UK politics live: Priti Patel says four-day week would have ‘devastating impact’ as smoking ban faces backlash
Priti Patel attacks Starmer for seeking to make ‘fewer places where you can smoke’
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Dame Priti Patel has warned Labour’s four-day week plan would be “devastating” for businesses as she launched her Conservative leadership campaign in London.
The former home secretary criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s speech in the Downing Street Rose Garden on Tuesday this week as “one of the most feeble, pitiful and dishonest speeches you will ever hear”.
She also accused Sir Keir of launching a “nasty financial assault” on pensioners with the decision to cut winter fuel payments.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash for moving a £100,000 portrait of Margaret Thatcher in No 10 Downing Street because he found it “unsettling”.
The portrait controvercy has drawn sharp criticism from Conservative MPs, who branded his decision as “petty” and a “vindictive” act.
The prime minister hinted at a potential smoking ban in outdoor spaces like pub gardens.
Speaking in Paris, he confirmed changes to smoking laws are under consideration, with details to be revealed soon. But the move has sparked concern among hospitality groups over potential negative impacts on the sector.
The potential new Tobacco and Vapes Bill also caused cabinet tensions with Business Department officials warning that the move could create financial challenges for the industry.
‘Disgraceful:’ Public fury as Tory MP uses Holocaust poem to attack smoking ban
Smokers ‘heroes of the nation’, says Nigel Farage as he lights up cigarette near Downing Street pub
‘Kick in the teeth’: Pub landlords say Starmer’s garden smoking ban would hit industry hard
Starmer hopes Scholz and Macron can help him soften Brexit – but is his strategy doomed to fail?
Watch: Angela Rayner dances behind DJ booth inside Ibiza nightclub
Watch: Angela Rayner dances behind DJ booth inside Ibiza nightclub
Angela Rayner was filmed dancing behind DJ decks at an Ibiza nightclub with Fisher and Denise Van Outen. Footage posted to the TV presenter's Instagram page showed what she described as a "surprise DJ booth rave up" with the deputy prime minister. Rayner wore a red dress as she partied with the Australian music producer, singing along to a dance remix of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know." She was filmed jumping and dancing as smoke cannons erupted at the venue.
Minister pledges portraits of Thatcher will remain in No 10
Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith has pledged that portraits of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher will remain in No 10, amid reports Sir Keir Starmer had one moved after finding it “unsettling”.
Asked if she was ever unsettled by the portrait of the UK’s first female PM, Lady Smith told LBC: “There were several times I was unsettled in No 10 but it wasn’t usually by the portraits, I have to say.
“Keir Starmer, can’t win, can he? A few months ago, people were having a go at him because he said he thought he could learn from the leadership of Margaret Thatcher.
“Pictures of Margaret Thatcher will remain in No 10.
“You can take that as a Jacqui pledge, but I think probably Keir Starmer is more concerned about actually sort of cracking on with the job of getting the country to work properly than where the pictures are.”
Ireland seeking legal advice over trade with Israel
Ireland’s premier is seeking legal advice over trade with Israel.
While noting that international trade policy is an EU competency, Simon Harris said he was writing to Irish Attorney General Rossa Fanning for “fresh legal advice” on the domestic possibilities.
Mr Harris said that “every lever” must be pulled to maximise pressure on the Israeli government to bring forward a cessation of violence in Gaza.
The leaders of Ireland’s three coalition parties decided on Thursday that the State would not procure any further defence or military equipment and contracts from Israel.
Speaking on Friday, Mr Harris said the action was “appropriate” and in line with rulings of the International Court of Justice.
In July, the UN’s top court declared Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories unlawful and called for settlement construction to stop immediately.
Mr Harris said: “I think it’s really important when an international court makes substantive findings, that those findings are given effect in every way.”
Smokers ‘heroes of the nation’, says Nigel Farage as he lights up cigarette near Downing Street pub
Smokers ‘heroes of the nation’, says Nigel Farage as he lights up cigarette near pub
Nigel Farage has branded smokers the “heroes of the nation in terms of the amount of taxation they pay”, in response to a potential cigarettes ban outside pubs. The Reform UK leader lit up a cigarette outside the Westminster Arms shortly before 6pm on Thursday (29 August), less than 400m from the Prime Minister’s official residence in Downing Street. Sir Keir Starmer earlier told reporters the loss of lives because of smoking are “preventable” and that his ministers would “take decisions” on an outdoor cigarettes ban. According to leaked Whitehall papers, ministers could extend the indoor smoking ban to beer gardens, university and hospital campuses, sports grounds, children’s play areas and small parks.
Priti Patel says she would get Tories back to government as party leader
Priti Patel has said she will get the Conservatives back to winning if she becomes party leader.
The Witham MP and former home secretary touted her experience in Cabinet and her work on immigration and policing while presenting herself as a “grassroots Conservative” as she launched her campaign in London.
She said she would get the party back to its “winning ways”.
Asked whether she believed the Conservatives could win the next general election, she said: “You bet we can.”
She said in a speech: “We are a patriotic party, a national party who believes in the union and the matters which concern hard-working people every single day.
“And I will lead us from opposition to government, so that we can serve the British people again and give them back the freedoms and the dignity that Labour will take away from them.”
She called Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s No 10 speech earlier this week “one of the most feeble, pitiful and dishonest speeches you will ever hear”.
Farage and Tories slam Starmer’s proposal for outdoor smoking ban
Sir Keir Starmer’s potential move to ban smoking in outdoor areas like pub gardens has sparked sharp criticism from Nigel Farage and the Conservatives.
The Reform UK leader claimed the proposal could “close the last of the British pubs” and push cigarette sales into the black market, framing it as an issue of “social control” rather than public health.
The opposition within the Tories has also echoed Mr Farage’s concerns.
Robert Jenrick questioned the prime minister’s priorities, claiming that the UK faces “huge challenges” and that focusing on an outdoor smoking ban is “nonsense”.
This debate emerges against the backdrop of the Conservatives’ own proposal to create one of the world’s strictest smoking laws, which would prevent anyone who is 14 years old from ever legally purchasing cigarettes.
Border Force staff at Heathrow to launch strike in rosters dispute
Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport will launch a four-day strike on Saturday in a long-running dispute over rosters.
Around 650 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) will walk out amid complaints that new rosters are inflexible.
The staff will then work to rule and refuse to work overtime from September 4 to 22.
The union said its research showed that four in five Heathrow Border Force workers suffer from stress at work.
More than one in four have taken time off due to stress or related mental health reasons since the introduction of the new rosters in April, said the union.
Most staff regularly worry about managing home commitments around work, according to the PCS.
Watch: Starmer spending more time removing portraits of ‘strong female leaders’ than governing, says Priti Patel
Keir Starmer spending more time removing portraits than governing, says Priti Patel
Sir Keir Starmer has been spending more time removing portraits of "great strong conservative female leaders" rather than governing, Priti Patel said during the official launch of her Tory leadership bid on Friday, 30 August. The former home secretary's remark came after the prime minister moved a £100,000 portrait of Margaret Thatcher in 10 Downing Street because he found it “unsettling”. Conservative MPs have described the decision as “petty” and a “vindictive” act. "If he wants a picture to replace Margaret Thatcher, he can always have this one," Patel added.
Scots must take independence decision out of Westminster’s hands, says Brown
The people of Scotland must take the decision over independence out of the hands of Westminster, the SNP’s depute leader has said.
Addressing the first day of the party’s conference in Edinburgh, Keith Brown said the “sovereign people of Scotland” were “supreme over the UK Supreme Court”.
Under Nicola Sturgeon, the court rejected a push for the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.
Support for the SNP at the next election, Mr Brown said, would also be support for a “convention of all democratically-elected representatives … who support Scotland’s right to choose”.
Such a convention could see the SNP working alongside former leader Alex Salmond and the Alba Party should they win seats.
In his address to members, Mr Brown said the ability to demonstrate how Scotland can achieve independence will be “central” to the SNP’s success in 2026.
“We have to first of all acknowledge Westminster’s stance – they’ve been clear,” he said.
Eton College tells parents fees likely to rise by 20% over Labour’s VAT plan
Eton College will raise fees by 20 per cent as a result of the Government’s removal of the VAT exemption on independent schools, it said in a letter to parents.
The £52,749-a-year private boys’ school said fees will “likely” increase in January, meaning most parents will have to pay about £63,000.
Parents whose sons are in receipt of 100 per cent bursaries will not be affected by the increase, the college said.
From January, the government plans to remove the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools to enable funding for 6,500 new teachers in state schools.
Currently, independent schools do not have to charge 20 per cent VAT on their fees because there is an exemption for the supply of education.
In a letter to parents on Friday, the Berkshire boarding school said: “The Provost and Fellows regret that the government has chosen to tax education in this way.
“Furthermore, we are disappointed that the introduction of VAT will take place partway through an academic year and at short notice.
“We recognise the concern that will be felt by many parents following this announcement.”
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