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Tom Scotson

Welfare Cuts Will Push 250,000 People Into Poverty, Says Government Impact Assessment
Economy
Welfare Cuts Will Push 250,000 People Into Poverty, Says Government Impact Assessment
Labour’s welfare reforms will see an additional 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – pushed into relative poverty, government analysis has found.
Brother Of Hostage In Hamas Captivity Says It's A 'Miracle' He Isn't More Seriously Ill
Foreign affairs
Brother Of Hostage In Hamas Captivity Says It's A "Miracle" He Isn't More Seriously Ill
The brother of a hostage who was abducted by Hamas on 7 October 2023 has told PoliticsHome it is a "miracle" that he has not suffered from a more serious illness as his time in captivity approaches 18 months.
Trump Must Force Putin's Hand For Any Hope Of Peace Deal, Says Ex-UK Ambassador To Russia
Defence
Trump Must Force Putin's Hand For Any Hope Of Peace Deal, Says Ex-UK Ambassador To Russia
A Ukraine peace deal will only happen if US president Donald Trump threatens to throw his “full weight" behind the war-torn country, a former UK ambassador to Russia has said.
Nigel Farage Says JD Vance Is 'Wrong, Wrong, Wrong' After Claims He Insulted British Troops
Foreign affairs
Nigel Farage Says JD Vance Is "Wrong, Wrong, Wrong" After Claims He Insulted British Troops
Nigel Farage has said JD Vance was “wrong, wrong, wrong” after the US vice president appeared to describe the prospect of an Anglo-French force in Ukraine as “20,000 troops from some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.
Keir Starmer Calls Choosing Between US and EU 'Totally Unserious'
Defence
Keir Starmer Calls Choosing Between US and EU "Totally Unserious"
It is “totally unserious” to suggest that the UK must choose between siding with Europe or the United States in its approach to the war in Ukraine, Keir Starmer has said.
Foreign Aid Should Not Be Spent On Migrant Hotels, Says Labour MP
Defence
Foreign Aid Should Not Be Spent On Migrant Hotels, Says Labour MP
A Labour MP has urged the government to protect foreign aid money from being spent on migrant hotels as Keir Starmer faces a party divide over his decision to cut the overseas development budget.
International Development Minister Resigns Over Foreign Aid Cut
Foreign affairs
International Development Minister Resigns Over Foreign Aid Cut
International development minister Anneliese Dodds has resigned over the government's decision to cut the foreign aid budget.
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury Jailed For Ten Weeks
Home affairs
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury Jailed For Ten Weeks
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury has been jailed for ten weeks after punching a man in the street.
Seaside Labour MPs Unite To Resist Reform Wave
Political parties
Seaside Labour MPs Unite To Resist Reform Wave
Coastal Labour MPs are getting more organised as they brace for the threat of Nigel Farage.
Keir Starmer Tells Zelensky He Is “Democratically Elected Leader” After Trump Attack
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Keir Starmer Tells Zelensky He Is “Democratically Elected Leader” After Trump Attack
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Volodymyr Zelensky is the democratically elected leader of Ukraine, after President Donald Trump made an attack on him for not holding an election during wartime.
Kemi Badenoch Accused Of 'Hypocrisy' After Reversing Support For Football Regulator
Culture
Kemi Badenoch Accused Of "Hypocrisy" After Reversing Support For Football Regulator
The government has accused Kemi Badenoch of "complete hypocrisy" after the Tory leader appeared to backtrack on her support for reforming English football.
Labour To Step Up NHS Focused Attacks On Nigel Farage
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Labour To Step Up NHS Focused Attacks On Nigel Farage
Labour has decided to step up its attacks on Nigel Farage and his Reform party, and the NHS will be front and centre of its campaign, PoliticsHome understands.
Penny Mordaunt Says She Plans To Stand For Parliament At Next Election
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Penny Mordaunt Says She Plans To Stand For Parliament At Next Election
Former Conservative Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt has confirmed she intends to stand at the next general election.
Rachel Reeves Backs Heathrow Expansion In Major Economic Growth Speech
Economy
Rachel Reeves Backs Heathrow Expansion In Major Economic Growth Speech
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the government’s commitment to building a third runway at Heathrow airport, after she claimed the project would increase growth, investment and exports.
Heathrow Third Runway Must Not Undermine UK’s Net Zero Goals, Transport Committee Chair Says
Transport
Heathrow Third Runway Must Not Undermine UK’s Net Zero Goals, Transport Committee Chair Says
The Transport Committee Chair has said the government must not undermine or “lose sight” of the UK's Net Zero commitments if it gives the green light to a third runway at Heathrow airport.
Lib Dems Push for More Time to Debate Voting Reform
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Lib Dems Push for More Time to Debate Voting Reform
The Lib Dems have urged the Government to provide them with more time to debate Parliamentary reform as momentum builds to change the UK’s voting system.
Scottish Labour MP Warns Starmer Oil Refinery Closure Risks Thatcher-Scale 'Devastation'
Energy
By Tom Scotson
Scottish Labour MP Warns Starmer Oil Refinery Closure Risks Thatcher-Scale "Devastation"
A Scottish Labour MP has compared the closure of Scotland’s only oil refinery to the “social devastation” caused by the closure of coal mines across the United Kingdom under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.
Keir Starmer Should Use 'Entire Political System' To Build Ties With Trump, Says Ex-National Security Adviser
Foreign affairs
Keir Starmer Should Use "Entire Political System" To Build Ties With Trump, Says Ex-National Security Adviser
Lord Sedwill, the former national security advisor, has said the government should use people who "have a good relationship" with the Donald Trump administration to help deepen ties with the new US president.
Keir Starmer Says 'Line Has Been Crossed' After Elon Musk's Attacks On UK Politicians
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Keir Starmer Says "Line Has Been Crossed" After Elon Musk's Attacks On UK Politicians
Keir Starmer said a “line has been crossed” after tech billionaire Elon Musk called a Labour minister a “rape genocide apologist” after ruling out another inquiry into victims of child sexual exploitation.
How Will Kemi Badenoch Rebuild CCHQ?
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
How Will Kemi Badenoch Rebuild CCHQ?
Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) is the party’s campaigning machine, but nowadays you struggle to find many Tories who are happy with it. Senior MPs, veteran Conservatives and regular members say it needs wholesale reform to win elections again. Can Kemi Badenoch give it the shake-up Tories are looking for?
Will Smaller Parties Continue To Rise In 2025?
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Will Smaller Parties Continue To Rise In 2025?
The Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Greens all had reasons to be delighted by the 4 July General Election. There are signs that smaller parties could enjoy more success in 2025.
Keir Starmer Is 'Highly Capable' But Needs A Stronger 'Message', Says Anthony Seldon
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Keir Starmer Is "Highly Capable" But Needs A Stronger "Message", Says Anthony Seldon
Political historian Anthony Seldon believes Keir Starmer must assemble a "far, far stronger" Downing Street team in 2025 after the most "naive" start a Labour government has ever made.
Farage-Wary Labour MPs Urge Keir Starmer To Be Vocal About Immigration In 2025
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Farage-Wary Labour MPs Urge Keir Starmer To Be Vocal About Immigration In 2025
A number of Labour MPs want Prime Minister Keir Starmer to make reducing immigration a cornerstone of his political strategy in 2025 as the party braces for the growing electoral threat of Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
Outgoing Hereditary Peers Criticise 'Nasty' Plans To Abolish Them
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Outgoing Hereditary Peers Criticise "Nasty" Plans To Abolish Them
A group of hereditary peers on Wednesday tried to make the case for why they should not be removed from the House of Lords, with one affected peer describing Labour's reforms as "nasty". The legislation will almost certainly pass, however.
David Lammy Says UK Should Be 'Cautious' About Regime Change In Syria
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
David Lammy Says UK Should Be "Cautious" About Regime Change In Syria
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK should be “cautious” while welcoming the “opportunity” for the Syrian people after rebels overthrew the Bashar Al Assad regime.
Government Prepares For Fight With Tory Lords Over Football Bill
Culture
Government Prepares For Fight With Tory Lords Over Football Bill
Exclusive: The Government has accused Tory peers of “extraordinary” and cynical behaviour to slow down the Football Governance Bill's progress in the Lords.
Boost BBC World Service Funding To Help Ukraine Fight Russia, Says Labour MP
Culture
Boost BBC World Service Funding To Help Ukraine Fight Russia, Says Labour MP
A Labour MP is leading calls for the BBC World Service to be given a funding boost, arguing that it has helped Ukraine fight Russia by combatting disinformation.
Senior Tory Philip Hammond Says Calls To Cut Off Trade With China Are 'Unrealistic'
Defence
By Tom Scotson
Senior Tory Philip Hammond Says Calls To Cut Off Trade With China Are "Unrealistic"
Former foreign secretary Lord Hammond has urged the Conservative party to be less ideological in its approach to China, saying it is "unrealistic" to call for cutting off trade with the world's second-largest economy.
Ex-Security Advisor Warns Whitehall Lacks Expertise To Deal With China
Defence
By Tom Scotson
Ex-Security Advisor Warns Whitehall Lacks Expertise To Deal With China
Lord Ricketts, the UK's former national security advisor, believes there is not enough institutional knowledge in Whitehall to support Prime Minister Keir Starmer's pursuit of a more "pragmatic" relationship with China.
Who's Who In Kemi Badenoch's Inner Circle?
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Who's Who In Kemi Badenoch's Inner Circle?
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has finalised senior appointments to her backroom team which includes former minister Lee Rowley as her chief of staff and former Boris Johnson adviser Henry Newman as deputy.
Defence Secretary Says British Military Capabilities Are 'Just Not Good Enough'
Defence
By Tom Scotson
Defence Secretary Says British Military Capabilities Are "Just Not Good Enough"
John Healey said the UK’s military capabilities are “just not good enough” in his first appearance before the defence committee since becoming the Secretary of State for Defence.
Lords Want 'Wimbledon Clause' To Give Football Fans Power To Stop Stadium Moves
Culture
Lords Want "Wimbledon Clause" To Give Football Fans Power To Stop Stadium Moves
A group of Lords are pushing the Government to go further in reforming English football by preventing club owners from moving stadiums away from their original locations without fans' consent. 
MPs Urged To Be 'Wary' Of Mobile Phone Theft Near Parliament
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
MPs Urged To Be "Wary" Of Mobile Phone Theft Near Parliament
Government Whips have urged Labour MPs to be careful when using mobile phones near Westminster after "a number" reported having their devices stolen.
Football Clubs Could Be Named And Shamed For Not Promoting Equality, Diversity And Inclusion
Communities
Football Clubs Could Be Named And Shamed For Not Promoting Equality, Diversity And Inclusion
Football clubs will be named and shamed if they do not promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) targets under a strengthened Football Governance Bill.
Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Is 'Sure' Government Will Pay Attention To Israeli Jet Court Case
Defence
By Tom Scotson
Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Is "Sure" Government Will Pay Attention To Israeli Jet Court Case
Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Emily Thornberry expects the Government to pay close attention to an upcoming Dutch legal verdict on the sale of parts used to make Israel's F-35 jets.
Reform UK Removes Party Chief In Latest Staff Shake-Up
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Reform UK Removes Party Chief In Latest Staff Shake-Up
The Chief Operations Officer of Reform UK has been removed from his position as the party reorganises, PoliticsHome understands.