Government axes universal winter fuel payments
12 Sep 2024
Millions of pensioners will lose winter fuel payments after the Government won a Commons vote to end the universal benefit. Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced the measure as part of an effort to address a £22 billion deficit in public finances. The payment , which had been given to all pensioners, will now be restricted to those receiving pension credit. The move, which will save around £1.5 billion annually, has drawn criticism for its sudden implementation without public consultation. 53 Labour MPs abstained from voting, and some people have vowed never to vote Labour again. One Labour MP, Jon Trickett, broke ranks and voted against the measure, citing concerns about pensioner poverty and criticising the Government for targeting the vulnerable rather than the wealthy. The winter fuel payment, introduced in 1997, was designed to help pensioners with heating costs, but its removal will affect ten million people, leaving many facing increased hardship this winter.
The Renters' Rights Bill, appearing in Parliament on 12 September, aims to provide the most significant shift in tenant-landlord relations since 1988. It will ban ‘no-fault’ evictions, a leading cause of homelessness, replacing them with Section 8, which allows evictions for valid reasons like unpaid rent or a landlord’s need to reclaim the property. The bill will also include longer eviction notice periods and extend an eviction-free protected period at the start of tenancies. It will target the skyrocketing cost of private renting by empowering tenants to challenge unfair rent increases and banning rental bidding wars. It will also apply the Decent Homes Standard to private rentals, ensuring that landlords maintain safe, hazard-free homes. Additionally, renters will gain the right to keep pets, and discrimination against tenants on benefits or with children will be outlawed. Both landlord and renter advocacy groups have supported aspects of the bill, though concerns remain about enforcement and local council resources.
The Princess of Wales has shared her relief at completing her chemotherapy in a heartfelt and very personal video message - a markedly different approach from the usual formal bulletins from Kensington Palace. After her cancer diagnosis in March, Catherine has remained largely out of the public eye. She described her journey through treatment as ‘incredibly tough’, marked by a profound sense of vulnerability and a new perspective on life. While she has finished this phase of treatment, it remains unclear if she is cancer-free, and a full recovery is expected to take time. She expects to participate in a few engagements later this year, maybe including a Remembrance Day event and her annual Christmas carol concert. Despite the ongoing challenges, she expresses a renewed sense of hope and appreciation for life, acknowledging the long path ahead in her recovery. Her last public appearance was at Wimbledon in July, where she received a standing ovation.
Starmer responds to damning report on NHS
12 Sep 2024
A major report by Lord Darzi, a widely respected surgeon and former health minister, has highlighted serious issues facing the NHS. The rapid review, completed in nine weeks, reveals that the nation's health has worsened, with rising demand for healthcare driven by poor housing, low income, and insecure jobs. Waiting targets for surgery, cancer care, A&E, and mental health services are persistently missed. GP services are overwhelmed, cancer survival rates lag behind other countries, and progress in heart disease treatment has stalled. The budget is inefficiently spent, with too much focused on hospitals and not enough on community care. Workforce challenges include a 5% drop in community nurses and nearly 20% fewer health visitors. The NHS is struggling with outdated equipment, crumbling infrastructure, and disengaged staff. Sir Keir Starmer has responded to the report by saying that the NHS is ‘broken but not beaten’ and announcing a ten-year plan to reform the service drastically. See
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch have emerged as the frontrunners in the Conservative Party leadership race following the second round of MP voting. Jenrick led with 33 votes, followed by Badenoch with 28. James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat were tied in third with 21 votes, while Mel Stride was eliminated. Badenoch's team celebrated her momentum, noting she gained the most new votes. Jenrick’s camp touted his steady support, positioning him as a strong contender for the final two. Despite their trailing positions, Cleverly and Tugendhat remain hopeful, looking to attract Stride’s moderate supporters. Both will aim to boost their profiles at the upcoming party conference in Birmingham. A poll showed Badenoch with 24% support among Tory members, ahead of Tugendhat (16%), Cleverly (14%), and Jenrick (12%). Two more MP ballots in early October will determine the final two candidates, who will then face an online vote by party members, with results announced on 2 November.
France, Germany, and the UK have introduced new sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, which US secretary of state Antony Blinken said will be used against Ukraine. The sanctions include restrictions on Iran Air and travel bans on military officials. UK foreign secretary David Lammy described Iran's actions as ‘a dangerous escalation’. Several individuals and organisations involved in the supply of the missiles face sanctions, and Russian cargo ships transporting these supplies have also been targeted. The Western nations have demanded that Iran halt its missile deliveries, citing security threats to Europe. Blinken and Lammy also flew to Ukraine to ‘hear directly from the leadership’ about their objectives. Volodymyr Zelensky has asked for authorisation to use Western-supplied missiles to strike targets inside Russia - a move the USA has so far resisted. Russia continues to make advances in eastern Ukraine.
Spain: plans to transform La Rambla
12 Sep 2024
It is one of the most iconic boulevards in Europe, but in recent years Barcelona’s La Rambla has been plagued by souvenir shops, pickpockets, and prostitutes. The city plans to transform the street, aiming to reduce the effects of mass tourism and restore the street to local citizens. The ambitious plan, expected to be completed by 2027, includes reducing traffic, adding arts centres, and replacing souvenir shops with authentic local businesses. Planners hope to make La Rambla more attractive to both locals and tourists by offering a more genuine cultural experience. Activists argue that the street has become a tourist monoculture, losing its diversity and charm. The city council wishes to attract tourists with respectful behaviour, not just those with money. Changes include widening the central boulevard, improving street lighting, and adding three new squares.
There have been very few opportunities in the last three years for women to escape from the bleakness of life under Taliban rule, with teenage girls having been barred from formal education. Now a new law has been passed which restricts their freedoms even further. The law enhances the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry’s control over Afghan citizens, worsening the already severe limitations on women’s rights. Many women are scared to speak or even leave their homes; activists like Nausheen, who previously protested and was once arrested and beaten, now refrain from public dissent due to the fear of violent retaliation. Some women are rebelling quietly, running secret schools and sharing their resistance through masked online videos. The international community, including the EU, has condemned the new restrictions as ‘systematic and systemic abuses, which may amount to gender persecution’. However, a government spokesman said the values laid out in the law are in line with Islamic traditions.