
Angela Rayner 'calls for migrant benefits to be slashed' and urges Rachel Reeves to make changes - after Deputy PM challenged Chancellor's economic approach
Bold proposals, outlined in a leaked memo revealed by The Telegraph, also suggested making it harder for immigrants to receive Universal credit.
Ms Rayner even said Labour should raise the fee migrants pay to use the NHS, in policies she and her team claimed were 'contentious' but still 'worthy of consideration'.
Under current policies, introduced under the Tories in 2015, foreigners on work visas pay to access healthcare - a fee currently set at £1,035.
The 'radical' policies further included limiting access to the state pension.
The latest revelations come after Ms Reeves was hit with a triple blow to her authority.
The Deputy PM suggested launching the plans in the Spring Statement - and hoping to get them over the line by the Autumn Budget.
'Migrants who have spent five to 10 years in the UK generally receive access to a broad range of welfare entitlements,' a section read, as reported by the broadsheet.
'Indefinite leave to remain in the UK confers access to core welfare entitlements such as Universal Credit, and 10 years of National Insurance contributions confers eligibility for some state pension provision.
'Those who arrived in the UK during the period of very high immigration in the past few years will become eligible for indefinite leave to remain over the course of this Parliament.'
On a humiliating day for the Chancellor, alongside Ms Rayner challenging her economic approach Sir Keir Starmer U-turned on winter fuel cash and official figures showed a jump in inflation.
The Chancellor was out of the country at a G7 meeting in Canada as the Prime Minister announced a screeching reverse on her hated decision to axe the winter fuel payment for 10 million pensioners.
Left-wing Labour MPs rallied behind Ms Rayner's demand, prompting the Tories to claim that the Cabinet was in 'open warfare' over taxes.
Kemi Badenoch taunted Sir Keir that his deputy was 'on manoeuvres' and 'calling the shots' on the economy.
The third setback for the Chancellor came in the form of official figures showing that inflation jumped to 3.5 per cent last month, despite Ms Reeves's claim she is tackling the cost of living.
Her controversial decision to means test winter fuel payments was widely blamed for the party's disastrous performance at the local elections and Runcorn and Helsby by-election on May 1.
Sir Keir yesterday pledged to widen eligibility for the payments, which are worth up to £300.
But, on a chaotic day, his officials were unable to say who would benefit and when they would receive the cash.
During clashes in the Commons, Tory leader Mrs Badenoch told the PM: 'There is open warfare in his Cabinet. The Deputy Prime Minister is clearly calling the shots.
'What have we learned? We are heading for new tax rises. We know that inflation is up. It is just more and more bad news from a Prime Minister who has lost control.'
Labour backbenchers welcomed the partial U-turn last night, but warned it would not be enough to quell a rebellion over the benefit cuts next month that are opposed by Ms Rayner.
Her intervention is likely to embolden MPs demanding the end of the two-child benefit cap, the scrapping of the Chancellor's fiscal rules and the introduction of some form of wealth tax.
Allies denied that the Deputy PM was trying to position herself as a champion of the Left with an eye to a future leadership bid.
But one said she was sick of defending controversial cuts, adding: 'She's had to eat a lot of s***'.
Former frontbencher Andy McDonald said a lot of his colleagues 'are concerned that the Chancellor's fiscal rules and spending cut proposals hit those on lower incomes'.
He said: 'Proposals to increase tax revenue from the wealthy would make tax fairer and support public services.'
Neil Duncan-Jordan, Labour MP for Poole, told the BBC the proposals to increase taxes were 'absolutely' among things the Government should be considering.
And Jon Trickett said the winter fuel cuts were 'a major error' and 'ought to be reversed in total now'.
Ms Rayner wrote to the Chancellor in March, ahead of the Spring Statement, proposing eight tax increases, The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday.
They included reinstating the pensions lifetime allowance, changes to dividend taxes, a raid on the million people who pay the additional rate of income tax and a higher corporation tax level for banks.
Last night it emerged that Ms Rayner also urged Ms Reeves to consider making it harder for immigrants to access the state pension and benefits.
The timing of the leak has also raised eyebrows, coming just a few weeks before Ms Reeves announces real terms cuts in spending for several government departments – including Ms Rayner's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and Environment Secretary Steve Reed yesterday insisted the Cabinet were 'united' on the economy.
Asked whether she agreed with Ms Rayner that rather than slash benefits she should hike taxes on high earners and savers, Ms Kendall told reporters: 'The entire Cabinet backs Rachel's economic strategy to grow the economy, drive up living standards, increase jobs. We actually have raised taxes on some of the richest in this country.'
Ms Kendall insisted benefits cuts were essential, regardless of the strains on the public finances.
She is planning a £5billion package of cuts, which will make it harder to claim disability payments.
It will be voted on in the Commons next month and as many as 170 Labour MPs could rebel.
In a speech yesterday, Ms Kendall insisted she was listening to her colleagues' concerns, but said: 'Whatever the fiscal position that the Government faces, the system as a whole needs to change. We are an older, sicker nation – we have more people with disabilities and health conditions.
'I don't think the welfare state in its broadest sense is meeting that challenge.'
She added: 'I'm not doing this to be tough, I'm doing this because I believe there is a better way to transform people's lives.'
A source close to the Chancellor said last night: 'Under this Chancellor we have secured the highest growth of any major economy since the start of the year, four interest cuts helping millions of homeowners, secured three trade deals and given millions of people a pay rise.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
Public responds as revised York parking charges come into force
Reduced parking charges have been rolled out across areas of York city centre, following public backlash at a previous 500% price hike. York Council has set the new pricing model at £3 per hour in car parks and residential areas outside the inner ring Ravilious, executive member for transport said while the council recognised the previous price increase was "too much in one go", it remained committed to tackling some people have expressed reservations about the new charges, including Bobby Paul, co-owner of Pextons Hardware on Bishopthorpe Road who said he worried "the damage was already done" in the community. "£3 is still arguably too much, and customers tell us so. I think it could do with being sub-£2 especially from the old 80p charge," he said."We've all seen a drop, and a fairly big drop [in business]. People who used to come here with their old shopping patterns have changed - but we'll see."In late April, car parking spots, including Micklegate and Bishopthorpe Road, saw prices rise by 500%, from 80p per hour to £ after an angry response from residents and traders, the council agreed to drop prices. Simon Kneafsey from M&K Butchers in Bishopthorpe Road said a balance had to be struck between encouraging the support of local high streets, without making rates attractive to people only visiting the city centre."Although not everyone will be happy with how much it's been reduced to, we've certainly done our best and I think that's a fair price for people who want to park and come shopping," he said."If it was cheaper than that, it might get abused by people who want to park there and wander off into town." Vicky Harris, manager of Millies Fruit & Veg, which backs onto the Bishopthorpe Road car park said the 35-space site had been noticeably emptier since the initial price hike."There's normally people queuing to get spaces - that's customers, that's clients. It's now about half full," she said."We all know that things go up but... it's just not enough, and I think it's created permanent lost custom because people aren't aware it's slightly come down." Using the car park to run errands, Fulford resident Josh echoed Ms Harris' sentiments, and said he had been able to find a space easily. "If it's designed to get people to not use the car, looks like it's working. It used to be busy in here and now it's nearly dead," he said."It's gone up a lot - I'm still paying it, but I'm not best pleased. They need to strike a medium I think." The council previously said April's hikes were needed to deal with traffic issues and to help balance council added that adjustments were made after the local authority had listened to the public's concerns."While we remain committed to tackling congestion and making it easier for everyone to get around, we recognise some of the uplift in charges in areas where they were previously very low has felt too much in one go," she said. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.


BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
Telford laundrette ordered to turn machines off overnight
Operators of automatic washing machines at a supermarket have been told to switch them off overnight to protect the amenity of nearby modular laundrette unit, next to the entrance of Morrisons in Lawley, Telford, was installed earlier this year, with a retrospective application at Telford and Wrekin Council said the machines should be switched off between 22:00 and 07: also gave temporary planning permission for one year for the unit, so that the effect of it could be assessed. The laundrette includes two washing machines and one drying Group International PLC, the agents for the laundrette owners, said the machines were designed to be maintenance-free, and were served by a network of more than 150 local engineers, who aimed to attend breakdowns within 24 visits were also scheduled, it told the applicants that there were flats and retail units less than 10m (32ft) away."Given the close proximity of the unit's location to neighbouring residential properties the local planning authority consider a one-year temporary consent to be appropriate, so the site can be monitored over a longer time period to ensure no significant detrimental impacts would occur," planners said."Following a period of one year, the applicant could reapply for a permanent consent, ensuring sufficient evidence is submitted to demonstrate that no significant adverse impacts have occurred and no harm would arise from the development on a permanent basis."This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.


BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
HS2 tenants reveal ongoing problems over rent and repairs
When Rob Taylor first moved into his HS2-owned barn conversion in the Warwickshire hamlet of Gilson, it was his "little piece of heaven".Ten years later, the area is surrounded by the High Speed Two works, with road closures, dust and noise now part and parcel of everyday the surroundings, he has had two large rent increases in quick succession - £250 a month last year and £400 a month this year. "It's crazy, I don't know who could afford it", My Taylor said it carries out rent reviews in line with tenancy agreements, and that several properties, including Gilson, were historically let below market value to account for their proximity to major construction activity. But the heating engineer said he cannot see how Carter Jonas, the company that manages the properties on behalf of HS2, can justify the rise."We're in the middle of a 360 building site and it gets more and more intense." He also accuses the company of failing to address several maintenance issues, including his garden decking which he says still hasn't been replaced three years after it was removed."It doesn't matter how much I complain, nothing happens."He added it was sad to see the house "rolling into poor condition", with threadbare carpets, loose brickwork on an external wall and leaks all being ignored. HS2 bought up hundreds of homes along the high-speed rail route, letting out those it didn't demolish and said it had to balance tenant circumstances with its responsibility to deliver value for public Taylor is among a number of tenants in Gilson who have contacted the local MP, Rachel Taylor, who represents North Warwickshire and has written a letter to HS2 demanding answers, and also raised it in a meeting with them recently."There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to how they can put the rent up by so much and not carry out essential repairs', she a statement, HS2 said they were increasing the rent in line with market conditions but she argued there should be an element of compensation for people living with the High Speed Two works on their is also critical of Carter Jonas and the way it has treated people and said it was "failing" in its role as managing agent. At the Grade II listed house Richard Sorensen rents from HS2 in Blithbury, Staffordshire, he said there is an endless list of has lived there with his family for four years, and said they were drawn to the property because of the views over the valley. "It is absolutely beautiful living here".But he claims the house doesn't have a "functioning heating system" so they are freezing in the winter. This is a point HS2 denies and it said measures, such as installing loft insulation, had been taken to mitigate heat loss have also had leaks from the roof and through the walls, with water coming into the bedroom which HS2 said they repaired. HS2 told the BBC Carter Jonas had attended to repairs throughout the Sorensen said, "I think they treat tenants disgustingly, they seem to regard us a lower form of life."He said even an improvement notice by Lichfield District Council, which found extreme cold in the property, had been has threatened legal action against Carter Jonas but he said as crown tenants they had limited legal February this year the company applied for listed building consent to carry out some work and issued him with a notice to quit on the basis that the work couldn't be carried out with them living believes it's a revenge eviction and said it had been extremely stressful."They seem to be happy to let the building fall apart for four years and the moment we threaten legal action they evict us."Despite all the issues with the property, they love the house and he said "the thing that upsets us the most is the thought that it's going to be left to rot".In response HS2 said: "We are satisfied that Carter Jonas is managing the property professionally and appropriately and have recently obtained listed building consent to commence more significant works."