Keir Starmer has hinted at caving to a Labour rebellion demanding the two-child benefit cap be scrapped in what has been called the Prime Minister’s first major test in power.
The SNP tabled an amendment ahead of a King’s Speech debate, which it says is backed by Plaid Cymru, the Green Party, the SDLP, the Alliance Party, and independent MPs including Jeremy Corbyn.
Although Starmer said there is “no silver bullet” to end child poverty he hinted “it’s good that we’re having a debate” as he faces growing pressure for the measure to be dropped.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the “passion” of Labour MPs considering rebelling over the continuation of the policy that affects some 1.6 million children.
Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow yesterday, Starmer said: “I’m not surprised that there’s a real passion about this in the Labour Party, you’d expect there to be.
“Child poverty is something that we need to eradicate. And there’s a very strong feeling in the Labour Party, Labour movement about that.”
He added: “There is no silver bullet. If there was a silver bullet it would have been shot a very long time ago.”
Starmer has so far refused to ditch the cap, as he claims it would be unaffordable.
Downing Street denied that the Government had changed its position on the two-child benefit cap after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson suggested that scrapping it would be “considered”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman has denied that Starmer changed his mind about the cap.
They said: “No. It’s as the Chancellor said yesterday, it’s as the PM I think addressed this morning as well, the Government has got a certain set of fiscal inheritance that it has to deal with.
“I think, as the Chancellor said on the round yesterday, that they weren’t going to make spending commitments without being able to say where the money was going to come from.
“But that doesn’t mean that we can’t take action to tackle child poverty.”
SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP said: “Keir Starmer must not fail his first major test in Government by refusing to scrap the cap. It is the bare minimum required to tackle child poverty – and to begin to deliver the change that people in Scotland were promised.
“Labour MPs have a choice today. They can lift children out of poverty by voting for the SNP amendment to abolish the cap – or they will push children into poverty by keeping it in place.”
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Tories confirm leadership election plan with crunch battle for top job to begin in days
Tories confirm leadership election plan with crunch battle for top job to begin in daysPA
The Tory Party will unveil its next leader on November 2 in plans devised by Conservative chiefs, a report has claimed.
Conservative MPs can get the ball rolling on the looming leadership contest from July 24, with nominations opening at 7pm.
Leadership hopefuls will need the backing of just 10 Tory MPs to reach the first round of voting.
Streeting to begin formal talks with junior doctors over pay row
Streeting to begin formal talks with junior doctors over pay row
PA
The Health Secretary will open formal talks with junior doctors with a view to ending their long-running dispute with the Government over pay.
Wes Streeting was meeting with the British Medical Association’s junior doctors committee on Tuesday.
He previously described the move as “a crucial step forward, as we work to end this dispute and change the way junior doctors are treated in the NHS”.
“This Government has been honest with the public about the terrible economic circumstances we inherited, and I have repeated that message in meetings with the junior doctors,” Streeting added.
“But I am encouraged by our early meetings that there is a deal to be done.
“Strikes have had a significant cost to patients, staff, and the NHS. Serious work is now underway to finally bring them to an end.”
James Cleverly hints at Tory leadership bid
James Cleverly hints at Tory leadership bid
PA
James Cleverly has hinted that he will launch a Tory leadership bid ahead of nominations in the contest opening on Wednesday.
“Of course, I and a number of other people have thought about the future of our country, have thought about the contribution of the party and our personal contribution to those things,” the Shadow Home Secretary told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
“Of course, I don’t think I’m alone in having given that serious thought.
“I’ve always believed, to do the job that you’re meant to be doing when you’re meant to be doing it. And when I was in government I focused on delivering in government. Now I’m in opposition, my focus, particularly today, is to hold the Labour Party to account.”
Digital IDs will allow people to collect parcels and open bank accounts
Britons will be able to use Government-backed digital identities to buy age-restricted goods, collect a parcel from the Post Office or open a bank account under new Labour legislation.
The Digital Information and Smart Data Bill unveiled in the King’s Speech will underpin a framework for providers to offer trusted digital identity services and make transactions more secure.
The legislation will allow for a system of “trust marks” issued to services that meet the Government’s standards. They would be available to view on a public register of certified services so businesses and users can look them up.
The digital ID system will not be compulsory – people will still be able to use physical documents to prove their identities.
Science Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Digital identity services are already being used by millions of people to save them time. When people choose to use them, these services cut down admin and increase security making it much easier to open bank accounts, start jobs, rent flats and much more.
“Our legislation will make sure that people can fully trust these services. We will give certified services a trust mark so people can find the digital identity providers that are following our strict security and data processing rules.”