The Prime Minister has a London problem
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
44 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Starmer endorses UN's high-tax manifesto
Labour has paved the way for higher taxes on the wealthy, alcohol and fossil fuels by signing Britain up to a new United Nations pact. Ministers have endorsed the global agreement, which calls for greater environmental levies and 'gender-responsive taxation'. The UK's participation represents another break with Donald Trump, who pulled the US out of the deal over concerns about its provisions on tax. It comes after Rachel Reeves warned that taxes may have to be increased again in the autumn to plug the hole left by Labour's welfare rebellion. The Tories warned that Sir Keir Starmer was deliberately making it 'harder for a future government to reverse Labour's tax rises'. Known as the Sevilla Commitment, the UN agreement was thrashed out between 192 countries at a five-day summit in Seville, Spain, last week. While ostensibly focused on drumming up more development cash for poorer states, the final text of the deal contains 42 references to taxation. 'High net worth' There are specific mentions of taxes on 'high-net-worth individuals', as well as tobacco and alcohol, natural resources and pollution. Britain also signed up to a series of declarations on the side, including one that promotes higher taxes on unhealthy products such as sugary drinks. Gareth Davies, the shadow Treasury minister, accused Labour of 'outsourcing tax policy to organisations that don't reflect the priorities of the British people'. 'People want to see their taxes reduced and simplified, not increased and complicated to fund vacuous virtue signalling by global elites,' he said. 'This will only make it harder for a future government to reverse Labour's tax rises.' The commitments in the deal are not legally binding, meaning that they could not be used to force through the adoption of domestic tax policies. But critics warned that signing up to the pact shows the Government was locking Britain into a permanent course of ever higher taxation. One part of the pact encourages the 'broadening of the tax base', including a crackdown on the 'informal sector', which includes cash-in-hand payments. Elsewhere it says that signatories will 'promote progressive tax systems' and 'enhance efforts to address tax evasion and avoidance by high-net-worth individuals and ensure their effective taxation'. 'We will also promote effective and equitable government spending,' the text adds. In some passages the deal suggests specific tax rises that countries should introduce. 'We encourage effective taxation of natural resources that optimises domestic revenue,' it states, a reference that could cover North Sea oil and gas. 'We will consider introducing or increasing taxes on tobacco and alcohol, as a non-distortionary tax source with a clear potential to increase domestic revenue and reduce the risk factors of noncommunicable diseases,' another section adds. Elsewhere, the agreement says that countries should consider the environment, biodiversity, climate, and food security when setting their budgets. 'While respecting national sovereignty, options may include, but are not limited to, green budgeting, taxation and fiscal rules; and taxes on environmental contamination and pollution,' it states. One part of the deal says that signatories will 'promote gender-responsive budgeting', as well as 'advance discussion on gender responsive taxation'. A senior UN official said that the commitment 'outlines what to do with every kind of money – national, international, public, and private'. The agreement comes amid fears that Ms Reeves is lining up a series of fresh tax raids in the autumn as she struggles to fill an estimated £30 billion black hole. Labour MPs are openly pushing for new wealth taxes, while 'sin taxes' on alcohol, sugary and salty foods, and gambling could also be considered. Donald Trump pulled the US out of talks on the pact last month, with the White House warning that the proposed text 'crosses many of our red lines'. The US president had objected to tax measures in the deal and also wanted the references to climate, gender equality and sustainability removed. Alongside the main deal the UK also signed up to several declarations drawn up during the five-day conference in Seville. One is titled 'Accelerating Health Taxes: The 3 by 35 Initiative' and promotes a World Health Organisation bid to increase levies on alcohol, tobacco and sugary drinks. It included a commitment to 'broaden political and societal support for health taxes'. Another, called the 'Coalition for Tax Expenditure Reform', focuses on efforts to remove what it calls 'harmful' and 'ineffective' tax reliefs.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Kneecap chants ‘f*** Keir Starmer' in another foul rant just days after sparking police probe at Glastonbury
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RAPPERS Kneecap called out Keir Starmer for saying the group should be banned from Glastonbury Festival. The hip-hop group, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, spoke at London's Finsbury Park today - a week after performing at Glastonbury Festival. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Kneecap chanted 'f*** Starmer' on stage in London's Finsbury Park on Saturday Credit: Getty 6 'They tried to stop us playing Glastonbury, and they f*****g couldn't,' Kneecap said Credit: Getty 6 A big crowd attended the gig Credit: PA 6 PM Keir Starmer said the Irish trio should be banned from performing at Glastonbury Credit: Reuters It came after the PM told The Sun on Sunday last month that the Irish trio should be banned from the music festival after a band member was charged with a terror offence. Rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh told the crowd yesterday: 'Keir Starmer gave an interview with The Sun saying we shouldn't be playing Glastonbury - so f**k Keir Starmer.' 'F**k Keir Starmer - you're just a s**t Jeremy Corbyn.' Bandmate Naoise O Caireallain added: 'We appreciate all of this f*****g mad energy that we are getting in Finsbury Park. 'Look, they tried to stop us playing Glastonbury, and they f*****g couldn't. 'They tried to stop us playing in Cornwall, and they f*****g couldn't stop that either." Sir Keir Starmer told The Sun last month that it was 'not appropriate' for the Irish group to cash in at the festival. Og O hAnnaidh, 27, who goes by the stage name Mo Chara, appeared in court last month, accused of displaying a flag in support of banned terror group Hezbollah at a gig. He was bailed until later in the summer — leaving him free to play at Glastonbury. Asked by The Sun on Sunday if he thought Kneecap should play at Glastonbury, the PM said: 'No I don't. Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls for Glastonbury to axe Kneecap from the line-up 'I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won't say too much, because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.' During Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury, the group took to the stage and led a "free Palestine" chant before leading five chants against the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Bobby Vylan - frontman of English punk-rap duo Bob Vylan - chanted "death, death to the IDF" and other alleged anti-Semitic slurs on the West Holts stage last Saturday. The BBC were slammed for broadcasting performance on live TV, including by PM Keir Starmer himself. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed on Monday that cops are investigating Kneecap and Bob Vylan after video and audio footage was examined. Posting on X, the force said: "Video footage and audio from Bob Vylan and Kneecap's performances at Glastonbury Festival has been reviewed. "Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken. "A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation. "This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage." The force confirmed that it had received a "large amount" of contact from across the world about the controversial performances. The Sun has contacted Avon and Somerset Police. 6 Fans during Kneecap's gig in London Credit: AP
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Labour warned to fix trust as well as raising living standards to defeat Reform
The government has so far followed through on only 1 in 3 of its pledges to rebuild trust in politics, according to a new report from campaign group Unlock Democracy Labour hasn't made its first year count when it comes to restoring trust, campaigners say on the anniversary of Keir Starmer 's general election victory. The government has so far followed through on only 1 in 3 of its pledges to rebuild trust in politics, according to a new report from campaign group Unlock Democracy. Released as Labour marks its first year in office, the 'report card' follows the British Social Attitudes survey finding trust in government has fallen to new record lows in the last year. Tom Brake, Director of Unlock Democracy, commented: 'Trust is the lifeblood of democracy - and right now, it's almost entirely drained away. What limited action the government has so far taken has failed to stem the bleeding. 'Labour must move beyond rhetoric and deliver on its pledges to rebuild public trust in full.' Unlock Democracy gave Labour's move to scrap hereditary peers full marks against promises made in its manifesto. But the group expressed disappointment that the government's Elections Bill - which presents an opportunity to fix much of the issues around trust in the political process - has been delayed, possibly into next year. The report calls for Labour to act on tightening restrictions on MPs second jobs, gifts and freebies and lobbying rules. And it warns Labour's prospects of re-election may hinge on restoring public trust - with improvements to living standards not being enough to halt the rise of Reform UK. Mr Brake added: 'Without urgent, visible action to clean up Westminster and modernise our institutions, Labour risks deepening the crisis in mistrust it promised to solve.'
