Thousands of children will be held in immigration detention for more than 28 days under Labour plans, which fail to repeal powers brought in under the Conservatives.
Under a new borders bill proposed to parliament today, Labour will keep legislation that allows unaccompanied asylum seeking children, whose age is disputed, to be held for at least 28 days in immigration detention.
Government statistics for the first half of 2024 show that 1,419 children had been subject to an age-dispute investigation and had later been determined to be under 18 - meaning that thousands of children could be affected by this legislation each year.
Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director, said: “Choosing to now keep this Act, or any part of it, to hammer rather than safeguard adults and children who’ve suffered the trauma of human trafficking, torture and war would be rank hypocrisy”.
It comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the government’s decision to support the expansion of Heathrow Airport. Ms Reeves said she believes the third runway can be built in the next decade.
Meanwhile, Former prime ministers Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have paid tribute to a “working class hero” who “rose to the highest ranks of the land” at the funeral of Lord John Prescott.
Key points
- Lord John Prescott's funeral - key moments
- Labour accused of ‘rank hypocrisy’ over border security bill
- Rachel Reeves sends message to Sadiq Khan as London mayor opposes Heathrow expansion
- Streeting takes NHS mandate 'back to basics' in new war on overspend
Politics Explained | Could Britain ever rejoin the European Union?
16:49 , Jabed Ahmed
Kendall promises sweeping reforms to sickness benefits
16:09 , Jabed AhmedThe welfare budget has to be put on a “more sustainable course”, Liz Kendall said as she warned the country could not keep meeting the “costs of failure”.
The Work and Pensions Secretary, who will set out sweeping reforms to sickness and disability benefits in the spring, said more people needed to be moved off welfare and into jobs.
Ms Kendall blamed the Conservative administrations for failing to control welfare spending.
She told the PA news agency: “We’re going to get the benefits bill on a more sustainable course – and it has to be, we cannot accept these costs of failure, failure for individuals, failure for businesses and failure for the economy.
“But the way to do this is to get more people into work through the reforms that we’re putting in place in our Jobcentres and through reform of the benefit system. And we’ll be bringing forward our green paper on reforming sickness and disability benefits in the spring.”
The £137.4 billion welfare cap set by the previous government for 2024/25 is on course to be exceeded by £8.6 billion.
Government has no plans to reform voting system
16:01 , Jabed AhmedDemocracy minister Rushanara Ali has confirmed the Government has no plans to change the voting system at general elections.
She told the Commons: “This Government has no plans to change the voting system for elections to the House of Commons. I’m getting unlikely cheers, I’m not used to having cheers from the main opposition party.
“The first-past-the-post system, while not perfect, provides for – as has been pointed out – a direct relationship between members of Parliament and their local constituency, and such a change would require a national conversation and a referendum.”
Ms Ali had earlier said: “Whichever side of the argument members are in, it’s vital that we work tirelessly to protect our democracy that does face different kinds of threats in the current climate.”
She continued: “How we select our representatives in Parliament is of fundamental importance and members quite rightly have strong views. The choice of voting systems is central to that concern, as we’ve heard in the many speeches that have been made today.
“And how those votes are cast goes to the heart of our democracy.”
Russian arrest warrant for UK journalist ‘is desperate rhetoric’, No 10 says
15:54 , Jabed AhmedDowning Street has condemned a Russian arrest warrant issued for a UK journalist, calling it an example of “desperate rhetoric” from Vladimir Putin’s administration.
A court in Russia’s Kursk border region has issued an arrest warrant for Jerome Starkey, defence editor at The Sun, and put him on an international wanted list.
The Kursk regional court accused him of illegally crossing the border into Russia.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) had petitioned the court saying a British citizen had entered Russia from Ukraine to film a report in August last year.
“It’s just another example of desperate rhetoric from Putin’s government. Of course, we condemn it,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.
British journalists “shine a light into some of the darkest corners of the world, uncovering atrocities”, he added.
“Jerome Starkey’s award-winning reporting from inside Ukraine, exposing the details of Russia’s illegal war for millions of readers, is no different.
“And if the Kremlin cannot withstand the British newspaper highlighting Ukraine’s brave defence of its freedom, then frankly, Putin should roll back his tanks, withdraw his forces, and end the suffering of Ukrainian and Russian people.
“We will always stand with Ukraine, we will always stand by our free and fearless press.”
Labour MP urges Government to establish national commission for electoral reform
15:34 , Jabed AhmedMinisters must be “bold” and establish a national commission to help reform the “unrepresentative” voting system used for UK parliamentary elections, according to a Labour MP.
Alex Sobel (Leeds Central and Headingley), who supports proportional representation, said the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system is “not working” and is “desperately in need of an upgrade”.
He said a national commission for electoral reform would act as a “first step” to finding a consensus on the system to be used in future, amid concerns that 85% of MPs were elected by less than 50% of the voters who turned out in 2024.
Under the existing FPTP system, voters select their preferred candidate and the candidate with the most votes wins.
Alternatives include the single transferable vote system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference.
Opening a debate on proportional representation for general elections, Mr Sobel told the Commons: “I want to encourage the Government to be bold and to be honest about how unrepresentative British general elections have become.”
Borders bill risks 'stoking divisions', refugee charity warns
15:19 , Jabed AhmedLabour's new borders and security bill, which retains controversial parts of Tory legislation, risks "stoking divisions", charities have warned.
The bill will allow longer detention for some migrants, including children, and deny help to some modern slaves trafficked to the UK. It will also introduce a new criminal offence called endangering lives at sea, that will see people jailed for up to five years for assisting small boat crossings.
Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, said: "Framing migration as a 'national security' issue to use counter terrorism-style laws will irreparably harm refugees, many of them children, and stoke divisions as we have seen in last summer's racist riots.
“Most people who seek asylum here are racially minoritised and legislation aimed at deterring, detaining and criminalising them perpetuates racial injustice both in our systems and on our streets.
“The government wants to repeal the Safety of Rwanda Act and parts of the Illegal Migration Act. But in its current form, this bill is a missed opportunity to improve the asylum and immigration system and build unity."
Comment | Bats have ruined my house sale – Rachel Reeves is right to give them the boot
15:05 , Jabed Ahmed
Bats have ruined my house sale – Rachel Reeves is right to give them the boot
Thousands of children will be held in detention for more than 28 days under Labour plans
14:48 , Holly BancroftThousands of children will be held in immigration detention for more than 28 days under Labour plans, which fail to repeal powers brought in under the Conservatives.
Under a new borders bill proposed to parliament today, Labour will keep legislation that allows unaccompanied asylum seeking children, whose age is disputed, to be held for at least 28 days in immigration detention.
Government statistics for the first half of 2024 show that 1,419 children had been subject to an age-dispute investigation and had later been determined to be under 18 - meaning that thousands of children could be affected by this legislation each year.
Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director, said: “Choosing to now keep this Act, or any part of it, to hammer rather than safeguard adults and children who’ve suffered the trauma of human trafficking, torture and war would be rank hypocrisy”.
Full report | Trade union boss warns Reeves against trading workers rights for economic growth
14:45 , Jabed Ahmed
Trade union boss warns Reeves against trading workers rights for economic growth
Plans to strip modern slavery protections for channel migrants will 'increase trafficking'
14:42 , Jabed AhmedExperts have warned that plans to deny some victims of human trafficking access to government help could be incompatible with UK and international law, and will embolden criminals.
Under a new bill presented to parliament, Labour is reportedly planning to retain Tory plans to prevent victims of modern slavery who arrived in the UK illegally from accessing help.
Human trafficking victims who enter the UK this way will not be able to get help from the UK’s national referral mechanism (NRM) - the system for supporting and identifying victims, it has been reported.
Dr Marija Jovanovic from the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at the University of Oxford, said: “The evidence is clear: the modern slavery measures removing protections from certain categories of victims of human trafficking are incompatible with domestic human rights law and international laws the UK has signed up to.”
She called on the Labour government to repeal the modern slavery provisions in the Illegal Migration Act, which was brought in by the Conservatvies.
Jakub Sobik, from the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre, said that keeping this legislation risks “increasing trafficking and modern slavery in the UK”.
He added: “If implemented, they would deny potentially thousands of people protection from trafficking and would strengthen the hand of traffickers, as well as our ability to prosecute traffickers”.
WATCH: Rachel Reeves grilled on past opposition to airport expansion over environmental concerns
14:33 , Bryony GoochSir Keir Starmer’s former CPS colleague takes seat in House of Lords
14:22 , Jabed AhmedA former colleague of Sir Keir Starmer when he headed the Crown Prosecution Service has taken her seat in the House of Lords.
Alison Levitt KC served as principal legal adviser to the then director of public prosecutions.
The 61-year-old was was among 30 new Labour peers nominated by the Prime Minister.
Baroness Levitt wore the traditional scarlet robes for the short introduction ceremony, where she swore allegiance to the King.
She was supported by leading lawyer and independent crossbencher Lord Carlile of Berriew and Lords chief whip Lord Kennedy of Southwark.
Lady Levitt was called to the Bar in 1988 and took Silk in 2008.
She worked at the CPS from 2009 to 2014 before becoming a partner at the law firm Mishcon de Reya, where she led its business crime group.
She returned to the Bar in 2018 and became a circuit judge in 2021.
In pictures: Lord John Prescott's funeral
14:11 , Bryony Gooch
Labour accused of ‘rank hypocrisy’ over border security bill
14:03 , Bryony GoochLabour has been accused of rank hypocrisy over plans to uphold controversial Tory proposals to detain child migrants in its bid to crack down on Channel smuggling gangs.
Despite Labour frontbenchers repeatedly speaking out against the Conservatives’ Illegal Migration Act (IMA), Yvette Cooper is pressing ahead with plans to allow unaccompanied children whose age is disputed by the Home Office to be detained for up to 28 days.
Read the full report by Archie Mitchell, Millie Cooke and Holly Bancroft here:
Labour accused of ‘rank hypocrisy’ over small boats child detention plans
Lord John Prescott's funeral - key moments
13:52 , Bryony GoochJohn Prescott’s coffin is being loaded into the hearse, with a crowd of people outside Hull Minster applauding.
Here were the key moments from the service:
- Lord Prescott’s funeral was carried into Hull Minster by former Downing Street director of communications Alastair Campbell, while the Welsh national anthem played on bagpipes.
- Gordon Brown gave the first eulogy and called Lord Prescott a “working class hero” the likes of whom would never be seen again.
- Sir Tony Blair delivered a final eulogy for Lord Prescott and said he wanted to “celebrate him also as a man, a good man, a man who started as my political partner and became my personal friend.”
- Sir Keir Starmer read Psalm 107
- Angela Rayner read a poem by Hull-based poet Philip Larkin
Tories claim people do not want to buy electric vehicles
13:29 , Jabed AhmedThe Government should stop “forcing” automotive businesses to make electric vehicles as people “don’t want to buy” them, according to the Conservatives.
Shadow trade minister Greg Smith told the House of Commons: “The SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) predicts that just 775,000 cars will roll off production lines in 2025. That is compared to 1.3 million in 2019. The Telegraph today reports the slump has been accelerated by a slowdown in demand across Europe, particularly by drivers shunning new electric vehicles.
“So why does the minister persist in a policy to undermine our automotive businesses by forcing them to make a product people just don’t want to buy? Isn’t it time to get the state out of the way, let our innovators innovate and boost automotive business confidence by letting them deliver to actual consumer demand?”
Business minister Gareth Thomas replied: “(Mr Smith) surely seems to have forgotten the extra investment that Nissan has announced, for example, and the extra investment announced by a number of other car manufacturers.
“He and his colleagues were very clear in opposing the measures that we took in the budget, including measures that backed investment in the automotive sector.”
Mr Thomas earlier reminded Mr Smith that it was the Conservatives who introduced the zero emission vehicle mandate when in government.
Tony Blair jokes about Prescott's famous punch
13:20 , Bryony GoochFormer prime minister Sir Tony Blair has joked with the congregation at Lord Prescott’s funeral about the “pandemonium” that ensued after “the punch” in the 2001 general election campaign.
He recalled ringing his deputy with reluctance and asking him to apologise.
Sir Tony said he got the reply: “The answer is no, I’m not bloody apologising and that’s the end of it.”
The former PM said: “Classic”.
He said he watched the footage again recently and was “cheering him on”.
Sir Tony explained how the Labour Party has always had an uneasy relationship with being in power but Lord Prescott was “instrumental” in resolving this during his government.
He said his deputy had an “intuition about what Labour must do to sustain itself in power”.
Chemical businesses are closing due to high energy costs, former cabinet minister says
13:11 , Jabed AhmedThe Government said the chemicals sector is an important part of the economy, amid concerns that high energy prices are making it harder for the industry to survive.
The Commons heard concern from a former cabinet minister that businesses could choose to close, or relocate elsewhere, because of higher energy costs than parts of Europe.
Sir Gavin Williamson said: “In my constituency of Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, the chemical industry is an important employer with the HECs group and the SI group employing many people. As has already been touched on, Sir Jim Radcliffe is already highlighting the extinction of the British chemical industry. My chemical manufacturers need to ensure that they are buying energy at the same price as they are buying in Germany, the Netherlands and France. When are they going to be able to do that?”
Business minister Sarah Jones said the chemical sector was one of eight identified in the industrial strategy as important for growth.
She said: “The chemical industry has been suffering for many years because of the previous government’s economic policies, the way they crashed the economy under Liz Truss and the way they have failed to deal with energy prices over multiple years.
“I have met with the chemicals industry, they are a very important part of our economy. We need to do what we can to protect them. I am having conversations, and we are building our energy policies, and our industrial strategy.”
Watch | Rachel Reeves sends message to Sadiq Khan as London mayor opposes Heathrow expansion
12:59 , Jabed AhmedLord Prescott's son delivers second Eulogy
12:51 , Jabed AhmedLord Prescott’s son David told his father’s funeral: “He was a man who spent his life overcoming challenges and helping others,” adding: “Prescott was always at your service.”
David Prescott described how the “bolshy ex-waiter” became deputy prime minister and talked about his family life.
He also talked about his father’s final days in a care home, thanking all the carers and staff who looked after him.
Mr Prescott finished his eulogy with the speech Lord Prescott gave to the East Hull Labour Party in 1968 as he pitched to be the local MP, saying “John always had the last word”.
He said he found it when sorting through Lord Prescott’s belongings.
The speech finished with the line: “Comrades, I hope I can help.”
Mr Prescott told the congregation: “You did dad, you did.”
Prescott was a 'working-class hero', Brown says
12:36 , Jabed AhmedFormer prime minister Gordon Brown has paid tribute to Lord Prescott as a “working-class hero” who “kept the show on the road during difficult times”.
Giving the first of five eulogies at the funeral service at Hull Minster, Mr Brown said: “We will never see his like again. A man of the people he certainly was, in a class by himself, a one-off. One of a kind but one of us, in the best sense of the word.
“Unique, remarkable, extraordinary. John Lennon would have called him a working-class hero, and not least because he risked appearing on Gavin And Stacey, seen by millions, as Nessa’s rejected suitor.
“John was a man of the people because he could connect with people, and I don’t just mean that man in Rhyl who dared to hurl an egg at him.
“John could connect with people who had not only encountered him in the media, but knew he was on their side.
“The John you saw in Hull and the John you saw at home was the John you saw in Downing Street, and the reason is he was never afraid to stand up for what he believed, and for the people it was his life’s work to serve.”
Gordon Brown delivers first eulogy
12:33 , Jabed AhmedFormer prime minister Gordon Brown told Lord Prescott’s funeral they were there to “mourn the loss of a dear friend” in the city which was “the home he loved and the home he served with pride, passion and principle”.
Mr Brown said: “We celebrate a life well lived, a life lived to the full, a life that touched the lives and changed the lives of millions.”
He added: “We shall not see his like again.”
The former PM spoke of how Lord Prescott believed in the “goodness in everyone”, adding “even that egg-thrower in Wales”.
The former prime minister also thanked Lord Prescott’s wife, Lady Prescott, saying: “Thank you for sharing John with all of us for all of these years.”
Mr Brown discussed Lord Prescott’s rise from cabin steward on a cruise ship at the age of 19 to deputy prime minister.
He told the funeral: “John showed us the Britain that could be.”
India trade deal should secure release of detained British citizen, says MP
12:27 , Jabed AhmedTalks to secure a trade deal with India should also support the release of a British citizen arbitrarily detained there, a Labour MP has urged.
Ahead of a visit to India by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Douglas McAllister urged negotiators to discuss the release of 37-year-old Jagtar Singh Johal.
Mr Johal, a Sikh activist from Dumbarton in Scotland, was in Punjab, northern India, for his wedding in 2017 when his family said he was arrested and bundled into an unmarked car.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found his imprisonment breached Mr Johal’s human rights, and have called for his release and compensation.
Mr McAllister asked on Thursday: “Whilst it’s appreciated that a new trade deal with India could support jobs and prosperity in the UK and thus drive growth, can I ask the minister to include in the work underway across Government to prepare for negotiations with India, that those discussions include the immediate release of my West Dunbartonshire constituent Jagtar Singh Johal from arbitrary detention in India prior to concluding any trade deal?”
Business and trade minister Gareth Thomas told the Commons in his reply: “I recognise this is a very significant issue for (Mr McAllister). We remain absolutely committed to encouraging the government of India to see faster progress to resolve this case.
“The Prime Minister (Sir Keir Starmer) raised this case with prime minister (Narendra) Modi back on November 18. We’ve made clear the need for faster progress towards a resolution on this issue.”
Watch | Keir Starmer, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown unite at John Prescott's funeral
12:26Pictured | Lord Prescott's coffin carried into Hull Minster
12:19 , Jabed Ahmed
Lord Prescott’s coffin carried into Hull Minster
12:16 , Jabed AhmedLord Prescott’s coffin was carried into Hull Minster as former Downing Street director of communications Alastair Campbell played the Welsh national anthem on the bagpipes.
The coffin was led into the church, as the bells rang, by the Reverend Canon Dr Dominic Black, who will conduct the service, and the former Labour cabinet minister Lord Reid, who is representing the King.
Dr Black began the service with a prayer.
Ministers begin to arrive at John Prescott's funeral
11:16 , Jabed AhmedMore than 300 family members, friends and colleagues have been invited to John Prescott’s service at Hull Minster.
Lord Prescott, who served as deputy prime minister under Sir Tony Blair between 1997 and 2007, died on November 20 last year aged 86 in a nursing home where he had been living with Alzheimer’s.
Hosted by the Rev Canon Dominic Black, the service will include singing from the Choral-Hull children’s choir, made up from pupils across the city.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Full report | Rachel Reeves warns Sadiq Khan she will defeat London mayor’s bid to sabotage Heathrow expansion
11:09 , Jabed Ahmed
Reeves warns Khan she will defeat London mayor’s bid to sabotage Heathrow expansion
Analysis | Streeting's NHS mandate lays bare the limits of government ambition for the health service
11:01 , Millie CookeWes Streeting’s 2025 NHS mandate has revealed a stark truth about the government’s ambition for the NHS.
While the health secretary has promised to deliver on the peoples’ priorities, his admission that the health service will go "back to basics" suggests that this may be all they’re delivering on.
Streeting’s warning that the “NHS must learn to live within its means” is hardly an inspiring message for one of Britain’s national treasures – and campaign groups have already pointed out key omissions from today’s mandate, such as a lack of national targets or deadlines for the NHS to implement sexual misconduct policy.
With an increasingly difficult fiscal situation – and an electoral landscape that makes improving satisfaction with the NHS absolutely pivotal to Labour’s success – it seems Streeting is gambling on getting the basics right, rather than making truly ambitious reforms for the health service.
Starmer sends condolences to those affected by plane crash in Washington DC
10:58 , Jabed AhmedSir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to emergency services responding to the plane crash in Washington DC.
More than 60 people are feared dead after an Army helicopter crashed into a commercial jet near Washington D.C on Wednesday night.
Footage of the crash shows the two aircraft collide in midair before exploding a huge fireball.
In a post on X, the prime minister said: “I am deeply shocked by the tragic scenes coming out of Washington D.C. My thoughts are with all those on board and their families desperately waiting for news.
“I pay tribute to the emergency services for their dedicated work in such challenging conditions and I send the UK’s condolences to the United States at this time.”
Labour’s border bill to 'block migrants from claiming slavery protections’
10:49 , Jabed Ahmed
Labour’s border bill to 'block migrants from claiming slavery protections’
Streeting takes NHS mandate 'back to basics' in new war on overspend
10:36 , Millie Cooke“The culture of routine overspending without consequences is over”, Wes Streeting has warned, as he unveiled a new, trimmed-down mandate for the NHS.
The health secretary, who said he will bring the health service “back to basics”, warned that the “NHS must learn to live within its means”.
His new targets include cutting waiting list times, improving access to GPs and dentists and improving urgent and emergency care.
In a foreword to the 2025 mandate, Mr Streeting said the approach will put “the NHS on the road to recovery”.
“The last Labour government delivered the shortest waiting times and the highest patient satisfaction on record. It won’t be easy, but together we’ll do it again”, he said.
“We recognise that this will mean tough decisions need to be made and local systems should feel empowered to make them”, Mr Streeting warned. "The culture of routine overspending without consequences is over."
Labour Party pay tribute to John Prescott
10:29 , Jabed AhmedThe Labour Party have said “Today we say goodbye to a giant of the Labour movement” ahead of Lord John Prescott’s funeral later today.
Lord Prescott, who served under Sir Tony Blair between 1997 and 2007, died on 20 November last year, aged 86.
In a post on X, the Labour today paid tribute to him with a video of his most notable moments in the party.
Today we say goodbye to a giant of the Labour movement.
— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) January 30, 2025
Thank you, John. pic.twitter.com/XCnaEgjDvq
Watch | Rachel Reeves grilled on past opposition to airport expansion over environmental concerns
10:19 , Jabed AhmedStreeting says 'NHS must learn to live within its means'
10:10 , Jabed AhmedWes Streeting has delivered a trimmed-down mandate for the health service today, bringing the NHS “back to basics”.
The health secretary said: "With so many pressures on people’s pockets and the public purse, the NHS must learn to live within its means. We recognise that this will mean tough decisions need to be made and local systems should feel empowered to make them.”
He added: "The culture of routine overspending without consequences is over."
Watch | Rachel Reeves warns UK 'losing market share' without Heathrow expansion
09:59 , Jabed AhmedWes Streeting to bring NHS 'back to basics' in new trimmed down mandate
09:58 , Millie CookeWes Streeting is expected to deliver a trimmed-down mandate for the health service today, bringing the NHS “back to basics”. But it has sparked concerns key areas including sexual misconduct rules will be sidelined.
The health secretary’s NHS targets are expected to include reducing emergency department delays, cutting wait list times, improving access to GPs and dentists, and improving cancer care targets and mental health services.
He is also expected to give the health service ambitious efficiency targets, and order the NHS to “live within its means” so taxpayers get value for money.
Mr Streeting told The Telegraph: “We are telling the NHS to go back to basics and focus on the fundamentals. It needs to deliver on patients’ priorities – shorter waiting times, being able to get a GP appointment and ambulances that arrive on time.”
Here are the written ministerial statements due to be made in the Commons today
09:49 , Jabed Ahmed– Secretary of State for Business and Trade: Horizon Shortfall Scheme appeals process.
– Minister for the Cabinet Office: The Humanitarian Medal.
– Secretary of State for Education: Strengthening oversight of partnership delivery in higher education.
– Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero: The UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Information to facilitate Clarity, Transparency and Understanding (ICTU).
– Secretary of State for Health and Social Care: The government’s 2025 mandate to NHS England and NHS Operational Planning Guidance 2025-26.
– Secretary of State for the Home Department: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
– Secretary of State for the Home Department: Police Funding Settlement 2025-26.
– Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government: Integrated Settlements.
– Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme Levy 2024-25.
Tories 'happy in principle' about Heathrow expansion, Stride says
09:29 , Jabed AhmedShadow Chancellor Mel Stride has said the Tories are "happy enough in principle" to see Labour back the expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Mr Stride told Sky News: "You're looking at something with Heathrow that probably won't come to fruition if it does at all, until the 2040s or maybe even the 2050s.
"The more immediate challenge we've got is this year, next year, the year after is what the government has done to the economy as a consequence of the last budget.
"Taxing businesses, taxing jobs, killing growth stone-dead, unemployment rising; these are all challenges that Rachel Reeves really needs to address right now.
"She's got the opportunity at the end of March with the spring statement, to come to the House of Commons and explain to us how she's going to address that, albeit fine, let's talk about the longer term.
"But people are worrying about the next few years ahead, I think."
Shadow Chancellor asked if Tories would reverse national insurance hike
09:13 , Jabed AhmedSpeaking to BBC Radio 4, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said: “So we've been very clear that as a party, we believe in lower taxes, not higher taxes.
“We've been very clear that a terrible mistake that this government has made, having said they wouldn't do it before the election, is to increase taxes substantially on businesses, particularly on employment. And we're seeing that coming through now in terms of effectively zero growth, higher unemployment, inflation higher than it would otherwise have been, with interest rates higher for longer has a consequence.
“We are now, over the next months and years, going to be putting together, through that deep thinking around this issue of tax and many other issues, the right kind of policy platform to put forward to the British people.”
Analysis | What the wrangling over Peter Mandelson says about Trump and Starmer
09:09 , Jabed AhmedTrump and Starmer have resolved their differences on Lord Mandelson but at what cost to the prime minister? our Political Editor David Maddox reports
What the wrangling over Peter Mandelson says about Trump and Starmer
Chancellor says she would back plans for Leeds Bradford airport expansion
08:39 , Jabed AhmedChancellor Rachel Reeves said she would back the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport if the owners produced plans.
The Chancellor, who represents Leeds West and Pudsey, had previously opposed a new terminal at the site.
But she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If Leeds Bradford came back with plans to expand, I would support those, because I think that things have changed significantly in the last few years, and the Cabinet supports these plans.
“We’ve already, as a Government, signed off expansion at Stansted and City Airport, because we know that we need the economic growth, and we know that sustainable aviation and economic growth go hand in hand.”
Full report | Heathrow expansion can be done in a decade, Reeves says
08:36 , Jabed Ahmed
Heathrow expansion can be done in a decade, says Rachel Reeves
Sadiq Khan can’t stop Heathrow expansion, Reeves says
08:21 , Jabed AhmedSadiq Khan can’t stop the government’s planned Heathrow expansion from going ahead, Rachel Reeves has said.
The London mayor has been a vocal opponent of the plan to build a third runway at the London airport.
But speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the chancellor said: “I've got huge respect for Sadiq, but on this, I disagree with him, and we as a government have to make decisions in the national interest”.
Asked if he can stop the expansion from happening, she said: “No. There can be judicial reviews, but we are confident that this airport expansion will happen, that we will get the third runway built.
“And indeed, alongside the announcements yesterday, we are reforming the planning system to reduce the number of judicial reviews”.
Reeves challenged on employment figures
08:21 , Jabed AhmedChallenged on payroll statistics that showed employment fell by 47,000 last month, Ms Reeves said business groups backed her plans for growth. "They said the announcements that I made were smart announcements. They backed these plans to go further and faster on delivering economic growth," she said.
After it was put to her that major supermarket chains were collectively shedding thousands of jobs, MS Reeves said others were hiring.
"There will be many jobs created an estimate of 100,000 jobs from a third runway at Heathrow, 6000 jobs through the announcement I made around an investment zone in Wrexham and Flintshire. Yesterday, the IMF have revised up the growth forecast for the UK for this year"
