Browsing: Labour Party

Over 100 Labour MPs have launched a significant rebellion against the government’s welfare reform bill, supporting a formal amendment to block its progress until further consultation and comprehensive impact assessments, especially regarding disabled people, are carried out.

PM Keir Starmer is pressing ahead with a controversial £5 billion-a-year overhaul of disability benefits, centred on tighter eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), despite facing rebellion from up to 170 Labour MPs.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reversed the winter fuel payment cut, confirming full payments of £200–£300 this winter for pensioners earning up to £35,000 a year in England and Wales.

The five problems with the chancellor’s U-turn on winter fuel payments – and there are some major issues.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out introducing a wealth tax under a Labour government, despite growing pressure from trade unions and party members.

This morning’s front pages are dominated by two key narratives: the Trump-Musk feud – a high‑profile clash between Trump and Musk that’s made international headlines – and the dramatic departure of Zia Yusuf from Reform UK — spotlighting deep divisions ahead of future elections. Meanwhile, heavyweight political discourse continues with calls to reform the European Convention on Human Rights, and diplomatic tensions simmer as Moscow accuses the UK of aiding drone strikes with Ukraine.

Scottish Labour pulled off an unexpected victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, taking the seat from the SNP despite sliding poll numbers and backlash over UK-wide policies like cuts to winter fuel payments.

The Labour government’s U-turn on their deeply unpopular cuts to the winter fuel payments leads much of the newspapers. The government has said more pensioners will now be in line to receive the payment again but stopped short of explaining the new eligibility criteria. The chancellor did confirm those who will be eligible will receive their payment by this winter.

Thursday’s newspaper headlines report on the winter fuel U-turn announced by the chancellor yesterday – widely welcomed by the newspapers.

The government has confirmed that more people will qualify for the winter fuel payment this year, in a U-turn on one of Labour’s first controversial policies. Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated the increased eligibility will be in place “this winter,” though specific details on the new threshold and who qualifies remain vague.