Latest news with #Labour-held
Spectator
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Tackling child poverty may prove a vote winner for Farage
In news bound to make Keir Starmer nervous, voters in 121 Labour-held constituencies with high rates of child poverty are reportedly prepared to support Nigel Farage at the next election and hand their seats to Reform. This shock projection, via the Financial Times and More in Common polling, came less than a fortnight after the Reform party leader declared that he would scrap the two-child benefit cap. Could it be that limiting benefits to families with two children, a policy once so popular with the public, has lost its appeal? Farage is winning over swathes of Labour's heartland in part because he has smelled a vote-winner: removing the two-child benefit cap may play to Reform's natalist agenda, but being seen to battle child poverty will make a fatherly Farage popular across the country's disadvantaged areas. While the government stalls on publishing its child poverty strategy, alarming stats have brought home to parents in the poorest areas just how badly their children are faring. No matter their race, ethnicity, number of siblings or parents' party allegiance, children born in areas such as Blackpool or Knowsley (both with some of the highest proportions of disadvantaged neighbourhoods among local authorities) are less likely to achieve good developmental goals by the age of five.
The National
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
FPTP is here to stay because turkeys and MPs don't vote for Christmas
It gets worse. The LibDems found themselves the third largest party (replacing a badly wounded SNP) having won more than 70 seats on just over 12% of the total vote. Even the unlovely Reform UK got a handful of seats. Reform UK (previously UKIP and the Brexit Party) took five seats, all from the Tories, though they've already fallen out with one who committed lese majeste by criticising the sainted Nigel Farage. However, they came second in no fewer than 98 constituencies, 89 of them in Labour-held seats. Cue a very public panic attack from the PM last week. This is the latest legacy of a deeply flawed electoral system. You might wonder why attempts to ditch First Past The Post (FPTP) have always failed. Wonder no more. The sitting MPs in the Commons have figured out that a fairer voting system might well result in many of them getting their jotters. READ MORE: Labour have 'given up' on by-election amid SNP-Reform contest, says John Swinney Turkeys and MPs rarely queue to vote for Christmas. The UK General Election is unique in sticking with FPTP. Scotland wound up with a messy compromise when the Constitutional Commission tried to please all the parties involved in the previous Convention. The result was the Additional Member System (AMS) which has constituency MSPs elected under FPTP then list MSPs given seats in proportion to their vote share. Neither fully proportional flesh nor equitable fowl. For years thereafter, list MSPs laboured under the label of being somehow second-class citizens. Not least the Tories who had fought against devolution and all its works yet, thanks to AMS, found themselves with a healthy clutch of seats in Holyrood. The Single Transferable Vote (STV) has several merits compared with FPTP. Most importantly it reflects what most voters actually want, it tends to stop tactical voting, and, not at all incidentally, it stops parties from deciding themselves how they want to rank their own candidates on a list. Plus it lets voters assert their personal preference even when these cross party lines. So, even if your favoured candidate doesn't win, his or her votes will be redistributed. Waste not, want not. This might help to reduce the widespread scunneration factor about politics and politicians generally, from which Scotland is certainly not immune. The upcoming by-election will be fiercely fought on all sides but is unlikely to produce much in the way of voter enthusiasm. If half the electors sit on their hands it's not much of an advert for democracy. Remember the heady days of the 2014 referendum, when an astonishing 85% of folk trotted off to the polling stations? All parties, including the SNP, have misused the party list system by putting candidates they've taken agin well down the list in the certain knowledge that will ensure electoral death. Not so much power to the people as too much power to the parties. The Welsh Senedd has decided that AMS too is flawed and will move to another system next year while STV is the preference in our Scottish local elections as it is elsewhere in the UK. Only the Commons sticks with a system which most often results in a successful candidate the majority of voters don't want. And certainly didn't vote for. Again, hardly an advert or an argument for democracy. It's likely that a lot of Westminster -centric MPs are not even aware that they are the only chamber left where FPTP manages to survive despite public opinion being only too well aware that their vote, in too many constituencies, is of no consequence. Why bother voting when you know your voice will never be heard or acknowledged? And let's not even think about the House of Lords which has been about to be abolished since God was a girl. It's a salutary fact that only the Chinese assembly has more members than the 800-plus HOL, where a few doughty members do the lion's share of any work going while the rest are – sometimes literally – sleeping partners. It's also instructive to note that almost all new peers say they favour abolition themselves, before undergoing a Damascene conversion shortly after their posteriors make contact with the red benches. The self-proclaimed conceit that they are a house of all the talents has been somewhat diluted by successive Prime Ministers giving out gongs with an enthusiasm at which even David Lloyd George might summon a blush. (In six years from 1916 the Welsh Liberal PM managed to create 120 hereditary peerages, not even to mention more than 1500 knighthoods. He noted that a fully equipped duke cost as much to keep up as a couple of Dreadnoughts and were just as scary and lasted longer!) The modern equivalent, certainly for the Conservatives, is to hand over peerages to major party donors which is little more than a kick in the pants distant from selling them off. Buying peerages is notionally illegal, but tell that to the raft of party appointees who march with unseemly haste to the Lords should their seat be required for a more 'deserving' candidate. I admire the way in which the SNP have set their face against nominating anyone to the so-called upper house, even though there have been a number of SNP 'grandees' who might have fancied a daud of ermine as a kind of long service medal. The latest was former Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford who suggested SNP peers would help give Scotland greater influence. Wonder who he could have had in mind! IT may be too much to hope that there will be any significant change to how Scotland votes in an election which is now less than a year distant. Yet we did manage to effect change in the teeth of opposition when we extended the franchise to teenagers who could get married while being deemed 'too young' to have a vote. How frustrated these young voters must be to find that they are still banned from other electoral processes. Yet the one constituency to which every elected politician lends an ear is the voting public. If enough of us say 'up with this nonsense we will not put' it just might light a fire under the party top brass. And a nonsense it truly is when voters, who are not daft, realise that their own vote in too many areas is totally wasted. In truth, there are only a few constituencies where voting actually matters any more. One of them is Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, previous fiefdom of the late and much lamented Christina McKelvie. If the opinion polls are to be believed it's now largely a two-horse race between the SNP in which she was a popular minister, and Reform UK which have the distinction of having no track record in Scotland, no costed policies, and is predicating its pitch on 'Change'. Seem to remember that was also the war cry of the incoming Starmer government. That's gone well. So anyone prepared to be seduced by a one-word slogan from a party now in its third incarnation and led by Donald Trump superfan Nigel Farage will soon find out just how hollow his promises always are. Apparently, he's about to grace us with his presence. Let's hope he requires rescuing by Police Scotland again. The party leader Nigel unceremoniously dumped, Richard Tice, says a Scottish breakthrough is very much on the cards. Seemingly he has his own pack.
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Keir Starmer to make major immigration update in Downing Street press conference
Keir Starmer will address the nation at around 8.30am ahead of the Government's long-awaited immigration white paper, which will be published on Monday. Sir Keir Starmer will unveil a major UK Government immigration crackdown during a Downing Street press conference shortly. The Prime Minister is expected to set out sweeping reforms to reduce net migration and will promise a "clean break with the past", reports the Mirror. He will promise that "enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall", as he addresses the nation. He is due to speak at around 8.30am ahead of the Government publishing its long-awaited immigration white paper. The white paper, which will be published today, Monday, May 12, is expected to contain a string of measures to make it harder for people to permanently settle in the UK. Instead of the current five-year period, migrants will need to live in Britain for a decade before they can apply for citizenship. However, high-skilled workers such as nurses, doctors, engineers and AI leaders could be fast-tracked under the plans. English language requirements will be tightened across all visa routes - and all adult dependents will be required to demonstrate a basic understanding of English. A university degree will be required for skilled worker visas and a care visa route for overseas workers will be closed under the plans, sparking a fierce backlash from industry bosses. The UK Government is battling to slash net migration - the difference between people arriving in the UK and leaving it - which ballooned to 728,000 in 2024 despite a string of Tory PMs promising to get numbers down. This comes as Labour seeks to neutralise the threat from Nigel Farage after Reform UK swept to power in 10 councils in England and snatched a by-election win in Labour-held Runcorn and Helsby by six votes. But the crackdown is likely to be controversial - with care providers branding a ban on overseas recruitment "cruel". The PM is expected to say: 'This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right. "And when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language. Lower net migration, higher skills and backing British workers – that is what this White Paper will deliver.' The measures will be extremely controversial as they are laid out in a document published on Monday. Prof Nicola Ranger, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing will tell its annual congress that the Government's plans are about "pandering and scapegoating". She will say: "The UK is so reliant on overseas colleagues, especially in social care. The Government has no plan to grow a domestic workforce. This is about politics - pandering and scapegoating. It should be about people." Meanwhile Care England's chief executive Martin Green earlier labelled the Government's plans as " cruel". Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Sunday that previous governments left behind "broken promises", adding: "We're not going to take that really failed approach, because I think what we need to do is rebuild credibility and trust in the whole system." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer to give urgent press conference on major plans
Keir Starmer will give a Downing Street press conference shortly as the Government unveils a major immigration crackdown. The Prime Minister will promise a "clean break with the past" as he sets out sweeping reforms to reduce net migration. Addressing the nation, he will promise that "enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall". He is expected to speak at around 8.30am ahead of the Government publishing its long-awaited immigration white paper. This will contain a string of measures to make it harder for people to permanently settle in the UK. Migrants will need to live in Britain for a decade before they can apply for citizenship - instead of the current five year period. However, high-skilled workers such as nurses, doctors, engineers and AI leaders could be fast-tracked under the plans. English language requirements will be tightened across all visa routes - and all adult dependents will be required to demonstrate a basic understanding of English. Skilled worker visas will require a university degree and a care visa route for overseas workers will be closed under the plans. The Government is battling to slash net migration - the difference between people arriving in the UK and leaving it - which ballooned to 728,000 in 2024 despite a string of Tory PMs promising to get numbers down. It comes as Labour seeks to neutralise the threat from Nigel Farage after Reform UK swept to power in 10 councils in England and snatched a by-election win in Labour-held Runcorn and Helsby by six votes. But the crackdown is likely to be controversial - with care providers branding a ban on overseas recruitment "cruel". The PM is expected to say: 'This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right. "And when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language. Lower net migration, higher skills and backing British workers – that is what this White Paper will deliver.' * This is a breaking news story. Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage. We'll be bringing you the latest updates on this Breaking Politics News story. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by following The Mirror every time you see our name. You can sign up for Twitter alerts for breaking news here @MirrorBreaking_ and follow us for all the latest updates. Keep up-to-date with your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day by following us on Facebook at See all our social accounts you can follow here:
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Major immigration crackdown unveiled with huge change to citizenship rules
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will declare a 'clean break from the past' as the Government publishes a long-awaited immigration blueprint on Monday Keir Starmer will announce plans to make it harder for people to permanently settle in the UK as part of a major immigration crackdown. People will need to live in Britain for a decade before they can apply for citizenship rather than the current five year threshold. However, high-skilled workers such as nurses, doctors, engineers and AI leaders could be fast-tracked under the plans, No10 said. English language requirements will be tightened across all visa routes - and all adult dependents will be required to demonstrate a basic understanding of English. The Prime Minister will declare a "clean break from the past" as the long-awaited immigration white paper is published on Monday. The Government is battling to slash net migration - the difference between people arriving in the UK and leaving it - which ballooned to 728,000 in 2024 despite a string of Tory PMs promising to get numbers down. It comes as Labour seeks to neutralise the threat from Nigel Farage after Reform UK swept to power in 10 councils in England and snatched a by-election win in Labour-held Runcorn and Helsby by six votes. But the strict crackdown is likely to be controversial - with care providers branding a ban on overseas recruitment "cruel". Under the plans, skilled foreign workers will need a degree to get a job in the UK unless they work in critical sectors like IT and construction. Care homes will be ordered to recruit from the UK as a dedicated visa route will be closed. Deportation rules will be reformed so the Home Office is notified of all foreign nationals convicted of offences, which officials say will make it easier to remove people who commit offences. Mr Starmer will say: 'Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control. "Enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall." He will promise to create a system that is controlled but fair, recognising those who contribute to Britain while "restoring common sense and control to our borders". The PM will add: 'This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right. "And when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language. 'Lower net migration, higher skills and backing British workers – that is what this White Paper will deliver.' On Sunday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was aiming for a "substantial" reduction in net migration figures but refused to set a Tory-style target. She said: "We're not going to take that really failed approach, because I think what we need to do is rebuild credibility and trust in the whole system." Ms Cooper said around 50,000 fewer lower skilled visas would be approved next year due to changes to the skilled worker visa and the care visa. She said the care sector needed to end the reliance on overseas staff and companies would still be able to recruit from a pool of people who came to the UK on care visas for jobs that did not exist. Over 470 rogue care providers have had their licence to sponsor international staff suspended since 2022. The Home Office estimates around 40,000 workers have been displaced, who will be able to rejoin the workforce. Ms Cooper added: "We're doing it alongside saying we need to bring in a new fair pay agreement for care workers." But the move was branded a "crushing blow to an already fragile sector", as care operators warned the move could deepen staffing shortages, risking harm to older and disabled people. The Homecare Association said the sector was struggling to fill over 130,000 vacancies - despite more than 185,000 overseas recruits who joined the workforce between 2021/22 and 2023/24. Chief Executive Dr Jane Townson said: "We urge the government to consult with the sector and agree interim measures allowing care providers to recruit sufficient staff. "Otherwise, we risk repeating the chaos of 2021, when care shortages increased hospital admissions, delayed hospital discharges and left thousands without the help they needed.' Martin Green, Care England's chief executive, accused the Government of "kicking us while we're already down". "For years, the sector has been propping itself up with dwindling resources, rising costs, and mounting vacancies," he said. "International recruitment wasn't a silver bullet, but it was a lifeline. "Taking it away now, with no warning, no funding, and no alternative, is not just short-sighted - it's cruel." Unison General Secretary Christina McAnea said: "The NHS and the care sector would have collapsed long ago without the thousands of workers who've come to the UK from overseas." She urged ministers to get on with fixing social care funding and implementing a promised fair pay agreement. She added: "Politicians must stop describing care jobs as low-skilled. They are anything but that."
