Labour’s plan to freeze energy bills for six months will deliver a “double whammy” by tackling soaring inflation, Sir Keir Starmer said as he prepared to formally propose the £29bn plan to stop the coming price rise energy’s. The plan is “fully costed and comprehensive” and will be funded in part by extending the windfall tax on oil and gas companies, the Labor leader told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. Asked why Labor chose a policy that would stop price rises for all households instead of prioritizing the poorest, Sir Keir said: “If we do it across the board, we reduce inflation” – highlighting what he called a “double benefit » from the slowdown in price increases. keeping bills lower. Meanwhile, schools are reportedly discussing three- or four-day weeks due to inflationary pressures and teacher pay increases. Earlier, overwhelmed food banks told the Independent they are unable to cope with unprecedented demand and are being forced to turn away families in need as more and more people find themselves struggling due to the UK’s cost of living crisis.
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Boris Johnson ‘keeps working’ while on second holiday in two weeks, senior Tories claim
A senior Tory MP has defended Boris Johnson’s work ethic and claimed he is “still working” while away on his second holiday in two weeks (John Stone writes). The prime minister, who has been in office for less than a month, is now said to be flying to Greece for a week – shortly after returning from a previous trip. The holiday comes despite rising inflation and the threat of an impending recession. But speaking on Monday, former cabinet minister and former party chairman Brandon Lewis defended Mr Johnson, rejecting any suggestion he had “thrown in the towel”. “Even when you’re not in the Downing Street office, you’re working,” he told LBC radio.
Boris Johnson ‘keeps working’ while on second summer holiday, senior Tories claim
The Prime Minister was seen in Greece shortly after returning from the break in Slovenia Liam James 15 August 2022 12:28 1660561577
Iran’s response to Salman Rushdie stabbing ‘truly disgusting’, says David Lammy
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s comments from an Iranian government official about the attack on author Sir Salman Rushdie were “truly disgusting”. Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, denied Tehran’s involvement and suggested that Sir Salman carried out the attack against him. Mr Lammy said: “It is truly appalling that the Iranian government has the audacity to blame Salman Rushdie and his supporters for the brutal attack on his life. “Salman Rushdie is an inspiring writer and a courageous defender of our values. Any attack on him is an attack on freedom of speech and liberty. “The UK government must urgently put diplomatic pressure on the Iranian government to withdraw and apologize for these disgraceful comments.” Sir Salman was attacked on Friday at an event in New York state. Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old man, was charged with attempted murder. The prime minister condemned the attack. Liam James 15 August 2022 12:06 1660559777
Top Tory blog editor comes out for Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak is the logical choice for Tory leader, said the editor of Conservative Home, a blog for party members. Paul Goodman, a former Tory MP who now runs the blog, advised Tory members who can’t decide on a candidate to go with MPs and back Mr Sunak, who won every round of the primary vote. Mr Goodman said Liz Truss’ plans for the economy could prove damaging at a sensitive time. He said: “Broadly speaking, Sunak wants to stick with the current plan and Truss wants to change it. In the medium term, he is right: we cannot simply continue with the near-zero interest rates, quantitative easing, zombie economy model of the last ten years. “But in the short term, Sunak is right. The combination of tax cuts, higher spending and policies dealing with the Bank of England’s mandate in uncertain times could spook markets. Wanting higher rates in the first place is a good thing. To obtain them in practice is quite different if it guarantees, prolongs or deepens the recession.’ Liam James 15 August 2022 11:36 1660558637
Hundreds of bus routes to be scrapped if pandemic-era funding withdrawn, mayors say
Bus operators will cancel hundreds of services unless government funding introduced to keep services running during the pandemic continues beyond its planned end date in October, according to metro mayors in northern England. Half of routes will be affected “in some form” with many losing “all services” after 7pm, the four mayors claimed in a joint letter to Boris Johnson, Nadeem Zahawi, the chancellor, and Grant Shapps, the secretary transportation. The letter was signed by Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of North of Tyne, Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire and Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region. They wrote: “In each of our regions, bus operators have now given notice that they intend to withdraw hundreds of bus services.” They continued: “Without action, the changes to bus provision will have a devastating impact on affected communities, add to the cost of living crisis and jeopardize the aims of the National Bus Strategy introduced just last year.” The mayors added that there was “still time to avoid this”, calling for funding to be kept “in a form that will allow a more managed transition to a new bus network ‘post-pandemic’”. Liam James 15 August 2022 11:17 1660557557
You can’t go on a picket line when you run a country, says Starmer
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said ministers could not join picket lines as he reiterated his opposition to shadow cabinet members standing with striking workers. Asked about the low-paid lawyers who walked off the job in a fight for higher wages, he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I understand their concerns, I absolutely support the right to strike. The point I have made all summer about this is that I want the Labor Party not to be in opposition but to be in government. “Because the most important thing we could do for everyone who is struggling to make ends meet, whether they’re on strike or not, the most important thing we could do, is to have a Labor government and if you’re a government, your job is to resolve issues, move around the table, whether it’s rail strikes or any other kind of strike, you bring people around the table, you resolve issues and you can’t be in government around the cabinet table and then go to a picket line.’ The Labor leader has been criticized by many in his party for his stance on strike support, with some of his leaders ignoring his views on joining the picket lines. Liam James 15 August 2022 10:59 1660556417
See: Boris Johnson spotted shopping at supermarket during Greek holiday
Boris Johnson has been spotted grocery shopping in Greece on his second summer holiday in two weeks. Labor accused the prime minister of treating the final weeks of his term as “one big party” as he spends more time away from Downing Street amid a deepening cost-of-living crisis. Greek news sites reported that Johnson and his wife Kari were in Nea Makri, a coastal town near Athens, and just a few hours away from where Stanley’s father has a villa. The prime minister returned from a holiday in Slovenia just last week, having enjoyed a break at a mountain resort that offered “healing energies”. Boris Johnson spotted shopping in a supermarket during the Greek holidays Liam James August 15, 2022 10:40 am 1660555577
Watch: Keir Starmer outlines his proposals to freeze the energy price cap
The Labor leader appeared on the BBC this morning to explain his plan to freeze the energy price cap. Liam James 15 August 2022 10:26 1660555037
Keir Starmer insists energy plan has ‘double benefit’ as he defends holiday amid cost of living crisis
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted freezing energy prices would have the “double benefit” of curbing inflation as he defended his decision to go on holiday during the cost of living crisis (Kate Devlin writes). The Labor leader also accused the Conservatives of “skimming” the problem while they focus on electing a new leader. Sir Keir has vowed his party “will not let people pay a penny more” on their gas and electricity bills this winter. Under the plans, Labor will freeze price rises in October and January, saving the average family £1,000, it says. The “fully funded” proposals will cost £29bn and will be paid for in part by extending the windfall tax imposed on oil and gas giants and retroactive to earlier this year.
Keir Starmer insists energy plan has ‘double benefit’ as he defends holiday
He accuses the Tories of “walking” the problem Liam James 15 August 2022 10:17 1660554437
Schools ‘consider three-day week’ amid rising energy bills and teacher pay rise
Schools are reportedly considering three- or four-day weeks to manage soaring energy bills and teacher pay rises (Zoe Tidman writes). Headteachers and academy trust leaders need to think of ways to save costs as budgets come under increased pressure. Schools are struggling with exploding inflation and budget increases, failing to keep up with rising rates, which could top 15 percent next year. Teachers have also warned that schools are on the brink of a “full-blown crisis” because they have had to foot the bill for a recent teacher pay rise, as well as rising energy bills.
Schools ‘consider three-day week’ amid rising energy bills and teacher salaries
Trust chief reportedly says shorter school days ‘will become reality’ Liam James August 15, 2022 10:07 am 1660553417
Truss ‘will bring emergency budget in weeks if wins’
Liz Truss would bring an emergency budget in her first weeks as Prime Minister…
