UK politics latest: Starmer yet to make up his mind on assisted dying Bill as cabinet split emerges

Cabinet split emerges as Streeting opposes assisted dying Bill

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has already said he intends to vote against the Bill, voicing his fears about coercion and people feeling a “duty to die”, while the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has warned of legalisation leading to a “slippery slope” in terms of who is eligible.

High-profile supporters of a change in the law include Dame Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill and revealed in December that she had joined Dignitas due to the current law.

Meanwhile, energy Secretary Ed Miliband said he intends to back the Bill.

He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “For my part, I know there are people who are in the late stages of terminal illnesses, and I think the current situation is rather cruel actually.

“I think people having control over their own life and their own death is something that is the right thing to do.”

Holly Evans12 November 2024 08:20

Starmer announces £1bn wind turbine contract

Sir Keir Starmer has announced a £1 billion contract for wind turbine blades to be made in Hull.

The Prime Minister told broadcasters at Cop29 in Azerbaijan: “I think it’s very important for the United Kingdom to show leadership on the climate challenge. It’s a very important challenge of our time.

“It’s also, I’ve long believed, the single biggest opportunity for the next generation of jobs.

“And that’s demonstrated in the fact that this morning, here at Cop, I’m announcing a £1 billion order for blades for offshore wind, which would be jobs in Hull.”

Holly Evans12 November 2024 08:13

Starmer says MPs must make own minds up on assisted dying Bill

Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour MPs must “make their own mind up” on whether to vote in favour of legalising assisted dying.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, from Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, was published late on Monday and runs to almost 40 pages, with a further 20 pages of explanatory notes.

Sir Keir was asked if he is going to vote in favour of the legislation and whether he has any concerns about potential coercion or issues raised by disability charities.

The Prime Minister said: “Look, it’s going to be a free vote and I mean that. It will be for every MP to decide for themselves how they want to vote.

“I’m not going to be putting any pressure whatsoever on Labour MPs. They will make their own mind up, as I will be.

“Obviously a lot will depend on the detail and we need to get the balance right but I’ve always argued there will need to be proper safeguards in place.”

Sir Keir has previously supported assisted dying, but said the Government will remain neutral on the issue. He has been careful not to express a view since the Bill was introduced.

Holly Evans12 November 2024 08:09

Work and pensions secretary says figures are ‘holding economy back’

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “2.8 million people – a near record number are locked out of work due to poor health. This is bad for people, bad for businesses and it’s holding our economy back.

“That’s why our Get Britain Working plan will bring forward the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation, backed by an additional £240 million of investment.

“While it’s encouraging to see real pay growth this month, more needs to be done to improve living standards too.

“So, from April next year, over three million of the lowest-paid workers will benefit from our increase to the national living wage, delivering a £1,400-a-year pay rise for a full-time worker.”

Holly Evans12 November 2024 07:39

Wage growth slows further as unemployment rises

Wage growth has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years while Britain’s jobless rate jumped by more than expected, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said average regular earnings growth eased back to 4.8 per cent in the three months to September, down from 4.9 per cent in the previous three months.

This marked the lowest level since the three months to June 2022.

Earnings growth continues to outstrip inflation, however, as pay increased by 2.7 per cent in the three months to September with Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation taken into account.

The ONS said the rate of UK unemployment rose to 4.3 per cent in the three months to September, up from 4 per cent in the previous three months

This was the highest level since the three months to May, although the ONS said the estimate should be treated with caution given ongoing low response rates to its jobs survey.

Holly Evans12 November 2024 07:37

Downing Street respond to potential use of Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine

Downing Street said “no war was ever won by a single weapon” when asked whether the UK was speaking to Joe Biden about the potential use of Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine within Russia before Donald Trump enters the White House.

Asked whether Britain was in talks with the outgoing US President, following suggestions that Mr Biden could be asked about giving permission for the weapons to be used, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: “Our position on Storm Shadow hasn’t changed.

“We’ve always aid that where we discuss our support for Ukraine, we do so in terms of broader strategy to ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position going forwards, particularly in the winter, and we’ve also been clear that no war was ever won by a single weapon.”

Alex Croft12 November 2024 07:00

Starmer expected to travel from Paris to Azerbaijan for Cop29 talks

The latest UN climate talks kick off this week against a backdrop of devastating weather extremes, record heat and Donald Trump’s re-election as US President.

World leaders including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer are heading to the opening summit of Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where they face pressure over delivering finance for poor countries to cope with climate change, and increasing their ambitions on emissions cuts.

The meeting is being held in the wake of the latest deadly weather events including floods in Valencia and Hurricane Helene in the US, which scientific analyses show were made more likely and intense by rising temperatures.

This year is on course to break temperature records once again and, as countries prepare to submit new plans for climate action by early next year, the UN has warned that existing policies are falling so far short the world is on track for a “catastrophic” 3.1C of warming.

Countries will also be grappling with Mr Trump’s return to the White House, in what analysts say is a trend of climate scepticism in elections this year.

Alex Croft12 November 2024 06:00

ICYMI: UN climate talks start as experts warn 2024 is heading for record heat

The latest round of international climate talks have kicked off in Azerbaijan as the UN warns 2024 is set to be the hottest year on record.

Sir Keir Starmer, whose Labour Government has made clean energy a key plank of its plans for the UK, has headed to the Cop29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, although many leaders including the US and Chinese presidents and European heads of state are not attending the talks.

While the Taliban are among the delegations who are attending the conference, Downing Street said the Prime Minister had no plans to meet with them.

As the conference kicked off, the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation issued a “red alert” over the speed of climate change in a single generation, as it warned this year would break 2023’s record temperatures.

The WMO said the global average temperature for January to September 2024 was 1.54C above pre-industrial levels, based on analysis from six global datasets.

Read more:

Alex Croft12 November 2024 05:00

Watch: Defence secretary dismisses suggestion Farage could help government with Trump

Holly Patrick12 November 2024 04:00

Report: Assisted dying unites Kemi Badenoch and Diane Abbott in fears over safeguards

Opposition to a bill attempting to legalise assisted dying appears to be growing despite promises that it will include the toughest safeguards anywhere in the world by its pro poser Labour MP Kim Leadbeater.

Health secretary Wes Streeting has already indicated he will oppose the legislation, which is a free conscience vote in parliament, and now he could be joined by an improbable alliance of Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Labour leftwing veteran Diane Abbott.

Our political editor David Maddox reports exclusively:

David Maddox, Political Editor12 November 2024 03:00