Keir Starmer has admitted he’s “not surprised” by two million people signing a petition calling for another general election, which was shared by Elon Musk, while Rachel Reeves defends her first budget following criticism from business leaders.
Monday 25 November 2024 21:00, UK
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It’s been a day spent on the defensive for both the prime minister and chancellor.
The former found himself having to dismiss calls from discontent voters for another general election (plus more trolling from Elon Musk), and Rachel Reeves faced business leaders left less than impressed by her debut budget last month.
We also learned more about the government’s plan to tackle spiking, and moved ever closer to a landmark vote by MPs to potentially legalise assisted dying.
You can catch up on the day’s main headlines via the key points above, and we’ll be back tomorrow for more news and analysis – see you then.
As MPs prepare to vote on assisted dying legislation, Sky News has been to Canada where wider rules were legalised eight years ago.
Some 4% of deaths in the country in 2022 were with the help of a doctor, under the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) law.
In this episode, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s health correspondent Ashish Joshi, and hears from Canadians about MAID. Niall also talks to Dr Ellen Wiebe, a doctor who has assisted in more than 400 deaths.
If you want to learn more about the proposed legislation in this country, you can read more here, and anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK.
Not since 2015 has parliament considered whether to legalise assisted dying, when they voted emphatically against any change in the law.
But this Friday, MPs will again be asked to consider the matter via Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
It’s exposed divisions in Keir Starmer’s cabinet – with big names falling on both sides of the debate.
Who’s voting for?
Peter Kyle: The science secretary voted in favour of assisted dying in 2015 and, according to the LabourList website, he has told constituents this is still his position and the issue for him is a matter of “social justice”.
Ed Miliband: The energy secretary has described the current situation as “cruel” for people who are terminally ill and in pain and said he would vote for the bill.
Louise Haigh: The transport secretary is still considering the bill but told Sky News at the weekend that she is “leaning towards” voting in favour of assisted dying.
Yvette Cooper: The home secretary said she voted for assisted dying in the past “about 20 years ago…and continues to believe that change is needed”.
Jo Stevens: The Wales secretary voted for assisted dying in 2015 and will do so again later this month.
Liz Kendall: The work and pensions secretary told the BBC last week she would vote in favour of the bill.
Sir Alan Campbell: According to the LabourList website, the chief whip will back the assisted dying bill – a change on his position from 2015, when he voted it down.
Lisa Nandy: Concerns about a lack of dignity at the end of life swayed the culture secretary towards voting, saying she’s “seen too many examples of people who have no choices and no dignity at the end of their lives”.
Stephen Kinnock: The minister of state for social care told ITV he thinks backing assisted dying “is the right thing to do from the point of view of compassion”.
Hilary Benn: The Northern Ireland secretary also voted in favour of the 2015 bill and wrote on his website last month that he would do so again.
Who’s voting against?
Wes Streeting: The health secretary has warned of a “chilling slippery slope argument” where people opt for assisted dying to save someone money, claimed end-of-life care isn’t good enough for people to make an informed choice, and suggested it’ll place more pressure on the NHS.
Shabana Mahmood: Another early voice in the debate against assisted dying, the justice secretary has cited her Muslim faith as a reason to vote against and described assisted dying as death “as a service”.
Angela Rayner: The deputy prime minster voted against assisted dying in 2015 and is understood not to have changed her mind.
Jonathan Reynolds: The business secretary voted against in 2015 and said his position hadn’t changed as he’s concerned about how “vulnerable people could be protected”.
Bridget Phillipson: The education secretary told Sky News she voted against assisted dying in 2015 and added hasn’t changed her mind.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald says she will demand a referendum on Irish unity in her first phone call with Sir Keir Starmer if she wins Ireland’s general election.
In the second of our leader interviews, she told Sky News she would also be able to strike the right balance in dealings with Donald Trump because women “naturally multitask.”
Ms McDonald, who describes Friday’s poll as “an historic opportunity” to elect the first female taoiseach (prime minister), expects a vote on Irish reunification to take place by 2030.
‘The central question’
She said: “I think that the process of reunification has to be at the heart of government.
“Obviously, the other issues around housing and healthcare, all the bread-and-butter issues… are critically important.
“But the central question for all of us now is what does Ireland look like in five years’ time, in 10 years’ time?
“I believe that we will have the referendums in this decade. I think that is a necessary thing.”
Party’s record attempt to win election
Sinn Fein won the popular vote in the last general election, but slipped in the polls over the last year, largely due to a disconnect with its base over immigration.
With the latest polling indicating some recovery, the party is fielding a record 71 candidates this time in the hope of replacing the centre-right Fine Gael/Fianna Fail coalition.
That concludes our coverage of tonight’s Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge. The programme returns tomorrow from 7pm. Stay with us for more news and updates through the evening.
Our deputy political editor Sam Coates is giving his take on the latest wading into British politics by Elon Musk, who’s shared a petition calling for another general election and described the UK as a “police state”.
Sam points out Musk is probably going to be part of the next US government, which makes his commentary on what’s happening here quite astonishing.
Sam says: “If we were talking about a figure close to the Kremlin or the government in Moscow, we would be asking whether this was foreign interference.
“There’s an element to what he’s doing, which is just simply downright disruption: whether it’s to undermine the democratic process, or to use language to try to destabilise, and also make people ask questions about the way our judiciary is run.”
But because of his links to Donald Trump and role in the next US administration, Sam says he detects “very little appetite” in Whitehall to “really ask difficult questions about what this means and whether it’s that much of a problem”.
“But in the weeks and months to come, Keir Starmer might find it is.”
Sophy and Home Office minister Alex Davies-Jones now turn to Elon Musk.
The businessman – who will be working in the Trump government come January – has been a loud critic of Sir Keir Starmer since he was elected prime minister.
As Sophy points out, Mr Musk retweeted a petition calling for a general election and said the British people had had enough of the “tyrannical, police state” – likely a reference to how he feels the government dealt with the summer riots.
In response, Ms Davies-Jones says Mr Musk has previously said he “does not agree with interference in foreign governments”.
“And I believe he shouldn’t be doing the same,” she adds.
‘Many will disagree with him’
“Look, Elon Musk is entitled to his views like everybody else.
“He’s a huge champion of free speech, as am I, and he is entitled to his views.
“I can disagree with them, there are many who will disagree with him, and what he stands for – and that’s democracy.”
Alex Davies-Jones, the victims minister, is speaking to Sophy Ridge tonight.
They are discussing the government’s announcement of a new law to “crack down” on drink spiking to protect women and girls.
As Sophy points out, spiking is already illegal.
Ms Davies-Jones says many people don’t know it is illegal – and also that the legislation is very out of date.
The Offences Against the Person Act from 1861 is the legislation usually used to prosecute people – which is more than 150 years old.
‘We’ll drive numbers down’
Ms Davies-Jones says the changes will also help with how the police collect data on crimes.
Under the current laws, “you don’t know if you’ve been spiked with a drink, a needle, a vape, for example”.
She adds: “So by modernising the offence, by creating that awareness, by giving the police the tools to go after the accurate data so that we can paint a picture of where this is happening, how this is happening, and how many times this is happening.”
These steps are important to “drive numbers down”, the minister says.
‘Culture shift’
Sophy poses the point that women “don’t need new laws, they just want the existing laws enforced” – stating rape victims wait on average two and a half years to get to court and only three in 100 see someone charged.
Ms Davies-Jones says the changes being introduced by the government are “mission led”, and there has been a “culture shift” in government to tackle the issue.
This includes all departments working together, in portfolios like education, healthcare, transport, and others, to tackle violence against women and girls systemically.
Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig is notable for not pulling any punches – and today is no different.
Speaking after Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s appearance before business leaders today, Jon says she was on “the defensive”.
He says he “can’t recall a more unpopular budget” than the one she delivered last month.
Sophy Ridge points out Kwasi Kwarteng is one of our panellists and in the room – before apologising to the Truss-era chancellor.
As the former Tory MP’s laughter booms across the studio, Jon points out Mr Kwarteng “didn’t last very long” – while Ms Reeves “battles on”.
‘She’s having a terrible time’
Our man goes on to point out Ms Reeves has come under criticism for a number of issues, including allegations of plagiarism and claims she “doctored” her CV.
“She’s having a terrible time,” Jon says.
“She was defensive today. You listed a number of potential alternative policies, didn’t you, at the beginning of the programme.
“But she said ‘there’s no alternative’ – that’s very Margaret Thatcher, isn’t it? There is no alternative… TINA, she was known as.”
Mr Kwarteng later points out that, as much as blame may be pinned on Ms Reeves for a bad budget, ultimately the prime minister will have to take the blame.
If the economy continues to do badly, the former chancellor says it is likely Sir Keir will pull his backing of Ms Reeves – as Ms Truss did to him.
Parties always have to work hard to prove they won’t live up to people’s worst stereotypes of them.
The Tories don’t care about the public sector. They’ll sell off the NHS.
Labour don’t care about the private sector. They’ll screw over business.
That’s why Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves worked so hard before the election to prove Labour could be trusted with the economy.
Hard-won trust can be easily lost
Remember all those business breakfasts, when salmon sandwiches became the new prawn cocktail offensive?
It worked, helped along of course by the Tories machine-gunning their reputation for economic competence.
An open letter signed by 120 businesses endorsed Starmer’s party, an overwhelming majority at the election followed.
Business trust was hard won – and it’s easily lost.
Today the Confederation of British Industry said the tough trading environment had been worse by the budget, the boss of McVities said it’s becoming “harder to understand the case for investment in the UK”, and companies from Tesco to Next have warned of higher prices.
Unpalatable choices are part of politics
Rachel Reeves has said because of the fiscal backdrop, she had no alternative – but that’s never true in politics.
You could raise other taxes, cut spending, limit public sector pay.
I’m not saying these would be any better, but politics is always about unpalatable choices.
There are no easy alternatives, but there are always alternatives.
Our weeknight politics show Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live now on Sky News.
The programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews and analysis – bringing you into the corridors of power.
Joining us to discuss the government’s plans to tackle drink spiking is Alex Davies-Jones, the minister for victims and violence against women and girls.
On our panel are former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and former Labour MP Caroline Flint.
You can watch live in the stream below:
Watch Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge from Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the Sky News website and app or on YouTube.
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