Starmer meets Scholz with Germans eager on youth mobility deal – UK politics dwell

Numerous pensioners will want help this winter who gained’t be eligible for the brand new winter gas fee threshold, an ex-Labour minister has warned.

Talking to BBC Radio 4’s Right this moment programme, Chair of the Committee on Gas Poverty Caroline Flint stated that though the present scheme was “poorly targeted”, since not all the ten million pensioners want it to pay their payments, the brand new plans are too slender.

“There needs to be consideration in the budget in the autumn of a winter plan for many, many people – pensioners and other households,” she stated.

“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 steered a number of options, together with endorsing shopper champion Martin Lewis’ suggestion to make use of council tax bands A-D, since these function a proxy for the neighbourhoods individuals dwell in and the earnings bands in these areas.

She additionally steered widening the pool of individuals eligible for the nice and cozy houses low cost.

Flint stated she hoped there could be “a better plan going forward” popping out of the vitality summit occurring on Wednesday, which is able to see vitality minister Miatta Fahnbulleh meet with vitality provider CEOs and Ofgem, Power UK and Residents Recommendation.

In the long term, Flint stated it was essential to have “secure sources” of vitality, equivalent to renewables and low carbon choices, to scale back prices, in addition to to advertise a “fabric first approach” to make houses hotter and cut back vitality payments.

Anna Bawden

Vapes ought to solely be bought from “behind the counter”, like cigarettes, and never be on show in retailers, based on the British Medical Affiliation.

In a report revealed on Wednesday, the docs’ union known as on ministers to introduce laws to sort out the “growing epidemic” of vaping within the UK.

In line with latest evaluation by Motion on Smoking and Well being (Ash) 5.6 million adults in Britain vape, about 11% of the grownup inhabitants. Vape use amongst kids and younger individuals has elevated virtually six-fold within the final decade, with 7.6% of 11-17 yr olds now vaping, both frequently or sometimes, in contrast with 1.3% in 2014.

Vapes can assist some individuals quit smoking, however they don’t seem to be risk-free. Final yr, the World Well being Group known as for “urgent action” to guard kids from e-cigarettes. Vaping can result in nicotine habit, whereas some gadgets have been discovered to comprise different dangerous substances, equivalent to lead, and even spiked with the artificial drug spice.

Labour introduced in July’s king’s speech that it might revive the earlier authorities’s tobacco and vapes invoice. The Conservative’s proposed laws included measures to ban disposable vapes and prohibit flavours and packaging, however was shelved after the final election was known as. Particulars of the precise laws Labour needs to introduce have but to be revealed.

The BMA stated given the rising variety of kids and younger individuals making an attempt and smoking vapes, the federal government “must not shy away from taking brave action”.

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Earlier right now, Keir Starmer met German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the Bellevue Palace in Berlin, the primary British prime minister to go to the palace since David Cameron in 2015.

In line with the PA information company, Steinmeier had made the invitation after they met earlier this summer season at Euro 2024.

Starmer signed the palace guestbook within the entrance corridor, which had been embellished with pink, white and blue flowers, earlier than holding a personal bilateral assembly with Steinmeier.

Keir Starmer has arrived on the German chancellery for his assembly with Olaf Scholz.

He was welcomed by Scholz and an honour guard of German troopers as a army band performed God Save The King and the German nationwide anthem. The 2 males then went contained in the chancellery for his or her bilateral assembly, at which they’re anticipated to debate a proposed treaty between the UK and Germany in addition to different issues together with the warfare in Ukraine.

Good morning and welcome to our protection of UK politics as Keir Starmer meets the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, on a flying go to to Berlin.

The British prime minister says he needs to “turn a corner on Brexit” with talks anticipated to concentrate on defence and commerce.

However Nils Schmid, the overseas affairs spokesperson for the SPD’s parliamentary group, instructed BBC Radio 4’s Right this moment that Germany would love a deal on youth mobility, regardless of UK reservations about something that might open the door to free motion of labour.

Extra on this shortly. In different developments:

• Keir Starmer has given his strongest trace but of tax rises to return in October’s price range, warning he should make “painful” selections after discovering what Labour says is a £22bn black gap within the public funds. Giving his first main speech from No 10 since changing into prime minister, Starmer stated on Tuesday it might take years to scrub up after the earlier Conservative governments, which he stated had overseen “14 years of rot”.

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves is scheduled to be in Glasgow right now on a growth-related go to. She is going to make a visit to a producing centre and host a enterprise roundtable.

• Power agency bosses will meet the federal government on Wednesday to debate help for weak households forward of the winter. Ofgem has lately elevated the worth cap and it comes as the federal government is withdrawing winter gas funds from tens of millions of pensioner households not in receipt of advantages.

• Scotland’s monetary watchdog has stated Scottish ministers are largely chargeable for a spending disaster that’s resulting in deep cuts to non-essential providers. The Scottish Fiscal Fee, which has an identical position to the Workplace for Funds Accountability in London, stated ministers in Edinburgh had spent closely on public sector pay offers with out correct planning.

• A person is because of be sentenced for throwing a espresso cup at Reform UK chief and Clacton MP Nigel Farage on his battlebus throughout the normal election marketing campaign. Josh Greally, 28, of Clowne, Derbyshire, admitted a public order offence and will likely be sentenced right now at Barnsley magistrates courtroom.