Politics latest: Rayner 'not happy with pace' of work to fix unsafe cladding on buildings after Grenfell (2024)

MPs will now have the chance to vote on the government's plans cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, it has been confirmed.

Lucy Powell, the leader of the Commons, announced a motion relating to the changes would be debated on 10 September.

People in England and Wales not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will lose out under the policy.

It is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the up to £300 payment by 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving around £1.4 billion this year.

The change has been widely criticised by the Conservatives, despite Labour repeatedly claiming it is due to a £22bn "black hole" in finances left by the Tories.

Mel Stride, the shadow pensions secretary, has welcomed what the Tories are hailing as a U-turn on the matter of a vote.

He said: "Labour thinks it is right to give their union paymasters an inflation-busting pay rise over protecting vulnerable pensioners, just as bills are going up.

"This tells you everything you need to know about the government's values."

By Jennifer Scott, politics reporter

All eyes have been on the music industry this week after the scramble to secure Oasis tickets saw a huge surge in prices.

Labour has promised to look at so-called dynamic pricing as part of a consultation to create a fairer system, pledging to "put fans back at the heart of music".

But people across the sector are hoping they don't stop there and the new government takes a keener interest in an industry that, according to UK Music, contributes £6.7bn to the economy and employs more than 210,000 people.

We speak to a range of industry figures about the challenges they are facing and what they want to see now Labour are in power.

Tuesday's tragedy in the Channel, which saw children among at least 12 people killed after a small boat sank, highlighted how this complex challenge for both British and French authorities isn't going anywhere.

Within hours, Sky News witnessed more boats trying to make the same journey from France to Britain.

The chart below shows how the number of crossings in 2024 so far compares with the previous four years.

Our data and forensics team have also looked into how many people are cramming into these vessels, many of which are clearly unseaworthy.

The chart below shows four times as many people are in each boat on average compared with 2020.

We have been reporting plenty on the tax rises that could be coming in October's budget.

One of the levies that could be in line for changes is council tax, so we thought we'd have a look at how it works now and how the Labour government might tweak it.

It comes after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner did not rule out changes to the single person discount on council tax.

This can save people 25% on their bills if eligible.

The current system

Council tax is paid on domestic properties and collected by local councils.

Some people don't have to pay it or get discounts, for example those living alone, but most people over 18 who aren't students living with other students are charged.

There are valuation bands which dictate how much tax needs to be paid, based on the value of properties as they were in 1991.

New build properties developed after that date are estimated by the Valuations Office Agency and banded accordingly.

Different local councils charge different rates for each of the bands, with rates in central London often some of the cheapest, and those in more rural areas usually higher.

Current laws stipulate that any local authority wanting to raise council tax by 5% or more has to hold a referendum first.

Is it fit for purpose?

The current system was introduced in 1993.

Property values have changed significantly in the last three decades, with some London house prices having risen by more than 800%, whereas in places like Hartlepool, in County Durham, they have barely tripled.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has labelled use of the current system as "absurd" while the Institute for Government has called it "incredibly poorly designed".

What has Labour said before?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is among those to have previously called for a council tax revaluation.

A leaked recording from March revealed chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, saying he was frustrated by the "out of date" system and hinted those with homes worth over £1m may have to pay more.

In Wales, the Labour Party has promised to introduce new council tax bands and tax band rates, but that has been pushed back to 2028.

Sir Keir Starmer previously described the Welsh Labour government as a "blueprint for what Labour can do across the UK," but later told Sky News council tax was "too high for too many people".

What could the government change?

There have been reports the government could replace the banding system in favour of a 0.5% tax on the value of a property per year.

This would mean that someone in a property worth £350,000, for example, would pay £1,750 a year.

However, the move could particularly impact those living in London, where the average one-bedroom flat peaked at £327,000 in 2020.

Environmental activist and singer Feargal Sharkey has responded to the government's plans to reform water services by saying he doubts executives will ever be jailed under the proposed laws.

The Water (Special Measures) Bill will give regulators powers to issue severe and automatic fines, as well as two-year custodial sentences, to the bosses of water companies found to be damaging the environment.

Mr Sharkey told Sky News that "for 20 years" existing laws have allowed for company directors to receive "unlimited fines" for "that kind of environment vandalism".

"I cannot find a single example of any company director ever prosecuted, ever being fined a penny", he said, adding that potential jail terms announced in the new bill would be for executives who fail to co-operate or who obstruct investigations.

"I guarantee you right now it will never ever happen; what we needed was decisive clear leadership and sadly I can't see that today", he added.

Mr Sharkey said he became a campaigner due to his love of rivers and fly fishing, and growing up in a "very unsettled" Northern Ireland with a mother who demanded they confront apparent social injustices when they see them.

The Liberal Democrats have today warned that the government's plans to crack down on England's sewage, chemical and manure infested waterways "looks to be a job half done".

The new Water (Special Measures) Bill is designed to beef up feeble regulators so they can take on water companies releasing sewage into rivers, lakes and seas and appease public fury.

Although many topline measures had already been announced, the new details have been cautiously welcomed by green groups as an "important first step" towards cleaning up the country's filthy rivers, lakes and seas.

However, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, said: "On the surface, this new bill simply doesn't look up to scratch to tackling the sewage scandal that has plagued our nation's rivers and waterways.

"Only a complete overhaul of this disgraced industry and a tough new regulator will end the sewage crisis.

"This looks to be a job half done by the government, now Liberal Democrat MPs will push them to go much further and faster in ending this scandal once and for all."

Tax rises and spending cuts are expected in the budget as the government continues to claim it's been left a "dire inheritance" from the Tories.

But do those claims stack up?

Sky's Ed Conway assesses if Labour are correct to profess such gloom.

The prime minister has warned of a "painful" budget in October.

Tax rises will feature, but with the chancellor having ruled out raising income tax, national insurance, and VAT - what could be set for a hike?

Inheritance tax

One of the taxes most likely to be hiked - the threshold could be lowered from £325,000 when someone dies, or people could pay more than 40% on some inheritances.

A leaked recording of Treasury minister Darren Jones, from before he was in government, suggested he favours such a change.

Capital gains tax

This levy is imposed on the profit of a sale of assets.

The government could reduce the minimum limit, or raise the percentage of tax levied - with some calling for it to be set in line with income tax.

Council tax

There is speculation council tax is viewed as "out of date".

While Labour said before the election it would not change the banding of council tax, there may be other updates on the table.

Business rates

This tax is what businesses pay instead of council tax on their properties.

The calculations for how much people pay could be updated to reflect a more current situation with property prices.

Stamp duty

A tax paid on properties over £250,000, which increases for second homes.

Changing this could increase the volume of transactions and raise more money.

Alix Culbertson, political reporter, goes into more detail on the topic of taxes in the piece below:

Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak is not expected to give a major speech at the party's annual conference, Sky News understands.

As reported on Politics at Jack and Sam's, there will be "no big speech by the leader" and "no big Sunday morning interview by the leader" at the conference at the end of September.

Our deputy political editor Sam Coates said: "Rishi Sunak is going to appear in public, but he's going to do, I'm told, a short, sharp, a short, sharp event on the Sunday or maybe even the Saturday.

"So the bit before almost anybody's arrived, that will be in public."

Sam added: "But my overriding thought, Jack, is if Rishi Sunak isn't giving a speech at conference - what a coward.

"Because this is a moment for him to maybe give a lyrical, well-written, perhaps quite contemplative, perhaps quite wistful, perhaps quite wise reflection on his time in power."

Hear more from Sam Coates and POLITICO's Jack Blanchard below:

👉Tap here to follow Politics at Jack and Sam's wherever you get your podcasts👈

Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, has reiterated her support for Kemi Badenoch in the Tory leadership contest, after Priti Patel was knocked out of the race yesterday.

Another vote will take place next week, before the five remaining candidates are whittled down to two at the Conservative Party conference this month.

The vote will then open to Conservative members, and the party's next leader will be confirmed at the start if November.

Ms Coutinho said: "The reason that I like Kemi is that I think people are slightly fed up of politics in general for lots of different reasons.

"And she is, I think, quite fresh in how she approaches politics.

"She's very courageous in the things that she takes on. She's fearless when it comes to telling the truth about different things and taking on things and fighting in the public's interests.

"And that's what I like about her, because not just here in the UK, but across the West, in Europe, in different parts of the world, we are seeing all of these new challenges, and I like the fact that Kemi is very modern, very future looking."

The other candidates for Tory leader are:

• Mel Stride
• Tom Tugendhat
• Robert Jenrick
• James Cleverly