Latest news with #CharmOffensive
Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- Times
How could the vote on welfare reform play out?
Sir Keir Starmer faces one of the most challenging days of his premiership, with dozens of Labour backbenchers poised to rebel over his government's welfare reforms. The prime minister had hoped that a huge U-turn — protecting all existing benefit claimants from the changes, at a cost of £3 billion — would be enough to stave off a mass revolt. That looks increasingly unlikely, however, as many backbenchers still have reservations about how the proposals will hit future claimants. Starmer will embark on a charm offensive on Tuesday in an effort to win over the rebels. How could the day play out? The charm offensive works. By engaging directly with the rebels — something Starmer has been criticised for failing to do — the prime minister and his team succeed in whittling down their numbers to a dozen or so on the left.
Bloomberg
27-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
China's Premier Courts Asean, Gulf States as Trump Tariffs Bite
Chinese Premier Li Qiang rallied a group of Southeast Asian and Gulf states to deepen cooperation, as the Asian nation ramps up its charm offensive abroad to counter US efforts to isolate the economy. 'We should firmly expand regional opening up and develop a big market,' Li said at a meeting with leaders from Southeast Asia and the Middle East in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. 'We should effectively manage differences in the spirit of mutual understanding.'
