Spain's economy minister launches bid to lead Eurogroup
MADRID, June 27 (Reuters) - Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo has launched his candidacy to preside over the Eurogroup, an informal body of euro zone finance and economy ministers, a ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
Cuerpo will seek to "revitalise" the Eurogroup, the spokesperson said in a statement.
"The euro area requires urgent and decisive action to strengthen our economic union and enhance the global role of the euro, all while maintaining fiscal and financial stability," the statement added.
If picked to lead the Eurogroup, Cuerpo intends to push reforms such as the protracted savings and investment union, as well as strategic investments.
The current Eurogroup president is Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, whose second two-and-a-half year term started in January 2023.
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Starmer faces fresh MP rebellion over farmers' inheritance tax
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a fresh rebellion from Labour MPs over his inheritance tax raid on farmers. The Telegraph understands that more than 40 MPs are considering mounting an attempt to water down the policy, which threatens to bankrupt family farms by landing them with large inheritance tax bills. Rebels have been emboldened after forcing the Prime Minister to climb down on welfare cuts this week, in the third about-turn for the Government in two months. The U-turns – on benefits, winter fuel payment cuts and a national inquiry into grooming gangs – have added to a £40 billion black hole Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, needs to fill at the next Budget. In a sign of fraying party discipline, MPs are plotting further rebellions on immigration and the two-child benefit cap, alongside the farming revolt. A senior rebel told The Telegraph: 'It's obviously a Government in crisis and the back benches are feeling ignored. 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This higher threshold would probably exempt almost all small family farms from inheritance tax, with only the richest paying the levy. The changes will be enacted in a Bill due to be voted on by MPs later this year, when they could be challenged by rebels. Sam Rushworth, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, who is a member of the group, said they would 'consider what amendments to put down'. Mr Rushworth said: 'We are all keen to avoid amendments. I don't want it to get to that point. I am a Labour MP and I broadly support the Government, [but] I would like to see them bring forward different recommendations in the Bill.' A handful of Labour parliamentarians have publicly criticised the so-called 'tractor tax' plans. Markus Campbell-Savours, Labour MP for Penrith and Solway in Cumbria, a rural seat, said in December that he would vote against the Treasury's plans, telling the House of Commons: 'Let me be clear, if today was the real vote, I would vote against the Government's plans.' Sir Keir is also facing opposition to some of his new immigration rules which are expected to be voted on after the summer break, The Telegraph understands. Many of the immigration changes announced by the Prime Minister last month, including changes to visa routes, can be brought into effect without a vote in the House of Commons. However key parts of the proposals, including a new levy on international student fees, will require the endorsement of Labour MPs. A leading rebel told The Telegraph that the Government should spend the summer recess 'reflecting on an evidence-based approach as to how to build effective policies on immigration'. Another said: 'The leadership have to seriously look at their actions on this policy regarding the lack of consultation with backbench MPs.' A number of refugee charities have been lobbying parliamentarians over the changes after their repeated requests for meetings with Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, were turned down. 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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Mea Culpa: Jack Draper's Latin lesson
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The Independent
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- The Independent
Police examining Glastonbury performances labelled ‘hateful' and ‘grotesque'
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But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleansing, it must be called out—especially when amplified by public figures on prominent platforms. 'Chants such as 'Death to the IDF,' and 'From the river to the sea' are slogans that advocate for the dismantling of the State of Israel and implicitly call for the elimination of Jewish self-determination. When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence. 'We call on Glastonbury Festival organisers, artists, and public leaders in the UK to denounce this rhetoric and reject of all forms of hatred.' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes 'grotesque', writing on X: 'Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked. 'The cultural establishment needs to wake up to the fact this isn't protest, it's incitement. 'Less than 2 years ago, hundreds were raped and murdered at a music festival. It's not just the act but the gormless people clapping along and cheering. People with no idea what real terror is. 'They don't understand the evil ideology they're amplifying – and they don't care.' BBC spokesperson said: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a Government spokesperson said. They added: 'We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. 'The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC director general to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.' Kneecap, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine.' In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for the group to be removed from the line-up and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be 'appropriate'. During the performance, Caireallain said: 'The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.' He also said a 'big thank you to the Eavis family' and said 'they stood strong' amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up. O hAnnaidh, 27, wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ O Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Provai, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: 'We are all Palestine Action', in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group. News broadcasts criticising the hip hop trio played from the sound system before they walked onto the stage were booed by the Glastonbury Festival audience. The trio opened with the song Better Way To Live from their 2024 album Fine Art and also performed tracks including Get Your Brits Out and Hood. Access to the area around the West Holts Stage was closed around 45 minutes before their performance after groups of fans arrived to form a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags. Earlier on Saturday, the BBC confirmed they would not be live-streaming the set but said the performance is likely to be made available on-demand later. O hAnnaidh was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. On June 18, the rapper was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates O Caireallain and O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20. Saturday night's Pyramid Stage headliner, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, opened with the song Sugar Mountain, with Young saying 'thank you folks' to the crowd as the song ended. The set list, drawing heavily from live album Live Rust, included songs Be The Rain, When You Dance I Can Really Love, Cinnamon Girl and Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black), with lyrics that reference Johnny Rotten, the stage name of Sex Pistols's John Lydon. Charli XCX's performance on the Other Stage saw US singer Gracie Abrams perform the viral Apple dance. As the song began, the British pop star said: 'Who the f*** is gonna be Apple girl, Glastonbury?' while holding what appeared to be a glass of wine. The 32-year-old played her Partygirl set at Glastonbury Festival last year, but this time the singer performed on a much bigger stage amid a year that has seen her pick up a slew of awards. Elsewhere at the festival, Haim performed as the surprise act on the Park Stage at 7.30pm, while on the Pyramid Stage, Pulp were revealed to be Patchwork with the Sheffield-formed Britpop band paying homage to their breakthrough 1995 stand-in headline set during the performance. Performing in the coveted Sunday legends slot this year is Sir Rod Stewart, who previously said he will be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, as well as other guests. Sir Rod's performance will come after he postponed a string of concerts in the US, due to take place this month, while he recovered from flu. US singer Olivia Rodrigo takes the final Sunday slot after opening the British Summer Time Hyde Park concert series on Friday. The BBC is providing livestreams of the five main stages: Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park.
