Politics LIVE: Starmer clashes with Sunak over national security at PMQs as assisted dying bill introduced
Labour government will allow free vote by MPs on controversial assisted dying bill
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Sir Keir Starmer was involved in a tense exchange with Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) over national security.
Mr Sunak said the PM has halted the implementation of the foreign agents registration scheme. Mr Starmer simply replied “that is not correct”, before sitting down to cheers from Labour backbench MPs.
The foreign agents registration scheme would ensure that those working for a foreign power declare their lobbying activities with the UK government.
At PMQs, Mr Starmer also revealed that the government is considering sanctioning two Israeli ministers over their support for blocking aid from entering the Gaza Strip.
Shortly after PMQs the private members bill on assisted dying was formally introduced to the House of Commons.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is bringing forward the proposals, has said that disabled and vulnerable people will not be at risk from the legislation as it will apply only to terminally ill adults.
She said the end of life bill will have “stringent” criteria and the legislation was about giving “autonomy” to people at the end of their lives.
Archbishop of Canterbury warns of ‘slippery slope’ ahead of assisted dying legislation
Assisted dying: What is the current law and will it change?
Woman on weight loss medicine calls Streeting ‘naive’ on anti-obesity jabs
Keir Starmer met Taylor Swift at London gig as questions continue over her blue-light escort
Watch: Health secretary Wes Streeting denies using weight loss jabs
Starmer warned that employer national insurance increases could lower wages for workers
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned that any increase to employers’ national insurance contributions in the upcoming Budget could mean lower wages for workers.
Helen Miller, deputy director and head of tax at the IFS said that any increase to employers’ national insurance contributions could be passed onto workers.
She said: “Lots of questions about Employer NICs today. They are a tax on the earnings of working people. In the long run, expect the majority of a rise in employer NICs to be passed on to workers in the form of lower wages.”
David Cameron hits back at claim he threatened Boris Johnson over Brexit backing
David Cameron has hit back at the claim he threatened to “f***” Boris Johnson up forever if he backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum, saying he finds it “hard to believe”.
Lord Cameron channelled the late Queen Elizabeth II in saying “recollections differ” after Mr Johnson had claimed those were his “exact words”.
Speaking out for the first time since Mr Johnson made the explosive claim, Lord Cameron said: “I find that hard to believe.”
Cameron hits back at claim he threatened Boris Johnson over Brexit backing
Johnson claimed Cameron threatened to ‘f***’ him up forever’ if he supported Leave in the 2016 referendum
Ex-Bank of England chief Mervyn King urges Rachel Reeves to raise national insurance in Budget
Former Bank of England governor Mervyn King has made a dramatic intervention warning Rachel Reeves that she must raise national insurance in her Budget on 30 October.
According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), the chancellor has an estimated £25bn black hole to fill in order to meet Labour’s spending commitments.
But in an open letter published in The Independent, Lord King warns her against higher borrowing.
Our political editor David Maddox reports
Ex-Bank of England chief urges Rachel Reeves to raise national insurance in Budget
Exclusive: In a dramatic intervention, the former governor of the Bank of England tells the chancellor she must be ruthlessly honest with the public
Watch: Keir Starmer refuses to rule out raising national insurance contributions
Unemployed to be given weight-loss jab to help them back into work
Unemployed people will be given weight-loss jabs to assist them back into work in a trial.
The UK’s life sciences sector will receive £279 million from drugs giant Eli Lilly, to invest in developing new medicines and ways to deliver treatment.
Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of the NHS praised weight-loss drugs as “game-changers” in supporting people to reduce their risk of life-threatening conditions.
Jabed Ahmed reports
Unemployed to be given weight-loss jab to help them back into work, government says
The new trial aims to gather evidence of the effects of the drug tirzepatide – sold by pharmaceutical company Lily under brand name Mounjaro
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