[News]
Rayner signals UK would not join US if it were to attack Iran, saying government wants diplomatic solution
Daisy Cooper, the deputy Lib Dem leader, says the Lib Dems were proud to lead the campaign against the Iraq war in 2003. Given the reports President Trump might join a war against Iran, can the government rule out the UK following?
Rayner says the UK agrees with Trump that Iran must not have nuclear weapons. But the government wants a diplomatic approach, she says.
Cooper asks about the proposed Pip cuts. Analysis suggests 1.3 million disabled people could lose some support.
Rayner says Labour is the party of work. Those who want to work should be able to work. And those who can’t should be protected, she says.
Key events
Adam Thompson (Lab) asks what the government will do to improve maths education. He recently came across a 61-year-old man who said he had counted £7bn of government spending, when it was only £27m. What will be done for people like Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, who cannot add up?
Rayner says Reform’s sums don’t add up. She says the government is investing in skills boot camps.
Thompson was referring to a Byline Times report saying that Reform is m***ively exaggerating the amount it says can be saved by getting rid of government DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) initatives. In his story Josiah Mortimer says:
Nigel Farage’s party faces embarr***ment today as new figures appear to discredit Reform UK’s claims about ‘wasteful’ public sector spending on diversity schemes.
Farage’s party has repeatedly claimed that it could save £7bn a year by scrapping government spending on ‘DEI’ programmes – representing diversity, equality and inclusion schemes designed to reduce discrimination and create more welcoming, representative workplaces.
But new government figures – which have yet to be refuted by the far-right party – show that just £27m was actually spent on so-called DEI measures in 2022-23 by the civil service – suggesting leader Nigel Farage’s claims are off by a factor of about 250.
The civil service spend amounts to less than a penny a week per person living in Britain.
Peter Fortune (Con) asks about a private school which he says is closing because of Labour’s VAT on fees policy.
Rayner says she supports all schools that give a good education, but she backs the policy because it will mean state school pupils get a decent education.
Joe Powell (Lab) says it is eight years since the Grenfell Tower fire. Will the government set up some independent oversight so that inquiry recommendations are followed up?
Rayner says the the government will introduce a duty of candour; she knows this is important to Grenfell Tower victims, she says.
Andrew Pakes (Lab) asks Rayner to confirm that places like Peterborough (his constituency) are now top of the government’s agenda.
Rayner says she can confirm govenrment funding for a new city centre area and a refurbished station for Peterborough.
Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru) says Welsh farmers are taking “hit after hit” from government policies on tax and trade deals. Will the government compensate them?
Rayner says Plaid Cymru did not support Wales when it voted against extra money for the Welsh government.
Edward Leigh (Con) says the settlement policy on the West Bank is not in Israel’s interests. He says the Palestinian people deserve their own homeland.
Rayner says the government has sanctioned settlers. And it is pushing for a two-state solution.
Kirith Entwistle (Lab) asks about a constituent waiting for a social home. When will the government’s spending on this make homes available?
Rayner says the government inherited a “dire” situation. It is spending much more on this.
Nick Timothy (Con) says says Channel crossings are up 30%. When will they start to fall? And if they don’t, will the home secretary be fired.
Rayner says the Tories have not backed Labour’s measures on this. And she says Timothy should apologise for the Tories’s record on this, which was “abysmal”.
Pete Wishart (SNP) asks if Labour MPs who vote against the disability cuts will lose the whip?
Rayner does not address the question, and instead just argues Labour’s record is better than the SNP’s.
Jodie Gosling (Lab) asks about a decision to remove fire engine cover for Nuneaton.
Rayner says the fire minister will discuss this with Gosling further. But this is a matter for Warwickshire county council, now led by Reform. Nigel Farage should explain why Reform are cutting services, she says.
Sarah Champion (Lab) says victims of grooming gangs are being denied compensation for technical reasons.
Rayner says victims deserve support. She says the government is making it easier for them to get compensation in the civil courts.
Rayner signals UK would not join US if it were to attack Iran, saying government wants diplomatic solution
Daisy Cooper, the deputy Lib Dem leader, says the Lib Dems were proud to lead the campaign against the Iraq war in 2003. Given the reports President Trump might join a war against Iran, can the government rule out the UK following?
Rayner says the UK agrees with Trump that Iran must not have nuclear weapons. But the government wants a diplomatic approach, she says.
Cooper asks about the proposed Pip cuts. Analysis suggests 1.3 million disabled people could lose some support.
Rayner says Labour is the party of work. Those who want to work should be able to work. And those who can’t should be protected, she says.
Rayner says the government is fully committed to a Hillsborough law. It is focusing on getting the measures right.
[English News]
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