Terror attack victims to be honoured with National Day of Remembrance
Victims and survivors of terrorist atrocities will be honoured with a National Day of Remembrance, the Home Office has announced.
Dan Jarvis, the security minister, said the Government would seek opinions on how the day should recognise the suffering of victims and survivors of all terror attacks involving Britons.
A 12-week consultation will allow victims and the public to help decide tone, timing and scale. There is already a UN-backed international day of remembrance and tribute to the victims of terrorism, August 21.
Some survivors of terrorist atrocities – including Travis Frain, who was injured in the Westminster Bridge attack in 2017 – called for a national day to recognise that they were the innocent victims of violence directed at the state.
Mr Frain said: 'Recognition and remembrance are key to building societal resilience against violent extremism, and I welcome today's announcement…
'I'm pleased to see that this Government recognises the importance of these issues and the role that they can play in facilitating the recovery of those impacted by horrific acts of terrorism.'
Victim support hub
Mr Jarvis also announced that the Government would set up a dedicated support hub for victims and survivors, to ensure they had a single point of contact after a terror attack rather than having to seek help and present their case multiple times to different agencies.
Mr Jarvis said: 'The impact of a terrorist attack is long-lasting and evolving. Victims and survivors of terrorism need the highest levels of support to recover and rebuild their lives. These reforms will significantly enhance the support available to those affected.
'I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and courage of all those who helped to shape these reforms and pledge my commitment to ensuring victims and survivors of terrorism receive the support and recognition they deserve.'
Brendan Cox, co-founder of Survivors Against Terror, said: 'Survivors of terror attacks have been crying out for change for years. Today's double announcement is a major step forward in giving survivors and victims the recognition they deserve and the support that they need.
'Terrorists aim to divide and weaken our society. Our best response is to hold together, and stage one of that is looking after those who have suffered the most.'
The Government also pledged to enhance communication with victims, ensuring they know what support is available, and to improve support for children and young survivors.
The Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing the criminal injuries compensation scheme, through which victims of terror attacks seek financial help.
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The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘Too low, now too high': Rachel Reeves' winter fuel U-turn reignites fairness debate
As the government hikes the winter fuel payment threshold to £35,000, many Independent readers say the means test was too low last year – and is now far too high. The sudden shift has sparked frustration, confusion and claims of political opportunism. Many readers criticised the move as politically motivated, coming just days before a crucial spending review and following electoral losses and pressure from Reform UK. Several argued the new threshold is too high, with one pointing out that a £35k salary should not warrant government support, especially when many working-age families and the unemployed receive far less help. Others echoed the IFS and Resolution Foundation's concerns that the policy is poorly targeted and administratively messy, potentially creating unfair outcomes for households just above the income line. Some welcomed the return of payments for lower-income pensioners but questioned why the government scrapped them in the first place without a clear plan. Pensioners themselves weighed in too – some said they managed perfectly without the payments and felt younger families in poverty needed the support more. One commented: 'We are mortgage-free and have enough – give it to those who really need it.' The overall feeling from our community was that the government had acted too late and without transparency. The move was described as a 'headless chicken' reaction, lacking clarity on implementation, repayment, and future policy direction. Here's what you had to say: I expect both the Tories and the Lib Dems are hoping everyone's forgotten that they have both, at one time or another, called for either means testing the WFA or restricting it to pension credit claimants only. It was, in fact, in the Conservatives' 2017 election manifesto. For the Libs, it was one Paul Burstow MP, who had served in the coalition government. In both cases, the money saved was to be diverted to social care reform, which was a pretty good idea, I think. RickC Not a U-turn, just a high threshold It's not a U-turn. They brought in the concept of means testing the WFA and now they've raised the limit. A U-turn would be going back to universal WFA. Personally, I think they've set it far too high. I know plenty of families that would love to be earning £35k and getting guaranteed pay rises every year, plus money towards their fuel bill. KrakenUK Means test still not right Means test was too low before and is too high now – and should be based on household income. We're both pensioners with a joint income of close to £50k, no dependent kids, no mortgage. Added to this, we've got the protection of the triple lock. There is no way we need this money, whereas many young families do. WokeUp 4,000 lives at risk The enduring problem is that the government's own estimate said that 4,000 people would die of the cold if this policy was introduced. The excess deaths figures will not be published for another year and, in any case, are now very complicated. The question for me is: would I ever vote for people who were prepared to allow 4,000 old people to die because they don't understand economics? MrBishi We manage, give it to those who need it I've always said the same. We are mortgage-free, I'm on a state pension and get a small private pension. My wife, who is younger, still works part-time and gets around £600 per month. We manage perfectly. We know a lot of younger people who work and struggle with rents, children to keep, etc. Give it to them. Some pensioners out there are just plain greedy and want every penny piece they can grab. Ian Why should wealthy pensioners get it? I barely earn £35K as a 45-year-old professional in the NHS and certainly won't get that kind of money for a pension. Why should so many get a £300 handout when they've more than likely paid their mortgage and don't have to spend money on children, etc., any more? OnlyFishLeft Social care funding was the original point I expect both the Tories and the Lib Dems are hoping everyone's forgotten that they have both, at one time or another, called for either means testing the WFA or restricting it to pension credit claimants only. It was, in fact, in the Conservatives' 2017 election manifesto. For the Libs, it was one Paul Burstow MP, who had served in the coalition government. In both cases, the money saved was to be diverted to social care reform, which was a pretty good idea, I think. RickC Help paying the gas bill on £35k? Thirty-five grand coming in a year and you get help paying your gas bill? Truly outrageous. This suggests a person needs £35k a year, minimum, to live. So how about getting disabled people and the unemployed up to that rate then? Because they are far, far below. BigDogSmallBrain A compromise, but poorly communicated This sounds a more sensible compromise rather than going back to the old universal payment, but the government should have made this announcement last year so people would have been prepared for it, and it wouldn't have looked so much as if they were frightened of Farage. ruthmayjellings What if one earns over the limit? I suppose we will have to wait for the detail, but what happens if a couple claim the WFA (one per household) through the non-earning spouse, while the other has income over £35,000? That's not very clear. SteveHill Why not last year? Last year there was no money so they cut WFA and they can blame it on the Tories. This year the economy is in an even worse mess and they reinstate it, against all logic, and then they put the level far too high. No details as to how it will be paid for, how it will be recouped, nor how they will ID those who can get it and those who will have to pay it back. And if they suddenly found a system, why did they not use it last year? And I do not suppose the shellacking they got in May has anything at all to do with it, has it? Headless chickens, the lot of them — especially Reeves and Starmer. ListenVeryCarefully
North Wales Chronicle
39 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Winter fuel U-turn should have come a long time ago, Reeves told
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Monday that nine million pensioners will be in receipt of the payment this year after a cut was announced in the first weeks of the Labour Government last summer. The initial decision was met with heavy backlash and forced the Scottish Government to delay the implementation of its own devolved benefit. John Swinney's administration later announced a similar payment for pensioners which would be tapered and see those on the highest incomes receiving £100, compared to £305.10 for those on the least. Monday's announcement will result in cash being sent to the devolved administration at Holyrood, and Scottish Labour has urged the Government to increase its payments. But Scotland's Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the decision was 'a betrayal' of pensioners. 'I welcome any extension of eligibility by the UK Government, but this is a U-turn the Chancellor should have made a long time ago,' she said. 'But there is still no detail about how the Chancellor intends to go about that. Unfortunately, it still sounds as if many pensioners will miss out.' Ms Somerville added that the Scottish Government had not been consulted on the decision and urged UK ministers to 'ensure the Scottish Government is fully appraised of the proposed changes as soon as possible'. 'The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last week to urge the UK Government to share its plans with us as quickly as possible, so that we can understand any implications for our own programmes and, crucially, our budget,' she said. Scottish Labour MSP Paul O'Kane said: 'The winter fuel payment is a devolved payment in Scotland and Scottish Labour has long been clear that we want to see it reinstated for the majority of pensioners up here – but despite their loud spin, the SNP voted against our attempts to do so. 'The SNP must not go ahead with plans that would rob poorer pensioners in order to fund payments for millionaires. 'The SNP must re-examine their own proposals in light of this game-changing announcement, ensure payments reach those most in need, and give a cast-iron guarantee that no struggling Scottish pensioners will be left out of pocket under their plans.' The Scottish Government's plans were initially to provide a universal payment to pensioners, but the proposals were scuppered by the Chancellor's announcement of the cut last summer, forcing ministers to create a different system for this winter.
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Winter fuel payments U-turn welcomed but 'many pensioners could still miss out'
Holyrood has welcomed Westminster's winter fuel payment U-turn, but warned that many pensioners could still miss out. UK chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed on Monday that the UK Labour Government was planning a partial U-turn on the highly unpopular decision to cut winter fuel payments for nine million pensioners last year. A Scottish Government minister welcomed the changes, but slammed Reeves' decision to cut the winter fuel payment as a 'betrayal of millions of pensioners'. 'I welcome any extension of eligibility by the UK Government, but this is a U-turn the chancellor should have made a long time ago,' Scotland's social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said. 'But there is still no detail about how the chancellor intends to go about that. Unfortunately, it still sounds as if many pensioners will miss out.' Reeves insisted she had 'listened to people's concerns' as she announced changes to the threshold for winter fuel payments. 'It will be still means-tested, but at a higher level, we've listened to people's concerns around the level of the means test,' she said. 'Because of changes we've made and the stability we've brought back to the economy, we are able to increase that amount.' Reeves assured the country that more pensioners will receive winter fuel payments from this winter as part of the Labour Government's £1.25bn U-turn. All pensioners in England and Wales with an income of or below £35,000 per year will benefit from the revised inter fuel payment – equivalent to around nine million people. The changes will impact the amount of money that comes to Scotland for similar, devolved benefits. Following the announcement, the SNP have warned that the chancellor also 'must now abandon her devastating austerity cuts to disabled people – and scrap the two child benefit cap' – following her U-turn on the winter fuel payment. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn MP said: 'This screeching U-turn was inevitable and lessons must be learnt from the damaging mess the Labour government caused by robbing pensioners of their winter fuel payments. 'It must be swiftly followed by an end to all Labour Party austerity cuts – scrapping the planned cuts to disability benefits and abolishing punitive welfare policies, including the Labour government's two child benefit cap and bedroom tax. 'At the spending review on Wednesday, the Labour government must end its austerity cuts for good – and not impose even more cuts to families and public services.' Somerville also claimed that the Scottish Government had 'once again not been consulted' on Reeves' latest policy changes and the implications in Scotland. She urged the UK Government to ensure the Scottish Government is 'fully appraised of the proposed changes as soon as possible' so MSPs can understand 'any implications for our own programmes and, crucially, our budget'. Scottish Greens social security spokesperson Maggie Chapman added: 'The reinstatement of the winter fuel payment for some is a welcome move, but we must go further, the Labour government must end the two-child benefit cap, which hits working-class families the hardest, and they must reverse their cruel austerity policies. 'If Keir Starmer has any shame, he would finally call an end to [Reeves'] disastrous time as chancellor.' The chancellor cut the universal winter fuel payment funding shortly after taking office in 2024. More than nine million pensioners lost out on payments worth up to £300 after Reeves restricted eligibility for the pension top-up last year. The decision forced the Scottish Government to follow suit until it allocated alternative funding and announced the benefits would return in winter 2025. On Monday, the chancellor refused to apologise for causing 'unnecessary anxiety and hardship' to pensioners over her cuts. 'The irresponsible thing to have done last year was to allow the public finances to carry on on an unsustainable footing,' Reeves told ITV News. 'That would have resulted in interest rates going up, costing families and pensioners more in mortgages and rents.' She added: 'I'm always going to put stability in our economy first.' The Prime Minister's press secretary said the UK Labour Government was confirming the changes now to 'give people certainty and ensure the payments can be received in time for winter'. 'No pensioner will need to take any action as they will automatically receive the payment this winter,' she said on Monday. Reeves added: 'We will set out in the normal way, in the budget, how everything is funded, but no one should be in any doubt about my commitment to the fiscal rules to ensure that the sums always add up.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
