UK ministers are exploring a major reform of the tax system, potentially devolving billions of pounds in business rates to regional mayors. The move aims to give local leaders more control over tax revenue, reward economic growth, and address regional inequality, with proposals expected in the upcoming budget.
Andrea Jenkyns, Reform mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, walked out of a meeting with Communities Secretary Steve Reed and other mayors after a heated debate about social media's role in exacerbating community tensions following the murder of Henry Nowak. Jenkyns argued for freedom of speech, while others blamed foreign actors and political exploitation.
Labour leader Keir Starmer is facing internal pressure to resign after a tumultuous week of resignations and speculation about his leadership. Despite no formal challenge, allies and MPs are reportedly discussing replacements, with Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham seen as potential successors.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed admits PM Keir Starmer is unpopular but warns Labour against repeating the Tories' leadership change pattern, citing instability and poor electoral outcomes, urging unity behind Starmer despite mounting resignation calls.
PM on the brink with Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood believed to be among those urging him to set out a timetable for departureStarmer on the brink as cabinet ministers urge him to quitGood morning. “Stories beat spreadsheets,” Keir Starmer declared in his speech yesterday. But yesterday was a day when the spreadsheets had the upper hand. Most news organisations were using them to keep a track of Labour MPs who were coming out and calling for Starmer’s resignation and, after his speech in the morning, the numbers started to escalate. Here is the LabourList one; by the end of last night they were on 77.The sort of names on the spreadsheets changed too. Initially it was mostly leftwingers calling for the PM to go, with the Andy Burnham supporters stressing the need for a timetable for an orderly transition (ie – a slow process, allowing Burnham to win a byelection before a leadership contest). But in the afternoon government loyalists, and some prominent Wes Streeting supporters, started speaking out. And by early evening parliamentary private secretaries (technically, people on the government “payroll”) were joining in too.The Guardian understands that two senior cabinet ministers – Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary – told the prime minister he should oversee an orderly transition of power after crushing election defeats risked ringing the death knell on his premiership.At least two others – believed to be John Healey and David Lammy – discussed with Starmer how they should take a “responsible, dignified, orderly” approach to what might follow. Several others – including Richard Hermer and Steve Reed – were defiant, urging him to fight on. Continue reading...
Tom Watson, who had role in attempted coup against Tony Blair in 2006, said move would go down extremely badly with votersLabour MPs have been urged to stop plotting to remove Keir Starmer by Tom Watson, who as a junior minister spearheaded the last attempted coup against a Labour prime minister, faced by Tony Blair in 2006.Watson’s warning came as Steve Reed, the housing and communities secretary, and a key Starmer loyalist, said Labour would risk “annihilation” if it decided to try to change leaders. Continue reading...
Communities secretary Steve Reed urges MPs not to move against Keir Starmer and says most people are ‘sick and tired of all this psychodrama’Labour should not be “doomscrolling” through leaders like the Conservatives, the communities secretary, Steve Reed, has said, urging MPs not to move against Keir Starmer after the May elections.MPs who fear Starmer cannot lead the party into the next election because of the his unpopularity are understood to have been discussing whether to lay out a timetable for his departure to present to the prime minister. Continue reading...
A Co-operative Party policy report calls for expanding agricultural co-operatives in the UK to improve food security and reduce import reliance. The report highlights 526 existing co-ops generating £9bn income, with only 62% of UK food grown domestically. It cites Middle East conflict-driven fertiliser costs as a reason to build farmer resilience through collective resource pooling.
Senior UK ministers have rejected proposals for a one-year freeze on private sector rents, with Housing Secretary Steve Reed and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook publicly criticising the idea less than 48 hours after it was revealed. The government split has fueled speculation about Chancellor Rachel Reeves' job security following reports that Keir Starmer considered sacking her after local elections. Downing Street has ruled out the rent freeze and insists Reeves retains the PM's confidence, though Starmer stopped short of guaranteeing her position at Prime Minister's Questions. City investors are watching closely, with some warning leadership uncertainty could push up government bond yields further.
Steve Reed has dismissed 15 Labour MPs who voted with Kemi Badenoch's motion to refer Keir Starmer to the privileges committee as 'usual suspects', playing down the prospect of disciplinary action. The government won the vote comfortably, with 53 Labour MPs not participating in the division. Starmer will face Badenoch at what will be the final PMQs of the 2024-26 parliamentary session, with parliament proroguing at 1.15pm.
Steve Reed has dismissed 15 Labour MPs who voted with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch's motion calling for Starmer to be referred to the privileges committee as 'usual suspects'. The housing secretary played down the prospect of the rebels having the whip withdrawn, saying '99% of us are united with the prime minister'. Only 15 of 53 Labour MPs who did not take part in the division actually voted with Badenoch. Starmer faces his final PMQs of the 2024-26 parliamentary session today before parliament prorogues at 1.15pm.
Steve Reed has dismissed 15 Labour MPs who voted with Kemi Badenoch's motion calling for Keir Starmer to be referred to the privileges committee as 'usual suspects'. The housing secretary told Times Radio and Sky News he was not bothered by the rebels, emphasizing that 99% of Labour MPs are united. The vote was won comfortably by the government, with 53 Labour MPs not participating in the division. This is the last PMQs of the 2024-26 parliamentary session before parliament prorogues at 1.15pm.
Labour housing secretary Steve Reed has accused the Greens of failing to vet candidates properly and welcoming former Labour members expelled for antisemitic views. Speaking ahead of local elections on 7 May, Reed also attacked Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for failing to attend any of the 10-plus meetings of a local board deciding how to spend a £20m government grant in Clacton. The attacks come as polls show Greens potentially outperforming Labour, with both parties expected to make significant gains in English council elections and Scottish and Welsh parliaments.
