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Changes to UC & PIP payments in full as Labour reveals bruising welfare bill concessions in bid to quell rebellion

Changes to UC & PIP payments in full as Labour reveals bruising welfare bill concessions in bid to quell rebellion

The Suna day ago
BRUISING concessions to the governmnent's welfare plans are being laid out by Welfare Secretary Liz Kendall following a humiliating u-turn.
Changes to Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit are being spelled out to MPs ahead of a crunch vote tomorrow.
1
But Sir Keir Starmer is facing a fresh backlash as 150,000 people will still be pushed into poverty by the end of the decade despite his benefits u-turn.
Dozens of Labour rebels are yet to be convinced to back the Downing Street proposals despite the number being affected nearly reduced in half.
The staggering estimate is less than the original forecast of 250,000 extra people left in relative poverty once their housing costs have been stripped out.
But the current figures don't include any possible 'positive impact' from extra funds going in to support people with disabilities and long-term health issues.
The Prime Minister faced a major revolt with 126 of his Labour MPs threatening to wreck his flagship legislation and throw it out.
Labour MP Nadia Whittome said: "Even with the concessions, the government's own analysis forecasts that 150,000 people could still be pushed into poverty by disability benefit cuts by the end of the decade.
'As Labour MPs, we didn't enter politics to make struggling constituents poorer. We must stop this Bill.'
But he made a partial u-turn allowing personal independence payment changes to only apply to new claimants from November next year.
The same applied to Ministerial plans on the health-related element of Universal Credit.
But the changes mean Chancellor Rachel Reeves will have to find more cash to meet the savings, first thought to be £3 billion.
It comes after the u-turn on winter fuel payments which will leave a £1.5 billion hole in the public finances.
The Labour leadership are still engaged in talking to the rebels to vote for the bill even though big changes were made.
Backbench MP Clive Efford who has been a Labour MP since 1997 said he would still oppose welfare plans despite major concessions.
When asked if he had changed his mind to back the government, he said: 'No, I've not, I'm afraid.
'There are still £3.5bn worth of savings that are required in these measures and we don't yet know the poverty impact that they will have.'
A No 10 spokesman said: 'The broken welfare system we inherited is failing people every single day.
"It traps millions, it tells them the only way to get help is to declare they'll never work again and then abandons them.
'No help, no opportunity, no dignity and we can't accept that. For too long, meaningful reform to a failing system has been ducked.'
The terms of reference for a comprehensive review of the Pip payments led by Welfare Minister Sir Stephen Timms will also be set out. But it will not report for another year.
It will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and MPs.
Sir Keir Starmer said last week that the changes now strike the 'right balance' despite the government earlier saying there will be no u-turns.
He said: 'The most important thing is that we can make the reform we need.
'We talked to colleagues, who've made powerful representations, as a result of which we've got a package which I think will work, we can get it right.
'For me, getting that package adjusted in that way is the right thing to do, it means it's the right balance, it's common sense that we can now get on with it.'
But despite the concessions Mikey Erhardt, from Disability Rights UK, last week accused the Government of 'playing politics with our lives', saying the vote next Tuesday must still be pulled.
He said the changes will mean 'a benefits system where future generations of disabled people receive less support than disabled people today'.
He added that the original decision 'prioritised balancing its books over improving the lives of disabled citizens'.
Mr Erhardt added: 'Despite seemingly rowing back on some of the worst aspects of its plans, the Government is still attempting to slash billions of pounds from a system that doesn't provide enough support as it stands.'
The MS Society said Ministers were simply 'kicking the can down the road and delaying an inevitable disaster'.
They urged MPs 'not to be swayed by these last-ditch attempts to force through a harmful Bill with supposed concessions'.
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Major British bank with five million customers set to be sold to high street rival after days of speculation
Major British bank with five million customers set to be sold to high street rival after days of speculation

The Sun

time31 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Major British bank with five million customers set to be sold to high street rival after days of speculation

A MAJOR British bank with five million customers is set to be sold to a high street rival after days of speculation. Santander have agreed a deal to acquire TSB from Sabadell for a whopping £2.65billion. 2 2 The bank beat British rival Barclays which also put in a formal bid for the Sabadell-owned unit, according to sources. Santander intends to integrate TSB in the Santander UK group, meaning it would become the second largest bank in the country by personal current account balances. However, the final transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and Sabadell shareholder approval. The full transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. TSB already boasts a nationwide network of 218 branches and outlets, and a growing digital presence. It serves approximately 5 million customers, primarily in the personal and small business segments, with £34 billion in mortgages and £35 billion in deposits. But with the latest buyout news, TSB combined with Santander would serve nearly 28 million retail and business customers nationwide. And TSB customers will also have access to Santander's international network in a massive boost. This means they can benefit from the group's leading technology platforms. The latest acquisition appears to be another win for Santander as the company strengthens its position in one of its core markets. It comes as Sabadell, which bought TSB in 2015 for £1.7bn, is seeking to fend off an billion-pound hostile approach from its domestic rival BBVA. Santander has in the past year entertained bids from both NatWest and Barclays for its UK retail arm - but ultimately rejected both offers due to disagreements over price. Ana Botín, Banco Santander's executive chair, said: "The acquisition of TSB represents a continuing strategic commitment to our customers in the UK, offering a compelling opportunity that is financially attractive to our shareholders and aligned with Santander's long-term objectives. "It strengthens our franchise in a core market through the acquisition of a low-risk and complementary business that adds to our diversification. "We are creating a stronger and more competitive business across key products such as personal current accounts where the combined business will become the second largest bank in the UK by market share. "The transaction will accelerate our path to greater profitability in the UK and helps achieve a return on tangible equity of 16% by 2028. "The acquisition also reflects our commitment to growing profitably through disciplined capital allocation. This acquisition meets our goal of achieving a return on investment above 20% and EPS accretion from year 1, while consuming limited capital and having low execution risk. "Furthermore, the transaction will not affect Santander's existing distribution policy and 2025 targets.' Meanwhile, CEO of Santander UK, Mike Regnier said: "This is an excellent deal for customers combining two strong and complementary banks, creating one of the most substantial banks in the UK and materially enhancing the competitiveness of the industry. 'At Santander UK we have momentum in our strategy to become the best bank for customers in the UK by investing in technology and service and improving our processes and efficiency. "This deal accelerates our transformation allowing us to enhance our customer proposition and invest more in innovative products and our digital offering, supported by the human touch service so many appreciate, not least in our new branch formats and enhancements across the country. 'We are fully committed to ensuring a seamless integration, by leveraging our market leading technology and significant experience. "Maintaining the highest levels of service for customers across both banks will be a key priority and we will support all colleagues through the transition, as we invest in building a stronger bank for the future'.

Palestine Action spraying paint is not terrorism. As ministers abuse their powers, I feel a duty to speak out
Palestine Action spraying paint is not terrorism. As ministers abuse their powers, I feel a duty to speak out

The Guardian

time32 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Palestine Action spraying paint is not terrorism. As ministers abuse their powers, I feel a duty to speak out

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The Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems also operates on UK soil, and our government has lucrative bilateral deals with the company. As far back as 2022 the then home secretary, Priti Patel, held a meeting with Martin Fausset, the CEO of Elbit Systems in the UK, to discuss how to deal with Palestine Action. The definition of terrorism as laid out in the Terrorism Act of 2000 is clear, and includes 'serious damage to property'. Does spraying red paint on to metal constitute serious damage? The condemnation of this spraying of red paint on to planes as expressed by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, does not appear to be matched by any equivalent condemnation by her of red blood sprayed on to the tented walls of Gaza. So yes, crimes concerning damage to property have been committed, but there are already laws in place to deal with them. Labelling these as terrorism only serves to deepen the UK government's complicity in the war crimes being committed in Palestine. In a further act of desperation, efforts have been made to try to undermine the motives of Palestine Action by making a tenuous link to Iran, with unnamed Home Office sources telling newspapers it is investigating the group's finances. Smear campaigns such as this are part of a wider policy by government to intimidate and clamp down on dissent. I have had a small taste of this myself. On 18 January, I attended a rally in Whitehall organised by Stop the War – and noticed immediately that the tactics of the police that day seemed to be markedly different. Present in their thousands, they were already kettling people at the start of the event, and behaving in a manner that seemed aggressive and provocative. The march to the BBC, which had been planned to protest against its coverage of the conflict, had been prohibited by the Met at short notice, and the gathering was confined to Whitehall. I was asked to join a group of about 12 people who would form a symbolic delegation, and request passage through police lines to reach the BBC. There we planned to lay flowers at the door. Reaching the police lines, after some hesitation and resistance, an officer allowed us through. Shortly after that, however, our progress was curtailed by another police line. It was here that I saw at close hand the disproportionate tactics used by police. I witnessed further vanloads of police arriving in the area, kettling peaceful protesters and making numerous arrests – 77 in total that day. Three weeks later I was sent a letter from the Met threatening me with charges under section 14 of the Public Order Act. I then faced a three-hour police interview, before being told after several weeks (and several thousand pounds of legal fees) that I would face no further action. Over the past 21 months, I have met many hundreds of people who come out – often travelling long distances – to protest against this genocide. Old people and young, people of every faith, race, generation and ethnic identity. They come in horror at the brutality being inflicted on the population of Gaza. And many of those in our midst are Jewish. But still we are accused by lobby groups of antisemitism. This I disregard; I am married to a Jewish man, whose mother was a refugee from Hitler's Vienna. She escaped just in time in 1938 as a refugee, and most of her family were subsequently wiped out in the Holocaust. My children define themselves as Jewish, and we have many beloved Jewish friends, all of whom are appalled by the activities of Benjamin Netanyahu, his government and the Israel Defense Forces. These Jewish friends are people driven by compassion, humanity and a sense of right and wrong that will not yield to intimidation. In Gaza, the world is watching the most heinous acts of violence that I have witnessed in my lifetime. It is as if the skin has been ripped off the face of humanity to reveal terrifying depths of sadism and depravity. I am intensely aware of this thought: I do not want to find myself at the end of my life looking back at this time regretting that I could have done something and didn't – that I was too frightened to speak out, or to act. Palestine Action and its supporters will have no such regrets. Our current British government, however, may well. Juliet Stevenson is an award-winning actor Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Two arrests after Palestine Action claims blocking Israeli defence firm UK site
Two arrests after Palestine Action claims blocking Israeli defence firm UK site

The Independent

time37 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Two arrests after Palestine Action claims blocking Israeli defence firm UK site

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