Sir Keir Starmer is set to outline new Government milestones as a damning new report warns that Labour’s inheritance tax changes could cost the economy £10 billion.
The Prime Minister’s “reset” comes as Starmer grapples with recent setbacks, including the departure of key ally Sue Gray as his chief of staff and the resignation of transport secretary Louise Haigh following revelations about a criminal conviction.
The Prime Minister first five months in office have been marked by widespread criticism over the Party’s inheritance tax chnages.
He will detail what Number 10 describes as “ambitious but achievable” targets.
It comes as a new report reveals Labour’s inheritance tax changes will severely impact family-owned businesses and farms across the country.
The analysis shows that capping Business Property Relief at £1 million will particularly affect smaller businesses and agricultural enterprises.
Family Business UK CEO Neil Davy warned: “Changes to BPR announced in the budget will fundamentally remove incentives among owners of family firms to invest in their businesses, and in many cases threaten their viability.”
The CBI economics report paints a stark picture, projecting at least 125,000 job losses during this Parliament due to the BPR cap.
The analysis, which surveyed 234 family businesses, found that 27 per cent of those with assets over £1 million expect to transfer ownership between 2026/27 and 2029/30.
The changes could result in a £1.3 billion loss to the Treasury, significantly lower than the Office for Budget Responsibility’s estimated £1.4 billion revenue gain.
Nearly 5,000 businesses are expected to make operational adjustments, with most owners indicating they will be forced to downsize, reduce investment or cut staff numbers.
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UK pledges further £19 million in funding for Gaza
Anneliese Dodds is preparing for a three-day diplomatic mission to the region
PA
The UK government has announced a new £19 million funding pledge for Gaza, as Development Minister Anneliese Dodds prepares for a three-day diplomatic mission to the region.
Dodds will begin her trip by attending a humanitarian conference in Cairo on Monday, before visiting the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel.
The minister has described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” as she prepares to meet with both Palestinian and Israeli officials.
The new funding package includes £12 million allocated to the UN’s Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Food Programme.
This latest pledge brings the UK’s total commitment to the Occupied Palestinian Territories to £99 million, according to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
During her visit, Dodds is scheduled to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and will visit a refugee camp in the West Bank.
The minister will then travel to Israel for meetings with officials to discuss humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
Speaking ahead of her trip, Dodds said: “The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Gazans are in desperate need of food and shelter with the onset of winter.”
Rogue landlords could face jail if they fail to remove dangerous cladding
Alex Norris speaks in Parliament
PA
Rogue landlords could face jail if they fail to remove dangerous cladding, building safety minister Alex Norris warned.
He said: “I would want people who own buildings that are watching this, who have not been remediating them, to know we are on them, we are after them, and we want those buildings remediated. And if they don’t, they will feel the force of the law.”
Norris acknowledged there were thousands of buildings with flammable cladding which have not yet been identified, more than seven years after the Grenfell Tower disaster.
He told Sky News: “The Government today in Parliament will be launching a plan to rapidly accelerate identification and, on those buildings we know about, rapidly accelerate the remediation of them.”
He added: “We have a range of powers already, ranging from fines to… prison sentences that can be used in health and safety cases.
“We will use that basket of tools in whatever way with each building to get it