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Labour are U-turning it up

Labour are U-turning it up

Winter fuel cuts? Two child benefit gap? Rachel Reeves' fiscal rules? Angela Rayner?
The team discuss what will stay and what will have to go for Labour in the coming weeks and months, and where Nigel Farage is lurking to capitalise on Labour and Tory struggles.
Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton and Rachel Cunliffe.
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Farage would plunge UK into 'Liz Truss doom loop' - 10 times he praised ex-PM
Farage would plunge UK into 'Liz Truss doom loop' - 10 times he praised ex-PM

Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mirror

Farage would plunge UK into 'Liz Truss doom loop' - 10 times he praised ex-PM

The Reform UK leader has repeatedly heaped praise upon the former Tory PM - whose disastrous mini-budget crashed the economy and sent mortgages spiralling Nigel Farage would lock Britain into a "Truss-style doom loop", Labour warned last night. The Reform UK leader has repeatedly heaped praise upon the former Tory PM - whose disastrous mini-budget crashed the economy and sent mortgages spiralling. ‌ And today Labour' chair Ellie Reeves accused Reform of plotting £80billion of unfunded spending commitments - and said Mr Farage's poor judgement was "crystal clear." ‌ "Praising Liz Truss once could have been a mistake," she told the Mirror. "But the evidence shows he's a Trussite and now wants to inflict her economic chaos on Britain once again." On the day of Ms Truss' mini-budget, September 23 2022, Mr Farage declared it "the best Conservative budget since 1986." ‌ And even a year on - after the full damage caused by the mini-budget was clear, Mr Farage continued to praise its architect. "I absolutely, 100% believe in her," he declared in an article about an event she held at the 2023 Tory conference. He said there was much to "admire" about Ms Truss not being afraid to "fight for radical change". ‌ And as recently as May, he failed to include Ms Truss in a list of Tory leaders who "broke Britain" in a Reform party leaflet. Ms Reeves added: "It turns out the only way Reform want to reform our economy is by locking us into a Truss-style doom loop, with working people picking up the bill." 10 times Nigel Farage praised Liz Truss 'Today was the best Conservative budget since 1986' - X, 23 September 2022. 'This is the Great British growth rally, starring Liz Truss ... there is a genuine buzz here ... even more importantly, it's the message. It's about helping small business, reducing taxes, and actually getting growth ... I've got to tell you, this is more exciting than anything happening in the conference hall - Youtube, 2 October 2023. 'I absolutely, 100 per cent believe in her', said Nigel Farage, speaking about Liz Truss at Tory Party Conference in 2023 - Telegraph, 2 October 2023. 'In rhetorical terms, I loved it…it was all there…if this was the first, not the thirteenth year of Conservative government, I would have given it three cheers', Farage wrote about one of Liz Truss' speeches as Prime Minister - Telegraph, 5 October 2022. Mr Farage said, of Truss's mini-budget, "Kwarteng was right to cut taxes. Of course, he was right. Right to set up investments zones…and yes, taking a risk - increasing borrowing to do it.' - Express, 29 September 2022. 'Thank goodness Liz Truss now backs onshore gas exploration. She is miles better than Johnson already" - X, 8 April 2022. 'Interesting Daily Mail campaign on VAT-free shopping for tourists. Kwasi wanted to do that. He and Truss did have some good ideas' - X, 24 April 2023. 'Farage said there was much to 'admire' about how Truss was not afraid to 'fight for radical change' ... I think this woman has shown - in some areas - she is prepared to show up, take the abuse and fight for radical change and that I do admire.' - HuffPost, 2 October 2023. 'Truss may well have been a late convert to all of this but hey that's what she stood up and said so I welcomed much of the budget.' - YouTube, 8 February 2023. Failed to include Liz Truss in a list of Tory leaders who 'broke Britain', suggesting he backs her disastrous policy platform - HuffPost, 13 May 2025.

Fury as Labour minister suggests Brits on the dole can turn down job offers they do not like
Fury as Labour minister suggests Brits on the dole can turn down job offers they do not like

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

Fury as Labour minister suggests Brits on the dole can turn down job offers they do not like

WELFARE Minister Alison McGovern was slammed last night after saying people on benefits will not be forced to take 'any job' offered to them. Under the last Tory government, people on the dole had to look for work and take up a role if a jobcentre found them one. 2 But MsMcGovern hit out at the policy and suggested that under Labour those on the dole would be able to pick and choose what job they take before having their benefits taken off them. She told The Guardian: 'The Tories used to talk about ABC: 'Any job, Better job, Career'. 'I think that if you think about the career [first] … If we can get people into an NHS job where they're more likely to move on and move up, then that is far better for them.' Tory shadow welfare chief Helen Whately hit back: 'The mask has slipped - and it's the same old Labour. 'Those who can work, should work. To do otherwise is unfair to them, unfair to the taxpayer and unfair to society which pays the spiralling cost of worklessness. 'It's one of the biggest problems facing the country. But with the employment minister telling people not to worry about getting a job, we know the Government hasn't got a grip.' 2 Last night, the government slapped down Ms McGovern - saying there was no change in policy and that jobless Brits on benefits must take work if offered it. A Government source said: 'There's no change in policy. The rules remain the same: jobseekers have to be actively seeking work and they have to take up reasonable job offers. 'The Tories ran down job centres and locked millions of people out of work. "This Labour government is changing the way job centres work to help more people into secure, well-paid jobs.'

Labour plots ‘family bathtime tax' on water bills
Labour plots ‘family bathtime tax' on water bills

Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Telegraph

Labour plots ‘family bathtime tax' on water bills

Labour has opened the door to 'progressive' water bills that would force those with larger family homes and gardens to pay more. Ministers have said they support utilities companies trialling new tariffs that charge the heaviest users of water a higher rate. Some firms are also pushing for a move to a seasonal pricing system, which would mean it costs more to use water in the summer than the winter. Combined, the changes would disproportionately hit the bills of families with children and of households with gardens and swimming pools. The Tories said the 'punitive' plans would hit young parents hardest, accusing Labour of allowing a 'tax on bathtime' and 'waging war on family homes'. It comes after England experienced its driest start to spring for almost 70 years, with the Environment Agency declaring a drought in the North West. Water companies are lobbying ministers to give the green light to the use of new tariffs, which they say will reduce bills for most households and cut consumption. They want to be able to switch to a model of 'progressive' pricing, whereby families that use the most water are charged the highest prices. Under the system, also known as rising block tariffs, the rate people are charged per litre increases at intervals in line with their usage. Such a system would have to be underpinned by the rollout of smart meters to all homes so that companies could monitor their water usage in real time. Around 60 per cent of homes in England are currently metered, but the vast majority of those have a conventional meter from which periodic readings are taken. The Government estimates that only 12 per cent have smart meters, which are connected to the internet and provide data directly to the utility company.

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