UK politics live: Winter fuel payment cut delivers Starmer approval ratings blow ahead of Biden talks

✕ Close

Your support helps us to tell the story

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

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

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.

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 that it can end the war “straight away”.

Key Points

• Sharp dip in public backing for Starmer after winter fuel payments row
• No winter fuel payments cut assessment was done, Starmer admits
• Starmer and Biden to discuss decision on use of Ukraine missiles
• Putin warns West about allowing Storm Shadow missiles
• Starmer refuses to rule out axing single-person council tax discount

Flynn mulls Holyrood move but says he has not considered run for SNP leadership

Stephen Flynn has insisted becoming SNP leader is not something he has “actively considered” – though he added that if the top post in his party becomes vacant he will think about it.

The SNP Westminster leader is mulling over whether to make the switch from the House of Commons to Holyrood, saying he will make a decision well ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election in May 2026.

A move to Holyrood could put him in prime position to become the next leader of the party – despite John Swinney insisting he was “no caretaker” when he took on the job in May this year.

Mr Flynn said he was “genuinely just glad” Mr Swinney had taken on the role – but the current Scottish First Minister could come under pressure from within his party if the SNP loses power at Holyrood in the 2026 vote.

Asked if he is going to stand for Holyrood in that election, Mr Flynn said: “I’ve just not made up my mind.”

Briefing Scottish political journalists at the House of Commons, the Aberdeen South MP said he will “make a decision early next year”.

Campaigners welcome Labour’s junk food ad bans

Chef and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has said it is “fantastic to finally see action” after the Government confirmed plans for a pre-watershed ban on adverts for junk food products.

Labour confirmed it will introduce legislation to ban companies advertising products deemed high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) on TV before 9pm.

It will also include a total ban on paid-for online adverts for these products, in an effort to tackle childhood obesity coming into force in October 2025.

Food industry bosses said they want the government to “move swiftly” on finalising the draft regulations so that firms can be prepared ahead of the law change.

Meanwhile, the Advertising Association trade group said the announcement will bring certainty but questioned the potential impact of the measures on tackling childhood obesity.

TV chef and childhood obesity campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall praised the proposed legislation.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s fantastic to finally see action and to have a government who looks like they accept the idea that it is part of their role to help us to lead healthier lives.

“In the end, this is just one of a raft of measures that we need to see.

“We’ve identified so many vital levers that that could be pulled to help people, particularly young people, live healthier lives, reduce the huge burden of obesity on the NHS. And this is a lever that even the previous government acknowledged needed to be pulled.”

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.

Does our technocrat PM believe he is above politics?

Keir Starmer’s growing impatience with the House of Commons suggests that, having come late to politics, he thinks he is better than those who have spent their lives doing nothing but politics, says John Rentoul:

Does our technocrat PM believe he is above politics?

Keir Starmer’s growing impatience with the House of Commons suggests that, having come late to politics, he thinks he is better than those who have spent their lives doing nothing but politics, says John Rentoul

UK’s first coal mine in 30 years blocked over 'legally flawed' climate claims

The decision to grant planning permission for what would have been the UK’s first coal mine in 30 years has been quashed by a High Court judge.

Mr Justice Holgate said that giving the go-ahead for the development at Whitehaven in Cumbria was “legally flawed”.

Climate campaign group Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change took legal action over the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s decision to grant planning permission in 2022.

Read the full story below:

UK’s first coal mine in 30 years blocked by High Court

Mr Justice Holgate said arguments in favour of supporting the decision to grant planning permission for the site at Whitehaven were ‘unsustainable’.

UK national debt could reach nearly 300% of GDP in next 50 years

The UK’s national debt is on an “unsustainable path” and is set to nearly triple in relation to the economy over the next 50 years, the Office for Budget Responsibility has warned.

Public debt is currently at its highest since the early 1960s, sitting at a total of some £2.7 trillion – equating to around 99.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Read the full story below:

UK national debt could reach nearly 300% of GDP in next 50 years

Britain’s ageing population, climate change and rising geopolitical tensions all expected to put pressure on Treasury, OBR says

Why Ukraine wants to use Western long-range missiles inside Russia?

Ukraine is pushing for permission from its Western partners to use the long-range missiles they have provided to strike targets deep inside Russia, as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.

Kyiv officials argue the weapons are vital to weaken Russia’s ability to strike Ukraine and force it to move its strike capabilities further from the border.

Russia has warned that it would consider allowing such long-range strikes an act of war, and Ukraine’s Western allies are wary of antagonizing the country with the world’s largest nuclear arsenal.

The issue is likely to weigh heavily on White House meetings today between US President Joe Biden and Sir Keir Starmer, as well as with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later this month.

The long-range missiles include systems like the British-led Storm Shadow and the similar French-made SCALP or the U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System, ATACMS.

Port Sudan ‘safer than London’, says bishop

A city in war-torn Sudan is safer than London, according to a peer.

The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, made the remark as he encouraged the soon-to-be-appointed UK special representative for Sudan to visit Port Sudan.

The city on the Red Sea serves as the seat of the internationally recognised, military-backed government.

Sudan descended into conflict in April 2023 when tensions between the military and a powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, exploded into open warfare.

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Sudan because of the ongoing conflict in Khartoum and other parts of the country.

The department’s travel advice notes the only functional civilian airport operating international flights is Port Sudan Airport.

Speaking during a House of Lords debate, Mr Baines said: “The UK Government must, in my opinion, along with partners, leverage all its resources and political power to cut off the arms flow and create the conditions where any credible ceasefire might create the space for negotiation.

“Failure to address this catastrophe now will only lead to increasingly uncontrollable consequences elsewhere, further destabilisation of an already fragile region – an example, oil gelling in the pipelines will diminish South Sudan’s economy and add to economic and humanitarian challenges – mass irregular migration will be a consequence and so on.

“So I agree with the call for all diplomatic means – the minister said – and one to add is I think it’s essential that the new head of office, the new special envoy must physically get into Sudan.

“I have to say Port Sudan when I was there was safer than London. But we need physical, visible presence, even if it’s only on a regular visit. Other ambassadors and envoys are doing this.”

Ed Miliband vows to deliver ‘energy security’ with more solar panels

Prison population down 2% in a week as hundreds of inmates freed early

The adult prison population dropped by more than 2,000 in the week the government freed hundreds of inmates early.

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures showed 86,333 prisoners were behind bars in England and Wales on Friday.

This is 2,188 fewer than the 88,521 recorded at the end of last week, when the number of inmates being held hit another new record high amid the jail overcrowding crisis, indicating the population fell by two per cent in seven days.

The government said around 1,750 prisoners were freed early on Tuesday from jails across the two nations, suggesting a further 438 people also left under standard release terms.

The drop means the operational capacity for English and Welsh men and women’s prisons is 89,552, indicating there is now cell space for 3,219 criminals.

On Wednesday prime minister Sir Keir Starmer defended freeing criminals, including some convicted killers, early from prison as he angrily blamed previous government inaction for forcing him into taking urgent steps to tackle the problem.

This week’s mass exodus came after Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans in July to cut temporarily the proportion of sentences which inmates must serve behind bars from 50 per cent to 40 per cent as the MoJ said overcrowding had pushed jails to the “point of collapse”.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.