[ad_1] Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to "press ahead" with the government's planned welfare changes, despite a growing rebellion from Labour backbench MPs.More than 120 Labour MPs have signed up to an effort to block plans to cut disability and sickness-related benefits payments to save £5bn a year by 2030.The threatened rebellion is enough to wipe out the government's working majority in Parliament. But speaking ahead of a meeting of
[ad_1] Henry Zeffman & Iain Watson & Chris MasonPA MediaAll of a sudden, this is a grave crisis for Sir Keir Starmer, perhaps the gravest of his year in Downing Street so far.Politically, it looks very hard for the government to proceed with its flagship welfare policies.Economically, it is very hard to see how the government cannot proceed.Labour whips, I'm told, have been jumping up and down for weeks trying
[ad_1] Peter SaullPolitical editor, BBC East MidlandsBBCLabour's Natalie Fleet said she used to tell her friends: "I can't be an MP - I was a teenage parent""You've ruined your life, not only for you, but for your unborn daughter."Natalie Fleet fell pregnant at 15 and says she was made to feel like it was entirely her fault, despite being a victim of statutory rape.The Labour MP for Bolsover in Derbyshire
[ad_1] Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to meet a new Nato target to spend 5% of the UK's GDP on national security by 2035.At a Nato summit in the Netherlands, 32 member countries including the UK are expected to agree the 5% goal, with 3.5% to go on core defence and the remaining 1.5% on defence-related areas such as resilience and security. The split target is aimed at
[ad_1] About 80 Labour MPs are supporting a fresh effort to block the government's planned changes to the benefits system, the BBC has been told.The MPs have signed an amendment that would give them an opportunity to vote on a proposal to reject the welfare reform bill in its entirety.Dozens of Labour MPs have expressed concerns about the plans to cut disability and sickness-related benefits payments to save £5bn a
[ad_1] Reform UK has announced it would give non-doms the chance to avoid many UK taxes by paying a £250,000 fee, with the proceeds going to people on the lowest incomes.Non-domiciles (or non-doms) live in the UK but have a permanent home overseas for tax purposes.Under Reform's plan, non-doms would pay the fee for a new Britannia Card and in return not be taxed on wealth, income or capital gains
[ad_1] Foreign Secretary David Lammy has urged Iran to take "the off-ramp" and return to the negotiating table.Iran has vowed there will be "everlasting consequences" following US strikes at the weekend, intended to take out the country's nuclear programme.Lammy said he had told Iran that it would be a "catastrophic mistake" for them to retaliate by firing at US bases, or by blockading the key shipping lane of the Strait
[ad_1] The prime minister has spoken to President Trump in the aftermath of America's attacks on Iran.But, in the end, the call beforehand demanding a yes or no answer didn't come.That is not to say it might not in the days and weeks to come.The British government is making it known that while it was told in advance what Washington was about to do, it didn't take part and wasn't
[ad_1] Joe PikePolitical and investigations correspondentWatch: Palestine Action member speaks to BBC NewsA Palestine Action member has told the BBC it is "absurd" the government plans to proscribe the group, which would effectively brand it as a terrorist organisation.Saeed Taji Farouky said it "rips apart the very basic concepts of British democracy and the rule of law", adding: "It's something everyone should be terrified about."The BBC understands the home secretary
[ad_1] Getty ImagesPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he does not think Kneecap's planned Glastonbury Festival performance is "appropriate".He made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh appeared in court charged with a terror offence, relating to allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.In an interview with The Sun, Sir Keir was asked if he thought
