UK politics live: Starmer could make ‘pragmatic’ U-turn over £1bn tax plan, as PM warned after Trump meeting

Sir Keir Starmer and foreign secretary David Lammy spent time with former president before flying back to UK

Keir Starmer refuses to apologise to pensioners over winter fuel payment cuts

Sir Keir Stamer and Rachel Reeves could water down their planned raid on nom-doms amid fears the move would fail to raise any money, according to reports.

The chancellor had hoped to raise about £1bn a year by cracking down on the tax perk available to wealthy UK residents.

But government officials said Ms Reeves could overhaul the plan ahead of her 30 October Budget if the numbers did not add up, the Financial Times reported.

A government official told the newspaper: “We will be pragmatic, not ideological. We won’t press on regardless, but we are not going to abandon this completely.”

A Treasury spokesperson called the report “speculation” and pledged to remove “the outdated non-dom tax regime”.

It comes as Labour MP Emily Thornberry said the government should not “pull our punches” if they disagree with the American president.

Sir Keir met Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump for the first time as the two sat down for a two-hour dinner meeting in New York.

Key Points

• ‘Gaza shames us all’ Sir Keir tells world leaders at UN
• Starmer admits mangling his words over ‘sausages’ blunder
• Donald Trump ‘needs to be called out’ on ‘racist’ comments, Labour MP says
• Starmer meets Donald Trump for first time at dinner meeting in New York
• Starmer to hold post-Brexit ‘reset’ talks with EU chiefs

[27 September 2024 03:00 · Salma Ouaguira]

Sir Keir Starmer says he wants to “reset” the UK’s relationship with the EU.

Sir Keir Starmer will visit Brussels as he steps up efforts to “reset” the UK’s relationship with the European Union.

The Prime Minister wants to repair the damage caused by years of Brexit wrangling in an effort to boost trade and security co-operation.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen revealed that Sir Keir would visit Brussels next week after the pair met in New York.

Sir Keir has met a string of EU leaders since taking office and has spoken about his “ambitious” plans for a new relationship.

Sir Keir said: “I want to reset our relationship with the EU and make Brexit work for the British people.”

He said he was “looking forward to visiting Brussels next week to start discussions” with the commission president.

[27 September 2024 02:30 · Salma Ouaguira]

Tory leadership candidate Labour most fears revealed

Senior aids have revealed that Labour wants to “avoid” James Cleverly as future Tory leader.

According to the i newspaper, Downing Street officials said it was the former home secretary who they would least like to win the contest.

A Labour party figure said: “I think Cleverly could be a problem. He sounds quite reasonable,” a No 10 aide added: “James Cleverly – that’s who we want to avoid.”

Another government aide said Kemi Badenoch does not represent a threat as the party is “not sure she’d take our votes”.

[27 September 2024 02:00 · Salma Ouaguira]

£10bn data centre investment shows UK ‘open for business’, says Starmer

A £10 billion US investment in a new artificial intelligence data centre will create 4,000 jobs in the UK, the government has announced.

The deal with private equity giant Blackstone will create Europe’s biggest AI data centre in Blyth, Northumberland.

You can read the full story below:

[27 September 2024 01:30 · Salma Ouaguira]

POLITICS EXPLAINED | Can Starmer ignore his Labour conference defeat on fuel payments?

Rank-and-file members at conference – Labour’s supreme policy-making body – have voted against the government’s decision to means-test pensioners’ winter fuel payments.

John Rentoul explains why the cuts will go ahead regardless:

[27 September 2024 01:00 · Salma Ouaguira]

Starmer’s Covid broadcast urging work from home recorded in donor’s £18m penthouse

Sir Keir Starmer recorded a Covid-era broadcast urging the public to work from home from a Labour donor’s £18 million penthouse.

The Christmas message, broadcast in December 2021, was reportedly filmed at a flat belonging to Lord Waheed Alli - a donor who has handed hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Labour Party over the last two decades.

It came five days after the previous Conservative government presided over new guidance to limit the spread of a new Covid-19 variant, including recommendations to work from home when possible.

Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:

[27 September 2024 00:30 · Salma Ouaguira]

Fewer pupils out of school at start of academic year as absence fines rise

The number of pupils in England off school without permission at the start of the academic year has fallen slightly compared with last year, figures suggest.

Data from the Department for Education (DfE) shows the unauthorised absence rate across all schools in England was 2.0% in the week ending September 13, compared with 2.1% in the equivalent week in 2023.

It comes as parents in England face higher fines if they take their children out of class without permission this academic year as part of a government drive to boost attendance since the Covid-19 pandemic.

School absence fines have increased from £60 to £80 under the changes, and a parent who receives a second fine for the same child within a three-year period will automatically receive a £160 fine.

The DfE has said other actions, such as a parenting order or prosecution, will be considered if a parent exceeds two fines per child within a three-year period, and those who are prosecuted could receive a fine of up to £2,500.

In the last week of the summer term – the week ending July 19 – the unauthorised absence rate was 5.0%, which was lower than at the end of the academic year in 2023 when the rate was 5.6%.

[27 September 2024 00:00 · Salma Ouaguira]

Pensioners in legal action against governments over winter fuel payment cut

Two pensioners are seeking to take the Scottish and UK governments to court over the cut to the winter fuel payment.

Peter and Florence Fanning, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, have raised proceedings with the help of the Govan Law Centre against the Scottish government and the UK Work and Pensions Secretary over the policy.

Following Labour’s election win, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the winter fuel payment – which had previously been universal – will only be available to those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits this year due to financial woes.

The decision led to the Scottish government – which was due to take control over a similar payment through the devolved Social Security Scotland but has since announced a delay – to follow suit.

The judicial review – which has been raised at the Court of Session – now requires a judge’s approval to move to a hearing on the merits, with the Govan Law Centre seeking to expedite both the case and its application for legal aid to ensure a decision can be handed down before the winter.

The case asks the court to rule on whether the decision was unlawful, which would then allow the petitioners to ask the court to, in effect, set aside the policy and restore the winter fuel payment to all.

Speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh on Thursday, Mr Fanning, 73, said: “We intend to sue both the London and Scottish governments, since both are guilty through action and inaction, of damaging the welfare of pensioners.

“We are hoping to be successful, given the manifest injustice involved, however, my work as a trade unionist and shop steward has taught me that some battles are worth fighting regardless of the outcome – I believe this is one such battle.”

[26 September 2024 23:46 · Barney Davis]

‘I have to be nice’ Donald Trump ahead of New York meeting with Sir Keir

Asked by GB News what he thought of Sir Keir Starmer, Trump replied: “Well I’m going to see him in about an hour so I have to be nice.”

“I actually think he’s very nice. He ran a great race, he did very well, it’s very early he’s very popular.”

Ahead of the meeting, Sir Keir told reporters: “I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and know them personally, get to know them face to face.”

[26 September 2024 22:52 · Barney Davis]

‘Gaza shames us all' Sir Keir tells world leaders

The Prime Minister used his UN address to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.

He said: “We need to see an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement, and we are working with all partners to that end.

“Further escalation serves no one. It offers nothing but more suffering of innocent people on all sides and the prospect of a wider war that no-one can control and consequences none of us can foresee.

“It shames us all the suffering in Gaza continues to grow. The answer is diplomacy, the release of all the hostages and the unfettered flow of aid to those in need - it is the only way to break the devastating cycle of violence.

He called for a two state solution as well as peace in Sudan calling it the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world today”.

He adds: “The world cannot look away”

[26 September 2024 22:44 · Barney Davis]

Sir Keir will meet Trump but not Kamala Harris

Ahead of his meeting with the Republican presidential candidate at Trump Tower, Sir Keir told reporters: “I’ve said a number of times, I want to meet both candidates.

“We’ve now got the opportunity to meet Trump, which is good.

“Obviously, I still want to speak to Harris as well.

“But you know, the usual diary challenges, but it’s good that this one now has been fixed.

“I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and know them personally, get to know them face to face.”

He said the UK embassy team, led by ambassador Dame Karen Pierce, “has got good relations with both camps and has had for a long time”.

Asked whether he would be prepared to stand up to Mr Trump on issues such as support for Ukraine, Sir Keir said: “The first thing I think is important to say in relation to this is we’ve obviously had a special relationship with”