UK politics live: Starmer could make ‘pragmatic’ U-turn over £1bn tax plan, as PM warned after Trump meeting

Our chief political commentator John Rentoul has been responding to readers questions following a significant week for Labour, as they held their first conference in government in over a decade.

Here are six questions from Independent readers – and his answers from the “Ask Me Anything” event.

Read below:

Russell Findlay has billed himself as someone who is “not a career politician”.

For decades, Mr Findlay was an investigative reporter in Scotland, covering organised crime and justice for the likes of STV and the Scottish Sun.

It was his work investigating some of the country’s biggest criminals that led to him being attacked with acid at his home, narrowly avoiding serious injury.

Mr Findlay went on to become – to the surprise of many colleagues – the head of communications for the Scottish Conservatives in 2020, and later announced his intention to run for Holyrood.

Topping the Tories’ West Scotland list, he was elected in 2021 – after coming third in the Paisley constituency – and quickly rose to become the party’s justice spokesman.

Throughout his four years at Holyrood, the former reporter has become a fierce critic of the Scottish Government, particularly around the controversial gender reforms blocked by the UK government early last year.

He was also seen by some as the continuity candidate in the Tory leadership race, with reports suggesting his predecessor Douglas Ross wanted him to take over the top job last year.

Mr Findlay will now be tasked with bringing together a party which has been struggling in recent months.

Read the full report from my colleague Alex Croft below:

Kemi Badenoch has doubled down on her claim that she "became working class" when she got a job at McDonald's.

The Tory leadership hopeful said she came to the UK “with no money, no friends, no parents”.

She told LBC at that point in her life she was working class as she “had to work to eat”.

“I grew up in a middle class family but coming here I became working class - my dad gave me his last £100, he said ‘you know this is all we have’ because all our money was gone and this is one of the things that people don’t understand,” Ms Badenoch said.

Watch her original comments below:

Pension credit claims have hit almost 75,000 amid Government efforts to boost benefits take-up.

Department for Work and Pensions figures released on Friday showed the Government received around 74,400 pension credit claims in the eight weeks since 29 July, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced means testing for the winter fuel payment.

This is up from 29,500 claims in the eight weeks before the announcement.

But in the seven days beginning on 16 September, the department received 11,800 claims, down from 13,400 the week before.

The vast majority (92 per cent) of claims made in the week beginning 16 September were made online.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has previously urged pensioners to check if they are eligible for the benefit, which would unlock winter fuel payments of up to £300.

Unite, the UK’s biggest union, has said it welcomes reports that the treasury is set to change its fiscal rules in order to allow the government to borrow.

The change is set to be announced in next month’s budget.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It seems that the government has listened and will now reform its fiscal rules to allow borrowing to invest. This is a move we have been calling on Labour to make for a long time.

“If this government is going to achieve its aim of making the UK a fairer society that delivers for workers and their communities then it needs make serious investment in infrastructure and new job creating industries.”

Defence Secretary John Healey is looking at a rumoured Israeli ground invasion into Lebanon “really carefully”.

Mr Healey said on Friday airstrikes and rocket fire exchanged between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah present a “risk that this escalates into something that is much wider and much more serious”.

Defence Secretary John Healey is looking at a rumoured Israeli ground invasion into Lebanon “really carefully”.

Mr Healey said on Friday airstrikes and rocket fire exchanged between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah present a “risk that this escalates into something that is much wider and much more serious”.

Asked about the rumoured ground invasion, Mr Healey replied: “We’re watching this really carefully. That will be a matter for the Israelis.

“At the moment, it’s airstrikes. At the moment, there are missiles from the Lebanese Hezbollah directed at Israel. This conflict serves no one.”

UK defence chiefs have taken on a semiconductor factory near Darlington after fears its closure could leave projects in the lurch.

Defence Secretary John Healey visited the site on Friday, which the Ministry of Defence has said is the only secure facility with the capability to produce gallium arsenide chips, used in electronic devices.

“Semiconductors are at the forefront of the technology we rely upon today, and will be crucial in securing our military’s capabilities for tomorrow,” Mr Healey said.

“This acquisition is a clear signal that our Government will back British defence production.

“We’ll protect and grow our UK Defence supply chain, supporting North East jobs, safeguarding crucial tech for our Armed Forces and boosting our national security.”

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it would name the factory, at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, Octric Semiconductors UK, and that the acquisition would secure up to 100 roles.

The Scottish Conservatives must come together after a bruising period, the party’s new leader Russell Findlay has said.

Speaking immediately after his win was announced, Mr Findlay said: “Everyone must come together as one united team.

“Let us start the hard work right now to win back public trust.

“I want to deliver the message to people across Scotland who do not feel that anyone represents them, who are scunnered by the divisiveness and fringe obsessions of the Scottish Parliament who feel let down and failed by politicians of every single party, including ours, who think politicians are all the same.

“I feel that way – I get it, but I’m not the same.”