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Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he is looking at changes to smoking laws after a leaked government document reportedly revealed Labour’s intention to ban smoking in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants and near football stadiums.
The prime minister is facing cabinet tensions over possible stricter Tobacco and Vapes Bill with Business Department officials warning that the move could create financial tensions for the industry.
It comes as he raised concerns about a potential fuel duty increase after refusing to rule out a tax rise in the autumn Budget during a press conference in Berlin.
Despite reiterating his manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, National Insurance, or VAT, the prime minister remained noncommital on fuel duty, marking the first potential rise since 2010.
Sir Keir is continuing efforts to build bridges with European leaders as he holds talks with Emmanuel Macron today.
He was welcomed by the French President while he visited Paris for the Paralympics opening ceremony, after meeting in Germany with chancellor Olaf Scholz as the prime minister pursues his post-Brexit reset agenda.
The PM said a new treaty between Britain and Germany will help “deliver for working people” and create “deeper links on science, technology, development, people, business, and culture”.
Key Points
- PM doesn't deny plans for potential outdoor smoking ban
- Plan to ban smoking in pub gardens sparks cabinet tensions
- Starmer refuses to rule out fuel duty increase in autumn budget
- Tugendhat accuses Starmer of dragging the UK back to the 1970s
- Starmer continues push for closer EU ties in meeting with Macron
Trade union in Scotland suspends bin strikes after members accept pay offer
A trade union in Scotland has scrapped plans for refuse workers to strike after members accepted a new offer.
GMB Scotland said 78% of members voted to accept the offer from Cosla, which will see a minimum increase of 3.6% for staff.
Unite the union and Unison also announced they would suspend planned strikes to ballot members on the new offer, but are yet to announce a decision, with Unison recommending members reject the offer.
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland’s senior organiser for public services, was critical of the Scottish Government and local authorities.
“Council leaders’ lack of urgency and stubborn refusal to ask the Scottish Government for support meant negotiations and uncertainty went on far longer than necessary,” he said.
“It should not take imminent strike action to deliver a fair offer but, while it came too late, the deal was above inflation for all staff and weighted to benefit frontline workers most.
“That was what the unions had asked for and, given that, it is no surprise our members accepted it.”
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 23:00 1724965240Concerns raised over ‘misconceptions’ among professionals assessing for dyslexia
Children risk being misdiagnosed for dyslexia as professionals believe common myths about the learning difficulty, researchers have warned.
There is “significant variability” in the methods used by professionals for identifying dyslexia, according to a study led by Durham University.
A survey of 275 UK professionals involved in assessing students for dyslexia – including educational psychologists and specialists – was carried out to investigate their assessment methods and what they believed to be indicators of dyslexia, which mainly causes problems with reading, writing and spelling.
It found that almost half of dyslexia professionals who were surveyed believed at least one unproven indicator for dyslexia.
More than three in five (61%) specialists believed that people with dyslexia read letters in reverse order, while 33% believed that letters jumping around was a key feature of dyslexia.
But researchers from Durham University and National Taiwan Normal University said these were “common misconceptions” about the learning difficulty and that there was currently no evidence to show that either of these were reliable indicators of dyslexia.
The study, funded by the British Educational Research Association (Bera), warned that the misconceptions could influence assessors’ judgments and lead to “identification errors”.
It uncovered a general lack of consensus among assessors about the process of identifying someone with dyslexia.
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 22:00 1724963400Labour Party repeatedly failed to meet data protection obligations – watchdog
The UK’s data protection watchdog has taken action against the Labour Party for repeatedly failing to respond to people who asked what personal information the organisation held on them.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued a formal reprimand after it was revealed that the party had not complied with its legal obligations.
Under data protection law, anyone can ask an organisation for a copy of the personal information it is using or storing on them, known as subject access requests (SAR). You also have the right to check if your personal information is accurate, or for it to be updated or deleted.
Read the full story below:
Labour Party repeatedly failed to meet data protection obligations – watchdog
The Information Commissioner’s Office investigation followed more than 150 complaints regarding the party’s handling of subject access requests.
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 21:30 1724961600Editorial: Painful times lie ahead for Britain – and for Keir Starmer
Editorial: Gritty, glum, realistic – the prime minister’s keynote speech in the rose garden of No 10 held few surprises (and very little joy)
Editorial: Painful times lie ahead for Britain – and for Keir Starmer
Editorial: Gritty, glum, realistic – the prime minister’s keynote speech in the rose garden of No 10 held few surprises (and very little joy)
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 21:00 1724959840
Starmer discusses ‘reset’ of relations with France with Macron
Sir Keir Starmer has said he discussed resetting relations during talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
The prime minister told journalists after the meeting: “I had a bilateral with the president whilst I’m here to discuss a number of issues – obviously the foreign policy issues which are pressing.
“We discussed the situation in Ukraine, as you would expect, the situation in the Middle East, bilateral issues in terms of trade and defence and security, but also the wider reset that I want in relation to our relations, not just with France, but with the EU in general.
“They were the topics that we discussed as part of the reset, rebuild and making sure that our number one mission, which is growing the economy, is absolutely central to everything that we do.”
Former Labour leader John Smith’s daughter made Advocate General for Scotland
The youngest daughter of the late Labour leader John Smith has said it is a “great honour” to become a legal adviser to the UK Government.
It was announced that the King had approved the appointment of Catherine Smith KC as Advocate General for Scotland.
The King also intends to give her a life peerage, which will see her join the House of Lords.
The Advocate General for Scotland provides legal advice to the UK Government on matters relating to Scots law.
Ms Smith said: “It is a great honour to be appointed the Advocate General for Scotland and join the team of UK Government law officers.
“I look forward to playing my part in protecting and promoting the rule of law and contributing to this government’s commitment to public service.”
Ms Smith takes up the post after a legal career which has seen her specialise in personal injury, clinical negligence and judicial review cases – as well as sitting part-time as a sheriff.
The lawyer, who is the youngest of John Smith’s three daughters, is also currently involved in the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry.
She is chair of the John Smith Centre for Public Service at the University of Glasgow, which was set up to promote a positive vision of politics, and is vice chair of Justice Scotland, which is part of a London-based organisation working for a “better and fairer justice system”.
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 20:00 1724956240UK to join efforts with France to tackle small boat crossings
The prime minister has welcomed the joint action between the UK and France to tackle small boat crossings.
Sir Keir Starmer and the Emmanuel Macron agreed to do more together to dismantle smuggling routes further upstream and increase intelligence sharing, the spokesperson said.
The PM and Mr Macron were among the audience at the Paralympic Games opening ceremony in the French capital on Wednesday evening.
His visit to Paris follows talks in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a sign of his desire to seek closer relations with key figures in the EU.
On the first leg of his trip, Sir Keir said he was not “reversing Brexit” as he set out plans for a new treaty with Germany – including “deeper links” in several areas.
Sir Keir agreed that a deal with Germany would be in place by the end of the year following talks with Mr Scholz and also noted it was a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity.
The two countries also agreed to develop a “joint action plan to tackle illegal migration”.
Could Labour’s potential smoking ban plan reshape public spaces?
Amid growing speculation, Sir Keir Starmer has not denied reports that Labour might introduce a smoking ban in certain outdoor areas, including pub gardens and small parks.
The prime minister emphasized the need to alleviate pressure on the NHS and reduce taxpayer burdens, hinting at stricter public health measures.
Currently, smoking is banned in encolsed public spaces and workplaces across the UK since 2007, with Scotland leading the charge a year earlier. violations can result in fines of up to £200 for individuals, while businesses face penalites of up to £2,500 for non-compliance.
This proposed expansion of smoking restrictions builds on the unfinished agenda of Rishi Sunak, whose “smoke-free generation” bill aimed to make the UK one of the toughest anti-smoking nations globally.
Although Labour supported the Tory initiative, it never materialised before the end of the last parliament.
The potential Labour-led smoking ban could target various outdoor venues, marking a significant shift in public health policy.
However, specific details remain unclear as the government deliberates on how to implement these changes if they ever happen.
Farage and Tories slam Starmer’s proposal for outdoor smoking ban
Sir Keir Starmer’s potential move to ban smoking in outdoor areas like pub gardens has sparked sharp criticism from Nigel Farage and the Conservatives.
The Reform UK leader claimed the proposal could “close the last of the British pubs” and push cigarette sales into the black market, framing it as an issue of “social control” rather than public health.
The opposition within the Tories has also echoed Mr Farage’s concerns.
Robert Jenrick questioned the prime minister’s priorities, claiming that the UK faces “huge challenges” and that focusing on an outdoor smoking ban is “nonsense”.
This debate emerges against the backdrop of the Conservatives’ own proposal to create one of the world’s strictest smoking laws, which would prevent anyone who is 14 years old from ever legally purchasing cigarettes.
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 18:30 1724950800More prisons will be built following changes to planning system, says Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer said more prisons will be built to manage overcrowding once the Government gets its “hands on the planning laws”.
Speaking to broadcasters in Berlin, the prime minister said the lack of prisons being built is one of the reasons for the current capacity crisis in jails across the UK.
During the general election campaign, one of Labour’s key pledges was to unblock the planning system to allow developers to build on the “grey belt”.
Sir Keir said: “We’ve got to change the planning regulation so we can build the prisons we need, because they’re taking far too long, it’s far too slow, and that’s amongst the reasons we’re in the position we are.
“And, as you’d expect from an ex-chief prosecutor, people do need to go to prison, and they need to know that the law is effective.”
Asked if he agrees with prisons minister James Timpson that the UK puts too many people in jail, Sir Keir replied: “I think (Mr Timpson) has got unparalleled experience in rehabilitation, and particularly those coming out of prison.
“I mean, he does employ a huge amount of people who come out of prison. His reason for doing that is to help them turn around their lives so they don’t go back straight into prison.
“Do I agree with him that, insofar as is possible, people come out of prison, we should give them the chance not to go back into prison? Yes, I do, and the more we can do on that, the better.
“I don’t think anybody would disagree with that, because the route back to prison involves another offence, which means another victim. If we can find a different approach for people, then all well and good. But, look, we need to build those prisons, and we will get our hands on the planning laws in order to do so.”
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