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The UK’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel has reportedly caused a rift between London and Washington.
On Monday, foreign secretary David Lammy announced that Britain would suspend the arms export licences amid a “clear risk” they could be used to breach international humanitarian law relating to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the supply of aid to Gaza.
The White House said it felt “let down” by the decision. “They assured us they wouldn’t do this,” a Washington source told the ITV’s political editor Robert Peston.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted furiously to the UK’s decision, describing it as “shameful” and “misguided”.
However, UK defence secretary John Healey defended the decision and said it would not have a “material impact” on Israel’s security.
It comes as chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to rule out a tax hike when facing Treasury Questions on Tuesday morning. She was asked if she could guarantee there would not be a heavier tax burden on pensions in the Budget.
Ms Reeves said: “I’m not going to speculate on what will be in the budget, but I’m absolutely determined to ensure that working people are better off”.
Key Points
- Chancellor Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out pensions tax hike
- Israel PM Netanyahu says UK decision to suspend arms sales ‘shameful’
- Boris Johnson says Starmer ‘wants Hamas to win’ in Israel war
- UK export licence suspension won’t have ‘material’ impact on Israel, UK minister says
- Tom Tugendhat launches leadership campaign and says voters deserve apology from Tory Party
Twelve dead after boat carrying more than 60 migrants sinks in Channel, French officials say
At least 12 people have died and others are feared missing after a boat carrying more than 60 migrants sank off the French coast, officials have said.
A major air and sea operation was launched on Tuesday after the boat got into difficulty off Gris-Nez point, close to Calais, plunging all those onboard into the water in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
“Unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open,” said Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel near the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where a first-aid post was set up to treat victims.
Both Mr Barbarin and Etienne Baggio, a spokesperson for the French maritime prefecture which oversees that stretch of sea, said rescuers recovered 61 people from the water.
Andy Gregory reports
Twelve dead after boat carrying more than 60 migrants sinks in Channel, officials say
Bottom of boat ‘ripped open’, plunging more than 60 people into the Channel, local mayor says
Joe Middleton3 September 2024 14:52 1725370240Former Labour frontbencher hits out as Starmer faces backlash over winter fuel cuts
A former frontbencher has hit out at the government’s plans to strip the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners as Keir Starmer faces a growing Labour backlash over the issue.
Melanie Onn has called on ministers to consider changes to the policy to ensure older people are “not left in the cold this winter”.
Her warning comes as pressure mounts on the prime minister over the decision to remove the allowance from 10 million people, after the regulator Ofgem announced household energy bills will rise by £150 in October.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports
Former Labour frontbencher hits out as Starmer faces backlash over winter fuel cuts
Melanie Onn has written to the chancellor asking her to consider measures to ensure older people are ‘not left in the cold this winter’
Joe Middleton3 September 2024 14:30 1725369340Watch: Tories turned into 'grumpy party', James Cleverly says in leadership bid
Tory councillor’s wife ‘did not break X rules’ with criminal social media post
A criminal social media post shared by the wife of a Conservative Party councillor “did not violate X rules”, users who reported it claimed they were told.
Lucy Connolly, 41, could be facing a “substantial” prison sentence for the post, in which she called for hotels housing migrants to be set alight and for “mass deportation now”.
The childminder pleaded guilty to publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred at Northampton Crown Court on Monday.
Athena Stavrou reports
Tory councillor’s wife’s criminal social media post ‘did not break X rules’
Elon Musk has let go of X’s entire moderation team during his tenure
Joe Middleton3 September 2024 13:45 1725366029Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms government capping corporation tax at 25 per cent
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the government will be capping corporation tax at 25 per cent , as part of a “tax roadmap for business” which will be set out at the Budget.
During Treasury questions, Ms Reeves told the Commons: “Investment is at the heart of this Government’s growth mission, alongside stability and reform, with robust fiscal rules and respect for economic institutions, the Government is building the confidence needed to deliver private sector investment.
“It is vital also that the tax system supports growth, and that’s why today I can confirm that at the Budget the Government will be outlining a tax roadmap for business, to offer the certainty that encourages investment and gives business the confidence to grow, including our commitment to cap corporation tax at 25% for the duration of this Parliament, and to retain full expensing.”
Joe Middleton3 September 2024 13:20 1725365655Jordan praises UK’s decision to suspend some Israel arms exports
Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, has praised the UK’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel and called on other countries to impose a complete arms embargo on the country.
Posting on X, he said: “The Uk did right to suspend some arms exports licenses to Israel. We urge an expansion of this suspension and call on all countries to impose a complete arms embargo on Israel. Unless consequences are real, Netanyahu will not end his aggression on Gaza and the West Bank, and will not stop violating international law and threatening the security of the whole region.”
Joe Middleton3 September 2024 13:14 1725364314Tory leadership hopeful Cleverly accuses foreign secretary Lammy of damaging UK’s relationship with Israel and US
Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly has accused foreign secretary David Lammy of damaging the UK’s relationship with the United States and Israel.
Posting on X in response to the government’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel, he said: “The Foreign Secretary has damaged two of our most important relationships at a crucial time - and it won’t have the impact he wants.”
Joe Middleton3 September 2024 12:51 1725364037MPs raise concerns about winter fuel allowance cuts
MPs have raised concerns about cuts to the winter fuel allowance, with one saying that 90 per cent of pensioners in Devon and Cornwall will be affected by the partial scrapping of the benefit.
Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay said that in his constituency in Devon that 21,000 pensioners will be impacted by the cut.
He said: “Whilst many of us would acknowledge that you were left with a massive financial challenge when coming into this House, one remains extremely concerned for residents who have reached out to myself and many colleagues with their major concerns about being able to make ends meet as we enter into the winter period. They have had no time to save for this, and therefore it’s a complete shock to them.
“What assurances can you give us that you’ll be supporting those who are most vulnerable, and if it’s failing to achieve this, what assurances can you give that you will scrap these proposals?”
In response, the chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the government was working with charities and local authorities to encourage pensioners who are entitled to the pension credit benefit to apply to do so, adding: “I want to ensure that the lowest income pensioners get the support that they are entitled to.
“Under the previous government, 800,000 pensioner households entitled to pension credit were not receiving it.
“That is why this Government is currently undertaking action to encourage uptake of the pension credit, to ensure that the poorest pensioners, those who are not even receiving that minimum income guarantee are getting it.”
Joe Middleton3 September 2024 12:47 1725362875Reeves defends winter fuel allowance payments for some pensioners
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended the decision to cut winter fuel allowance payments for some pensioners, as she said that it should be offset by increases to pensions and lower energy prices this winter compared with last year.
Ms Reeves said that the state pension was worth £900 more than last year, and that it will rise again next April under the triple lock, which guarantees it will rise by inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%.
Responding to questions in the Commons, she said: “We inherited a £22 billion blackhole from the previous government who made unfunded spending commitments with no idea how to pay them.
“When I became Chancellor I took an immediate audit of the spending situation to understand the scale of that challenge, and I made difficult decisions to put the public finances on a sustainable footing. They were tough decisions, but they were the right decisions.
“This includes the decision to make the winter fuel payment better targeted so pensioners who need it most, will get it alongside pension credits.”
Joe Middleton3 September 2024 12:27 1725362190Chancellor Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out pensions tax hike
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she will not be speculating on the Budget and refused to rule out heavier taxation on pensions.
Opening Treasury questions in the Commons, Ms Reeves said: “I understand that members from across the House will have questions on the tax system for me today, I remind them that tax announcements will be made in the Budget on October 30, alongside an independent forecast from the Office of Budget Responsibility.”
Shadow Treasury minister Nigel Huddleston said: “During the election, Labour promised on more than 50 occasions not to increase taxes on working people, do they recognise that working people have pensions too?
“And therefore can she give those people saving for the future peace of mind by confirming that they will not increase taxes on pensions in the upcoming Budget?”
Ms Reeves replied: “I’m not going to speculate about what will be in the Budget, but I’m absolutely determined to ensure that working people are better off.”
Joe Middleton3 September 2024 12:16 Newer1 / 4OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
