UK politics live: Starmer approval rating drops to 3-month low as PM set for Biden talks over Putin threat

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Sir Keir Starmer is visiting the White House to meet US President Joe Biden to discuss conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

The prime minister and Mr Biden are expected to consider Kyiv’s request to be able to use Western Storm Shadow long-range missiles in Russian territory.

But President Putin said such a move would mean that Russia would be “at war with Nato”.

Speaking to reporters during a flight to Washington DC, Sir Keir said Russia started the conflict in Ukraine and it can end the war “straight away”.

During the trip, he admitted there had been no impact assessment of how the decision to cut winter fuel payments will affect millions of pensioners.

However, the new measures have cost him points in favourability ratings as a new Ipsos poll found 46 per cent of people see him unfavourably, an eight-point increase in three months.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has also been pressured over the upcoming October Budget, has seen her favourability fall by four points to 23 per cent.

Key Points

• Sharp dip in public backing for Starmer after winter fuel payments row
• Starmer and Biden to discuss decision on use of Ukraine missiles
• Putin warns West about allowing Storm Shadow missiles
• No winter fuel payments cut assessment was done, Starmer admits
• Government to use Online Safety Act to crackdown on revenge porn

Bank of England set to pause interest rate cuts as ‘cautious tone’ sticks

The Bank of England could hit the pause button on interest rate cuts after warning it needs to be “careful” not to rush the decision as pressures on inflation linger.

Experts think that the Bank’s rate-setting committee will likely keep UK interest rates at five per cent on Thursday.

The central bank had cut rates from 5.25 per cent in August, pushing through the first reduction since 2020.

Governor Andrew Bailey said it was able to do so because inflationary pressures had “eased enough”, but stressed that policymakers “need to be careful not to cut interest rates too quickly or by too much”.

UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation returned to the Bank’s two per cent target level in May and June, but then crept up to 2.2 per cent in July.

A group of economists for ING said some of the caution can be explained by inflation in the services sector, things like hospitality and culture, which the Bank’s policymakers watch closely when trying to work out how much domestic prices are rising.

Services-only inflation hit 5.2 per cent in July, down from 5.7 per cent the previous month, but still above the levels seen in the US and Eurozone.

They expect the majority of the committee to vote to keep rates on hold this month, before the pace of cuts picks up again in November.

Sanjay Raja, senior economist for Deutsche Bank, said that “despite cutting rates in August, the MPC struck a more cautious tone around inflation risks – something that will likely stick in September”.

He also thinks the Bank will keep rates the same on Thursday but then reduce them again in November.

Ed Balls claims NHS needs ‘big injection of resources’ to cope with reform

Former Labour chancellor Ed Balls has said the NHS needs a “big injection of resources” urgently to cope with Sir Keir Starmer’s planned reform.

Mr Balls said the government will not deliver a “marked improvement” on the service unless there is “substantially bigger increase in health resources”.

He told his Political Currency podcast: “The reforms are important, but the thing which will make the biggest difference, if you get the right reforms with value for money, is a big injection of resources.

“If Labour wants to have delivered change by the next election, that injection of resources has to happen now.”

He added: “There is no way on earth there will be a marked improvement in health outcomes or perception of the health service without a substantially bigger increase in health resources over this Parliament than we’ve seen on average in the last 15 years.”

Motoring organisation urges Home Secretary to appoint 1,000 new ‘cops in cars’

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is being urged to appoint 1,000 new roads police officers amid fears that many drivers are “getting away” with motoring offences.

The AA issued the plea after its analysis of Home Office figures found the number of traffic officers in England and Wales has fallen by 1,022 from 5,237 in 2016 to 4,215 in March this year.

A survey of its members conducted last month indicated 57% believe people can get away with careless driving due to a lack of police presence on the roads.

Many respondents also said other offences were going unpunished due to the reduction in the number of roads police officers, including using a handheld phone behind the wheel (44 per cent), drug driving (42 per cent), not wearing a seatbelt (46 per cent) and using a dangerous vehicle (43 per cent).

The AA said it welcomed the increased use of AI cameras which can detect more offences beyond speeding, but warned roads policing cannot be carried out by cameras alone.

About nine out of 10 (91 per cent) of its members surveyed said more traffic police would make communities safer.

Labour’s general election manifesto included a pledge to recruit “thousands” of new police officers to tackle neighbourhood crime.

UK Government to buy ESO from National Grid in £630m deal

The government is to buy the Electricity System Operator (ESO) from National Grid after striking a deal worth £630 million.

It will pave the way for the ESO – the operation which oversees balancing supply and demand in the UK’s electricity grid – to be taken into public hands.

The move is part of the launch of the new National Energy System Operator (NESO) – a public body designed to aid the UK’s clean energy transition and support energy security.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said the new body will launch on 1 October following the deal with National Grid.

National Grid said the “final cash consideration” for the sale is still subject to potential adjustments before the deal closes.

The new state-owned body will bring together planning for the UK’s electricity and gas networks under one roof, following the passage of the Energy Act in October last year.

The NESO will be chaired by former E.ON chief executive Paul Golby, with Fintan Slye as its chief executive.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Today marks a milestone for Britain’s energy system as we bring the system operator into public ownership to provide impartial, whole-system expertise on building a network that is fit for the future.

“The new National Energy System Operator has a huge role to play in delivering our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

“This is another step forward by a Government in a hurry to deliver for the British people.”

Labour support drops in first poll since general election

Starmer refuses to rule out axing single-person council tax discount

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out scrapping the 25 per cent single-person council tax discount, saying decisions on the public finances had to be looked at “in the round”.

The prime minister said he would not be drawn on the future of the tax break for people who live alone ahead of chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget on October 30.

Scrapping the discount could further hit some pensioners living alone who have already suffered the loss of winter fuel payments, but Sir Keir insisted he was not punishing elderly Britons.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils, has argued that cash-strapped authorities should be given the power to vary the single person discount, which is worth about £3 billion a year.

Sir Keir was challenged about the potential impact of scrapping the discount for elderly people who live alone and denied the assertion it was a “punishment beating” for pensioners.

“No, absolutely not,” he told reporters accompanying him on his trip to Washington.

“And let’s just try to quash this now. The Budget is on October 30. So, between now and then, you are all going to ask me questions, as you did before the election, ‘will you rule out X, Y, Z?’

“And knowing that I’m not going to say before the Budget what we’re going to do, you will then write a story saying, ‘refused to rule out X, Y, Z’.

“I’m not going to say before the Budget what we’re going to do.

“That does not mean that I’m ruling in anything that you might be putting to me, it simply means, like every Prime Minister, we’re not going to reveal what’s in the Budget before we get to it.”

But when it was put to him that Ms Reeves had ruled out other potential cash-saving options such as scrapping free bus passes, TV licences and prescriptions, he said: “We’ve got to look at everything in the round.”

Report reveals slower and cheaper alternative to scrapped HS2 route

A slower and cheaper 50-mile railway line could be built in place of a scrapped section of HS2, a new report has revealed.

The alternative route between Staffordshire and Cheshire, which would connect with the east-west Northern Powerhouse Rail, was described as a “golden opportunity” by former HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins.

The report commissioned by mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands said the route would be critical for movements of passengers and freight between the two regions.

Read the full story below:

New report reveals slower and cheaper alternative to scrapped HS2 route

The new route between Staffordshire and Cheshire would connect with the Northern Powerhouse Rail

Jenrick vows to lift the ban on new grammar schools and VAT on private schools

Robert Jenrick has promised to lift the ban on opening new grammar schools if he wins the Tory leadership race.

The last Labour government banned the opening of new grammar schools but existing ones are allowed to expand.

Asked if he would scrap Labour’s ban on new grammar schools, Mr Jenrick told Chopper’s Political Podcast: “Yes. My constituents enjoy grammar schools in Lincolnshire. I am a strong supporter of grammar schools.”

He also said he would reverse Labour’s decision to impose VAT on private school fees.

Jenrick warns still ‘long road’ ahead in Tory leadership contest

Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick has warned there is still a “long road” ahead in the contest after tipped as a possible winner.

Asked if he had already won the contest, Mr Jenrick told GB News: “It is a long road, as you know, but I am absolutely delighted to have won so much support from parliamentary colleagues across the party, all wings of the parliamentary Conservative Party.

“And I think the message is resonating with MPs and above all with the members and the general public that the Conservative Party needs to change.”

MPs could face crackdown on paid media roles in blow to Farage

MPs such as Nigel Farage and Lee Anderson’s presenting roles at GB News could be at risk under potential reforms from a new parliamentary body set up to restore trust in politics.

In its election manifesto, the Labour Party committed to establishing a modernisation committee of crossparty MPs tasked with reforming House of Commons procedures and drive up standards.

Following the newly-formed committee’s first meeting this week, chair Lucy Powell – who also serves as Commons leader – set out the body’s key priorities on Thursday, including addressing “cultural issues of bullying and harassment” and giving MPs more opportunity to scrutinise government legislation.

You can read the full story below:

MPs could face crackdown on paid media roles in blow to Farage

New crossparty group of MPs tasked with driving up standards to prioritise looking at whether paid media roles offer any value to public

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