Sadiq Khan hints Britain could REJOIN the EU in the future
Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman warned that a "culture of presenteeism" was driving down productivity
PA
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has suggested the UK could rejoin the EU "the medium to long term".
The Labour politician said that there would come a time when it would be necessary to have a "conversation" to determine if Brexit had been a success.
His comments are in contrast to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who has said he did not see the UK returning to the bloc in his lifetime.
"It’s not possible in the short term for us to rejoin the EU," he told the New Statesman.
"I think referendums are once-in-a-generation issues.
"In the medium to long term, there will need to be a conversation about whether we have a better future inside the EU or outside of it."
Labour pledged in its 2024 election manifesto that "there will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement".
Tom Tugendhat reveals MSP backers
I've always kept my promises to this country.
— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) August 20, 2024
And I'm promising to deliver for the whole of our United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/fhBwpfQtwB
Family of jailed pro-democracy activist hold talks with new UK Government
The family of a jailed British-Egyptian pro-democracy writer hope his release can be secured as the fifth anniversary of his arrest approaches.
Alaa Abd El-Fattah, 42, has been detained since September 29 2019 and in December 2021 was sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of spreading false news.
Abd El-Fattah previously carried out hunger strikes during his detention and his case has also been discussed between the leaders of the UK and Egypt.
The Free Alaa campaign said his sister Mona Seif met with Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer on Monday, the first talks between the family and the new Labour administration.
Seif pressed the case for her brother to be released by September 29 and repeated a request for the family to meet Foreign Secretary David Lammy ahead of that date.
Seif said: “I feel it was a good first meeting.
“Minister Falconer was sympathetic and assured me that my brother’s freedom is a priority to our new Government.
“Of course, it’s too early to tell how this will translate into action, and if 2024 could finally be the year we see Alaa free and an end to our family’s ordeal, but I will borrow Alaa’s words from a letter when he got the news that David Lammy has finally become our Foreign Secretary and say: 'I’m allowing myself to feel hopeful'.”
Keir Starmer discusses Israel-Hamas ceasefire with Benjamin Netanyahu
Keir Starmer discussed the latest developments on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement
PA
Keir Starmer and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister started by expressing his sincere condolences to the Israeli people and the loved ones of the six hostages recovered in Gaza this morning, including British national Nadav Popplewell.
“The leaders discussed diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and the Prime Minister welcomed Israel’s support for the American ‘bridging proposal’ and emphasised the need to move quickly.
“Regional de-escalation was in everyone’s interests, as the impact of miscalculation would come at great costs for all sides, the leaders agreed.
"The UK was steadfast in its support for Israel’s right to self defence, and would continue to work with partners to uphold regional security, the Prime Minister added.
“The Prime Minister also urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to ensure greater access to detainees held by Israel, the increased delivery of aid to Gaza and to ensure international law was upheld at all times. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.”
Starmer backs more people working from home as staff set to be given more rights
The Prime Minister has backed a move towards more working from home after senior Labour figures pushed for wide-ranging workplace reforms.
Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman warned that a "culture of presenteeism" was driving down productivity, following plans to hand staff across the country the "right to switch off" and impose fines on bosses who contacted employees out of hours.
He said: "Good employers understand that for workers to stay motivated and productive, they do need to be able to switch off and a culture of presenteeism can be damaging to productivity.
"It's about making sure we have the right balance between making the most of the flexible working practices that we saw following the pandemic, with also having appropriate arrangements in place to ensure that people can stay productive."
But research into working from home has debunked its supposed productivity bump.
A study of over 1,500 workers at a Chinese tech firm found that despite making workers "happier", there was no real increase in output.
Stanford University's Nicholas Bloom said the results would surprise people who "love working from home and expect large productivity gains" - as well as those who "hate working from home and expected the productivity impacts to be really negative".
Bloom told The Times: "Their claim would be that all the time saved travelling and the quiet at home would lead to a productivity surge for remote work."
Labour launches Pension Credit 'drive' after backlash to Winter Fuel Payment means-testing
Reeves is urging pensioners to apply for Pension Credit - after means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment GETTY The Labour Government has launched a new "awareness drive" for Pension Credit following its decision to effectively axe the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners going forward.
In previous years, all older Britons were entitled to up to £300 in energy bills but households will now need to be in receipt of means-tested benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has received backlash from pensioners, policymakers and charities following her decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, especially as energy bills are projected to rise in line with Ofgem's price cap in October.
Some 1.3 million households in England and Wales will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments, however Reeves and pension ministers are looking to boost uptake of Pension Credit.
Read the full story HERE
Starmer pledges to help protect Port Talbot jobs
PA
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to do “everything we can” to preserve jobs at the steelworks in Port Talbot, South Wales.
Asked whether he risked giving “false hope” to workers in the town, the Prime Minister replied: “No. We’re working really hard on this, both the First Minister and myself jointly on this, because it’s so important that we do everything we can to preserve those jobs.
“We were working on this when I was in opposition – we’ve turbocharged that since we’ve been in power.
“Of course it’s difficult, I think everybody understands that.
“We’ve been able to put some money down just in the last week or so, particularly with the supply chain side of it, but we will do everything we can to preserve those jobs.”
SNP slammed for 'tragedy of unimaginable proportions' after rise in drug deaths
The SNP has been accused of overseeing "a tragedy of unimaginable proportions" after a rise in drug-related deaths in Scotland.
New figures from the National Records of Scotland found there was an increase of 121 fatalities in 2023 compared with 2022.
People in Scotland’s most deprived areas were 15 times more likely to die of drug misuse last year than those in the least deprived.
Glasgow and Dundee council areas had the highest rates of drug misuse deaths in 2023 while East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire had the lowest.
Describing the figures as "tragedy of unimaginable proportions", drugs campaigner Annemarie Ward added: "It's a heartbreaking reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive, truly compassionate support systems and effective policy changes that prioritise prevention, treatment, and recovery.
"We must remember that behind every statistic is a human story, a life cut short, and a family in mourning. Our collective response should be one of empathy, understanding, and unwavering commitment to ensuring that no more lives are needlessly lost."
Starmer vows to make UK an 'energy superpower' with eco plans
Sir Keir Starmer said his hopes of making Britain an “energy superpower” will include a key role for Wales, ahead of a wind farm visit with the new First Minister.
The Prime Minister and Eluned Morgan will travel to a site in West Wales on Tuesday as part of their first official visit together.
The pair, who held talks on Monday in Cardiff, are expected to pledge to work closely on realising the benefits of a publicly-owned energy company.
The Welsh Government previously launched Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru while the UK Government is developing Great British Energy.
GB Energy, which has been allocated £8.3billion of funding over the next five years, has been tasked with developing future offshore wind projects as part of moves to hasten the UK’s transition to renewable energy.
Lib Dems fined for election spending failures
PAThe Liberal Democrats have been fined a total of £3,600 by election authorities for 22 offences linked to the late reporting of donations.
The Electoral Commission said the five fines were paid by August 2.
Meanwhile, the Richmond Park Constituency Labour Party in south-west London was fined £1,000, which it paid on July 26.
The Electoral Commission probed the local party’s “failure to deliver its 2022 statement of accounts by the deadline”, and found one offence.
Jackie Killeen, electoral administration and regulation director at the watchdog, said in a statement: “The laws we enforce are there to ensure there is transparency over the money spent and received by political parties, and to increase public confidence in our system.
“It’s important that parties comply with the requirements, and report to us in a timely fashion.”
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