Latest from South Wales Argus
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Warnings of tax rises after Downing Street welfare U-turn
The Prime Minister said that the concessions strike 'the right balance', but think tanks have warned that the changes announced in the early hours of Friday morning have made Rachel Reeves's 'already difficult Budget balancing act that much harder'. Rachel Reeves's Budget is set to be much harder to balance following the U-turn (Owen Humphreys/PA) Downing Street declined to rule out the possibility of increases in the autumn, telling reporters on Friday that 'tax decisions are set out at fiscal events'.The concessions on offer include protecting personal independence payments (Pip) for all existing claimants, while all existing recipients of the health element of Universal Credit will have their incomes protected in real terms. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said on Friday that the changes make tax rises in the budget expected in the autumn more likely. Associate director Tom Waters said: 'These changes more than halve the saving of the package of reforms as a whole, making the Chancellor's already difficult Budget balancing act that much harder.' Ruth Curtice, chief executive at the Resolution Foundation, said that 'the concessions aren't cheap, costing as much as £3 billion and more than halving the medium-term savings from the overall set of reforms announced just three months ago'. She added: 'This adds to the already mounting pressure to deliver fresh consolidation in the Budget this Autumn.' The Resolution Foundation noted that extending a freeze in personal tax threshold by one year would save '£4 billion a year'. Asked about how the climbdown would be funded, Downing Street said on Friday that 'There'll be no permanent increase in borrowing, as is standard. 'We'll set out how this will be funded at the budget, alongside a full economic and fiscal forecast in the autumn, in the usual way.' Asked whether they could say there would be no tax rises, a Number 10 spokesman said: 'As ever, as is a long-standing principle, tax decisions are set out at fiscal events.' Some 126 Labour backbenchers had signed an amendment that would have halted the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill in its tracks when it faces its first Commons hurdle on July 1. The list of Labour MPs putting their name to the amendment had been growing throughout the week, as Downing Street said that they would be pressing on with next week's vote. After the late-night U-turn, Sir Keir said that 'the most important thing is that we can make the reform we need'. 'We talked to colleagues, who've made powerful representations, as a result of which we've got a package which I think will work, we can get it right,' he added. '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.' While leading rebels believe the concessions are likely to be enough to win over a majority, some remain opposed to the plans in their current form. Dr Simon Opher, who represents Stroud, said in a statement that he is glad the Government 'are listening', but that the changes 'do not tackle the eligibility issues that are at the heart of many of the problems with Pip'. 'The Bill should be scrapped and we should start again and put the needs of disabled people at the centre of the process,' he said. It is also understood that talks are underway over rebel attempts to lay another amendment to seek to delay the plans, as reported by The Guardian. The fallout also threatens to cause lasting damage, with some backbenchers having called for a reset of relations between Number 10 and the parliamentary party. Speaking to the PA news agency, a number of Labour backbenchers expressed deeper frustration with how Downing Street has handled its backbenchers since last year's election. The Government's original package had restricted eligibility for Pip, the main disability payment in England, as well as cutting the health-related element of universal credit. Existing recipients were to be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support in an earlier move that was seen as a bid to head off opposition. Now, the changes to Pip will be implemented in November 2026 and apply to new claimants only, while all existing recipients of the health element of universal credit will have their incomes protected in real terms. The concessions on Pip alone protect some 370,000 people currently receiving the allowance who were set to lose out following reassessment.
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Cameron Norrie takes 'ace' train to Wimbledon training
It comes as today's draw means that the British number three will play Roberto Bautista Agut on Monday 30th June for his first match of the Championship. Seasoned campaigner Norrie, 29, has endured a difficult couple of years and before the French Open, had progressed past the third round of a Grand Slam on just a solitary occasion since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals back in 2022. But he showed signs of his old best in Paris by lowering the colours of Daniil Medvedev, the world No.11 and 2021 US Open champion, in a battle of the baseliners to reach the last-16 and send him towards SW19 with a renewed streak of confidence. Surprised onlookers saw Norrie boarding the train at London Waterloo, where he was sporting his tennis whites and carrying his bag to training. On board, he was spotted reviewing the Wimbledon draw, announced earlier today, on his phone. As he arrived at Wimbledon station, he took selfies with excited fans. Norrie took 'The Ace', an SWR Arterio train named after the Wimbledon Championships, and one of the five Arterios named in celebration of the many sporting locations along the SWR network. Tens of thousands of excited tennis fans are set to take SWR services to the 2025 Championships at Wimbledon, as the All England Club opens its doors to the tennis world once again.
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Lilli Ives Campion relishing opportunity of home Rugby World Cup
The Red Roses second row made her first Test start for England during the Guinness Six Nations and is part of the 42-player squad that is currently preparing for the 2025 World Cup. She is the youngest forward in the squad, with the likes of Abbie Ward, skipper Zoe Aldcroft and Rosie Galligan among those who are battling for places in her position. With that level of competition for places, the intensity in training is ferocious and Ives Campion is desperate to ensure she does everything in her power to make the final squad that will look to win the World Cup for the first time since 2014, with the final set to be held at Allianz Stadium on September 27. She said: 'It's been pretty intense, probably one of the most intense things I've done so far. But there is a real sense of togetherness so when it does get tough, it's really nice as a group that we can come together and battle through. We've been really tested a few times now, so it's been good. 'That decision (over selection) will happen but it's what can I do between now and then to put myself in the best possible position to be picked for that squad? You have to be where you are and embrace that and then that is the bigger picture. Whatever will be, will be. I need to go out there and do my best, whatever that looks like, whether it is gym or training. 'I remember watching the World Cup in Ireland in 2017 on TV at home. It was the first time I think I'd ever watched women's rugby on TV. I was playing but just for my local club, I didn't really know anything about rugby at that point. The thought of a home World Cup is so incredible and such a rare opportunity. The impact it is going to have on the game and girls going forward is incredible so I'd love to be involved in that.' Ives Campion, who plays her club rugby for Loughborough Lightning, has enjoyed a rapid rise, going from playing for England Under-20s last summer to being part of the England squad that triumphed in WXV at the end of last year. That came after she had made her Red Roses debut in a warm-up match against France, with Ives Campion then making a first start against Italy earlier this year as England won a seventh successive Six Nations title. It proved to be her only appearance in the tournament, with Ives Campion then taking on a different role of helping her teammates prepare for the remaining four matches, but she is trying to take as much as possible from every training session with her more experienced colleagues. She added: 'That (Italy game) was incredible. Coming into that week, I was super excited and I think it's actually quite nice to start a game. You have nerves with the anthem but the minute the ball is kicked, you lock into the game rather than on the bench, you can sit and watch the nerves just build up and build up. 'My role post-Italy was very much prepping the team, how can I best perform that role for the team? I really embraced that over the few weeks. I feel like I learn a lot. When you see the competition in my position, I'm still only 21 and I have so much to learn. So to have eight weeks like that, it's really important to learn.' Those lessons were learned and it is now a case of trying to put them into practice to earn a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Purchase your tickets to the Autumn Nations Series at Allianz Stadium
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Anna Moorhouse ready to step up after Mary Earps' shock exit
Moorhouse received her first call-up to the Lionesses squad last summer has been a regular in Sarina Wiegman's squad since. The Orlando Pride keeper is yet to make her international debut, but 30-year-old is confident her experience elsewhere will stand her in good stead should the call come. 'My role doesn't change that much but I probably have to be a little bit more prepared in case something does happen,' she said, as part of a new LG OLED TV collaboration ahead of this summer. 'I was always prepared for that. 'I would love to get that first cap, it is something I have dreamed of for so many years. I will be ready if it comes, if it doesn't, I will still be ready and I will prepare Hannah in the right way. 'I have a lot of experience that comes with age, seeing so many games and being in different countries, different situations.' Moorhouse will head to Switzerland fresh from the regular NWSL season where her Orlando Pride side are attempting to defend the title they won last November. 'It makes it easier, especially for a goalkeeper,' she added. 'You don't get 10 minutes here, a couple of minutes there. You have to be ready for a full 90 or nothing. 'It helps that if I am called upon, I will be fresh and in the mentality of playing games, so I have that rhythm. My season should be peaking by the time the competition comes around.' Should Moorhouse take the pitch this summer, it will be just reward for a path less taken to the top. The 30-year-old has never represented her country at any age group and spent time in Bordeaux before establishing herself as a top-class No.1 stateside. 'It just shows you don't know how close you are, you don't know when things are going to happen,' she reflected. 'A lot of players have the traditional route through the age groups; I have never played for England. 'It just shows that everyone is on their own path, you can't look at other people and compare yourself to them. If you keep working hard, it could happen. 'This time last year, I didn't even know England were interested. I am just going with it and enjoying the time I have. I know I don't have 10 years of playing ahead of me.' The Lionesses will play their part in huge a summer of sport, with rugby's Red Roses and the England women's cricket side also taking on major tournaments. LG is helping the nation get closer to the action with LG OLED TVs and with all of the Lionesses' matches on free-to-air TV, Moorhouse knows first-hand the importance of making sport available to all. 'Growing up we didn't have all the subscriptions, so any game on BBC or ITV was on – it didn't matter what game it was,' she said. 'Being able to watch on TV makes it so much more accessible.' Members of the two England women's teams caught up with LG at St George's Park recently as part of the leading TV manufacturer's ongoing partnership with The FA and the RFU. The LG All In Pledge encourages people to engage and watch women's sport. Together we can grow support through fandom and audience numbers to inspire new players to pick up the sport themselves, as watching changes everything. For more information, go to
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Police find body in search for missing 13-year-old boy
A major search operation was unde rway on Friday as dozens of emergency service personnel joined the search for Mylo Capilla, who was last seen at around 9pm on Thursday in an area known as the Muddies in Ingleby Barwick, Teesside. Cleveland Police confirmed in a statement published on Friday evening that the body of a boy has been found. A spokesperson for the force said: 'Very sadly, police and partner agencies searching the river for 13-year-old Mylo Capilla at Ingleby Barwick have found the body of a boy. 'Whilst formal identification has yet to take place, Mylo's parents have been informed and they continue to be supported by specially trained officers. 'All our thoughts are with Mylo's family and friends as well as with the wider community at this extremely difficult time.' Cleveland Police previously said Mylo was believed to have gone with his friend to the river near to Ramsey Gardens and entered the water. More than 12 hours after the alarm was raised, the police helicopter continued to fly over a short span of the Tees. A police cordon was in place in Ramsey Gardens, around 200 metres from the river, to keep the public away from the search area. Cleveland Fire and Rescue Service was also on the scene. One local said the Muddies was a large area stretching along the riverbank and was a known place for children and young people to play.
