Unite leader Sharon Graham accuses Labour of ‘walking us into austerity mark 2’Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, has accused the Labour government taking the country towards “austerity mark 2”.
In interviews ahead of the conference, Keir Starmer specifically rejected this. (See 8.25am.) But, in an interview with Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Graham said:
The mood music here is that they are taking away from the poorest in our society now. And actually the conversation they’re having is walking us into austerity mark 2. Nobody wants to see that. Workers don’t want to see it, communities don’t want to see it. And I can tell you, the pensioners don’t want to see it either.
Graham also restated her call for the government to abandon the winter fuel payments cut.
In an article for the Observer, Graham argues taxing wealth more could avoid the need for austerity.
Sharon Graham on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/PAKey events
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Phillipson challenges Tories to explain how they would would fund removing Labour’s VAT on private school feesBridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has challenged the Tories to explain how they would fund reversing Labour policy of putting VAT on private school fees.
In an interview with GB News, she also described Tory claims that the policy will drive large numbers of pupils out of private schools and into state schools as “scaremongering”.
Labour expects to raise about £1.3bn a year from the policy, which will into effect from January next year.
In her interview, Phillipson said:
I don’t accept the premise that we will see a significant movement from the private to the state sector. That was what the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies were also clear about where they said they thought the change would be minimal.
What we’re seeing in certain areas, in a small number of areas, because of that demographic bulge that we’re seeing that’s coming through the system, particularly with older teenagers, is that there are some pinch points.
But I just don’t anticipate or recognize the characterisation of the kind of change that people are scaremongering about, frankly. And I’d say to the Conservatives who are peddling this, look, if they want to reverse this, how are they going to pay for it?
All the Tory leadership candidates have strongly opposed the plan for VAT on private school fees – one of the Labour policies most unpopular with Conservative party members and rightwing newspapers.
Getting rid of two-child benefit cap should be in Labour’s DNA, says Anas SarwarAnas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has said that getting rid of the two-child benefit cap should be in the party’s DNA.
In an interview with Times Radio, he said:
Do I want us to see the financial situation improve that allows us to remove the two child benefit cap to lift children out of poverty? Absolutely. But that’s in the Labour party’s DNA.
The Labour party is formed to lift people out of poverty, put the children out of poverty. And I want to see poverty come down.
And I want the financial circumstances to be there for us to be able to do even more than what we promised in our manifesto.
The government has hinted that at some point it will get rid of the cap, which stops claimants getting child-related benefits for third and subsequent children, because it is a major contributor to child poverty. But the Institute for Fiscal Studies says getting rid of it would cost about £3.4bn, and at the moment the government says it cannot afford to remove it.
Pro-Palestinian campaigners outside the Labour conference in Liverpool. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The GuardianTories claim Starmer running ‘government of self-service’The Conservatives are continuing to attack Labour over donations. In a statement issued by CCHQ after the Sunday morning interview round, the Tory MP Paul Holmes said:
As Labour’s party conference begins after fewer than 12 weeks in power, Keir Starmer’s government has been engulfed in scandal and infighting, showing that the only change they offer is a change of clothes.
Keir Starmer promised a government of service and all we’re seeing is a government of self-service – from handing their trade union paymasters an inflation-busting pay rise to failing to declare thousands of pounds of clothes, parties and holidays for their top team and Starmer’s wife in return for a Downing Street pass, or giving Starmer’s chief of staff a bumper pay rise – it’s clear Labour are not acting in the interests of the country.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), has called the government’s decision to get rid of the winter fuel allowance for most pensioners “politically inept”.
Speaking at a fringe meeting at the Labour conference, he said:
Ordinary voters are baffled by the decision. Within the first few weeks of the government, there are some worrying trends.
The treatment of the question of poverty has been appalling. The approach to the two-child benefit limit and the winter fuel allowance has been politically inept.
Wrack said the decision to cut the winter fuel allowance would “haunt” it for years.
Banners at the Labour conference in Liverpool. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The GuardianJohn Healey says he will get rid of ‘outdated’ entry requirements to encourage more people to join armed forcesThe government is getting rid of what it calls “outdated and unnecessary entry requirements” to encourage more people to join the armed forces, John Healey, the defence secretary, has announced.
And he is creating a new “cyber track” for recruits, with different selection and training requirements, to boost the armed forces’ cyber resilience.
In a statement Labour said:
Labour has pledged to address the dire Tory inheritance on armed forces recruitment and retention. Recruitment targets were missed every year in the last 14 years under the Conservatives, allowing UK troop numbers to fall below target levels and more people to leave the forces that joining …
These new measures will help unblock the bottlenecks in armed forces recruitment which sees high-quality applicants turned away or abandoning the process due to avoidable delays.
Healey is due to say more on this in his speech to the conference later.
As as an example of what it describes as unnecessary entry requirements for recruits, Labour say it will get rid of “measures blocking some sufferers of hay fever, eczema and acne, and some injuries that have fully healed”.
Lammy says west must show ‘nerve and guts’ in backing UkraineAllies must show “guts” and “nerve” in their support for Ukraine, David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has said.
Speaking at a Labour fringe event alongside Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Lammy said:
This is a critical time for nerve and for guts and for patience and for fortitude on behalf of allies who stand with Ukraine.
I am not going to, as foreign secretary, of course, comment on operational detail, because that can only aid Putin.
But there is a very real-time discussion across allies about how we can support Ukraine as we head into the winter.
As PA Media reports, at the same event Zaluzhnyi insisted that lifting restrictions on the weapons would be crucial to Kyiv’s defence. He said:
Modern weapons with long-range air and ground abilities are critically important.
Lifting restrictions on use of weapons against military targets in Russia is critical. This would help protect civilians from Russian missiles and … bombs.
This winter in Ukraine will be the most difficult. As we know, I believe in the resilience of the Ukrainian people, but without additional help the price will be very, very high.
Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner on the platform at conference. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja/ReutersRayner promises further devolution for north of EnglandRayner is now talking about another of her responsibilities – local government and devolution.
She says she has recently announced new devolution deals.
And she goes on:
And today, I’m proud to announce the next step in our devolution revolution. This government will change the future of the north of England so northerners will no longer be dictated to from Whitehall.
Put like this, it sounds like Rayner is proposing independence for the north of England – which definitely would be a story big enough to overshadow the donations controversy. But Rayner is talking about metro mayors.
We will be the government to complete the devolution in the north, the change will be irreversible, and I will get it done.
Here is the news release about the devolution deals recently agreed by Rayner’s department. And here is an extract.
Mayors will be elected in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire – the last part of Yorkshire to be covered by a devolution deal – in May 2025 and will have control over transport, housing, skills, and investment to shape the future of their area.
For Devon & Torbay and Lancashire, combined county authorities will be established in early 2025 handed the responsibility for adult education. Ministers are encouraging local leaders to deepen these devolution deals and take strides towards mayoral devolution as a gold standard …
The government is also minded to progress with the four non-mayoral ‘Level 2’ Single Local Authority devolution agreements with Cornwall Council, Buckinghamshire Council, Warwickshire County Council, and Surrey County Council, subject to further statutory tests being met.
The press release also confirms that Labour has abandoned a plan from the last government for a single local authority mayoral deal covering Norfolk and Suffolk.
Angela Rayner delivering her conference speech. Photograph: Phil Noble/ReutersRayner restates the government’s determination to build more homes.
The government is pushing ahead to get dangerous cladding removed from flats, she says.
She says she wants to see more social housing built
And the government will bring in Awaab’s law, to ensure landlords can’t ignore problems with mould and damp. It will cover social tenants and the private sector too, she says.
Rayner says the government will table its employment rights bill in parliament next month.
After years of opposition, we are on the verge of historic legislation to make work more secure, make it more family friendly, go further and faster to close the gender pay gap, ensure rights are enforced and trade unions are strengthened. That means repealing the Tories’ anti-worker laws … a genuine living wage and sick pay for the lowest earners, banning exploitative zero hour contracts and unpaid internships, ending fire and rehire, and we will bring in basic rights from day one on the job.
Rayner sets out what government has already done in 80 daysRayner says the government cannot wish its problems away.
But “things can get better if we make the right choices”, she says.
She says, although it has only been in office for 80 days, the government is already delivering.
Eighty days in government, and we’ve been busy: a devolution revolution, a bill to deliver new rights and protections for renters, planning reform to get Britain building and a review to fix our NHS, a child poverty taskforce, 100 new specialist officers to tackle criminals, an end to one-word Ofsted inspections, ending the ban on onshore wind and fines for bosses who pollute our waters, bills to kickstart Great British energy and to prevent another Liz Truss disastrous mini budget, put busses in local hands and bring rail into public ownership. Conference change has begun.
Angela Rayner speaking at the Labour conference in Liverpool. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PARayner speaks to Labour conferenceIn the conference hall Angela Rayner, the deputy PM, is starting her speech.
She starts by thanking the British people for entrusting Labour with the task of change.
You kept faith with us, and we will keep faith with you.
Labour won because it changed, she says.
We won because we had the courage to change our party, the discipline to make hard decisions and the determination to remain united. And now change begins.
Phillipson says imposition of VAT on private schools should not lead to them cutting bursariesBridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has said that the imposition of VAT on private schools should not lead them to cut bursaries.
A report in the Sunday Times today claims that is happening. It says:
Heads said they fear the new tax, which comes into force in January, means schools will become “more exclusive” and that local children whose place might have been paid for with a bursary will lose out.
The incoming leader of the Heads’ Conference (HMC), which represents top private schools such as Eton and Harrow, said that “additional bursary places that could have been open to children … will now not be open [because of VAT]”. Philip Britton, the head of Bolton School, warned that “the rise in fees, however it is managed, will make [private] schools more exclusive”.
Asked about the story, Phillipson said the VAT policy should not have this effect. She said:
That list in the Sunday Times had some very wealthy schools with significant assets and big levels of income who aren’t putting a huge amount of that money towards bursaries and support in terms of partnership working with the state sector.
Changes around VAT should not and must not impact on the work that they are doing around bursaries. There is an expectation of course that that would continue.
Private schools are under pressure to offer bursaries to help to justify their charitable status.
Bridget Phillipson (left) preparing for an interview with Camilla Tominey of GB News today. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA