Waspi women latest: Starmer faces growing Labour rebellion after ‘breaking promise’ on pensions compensation

Frustration from Waspi women over the “deeply disappointing” decision of the UK Government not to offer compensation is justified, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said.

Speaking to STV News, Mr Sarwar said: “I can completely understand, and I believe I was one of the ones that campaigned with them, had photographs with them, I was right to do that, I was right to campaign with them.

“I continue to stand with them in the face of their injustice.

“I think where there is justified frustration is in the blanket no compensation position.”

Sir Keir Starmer wants his Football Governance Bill to pass into law as quickly as possible to block a rebranded breakaway league.

The Bill will create an independent football regulator for the top five tiers of the men’s game.

“You heard him previously say that on his watch, there will be no Super League-style breakaway from English football,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

“And as part of the strengthened Football Governance Bill, the regulator will be able to prevent English clubs from joining future breakaway competitions by taking into account factors such as sustainability, heritage and fairness.”

The original Super League was launched by 12 European clubs – including the Premier League’s “Big Six” – in April 2021 but quickly collapsed amid fan protests and opposition from the continental and global governing bodies.

Promoters A22 have have contacted Uefa and Fifa to seek official recognition for a new competition, the Unify League.

Sir Keir is eager for the Football Governance Bill to pass swiftly to prevent leagues such as the rebranded Unify League from seeking to break away, No 10 said.

Shadow local government minister David Simmonds said the Government’s festive funding announcement saw the gift for councils “emptier than expected”.

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Simmonds said: “The two wise men and wise woman of the Government have arrived bearing their gifts for local councils. But on closer inspection, while the gold is beautifully packaged, the box is somewhat emptier than what people have been expecting.

“It’s been a challenging few weeks for local government, we’ve heard the Government’s plans to take as much as they can of the local out of local government, and it’s clear that this statement today will leave our local authorities facing further challenges in doing the day job, and very significant uncertainty as we go into the new year.”

Mr Simmonds said town halls would still face increased costs caused by extra duties introduced by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and that the money to cover the rise in employers’ national insurance would not cover the £1.76 billion sum identified by the Local Government Association.

“As many of our councillors go away for their Christmas break and try and digest the detail of this with their Christmas lunch, they are going to be facing rumbling indigestion as they realise that their budget pressures are growing significantly,” he said.

“If this is fixing the foundations, I wouldn’t want to stay in the tent that’s the only thing this will hold up in our local authorities,” he added.

The Government has announced new funding in an attempt to fix the “dire straits” of local government finances, including £700 million extra for councils.

Local government minister Jim McMahon said councils across the country are “in crisis” after 14 years of Conservative-led governments.

“I take the responsibility to lead this Government’s work to rebuild the sector with the seriousness that it’s due and also with the urgency that’s required,” Mr McMahon said. This work has already begun, and today marks a major milestone in our mission to rebuild local government and to put councils on a firmer financial footing.”

He added: “This is why today I am announcing over £700 million of additional grant. This includes over £200 million of extra funding for social care since the policy statement.”

Mr McMahon said £515 million would be given to councils to help them with the rise in employers’ national insurance.

He said: “Taken together, the additional funding made available at this settlement and the Budget delivers over £5 billion of new funding for local services over and above local council tax.”

He went on to say: “We must ensure that public investment is used too for long-term prevention and the reform of local public services, rather than expensive short-term crisis responses which we know often have much worsening outcomes. We are determined to end the cycle of failure that we have seen for too long. We will provide certainty by making sure that no authority will see a reduction in their core spending power after accounting for council tax flexibilities next year.”

The Health Secretary has challenged the idea that some pensioners could die due to changes to the winter fuel allowance.

Wes Streeting insisted pensioners will “still be better off this winter than they were last winter”.

Appearing in front of MPs at a Health and Social Care Committee, Mr Streeting was asked about a 2017 Labour Party estimate that 4,000 people could die if the then government removed the winter fuel allowance.

He was asked if the Department of Health and Social Care has done any assessments on potential deaths following the Government’s announcement in July that the payment would be means-tested.

Mr Streeting replied: “Because of the choices that the Chancellor has made, particularly on protecting the state pension through the triple lock – even taking into account the decisions she’s taken on winter fuel allowance – pensioners will still be better off this winter than they were last winter, and will be better off next winter further still.

“And of course, one of the reasons it gives me confidence to stand by that assertion is she has protected winter fuel allowance for the poorest pensioners and put in place financial support, which I think will make a real difference to people.”

When asked if he meant not a single pensioner will die because of the move, Mr Streeting replied: “I can stand by very strongly the sense that because the state pension is rising in the way that it is, and because of the decisions the Chancellor has taken to protect the poorest pensioners – I admit an unpopular decision with people who’ve lost a winter fuel allowance – but not one that will lead to that fatalistic outcome.”

Downing Street said it recognised continued cost of living pressures following the increase in inflation revealed on Wednesday, but said rising real wages were making households better off.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I would point you to the Chancellor’s response to this this morning, which together with yesterday’s figures confirmed that real wages are now growing at their fastest rate in three years, so that’s wages taking into account inflation.

“That means after inflation that’s worth on average an extra £20-a-week, and that is important to families who have faced the pinch, who have faced inflation levels of up to 11% in recent months and years.

“But we do understand that the cost of living continues to be a challenge for people.

“That’s why, at the Budget, we kept fuel prices down through the freeze of fuel duty, it’s why next year the national living wage will be boosted by £1,400, and it’s why the Government’s made its mission to grow the economy based on the fact that we want to drive and improve living standards for people up and down the country.”