In Pakistani-administered Kashmir, security fears grow after Indian attack
KOTLI, Pakistani-administered Kashmir — More than a week after a ceasefire between Pakistan and India brought calm to this disputed borderland, the dead have been buried and much of the rubble cleared in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. But the subtler ways in which the fighting has changed the regional status quo are still emerging.
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Labour MPs in call for benefits U-turn after change to winter fuel payment cut
Labour backbenchers have called for a Government U-turn on planned disability benefit cuts, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves restored winter fuel payments to a majority of pensioners. Ms Reeves' £1.25 billion plan unveiled on Monday will see automatic payments worth up to £300 given to pensioners with an income less than £35,000 a year. It followed last year's decision to strip pensioners of the previously universal scheme, unless they claimed certain benefits, such as pension credit. Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East, warned ministers they risked making a 'similar mistake' if they tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payments, known as Pip. Leeds East MP Richard Burgon called on pensions minister Torsten Bell to 'listen now' so that backbenchers can help the Government 'get it right'. In her warning, Ms Whittome said she was not asking Mr Bell 'to keep the status quo or not to support people into work' and added: 'I'm simply asking him not to cut disabled people's benefits.' The pensions minister, who works in both the Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions, replied that the numbers of people receiving Pip is set to 'continue to grow every single year in the years ahead, after the changes set out by this Government'. In its Pathways to Work green paper, the Government proposed a new eligibility requirement, so Pip claimants must score a minimum of four points on one daily living activity, such as preparing food, washing and bathing, using the toilet or reading, to receive the daily living element of the benefit. 'This means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the Pip daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future,' the document noted. Mr Burgon told the Commons: 'As a Labour MP who voted against the winter fuel payment cuts, I very much welcome this change in position, but can I urge the minister and the Government to learn the lessons of this and one of the lessons is, listen to backbenchers? 'If the minister and the Government listen to backbenchers, that can help the Government get it right, help the Government avoid getting it wrong, and so what we don't want is to be here in a year or two's time with a minister sent to the despatch box after not listening to backbenchers on disability benefit cuts, making another U-turn again.' Mr Bell replied that it was 'important to listen to backbenchers, to frontbenchers'. Opposition MPs cheered when the minister added: 'It's even important to listen to members opposite on occasion.' Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin warned that 'judging by the questions from his own backbenchers, it seems that we're going to have further U-turns on Pip and on the two-child benefit cap'. The Tunbridge Wells MP asked Mr Bell: 'To save his colleagues anguish, will he let us know now when those U-turns are coming?' The minister replied: 'What Labour MPs want to see is a Labour Government bringing down child poverty, and that's what we're going to do 'What Labour MPs want to see is a Government that can take the responsible decisions, including difficult ones on tax and on means testing the winter fuel payment so that we can invest in public services and turn around the disgrace that has become Britain's public realm for far too long.' Conservative former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey had earlier asked whether the Chancellor, 'now that she and the Government have got a taste for climbdowns', would 'reverse the equally ridiculous national insurance contribution (Nic) rises, which is destroying jobs, and the inheritance tax changes, which is destroying farms and family businesses'. Mr Bell said: 'This is a party opposite that has learned no lessons whatsoever, that thinks it can come to this chamber, call for more spending, oppose every tax rise and expect to ever be taken seriously again – they will not.' Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey pressed the Government to make changes to the two-child benefit cap, which means most parents cannot claim for more than two children. 'It's the right thing to do to lift pensioners out of poverty, and I'm sure that both he and the Chancellor also agree that it's right to lift children out of poverty,' the Salford MP told the Commons. 'So can he reassure this House that he and the Chancellor are doing all they can to outline plans to lift the two-child cap on universal credit as soon as possible?' Mr Bell replied: 'All levers to reduce child poverty are on the table. 'The child poverty strategy will be published in the autumn.' He added: 'If we look at who is struggling most, having to turn off their heating, it is actually younger families with children that are struggling with that. 'So she's absolutely right to raise this issue, it is one of the core purposes of this Government, we cannot carry on with a situation where large families, huge percentages of them, are in poverty.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Britain will lead the world in new nuclear golden age
Whatever your political stripe, it is clear that energy security is a crucial responsibility for any government. Today's announcements by this Government – that we are embarking on the biggest expansion of new nuclear power in over half a century – speak to that central imperative. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the cost of living crisis that followed for both families and businesses, showed how vulnerable we are as a country because of our dependence on fossil fuels. This challenge of energy security and the demands of the climate crisis mean that it is in our interests to shift as fast as possible to clean, homegrown power. The demand for that power is expected to at least double by 2050. That's why we need all the clean, homegrown sources that we can get to meet the demands we face. New nuclear is a crucial source of firm, baseload power. Sixteen years ago, when I was the Energy Secretary, I identified eight potential sites for new nuclear, one of which was Sizewell. When we left government in 2010, I assumed that one of my coalition or Conservative successors would get the project over the line – but they didn't. It has taken until 2025 for a government to allocate the funding required to make the project happen. Today, we are setting aside £14.2bn to fund Sizewell C – so we can power the equivalent of around 6m homes with clean, homegrown energy that we control. Sizewell C will support around 10,000 jobs at peak construction and support thousands more nationwide, as well as creating 1,500 apprenticeships. The company has already signed £330m in contracts with local companies and will boost supply chains across the UK with 70pc of contracts predicted to go to 3,500 British suppliers. Good industrial jobs from Sheffield to Derby, Scotland to South East England, paid at high wages. To progress the plant, we are securing a funding model that fairly spreads upfront costs between industry, government, and consumers. We are also backing a new form of nuclear technology in the UK – small modular reactors (SMR). These offer a huge industrial and jobs opportunity for our country and could help fuel heavy industry and data centres across Britain. We will announce the outcome of the small modular reactor competition imminently – helping us to get ahead in the global race to lead in this new technology, with an ambition to deploy one of the first SMR fleets in Europe. The Government is also looking to provide a pathway for advanced nuclear technologies to be deployed in the UK. Taken together this represents a new golden age for nuclear – the biggest building programme in a generation. Once SMRs and Sizewell C come online this, along with Hinkley Point C, will deliver more new nuclear to grid than over the previous half century combined. As we drive forward on nuclear, we are determined to lead the world in the technologies of the future. We are ramping up spending on nuclear fusion research – with over £2.5bn of funding this parliament, including helping progress a fusion power station on the site of a former coal-fired power plant at West Burton. We are choosing to go big on nuclear, as part of our Plan for Change to invest in Britain's future, rather than accept the decline of recent times. This is what the Chancellor's Spending Review is all about: renewing the country with investments and projects that will produce jobs, prosperity and put more money in working people's pockets. For too long, Britain has not made the investments we need in energy and other critical national infrastructure. That is where this Government, led by the decisions of the Prime Minister and Chancellor, is different. We are choosing to double down on Britain's strengths and invest in the future – boosting our energy security, creating good jobs, unlocking new export opportunities and driving growth. There is another crucial thing this drive for new nuclear does – it supports our energy security and protects our home for the future by shifting away from reliance on fossil fuels. I believe it is a cherished value of many Telegraph readers to protect the things we treasure from generation to generation. Our countryside and way of life face a grave threat from the climate crisis. Clean power is about investing in future generations, with jobs and opportunities. It also gives us the chance to leave a safer, more prosperous legacy for future generations. That's why our drive to new nuclear is the right thing for today and for the future of our country. Ed Miliband is the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
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Ed Miliband turns to nuclear power as blackout fears rise
Ed Miliband is to pump billions of pounds into a nuclear power renaissance to keep Britain's lights on. The Energy Secretary will on Tuesday commit £14.2bn to building two giant reactors at Sizewell, Suffolk, capable of providing 6m homes with electricity regardless of low winds and dark winter days. The heavy investment comes as fears rise that Mr Miliband's rush to build wind and solar farms is leaving the grid too exposed to the weather and vulnerable to outages. Over-reliance on intermittent renewables could even threaten blackouts of the kind that hit Spain in April, say experts. Nuclear generation is a reliable source of so-called baseload power, the minimum amount of demand on the grid. Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Miliband said the announcement marked a new 'golden age' for the British nuclear industry. He said: 'This challenge of energy security and the demands of the climate crisis mean that it is in our interests to shift as fast as possible to clean, home-grown power. 'The demand for that power is expected to at least double by 2050. That's why we need all the clean, home-grown sources that we can to meet the demands we face. New nuclear is a crucial source of firm, baseload power.' The money is in addition to the £3.6bn pledged by the previous Conservative government. It means Sizewell C is to receive a total of £17.8bn in public money between 2022 and 2029, with more to follow. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor is set to confirm the funding at the GMB Congress later on Tuesday ahead of the Government's spending review. Ms Reeves is to hand out £300bn more in public spending than was proposed by the Tories, following a record £40bn tax raid last year. The NHS is expected to receive an additional £30bn, meaning it will be among the biggest winners. An extra £113bn is also earmarked for infrastructure projects. However, day-to-day spending will be squeezed, with a real terms rise of 1.2pc in the next three years – down from 2.5pc in the last two years. Unprotected departments will face real terms cuts. A post-Brexit farming fund is expected to be reduced in size. There have also been clashes over police funding and social housing. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, became the last Cabinet minister to settle with the Treasury on Monday, following heated discussions that sources said had raised fears she might resign. As well as billions for Sizewell C, it is also expected that one of Europe's first programmes building small modular reactors (SMRs) will be confirmed. Partly built on production lines by engineering giants including Rolls-Royce, it is hoped these smaller and much cheaper nuclear power stations will allow Britain to more quickly replace the older plants that must be decommissioned in the coming years. Taxpayers will also contribute £2.5bn to a five-year investment in fusion research, which aims to unlock the nuclear reaction which powers the sun as a source of clean and cheap power on Earth. Nuclear power is seen as increasingly vital to protect Britain's power grids after the shutdowns of all its coal-fired power stations and the looming closures of many of the nation's 35 or so large gas-fired power stations. Such traditional 'thermal' power stations generate electricity by making steam that spins turbines. The rotating masses of metal are vital to stabilise the voltage and frequency of the power supplied to the grid – which is highly sensitive to even tiny fluctuations. In the UK, however, nuclear has always proved to be far more expensive than other sources of electricity. This is why, despite the UK opening the world's first commercial nuclear power station in the 1950s, no new nuclear plant has opened in the UK since 1995, with all of the existing fleet except Sizewell B likely to be phased out by the early 2030s. Energy analyst Kathryn Porter warned the UK was committing itself to an outdated and expensive reactor design at Sizewell C. She said: 'It's hard to imagine a 'golden age' of nuclear power with EDF's outdated and troubled reactor design. EDF in France is already looking to the next generation – building another of these older versions is a retrograde step. 'It's also highly unlikely that Sizewell C would be built faster than Hinkley given the lengthening of supply chains.' The costs for Hinkley Point C, under construction in Somerset, have risen from around £20bn to at least £42bn with some experts warning the final bill will come close to £50bn when it starts operating around 2031. Such unpredictable construction costs have made it difficult for the Government to find any companies willing to invest in Sizewell C. EDF, the French state energy company which is building Hinkley, has progressively reduced its stake in Sizewell C leaving the Government holding 84pc. Officials have been seeking foreign state investment including from the United Arab Emirates. Mr Miliband still refuses to divulge the estimated final cost of Sizewell C and negotiations with prospective partners are thought to still be under way. The best estimates to date suggest the power station will cost about £40bn. The money will come initially from the Treasury but it and other investors will recover the construction costs via a new levy, known as the Regulated Asset Base, to be added to consumer and business energy bills. The Government has claimed that this will initially cost only £12 per household per year, but experts say this would raise far less than needed – so the amounts are likely to increase, driving up energy bills. Andrew Bowie, Conservative shadow energy spokesman, said nuclear power offered a reliable and continuous source of electricity essential to balance the intermittency of renewables like wind and solar. 'We need to move to a lower-carbon electricity system that includes wind and solar. 'But we do not have the electricity storage capacity needed for times when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. Nuclear will give us reliable baseload electricity to stabilise the system.' Richard Tice, Reform's energy spokesman, was also broadly supportive but criticised Mr Miliband for delays around commissioning SMRs as well. 'We need to accelerate our nuclear plans, but why is the Government being so slow to progress cheaper SMRs that can be delivered faster?' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
