The Labour government has agreed a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius to secure the future of a secretive military base in the Pacific Ocean.
But the Tories have condemned the move, with Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick accusing Sir Keir Starmer of “surrendering” Britain’s strategic interests.
Former foreign secretary James Cleverly has also joined the backlash, branding Sir Keir Starmer “weak, weak, weak” despite having kicked off negotiations over the deal when he was in cabinet.
But ministers have defended the decision and claimed the agreement will protect the UK-US base on Diego Garcia and close a potential illegal migration route.
It comes as Boris Johnson revealed how he dismissed warnings over Dominic Cummings and the Barnard Castle row as “lefty journalists angry over Brexit”.
In his new book ‘Unleashed’, the former prime minister explained why he refused to sack his then political adviser despite his infamous trip during the peak of the pandemic.
When a friend advised him to sack his then chief of staff, Johnson wrote he retorted: “The whole thing is a put up job. It’s just a load of lefty journalists who want payback for Brexit.”
Key Points
- Furious Tories condemn Starmer’s Chagos deal
- UK to hand over secretive Chagos Islands to Mauritius
- Boris Johnson dismissed Barnard Castle row as 'lefty journalists angry over Brexit'
- Dominic Cummings conspired against me, says Boris Johnson
- Practising Hindu Sunak was offended by Johnson’s rhetoric
Furious Tories condemn Starmer’s Chagos deal despite them opening talks
12:15
Salma Ouaguira
More Tory leadership candidates have joined Robert Jenrick in criticising the British Indian Ocean Territory decision.
James Cleverly said: “Weak, weak, weak! Labour lied to get into office. Said they’d be whiter than white, said they wouldn’t put up taxes, said they’d stand up to the EU, said that they be patriotic. All lies!”
Fellow rival Tom Tugendhat said: “This is a shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed.”
He claimed the Foreign Office had “negotiated against Britain’s interest” and it was “disgraceful that these negotiations started under our watch”.
Mr Tugendhat added: “Lord Cameron rightly blocked them only to see it back under David Lammy’s complete failure of leadership.”
But the Tories were responsible for starting the negotiations over the deal when they were in power.
Former foreign secretary Mr Cleverly opened talks on the sovereignty of the archipelago in November 2022.
ICYMI: Cleverly condemns Chagos Islands deal - which he initiated
13:30
Salma Ouaguira
James Cleverly has condemned Sir Keir Starmer as “weak, weak, weak” for handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius - despite having kicked off negotiations over the deal when he was foreign secretary.
After a barnstorming conference, which catapulted Mr Cleverly to second favourite in the Tory leadership contest, the misstep threatened to derail his momentum.
Our politics team has the full story below:
Reform MP accuses government of ‘undermining British interests'
13:20
Salma Ouaguira
Rupert Lowe has joined the Tories in criticising the government’s decision to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The Reform MP tweeted: “The British government is now actively undermining British interests overseas. A total surrender.
“Speaking to contacts in Gibraltar, they are incredibly concerned following the Chagos Islands capitulation - ‘the thin end of the wedge’...
“The message is loud and clear - this Labour government is a disgrace.”
Your Tory Party conference questions answered by John Rentoul
13:10
Salma Ouaguira
This year’s Conservative Party conference in Birmingham provides a pivotal moment for reflection and debate.
It stands in stark contrast to the 2023 gathering, when Rishi Sunak’s government made a series of last-minute policy announcements, including offshoring prisoners, cutting civil servants, and controversially scrapping HS2.
As the conference unfolds, our chief political commentator John Rentoul has been answering your burning questions on the leadership contest, the fallout from the election defeat, and more.
Practising Hindu Rishi Sunak was offended by Boris Johnson’s rhetoric
13:07
David Maddox
Rishi Sunak had to remind Boris Johnson over the impact of his language when the former prime minister was ranting about “sacred cows”, our political editor David Maddox reports.
The episode is candidly revealed in Mr Johnson’s new book ‘Unleashed’ where he describes a meeting with his cabinet.
He wrote: “‘Come on!’ I exhorted the assembled secretaries of state, at least twice. ‘It’s time to slaughter the sacred cows.’”
Mr Johnson said that after the second occasion Mr Sunak came up to have a word. But Johnson did not quite pick up on Sunak’s “diffident” challenge.
The former prime minister noted: “I said enthusiastically ‘I want a complete abattoir, a charnel-house, a total bovicide! It’s the only way to do it.’”
But Sunak pointed out: “Just remember that not everyone would choose to use that language.”
Johnson claimed that he “gawped” and then “twigged…he was speaking to me as a convinced and practising Hindu.”
13:06
Salma Ouaguira
Lammy says returning Chagos Island to Mauritius to close migration route
12:55
Salma Ouaguira
In a news release about the agreement, the government claimed handing over Chagos Island to Mauritius will close a potential illegal migration route.
The deal announcement comes after a period of negotiations that began in 2022 under the Tories.
The international court of justice (ICJ), the UN general assembly and the international tribunal of the law of the sea recognised Mauritian arguments for sovereignty in 2019 and 2021.
But the deal had not been reached until now.
Foreign secretary David Lammy said: “For the first time in more than 50 years, the status of the base will be undisputed and legally secure, following a political agreement between the UK and Mauritius.
“Without today’s agreement, the long-term, secure operation of the military base would be under threat, with contested sovereignty and legal challenges – including through various international courts and tribunals …
“Diego Garcia has also seen a small number of vulnerable migrants arrive since 2021, subsequently launching asylum claims. The agreement will shut down any possibility of the Indian Ocean being used as a dangerous illegal migration route to the UK, with Mauritius taking responsibility for any future arrivals.”
John Healey defends decision to hand over Chagos Islands
12:45
Salma Ouaguira
The defence secretary has defended the Labour government decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Mr Healey said: “This historic agreement highlights the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific. The UK-US base on Diego Garcia has a vital role in protecting our interests.
“By providing long-term sovereignty over Diego Garcia, this treaty secures continued operation of this major military base.”
This historic agreement highlights the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) October 3, 2024
The UK-US base on Diego Garcia has a vital role in protecting our interests.
By providing long-term sovereignty over Diego Garcia, this Treaty secures continued operation of this major military base. https://t.co/XLUSdqZQkY
Boris Johnson mostly ignores Liz Truss
12:31
David Maddox
There are only three mentions of Liz Truss in Boris Johnson’s book Unleashed even though she was one of his most senior ministers and took over from him as Tory leader and prime minister, David Maddox reports.
Ms Truss accounts for two brief mentions in her role as foreign secretary related to Afghanistan and Ukraine and a brief mention as his successor.
Mr Johnson though prefers to focus his ire on Rishi Sunak’s “Brutus” like behaviour in betraying him. He also blames Sunak for losing the Tories the election.
The former prime minister complained about Sunak “junking the agenda on which we were elected” in 2019, and “never mentioning the good things we had done” under his premiership including Brexit.
He notes: “Instead we had a few zany ideas like making maths compulsory for 18-year-olds.”
US President Joe Biden hails ‘historic’ UK-Mauritius agreement
12:29
Salma Ouaguira
Joe Biden has welcomed Britain’s agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a move to secure the future of a secretive military base in the Pacific Ocean.
The US President branded the deal “historic” and praised the UK government for securing “effective operation” of the US-UK joint Diego Garcia base.
In a statement, he said: “I applaud the historic agreement and conclusion of the negotiations between the Republic of Mauritius and the United Kingdom on the status of the Chagos Archipelago.
“It is a clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes.”
He added: “Diego Garcia is the site of a joint US-UK military facility that plays a vital role in national, regional, and global security.
“It enables the United States to support operations that demonstrate our shared commitment to regional stability, provide rapid response to crises, and counter some of the most challenging security threats we face.
“The agreement secures the effective operation of the joint facility on Diego Garcia into the next century.”
Record number of families living in temporary accommodation
12:20
Salma Ouaguira
A record number of families are having to live in temporary accommodation, new figures show, as councils warn their spending on emergency housing will rise by a third this year.
Some 117,450 households were living in temporary accommodation, such as B&Bs and hotels, in March 2024, which is the highest number since records began in 1998. This was up 12.3 per cent on the same period last year.
Of these, 74,530 were families with children - up 14.7 per cent year-on-year - and the number of children who have been living in temporary accommodation for five years or more has risen by more than 3,000.
Our social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft has the full story below:
Robert Jenrick hits at Starmer over Chagos Islands deal
12:07
Salma Ouaguira
The Conservatives have shared their anger after Sir Keir Starmer handed the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick was scathing about the British Indian Ocean Territory deal.
He said: “It’s taken three months for (Sir Keir) Starmer to surrender Britain’s strategic interests.
“This is a dangerous capitulation that will hand our territory to an ally of Beijing.”
UK to hand over secretive Chagos Islands to Mauritius in historic move
12:01
Salma Ouaguira
Britain has agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius to secure the future of a secretive military base in the Pacific Ocean.
The government on Thursday said it would recognise the sovereignty of Mauritius over the archipelago under a new agreement, which also secures the rights of Britain to operate a military base at Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years.
The Foreign Office said the status of the base will be undisputed and legally secure following a political agreement between the two countries.
You can read the full story below:
MPs accepting freebies while out of power ‘different’, minister claims
12:00
Salma Ouaguira
A minister has claimed accepting freebies in opposition is “different” to doing so in government as she attempted to explain why Sir Keir Starmer has paid back the value of some Taylor Swift tickets, but not thousands of pounds worth of other gifts.
Industry minister Sarah Jones suggested Sir Keir and other Labour frontbenchers were taking free tickets to concerts and festivals while in opposition to “build relationships” with businesses.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full story below:
Dominic Cummings conspired against me, says Boris Johnson
11:58
Salma Ouaguira
In his new book ‘Unleashed’, Boris Johnson has revealed hearing Cummings in an interview for the BBC admitting that he had been conspiring to bring him down as prime minister.
He explained that the former adviser had been conspiring against him from early January 2020, just weeks after the massive election victory.
Reacting to the revelations, Mr Johnson wrote: “I mean WTF?”
“You might have thought that the honourable thiing to do would have been to resign, if that was how he really felt,” he added.
Boris Johnson dismissed Barnard Castle row as 'lefty journalists angry over Brexit'
11:25
Salma Ouaguira
Boris Johnson has revealed how he originally dismissed the Dominic Cummings’ Barnard Castle row as “lefty journalists angry over Brexit”, David Maddox reports.
In his new book ‘Unleashed’, the former prime minister explained why he refused to sack his then-political adviser despite his infamous trip during the peak of the pandemic.
In his memoir, he claimed he had a “blazing row” with former colleague and friend Will Walden who urged him to sack Cummings.
But Johnson said he retorted: “The whole thing is a put up job. It’s just a load of lefty journalists who want payback for Brexit.”
Tony Blair: Kemi Badenoch is right ‘not all cultures are equal’
11:05
Salma Ouaguira
The former New Labour leader has agreed with Kemi Badenoch’s remarks that “not all cultures are equally valid”.
The Tory leadership hopeful faced fierce criticism after claiming that some cultures are more valid when it comes to deciding who should be allowed into the UK.
Despite the backlash, Tony Blair agreed and insisted people should “assimilate into the common values”.
He told Politico: “Your cultural space is a space rich in diversity where you can pursue your own culture in what you do and the celebrations you have and the ceremonies you have and the faith you have.
“All of that’s absolutely fine. But when it comes to basic rules about democracy or, for example in our country now, rules about the role of women or people who are gay being entitled to equality, that’s not up for argument.
“You integrate with those things and it’s really important because otherwise you end up with the situation where people often say multiculturalism failed. No multiculturalism didn’t fail. There’s not a problem with most communities in the UK.”
Andy Burnham tip-toes over Starmer’s gifts row
11:02
Salma Ouaguira
The Greater Manchester mayor has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer overstepped the bounds of rules around hospitality.
He was pressed on whether the prime minister repaying £6,000 in tickets and clothes meant he had accepted too many gifts.
Mr Burnham told Sky News: “I think everyone’s got to use their own judgement, haven’t they?”
He added: “I think he’s absolutely right to say, clearer rules are needed for everybody, so everyone knows exactly what’s expected.
“So, I think we’ve got to the right place here. And I think it will help all members of parliament.”
When asked if he would have taken freebies he said: “I’m not going to say that I’m holier than thou.”
ICYMI: BBC cancel Johnson interview after sending him briefing notes
10:50
Salma Ouaguira
The BBC has cancelled an interview with Boris Johnson after presenter Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sent the former prime minister her briefing notes.
Ms Kuenssberg, presenter of the BBC’s flagship Sunday political interview show, said she sent Mr Johnson the notes “in a message meant for my team”.
The BBC’s political editor between 2015 and 2022 said it was “embarrassing and disappointing”, adding the error meant it was “not right for the interview to go ahead”.
You can read the full story below:
Tony Blair tells Keir Starmer to ‘rise above’ donations row
10:35
Salma Ouaguira
And now Sir Tony Blair himself has commented on the row.
The former prime minister has urged Sir Keir Starmer to “rise above” the backlash and “get used to” the attacks.
He told a Politico podcast: “Dealing with politics at this level when you come under attack, which is, you know, it’s just the way it is. You’re going to have to get used to it.
“It’s going to be like that. But the single most important thing is always to have a driving purpose as a government.
“That is constantly rising above that because it will be, it is just part of modern politics today… It doesn’t worry me in, in terms of whether it can displace the overall [mission] of the government. But I agree you’ve got to deal with it and they’re trying to deal with it so, let them deal with it.”
Tony Blair’s strategist says donations row damages public perception
10:30
Salma Ouaguira
A former political secretary to Tony Blair was also on the morning media round discussing Sir Keir Starmer’s freebies row.
John McTernan said the problem was not rules being broken but the public perception.
The political strategist told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Politicians have to not only act by the rules, they have to act by community standards.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that voters are angry, the community’s angry, about what they see as double standards.
“The absolute fundamental rule of politics is the voters are never wrong. Rule one of politics is the votes are never wrong. Rule two, if you’re angry because you think the votes are wrong, please refer to rule number one.”
And voters’ anger has been noticeable in recent polls, with Sir Keir’s personal ratings dropping 45 points since July to -26, according to Opinium.
‘Right’ that PM is updating gift rules in ministerial code, says minister
10:13
Salma Ouaguira
Minister Sarah Jones has insisted that the prime minister has not “broken any rules” despite paying back £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality.
She told Sky News: “I think under the last government, the issue was always about transparency, people not declaring things, people not going by the rules.”
The industry minister added that Labour is considering the rules on freebies but they have been “incredibly busy”.
However, she added: “[The PM] is looking again at the principles around gifts and hospitality.
“That’s the right thing to do.”
Angela Rayner’s Ibiza DJ booth party revealed as £836 freebie
10:00
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner’s trip to an Ibiza nightclub where she was spotted partying in a DJ booth over the summer was a freebie worth hundreds of pounds, it has emerged.
In the latest register of MPs’ financial interests revealed on Wednesday, the deputy prime minister declared she received £836 worth of hospitality for a “visit to (a) DJ booth” at nightclub Hi Ibiza.
It was paid for by Ayita LLC, which is the agent of DJ Fisher, who she was filmed dancing with in footage of the event on 29 August that was shared on social media.
You can read the full story below:
Minister: Lord Alli ‘confident’ he has done nothing wrong
09:42
Salma Ouaguira
Business minister Sarah Jones has defended Lord Alli, claiming the Labour peer is “confident” he had done nothing wrong.
The fashion mogul is under investigation by the Lords’ commissioner over “alleged non-registration of interests” which could lead to a breach of the members’ code of conduct.
During the morning media round, she said: “He will completely cooperate with that investigation, of course, and he’s confident he’s registered everything in the way that he should have done.
“And that’s that, really. We need to let that investigation run its course.”
Tories challenge Labour ministers to follow Starmer and repay donations
09:35
Salma Ouaguira
With Sir Keir Starmer facing questions over ethics and transparency for accepting generous gifts, the Tories have not lost time in calling for more ministers to repay freebies.
The Conservative party said in a statement: “Day after day more and more comes out about the scandal at the top of Keir Starmer’s government. This scandal has become a complete distraction from the job of governing.
“It appears Starmer will only be transparent when his backs against the wall. This announcement today poses more questions than it answers. Why did Starmer take these freebies in the first place? Why haven’t Angela Rayner and other senior party members not paid back donations?”
The Conservatives have a lot of experience of donation scandals. The party had previously faced scrutiny under Boris Johnson over Tory donors and their alleged links to corruption.
Bank of England governor warns ‘more aggressive’ rate cuts coming
09:27
Salma Ouaguira
Interest rate cuts could become “more aggressive” sparking falls in the value of the pound, the Bank of England boss has warned.
He said the Bank could move towards a “more activist” approach and reduce borrowing costs if inflation remains in check.
The warning comes as the pound fell by nearly 1% against the US dollar and the euro – to 1.317 US dollars and 1.193 euros respectively.
Mr Bailey recently said the Bank would only lower rates “gradually”, with the Bank reducing rates by 5% from 5.25% in August, marking the first reduction since March 2020, after inflation returned to the 2% target.
Inflation has since edged back up to 2.2% and experts have been forecasting just one more rate reduction before the year end, to 4.75%.
But the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have inevitably shaken markets.
Steep rises in the cost of oil after Israel’s attempt to invade southern Lebanon have prompted Mr Bailey to monitor the situation “extremely closely”.
Mr Bailey told The Guardian: “Geopolitical concerns are very serious. It’s tragic what’s going on. There are obviously stresses and the real issue then is how they might interact with some still quite stretched markets in places.”
Labour minister claims freebies are ‘different when in government'
09:14
Salma Ouaguira
Industry secretary Sarah Jones has attempted to dismiss criticism towards ministers accepting thousands of pounds worth of gifts.
After admitting that she would investigate whether to repay a BBC’s Proms ticket, Ms Jones told Times Radio: “There is a difference between government and opposition when you’re building relationships in opposition.
“It’s different for when you’re a government minister with real levers of power. And we need to make that distinction.
She added: “There is this difference, I think, which is an important one between opposition and government.”
Labour MPs ‘scared for their jobs’ over their stance on Israel
08:58
Salma Ouaguira
Labour MPs who disagree with Sir Keir Starmer on the Israel-Palestine conflict are “scared for their jobs”, suspended Labour member Zarah Sultana has said.
The Jeremy Corbyn ally has been a fierce critic of Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza and championed for a full arms embargo to Israel in parliament.
Ms Sultana, who now sits as an Independent, said “many” Labour MPs agree with her stance but felt unable to go public through a fear of losing their jobs.
When asked how many Labour MPs agree with her views, she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Many do because we are seeing death of 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza. We are seeing death in Lebanon and we know the UK government could take a different route where it prioritised lives, treated them all equally and ended all arms sales.
“I think it’s deeply concerning that people aren’t willing to be public about that because they are scared for their jobs.”
Earlier on the programme, Nick Robinson said the BBC had contacted six sitting Labour MPs who were highly critical of Sir Keir Starmer over his stance on Israel, but added: “None would come on the programme as they said, and I quote one of the MPs we contacted, ‘it would cost us our jobs’.”
The former Labour MP received a six-month suspension in July alongside seven other members who rebelled against Sir Keir to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
ICYMI: Conservative Party leadership candidates final speeches in full
08:40
Salma Ouaguira
Labour vows to end ‘Tory chokehold on investment’ with major announcement
08:47
Salma Ouaguira
Labour seems to have a new weapon under its sleeve to turn opinion polls around.
The government is teasing a “major investment announcement” which Labour promises will “spark the creation of thousands of jobs and igniting growth in industrial heartlands of the UK”.
There are little details of what exactly the policy will be. But energy secretary Ed Milliband will make the big announcement tomorrow alongside the prime minister and chancellor.
Ministers promised that the mysterious changes will end “years of blockage and stagnation by successive Conservative governments, too mired in internal politics to seize the opportunities of the future”.
Starmer not in politics to be popular, says minister
08:24
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer’s personal ratings dropped while he was busy dealing with the row over ministerial donations.
A poll by Opinium revealed the prime minister’s ratings collapsed 45 points since July to -26 during the Labour conference weekend.
According to the survey, 24 per cent of voters approved of the job he was doing while 50 per cent disapproved.
Despite the damning results in only three months in government, industry minister Sarah Jones believes Sir Keir has nothing to fear.
Ms Jones said: “He is not going to be worrying about popularity. He hasn’t gone into politics to do that. But he is really clear that we need to build trust in politicians and politics.
“We are going to go govern in the way that we say we were, which is to drive up integrity, grow the economy and improve people’s lives, and make sure we listen to the public.”
Labour minister investigating whether she can repay Proms ticket back
08:02
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer’s move to repay more than £6,000 worth of freebies seems to have shaken a minister’s conscience.
During this morning media round, business minister Sarah Jones said she is investigating whether she can pay back a BBC Proms ticket she received as a gift.
The MP for Croydon West, told Times Radio: “If I looked at me being an MP for seven years, been to three events – one Selhurst Park, one the Capital Radio Summertime Ball which the owners LBC invited me to, and one was to the Proms.
“From a perspective of did I declare everything, was I doing this loads of times, was I kind of out and all the time taking freebies, was I giving anybody anything for these things? It was all completely above board.
“But if I look at it through the lens that the public is now looking at it and the question we’re talking about, for what purpose I’m going to those events, I’m not going to go to another event that I’m invited to.”
Asked if she will pay it back, Ms Jones said: “I’m not sure I could but I will certainly look at that, yeah. The issue of the Proms that I’ve been to, I am just investigating whether I could pay that back.”
WATCH | Which Tory leader came out on top at Conservative Party Conference?
07:55
Salma Ouaguira
Boris Johnson interview cancelled after Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sends notes
07:54
Salma Ouaguira
TV host Laura Kuenssberg has revealed she sent Boris Johnson briefing notes forcing the anticipated interview with the former prime minister to be axed.
The BBC’s political editor admitted the personal gaffe was “embarrassing and disappointing” and the error meant it “was not right for the interview to go ahead”.
Ms Kuenssberg tweeted on Wednesday: “While prepping to interview Boris Johnson tomorrow, by mistake I sent our briefing notes to him in a message meant for my team.”
The interview has now been scheduled for Sunday, when Mr Johnson will be grilled over his past leadership and his upcoming memoir ‘Unleashed’.
God morning
07:34
Salma Ouaguira
Welcome back to the Politics Blog.
The party conference season is over and while the Tory membership is busy choosing a new leader, Labour is trying to return to the normal routine of governing.
Sir Keir Starmer has ben splashed with spiralling criticism for accepting thousands of pounds in freebies.
The donations backlash followed him to Brussels, where he said it was “right” for him to repay more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality, including clothes donated by probed Lord Alli.
As the row rumbles on, we will bring you all the live updates and analysis throughout the day.
SKETCH | ‘Let’s be normal’ is now the rallying cry from a desperate Tory party
07:30
Salma Ouaguira
Finally, it was the climax of the week for the Conservative candidates; the chance to pose on stage with an audience of 1,900 and show their real selves. If only they hadn’t, writes Joe Murphy:
Axing two-child limit ‘most cost-effective move but no silver bullet on poverty’
07:00
Salma Ouaguira
Scrapping the two-child limit would lift more than half a million out of absolute poverty at an eventual cost to the government of £2.5 billion a year, but would “do nothing” for the poorest households caught by the remaining benefit cap, a think tank has said.
Doing away with the two-child limit would be the single most cost-effective way of reducing child poverty, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), but it said that such a policy change is “not a silver bullet”.
Scrapping both the two-child limit and the benefit cap would lift 620,000 children out of absolute poverty but would cost more than £3 billion annually, the organisation said.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been under pressure, since he came to power in July, to remove the two-child policy, and some of Labour’s own MPs were suspended after backing another party’s motion to do so.
The government has cited spending controls as a reason for not being able to immediately ditch the policy, indicating there would be no change to it without economic growth.
The two-child limit was first announced in 2015 by the Conservatives and came into effect in 2017. It restricts child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in most households.
In a new report setting out estimates for the costs and effects of scrapping different policies, rather than recommendations, the IFS said reversing the two-child limit would lift 540,000 children out of absolute poverty.
Watch: Tobias Ellwood rules out Britain attacking Iran after missiles fired
06:30
Salma Ouaguira
Two in five parents ‘educate disabled children at home due to lack of provision’
06:00
Salma Ouaguira
Nearly two in five parents have been forced to educate their disabled child at home because of a lack of suitable provision or funding, a survey has found.
A third (33 per cent) of parents of disabled children have had to go to tribunal to have their local authority agree to fund their child’s education, according to the poll for disability charity Sense.
Parents have been forced to give up their careers because their children’s needs are not being met, while others have had to spend their children’s savings to fight for support, the charity said.
The survey, of 1,001 parents and guardians of disabled children under the age of 18 in the UK, found 46 per cent struggled to get an education, health and care (EHC) plan in place for their child, and a similar proportion (45 per cent) said they had faced difficulties in getting the plan delivered.
The charity has estimated that around 200,000 disabled children in England are having problems getting the right support through an EHC plan.
An EHC plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support.
These plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.
The poll, which was carried out by Censuswide in September, found that 39% of parents said they have had to educate their disabled child at home as there is not the funding or the right education provision available to them.
The charity is calling on the government to set out an improvement plan for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) in its upcoming Children’s Wellbeing Bill.
Cleverly refuses to disown Truss tax chaos three times
05:30
Salma Ouaguira
Tory leadership contender James Cleverly refused three times to disown the economic chaos which took place under Liz Truss’ leadership after his plan to scrap stamp duty on house sales was likened to policies introduced by the former prime minister.
The pledge, which he said would cost £10 billion, was compared in a radio interview to the disastrous tax cuts introduced by Ms Truss’ government.
Mishal Hussain, host of BBC Radio 4 Today claimed the move was “the kind of thing” the former prime minister - who resigned just 49 days after taking office - had done.
You can read the full story below:
Councils warn Chancellor of widespread bankruptcies without funding boost
05:00
Salma Ouaguira
Councils say they are “staring down the barrel” financially, as new analysis suggests they will be limited to being “little more than care services” by the end of this Parliament without a boost to resources.
In another dire warning of the perilous state of local government finances, the study found that without extra funding, ministers will have to “radically rethink” councils’ statutory responsibilities, to prevent potentially six in ten county and unitary authorities in rural areas declaring bankruptcy by 2028.
Ministers have repeatedly warned of difficult choices because of a £22 billion black hole they say officials have discovered in the public finances, leading to concerns that Chancellor Rachel Reeves could stick with spending plans which would provide limited relief for under-pressure councils when she delivers her Budget on 30 October.
In its submission to the Budget and Spending Review, the County Councils Network (CCN) cited analysis showing all local authorities in England combined would experience a cumulative £54 billion funding shortfall over the five-year period of this Parliament, based on current projections.
For the 37 CCN councils, which serve nearly half of the population, the funding gap amounted to £20.3 billion.
The huge shortfall was identified as being largely driven by rising demand and costs in just three service areas: adult social care, children’s services and home-to-school transport for children with special education needs and disabilities (Send).
Together these services were found to account for 83 per cent of the total increase in projected costs by 2030.
Some savers charged at least £11,000 to withdraw cash from Lifetime Isas
04:30
Salma Ouaguira
The government is being urged to scrap Lifetime Isa penalties for first-time buyers in the autumn Budget as it emerged some savers are being charged at least £11,000 to withdraw their cash.
Lifetime Isas (Lisas) help people to save for their first home – if the property costs £450,000 or less – or their retirement.
Withdrawing cash for any other reason, unless someone is terminally ill, can trigger a penalty. Savers face a charge of 25% for making an unauthorised withdrawal.
Data obtained from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and published by money app Plum showed that in the tax year 2022-23 the average of the top 25 penalties paid for unauthorised withdrawals was £11,000.
The average of the top 25 withdrawals made was £44,000. Figures were rounded to the nearest £1,000.
Data released to Plum by HMRC under Freedom of Information (FOI) rules showed that in 2022-23 15,977 savers had to hand back £1,000 or more in penalties.
Some 6,139 savers were hit with penalties of £2,000-plus, while 851 were hit with penalties of £5,000-plus.
Half Tory members want party to merge with Reform, poll for Liz Truss’s thinktank reveals
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Salma Ouaguira
A new survey commissioned by a rightwing thinktank has suggested that 53 per cent of Conservative Party members would support a merger with Reform UK.
A huge 70 per cent said they would want a closer relationship with Nigel Farage’s party, the survey showed.
The poll, which was conducted between September 23 and 27, spoke to 470 Tory members by the rightwing Popular Conservatism (PopCon) organisation, which founded by disgraced former prime minister Liz Truss.
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Watch: Robert Jenrick admits his daughter’s middle name is ‘Thatcher’
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Salma Ouaguira
Exclusive: Rishi Sunak draws inspiration from Blair as he plans to stay involved in UK politics with his own team
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Salma Ouaguira
Read the full report from our political editor David Maddox:
