The government is promising “seismic reforms” for the planning system under legislation published today. Meanwhile, police investigate allegations against a suspended Reform MP – which he denies.
Tuesday 11 March 2025 17:00, UK
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We’re opening up the Politics Hub for questions once again.
From the government’s planning reforms and expected welfare cuts, to the drama engulfing Reform and a looming by-election, there have already been plenty of talking points this week.
You can submit your questions using the form above, and we’ll pick some out for our experts to answer.
Welcome to your regular teatime round-up from the Politics Hub – here are the main things you need to know:
Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live from 7pm.
Our guests tonight are Baroness Gabby Bertin, the vice-chair of the parliamentary group for domestic violence, to talk about a review into online pornography; and Northern Ireland’s DUP deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Our panellists are ex-Labour minister Jim Murphy and James Starkie, who was an adviser to Priti Patel when she was in government.
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, held a meeting with the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency this afternoon.
They spoke about the aftermath of the crash in the North Sea yesterday, which involved a cargo ship and a tanker.
The minister said: “I am reassured to hear indications from the ship’s owners which suggest the sodium cyanide containers were empty and that efforts to confirm this by the salvors are underway.
“I was also pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat and that the Solong can be towed away from the shore, and salvage operations can get under way.
“I will continue to monitor the response and have asked for regular updates, including on any potential environmental impacts, across government and our agencies.”
Over in the House of Commons, they are debating Labour’s new Employment Rights Bill.
One of the potential points of jeopardy is an amendment by Stella Creasy to introduce protected paternity leave for new fathers.
Dozens of MPs back the proposed change, but the government might still vote it down due to the size of its majority.
While Creasy is a Labour backbencher, it is usual for a government to want to have control of the legislative procedure.
‘Dads want to step up’
Speaking to Sky News, Creasy says the bill “does really brilliant things” for working people.
But she adds: “The issue for me is if we don’t also tell the story about every parent’s responsibility to look after kids, we risk sending the message that it’s ‘ladies who do babies’.
“Dads want to step up. Dads don’t actually have that protected and paid right to be really able to play their part.”
The Commons is debating and voting on potential amendments today and tomorrow.
By Alexandra Rogers, political reporter
The prime minister is laying the ground for big changes to long-term sickness and disability benefits.
Ministers have stressed there are currently 2.8 million people not in work due to ill-health, while one in eight young people are not in education, training, or employment – something they say isn’t sustainable.
However, disability charities have warned against draconian cuts to welfare, which they say could push hundreds of thousands more people into poverty at a time when costs are still high.
So, what changes could be on the way?
Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
PIP is a tax-free payment given to people aged 16-64 to help with the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or disability.
There are two components:
It’s possible to meet the criteria for one part or both parts, and payments vary for each.
Those who qualify for the daily living part are given either a lower rate of £72.65 per week or a higher rate of £108.55, and those who qualify for the mobility part either receive £28.70 or £75.75.
Who is currently eligible?
People aged between 16-64 can get PIP if they expect their difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started.
What could change?
Changes being mooted include making it harder to qualify for PIP and freezing payments next year so they don’t rise with inflation – something even austerity chancellor George Osborne didn’t do.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is available to those who are on a low income, out of work or cannot work.
The benefit is replacing the six you can currently claim:
According to ITV News, the basic rate for Universal Credit could be increased for those who are in work or searching for work, and could be cut for those who are judged unfit to work.
Merging benefits
The Sun has reported that workers who lose their jobs will receive priority for benefits over those who have never had one.
An “unemployment insurance” benefit would merge Jobseeker’s Allowance – the benefit paid to people who are out of work but looking for a job – and the Employment and Support Allowance, used for those with a disability or health condition that affects how much they can work.
The newspaper reported the new support would be time-limited, and all claimants would have to actively seek work to qualify for it.
It’s no secret the government is leaning heavily into AI and other technology in a bid to get the creaking British state into the 21st century.
And it’s next step is set to turn calling the taxman into an experience more akin to a science-fiction film.
Treasury minister James Murray is about to announce HMRC will begin using a system where someone’s voice can be used as a password.
In scenes reminiscent of Edna Mode in The Incredibles, or Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man, callers to the tax bureaucracy will only have to speak to confirm who they are.
Just say the word…
According to the Treasury, a successful trial is now being rolled out across His Majesty’s Revenue And Customs and should be in place by the end of the year.
A spokesperson said: “Voice biometrics strengthen security, safeguard customer data, and reduce call times.
“Customers’ voice recordings are converted into encrypted biometric data, a voiceprint, and stored securely in a data centre.
“As reforms got under way to automate and digitise its services, HMRC met its target of 85% of calls handled between October and December 2024 and is expected to meet its customer service standards in 2025-26.”
The step will bring HMRC in line with banks and the private sector, according to the Treasury.
👉Listen to Politics At Jack And Sam’s on your podcast app👈
Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.
Bats, pylons, and planning reforms – how far is Keir Starmer willing to go to achieve the growth and infrastructure he’s promised, and will Labour’s new reforms help the UK get there?
And what has the fallout been after Mike Amesbury announced his resignation, triggering a by election in Runcorn?
And over in Riyadh, ahead of peace talks over the war in Ukraine, how significant a role has Keir Starmer’s National Security advisor Jonathan Powell been playing?
WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk
Transport minister Mike Kane said Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has “acted with honour”, referring to his “circumstances” with former Reform MP Rupert Lowe.
During an adjournment debate in December last year, the pair had a heated exchange in the Commons chamber where Lowe was heard telling Kane “don’t turn your back on me”.
Today, after a statement on the North Sea vessel collision, Tice asked if Kane would recognise the “extraordinary bravery” of RNLI volunteers in his constituency of Boston and Skegness.
The minister replied: “(Tice) should brace himself for what I’m about to say, I think he’s acted with honour in terms of this weekend, in my circumstances with one of his ex-members in this House, and I am grateful to him.”
Lowe has been suspended from Reform over allegations of bullying, which he denies.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and her Tory counterpart Robert Jenrick just clashed rather dramatically in the Commons over the Sentencing Council’s new guidelines.
A quick reminder…
Advice published by the council last week stated people who are from an “ethnic minority, cultural minority, and/or faith minority community” should be considered for a pre-sentence report before judgement is passed after they have committed a crime.
Jenrick was quick to accuse Labour of wanting ethnic minorities to receive more lenient sentences (watch below). Mahmood pointed out the guidance was consulted on when the Tories were in power, and then wrote to the council requesting they change the guidance.
Our political reporter Alix Culbertson examined the topic further here.
Back to today…
Mahmood accused Jenrick of having “amnesia” on the subject – and of pretending to be the leader of the opposition.
The Conservatives had claimed Mahmood’s remedy for the Sentencing Council’s guidelines would not take effect for a year, with the guidance being in place from 1 April.
However, the minister said Labour will “never stand for two-tier sentencing”.
Mahmood said: “I think the whole house can see that the only pretence at a job is the one that the shadow lord chancellor is doing because he’s pretending to be leader of the opposition.”
‘His amnesia continues’
Later, Jenrick accused Mahmood of failing to “read her papers and do her job properly” over the guidelines.
He said he was proposing a bill to block the new sentencing guidelines and “fix her miss”, challenging her to support it so not to oversee the introduction of “two-tier justice”.
Mahmood responded: “The shadow lord chancellor’s amnesia continues because he has clearly not done his homework.
“He has forgotten it was his government that was consulted extensively on this guidance.”
She said the Tories had welcomed the guidance when in government and didn’t take any issue with it until last week.
Mahmood will meet the Sentencing Council this week, urging it to revoke its guidance, though the council chair Lord Justice William Davis has indicated he’s not happy with her intervention (more here).
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