Sir Keir Starmer has been issued with a major warning from Britain’s biggest trade union baron over austerity-style plans to cut spending and raise taxes in October.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is poised to introduce tough policies to fill a £22billion “black hole in public finances”, with Starmer hinting at wealth taxes to cover the bill.
The Prime Minister also refused to rule out more spending cuts after coming under fire for means-testing Winter Fuel Payments.
Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham urged Labour against pursuing “austerity mark II” policies.
Graham said: “We need change. A bleak vision of Britain is not what we need now. It is time to see the change that Labour promised.
“The chaos of the previous Government is clear but we can make different choices to fix our nations. Britain can’t wait for growth. Our industries can’t wait for investment.”
The UK’s largest trade union has been a long-time supporter of the Labour Party.
However, Unite refused to endorse Starmer’s 2024 manifesto and instead sponsored many Labour MPs.
Graham has since locked horns with Starmer over the threat to Port Talbot Steelworks.
Labour is also facing pressure from the right, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage asking: “Whilst we fight the Chancellor on this important issue [Winter Fuel Payments] I wonder what other shocks will come in the budget at the end of October?”
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Speedy Dover border processing zone which plans to axe waiting times ‘needs French approval’
Plans for a new border processing zone at the Port of Dover will require French approval before getting the go-ahead, a Minister has claimed.
Immigration Minister Semma Malhotra claimed she was “very hopeful” Paris would reach a solution over the Kent port.
She added: “The reason we need to be confident is that we all share the same goals, that we want EES to be implemented as smoothly as possible.
“We want the risk of delays for travellers to the EU to be as little as possible.”
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Keir Starmer wants to ‘turn a corner on Brexit’ and ‘fix broken relationships’ with EU as he agrees new treaty with Germany
Starmer will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel MacronGetty/PA
Sir Keir Starmer says he wants to “turn a corner on Brexit” and “fix the broken relationships” as he flies to Berlin to agree terms of a new UK and German treaty.
The Prime Minister will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday to discuss the deal.
The new deal will be signed within six months and will cover vital areas for increased collaboration, such as market access, critical science, innovation and tech, clean energy, trade across the North Sea, supply chain resilience, energy security and green transition education, biodiversity, and the environment.
No 10 said the new treaty would be a key pillar of the UK’s wider reset with Europe.
He said: “We have a once in a generation opportunity to reset our relationship with Europe and strive for genuine, ambitious partnerships that deliver for the British people.“
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‘Nothing will be safe!’ Middle class tax raid fears erupt as Starmer tipped to target three major areas ahead of ‘painful’ Budget
Keir Starmer
PA
Middle class Britons are warned “nothing will be the safe” as the Labour Government is expected to raise capital gains and inheritance tax in the October Budget as the Prime Minister warns of “short-term pain’ for long-term good”.
Higher tax payers are warned they may bare the brunt of the tax raises as Kier Starmer stated those with “the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden”.
In a speech in the Downing Street rose garden, the Prime Minister warned “things are worse than we ever imagined” because of a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances.
He said: “There is a Budget coming in October, and it’s going to be painful. We have no other choice, given the situation that we’re in.”
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