Magistrates ‘asked to stop jailing criminals’ for a number of weeks to ease stress on prisons – UK politics stay

The boss of Gatwick mentioned he “hopes and expects” the federal government will again the airport’s plans for a second runway, including that its proposals would deliver further air capability to the south-east extra rapidly than a 3rd runway at Heathrow.

Stewart Wingate, the airport’s chief government since 2009, mentioned the £2.2bn plan to create a completely functioning second runway by the tip of the last decade had robust financial credentials and will “chime” with the federal government’s development agenda.

Gatwick, which is the busiest single-runway airport on the planet, is planning to maneuver the centre line of its northern runway, which is used largely as a taxiway, 12 metres (39ft) north as a way to permit planes to take off whereas others land on the prevailing runway.

A six-month public examination of the scheme will finish subsequent week, with the planning inspectors submitting a suggestion to the federal government earlier than ministers decide within the first half of subsequent 12 months.

You may learn the total story by my colleague Jack Simpson right here:

The power secretary, Ed Miliband, acknowledged the rise within the worth cap will fear a number of folks throughout the nation. He blamed the cap enhance within the “toxic legacy” of the Conservative governments over the past 14 years, which he mentioned didn’t “secure” the UK’s power system, as a substitute leaving it on the “mercy” of worldwide markets “controlled by dictators”.

With the intention to assist households battling payments, Miliband mentioned Labour plans to reform Ofgem so it’s a “consumer champion”, work to make standing costs fairer and introduce a Heat Properties Plan, which is able to give devolved administrations the facility and the assets to deliver each house of their space as much as EPC normal C or larger inside a decade.

Miliband has mentioned that constructing new renewable power technology, which might end in cheaper power, and putting in 1000’s of pylons in unspoilt rural areas to ship a “clean power” revolution, is vital to tackling the price of residing disaster.

He added in his submit on X:

The one long run resolution to realize power independence is to dash in direction of clear, homegrown energy. That’s why we’re transferring at tempo to ship on our mission for clear energy, by lifting the onshore wind ban, consenting photo voltaic and getting extra renewable tasks constructed.

There was a number of response to Ofgem confirming the power cap will rise to a mean annual £1,717 from October, a ten% a 12 months – or £12 a month – leap within the typical quantity households face paying for his or her gasoline and electrical energy when utilizing direct debit.

Whereas it is a rise on the interval from July to September, the brand new cap can be about £117 cheaper in comparison with the identical interval in 2023, when the standard invoice was capped at £1,834.

Ofgem, the power regulator, revealed the worth cap weeks after the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, set out plans to limit the winter gas allowance, which is able to have an effect on thousands and thousands of pensioners. She mentioned the transfer was vital to assist plug a “black hole” within the public funds left by the Conservatives.

Winter gas funds are value between £100 and £300 – tax-free – with the essential charge paid mechanically to anybody claiming the state pension. The upper sums can be found to those that get different advantages, resembling pension credit score. You may learn extra in regards to the funds on this helpful explainer right here.

Reacting to Ofgem’s power cap announcement, shadow power secretary, Claire Coutinho, accused Labour of not being sincere about its plans.

She mentioned:

As an alternative of prioritising low cost power, the brand new Labour authorities are pursuing Ed Miliband’s reckless web zero targets with no ideas to the prices.

And much from their promise of saving households £300 off their power payments, one among their first acts in workplace is to take away the winter gas cost from 10 million pensioners this winter.

As a result of they weren’t sincere about their plans, which means thousands and thousands of pensioners could have made no plans to take care of larger power payments this winter.

Gillian Cooper, director of power at Residents Recommendation, mentioned:

We’ve braced ourselves for a difficult winter however at present’s worth cap enhance will little doubt see much more folks fall behind on their power payments.

We’re notably involved about households with kids and younger folks and people on decrease incomes, who’re most definitely to wrestle with their heating prices.

Good morning and welcome again to our rolling protection of UK politics.

Magistrates have been requested to cease jailing criminals for a number of weeks in an try and ease stress on Britain’s overcrowded prisons, in accordance with reviews.

The Instances reported that Lord Justice Nicholas Inexperienced, who sits on the courtroom of attraction, has issued a “listing direction” to the managers of magistrates’ courts in England and Wales saying that offenders who’re on bail and more likely to be jailed ought to have their sentencing hearings postponed till at the least 10 September.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson mentioned the rules didn’t apply to high-risk offenders who have been already on remand.

“Every delay in magistrates’ work adversely affects the timely delivery of justice and impacts victims, witnesses and defendants,” Tom Franklin, chief government of the Magistrates Affiliation, informed The Instances.

He mentioned Inexperienced’s route was “the latest sticking plaster to try to get through until the big release of prisoners on 10 September but just highlights the crisis that the justice system is in”.

There have been already plans in place, from 10 September, for 1000’s of prisoners to begin being launched 40% of the way in which via their sentence as a part of emergency measures introduced final month.

Strain on prisons elevated with riots throughout England – that broke out after the deadly stabbing of three younger ladies in Southport – which led to greater than 1,000 arrests. We’ll deliver you response to the Instances report all through the day.

Listed here are among the different essential headlines:

• The common family power invoice is to extend by £149 from October after Ofgem mentioned it was growing its worth cap as houses method the winter months. The regulator introduced it’s mountaineering its worth cap by 10% from the present £1,568 for a typical family in England, Scotland and Wales to £1,717 (about £117 cheaper than the cap final October). You may learn extra on the power worth cap rise in our enterprise stay weblog right here.

• One other two MSPs – Brian Whittle and Alexander Stewart – have backed the shadow safety minister, Tom Tugendhat, as the subsequent chief of the UK Conservative celebration, bringing his whole MSP assist to 10. It comes after eight different MSPs backed Tugendhat on Monday, saying he can be a “help, not a hindrance” north of the border.

• Rachel Reeves has insisted there can be “no blank cheques” for public sector unions amid Conservative claims that the federal government’s try to finish long-running strikes has made it a delicate contact. The chancellor mentioned there had been no caving in to coach drivers and junior medical doctors, and defended her choice to simply accept suggestions of pay assessment our bodies for real-terms will increase for the police, academics and the armed forces on the grounds that they have been wanted to recruit and retain employees.

• NHS employees are being urged to simply accept a 5.5% pay enhance provide from the Scottish authorities, an increase according to that proposed in England. Unite, one among a variety of commerce unions which symbolize NHS employees in Scotland, is to poll its members on the provide, however is recommending they settle for.

It’s Yohannes Lowe right here with you at present. Please do e mail me on yohannes.lowe@theguardian.com in case you spot any typos or omissions.