Latest news with #'sQuestions
New European
13 hours ago
- General
- New European
Has Reform's newest MP already gone off message?
Pochin, elected as MP for Runcorn and Helsby in May's by-election caused by the nocturnal activities of Mike Amesbury, asked her first question of Keir Starmer today – and it took a turn which few, least of all her leader, seemed to anticipate. Has Sarah Pochin, Reform's newest MP, gone off-piste already? It certainly seemed so from a first-ever appearance at Prime Minister's Questions which was unlikely to have been signed off by Nigel Farage's office. 'Given the prime minister's desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he, in the interests of public safety, follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others and ban the burqa?'. Farage's face, which was staring towards the chamber's ornate ceiling, was not caught by cameras. For, for all his many, many faults, overt Islamophobia is one rabbit hole he has studiously avoided getting sucked down – less, perhaps, for ideological reasons than for seeing how an obsession with it once he stepped down as UKIP leader damaged that party's standing (when, in 2017, the party's general election manifesto included a ban on face coverings, leader Paul Nuttall endured the best part of week fielding questions as to whether it would apply to beekeepers' outfits). Pochin already looked a slightly troublesome choice, being a former councillor with the dubious distinction of having been kicked out of both the Conservative and independent groupings on Cheshire East council since being first elected in 2015. Keir Starmer, for his part, had some fun with Parliament's newest MP, asking whether she would tell her new leader that 'his latest plan to bet £80 billion of unfunded tax cuts with no idea of how he is going to pay for it is Liz Truss all over again – although considering I think she was a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, she probably won't'. But might Pochin be a bet Farage is already having gambler's remorse about?
The National
7 days ago
- Politics
- The National
How will Keir Starmer's insulting U-turns play with Scottish voters?
Probably not. Just a month back, Anas Sarwar's party was the bookies' favourite in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on June 5, prompted by the tragic death of former SNP minister Christina McKelvie. But a week ago Ladbrokes was offering 8/13 on an SNP victory with Labour second and Reform UK third. Then came Keir Starmer's Winter Fuel Payment U-turn at last week's Prime Minister's Questions. It was creaking, grudging and conditional, promising only to look at reversing cuts for some but not all pensioners in the autumn. There was no apology. No plausible explanation of the volte-face. But it happened. So, have voting intentions changed again in this volatile seat? There's been no fresh polling evidence, but Starmer's U-turn seems to have been drowned out by more local developments. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (left) and candidate Davy Russell (Image: Gordon Terris) Labour's candidate Davy Russell got an endorsement from Sir Alex Ferguson, but that was rapidly eclipsed by a weird photocall at a Larkhall go-karting centre where the candidate and Sarwar were pictured holding hands in separate go-karts they were not actually driving. As The Times wryly noted: 'Spin doctors doubtless had good grounds for fearing a 'Labour by-election crash' headline. But the alternative was hardly more appealing: 'Labour, going nowhere'.' That strange media launch followed Russell's surly refusal to join an STV debate with rival candidates on the grounds he'd 'rather be out chapping doors'. STV's political editor Colin Mackay observed that the broadcast was scheduled for 10.40pm and 'if he is chapping doors [at that time], he's likely to get chased'. Russell's no-show at another No Cuts Lanarkshire husting this week (along with Reform's Ross Lambie) prompted the Tory candidate to pull out. And heavily edited social media posts appear to confirm that Russell has no gift of the gab. How much of this filters through to voters? It's hard to say. READ MORE: By-election hustings chaos as Tory candidate walks out over Labour no-show But a party sometimes finds itself swimming against a powerful incoming political tide. The SNP faced one during the Rutherglen and Hamilton West Westminster by-election in October 2023, when Nicola Sturgeon's resignation as party leader hung over proceedings along with the Operation Branchform arrest, and the bad-tempered leadership contest. The outgoing former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier had been suspended from the Commons for breaching Covid restrictions, prompting Scotland's first recall petition which was signed by almost 15% of a seriously scunnered electorate. And, of course back in 2023, Labour were a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed opposition party promising big change. The night of his victory, Labour MP Michael Shanks was ecstatic, along with Scottish Labour heavyweights who had pretty well camped out in the constituency for months. They saw it as a bellwether seat – an indicator of victory in the forthcoming General Election. And they were not wrong. Labour retained the seat in Rishi Sunak's snap election last July when SNP numbers were whittled down from 48 to just nine MPs and Shanks quickly became an energy minister, touting the hard-to-spot GB Energy headquarters in Aberdeen as evidence of Labour's commitment to Scotland. Labour Energy Minister Michael ShanksLabour's honeymoon didn't last long thanks to the jaw-dropping Winter Fuel Payment betrayal, but amazingly it still looked set to win the accompanying Scottish Parliament seat, Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse. But the earth-shaking English local elections seem to have changed everything here even though no Scottish council was involved. Why? Because Starmer suddenly looks like a loser who's put the UK on track to elect a right-wing demagogue who plans Trump 2.0 for Britain if he's elected in 2029. For many progressive Scots this is unthinkable. And it's happened on Labour's watch. Even if Reform's local victories have been oversold by a hysterical pro-Brexit press, those papers won't let up and that omnisceptic right-wing press will stoke the Farage electoral machine till they get their man over the line. So, since Labour was (weirdly) ahead in Hamilton despite the Winter Fuel Payment cuts, their reversal is hardly likely to be game-changing. Au contraire. READ MORE: John Curtice gives his verdict as Hamilton by-election looms Starmer's explanation for the Winter Fuel Payment u-turn is laughable and simply draws attention to the bad faith of the original decision, the automaton-like nature of the Labour leadership and the Chancellor's austerity-inducing insistence that her precious fiscal rules matter above all else. That policy has now clearly failed. But in the absence of an alternative, it still stalks the Commons like a zombie mantra. Why should Scottish voters back the same party – all at sixes and sevens–- in a Scottish Parliamentary election? Even if Starmer's Westminster Winter Fuel Payment U-turn impressed a few Hamilton voters, it won't get processed in time to help pensioners this winter. Six months, it seems are not enough to turn the creaking leviathan of the British state around. By contrast, the SNP's Scottish substitute payment – a means-tested alternative, providing some cash to all pensioners in Scotland – should be ready to roll by November. Compare and contrast. And Labour's welfare whoopsadaisy doesn't end with the Winter Fuel Payment payment. Starmer has apparently told Cabinet ministers he now wants to scrap the two-child benefits cap. 'It's the best and most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty. The alternatives cost more and are less effective,' one anonymous minister said. For crying in a bucket. Everyone and their aunty has been screaming this at Starmer for the best part of a year and he's paid absolutely no attention. To hear this trite unapologetic statement of the bleedin' obvious now is worse than insulting. So, Holyrood and the SNP will likely get the credit for defending the vulnerable against a hard-faced Labour Westminster government forever badged as benefit snatchers just as Thatcher was forever badged a milk snatcher for ending free school milk. This kind of meanness sticks. And there's more. Labour MPs are now threatening to rebel over Labour's intention to cut disability benefits. How on earth can those cuts go ahead after U-turns on Winter Fuel Payment and the two-child cap? If they do go ahead it will be blatant persecution of the disabled. If they don't, Rachel Reeves's sacred fiscal rules are stone deid? Heads the SNP win, tails Labour lose. No part of its 'cruel to be kind' stance has lasted a single year. It makes Labour look rudderless, pointless and weak. And leaves the SNP looking pretty strong. After plenty of unforced policy errors, it looks like the SNP were as instinctively right on the Winter Fuel Payment and two-child benefit cap as Labour were instinctively wrong. And that doesn't get changed by a shabby, eleventh-hour U-turn. And what about Labour's sudden realisation that Israel's prime minister Netanyahu IS actually committing genocide in Gaza (maybe) – something the SNP's Stephen Flynn urged the Commons to recognise last February. READ MORE: Row erupts on BBC Debate Night over 'racist' Reform UK ad Once again, the SNP was instinctively right about something it has taken Labour one year and a horrific catalogue of deaths to (almost) accept. While continuing to rubberstamp weapons exports to Israel at three times the rate of the Tories, of course. I'd be amazed if stuttering, partial policy reversals help Labour win the Hamilton by-election next Thursday. But if they don't win that battle, might Scottish Labour yet win the war – the Scottish Parliament elections next May? As the last month demonstrates, party fortunes can change dramatically – but that's especially true for Scottish Labour whose fortunes north of the border are umbilically linked to personalities and policy decisions south of it. Turnout next week may be low, the SNP may struggle to inspire after two decades in power and a viable independence strategy looks as far off as ever. But with Reform snapping at Starmer's heels and the Tories out for the count, there's never been a better time for the SNP to push boldly forward.
Scotsman
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Demand for police to have stop and search powers extended to halt youth knife crime 'epidemic'
Justice Secretary Angela Constance has branded the call for tougher measures to tackle knife crime being revived as 'misplaced'. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... SNP ministers have been urged to expand police stop and search powers to tackle Scotland's youth violence 'epidemic' as the Justice Secretary insisted her government will 'redouble our efforts' to end the crisis. The Scottish Conservatives have pointed to 13 alleged knife attacks on teenagers over the past two months, including two fatal incidents, and called on John Swinney to abandon what the opposition party branded a "weak and reckless" approach and take decisive action before more tragedies occur. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay delivering his speech at the Novotel in Jane Barlow/PA Wire The calls from Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay follow comments from David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, who said that existing stop and search powers are insufficient to combat knife crime. In the last year, Police Scotland has confiscated around 900 weapons through stop and search powers, including more than 200 items from people aged 17 or younger. Mr Findlay has claimed that the SNP's weakening of the justice system, with more serious crimes referred to the children's panel rather than being prosecuted in court, is failing victims. The Tories claim this so-called 'soft-touch' approach means that there are often no consequences for those who commit serious crimes, thereby removing any deterrent which is fuelling violence. During a heated exchange at last week's First Minister's Questions, John Swinney denied this was the case. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Findlay has claimed that even where cases are prosecuted, criminals aged under 25 are less likely to be jailed due to the Scottish Government's sentencing guidelines, which the Scottish Conservatives have called to be scrapped. He said that Mr Swinney needs to show some "common sense" and expand stop-and-search powers to give frontline officers the powers they need to protect the public. He said: "Decisive and prompt action must be taken to stop the growing epidemic of youth violence, especially involving knives. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Stop-and-search powers need to be extended immediately while a fundamental rethink is required of the SNP's weak approach which fails victims and fuels violence. "John Swinney should listen to frontline officers who know how to get this crisis under control and prevent more young lives being needlessly lost. 'Tougher stop and search powers would help police to prevent violence, protect young people and keep the public safe. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'These powers are merited because this is a matter of life or death.' Mr Findlay added: 'In the longer term, John Swinney should show some common sense by recognising that his weak approach is sending a dangerous signal to young offenders. "Too many young criminals think they can do whatever they want without any consequences for their actions, and it is usually other young people who pay the price.' SNP pledge to 'redouble' efforts Speaking yesterday, SNP Justice Secretary Angela Constance, hit back at calls for past measures to tackle violence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Justice Secretary Angela Constance's remarks about building consensus on ways to improve the low conviction rate for rape are welcome (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images She said: 'When we look at what has changed in the lives of young people, it's really important that we don't focus on the arguments of the past or approaches of the past that have not worked. 'Some of the rhetoric around discipline, around being tougher or we need a tougher justice system, I would suggest is misplaced. 'What families want is interventions that work. The earlier interventions made, the better.' Amid concerns over youth and community work being cut, Ms Constance pointed to austerity of public funding from Westminster and insisted the Scottish Government was 'focusing on the priorities of prevention and public protection'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad READ MORE: Scotland must urgently get a grip on growing problem of weapons in schools She also warned that it was important to acknowledge a change in behaviour in some young people. Ms Constance said: 'Despite the progress that has been made in the past 1 years or so to make Scotland safer, there is a change for some young people - the majority of young people are law-abiding - so we do need to redouble our efforts. 'I think the rise in violent crime amongst young people is complex. That means that there will be more than one solution. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We did begin to see changes around 2019/20. It is important that changes in behaviour in schools and in our communities is acknowledged - that we don't avoid that or try and bury that.' Labour MSP Pauline McNeill | Getty Images Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson, Pauline McNeill, said: 'We need urgent action to tackle the devastating rise in youth violence but it's clear the SNP is still in denial about the scale of this crisis and its driving causes. SNP accused of failure to take responsibility 'Angela Constance has refused to take responsibility for her government's role in this crisis and the devastating effects of the SNP's cuts to youth work services. 'Cuts to youth work, the drop in police officer numbers, the pressure on our justice system, the chaos in our schools and the long waits for CAMHS have all contributed to this problem. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We owe it to the next generation to deal with the youth violence crisis and keep young people safe – the SNP must acknowledge their mistakes and support these key services.' The legal framework for police to carry out stop and search in Scotland states the powers should be used where lawful, necessary and proportionate. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Stop and search powers should be used where lawful, necessary and proportionate. Their use in individual cases is an operational matter for Police Scotland. 'Police do use stop and search, and it is one tool to tackle violence alongside a range of other measures such as prevention and education.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire | PA Speaking at the Scottish Police Authority board meeting last week, Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Jo Farrell, said that 'reducing violence and preventing the harm it is causing continues to be an absolute priority' for the force. Mc Farrell stressed that stop and search was 'a really valuable policing tactic to remove weapons from pockets'. She added: 'To provide a sense of stop and search, in the last year we had around 40,000 recorded stop and search incidents and about one in four has a positive return, with over 900 weapons recovered as part of that. Of those 900 weapons, over 200 were recovered from people aged 17 or under.
Business Mayor
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Keir Starmer makes U-turn on winter fuel payments
Unlock the Editor's Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Sir Keir Starmer announced a U-turn on the government's highly unpopular cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners, as he faces calls from former premier Gordon Brown to spend £9bn on alleviating child poverty. The prime minister and chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday bowed to pressure from Labour MPs to reverse course on winter fuel payments after the party suffered a series of humiliating defeats in English local elections this month. Meanwhile Brown called for an end to the two-child benefit cap — which would cost £3.5bn a year — as part of a £9bn plan to address child poverty, a cause shared by many Labour MPs. Government insiders said options to address the issue were being discussed. With the public finances under severe strain, Reeves is struggling to comply with her fiscal rules and is heading for an autumn Budget in which she will be expected to spend more to help children and pensioners. Tax rises of up to £4bn were proposed in a memorandum from deputy prime minister Angela Rayner's office as an alternative to spending cuts ahead of Reeves' Spring Statement in March. Starmer on Wednesday refused to rule out tax increases in the Budget. Starmer announced the U-turn on winter fuel payments at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, saying: 'We want to ensure that as we go forward more pensioners are eligible.' 'We will look at that as part of a fiscal event,' he added, saying that he would look specifically at the threshold at which pensioners are eligible for the winter fuel payments to widen participation. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch demanded to know whether the changes would be in place ahead of winter and how pensioners who lost the benefit would have it reinstated. The government has faced anger over its decision last July to axe £1.5bn in winter fuel payments for about 10mn pensioners. The benefit is worth either £200 or £300 a year. Reeves announced the policy shortly after taking office, saying it was necessary to help fill a £22bn 'black hole' in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government. The cuts limited the winter fuel payments in England and Wales to pensioners who receive means-tested pensions credit — meaning it was removed from people with incomes over £11,800 a year or £18,000 for a couple. Analysts said widening the eligibility for winter fuel payments would be a conundrum for officials, because there was no simple way to identify households with income just above the cut-off for pensions credit. The government's retreat on winter fuel payments contrasts with a determination by ministers to press ahead with cuts of £4.8bn to sickness and disability benefits. Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said the current system was 'not sustainable or fair', although she was 'listening carefully' to concerns. Government insiders said if Starmer and Reeves put together a package to alleviate child poverty that would help them sell the cuts to welfare benefits. 'That's what the parliamentary party want,' said one. However, one Labour MP said plans to reverse course on the winter fuel payments policy would fuel a campaign by backbenchers to persuade the government to row back on its disability benefit cuts. Read More POLL: Should Stamp Duty be slashed? 'We know the numbers that are against the wider benefit cuts is well over 160,' the MP added. Brown, in a speech on Wednesday, called for £9bn to be spent on relieving child poverty, partly funded by taxes on online gambling and banks. He blamed previous Conservatives decisions and 'the long tail of austerity' for the poverty. Starmer's government has so far resisted pressure to scrap the two-child benefit cap put in place by the previous Tory government. Ministers are examining a number of options that would potentially reduce child poverty without having to scrap the two-child benefit cap entirely, according to government insiders. Changes being looked at include exempting those aged under five from the cap. Others would involve exempting children with at least one parent in work as part of an effort to encourage more people into employment. Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group charity, said the two-child benefit cap was 'the elephant in the room'.
Spectator
21-05-2025
- Business
- Spectator
Kemi's best PMQs yet
Kemi Badenoch was on good, brutal form at Prime Minister's Questions today. Keir Starmer had tried to spike her guns by using a planted question to tell the chamber at the start that as the economy improved, he wanted to see more pensioners eligible for winter fuel payment. But the Tory leader still managed to make Starmer – and his party – look uncomfortable. Her most potent line was a taunt: 'He can't see them, but they all look sick just hearing what it is he's going to do.' Enough Labour MPs have expressed worries about the government's policies on benefits, immigration and aid that her accusation rang true, even though some of Starmer's backbenchers theatrically laughed at her. The Tory leader did try with her opening question to keep defending her party's record, which was a misstep: she was so busy reacting to the criticism of the Conservatives in Starmer's earlier answer that she didn't major on the announcement that voters were more interested in: the winter fuel payment policy change.
