Latest news with #NadiaWhittome
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Keir Starmer ‘put party before country' by caving in to benefit cut rebels, blasts Labour peer
SIR KEIR Starmer has put 'party before country' by caving to rebels and softening his benefit cuts, a Labour peer has warned. The PM was slammed for opting to appease the revolt rather than sticking with flagship reforms. Former benefits minister Lord Hutton said: 'The country cannot afford to sit back and see these welfare levels rising in the way they are and although it's uncomfortable for a lot of Labour MPs we can't go on ducking.' He added: 'I think the people that we mustn't lose sight of in all of this debate are the taxpayers who fund the welfare system.' 'It's rising at a level which I think is really unsustainable over the medium term, and the job of government is to address that, not to try and pretend it's not there." He says that the PM will have 'no choice' but to come back to welfare spending and try and reduce it. The climbdown on benefits and the winter fuel u-turn will force Chancellor Rachel Reeves to find £4.5billion after 126 Labour MPs threatened to derail plans. Downing Street insisted there would be no 'permanent' increase in borrowing but declined to rue out tax rises at the Autumn Budget to pay for it. Sir Keir said: 'For me, getting that package adjusted in that way is the right thing to do, it means it's the right balance, it's common sense that we can now get on with it.' But hardline Labour rebel Nadia Whittome said the concessions were 'nowhere near good enough'.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This week will haunt the prime minister after his most damaging U-turn yet
It has been a painful week to watch. A U-turn in slow motion, culminating in a midnight climbdown as Number 10 agreed to concede to defiant MPs on Thursday night. The concessions are considerable. They mean, among other compromises, that existing claimants of personal independence payments (PIP) and the health aspect of Universal Credit will be protected from welfare reforms. 👉 Follow Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈 Some MPs, like and Nadia Whittome, remain unconvinced, but they were never high on the list of rebels the government expected to persuade. Ministers now hope that with the backing of MPs like Dame Meg Hillier, the chair of the Treasury Select Committee, the bill will pass the Commons. Their problems won't end there, though. Firstly, there is the question of money. The Resolution Foundation estimates the concessions will cost £3bn of the £5bn the hoped to save from the welfare reforms. The 's spokesperson says the changes will be fully funded in the budget and there will be no permanent increase in borrowing. They won't comment on any potential tax rises to plug the gap in Rachel Reeves' finances. The bigger cost, though, is the political one. A year ago, when Sir Keir Starmer strode into Downing Street with a thumping majority, few could have imagined how the last few days would play out. Read more: More than 120 MPs, nearly a third of the parliamentary party and more than the total number of Tory MPs, publicly prepared to rebel on a flagship policy. How did it come to this? How did the prime minister, and the people around him, not see a rebellion coming when there had been signs MPs weren't happy for weeks? Those are the questions being asked by senior Labour figures behind the scenes. Sir Keir's spokesperson says the prime minister consistently engages with colleagues, and parliamentary engagement takes many forms. But a lack of engagement with backbenchers has led to the prime minister's most damaging U-turn yet, and this week will haunt the prime minister beyond Tuesday's crunch vote.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour MPs show support for activists promoting 'transgender Cinderella' to primary kids
Labour MPs have shown support for an activist group which promotes ' transgender Cinderella' books to primary school children. Pop'n'Olly, which visits classrooms to teach gender ideology, welcomed politicians to a Parliamentary drop-in event which it said was sponsored by Nadia Whittome MP. The gathering included Labour MPs Kim Leadbeater, Paul Davies, Darren Paffey and Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty. These four MPs posed for social media photos in front of the Pop'n'Olly logo with a sign reading: 'I support LGBT + education'. Last night, campaigners condemned their support for the group as 'hugely concerning'. Pop'n'Olly, which describes itself as an 'LGBT+ educational resource', tells children that sex is 'assigned' at birth and gender can be seen as 'a spectrum'. It has also produced a book aimed at primary schools, 'Jamie - A Transgender Cinderella Story', featuring a girl who gets to dress as a 'boy called Jamie' for a ball and win the heart of a princess. Pop'n'Olly distributes this and other books to schools, and claims to have donated a total of 12,000 to 4,000 primaries. After the event, on June 3rd, Mr Davies reposted his photo on his own open Facebook page with the caption: 'Today I showed my support for LGBT+ education. 'I believe that every student deserves to see themselves reflected in what they learn.' However, many of Pop'n'Olly's teaching materials are highly controversial. Among them is a video called 'Gender Explained for Kids', which is marketed as 'family friendly'. It says: 'Most people's gender will be the same as their assigned sex, although this will not be the case for everyone.' It adds that gender 'can be something that someone discovers about themselves as they grow older'. And it says: 'Some people find it useful to think of gender as a spectrum'. The group's training lead, Jack Lynch, who identifies as 'non-binary', wrote last year about speaking to a group of children aged nine to 11 at a primary in Sussex 'about gender identity'. Lynch said a nine-year-old girl said during the session: 'I feel like you feel. I don't fit into a box that everyone else seems to fit into. 'I don't like doing normal girl things. I like football and wearing boys' clothes.' In 2021, Pop'n'Olly celebrated on Instagram after being awarded an 'honorary Mermaids' certificate by the now discredited Mermaids organisation. This month's event was revealed on Facebook where the group tagged in the MPs attending and boasted: 'A MASSIVE thank you to over 20 MPs, ministers and staffers who attended our drop in event in @ukparliament on Tuesday. 'We had so many fantastic conversations, shared valuable information and witnessed such amazing support for LGBT+ inclusive education at primary school! 'We have come away feeling proud, hopefully and renewed in our passion for this incredibly important work. 'A huge thank you to @nadiawhittomemp for sponsoring our event and for her ongoing support for LGBT+ Education.' The event has sparked concern that some Labour MPs may not be attuned to concerns about teaching transgender concepts to young children. Stephanie Davies-Arai of Transgender Trend said: 'Pop'n'Olly is an activist organisation masquerading as an innocent, fun, children's educational resource. 'Their message to little children is that they may have been born 'wrong' and need fixing. 'They introduce doubt into impressionable children's minds – am I a girl or am I a boy? 'No child should be asking this question, as if they have a choice. 'Trans ideology can only cause confusion, doubt and fear for children too young to understand it is not the reality.' She added the transgender Cinderella story could be seen as 'turning a lesbian into a straight boy in order to win the hand of the princess'. 'It is hugely concerning that so many Labour MPs openly support such regressive, sexist and homophobic views,' she said. Parent groups have previously warned gender ideology reinforces old-fashioned stereotypes of 'male' and 'female'. The previous Tory government's guidance for 'gender-questioning children' says schools should not teach 'gender identity' as fact. However, this has been 'under review' since Labour took power last year. Pop'n'Olly is a private company which provides LGBT+ teaching resources, books, staff training and direct child-facing sessions to schools. While the company is not officially sanctioned by the Department for Education (DfE), headteachers are free to invite them or any other education company in to work with their school. Pop'n'Olly was created by Olly Pike, 39, who says he produces 'inclusive videos and children's books that combat homophobia and transphobia', while 'drawing on his background in theatre'. A spokesman for Pop'n'Olly said: 'We are incredibly proud of the work we do at Pop'n'Olly which supports schools, parents and carers in teaching about diversity and inclusion. 'Our work is supported by many thousands of teachers, educators, parents and carers, designed and delivered by education experts, in line with all current legislation and informed by research.' A Government spokesman said: 'Schools have a clear duty to safeguard their pupils – and should make sure children are never taught concepts that they are too young to understand, and never made to feel that not fitting with gender stereotypes means they were born in the wrong body. 'Our review of the Relationship, Sex, and Health Education guidance will put children's safety at its core, making clear that concepts around sex and gender should only be taught in a way that reflects the facts and law on biological sex and gender reassignment.' The MPs did not respond to attempts to contact them, and Labour declined to comment on their behalf.
Metro
5 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Palestine Action accused of using force against police to free detained activist
Activists from Palestine Action have been arrested in clashes with police as the government looks to make it illegal to join the group. Scotland Yard said officers entered the crowd to 'speak to three people' at Trafalgar Square before being quickly surrounded by protesters chanting 'shame on you'. The force said protesters 'used force' on their officers to free those being detained. Images from the central London landmark show a man and a woman being dragged to the ground and being held down by police. Two people were arrested for obstruction after a third was detained on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. The group blasted the 'Draconian' response from police. They said in a post on X, 'They want to ban us, they banned our protest at parliament and now they attack us. The people will not be intimidated.' It came as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she would make it illegal to be a member of Palestine Action after the vandalism of two planes at RAF Brize Norton. She said: 'I have decided to proscribe Palestine Action under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000. A draft proscription order will be laid in Parliament on Monday 30 June. If passed, it will make it illegal to be a member of, or invite support for, Palestine Action. 'This decision is specific to Palestine Action and does not affect lawful protest groups and other organisations campaigning on issues around Palestine or the Middle East. 'The disgraceful attack on Brize Norton in the early hours of the morning on Friday 20 June is the latest in a long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action. 'The UK's defence enterprise is vital to the nation's national security and this Government will not tolerate those that put that security at risk. Counter Terrorism Policing are leading the criminal investigation into this attack. It is important that this process is free from interference and the police are allowed to carry out their important work gathering evidence and working to bring the perpetrators to justice.' More Trending But Labour MP Nadia Whittome, said the Home Secretary's plan set a 'dangerous precedent' for protest in the UK. She said: 'We should all be concerned about plans to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group. Targeting non-violent protesters in this way is a misuse of terrorism-related powers. 'It sets a dangerous precedent, which governments in future could further use against their critics.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: I moved to the UK's second most boring place at 25 — I never want to leave MORE: First picture of 'peacemaker' who was stabbed to death outside of Hounslow prayer centre MORE: Severe delays on Circle and District London Underground lines due to trespasser
South Wales Argus
12-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Disability benefits U-turn next after winter fuel payments
The £1.25 billion plan unveiled on Monday will see automatic payments worth up to £300 given to pensioners with an income less than £35,000 a year. It followed last year's decision to strip pensioners of the previously universal scheme, unless they claimed certain benefits, such as pension credit. Both policies have been unpopular at the polls, with Labour being hit hard in the local elections in May. The news of the winter fuel u-turn has been well-received so far, but many have said the initial decision has pushed voters away. Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East, warned ministers they risked making a 'similar mistake' if they tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payments, known as Pip. "A U-turn on personal independence payments next?" "We'll have to see what happens going forward." Victoria Derbyshire presses Labour MP Jeevun Sandher on whether he wants to see a U-turn on the government's benefits policy.#Newsnight — BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) June 9, 2025 Leeds East MP Richard Burgon called on pensions minister Torsten Bell to 'listen now' so that backbenchers can help the Government 'get it right'. In her warning, Ms Whittome said she was not asking Mr Bell 'to keep the status quo or not to support people into work' and added: 'I'm simply asking him not to cut disabled people's benefits.' The pensions minister, who works in both the Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions, replied that the numbers of people receiving Pip is set to 'continue to grow every single year in the years ahead, after the changes set out by this Government'. What are the proposed cuts to DWP disability benefits - it is just Pip changes? The proposed reforms, set out earlier this year, would tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (Pip) – the main disability benefit in England – and see the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) cut. They also proposed delaying access to the health element of UC to those aged 22 and over, with the aim of reinvesting savings to support young people into work or training. The package of measures is aimed at reducing the number of working-age people on sickness benefits, and the Government hopes they can save £5 billion a year by the end of the decade. In its Pathways to Work green paper, the Government proposed a new eligibility requirement, so Pip claimants must score a minimum of four points on one daily living activity, such as preparing food, washing and bathing, using the toilet or reading, to receive the daily living element of the benefit. 'This means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the Pip daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future,' the document noted. Charities are also urging the government to rethink disability benefits cuts The Government is already under pressure over the controversial reforms, with Shelter and Crisis among the signatories to a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, voicing concerns over the risks from her proposed changes to the benefits system. An impact assessment published alongside the reforms warned some 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – could fall into relative poverty as a result of the changes. Now a letter, co-ordinated by the St Mungo's homelessness charity, has stated the 'deep concern' organisations within the sector feel about the reforms. The letter stated that the reforms will 'push people further away from the labour market, increase homelessness and put excessive pressure on statutory services'. New @mmhpi research warns that government's planned PIP reforms will have a 'catastrophic impact' on people's finances and mental health, and could drive people out of the workplace. It says "A system which was already doing a poor job of understanding how mental health… — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) June 5, 2025 They said increases in already record levels of homelessness 'will have a catastrophic impact on mental and physical health, education and employment opportunities' and have a 'domino effect of imposing a significant financial cost to the state' in paying for more temporary accommodation and emergency homelessness services. The charities added: 'Homelessness devastates people's chances of employment. These cuts and eligibility restrictions will not give people a pathway to work and we urge the Government to reconsider its position.' What have backbench Labour MPs said about the changes? Mr Burgon told the Commons: 'As a Labour MP who voted against the winter fuel payment cuts, I very much welcome this change in position, but can I urge the minister and the Government to learn the lessons of this and one of the lessons is, listen to backbenchers? 'If the minister and the Government listen to backbenchers, that can help the Government get it right, help the Government avoid getting it wrong, and so what we don't want is to be here in a year or two's time with a minister sent to the despatch box after not listening to backbenchers on disability benefit cuts, making another U-turn again.' Mr Bell replied that it was 'important to listen to backbenchers, to frontbenchers'. What have opposition MPs said about the changes? Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin warned that 'judging by the questions from his own backbenchers, it seems that we're going to have further U-turns on Pip and on the two-child benefit cap'. The Tunbridge Wells MP asked Mr Bell: 'To save his colleagues anguish, will he let us know now when those U-turns are coming?' The minister replied: 'What Labour MPs want to see is a Labour Government bringing down child poverty, and that's what we're going to do 'What Labour MPs want to see is a Government that can take the responsible decisions, including difficult ones on tax and on means testing the winter fuel payment so that we can invest in public services and turn around the disgrace that has become Britain's public realm for far too long.' Conservative former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey had earlier asked whether the Chancellor, 'now that she and the Government have got a taste for climbdowns', would 'reverse the equally ridiculous national insurance contribution (Nic) rises, which is destroying jobs, and the inheritance tax changes, which is destroying farms and family businesses'. Mr Bell said: 'This is a party opposite that has learned no lessons whatsoever, that thinks it can come to this chamber, call for more spending, oppose every tax rise and expect to ever be taken seriously again – they will not.' Could the two-child benefit cap also be due for change? Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey pressed the Government to make changes to the two-child benefit cap, which means most parents cannot claim for more than two children. 'It's the right thing to do to lift pensioners out of poverty, and I'm sure that both he and the Chancellor also agree that it's right to lift children out of poverty,' the Salford MP told the Commons. 'So can he reassure this House that he and the Chancellor are doing all they can to outline plans to lift the two-child cap on universal credit as soon as possible?' Recommended reading: Mr Bell replied: 'All levers to reduce child poverty are on the table. 'The child poverty strategy will be published in the autumn.' He added: 'If we look at who is struggling most, having to turn off their heating, it is actually younger families with children that are struggling with that. 'So she's absolutely right to raise this issue, it is one of the core purposes of this Government, we cannot carry on with a situation where large families, huge percentages of them, are in poverty.'
