Waspi women latest: Starmer defends choppy first six months amid growing Labour rebellion
The prime minister is facing MPs on the Liaison Committee following over the government’s decision to not pay compensation to 3.8 million Waspi women
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Your support makes all the difference.Sir Keir Starmer is facing an end-of-term grilling from senior MPs after an opening few months in office which have seen Labour’s poll ratings plummet.
The prime minister will take questions from the Liaison Committee for the first time since being elected in July.
The panel is made up of the chairs of Commons select committees, and Sir Keir will face questions across a range of Government departments.
Among the members of the committee are former Conservative cabinet minister Steve Barclay, and chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tories Bob Blackman.
It comes as the prime minister faces backlash as he is accused of breaking a promise in a decision not to compensate Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women.
Sir Keir faces a growing Labour rebellion over the issue, with up to 50 Labour MPs saying they would vote against the government’s decision to rule out spending £10bn compensating the women if a vote is held, The Independent understands.
The term “Waspi” refers to a woman born between 1950 and 1960 who was disadvantaged by the 1995 Pensions Act, which increased their pensionable age from 60 to 65.
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From Waspi ‘betrayal’ to winter fuel cuts, Starmer’s U-turns will come back to haunt him
Government announces new funding to local councils
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.”
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