Closing summary
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Here is a summary of today’s key developments:
Keir Starmer announced a new UK-Germany treaty at a press conference with German chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday. The British prime minister described it as a “once in a generation chance to deliver for working people in Britain and in Germany” and “a testament to the depth an potential of our relationship”. Prior to his Berlin visit, Starmer had promised to “turn a corner on Brexit” and rebuild productive relationships with EU member states.
While Starmer said at Wednesday’s press conference in Berlin with Scholz that the UK did not have plans to join the EU’s youth mobility scheme – with No 10 having previously ruled out such a move – speaking to reporters later, he pointedly did not rule out setting up some sort of system for other link-ups, for example student exchanges. Olaf Scholz had stressed to the British prime minister his wish for closer youth mobility ties.
Starmer and Scholz said there were “no new decisions” from either the UK or Germany as regards to the use of weaponry donated by both countries to Ukraine. Asked at a press conference in Berlin if he and the German chancellor had discussed lifting restrictions on weapons given to Ukraine that would allow them to be used inside Russian territory, Starmer said he was “not going to get into tactical questions about the use of weapons”.
The Liberal Democrats said Starmer’s treaty talks with Scholz were a “positive step forward” but called on the government to be “more ambitious”. Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran said that such ambition should “start with agreeing a youth mobility scheme giving young people the opportunity to easily live and work across the continent”.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Starmer met German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Bellevue Palace in Berlin, making him the first British prime minister to visit the palace since David Cameron in 2015. Steinmeier had made the invitation to Starmer after they met earlier in the summer at Euro 2024.
Starmer has said that more prisons will be built to manage overcrowding once the government gets its “hands on the planning laws”. Speaking to broadcasters in Berlin, the prime minister said the lack of prisons being built is one of the reasons for the current capacity crisis in jails across the UK.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the decision to restrict winter fuel payments despite rising energy bills, during a growth-related visit to Glasgow on Wednesday. Reeves told broadcasters: “It’s not decision I wanted to make. It was a decision that I had to make in incredibly challenging circumstances to put our public finances on a firm footing.” Reeves also said that the Scottish government was “as guilty” as the Tories on the country’s finances after the Scottish government attacked decisions made at Westminster for the country’s financial strife
Reeves refused to rule out a rise in inheritance tax or capital gains tax. Asked directly whether she could rule out the tax increases, she replied during her Scottish visit on Wednesday: “I’m not going to write a budget two months ahead of delivering it. We’re going to have to make difficult decisions in a range of areas.”
The UK’s data protection watchdog has taken action against the Labour party for repeatedly failing to respond to people who asked what personal information the organisation held on them. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued a formal reprimand after it was revealed that the party had not complied with its legal obligations.
Josh Greally, 28, was given a suspended prison sentence at Barnsley magistrates court on Wednesday after throwing items at Nigel Farage during the general election campaign. Greally was sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity days and pay £85 court costs and a surcharge of £154.
Lots of pensioners will need support this winter who won’t be eligible for the new winter fuel payment threshold, an ex-Labour minister has warned. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, chair of the Committee on Fuel Poverty Caroline Flint said that although the existing scheme was “poorly targeted”, since not all the 10 million pensioners need it to pay their bills, the new plans are too narrow.
Vapes should only be sold from “behind the counter”, like cigarettes, and not be on display in shops, according to the British Medical Association. In a report published on Wednesday, the doctors’ union called on ministers to introduce legislation to tackle the “growing epidemic” of vaping in the UK.
Labour’s key housebuilding target will not be met if water companies are blocked from significantly increasing bills, the leader of an industry group has said. The government has promised to build 1.5m homes during this parliament as a central pillar to its plans to end the housing crisis. David Henderson, the chief executive of Water UK, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that water companies would not be able to facilitate this without getting the green light from the regulator to substantially raise bills.
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said he wants to put Farage’s Reform UK “out of business”. The former immigration minister said he wants to make Reform “redundant” by persuading its supporters he can address their concerns on the number of people coming to the UK.
Updated
Here is a video of Keir Starmer at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz. During a speech to journalists, the prime minister said the UK had agreed a treaty with Germany which he hoped would bring closer relations between the two countries.
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said he wants to put Nigel Farage’s Reform UK “out of business”, reports the PA news agency.
The former immigration minister said he wants to make Reform “redundant” by persuading its supporters he can address their concerns on the number of people coming to the UK.
“I know how damaged the party’s brand is, how difficult the present situation is for our party, but I want to begin the long road of turning that around,” Jenrick told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
He acknowledged the Conservatives have a mountain to climb after the party’s worst election result in history and said winning back voters from Reform will be a key challenge
Jenrick said:
I acknowledge we have a mountain to climb, but the way to do that, I think, is to defend the good things we did in government, like on the economy – a decade of high employment – reforming our schools so our children are now among the most literate, but being honest about the mistakes that we made.”
According to the PA news agency, he rejected the idea of a deal with Farage.
I don’t think Nigel Farage wants to join the Conservative party. I don’t think that he needs to. I want to put Reform out of business. I want to make them redundant, because I want to have clear policies on legal and illegal migration.”
He added:
What we need to do as a party is bring back those voters that we lost, the millions of voters we lost to Reform in the last election. And you do that by having a leader that has credibility on the issues that are of concern to Reform voters, and by adopting very clear positions, as I have done, not just in this leadership election, but for many months.”
From September, working parents in England of all children aged from nine months old have been promised 15 hours a week of state-funded childcare. However, data seen by the Observer reveals early years providers are struggling to attract enough new workers, while many are warning they are continuing to lose staff.
Some fear the childcare expansion will be undeliverable and providers will be unable to fulfil the demand from parents seeking a place.
The Guardian’s community team would like to hear from anyone who has been affected by the rollout of the expansion – parents, early years practitioners, childminders and those working for a local authority. You can share your experience with the team by using the form at this link:
Man who threw objects at Nigel Farage in Barnsley given suspended prison sentence
The PA news agency reports that Josh Greally, 28, has been given a suspended prison sentence at Barnsley magistrates court after throwing items at Nigel Farage during the general election campaign.
He was sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity days and pay £85 court costs and a surcharge of £154.
Greally pleaded guilty to a public order offence over the incident on 11 June in Barnsley town centre where he threw what appeared to be a coffee cup and another object at the Reform UK leader, who was campaigning on the top deck of his battlebus. Neither of the objects hit the politician.
Updated
Starmer appears to leave door open for potential EU youth exchange scheme
Keir Starmer has held the door open potentially for some form of youth mobility exchange with EU nations following talks in Germany with Olaf Scholz, who stressed to the British prime minister his wish for closer such ties.
While Starmer said at a press conference with the German chancellor that the UK did not have plans to join the EU’s youth mobility scheme – with No 10 having previously ruled out such a move – speaking to reporters later, he pointedly did not rule out setting up some sort of system for other link-ups, for example student exchanges.
Starmer said after the press conference that nothing of this sort had been discussed during his long bilateral meeting with Scholz at the federal chancellery in Berlin, as the focus was on bilateral ties rather than wider European links.
But he added: “We want a close relationship, of course, and I do think that can extend across defence, security, education and cultural exchange and, of course, trade.”
Asked to explicitly rule out any sort of youth mobility scheme, under which young people from within the EU could live, work and study for a limited period in the UK, with reciprocal rights for young Britons, Starmer did not, pointing to the UK-Germany treaty he and Scholz had discussed.
He said simply that any future talks with the EU over an improved post-Brexit deal would be based on red lines including no return to the free movement of people, which was not the same as time-limited exchanges.
“Look, the treaty is a bilateral treaty, so that’s got nothing to do with youth mobility or anything like that. That’s to do with trade, defence, economy, illegal migration etc,” he said. “In relation to youth mobility, obviously, we’ve been really clear – no single market, no customs union, no free movement, no going back into the EU. So the discussion about a close relationship within the EU or with the EU is in that context and within those frameworks.”
You can read Peter Walker’s full article here:
Keir Starmer has said that more prisons will be built to manage overcrowding once the government gets its “hands on the planning laws”.
Speaking to broadcasters in Berlin, the Prime Minister said the lack of prisons being built is one of the reasons for the current capacity crisis in jails across the UK.
Starmer said:
We’ve got to change the planning regulation so we can build the prisons we need, because they’re taking far too long, it’s far too slow, and that’s amongst the reasons we’re in the position we are.
And, as you’d expect from an ex-chief prosecutor, people do need to go to prison, and they need to know that the law is effective.
Asked if he agrees with prisons minister James Timpson that the UK puts too many people in jail, Starmer replied:
I think [Timpson] has got unparalleled experience in rehabilitation, and particularly those coming out of prison.
I mean, he does employ a huge amount of people who come out of prison. His reason for doing that is to help them turn around their lives so they don’t go back straight into prison.
Do I agree with him that, insofar as is possible, people come out of prison, we should give them the chance not to go back into prison? Yes, I do, and the more we can do on that, the better.
I don’t think anybody would disagree with that, because the route back to prison involves another offence, which means another victim. If we can find a different approach for people, then all well and good.
But, look, we need to build those prisons, and we will get our hands on the planning laws in order to do so.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and German chancellor Olaf Scholz have said there are “no new decisions” from either the UK or Germany on the use of weaponry donated to Ukraine.
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin this morning, Starmer told reporters:
We have been providing support and weaponry to Ukraine consistent with the approach of other key allies, including Germany.
We supported the approach and the framework put forward by the previous government in the United Kingdom when we were in opposition, and we are acting consistently with that in government and that’s why I’m very clear that no new or different decisions have been made.
I’m not going to get into tactical questions about the use of weapons for very obvious reasons, but no new decisions have been taken.
Scholz also said that there are “no new decisions from Germany” on the matter and that the country is “going to continue” its support for Ukraine.
He said:
Germany is one of the very large supporters of Ukraine in Europe, within Europe, we are the largest contributor. We are going to continue this support.
As far as weapon supplies are concerned, there are no new decisions from Germany.
Starmer also set out plans for a new treaty with the nation as part of a wider “reset” of relations with Europe.
At the heart of this treaty will be a new defence agreement, an agreement that builds upon our already formidable defence cooperation, but which expands that relationship to face the threats of a volatile world together.
That, of course, means a shared resolve to stand up for the security of our people and the wider European continent, and that begins with our unyielding support for Ukraine, and we discussed that in some detail today.
So, today we affirmed our commitment to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Updated
On the topic of youth mobility, the opinion desk here at the Guardian has just published this piece:
Water bills must rise if Labour is to hit housebuilding target, industry claims
Labour’s key housebuilding target will not be met if water companies are blocked from significantly increasing bills, the leader of an industry group has said.
The government has promised to build 1.5m homes during this parliament as a central pillar to its plans to end the housing crisis.
David Henderson, the chief executive of Water UK, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that water companies would not be able to facilitate this without getting the green light from the regulator to substantially raise bills. He also said without sharp rises to household bills, companies would continue to spill sewage into the sea.
“Unless we get that full investment amount we are not going to be able to secure economic growth, we are not going to be able to build the 1.5m homes that we desperately need and we are not going to be able to end the sewage flowing into our seas,” he warned.
Water companies have to aid the construction of homes in water-stressed areas by building infrastructure such as sewage pipes and reservoirs.
Water companies in England and Wales, and other stakeholders in the industry, had until Wednesday to submit responses to the regulator Ofwat’s plans for investment and bills.
The companies asked Ofwat for permission to spend £104.5bn over the next investment cycle, which would cause the average household water bill to climb by £144 over five years.
However, the plans were provisionally reined in by the regulator in its “draft determination” last month, when it set out a budget of £88bn for the sector and called for the average bill increase over the period to be capped at £94 – or £19 a year. Ofwat will study the companies’ submissions and make a final decision in December.
You can read the full piece here:
Keir Starmer has denied that disagreements over a proposed youth mobility scheme will affect the UK-German treaty discussions as he reiterated his commitment to “clear red lines” with the EU post-Brexit.
Asked if Olaf Scholz’s desire for a youth mobility scheme would hamper negotiations, Starmer told reporters in Berlin:
The treaty is a bilateral treaty, so that’s got nothing to do with youth mobility or anything like that.
That’s to do with trade, defence, the economy, illegal migration, etc. In relation to youth mobility, obviously, we’ve been really clear: no single market, no customs union, no free movement, no going back into the EU.
So the discussion about a close relationship with the EU is in that context and within those frameworks, I’m convinced, and I think you heard from the chancellor himself, that we can have a closer relationship, notwithstanding those clear red lines that we’ve got, and we’ve always had.”
Asked if he was open to re-joining the EU study abroad scheme Erasmus, Starmer said:
None of the detail like that was discussed today because the focus was on the bilateral treaty that we want to develop.”
The UK’s data protection watchdog has taken action against the Labour party for repeatedly failing to respond to people who asked what personal information the organisation held on them.
According to the PA news agency, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued a formal reprimand after it was revealed that the party had not complied with its legal obligations.
Under data protection law, anyone can ask an organisation for a copy of the personal information it is using or storing on them, known as subject access requests (SAR). You also have the right to check if your personal information is accurate, or for it to be updated or deleted.
The PA news agency reports that as of November 2022, the Labour party had received 352 SARs, but 78% did not receive a response within the maximum compulsory time limit of three months, and more than half (56%) were significantly delayed by more than one year. A cyber-attack on the Labour party in October 2021 is said to be the reason for the backlog, as this resulted in an increase of requests from the public.
The party has since assigned three temporary members of staff to tackle the outstanding requests, allocated extra funding and implemented an action plan, according to the ICO.
Deputy commissioner at the ICO, Stephen Bonner, said:
Being able to ask an organisation ‘what information do you hold on me?’ and ‘how is it being used?’ is a fundamental right, which provides both transparency and accountability. It is vital that organisations do not underestimate the importance of responding to these requests on time.
The public need to fully trust that a political party will handle their data correctly and respect their information rights.
We welcome news that the Labour party has now cleared its backlog of SARs and implemented further measures to ensure people receive a prompt response going forward.”
The PA news agency reports that the ICO’s investigation followed more than 150 complaints regarding the party’s handling of SARs in the year from November 2021 to November 2022.
During the investigation, the ICO said it was also informed of the existence of a “privacy inbox” that had not been monitored by the party since November 2021. The inbox contained approximately 646 additional SARs and approximately 597 requests for personal information to be deleted.
The ICO said it was likely that some of these may have been duplications, but that none of the requests had been responded to.
The Liberal Democrats have said Keir Starmer’s treaty talks with German chancellor Olaf Scholz are a “positive step forward” but called on the government to be “more ambitious”.
Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran said:
This is a positive step forward after years of the Conservatives trashing the UK’s relationship with Europe.
But the new government needs to be more ambitious about rebuilding stronger ties with our European allies. That should start with agreeing a youth mobility scheme giving young people the opportunity to easily live and work across the continent.”
Updated
A UK-Germany deal on irregular migration could allow the two countries to better “deal with issues like data sharing, intelligence sharing, what we can do on joint operations”, Keir Starmer said at a press conference with Olaf Scholz today.
Taking a question about immigration, Starmer replied:
On the wider question of irregular migration and the particular issue that we have in the UK of small boats crossing the Channel, I have long said before the election that I thought the Rwanda scheme was a gimmick, which is why we stood it down immediately.
But nonetheless, it is very important we take back control of our borders. I have long been convinced that the best way, the most effective way to do that is to take down the gangs that are running the vile trade of putting people in dangerous situations across Europe and across the Channel.”
The prime minister said his “substantive discussions” with the German chancellor and proposals for a joint agreement on immigration would help the pair “deal with issues like data sharing, intelligence sharing, what we can do on joint operations, because that is the way to take effective action in relation to the vile trade that sits beneath irregular migration across Europe and in particular sits beneath the vile trade of putting people into small boats across the Channel”.
Scholz had previously said, according to a translation:
The state has to contain irregular immigration so as to not overburden the country. This can and must succeed without questioning our basic law and also international treaties.”
Updated
Keir Starmer and Olaf Scholz have said there are “no new decisions” from either the UK or Germany as regards to the use of weaponry donated by both countries to Ukraine.
Asked at a press conference in Berlin if he and the German chancellor had discussed lifting restrictions on weapons given to Ukraine that would allow them to be used inside Russian territory, Starmer said:
We have been providing support and weaponry to Ukraine consistent with the approach of other key allies, including Germany.
We supported the approach and the framework put forward by the previous government in the United Kingdom when we were in opposition, and we are acting consistently with that in government and that’s why I’m very clear that no new or different decisions have been made.
I’m not going to get into tactical questions about the use of weapons for very obvious reasons, but no new decisions have been taken.”
Scholz said:
Germany is one of the very large supporters of Ukraine in Europe, within Europe, we are the largest contributor. We are going to continue this support.”
He added:
As far as weapon supplies are concerned, there are no new decisions from Germany.”
Keir Starmer says government 'do not have plans for youth mobility scheme' during Berlin press conference
Keir Starmer has said that the government does “not have plans” for a youth mobility scheme, as he discussed a “reset” of relations between the UK and Europe.
Speaking in Berlin this morning, Starmer said that there are “plans for a closer relationship between us and the EU.”
He told the press conference:
When it comes to the wider reset with Europe I’m absolutely clear that we do want a reset, I’ve been able to repeat that here today.
A reset with Europe, a reset with the EU. And that does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or the customs union, but it does mean a closer relationship on a number of fronts including the economy, including defence, including exchanges.
But we do not have plans for the youth mobility scheme, but we do have plans for a closer relationship between us and the EU.”
Keir Starmer has said a new defence agreement is “at the heart” of the UK’s relationship with Germany.
Speaking after meeting chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, he said:
At the heart of this treaty will be a new defence agreement, an agreement that builds upon our already formidable defence cooperation, but which expands that relationship to face the threats of a volatile world together.
That, of course, means a shared resolve to stand up for the security of our people and the wider European continent, and that begins with our unyielding support for Ukraine, and we discussed that in some detail today.”
He added:
So, today we affirmed our commitment to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
We also share a common commitment to resolve the crisis in the Middle East, as you just referenced, and we agree on Israel’s right to self-defence in compliance with international humanitarian law, the need for de-escalation across the region, and for restraint and caution to be exercised.
Unfettered humanitarian access into Gaza, agreement to a ceasefire and release of all hostages, and the importance of working together towards a political solution, based on the creation of a Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel, the only way to provide long-term peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
And that, of course, is not an easy goal, but it is one that we are committed to pursuing together.”
Keir Starmer said he hopes the UK’s treaty with Germany will be agreed before the end of the year as he hailed a “bright new future for UK-German relations”.
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin alongside German chancellor Olaf Scholz, Starmer said:
As today shows, Britain can advance its interests much more effectively when we work with friends and partners.
This treaty is part of a wider reset, grounded in a new spirit of cooperation with our shared understanding that this will be developed at pace, and that we hope to have agreed it by the end of the year.
A Britain recollected, resetting our relationship, rediscovering our common interests, delivering for working people.
Britain and Germany already have an incredible relationship. We invest billions in each other’s countries. Thousands and thousands of jobs are supported through trade, and every year millions of people travel between our two countries, exchanging ideas, collaborating, creating and connecting.
But today we build on that, a bright new future for UK-German relations, two great countries brought closer together than ever before. The strongest strategic partners in Europe, and on the world stage.”
Starmer said that “building relationships here in Germany and across Europe is vital” to achieving economic growth. “That is what our agreement today represents,” he added.
Starmer said:
We will also deepen cooperation on shared social challenges, for example on illegal immigration, because we can’t smash the smuggler gangs that perpetrate this vile trade without the help of our partners.”
The UK prime minister said that he and Olaf Scholz had agreed to develop a “joint action plan to tackle illegal migration”.
Strengthening Britain’s relationship with Germany is crucial to tackling illegal migration and boosting economic growth across both of our countries. pic.twitter.com/zAXOC6Ym4u
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 28, 2024
Updated
Keir Starmer announces new 'once in a generation' UK-Germany treaty
In a press conference alongside Olaf Scholz, Keir Starmer said he was “delighted” to be back in Germany “at this moment of opportunity for our two countries”.
Starmer announced a new UK-Germany treaty, describing it as a “once in a generation chance to deliver for working people in Britain and in Germany”.
Starmer added:
A new agreement, a testament to the depth an potential of our relationship. With deeper links on science, technology, development, people, business [and] culture. A boost to our trading relations.
Germany, of course already the UK’s second largest trading partner in the world, and through that a chance to create jobs here and in the United Kingdom. And to deliver that most precious of goods for both of our countries: economic growth.”
Updated
After Scholz gave a speech in German, Starmer spoke to share his “sincere condolences for the shocking attack in Solingen last week”.
He added:
Our country knows what it is like to experience such senseless and despicable acts and our thoughts are with all the families affected by this terrible event.”
German chancellor Olaf Scholz started the press conference by congratulating Keir Starmer on becoming prime minister. “Germany and the United Kingdom are good friends, close partners and trusted allies,” added Scholz.
Scholz said:
The both of us will be working hard to ensure that this relationship continues to thrive.”
Updated
Keir Starmer is due to hold a press conference with Olaf Scholz soon. You can watch via the live stream at the top of the page. You may need to refresh the page for it to come up.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out a rise in inheritance tax or capital gains tax, reports the PA news agency.
Asked directly whether she could rule out the tax increases, she replied:
I’m not going to write a budget two months ahead of delivering it. We’re going to have to make difficult decisions in a range of areas.”
Speaking to broadcasters in Scotland on Wednesday, Reeves said:
The UK economy is just emerging from the recession that we entered into last year, and two quarters of positive economic growth is not going to reverse more than a decade of economic stagnation.
Much work is needed to rebuild the foundations of our economy so we can rebuild Britain and make working people better off, and that is why growing our economy is absolutely essential.”
She continued:
Unless we grow the economy, we’re going to continue to be in a situation where taxes are at too high a level and public spending is not sustainable.
We’ve got to break out of this doom loop, which is why growing the economy is the number one priority of this new government.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the Scottish government is “as guilty” as the Tories on the country’s finances.
Experts from the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) said on Tuesday Scottish ministers may struggle to balance the country’s budget due to above-expectation public sector pay deals, the council tax freeze and benefit reforms, as well as uncertainty about the level of funding coming from Westminster.
While the Scottish government attacked decisions made at Westminster for the country’s financial strife, the chancellor used a visit north of the border to hit back, reports the PA news agency.
“The SNP Government is as guilty as the Conservative government of spending more than they were bringing in, and now the Scottish government are having to make difficult decisions,” she said.
Reeves added:
Anas Sarwar and the Labour opposition in Scotland were warning the SNP about the unsustainable position they were in.
They SNP refused to listen, they made decision that were not sustainable and now it is Scottish people who are paying the price for the decisions of the Scottish government.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the decision to restrict winter fuel payments despite rising energy bills.
The PA news agency reports that Reeves told broadcasters in Scotland:
When I became chancellor of the exchequer, I inherited a £22bn black hole in the public finances.
Taking no action wasn’t an option, because that would have made it difficult for the government to finance its needs, and we would have ended him up in the same position that the previous Conservative government ended up in, with mortgage rates and interest rates spiking and pensions being put in peril.
So we had to take difficult decisions in very challenging circumstances, because the previous government was overspending by £22bn just this year alone, and we’ve had to take action to get approval for public finances.”
She added:
It’s not decision I wanted to make. It was a decision that I had to make in incredibly challenging circumstances to put our public finances on a firm footing.”
Here is our main story on Keir Starmer’s visit to Berlin today, courtesy of my colleagues, Peter Walker, Lisa O’Carroll and Kiran Stacey. Published prior to Starmer’s trip on Wednesday, they wrote:
Keir Starmer has promised to “turn a corner on Brexit” and rebuild productive relationships with EU member states in advance of a flying visit to Berlin for talks with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, expected to focus on defence and trade.
The prime minister said the trip was part of wider efforts to restore the “broken relationships” with European neighbours left by the last government.
It was, he added, a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset our relationship” with Europe.
Starmer, who will head on to Paris on Wednesday to see Emmanuel Macron and attend the opening of the Paris Paralympics, will also meet German business leaders and the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in a stopover lasting less than 18 hours.
His attempt to renegotiate Britain’s European relationships is part of a broader strategy of taking controversial decisions early on in his term as prime minister and reap the rewards for them closer to the next election.
You can read the full report here:
Lots of pensioners will need support this winter who won’t be eligible for the new winter fuel payment threshold, an ex-Labour minister has warned.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, chair of the Committee on Fuel Poverty Caroline Flint said that although the existing scheme was “poorly targeted”, since not all the 10 million pensioners need it to pay their bills, the new plans are too narrow.
“There needs to be consideration in the budget in the autumn of a winter plan for many, many people – pensioners and other households,” she said.
“There are some different ways in which the government could think about mitigating the impact of the loss of the winter fuel payment, and direct[ing] it those more in need. But again there are be people who will be above the pension credit threshold that currently stands as the option that need more help as well.”
Flint suggested several solutions, including endorsing consumer champion Martin Lewis’ suggestion to use council tax bands A-D, since these serve as a proxy for the neighbourhoods people live in and the income bands in those areas.
She also suggested widening the pool of people eligible for the warm homes discount.
Flint said she hoped there would be “a better plan going forward” coming out of the energy summit happening on Wednesday, which will see energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh meet with energy supplier CEOs and Ofgem, Energy UK and Citizens Advice.
In the longer term, Flint said it was important to have “secure sources” of energy, such as renewables and low carbon options, to reduce costs, as well as to promote a “fabric first approach” to make homes warmer and reduce energy bills.
Updated
Vapes should only be sold from “behind the counter”, like cigarettes, and not be on display in shops, according to the British Medical Association.
In a report published on Wednesday, the doctors’ union called on ministers to introduce legislation to tackle the “growing epidemic” of vaping in the UK.
According to recent analysis by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) 5.6 million adults in Britain vape, about 11% of the adult population. Vape use among children and young people has increased almost six-fold in the last decade, with 7.6% of 11-17 year olds now vaping, either regularly or occasionally, compared with 1.3% in 2014.
Vapes can help some people stop smoking, but they are not risk-free. Last year, the World Health Organization called for “urgent action” to protect children from e-cigarettes. Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction, while some devices have been found to contain other harmful substances, such as lead, or even spiked with the synthetic drug spice.
Labour announced in July’s king’s speech that it would revive the previous government’s tobacco and vapes bill. The Conservative’s proposed legislation included measures to ban disposable vapes and restrict flavours and packaging, but was shelved after the general election was called. Details of the exact regulations Labour wants to introduce have yet to be published.
The BMA said given the rising number of children and young people trying and smoking vapes, the government “must not shy away from taking brave action”.
You can read the full piece here:
Earlier today, Keir Starmer met German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Bellevue Palace in Berlin, the first British prime minister to visit the palace since David Cameron in 2015.
According to the PA news agency, Steinmeier had made the invitation after they met earlier this summer at Euro 2024.
Starmer signed the palace guestbook in the entrance hall, which had been decorated with red, white and blue flowers, before holding a private bilateral meeting with Steinmeier.
Keir Starmer meets Olaf Scholz in Berlin
Keir Starmer has arrived at the German chancellery for his meeting with Olaf Scholz.
He was welcomed by Scholz and an honour guard of German soldiers as a military band played God Save The King and the German national anthem. The two men then went inside the chancellery for their bilateral meeting, at which they are expected to discuss a proposed treaty between the UK and Germany as well as other matters including the war in Ukraine.
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Keir Starmer says he wants to 'turn a corner on Brexit' as he travels to Berlin for talks
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of UK politics as Keir Starmer meets the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, on a flying visit to Berlin.
The British prime minister says he wants to “turn a corner on Brexit” with talks expected to focus on defence and trade.
But Nils Schmid, the foreign affairs spokesperson for the SPD’s parliamentary group, told BBC Radio 4’s Today that Germany would like a deal on youth mobility, despite UK reservations about anything that would open the door to free movement of labour.
More on this shortly. In other developments:
Keir Starmer has given his strongest hint yet of tax rises to come in October’s budget, warning he will have to make “painful” decisions after finding what Labour says is a £22bn black hole in the public finances. Giving his first major speech from No 10 since becoming prime minister, Starmer said on Tuesday it would take years to clean up after the previous Conservative governments, which he said had overseen “14 years of rot”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is scheduled to be in Glasgow today on a growth-related visit. She will make a trip to a manufacturing centre and host a business roundtable.
Energy firm bosses will meet the government on Wednesday to discuss support for vulnerable households ahead of the winter. Ofgem has recently increased the price cap and it comes as the government is withdrawing winter fuel payments from millions of pensioner households not in receipt of benefits.
Scotland’s financial watchdog has said Scottish ministers are largely responsible for a spending crisis that is leading to deep cuts to non-essential services. The Scottish Fiscal Commission, which has a similar role to the Office for Budget Responsibility in London, said ministers in Edinburgh had spent heavily on public sector pay deals without proper planning.
A man is due to be sentenced for throwing a coffee cup at Reform UK leader and Clacton MP Nigel Farage on his battlebus during the general election campaign. Josh Greally, 28, of Clowne, Derbyshire, admitted a public order offence and will be sentenced today at Barnsley magistrates court.
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