The Conservative Party will appoint a new leader on November 2 to replace Rishi Sunak.
The 1922 Committee of backbenchers has agreed the rules and timeline for the leadership contest.
Mr Sunak will stay acting leader until a successor is appointed.
He said: “It’s in the national interest for us to have a smooth and orderly transition to a new Leader of the Opposition so I will stay in post until November 2, and the result of our leadership election.
“This will allow our party to fulfil its role as the official opposition professionally and effectively. I believe this is what is best for the Conservative Party and, most importantly, our country.
Nominations will kick off on Wednesday evening and close in the afternoon on July 29. Each candidate will need a proposer, seconder and eight nominations to qualify.
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Suella Braverman calls for end to two-child benefit cap
Conservative former minister Suella Braverman has called on the Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
She told the Commons: “There was one thing that struck me in the King’s Speech. It wasn’t the long list of policies that will no doubt damage our economy. It wasn’t the vague promises that will not survive contact with reality. No, for me the thing that was conspicuous by its absence was the total failure of the Labour government to deal with child poverty and scrap the two-child benefit cap on welfare. Yes, you heard that right.”
She added: “It’s clear to me from my work with vulnerable families in Fareham that the cap isn’t working. It’s putting more children and families into relative poverty. It’s causing them to use more food banks.”
Holly Evans23 July 2024 02:00
Government should pay ‘premium’ for disadvantaged students over 16 – think tank
The Government should provide additional targeted funding for colleges and schools offering post-16 education to prevent disadvantaged students from falling further behind their peers, a report has suggested.
A new “student premium” for disadvantaged 16 to 19-year-olds should be brought in to address the “cliff-edge” in funding at the point pupils turn 16, think tank Education Policy Institute (EPI) has said.
The plea comes after previous research by the think tank suggested that economically disadvantaged students are 3.2 A-level grades behind their peers across their best three subjects.
The think tank has called on the new Labour Government to bring in a student premium for disadvantaged pupils in 16-19 education, which would cost about £340 million annually and help 28% of students in 16-19 education.
“Setting the student premium at least as high as the secondary school pupil premium (£1,035) would help address this cliff edge in the funding system at age 16,” the report said.
It added: “The sizeable attainment gap indicates that existing resources in 16-19 education are insufficient to overcome the additional challenges of supporting disadvantaged students, particularly against a backdrop of the further education sector having endured the biggest spending cuts of any education phase in recent years.”
The think tank has called for the student premium to be based on student-level and area-level measures of disadvantage.
Salma Ouaguira23 July 2024 01:00
Rishi Sunak says staying on until November ‘best’ for party and country
The acting leader said: “It’s in the national interest for us to have a smooth and orderly transition to a new Leader of the Opposition so I will stay in post until November 2, and the result of our leadership election.
“This will allow our party to fulfil its role as the official opposition professionally and effectively. I believe this is what is best for the Conservative Party and, most importantly, our country.
“It would be inappropriate for me to make any comment about the leadership campaign or candidates. I am confident that this timetable decided by the Party Board and the 1922 Committee will allow for a thoughtful, professional and respectful contest.”
Barney Davis22 July 2024 23:40
World will not look away from suffering of civilians in Gaza, says Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted an immediate ceasefire is required in Gaza, as he warned the “world will not look away” from the suffering faced by “innocent civilians”.
The Prime Minister made clear the UK Government’s policy includes securing the release of hostages from Gaza and a “huge” increase of humanitarian assistance, noting a ceasefire is the “only way” to achieve it.
Israel and the Palestinians must also recommit to “stability, peace and normalisation and the two-state solution”, Sir Keir added.
His remarks came as he updated MPs after his attendance at the Nato meeting in Washington and the European Political Community (EPC) summit at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.
They were made against the backdrop of Labour MPs tabling a King’s Speech amendment calling for the UK Government to support an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and to suspend export licences for arms transfers to Israel.
Speaking in the Commons, Sir Keir outlined the details of his talks with the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
He said: “I’ve been clear that I fully support Israel’s right to security, the desperate need to see the hostages returned and I’ve also been clear that the situation in Gaza is intolerable and that the world will not look away as innocent civilians – including women and children – continue to face death, disease and displacement.
“It cannot go on, we need an immediate ceasefire, hostages out, aid in, a huge scale-up of humanitarian assistance. That is the policy of this Government and an immediate ceasefire is the only way to achieve it. So we will do all we can in pursuit of these goals.”
Salma Ouaguira22 July 2024 23:20
1922 Committee chair calls for ‘respectful’ leadership race
Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said: “I am determined that our party will have a respectful and thorough leadership debate. I believe that this timetable will allow for this.
“While there are significant debates to be had about our party’s future, we must remember that the country—and our members—want to see us engaged in proper debate not personal attacks.
“I am confident that this process will allow for this.”
Barney Davis22 July 2024 23:00
The Conservative Party will appoint a new leader on November 2 to replace Rishi Sunak
The 1922 Committee of backbenchers has agreed the rules and timeline for the Conservative leadership contest.
Nominations will kick off on Wednesday evening and close in the afternoon on July 29.
Each candidate will need a proposer, seconder and eight nominations to qualify.
The parliamentary party will then narrow the field down to four, who will make their case at the Conservative Party Conference, which runs from September 29 to October 2.
The final two, picked by the parliamentary party, will then be voted on by Conservative Party members in an online ballot that will close on October 31.
The result will be announced on November 2.
Barney Davis22 July 2024 22:46
The House of Commons has held its first vote of the new Parliament.
The Conservative Party’s amendment to the King’s Speech was defeated by 390 votes to 111, majority 279.
Barney Davis22 July 2024 22:41
Starmer sets out plan to ‘fire up’ UK skills and cut reliance on foreign labour
Sir Keir Starmer has set out a plan to “fire up” the training of more British workers as he insisted he would not be content to pull the “easy lever” of overseas labour.
The Prime Minister said young people in the UK have been “let down” by a lack of opportunity and a “fragmented and broken” skills system.
A new body, Skills England, will bring together central and local government, businesses, trade unions and training providers to identify areas for improvement, he said.
Sir Keir said the “work of change” has begun on the third week of government for Labour, adding that “we’ve taken the brakes off Britain”.
In a speech at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, the Prime Minister said: “All too often young people in our country have been let down, not given access to the right opportunities or training in their community.
“And that’s created an over-reliance in our economy on higher and higher levels of migration.”
He added that he would not criticise businesses who hire from overseas and would not “diminish the contribution that migration makes to our economy, to our public services and, of course, to our communities.”
“Migration is part of our national story. It always has been, always will be,” the Prime Minister said.
Salma Ouaguira22 July 2024 22:20
Twenty national space projects to receive £33 million in funding
The Government has announced more than 20 national space projects worth £33 million.
All of the projects are from the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme, and eight will receive £24 million of the total amount.
These include funding for a sub-orbital rocket test by Glasgow-based HyImpulse from the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, and support for Rolls-Royce in Derby to develop micro reactors to support space exploration.
One project involves backing for Cambridge University spin-out SuperSharp to develop and launch a heat-detecting telescope to gather data to help tackle the climate crisis.
Announcing the funding on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, Science Secretary Peter Kyle said: “From combatting climate change to staying connected with loved ones, space technologies play an important role in many aspects of our day to day lives.
“But backing the growth of UK space companies is also essential for driving economic growth, boosting productivity, and creating wealth in every community.
“Our £33 million investment in these projects highlights the huge potential of the UK’s space industry, especially as we collaborate with international partners.”
Salma Ouaguira22 July 2024 21:20
Labour minister calls for ‘clear timetable’ to lifting two-child benefit cap
A Labour backbencher has called on her party in Government to set out a “clear timetable” for lifting the two-child benefit cap.
Kim Johnson told the Commons: “The last Labour government in 1997 had a big and bold ambition to end child poverty within a generation and as a single working mum of twins, I personally benefitted from those transformative policies. Without the availability of after school and holiday provision, I wouldn’t have been able to continue working.”
Ms Johnson also said: “Removing the two-child cap would send a powerful message of hope to those who have put their trust in a Labour Government to bring about the change we so desperately need.”
Holly Evans22 July 2024 21:09