Welfare reforms to cost ‘hundreds of millions of pounds for two years'
An increase in the standard rate of universal credit (UC) has wiped out savings from cuts to incapacity benefits, but does mean that 50,000 people will now be lifted out of poverty by the changes.
After Sir Keir Starmer suffered the biggest rebellion of his premiership in a chaotic welfare vote last week, ministers are hoping to win round some of the 49 backbenchers who voted against the benefits reform bill.
The most contentious elements of the bill have been scrapped after a last-minute climbdown, which prompted uproar in the Commons and wiped out an estimated £4.5 billion of savings the Treasury was hoping to make from reforms. Ministers have now promised no reform before a review in consultation with disability groups.
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BBC News
27 minutes ago
- BBC News
EDF will take a 12.5% stake in Sizewell C nuclear power station
Energy company EDF has confirmed it will have a 12.5% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear power month the government committed £14.2bn to build the facility on the Suffolk plans are still waiting for further investment, and the government said more details would be confirmed this groups have criticised the size of French state-owned EDF's stake, saying they believe it had invested "the bare minimum". China General Nuclear Power previously had a 20% stake in Sizewell C but later pulled out, with the government becoming a shareholder alongside recent decision to take a smaller stake in Sizewell C is "consistent with their previously stated position", Downing Street government has said the plant would tackle the climate crisis while generating enough energy to power the equivalent of six million Secretary Ed Miliband said the agreement was a "landmark moment" between the UK and France, as French President Emmanuel Macron began his state visit to the UK. But Together Against Sizewell C chair Jenny Kirtley criticised EDF's stakeholder announcement."In what must be seen as a fantastic result for Macron and an extremely poor outcome for the UK, this has allowed the original Sizewell C promoter, EDF, to invest the bare minimum into the project, with the result [that] UK residents will be subsidising French industry and the French government for the next 75 years, during 15 years of construction and 60 years of operation."Stop Sizewell C, another campaign group, added that "such reliance on France for so lengthy and uncertain project delivery undermines UK energy security".The group added: "With much of the expensive 'kit' for Sizewell C being constructed in France, who does this project really benefit?" Responding to the suggestion the decision was not a show of confidence in the UK, a No 10 spokesman said: "Obviously it's a commercial decision for EDF, but it's fully consistent with their previously stated commitment."Of course, we welcome their involvement. We've always known that EDF was looking to take a minority stake in Sizewell's construction, alongside its other important roles in the project."We're in the closing stages of negotiations with other investors [who] will also bring significant experience to Sizewell C." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Amazon Prime Day UK July 2025 LIVE: Best deals NOW LIVE from £35 Fire TV sticks to Ninja air fryers, Dyson, Lego & more
THE annual summer Amazon Prime Day 2025 event is here. For the first time ever, Amazon is kicking off the sale event over four days, instead of two, giving Prime members even more time to scoop the exclusive deals going live over the coming days. Prime Day started at midnight and will run until midnight on Friday, 11 July. Only Prime members will have access to hundreds of fantastic, limited-time discounts on everything from Amazon devices and smart home accessories to beauty buys and home and garden appliances. So bargain-hunters will need to sign up to access the savings, and if you have never joined Prime before, you can make the most of the 30-day free trial. Throughout this week's event, our shopping experts will be hunting down the best Prime Day UK deals and sharing them with you here on our live blog and our Amazon Prime Day hub. Our Sun Shopping experts will also be sharing their top shopping tips, what products they have tried and tested that are on sale during the event and what items are really worth purchasing, as well as any rival sales and deals worth taking a look at this week. As always, we advise you to shop around and compare prices during the sale to ensure you really are getting the cheapest possible price. 9 minutes ago By Clara Wolsey Key Dates to Remember Beyond Prime Day Even if you miss Amazon's Prime Day sale, keep these general sale periods in mind for bargains throughout the year: End of Season Sales: Late summer (August/September) and late winter (January/February) are prime times for retailers to clear out old stock. Bank Holiday Weekends: UK Bank Holidays (e.g., August Bank Holiday) are frequently accompanied by sales across many retailers. Black Friday & Cyber Monday (November): Arguably the biggest shopping event of the year outside of Amazon, offering deep discounts on almost everything, including furniture and home tech. Boxing Day & January Sales: Post-Christmas, these sales are perfect for post-holiday savings and clearing out last year's inventory. Explore these fantastic alternative sales and transform your home for less this summer. Happy shopping! 24 minutes ago By Aiya Zhussupova Beware of scams Cyber criminals are cashing in on a shopping boost sparked by Amazon Prime Day, experts have warned. In June alone, more than 1,000 new domains with names resembling Amazon appeared online. A total of 87 per cent of these have already been flagged as malicious or suspicious. The fake domains, which try to masquerade as authentic Amazon portals, aim to steal login credentials and personal information. Experts have warned shoppers to check you're using the official Amazon website or a verified app. Watch out for offers that seem too good to be true, and avoid clicking on links in text messages, social media ads or pop-up banners. 40 minutes ago By Chantelle Symester My dreamy Nespresso coffee machine is 60% off Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee Machine, now £59.99 (was £150) BUY HERE The Nespresso Vertuo Next Pod coffee machine is one of the hardest-working appliances I use daily (this lady loves her coffee!) Normally priced at £150, shoppers can grab one for £59.99 during Prime Day - saving a huge 61% off. What I love most about this machine is that it's compatible with Nespresso's wide range of Vertuo pods, which come in so many delicious flavours. Some capsules are frothy, others creamy – there is something for all coffee tastes. I can confirm that this easy-to-use machine gives you barista-level coffee in a matter of seconds. I'm obsessed. The only real downside is that you can't purchase their capsules in your local supermarket. Today, 15:00 By Aiya Zhussupova Amazon is giving away a game worth £45 for FREE Amazon Prime members can get their hands on a popular game worth £45 at absolutely no cost. Gamers can now claim Football Manager 2024 for free via Prime Gaming. The best part is that you get to keep the game forever regardless of your Prime membership. The simulation game allows you step into the shoes of a football boss as you assemble and manage the world's best team. You can choose from 2,500 clubs to build your dream team in pursuit of football's biggest prizes. Today, 14:45 By Matt Breen Get 3 months of Amazon Music Unlimited FREE JOIN HERE Listen up, music lovers! For a limited time only, Prime members can get THREE months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free to celebrate Prime Day. The premium music streaming platform is an ideal option for shoppers seeking an impressive library of music, high-quality audio, and seamless integration with other devices and services. You may have tried the free version, but Unlimited boasts a variety of features that aren't available in the standard plan. Today, 14:30 By Aiya Zhussupova Amazon slashes 'brilliant' Android phone by 30% One of the best discounts available on the site today is on the Google Pixel 9 mobile, which has been slashed from £899 to just £629. That's a massive saving of £270, making it one of the standout tech deals in this four-day shopping event. The Google Pixel 9 has racked up an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on the Amazon website. One reviewer raved: 'Brilliant phone. It's so good I changed from an iPhone 16 Pro and had to come back to this." Today, 14:15 By Clara Wolsey Today, 14:00 By Aiya Zhussupova Get in shape for the summer with the smart scale on discount now Buy Here Withings Body Smart Scale works like a regular scale, tracking your weight in the unit of your choice. But it also uploads it to the Withings app (and then syncs that into Apple Health too), so you can log your weight without lifting a finger. That's not all: the scale also tracks your body composition, detailing your exact body fat percentage. This is useful, as it's a more specific way of measuring how much of you is actually fat – something your generic weight can't really show. This gadget is normally £89.95, but it's now a steal at £69.95. Today, 13:45 By Chantelle Symester Claim 30-day FREE trial Heading on holiday this summer? There's no better time to level up your reading list. With Kindle Unlimited, you've got thousands of titles at your fingertips - perfect for lounging around the pool, beach trips, and travel adventures. New customers can sign up for a 30-day free trial, and getting started is quick, easy, and hassle-free. All you have to do is visit Amazon's dedicated Kindle Unlimited page and press the 'Try free and pay later' button. You'll then be instructed to add payment details to ensure your subscription continues after the promotional period ends. Customers can cancel Kindle Unlimited at any time.
The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Lip reader reveals Macron's cheeky remark about Prince William to King Charles after arriving at Windsor Castle
A LIP reader has revealed the moment Emmanuel Macron made a cheeky remark about Prince William to King Charles. The French president, and his wife Brigitte, were greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales at RAF Northolt this morning. 4 4 They were then welcomed in Windsor by the King and Queen, with Macron warmly greeting Charles and kissing Camilla's hand. As they stood chatting, Mr Macron also placed his hand on the King's back as part of a friendly greeting. It was shortly after when chatting to the monarch, that the French leader made an observation about Wills, says lip reader Nicola Hickling. According to the lip reader, Macron said to King Charles: 'He is incredibly tall.' King Charles, who is said to be 5ft 10, is then understood to have replied: 'He is very tall. He's six foot one, he is, ever so.' Prince William then weighed in: 'Actually, I'm six foot three.' 5ft 7 Macron is said to have replied cheekily: 'Unlike us, we're short.' Mrs Macron was seen greeting Queen Camilla with "la bise" - the customary French greeting of a double cheek air kiss. The royal party and their guests stood still for the French national anthem, surrounded by household cavalry members. From there, the King and Mr Macron travelled together through Windsor in the 1902 State Landau. They were followed by the Queen and Brigitte Macron in the Semi-State Landau, Buckingham Palace announced. End of an era as King Charles AXES royal train after 150 years as cost of keeping iconic vehicle going hits £1.2m a year In the third carriage, the Ascot Landau, ferried Kate and Wills, who accompanied France 's armed forces minister Sebastien Lecornu and French culture minister Rachida Dati. The final two Ascot Landau carriages transported French officials including Helene Duchene, the French ambassador to the UK, and General Fabien Mandon, chief of the military staff. The processional route, lined through the town by the armed forces, takes in Datchet Road, Thames Street High Street, Park Street, Cambridge Gate, George IV Gateway to the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle. Security was heightened with an enhanced police presence and teams inspecting the area around the castle and checking locations such as flower planters. A ceremonial welcome took place at the castle, and inspection of the Guard of Honour. French President Emmanuel Macron is the first European leader to attend a state visit to the UK since Charles III was crowned, and since the UK left the EU. Macron has now headed to London where he is addressing Parliament. He says it's a "great honour" to address MPs and peers, before praising Keir Starmer for being the first British leader in 80 years to spend Armistice Day in France. Downing Street said in a previous statement they were hoping for "good progress" during Macron's three days in the UK. Macron will end a busy day with a state banquet back at Windsor Castle. 4 4
