Doctors are threatening strike action after the government announced they would receive a 4 per cent pay rise.
The British Medical Association (BMA), the union representing doctors, said the pay rise does not go far enough in restoring historical pay freezes.
The National Education Union (NEU), the largest union for teachers, meanwhile threatened to “register a dispute” with the government unless it fully funds the 4 per cent pay rise for teachers, part of which is currently due to be covered by existing school budgets.
The pay increases, recommended by independent pay review bodies, are above the rate of inflation, which jumped to 3.5 per cent in April, up from 2.6 per cent in March and the highest since January 2024.
But Professor Philip Banfield, the BMA’s chairman of council, warned it was already considering strike action, as the union believes the pay rise does not do enough to restore doctors’ pay after previous salary freezes.
Elsewhere, most members of the armed forces will be given a 4.5 per cent pay rise; senior civil servants will get a 3.25 per cent pay rise; prison officers and managers are also set to get a 4 per cent pay rise; and judicial office holders, a group which includes judges, will also get a 4 per cent pay rise.
Net migration halved last year in boost to Keir Starmer
Plans to use mandatory chemical castration on serious sexual offenders after prison review
Starmer blocked from completing Chagos Islands deal by High Court judge after last-minute injunction
Starmer U-turns on winter fuel payment cuts – but millions could still miss out this winter
Key Points
- Net migration halves as fewer people come to UK for work and study
- Judge lifts injunction blocking deal to hand over Chagos islands
- Cleverly claims credit for migration drop
- Chemical castration considered for sex offenders to reduce re-offending
- Fewer criminals to serve jail time under proposals to end prison overcrowding
Which public sector workers are getting a pay rise?
15:57 , Jabed Ahmed- NHS doctors: 4 per cent
- Teachers: 4 per cent
- Other NHS workers (nurses, midwives and physiotherapists): 3.6 per cent
- Armed forces: 4.5 per cent
- Senior members of the military: 3.75 per cent
- Senior civil servants: 3.25 per cent
- Prison officers and managers: 4 per cent
- Judicial office holders, a group which includes judges: 4 per cent
Chagos Islands deal will cost the UK £3.4 billion, Says Starmer
15:35 , Jabed AhmedThe deal with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands will cost the UK £3.4 billion overall, Sir Keir Starmer said.
Speaking as he signed a deal to hand over the islands, the Prime Minister said: “£101 million a year is the average cost. The net overall cost is therefore £3.4 billion overall. That’s over the 99 years.
“The average £100 million per year is about the same, or slightly less than, the running cost of an aircraft carrier, minus the aircraft.
“Now, given the significance of this facility, both the geography and the capability, you can see that as, again, measured against an aircraft carrier running costs that this is very good value for money.
“I should also say that is very similar to arrangements made by other allies, the US and France in relation to the bases that they lease and make arrangements for as well.”
He earlier told the audience at the handover that the base on Diego Garcia is essential for a range of UK defence matters, including anti-terror operations, telecommunications and its deep water port.
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Teachers and doctors threaten strike action after 4% pay rise announcement
15:29 , Jabed AhmedBoth teachers and doctors are threatening strike action, after ministers announced they would receive a 4 per cent pay rise following the latest review of public sector pay.
The British Medical Association (BMA), the union representing doctors, said the pay rise does not go far enough in restoring historical pay freezes.
The National Education Union (NEU), the largest union for teachers, meanwhile threatened to “register a dispute” with the Government unless it fully funds the pay rise for teachers, part of which is currently due to be covered by existing school budgets.
Both professions in England will receive a 4% increase, according to statements released by ministers on Thursday afternoon, while other NHS workers will get 3.6 per cent.
NHS staff in Wales are also likely to be given the same pay award, as the Welsh Government has accepted the same recommendations.
The increases, recommended by independent pay review bodies, are above the rate of inflation, which jumped to 3.5 per cent in April, up from 2.6 per cent in March and the highest since January 2024.
But Professor Philip Banfield, the BMA’s chairman of council, warned it was already considering strike action, as the union believes the pay rise does not do enough to restore doctors’ pay after previous salary freezes.
“Doctors’ pay is still around a quarter less than it was in real terms 16 years ago and today’s ‘award’ delays pay restoration even more, without a Government plan or reassurance to correct this erosion of what a doctor is worth,” he said.
Starmer signs Chagos Islands deal
15:14 , Jabed AhmedSir Keir Starmer is speaking on the Chagos Island deal after a high court judge cleared the way for the government to sign it.
The deal, which would see Britain give up sovereignty of the island territory to Mauritius and lease back a crucial military base there, was due to be signed on Thursday morning but was temporarily blocked by an injunction hours before.
Mr Justice Goose granted an injunction at 2.25am against the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for “interim relief” to Bertrice Pompe, one of two British women born on the Chagos Islands who is set to bring legal action against the Government over the deal.
After an urgent hearing on Thursday, Mr Justice Chamberlain said the injunction should be discharged.
Migration in numbers: Who is coming to the UK and why?
15:13 , Jabed AhmedOur Data Correspondent Alicja Hagopian reports:
Analysis | ‘Tough on crime’ politics has not made us safer – the prisons crisis has forced a rethink
14:56 , Amy-Clare Martin, Crime CorrespondentBritain is facing the biggest overhaul to sentencing and criminal justice in a generation as the government accepts a string of recommendations to ease prison overcrowding.
It comes after prisons once again came within months of running out of space entirely, risking the “total breakdown of law and order” which would leave police unable to make arrests and courts unable to send offenders to custody, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood warned last week.
While the overcrowding crisis may have forced her hand, many working in the criminal justice sector would argue these types of reforms are long overdue, but the “tough on crime” narrative which has pervaded British politics and media commentary in recent decades has left successive governments unwilling to act.
Read the full analysis below:
Analysis: ‘Tough on crime’ politics has not made us safer – we need a rethink
Highest number of daily small boats arrivals this year
14:41 , Jabed AhmedSome 825 migrants arrived in the UK on Wednesday after crossing the English Channel, according to provisional figures from the Home Office.
It is the highest number of arrivals on a single day so far this year.
The cumulative number of arrivals by small boats in 2025 now stands at a provisional total of 13,573.
This is 37% higher than at the same point last year, when the total stood at 9,882, and 86% higher than at this stage in 2023, when the total was 7,297.
There were 13 boats that arrived on Wednesday, which suggests an average of around 63 people per boat.
The record for the highest number of arrivals on a single day is 1,305, which took place on September 3 2022.
Teaching unions are not happy with the government's pay rise
14:38 , Jabed AhmedThe largest education union in the UK has threatened to “register a dispute” with the government unless it fully funds the pay rise for teachers.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said: “Whilst we acknowledge and welcome additional funding to that initially offered by government, it is still the case that the pay award is not fully funded.
“In many schools this will mean cuts in service provision to children and young people, job losses, and additional workloads for an already overstretched profession.”
He added: “Unless the Government commit to fully funding the pay rise then it is likely that the NEU will register a dispute with the Government on the issue of funding, and campaign to ensure every parent understands the impact of a cut in the money available to schools, and that every politician understands this too.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union the NAHT, said school leaders are “concerned” about the affordability of the pay rise for teachers which is not fully funded by the government.
“The news that the schools will be receiving additional funding to help cover some of the costs is welcome, but they will remain concerned that they will still need to find a proportion from within their existing budget allocations,” he added.
Tax rises ‘feel inevitable’ after jump in Government borrowing
14:24 , Jabed AhmedTax increases from the Chancellor later this year “feel inevitable”, economists have said after UK Government borrowing jumped last month.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing rose to £20.2 billion, its fourth-highest April figure on record, mounting further pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to meet her fiscal rules.
Economists have said the increased deficit, plans to increase defence spending and the U-turn on winter fuel payments could indicate future tax rises are needed to balance the state finances in the longer term.
Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said: “April’s public finances figures showed that despite the boost from the rise in employers’ national insurance (NI) contributions, the fiscal year got off to a poor start.
“With the PM announcing a partial U-turn on the cut to winter fuel payments, the dilemma faced by the Chancellor over how to deal with increased spending pressures in an environment of low economic growth and high interest rates hasn’t gone away.
“With the markets seemingly uneasy about more public borrowing, further tax rises are starting to feel inevitable.”
Matt Swannell, chief economic adviser to the EY Item Club, said higher borrowing and pressure from US tariff plans on economic growth could “more than eliminate the slim headroom” against the rules.
He said: “A potential reversal of winter fuel payment cuts and the likelihood that defence spending will need to rise again will make the fiscal arithmetic even more challenging and increase the pressure to generate more revenue through tax rises.”
Comment | Well done, Rishi – you handed Keir Starmer his immigration ‘win’ on a plate
14:09 , Jabed AhmedRead the full Voices article from our chief political commentator John Rentoul:
Well done, Rishi – you handed Keir Starmer his immigration ‘win’ on a plate
SNP calls on Labour to remove two-child benefit cap
13:51 , Jabed AhmedSNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has asked if the Government will U-turn on its “heinous” two-child benefit cap.
He told MPs: “‘Cruel and a policy that sees the third child treated almost as a second class citizen’, not my phrasing, but that of Gordon Brown in describing the Labour Party’s two-child benefit cap, and it is the Labour Party’s two-child benefit cap, because they went through the voting lobbies to retain it just last year.
“Now in Scotland, we know the SNP is going to be scrapping the two-child benefit cap, but based upon (Sir Keir Starmer’s) U-turn yesterday in respect of the winter fuel limits, I was wondering whether the Leader of the House can advise us whether another one is likely in respect of this heinous policy?”
Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell replied: “This Labour Government, like the last Labour government, is absolutely determined to reduce child poverty in this country, and we will be judged on our actions over the course of this Parliament, whether we are reducing child poverty or not, and it’s something we are determined to do.
“So I thank him for his advice, and I thank the former prime minister Gordon Brown, who I greatly respect, for his advice as well. But our child poverty strategy will be coming out later this summer, and he’ll have ample opportunity to discuss that then.”
Breaking: Teachers and doctors granted pay rise, ministers announce
13:32 , Barney DavisTeachers and doctors in England will be given a 4% pay rise, and other NHS workers a 3.6% rise, ministers have announced following the latest review of public sector pay.
Armed forces granted huge pay rise
13:23 , Barney DavisMost members of the armed forces will be given a 4.5% pay rise, John Healey has announced, while senior members of the military will receive a 3.75% rise.
The Defence Secretary said the Government was accepting in full the recommendations on military pay from review bodies.
In a written statement, Mr Healey said: “Accepting these recommendations, represents an annual increase of £2,100 in the nominal ‘average’ salary in the Armed Forces as well as an annual increase of £1,500 in the starting salary for an officer.”
£700m boost for probation service under Labour plans
13:18 , Barney DavisJustice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has confirmed a huge funding boost to tag more criminals.
In a statement to the Commons, she said: “In the second part of the progression model, offenders will enter a period of intensive supervision. This will see more offenders tagged and close management from probation. The Government will therefore significantly increase its funding.
“By the final year of the spending review period an annual £1.6 billion will rise by up to £700 million, allowing us to tag and monitor tens of thousands more offenders.
“If offenders do not comply with the conditions of their release, the sentencing review has suggested that recall to prison should be capped at 56 days.
Economic impact of migration fall likely to be relatively small, says expert
13:18 , Jabed AhmedThe Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said the “record-breaking decline” in net migration was possible “primarily because numbers had previously been so high”.
Its director, Dr Madeleine Sumption, said the economic impact of the fall “is actually likely to be relatively small” because “the groups that have driven the decline, such as study and work dependants, are neither the highest skilled, highest-paid migrants who make substantial contributions to tax revenues, nor the most disadvantaged groups that require substantial support”.
Her colleague Dr Ben Brindle, a researcher at the organisation, said net migration is likely to fall further still as the Conservative government’s restrictions “are not yet fully visible in the data” and Labour’s recent policy proposals “should reduce migration further”.
But he added: “These declines will not necessarily take us to particularly low levels, by historical standards.”
Shabana Mahmood not 'squeamish' about chemical castration
13:11 , Barney DavisJustice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she is not “squeamish” about pursuing a rollout of chemical castration for sex offenders.
Responding to Labour MP for Warrington North, Charlotte Nichols’ push for an estimate on success of the treatment, Ms Mahmood replied: “The studies that exist show a 60% reduction in offending, she is right to say that for this subset of offenders, for some the offending relates to power, but for another subset of offenders the combination of chemical suppressants and psychological interventions can, we believe, have a big and positive impact.
“For many years there’s a pilot that has been trundling along and nobody has shown much interest in it including any of my predecessors. Tory justice secretaries have just let it carry on. I’m not willing to do that. I’m not squeamish about taking these further measures.
“It’s why we’re going to have a national rollout of this programme. I will make sure that that is what happens. It’s why I’m starting with expanding it to two further regions, including prisoners in 20 further prisons, so that we can build the evidence base and make sure that we are using every tool at our disposal that can cut reoffending.”
UK deal to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius can go ahead, judge rules
13:07 , Millie CookeThe UK government’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius can go ahead, the High Court has ruled, after campaigners brought a last minute legal challenge overnight.
The deal, which would see Britain give up sovereignty of the island territory to Mauritius and lease back a crucial military base there, was due to be signed on Thursday morning but was temporarily blocked by an injunction hours before.
Our lobby team reports on this breaking news:
Judge blocks UK from completing Chagos Islands deal at eleventh hour
Nearly 2,000 Afghan children living in hotels, military bases and other temporary accommodation in UK
13:05 , Barney DavisThe number of people being brought to the UK under the Afghan schemes is on the rise. Data shows that there were 7,736 people resettled in the year ending March 2025, a 17 per cent increase on the previous year.
Holly Bancroft reports:
Nearly 2,000 Afghan children of British allies living in temporary housing in the UK
What nationality are the people coming to the UK?
12:58 , Jabed AhmedThis is a major change from the pattern before the UK had left the European Union and also before the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2019, non-EU+ nationals accounted for 47% of total immigration, while EU+ nationals made up 44% and British nationals 9%.
There were 766,000 non-EU+ nationals who immigrated to the UK in 2024, of which 83% were of working age (between 16 and 64), 16% were children and 1% were aged 65 or over.
The top five most common countries of nationality were:
- Indian (156,000 people, down year-on-year from 277,000)
- Pakistani (76,000, down from 94,000)
- Chinese (70,000, down from 77,000)
- Nigerian (52,000, down from 165,000)
- Ukrainian (23,000, down from 40,000)
Judge returns to courtroom to give Chagos Islands judgement
12:48 , Barney DavisMr Justice Chamberlain has returned to the High Court to give his judgement over whether to continue the injunction that's blocking the government from completing its negotiations over the Chagos Islands.
Earlier, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "The government should tear up its plans to surrender the Chagos Islands.
"This is a disgraceful surrender of British sovereignty."
Ministers still preparing for Chagos deal to go ahead today despite legal wrangling
12:45 , Millie CookeThe Independent understands the government is preparing for the Chagos Islands deal to still go ahead this afternoon, despite a late legal challenge to the deal.
Ministers had initially planned to sign the deal this morning, which would give Mauritius sovereignty over the islands. But a late legal challenge from a Chagossian saw High Court judge Sir Julian Goose put a pause on the treaty being signed at 3am following hours of legal wrangling.
A Downing Street spokesperson said any attempt to hold up the deal is a threat to national security, saying the deal is "critical" to protect British interests.
Lib Dems appalled by Robert Jenric 'playing politics' with domestic violence
12:45 , Barney DavisLiberal Democrats justice spokesman Josh Babarinde hit out at Robert Jenrick for playing politics with victims of domestic abuse after he accused Labour of giving criminals discounts in their sentence “so big they’d make Aldi and Lidl blush”.
Jenrick ended his speech to MPs by labelling Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s statement as “radical, terrible changes made today, cloaked in necessity”.
Mr Babarinde told MPs: “And something that must be said is that it is absolutely appalling that the shadow Justice Secretary (Robert Jenrick) has tried to play politics with domestic abuse.”
What has caused the latest drop in net migration?
12:37 , Jabed AhmedIt is the result of changes both in the number of people coming to the UK (immigrating) and those leaving the country (emigrating).
The drop in immigration has been driven by a fall in the number of non-EU+ nationals coming to the UK to work and study.
Non-EU+ nationals refers to people who are not from the European Union or from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
There was a 49% decrease in 2024 in non-EU+ nationals arriving in the UK as the main applicant on a work visa, along with a 35% fall in those coming as work dependants.
The number of non-EU+ nationals arriving as main applicants on a study visa dropped by 17%, while there was a much larger fall of 86% in study dependants.
These decreases are likely to reflect changes in migration rules introduced in early 2024 by the previous Conservative government, which included restricting the ability of most international students to bring family members.
Total long-term immigration in 2024 fell below one million for the first time in a calendar year since 2021, with an estimated 948,000 people coming to live in the UK in the 12 months to December, down 29% from a record 1.33 million in 2023.
At the same time, long-term emigration has risen, with 517,000 people leaving the UK in 2024, up from 466,000 in 2023.
This rise in emigration has been driven by an increase in those who originally came to the UK on study-related visas and who are now reaching the end of their courses.
The majority (61%) of non-EU+ nationals who left the UK in 2024 had originally arrived for study-related reasons.
Shabana Mahmood accuses Tories of doing a 'runner' by calling an election rather than build new prisons
12:33 , Barney DavisJustice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has accused the Conservatives of doing a “runner” on prisons in a fiery debate in the Commons.
Responding to Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, Ms Mahmood told the Commons: “If his government that he was a part of had ever been serious, they would have built more than 500 prison places in 14 years in office. He is a new convert to the prison building cause.”
She later added: “He talked about iron bars, but he was part of a government that did not build the prison places that this country needs. Unlike him, I take responsibility, and it has fallen to me to clean up the mess he and his party left behind.
“Let me spell out for him in case there is any confusion of what happens when he and his party leave our prison system on the brink of collapse, which is exactly what they did, and the prospect that faced me on day one when I walked into the justice department.
“When prisons are on the verge of collapse, you basically only really have two choices left at your disposal – you either shut the front door in or you have to open the back door out.”
Ms Mahmood continued: “Did they make any decisions? No, they just decided to call an election instead. They did a runner and the public put them in their current position, and if they ever want to get out of that position, I would suggest they start by reckoning with the reality of their own track record in office.”
Starmer not worried about worker shortages following migration drop, No10 says
12:24 , Jabed AhmedSir Keir Starmer is not worried about a potential workforce shortage after the biggest fall in net migration since the pandemic, Downing Street said.
The prime minister’s official spokesman indicated there were no concerns about workforce shortages, adding: “We are, for the first time, setting out a strategy to properly bring together a domestic skills strategy together with an immigration strategy.
“So we will be reducing our reliance on overseas labour by training up our domestic workforce and ensuring, as the public rightly expects, that our border system is secure.”
He would not be drawn on whether the previous government should be thanked for the drop in migration.
Asked how much further the Government might go, he said: “Under this Government, the number of visa applications has already fallen by 40% but we want to go further, and we expect the number of low-skilled visas to fall by 50,000 over the next year, with up to 100,000 fewer visas a year issued by the end of this Parliament.”
Asked if the government would be setting a target, he said: “We’re not setting a target for all the reasons that we’ve set out previously, where previous governments have set arbitrary targeting caps, they failed to deliver on them.”
Why did migration rise to record levels?
12:21 , Jabed AhmedSeveral factors were behind the recent increase.
The war in Ukraine led to thousands of people from that country coming to live in the UK through the Government’s resettlement schemes.
A similar scheme has seen British nationals arriving in the UK from Hong Kong, fleeing the security crackdown by the Chinese government.
Pent-up demand for study-related immigration due to Covid-19 travel restrictions also had an impact.
There was a steep jump in the number of international students coming to the UK in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic in 2021 and 2022.
A further factor has been the changes to the UK’s immigration system.
The post-Brexit introduction of new visas for specific kinds of employment – such as the skilled worker visa and the health and care worker visa – boosted the number of people immigrating to the UK for work.
How has migration changed in recent years?
12:09 , Jabed AhmedLevels of net migration to the UK have varied sharply.
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 208,000 in 2017, 276,000 in 2018 and 184,000 in 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 93,000 in 2020, when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose steeply to 484,000 in 2021 and 873,000 in 2022, before dropping slightly to 860,000 in 2023.
The 12 months to June 2023 saw net migration hit a record 906,000.
The new estimate of 431,000 for the year to December 2024 suggests levels are returning to those seen in the early years of the pandemic.
Lib Dem justice spokesman marks a very personal victory
12:06 , David MaddoxJosh Babarinde, the Lib Dem justice spokesman, was a very happy man amid a tetchy Commons debate today – because of a personal victory the sentencing review has brought about.
Mr Babarinde campaigned hard for a change in the law to ensure that domestic abuse was registered for the first time in British law.
Until now while individual crimes such as assault and sexual attacks are criminal offences they were never connected to domestic abuse and there was not a specific domestic abuse crime.
From now on if a crime is part of sexual abuse it has to be flagged and registered in the sentencing stage. It means that when it comes to early release the prison system can identify domestic abusers.
For Mr Babarinde this is the end of a long road where he as a child experienced and witnessed the domestic abuse of his mother from her former partner.
Chemical castration of sex offenders to be piloted in 20 prisons, says Mahmood
12:05 , Jabed AhmedA national rollout covering 20 prisons will pilot the use of medication to suppress the sex drive of sex offenders, the Justice Secretary has confirmed.
The Government is exploring whether to enforce the chemical castration on offenders as mandatory, Shabana Mahmood told MPs, after recommendations from the independent sentencing review to explore its use further to reduce the risk of reoffending.
The review led by former justice secretary David Gauke recommended reforms to overhaul the prisons system and make sure there is space to jail the most dangerous offenders after a string of emergency measures to deal with the capacity crisis.
In a statement to the Commons, Ms Mahmood said: “The review has recommended we continue a pilot of so-called medication to manage problematic sexual arousal.
“I will go further with a national rollout, beginning in two regions covering 20 prisons.
“And I am exploring whether mandating the approach is possible.
“Of course, it is vital that this approach is taken alongside psychological interventions that target other causes of offending, like asserting power and control.”
Robert Jenrick asked to tone it down by the Speaker
11:54 , David MaddoxSpeaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has had to remind Robert Jenrick to tone down his language as he works up fury over the prison reforms.
The Tory shadow justice secretary is reading out “dangerous” criminals who received short sentences for smashing people’s jaws, sexual assault, multiple shoplifting and will now be released even earlier.
He scoffs at the idea of “digital prisons”.
“Tags are not iron bars,” he said.
He accuses Labour of being “ideologically opposed to prisons”.
Home secretary hails drop in migration
11:52 , Jabed AhmedHome secretary Yvette Cooper has hailed the drop in net migration.
She said: “The 300,000 drop in net migration since the election is important and welcome after the figures quadrupled to nearly a million in the last Parliament.
“Our Immigration White Paper sets out radical reforms to further reduce net migration.
“These figures show a big increase in returns of failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders, record levels of illegal working penalties, and the asylum backlog and hotel use coming down.
“We are going even further by introducing new counter-terrorism style powers to boost our border security and smash the people smuggling gangs responsible for their vile trade."
Shabana Mahmood rejecting some of the more liberal parts of Gauke’s proposals
11:50 , David MaddoxThe justice secretary is making her statement on the sentencing review headed by former Tory minister David Gauke.
It is clear pretty quickly in her statement that she has rejected some of the more liberal elements of his plans to release prisoners early.
Shabana Mahmood will not agree to an upper limit on sentences for offenders who behave badly in prison which Gauke had suggested at 75 per cent.
She has also rejected proposals to allow dangerous prisoners with extended provisions out of prison early.
Ms Mahmood is also clear that she is pleased Gauke has not proposed the complete abolition of sentences under 12 months.
Nevertheless, she has to bring the number of prisoners down to tackle the overcrowding crisis.
Only 10% of public expected migration to fall, poll shows
11:49 , Jabed AhmedOnly 10 per cent of people in Britain were expecting net migration to fall, while six in ten (58%) expected it to increase, according to a poll by think tank British Future.
Around 28 per cent of the British public expected the numbers to remain about the same, the poll found.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said: “This significant fall in net migration will surprise 90% of the public, who expected numbers to keep going up.
“So Keir Starmer is in the unusual position for a PM of having exceeded expectations on immigration – though largely by not cancelling measures introduced by his predecessors.
“That gives him an opportunity to take a more pragmatic approach, managing the pressures and keeping the gains of immigration – rather than competing in a political auction over which party can pretend to eliminate it.”
Tories say net migration still too high
11:34 , Jabed AhmedShadow home secretary Chris Philp has said net migration came down thanks to measures put in place by the last government.
Writing on X, he added: “But it is still far too high and needs to go down further. That is why we need a binding annual immigration cap, set by Parliament - at much, much lower levels.”
“But when we Conservatives tabled that plan, Labour voted against it last week and again yesterday.”
In a reply to his post, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “A reminder that the moment Labour got in, they SCRAPPED the tough measures we took to get these numbers down.
“Numbers are still too high, and Starmer STILL keeps voting against every plan to bring them down further.
“Only the Conservatives can fix immigration.”
Angela Rayner wanted migrant benefits cut in latest pushback against Reeves, leaked memo suggests
11:19 , Jabed AhmedOur Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Rayner wanted migrant benefits cut in pushback against Reeves, leaked memo suggests
Starmer must strike balance between migration controls and boosting public services, think tank warns
11:04 , Archie MitchellSir Keir Starmer must strike a “careful balance” between cutting migration and supporting Britain’s ailing public services, Sir Tony Blair’s old favourite think tank has warned.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said the prime minister will have to be particularly careful with further restrictions on care visas, or risk exacerbating the workforce crisis in the sector.
Director of migration, trade and communities Marley Morris said: “Net migration has fallen sharply from its post-pandemic high, easing the way considerably for the government’s efforts to bring down numbers.
“Following last week’s immigration white paper, the government will now need to carefully balance managing overall levels of migration with its ambitions to grow the economy and repair public services.”
Analysis: Is Cleverly the real winner from net migration fall?
10:51 , Archie Mitchell, Political CorrespondentSir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper will feel buoyed by Thursday’s immigration figures - confirming net migration fell by half last year.
But the real winner from the announcement may just be James Cleverly.
The figures relate to the last year the Conservatives spent in power, and the fall in net migration is a result of measures Mr Cleverly introduced as home secretary.
After falling short in last year’s contest to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader, the figures will give Mr Cleverly a major boost among his colleagues as speculation about Kemi Badenoch’s future mounts.
It is thought she could be replaced before the next general election, and being able to claim credit for one of the few positive changes made in the dying days of the Tories’ 14 year term will do no harm to Mr Cleverly’s pitch to be the one taking over.
Cleverly claims credit for migration drop
10:39 , Jabed AhmedJames Cleverly has claimed credit after net migration fell by half last year, highlighting “changes I made that Labour opposed at the time”.
The Tory former home secretary said: “of course, they will try to claim credit for these figures, but the simple truth is that they are doing less and hoping they will get better results”.
In a social media video, Mr Cleverly said: “They can't just rely on work that the Conservatives did when we were in government, and they are failing to take action on things like illegal migration. So figures today are good news, but there's still a lot of work to be done by this Labour Government.”
Emigration close to levels seen before pandemic
10:08 , Jabed AhmedThe drop in net migration is the result of changes in the number of people immigrating to (arriving) and emigrating from (leaving) the UK.
Long-term immigration in 2024 fell below one million for the first time in a calendar year since 2021, with an estimated 948,000 people coming to live in the UK in the 12 months to December, down 29% from a record 1.33 million in 2023.
At the same time, long-term emigration has risen, with 517,000 people leaving the UK in 2024, up from 466,000 in 2023.
Emigration is now close to levels seen before the pandemic.
The rise in emigration has been driven by an increase in those who originally came to the UK on study-related visas and who are now reaching the end of their courses.
The majority (61%) of non-EU+ nationals who left the UK in 2024 had originally arrived for study-related reasons.
Fall in net migration driven by drop in people coming to work and study
09:52 , Jabed AhmedThe fall in net migration has been driven by a drop in the number of people coming to the UK to work and study, the ONS said.
There was a 49% decrease in 2024 in the number of non-EU+ nationals arriving in the UK as the main applicant on a work visa, along with a 35% fall in those coming as work dependants.
The number of non-EU+ nationals arriving as main applicants on a study visa dropped by 17%, while there was a much larger fall of 86% in study dependants.
The drop is likely to reflect changes in migration rules introduced in early 2024 by the previous Conservative government, which included restricting the ability of most international students to bring family members.
Non-EU+ nationals refers to people who are not from the European Union or from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Breaking: Net migration halved last year
09:32 , Jabed AhmedEstimated net migration to the UK stood at a provisional 431,000 in the year to December 2024, down 50% from 860,000 in the year to December 2023, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This is the largest numerical drop on record.
The previous biggest calendar year fall was during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, when net migration dropped from 184,000 in the year ending December 2019 to 93,000 in the year ending December 2020.
Net migration is the difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK long-term and the number of people leaving to live in another country.
Explained | What does the sentencing review mean for prisons?
09:24 , Jabed AhmedMy colleague Andy Gregory reports:
Watch | Worth building evidence on using chemical castration for sex offenders, says David Gauke
09:09 , Jabed AhmedPressure on Chancellor after Government borrowing jumps to £20.2bn
08:47 , Jabed AhmedUK Government borrowing rose by more than expected to £20.2 billion last month, mounting further pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to meet her fiscal rules.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing rose to its fourth-highest April figure on record after increasing £1 billion year-on-year.
The state borrowing figure reflects the difference between government spending and income, largely through tax receipts.
The latest figure showed that the Chancellor had to borrow more money than expected over the month, surpassing analyst predictions of £17.6 billion.
It comes as Ms Reeves seeks to meet her fiscal rule of balancing day-to-day spending with revenues by 2029-30, while improving public services and targeting accelerated economic growth.
Chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said: “After years of economic instability crippling the public purse, we have taken the decisions to stabilise our public finances, which has helped deliver four interest rate cuts since August, cutting the cost of borrowing for businesses and working people.
“We’re fixing the NHS, with three million more appointments to bring waiting lists down, rebuilding Britain with our landmark planning reforms and strengthening our borders, delivering on the priorities of the country through our plan for change.”
Review chairman: Nobody wants repeat of emergency early release scheme
08:36 , Jabed AhmedThe lead of an independent review into sentencing which could see violent criminals and sexual offenders released from prison earlier has said “nobody wants to see a repeat” of the emergency early release scheme.
Last autumn the Government released prisoners early to combat overcrowding, in a measure which independent reviewer David Gauke described as “rushed, unplanned and unstrategic”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Gauke, former Conservative justice secretary, said: “Nobody, I think, wants to see a repeat of that (early release scheme), because that is rushed, it’s unplanned, it’s unstrategic, and so on, and it’s much better to face up to the realities, recognise where we are with the prison population and set out a plan that is strategic, that is properly prepared and gives due notice to everybody, so that we do not find ourselves in that situation.
“Because if you run out of prison places, then really you are putting the whole criminal justice system at risk.”
He added that more community sentences could provide better value for money for the taxpayer.
“I think there is a point from the perspective of the taxpayer that can be missed here,” he said. “Prisons are expensive. They cost £54,000-a-year for a prison place. That money can be spent very effectively in the community, both punishing offenders and helping with rehabilitation.”
Judge blocks UK from completing Chagos Islands deal at eleventh hour
08:23 , Jabed AhmedA dramatic intervention last night by a senior judge threatens to throw Keir Starmer’s controversial plans to sign away the Chagos Islands to Mauritius today in chaos.
The plan is to sign the deal today which will give Mauritius sovereignty over the islands. It would follow months of wrangling amid concerns over the future of the UK/ US military base on Diego Garcia.
But a late legal challenge from a Chagossian saw High Court judge Sir Julian Goose put a pause on the treaty being signed at 3am this morning following hours of legal wrangling.
Our Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Judge blocks UK from completing Chagos Islands deal at eleventh hour
Foreign offenders should be sent back to their countries, review recommends
08:15 , Holly EvansDavid Gauke said there are recommendations in his sentencing review to send foreign offenders back to their countries.
He told Sky News: “If a foreign national offender is sentenced to less than three years, then we argue that they should be deported, as soon as possible.
“If they’ve got a sentence that is more than three years, so a particularly serious offence, we can deport them but there is absolutely no guarantee unless there’s a prison transfer agreement in place with another country that that offender will go into prison. They could well be then free, walking the streets.”
He added: “If we just deport them, whatever the length of their sentence, they could be walking free. And I don’t think that would be fair on victims. I don’t think that would be right for society as a whole.
“So you have to balance the guarantee of punishment for serious offenders with the case for getting them out of our jails as quickly as possible.”
It is possible to move quickly to deport people convicted of crimes, he said, but added that you “can’t have a blanket approach where every foreign national offender is deported”.
Chemical castration considered for sex offenders to reduce re-offending
07:59 , Holly EvansThe sentencing review recommends exploring chemical castration for sex offenders as a way of reducing reoffending, independent reviewer David Gauke has said.
“One of our recommendations is that we think that we should continue to explore this, this is drugs that reduces sexual desire,” Mr Gauke told Sky News.
“It’s not appropriate for every sexual offender, and the evidence base for this does need to be built up.”
A small pilot under way in the south west of England could be expanded, he said.
“I’m not going to claim it’s the answer for everything. This is about reducing the risk of reoffending in future. There are some sex offenders who want to reduce their desires. And if we can explore this, I think that is something that’s worthwhile,” he said.
Asked if this would be used instead of keeping sex offenders in prison, he said: “The point being is at some point almost every prisoner will be released. We have to look across the system at doing everything we can do to minimise the risk of reoffending. You cannot remove that risk altogether.”
Drugs for offenders can ‘reduce sexual desire’
07:50 , Holly EvansDavid Gauke has said drugs for sex offenders being released from prison can reduce their sexual desire.
The ex-justice secretary, following the publication of his sentencing review, said: “There are some sex offenders who want to reduce their desires, and if we can explore this, I think that is something that's worthwhile.”
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “Remember, almost everybody in prison is at some point going to be released. What we have to look at is to have a system in place that reduces the risks of reoffending as much as possible. If we think there is some kind of pharmaceutical intervention that can make a contribution to that to further lower any risks, then we should at least explore it.”
Tory ex-justice secretary admits prisons crisis is Conservatives’ fault
07:44 , Archie MitchellThe Tory ex-justice secretary who has carried out a sentencing review for the government has admitted many of the problems it is combatting arose under Conservative prime ministers.
David Gauke, whose recommendations were published on Thursday, said “the reality is the problems we face now were in place 10 months ago, two years ago”.
“This has been building up for some time, the capacity issue, particularly over the last five years,” he told Sky News.
He added: “I would say whoever was in power last July would have had to take the action [on early release] that the government did.”
But Mr Gauke insisted his recommendations will help the government avoid a similar crisis arising again. Mr Gauke was justice secretary between 2018 and 2019 under Theresa May.
Violent criminals to be released early under reforms inspired by Texas prisons
07:43 , Holly EvansPublished on Thursday, the review which hopes to end prison overcrowding recommended introducing an “earned progression model” inspired by reforms in Texas.
Under the scheme, prisoners could be released earlier for good behaviour and be supervised on licence for a period of their sentence.
They would then remain unsupervised in the community for the final period of their sentence, but could be recalled to prison if they commit another crime.
Violent or sexual offenders who are serving sentences of four years or more could be released into the community on licence after spending half of their sentence behind bars, or longer if they do not comply with prison rules.
The review also suggested for the most dangerous offenders on extended sentences to be eligible for parole at half-way through their sentence, instead of two-thirds, if they earn credits to take part in rehabilitation activities in prison.
They would only be released if the Parole Board decided it was safe to do so.
The review chairman said: “The scale of the crisis we are in cannot be understated.
“Overcrowded prisons are leading to dangerous conditions for staff and contributing to high levels of reoffending.
“These recommendations, which span the entirety of the justice system, are focused not only on bringing the prison population under control but ultimately reducing reoffending and ensuring victims are protected.”
Fewer criminals to serve jail time under proposals to end prison overcrowding
07:41 , Holly EvansFewer criminals will be put behind bars and more will serve sentences in the community under plans to end overcrowding in jails.
Violent criminals and sexual offenders could be released from prison earlier, while judges could be given more flexibility to impose punishments such as football or driving bans.
Short sentences of less than 12 months would also be scrapped, apart from exceptional circumstances such as domestic abuse cases.
An independent sentencing review led by former justice secretary David Gauke recommended the reforms to overhaul the prisons system and make sure there is space to jail the most dangerous offenders after a string of emergency measures to deal with the capacity crisis.
Five key proposals put forward by Mr Gauke are expected to cut the prison population by around 9,800.
Latest figures show the prison population in England and Wales is 88,103, just 418 below the record of 88,521, which was reached on September 6 last year, just before the Government began freeing thousands of prisoners early to ease overcrowding.
UK borrowing rises to £20.2bn in April
07:22 , Holly EvansUK Government borrowing rose to £20.2 billion last month, ahead of forecasts and the fourth-highest April figure on record, new official figures show.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said borrowing was also £1 billion higher than in April last year.
The latest figure showed that the Chancellor had to borrow more money than expected over the month, surpassing analyst predictions of £17.6 billion.
It came amid a jump in central government departmental spending on goods and services, which rose by £4.2 billion year-on-year due to pay increases and cost inflation.
Social care leaders warn of tough times without ‘significant new funding’
07:16 , Holly EvansThe coming months for people needing social care are likely to be “the most difficult we’ve seen in recent years” unless significant new funding is announced soon, almost 100 leaders in the sector have warned.
Next month’s spending review is a “crucial opportunity” for the Government to show its commitment to the future of adult social care, the leaders said in a statement to the Chancellor.
Rachel Reeves will deliver her review, setting out plans for spending and key public sector reforms, on June 11.
The call comes just weeks after the formal launch of the Casey Commission, which the Government ordered with an aim of transforming social care.
The first phase of the review, led by Baroness Casey, is expected to report next year, although recommendations from the initial probe will be implemented in phases over the course of 10 years.
Social care leaders have already raised concerns over the potential timeline of 2036 for some reforms to be introduced.
The second phase of the commission, setting out longer-term reforms, is due to report by 2028.
Will Starmer’s U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts be enough to win back voters?
07:02 , Athena StavrouBy Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor
One of Rachel Reeves’s first decisions when she became chancellor last summer was to strip 10 million pensioners of their winter fuel payments.
The move was designed to show that Labour could take tough choices and was serious about sorting out the economy.
But, in the weeks and months since, it has proven toxic for both her party and her government. Yet Keir Starmer has now said he wants to make sure “more pensioners are eligible”.
Read the full article here:
UK politics live: Starmer’s winter fuel U-turn branded a ‘joke’
Age UK cautiously welcomes Starmer's pledge to re-think winter fuel - ICYMI
06:29 , Athena StavrouCaroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, welcomed the prime minister’s pledge to review winter fuel payments but warned that “the devil is always in the detail”.
She criticised last year’s means-testing, which left many low-income pensioners without support and led to “significant numbers of older people too frightened to turn on their heating”, putting their health at risk.
“If nothing changes, next winter threatens to be just as bad,” she said, urging the government to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Ms Abrahams called for ministers to “put similar amounts of money back into the pockets” of pensioners who lost out and to restore confidence among older people in their ability to afford heating.
She highlighted concerns for those entitled to Pension Credit but not claiming it, people on just above-threshold incomes, and those with serious health conditions who face high heating costs—an estimated 2.5 million people in total.
Ms Abrahams said success should be judged by how well new policies help “vulnerable older people and those on low and modest incomes to heat their homes adequately next winter”.
Watch: Starmer hints government will U-turn on winter fuel payment cut
06:01 , Athena StavrouExplained | Labour to reverse winter fuel payment cuts - who will be eligible and what happens next?
05:19After spending months ruling out a U-turn, it looks likely that the decision has come as a result of intense political pressure amid poor approval ratings and the threat of rebellion from Labour backbenchers.
Our Political Correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Labour to reverse winter fuel payment cuts - who will be eligible?
Comment | Why Starmer had no choice but to U-turn on winter fuel payments
04:39 , Athena StavrouWhy Starmer had no choice but to U-turn on winter fuel payments
Recap | Starmer indicates partial U-turn over winter fuel payments squeeze
04:03 , Athena StavrouHere is a recap on Sir Keir Starmer’s winter fuel payment U-turn:
- The PM signalled a partial U-turn over the government’s decision to strip winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners at PMQs today.
- He said that “as the economy improves” he wanted to look at widening eligibility for the payments worth up to £300.
- However, officials were unable to say how many more pensioners would be eligible or if the policy would be altered in time for this winter.
- The government insisted the policy was necessary to help stabilise the public finances, allowing the improvements in the economic picture which Sir Keir said could result in the partial reversal of the measure.
- Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch challenged Sir Keir in the Commons, calling him “desperate” and asking how the public could trust him again.
- The Prime Minister’s official spokesman was unable to give details about how Sir Keir would deliver on his promise or how many pensioners would benefit.
- Officials fear that simply increasing the pension credit threshold would increase the take-up of that benefit, wiping out any potential savings.
Recap | Pressure mounts on Chancellor as inflation races to highest for more than a year
03:34 , Athena StavrouInflation has rocketed to its highest level in more than a year after “awful April” bill rises, but pressure is also mounting on the Chancellor over the impact of Labour’s recent tax hike on the cost of living.
Official figures show Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation jumped to 3.5% in April, up from 2.6% in March and the highest since January 2024.
It comes after Ofgem’s energy price cap rose by 6.4% in April, having fallen a year earlier, alongside a raft of bill rises for under-pressure households – including the biggest increase to water bills since at least February 1988.
Households were also hit with steep increases across bills for council tax, mobile and broadband tariffs, as well as road tax.
But experts said inflation may also have been pushed higher as many firms responded to the Government’s move to raise national insurance contributions (NICs) and the minimum wage last month by increasing prices.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged her policies have “consequences” but insisted they are necessary to stabilise the economy.
Watch | Lindsay Hoyle snaps at disruptive MPs: 'Are you going to behave?'
03:01 , Athena StavrouFull report | Starmer poised to sanction top Israel ministers over Gaza crisis as pressure mounts for tougher UK action
02:37 , Athena StavrouOur Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Starmer poised to sanction top Israeli ministers as pressure grows for tougher action
Full report | Disability claimants with back problems to lose most in Labour’s welfare changes
02:02 , Athena StavrouOur political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Disability claimants with back problems to lose most in Labour’s welfare changes
Changes to winter fuel not expected to be unveiled until Autumn - and may not be in effect for the winter
01:16 , Athena StavrouFresh changes to the government’s winter fuel cut are not expected to be put in place until Autumn at the earliest, Downing Street indicated on Wednesday.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said they will unveil the detail of the changes at the “next fiscal event”. Given he also ruled out an emergency budget, this means it will take place at the Budget in October.
However, questions remain over whether or not this will mean the changes will be in place for the coming winter.
Pressed on whether more pensioners can expect to receive the payments this winter, the PM’s official spokesperson would not be drawn on exact timings.
Watch: Starmer makes fun of Farage: 'First through the e-gates in France'
Thursday 22 May 2025 00:29 , Athena StavrouNet migration predicted to fall, think tank says - ICYMI
Wednesday 21 May 2025 23:36 , Holly Bancroft, Social Affairs CorrespondentNet migration is expected to fall by over 250,000, according to think tank British Future. New statistics on the flow of people into the UK are expected from the ONS tomorrow and researchers predict a downward trend. In the year ending June 2024, net migration to the UK was 728,000.
Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, said: "Falling net migration is one of Britain's best-kept secrets. The ONS figures will show a dramatic fall, probably by over a quarter of a million, but that will come as a complete surprise to 90% of the public. Immigration remains high but is much lower than the previous peaks. It will likely fall further."
Minister condemns Israeli military after British diplomats caught in shooting
Wednesday 21 May 2025 23:01 , Athena StavrouIsrael must hold an investigation after British diplomats were caught up in shooting by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, a Foreign Office minister has said.
A group of western diplomats faced warning shots from the Israel Defence Forces while visiting the city of Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday.
Two British diplomats understood to be among the group of around 20 people have been confirmed as safe.
Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer described the events in Jenin as “unacceptable”.
He added: “I have spoken to our diplomats who were affected. Civilians must always be protected, and diplomats allowed to do their jobs. There must be a full investigation and those responsible should be held accountable.”
Watch: Starmer hints government will U-turn on winter fuel payment cut
Wednesday 21 May 2025 22:29 , Athena StavrouWhat did Sir Keir tell the Commons?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 22:02 , Athena StavrouSir Keir told the Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions: “I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis, including pensioners.
“As the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements in their days as their lives go forward. That is why we want to ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.”
Stormont minister calls for full restoration of winter fuel payment
Wednesday 21 May 2025 21:34 , Athena StavrouNorthern Ireland’s Communities Minister has called for the full reinstatement of the winter fuel payment.
Around 250,000 pensioners in Northern Ireland were affected by the decision to means-test the previously universal payment.
The cut was cushioned in the region with a £100 fuel support payment provided to pensioners by Gordon Lyons’ department.
He said he welcomed Sir Keir’s statement but added that it did not go far enough.
“My opposition to restricting eligibility for the winter fuel payment has been absolute and I am glad that the Labour Government has now recognised that error,” he said.
“This mistake can only be fully rectified by the reinstatement of a universal winter fuel payment that protects all pensioners.”
U-turn cannot change fact Labour removed winter fuel payments – Swinney
Wednesday 21 May 2025 21:02 , Athena StavrouNo U-turn can change the fact the UK Government removed the winter fuel payment from pensioners, John Swinney has said.
Speaking to the PA news agency during a visit to Glasgow Airport, First Minister Mr Swinney said regardless of the extension of the payment, it was still removed from most pensioners last winter, while his Government committed to offering a scaled back version of the payment in the upcoming winter.
“I think people were dumbfounded that the first actions of the new Labour Government was to take away winter fuel payments from pensioners,” he said.
“Now the SNP Government has intervened and we’ve restored those payments to pensioners in Scotland and that was the right thing for us to do.
“But it was the wrong thing for the Labour Government to do to take away those payments.”
The First Minister, however, refused to commit to passing on all increases in funding from the UK to the Scottish equivalent.
How much could a full reversal of the winter fuel payment changes cost?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 20:26 , Athena StavrouSir Keir Starmer wants to widen eligibility for winter fuel payment after he restricted the number of pensioners who could claim it last year.
There are several options for how the Government could go about it.
One option would be a full reversal of the decision to strip the benefit from millions of pensioners.
The decision to make it available only to those who claim pension credit last year meant those claiming winter fuel payment fell by almost 90% and saved around £1.5 billion a year, the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates.
Undoing last year’s policy change would make some 11 million more households eligible and of course wipe out the £1.5 billion in savings.
Labour MPs call for universal winter fuel payment to be restored
Wednesday 21 May 2025 19:53 , Athena StavrouRestoring the universal winter fuel payment would be the simplest way to help more pensioners, a Labour backbencher has said.
Andy McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, told the BBC’s PM programme he favoured returning to a universal payment, adding: “It is clean, it is simple, and it is not going to involve people in making applications, and in tax returns, and all manner of complications that are going to cause more difficulties.
“Let’s make this clean and quick.”
Asked if he also favoured scrapping the two-child benefit cap, Mr McDonald told the BBC: “I think it is one of several decisions that need to be revisited. We know that by lifting that two-child cap there will be an immediate beneficial impact of taking children out of poverty.
“That is our purpose. That is why we exist is to help people get out of poverty.”
Comment | Why Starmer had no choice but to U-turn on winter fuel payments
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:29 , Jabed AhmedWhy Starmer had no choice but to U-turn on winter fuel payments
Watch | Lindsay Hoyle snaps at disruptive MPs in heated winter fuel payments debate: ‘Are you going to behave?’
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:00 , Jabed Ahmed
Lindsay Hoyle snaps at disruptive MPs in heated winter fuel payments debate
Welfare charity warns of shame and stigma around winter fuel payments
Wednesday 21 May 2025 17:29 , Jabed AhmedThe apparent U-turn on winter fuel payments was welcomed by a charity but the organisation warned of a shame and stigma among those in need.
Lucy Bannister, head of policy and influencing at Turn2us, said: “We welcome the prime minister’s indication that the Government plans to widen eligibility for winter fuel payment, helping more low-income pensioners to stay warm and safe this winter. We hear from people every year about the difference this support makes.
“But we remain concerned that hundreds of thousands of eligible pensioners still miss out each year due to a complex application process, lack of awareness, and stigma.
“Many feel shame for needing support, a direct result of how benefits are too often talked about by politicians and the media. The Government must urgently ensure its narrative around its wider social security reforms reduces this stigma, simplify the system, and proactively reach those being left behind.”
What was the controversy around the cuts to winter fuel payments?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 17:00 , Millie CookeThe cuts were deeply unpopular because they were seen as being disproportionately damaging to vulnerable people, and were criticised for leaving thousands of poorer pensions who were on the borderline missing out on the payment.
In November, it was revealed that the government’s own figures indicated the cuts would force 100,000 pensioners into poverty in 2026.
The policy was partly blamed for Labour’s poor performance at the local elections – which saw them lose two-thirds of the council seats they had in 2021– as well as the previously Labour-held Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary seat to Reform UK.
There is also a growing sentiment among Labour MPs that the winter fuel cuts, combined with the £5bn welfare cuts and the party’s decision to keep the two child benefit cap in place, has created an image of Labour as being the new ‘nasty party’.
Recap | Starmer indicates partial U-turn over winter fuel payments squeeze
Wednesday 21 May 2025 15:41 , Jabed AhmedIf you’re just joining us, here is a recap on Sir Keir Starmer’s winter fuel payment U-turn:
- The PM signalled a partial U-turn over the government’s decision to strip winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners at PMQs today.
- He said that “as the economy improves” he wanted to look at widening eligibility for the payments worth up to £300.
- However, officials were unable to say how many more pensioners would be eligible or if the policy would be altered in time for this winter.
- The government insisted the policy was necessary to help stabilise the public finances, allowing the improvements in the economic picture which Sir Keir said could result in the partial reversal of the measure.
- Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch challenged Sir Keir in the Commons, calling him “desperate” and asking how the public could trust him again.
- The Prime Minister’s official spokesman was unable to give details about how Sir Keir would deliver on his promise or how many pensioners would benefit.
- Officials fear that simply increasing the pension credit threshold would increase the take-up of that benefit, wiping out any potential savings.
Badenoch brands Starmer's winter fuel shift a ‘joke’ and urges action before autumn
Wednesday 21 May 2025 15:19 , Jabed AhmedKemi Badenoch has said it is a “joke” to say that Sir Keir Starmer’s partial u-turn on winter fuel payments is a reaction to the economy improving.
“That’s a joke. We just had inflation figures this morning. It shows that inflation has doubled since they took office from the Conservatives. He is not running the economy well,” the Conservative Party leader said.
She said she would like to see a change that means pensioners getting £11,000 to £15,000 a year getting winter fuel payments.
She said it will be “too late” if Sir Keir waits until the autumn budget to set out the details.
“If he’s waiting until the budget it means that people are going to lose their winter fuel payment for another year,” she said.
The Conservatives would not support tax rises to fund extending winter fuel payments, she said.
Explained | Labour to reverse winter fuel payment cuts - who will be eligible and what happens next?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 14:55 , Jabed AhmedAfter spending months ruling out a U-turn, it looks likely that the decision has come as a result of intense political pressure amid poor approval ratings and the threat of rebellion from Labour backbenchers.
Our Political Correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Labour to reverse winter fuel payment cuts - who will be eligible?
