Sir Keir Starmer is vowing to take on “the NIMBYs” by reducing legal challenges to infrastructure building – with a new approach stopping “newts and bats” from blocking construction.
Thursday 23 January 2025 08:49, UK
Calls to establish a compensation scheme for women affected by changes to the state pension age could be pushed to a symbolic Commons vote next week.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn wants to introduce the Women’s State Pension age (Ombudsman report and compensation scheme) Bill to the Commons for further consideration.
His proposed bill would require ministers to publish measures to address the findings of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) report, which recommended the government pay compensation to women born in the 1950s whose state pension age was raised so it would be equal with men.
The watchdog said the women should be paid up to £2,950 each, a package with a potential total cost of £10.5bn to the public purse, as poor communication meant they had lost out on the change to plan their retirement finances.
But the government last month ruled out a compensation package despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves being among the senior ministers to support the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign when Labour was in opposition.
Mr Flynn will seek permission on 28 January to introduce his bill to the Commons for further consideration.
A Commons vote on Mr Flynn’s motion under the 10-minute rule process would not force a change, but could highlight the level of unhappiness among Labour backbenchers over the government’s stance.
The European Union could consider the UK joining a continent-wide trade agreement, as Sir Keir Starmer’s government seeks a reset with the bloc, an EU trade chief has indicated.
Maros Sefcovic, who led post-Brexit negotiations for the EU, told the BBC the UK joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM) is “something we could consider”.
The PEM allows for tariff-free trade of goods across Europe, as well as some North African and Levantine nations.
Some business groups have backed the UK joining PEM as it would help to maintain complex supply chains, but the previous Conservative government chose not to pursue it as part of a post-Brexit trade agreement.
Speaking to the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Sefcovic said the idea had not yet been “precisely formulated” and that the “ball is in the UK’s court”.
The government has begun consulting with businesses on the benefits of the PEM plan and how it could help cut red tape and improve trade, the BBC said.
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Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Dan Bloom look at the day ahead in British politics.
Today Sir Keir Starmer is on the NIMBY offensive to boost economic growth, with plans to reduce the number of times people can go to the courts to block infrastructure schemes.
The government hopes it will mean projects like nuclear power stations, wind farms and railway lines can call get built quicker. But can they do it and will it work?
Meanwhile with latest borrowing figures surprisingly high, Rachel Reeves is still under a lot of pressure to meet her fiscal rules. But Sam explains why welfare cuts won’t help her at the spring statement.
The biggest news of the day though will of course be the sentencing of Axel Rudakubana for the Southport murders. With more details of his horrific crimes to be revealed then, Sam and Dan discuss the continuing political fallout.
You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us:jackandsam@sky.uk
Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, is now joining Kay Burley on Sky News Breakfast.
Asked if the government will be ripping up environmental laws in order to boot building, the minister denied this is the case.
“We’re not ripping up environmental laws,” he says.
“If environmental groups want to bring one challenge, if it doesn’t have a solid basis in the eyes of the judge in question, two if it does, but we’re removing the initial paper application.”
But what happens with wildlife surveys?
They can continue to take place, Mr Pennycook says.
“We’re not fundamentally reducing the number of judicial review commission attempts.”
He is then asked if he agrees with Chancellor Rachel Reeves that growth in UK is a priority over other pledges – like net zero.
“I don’t think it’s about playing one of these off against the other,” the minister says.
“The chancellor is right, we’ve been clear about this from the moment we came into office, growth is the number one priority of this government and will remain so.”
However, Mr Pennycook insists Labour is “accelerating” its plan for net zero through the clean power mission.
He reiterates that the two things “don’t need to be set off against each other, but growth is a priority”.
The minister refuses to comment on speculation around the potential expansion of Heathrow Airport.
By Tomos Evans, Wales reporter
Senedd members could lose their seats under new plans recommended to the Welsh government.
Currently, there is no mechanism in place to unseat a member of the Senedd (MS) if they are found to have breached the members’ code of conduct.
In Westminster, legislation was introduced in 2015 to remove MPs found guilty of certain offences.
To trigger a by-election, 10% of the electorate need to sign a recall petition within a six-week period.
A recall system is also set to be introduced in the Scottish parliament, with legislation currently being debated at Holyrood.
But the proposed system in Wales would be a ballot rather than a petition, and it would only give voters one day to vote on whether to keep the current member or replace them with the next candidate on the party’s list.
By Faye Brown, political reporter
Former home secretary Lord Blunkett has called for a cap on political donations made by companies and stricter rules on “where money originates”.
The Labour stalwart – who is now a member of the House of Lords – told Sky News that he is not against firms or trade unions being able to give cash to parties but “it seems sensible to have an upper ceiling” on how much.
He also called for the “prevention of smart ways” of foreign money entering British politics.
While political parties are banned from accepting foreign donations, critics say “loopholes” mean people abroad can still give money via a UK-based company.
The issue has been in the spotlight amid reports X owner Elon Musk could give millions to Reform UK.
Sir Keir Starmer is vowing to take on “the NIMBYs” by reducing legal challenges to infrastructure building – with a new approach stopping “newts and bats” from blocking construction.
The Labour government has made growth one of its primary targets, with a key plank of this strategy to build new infrastructure like roads and power plants.
Attempts to complete such projects in recent years have ended up bogged down in legal challenges, which is what the government is seeking to address.
NIMBYs – which stands for “not in my back yard” – refers to people who oppose building in their area.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “For too long, blockers have had the upper hand in legal challenges – using our court processes to frustrate growth.
“We’re putting an end to this challenge culture by taking on the NIMBYs and a broken system that has slowed down our progress as a nation.”
Good morning!
Welcome back to the Politics Hub on Thursday 23 January.
Sir Keir Starmer is vowing to take on “the NIMBYs” by reducing legal challenges to infrastructure building – with a new approach stopping “newts and bats” from blocking construction.
The Labour government has made growth one of its primary targets, with a key plank of this strategy to build new infrastructure like roads and power plants.
Also today, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will open the newly-expanded Port of Lowestoft – which will bolster the UK’s offshore wind sector.
This expansion means the facility will play a key role in supporting the government’s Clean Power Action Plan 2030.
Thursday will also see the sentencing of Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana, who this week pleaded guilty to the murder of three young girls last July.
There will likely be reaction from the government – we’ll keep you updated.
We’ll be discussing all of that and more with…
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook at 7.15am;
Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, at 9.30am.
Follow along for the very latest political news.
Join us again at 7pm tomorrow for another summary of the day’s politics from Westminster.
We’re also closing down the live blog for today – join us again tomorrow.
Sophy moves on to ask Ms Kendall about Downing Street and the centre of government.
The cabinet minister says she is not fazed by reports those inside Number 10 and Number 11 have been frustrated with her slow progress.
The briefing is like “water off a duck’s back”, Ms Kendall claims.
Sophy asks if there’s a “boys club” in Labour, with briefings against high profile women like Sue Gray, Ms Kendall, Bridge Phillipson and Rachel Reeves.
Ms Kendall says she doesn’t see this.
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