[ad_1] At Prime Minister's Questions Sir Keir Starmer declared that welfare reform was a "moral issue", while the veteran left-wing MP Diane Abbott argued there was "nothing moral about cutting the benefits of millions of people".Their divisions were very publicly evident.But most MPs who had concerns expressed them behind closed doors.Around 100 MPs attended a briefing by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and minister Sir Stephen Timms.The BBC has
[ad_1] Arguments about benefits always revolve around a single concept: fairness.There are timeless questions – who is deserving and who is not?It provokes sharp opinions and so is among the sharpest of domestic political decisions a government ever has to make.There is a direct if not immediate consequence of a decision taken in Westminster on the money in the pockets of millions of people, including many who have little or
[ad_1] BBCWork and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has set out how the government plans to cut billions of pounds from the working-age welfare bill in the coming years.The focus will be on reducing spending on health and disability benefits.The bill is rising rapidly and many argue it needs to be curbed for the sake of the UK's public finances – as well as the economic and individual benefits of getting
[ad_1] Laura KuenssbergPresenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg•@bbclaurakBBCThe prime minister has just had another moment at the lectern, urging Europe to stand up for Ukraine. He's an increasingly confident leader, but in the coming days No 10 faces what could be a defining fight at home."There is a collision coming," a Labour insider tells me. Sir Keir Starmer has long been up for fights with his party. But with controversy around
[ad_1] It is a comparison neither would likely welcome, but look closely and the arguments of Sir Keir Starmer and Liz Truss about why government doesn't work well enough are remarkably similar.Neither are the first to grumble about the machinery of government.More than 20 years ago, Sir Tony Blair gave a speech much of which Sir Keir could give today."Sometimes we can be so frightened of the process of accountability,
[ad_1] Becky MortonPolitical reporterPA MediaSir Keir Starmer has pledged to slash the costs of regulation with an "active government".In a speech, he said politicians had chosen to hide behind quangos and he took aim at a "cottage industry of checkers and blockers slowing down delivery for working people".But the key announcement was the abolition of the "world's largest quango", NHS England, which works with the government to agree funding and
[ad_1] Getty ImagesDespite the government's hopes, the UK has not, in the end, been exempted from President Trump's 25% steel and aluminium tariffs.Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK will "keep all options on the table", but has not announced immediate retaliation.BBC Verify looks at how big the impact on the UK could be and what might happen next.Metal productsThe value of the UK's raw steel and aluminium exports
[ad_1] Glenn CampbellBBC Scotland political editorGetty ImagesNicola Sturgeon is now pondering a post-politics careerThat Nicola Sturgeon should choose to stand down from Holyrood at the next election was entirely expected.Even if the former first minister liked to try and keep the media guessing.When asked a couple of weeks ago if she was going to quit as an MSP she told journalists "you'll have to wait and see".In reality, the chances
[ad_1] Laura KuenssbergPresenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg•@bbclaurakBBC"Trump may be the best thing to happen to Starmer," says a diplomat, suggesting the brash property tycoon busy upending the world order might be just what the strait-laced prime minister - who's been dragging in the polls - needs.One of Labour's business backers calls it "the PM's finest hour" - a Remainer leader putting Britain at the heart of international action as Trump
[ad_1] Hugh SchofieldBBC News, ParisMacron says France is open to extending nuclear deterrent to protect European AlliesSo in the end Charles de Gaulle was right.As president of France in the 1960s, it was he who launched the policy of French strategic independence.Of course, he said, Americans were more our friends than Russians are. But the US too had interests. And one day their interests would clash with ours.In the world
