Latest updates: all the UK politics news and developments
In her speech to the SNP’s virtual conference later this morning Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, will urge the UK government to accept Scotland’s right to hold another independence referendum, urging Boris Johnson to act in a “spirit of cooperation”. In an extract from the speech released in advance this morning, she says:
My approach to government and to politics will be, as far as possible, cooperation not confrontation.
The experience of the pandemic and the challenges we face as a result reinforces my view that this is the right approach.
In her interview with Sky News this morning, Thérèse Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, confirmed that she was happy with the government’s plan to cut universal credit by £20 from the end of this month (by removing the temporary Covid uplift).
Given that this is agreed cabinet policy, and that the cut has been defended by the prime minister and by the chancellor, she would have been taking a career risk if she had said anything else. But Labour MPs have condemned her comment.
ENTIRELY HAPPY?! Low paid workers in our country will lose £20 a week.
Including the 10% increase in National Insurance they will lose c. £1,300 a year.
For these working families, this will HURT. More children will end up in poverty.
Yet Therese Coffey is “entirely happy”. https://t.co/O5Y5gJP8yl
When asked if she was “entirely happy” with the Universal Credit cut, Work & Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey agreed.
What kind of party is “entirely happy” with 730,000 children being plunged into poverty?
Truly heartless.
Continue reading…
