap on social care costs, described the changes as a “a tragedy”.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:
Voices: There may be trouble ahead, but the Reeves plan might just work
12:00
Salma Ouaguira
With her fury-filled Commons statement on public overspending, the chancellor of the Exchequer accused the previous Tory administration of a cover-up – and may also have secured Labour a decade in power, says Andrew Grice:
Yvette Cooper pas tribute emergency services in Southport
11:56
Salma Ouaguira
Home secretary Yvette Cooper has paid tribute to the “great bravery” of the emergency services who responded to the stabbing in Hart Street and the “loved ones that have been lost”.
Speaking to reporters in Southport, Ms Cooper said: “I think it’s just unimaginable what has happened – this devastating horrific attack – and I think all of our thoughts will be with the families who have been affected, loved ones that have been lost and the children that have been injured and it’s really important that they get all the support that they need.
“I have been meeting with some of the first responders, the emergency services, police, fire service and paramedics who were there yesterday and who had to respond with great bravery to make sure that more lives were not lost and I thank them for the work that they did.
“There is also a serious criminal investigation underway now.
“Everyone’s thoughts will be with those injured children and just praying for them.”
Cancer charity fears shortage of digestive drug could cost lives
11:55
Salma Ouaguira
A cancer charity has called on the government to intervene urgently over the shortage of a drug that can prevent life-threatening digestive problems in thousands of people with a range of medical conditions.
Neil Pearce, chairman of PLANETS Cancer Charity and a former pancreatic cancer surgeon, has written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, outlining his “deep concerns” about the lack of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert).
The treatment is often referred to as Creon, which is the brand name of a commonly-used type of the drug.
Mr Pearce has warned that, unless action is taken quickly to implement interim solutions, the issue could lead to excess and avoidable deaths in this patient group from sepsis and diabetic complications.
PLANETS, which helps patients with pancreatic, liver, colorectal, abdominal (oesophageal and gastric) and neuroendocrine (NET) cancers, estimates around 20,000 people in the UK are affected by the problem.
Pert is prescribed for patients with pancreatic deficiencies caused by a variety of conditions including pancreatic cancer, pancreatic surgery, cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis and neuroendocrine tumours.
Labour lost a third of its Black and Asian support at election – poll
11:50
Salma Ouaguira
Pictured: Ministers leave Downing Street following cabinet meeting
11:42
Salma Ouaguira
What is happening in parliament today?
11:37
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner, Yvette Cooper and David Lammy are all expected to deliver statements at the House of Commons. Here’s today’s business:
- 11:30 Foreign Office questions
- 12:30 Urgent questions on the Post Office Horizon IT scandal
- 13:15 Housing minister Angela Rayner delivers statement about building new homes
- 14:15 Foreign secretary David Lammy gives statement on situation in Lebanon
- 15:15 Second reading of the Budget Responsibility Bill
- 19:00 Home office secretary delivers statement on the deadly attack in Southport
Priti Patel hits out at Darren Jones over ‘winter fuel U-turn'
11:27
Salma Ouaguira
Dame Priti Patel has criticised the Treasury minister claiming he had changed his opinion on scrapping winter fuel payments for pensioners.
In 2023, he apparently expressed concerns about a similar move. The Tory leadership hopeful slammed Mr Jones saying pensioners “deserve respect”.
Back in 2023 Labour’s new Chief Secretary to the Treasury warned against means testing pensioners for Winter Fuel Payments.
— Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) July 30, 2024
What's changed Darren? Why wasn't Starmer straight with pensioners during the General Election that Labour would make this change? ♀️
Pensioners deserve… https://t.co/6MCL3GCcjk
Angela Rayner announces changes to house planning for 1.5m homes
11:20
Salma Ouaguira
Sweeping changes to England’s planning system are set to be announced by Angela Rayner as the government seeks to clear a path to build 1.5 million new homes.
The deputy prime minister and Housing Secretary is expected to address MPs about an overhaul set to include bringing back mandatory housing targets and more detail on the land Labour could use for development.
The government says it is committed to preserving nature, but that the so-called grey belt, low-quality areas such as disused car parks and wasteland on parts of protected land known as the green belt, could be built on.
The announcement will introduce “golden rules” to ensure development works for local people and protects the environment, Ms Rayner has said.
Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, the guidelines which govern the planning system, which were brought in under the Tory government are also expected to abandoned.
The ruling party’s manifesto used different language, outlining instead its aim for “exemplary” development to be “the norm not the exception.”
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested his government sides with “builders not blockers” on planning policy, saying it will consult on “how, not if” projects should take place as speeding up development is seen as key to its mission to boost economic growth.
Reeves refuses to commit to social care cap for next five years
11:09
Salma Ouaguira
The chancellor’srefused to commit to a cap on social care costs in the next five years.
During her statement to the Commons, Ms Reeves scrapped the cap due to be introduced next year because could not be afforded.
Asked this mooning whether she was planning to bring it back later, she dodged the question.
The minister told BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “Wes Streeting will work with the sector to now take forward plans to improve social care and indeed to improve the crumbling state of our hospitals because of the mess left behind by the Conservative government.
“But the worst thing that I could have done yesterday was to just accept that we were going to have to borrow £22 billion more.
“That would have put at risk our economic and our financial stability.”
Pictured: Yvette Cooper pays tribute to Southport stabbing child victims
11:00
Salma Ouaguira
New scheme opens for postmasters with overturned convictions
10:55
Salma Ouaguira
Victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal whose convictions have been quashed can now apply to a new compensation scheme.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he hoped the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme would bring “some relief to postmasters who have waited far too long to get back the money that is rightfully theirs.”
Postmasters with overturned convictions will begin to receive written confirmation of their exoneration this week, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said.
Those eligible for the new scheme can either accept a fixed settlement of £600,000 or, if they believe their losses exceed that amount, can choose a full claim assessment route.
This would mean their application will be fully examined by a team of dedicated caseworkers in the DBT.
Mr Reynolds said: “Postmasters have suffered immeasurably so I hope today’s new redress scheme brings some relief to postmasters who have waited far too long to get back the money that is rightfully theirs.
“Any postmaster who thinks they are eligible for this scheme can come forward and register. We know that every case is different, and this government fully supports the right of every postmaster to choose what is best for them.”
Decision to end universal winter fuel payments ‘too narrow’, says Martin Lewis
10:50
Salma Ouaguira
The Chancellor’s decision to end the previously universal winter fuel payment for pensioners unless they are on benefits has been branded “too narrow with the winter we have coming”.
The payments of up to £300 have been made available to everyone above state pension age.
However, from this winter pensioners will only receive a payment if they are receiving pension credit.
The Treasury said the winter fuel changes would see the number of pensioners receiving the payments fall from 11.4 million to 1.5 million – so just under 10 million would miss out.
Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, immediately warned the targeting of the payments was “too narrow with the winter we have coming”, adding: “The energy price cap is likely to rise 10% this October and stay high across the winter, leaving most energy bills nearly double those pre-crisis, at levels unaffordable for millions.”
He added: “Plus, with this announcement, the Government has a huge moral imperative to ensure the 800,000 people eligible for pension credit who don’t get it, are informed, educated and helped through the process.
“It is planning an awareness-raising campaign, but it needs to ensure that reaches every corner – and, if possible, proacti
