The Daily T: Why Starmer won't rule out a wealth tax
Leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch demanded a cast-iron guarantee that there won't be an autumn Budget raid on wealth, but the Prime Minister couldn't give one, fuelling Tory claims that a 'toxic cocktail' of Labour tax rises could be on the way.
Tim and Gordon are joined by our economics reporter Emma Taggart to discuss what a potential 2% wealth tax on assets over £10 million, suggested by Labour grandee Lord Kinnock, could mean for savers, homeowners, and the British economy.
And if you visit Heathrow this summer, Grammy-nominated artist Jordan Rakei has turned the airport's everyday noises into a four-minute ambient soundscape designed to soothe travellers before flights. But will it calm the nerves of anxious flyer Tim?
Watch episodes of the Daily T here. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
'The fruits of October 7': The sickening phrase used by Hamas to describe Labour's plan to recognise a Palestinian state, 22 months on from massacre
Keir Starmer 's plan for Palestinian state recognition is 'one of the fruits of October 7,' a top Hamas official has boasted. The statement came as furore around the Prime Minister's proposal showed no sign of dying down at the weekend. Senior Hamas politician Ghazi Hamad enflamed the situation as he told news network Al Jazeera: 'The initiative by several countries to recognise the Palestinian State is one of the fruits of October 7. 'Why do all countries recognise Palestine today? Before October 7, was there a single country that dared to recognise the State of Palestine? Just give me one example. 'Now, the achievement we accomplished on October 7 is what brought the Palestinian issue to the world's attention and prompted powerful action in support of it,' Hamad said. Sir Keir and the leaders of France and Canada have faced accusations that plans to recognise a Palestinian state would be rewarding the group responsible for the biggest slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust and for emboldening the terror group with no clear incentive for a ceasefire. Adam Rose, a lawyer acting for the British hostage families, said: 'It comes as absolutely no surprise to us that Hamas would welcome the UK's decision to recognise the state of Palestine without first requiring Hamas to release the 50 hostages it still holds, 667 days on from 7 October, 2023. 'Indeed, and as we predicted, in the past few days since the UK's announcement, we have seen an emboldened Hamas, which released videos of emaciated hostages Rom Braslavski, 22, and 24-year-old Evyatar David, the latter being shown digging his own grave in the dungeon in which he is being held, starved and tortured.' Last week British-Israeli Emily Damari led condemnations from hostage families saying the PM was 'not standing on the right side of history' with his pledge to recognise a Palestinian state if Israel did not agree to a ceasefire before September's UN meeting. In contrast, no conditions were placed on Hamas to release the remaining hostages, giving the terror group no reason to stop the fighting. Foreign Secretary David Lammy last night posted on X: 'The images of hostages being paraded for propaganda are sickening. Every hostage must be released unconditionally. Hamas must disarm and have no control over Gaza. 'We are working with partners on a long-term solution and plan for peace. This must begin with an immediate ceasefire that frees the hostages, as well as removing inhumane aid restrictions.' Noam Sagi, whose elderly mother Ada was kidnapped into Gaza, told the Daily Mail: 'Britain should lead with moral courage, not appease evil'. Last night, Hamas said it is conditionally ready to deliver Red Cross aid to the hostages it is holding in Gaza. The terror group said that if Israel opens humanitarian corridors permanently and halts 'all forms of air traffic' during the delivery of packages to the hostages, it would allow aid to reach them.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
More than fifty private schools shut since Labour put VAT on fees
More than 50 independent schools have closed or announced plans to shut since Labour imposed VAT on private school fees. Sector leaders said the policy was already driving out pupils and putting more schools at risk of collapse. At least 54 private schools — including top prep schools, sixth-form colleges and specialist provision for children with additional needs — have shut or announced plans to close since VAT was added to fees on January 1. Labour promised in its general election manifesto to introduce VAT on private school fees, a move the Treasury has described as a 'revenue-raising' measure. The mid-year policy change is expected to generate around £1.6 billion a year. Labour says the money will be used to support state education, including paying for 6,500 new teachers. • Labour's VAT plans blamed for fall in private school entries On average, approximately 50 mainstream private schools typically close each year for a range of reasons, including financial struggles and school standards issues. The government maintains that the policy is not causing significant disruption but fell short of providing data on how many pupils had left the independent sector. 'Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8 billion a year by 2029-30 to help fund public services, including supporting the 94 per cent of children in state schools to achieve and thrive,' a Department for Education spokesman said. • Parents and private schools lose High Court case against VAT on fees 'The number of children in independent schools has remained steady, while the most recent data shows the rate of families getting a place at their preferred secondary school is at its highest in almost ten years.' However, the latest school census figures suggest a sharper decline in private school numbers than expected. Latest government figures show that in January, there were 582,477 pupils in independent schools in England, down from 593,486 the previous year, a drop of 1.9 per cent or 11,009 pupils. It is the first fall in private school enrolment since the Covid-19 pandemic. While the number of independent schools still rose slightly over the same period, from 2,421 in January last year to 2,456 in January this year, the increase would likely have been higher were it not for the introduction of VAT on school fees, the drop in pupil numbers seen as the more significant pressure on the system. The government insists the drop in pupil numbers is to be expected, yet independent schools say the 20 per cent surcharge and business rates are pricing parents out. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), said the number of pupils leaving independent education was 'already much higher than the government predicted' and warned that many schools were unlikely to survive the next few years. 'Anyone interested in this policy as a revenue raiser should be concerned by the number of pupils who have already left independent education, which is already much higher than the government predicted,' she said. According to the ISC, it is reasonable to assume that the majority of pupils who have left the independent sector have been absorbed into mainstream education. Robinson added: 'While there is a combination of factors contributing to school closures, for many the government's decision to tax education has proven a bridge too far. We are likely to see further closures over the coming months and years as the effects of VAT and other tax measures mount up.' Earlier this year, parents and private schools lost their legal battle against VAT on fees in the High Court. The judgment, passed in June, dismissed the joint case brought by three groups, which had argued that the policy discriminated against children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), among others. For families of children with complex needs who depend on specialist provision at smaller schools — often with lower fees and tighter budgets — the ruling has heightened fears that financial pressure could force closures, displacing students without suitable alternatives. Independent schools support more than 100,000 children with Send, provision Robinson described as 'crucial in meeting capacity shortages and local need for specialist education'. She said that parents turned to independent schools after struggling with the 'time, cost and stress' of securing an education, health and care plan, a legal document that outlines specialist provisions for disabled children and those with additional needs. 'For some, VAT has meant that this is no longer an option and we remain concerned about children falling through the cracks as specialist schools are threatened or become out of the reach of the parents who have depended on them,' she said.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Hamas terrorist called Starmer's plan to recognise a Palestinian state one of the ‘fruits' of October 7 attack
A SENIOR Hamas terrorist has called Sir Keir Starmer's plan to recognise a Palestinian state one of the 'fruits' of the October 7 attack. It comes after the PM said he would declare recognition next month unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire. 2 France and Canada will do the same. Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said: 'The initiative by several countries to recognise a Palestinian state is one of the fruits of October 7. "We have proven that victory over Israel is not impossible, and our weapons are a symbol of Palestinian honour.' The bombardment of Gaza began after about 1,200 were killed in the October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel in 2023, with 200 taken hostage. Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar took aim at Britain and its allies for the change in stance. He said: 'If this is who applauds you, what does it say about you?' The Tories last night intervened in the row saying that Hamas — deemed a terror group in the UK — has been strengthened by the statehood plan. Supporters of Israel also said it failed to impose any conditions on Hamas, including release of any remaining hostages. Starmer vows UK will recognise Palestine in weeks unless Israel ends crisis – but critics blast 'reward' for Hamas 2
