Babak Belurs

Selasa, 28 Mei 2024

Diane Abbott readmitted as Labour MP after race row probe - BBC

By Iain Watson & Paul Seddon

BBC News

Diane Abbott has been readmitted as a Labour MP, the BBC understands, but it is unclear whether she will stand for the party at the general election.

The former shadow home secretary was suspended in April 2023 after saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism "all their lives".

Her suspension meant she would not be able to stand for Labour on 4 July.

Party officials had tried to broker a deal by which she would get the whip back in return for standing down.

It is not clear if the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP has accepted that arrangement.

Labour has not said who its candidate will be in the Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat. Ms Abbott has been contacted for a comment.

The party is currently selecting remaining candidates before a meeting to endorse them next week, before nominations legally close on Friday.

Labour branches are no longer able to put forward their own candidates, after a deadline passed on Monday.

Labour launched an investigation in April last year after Ms Abbott wrote in the Observer that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people "undoubtedly experience prejudice" which she said is "similar to racism".

The letter added: "It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice.

"But they are not all their lives subject to racism."

Ms Abbott apologised and withdrew her remarks shortly after they were published.

BBC Newsnight revealed earlier that the party's investigation was completed in December 2023.

Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) issued her with a "formal warning" for "engaging in conduct that was in the opinion of the NEC, prejudicial and grossly detrimental to the Labour Party".

It said it expected her to undertake an "online, e-learning module" which a source said was a two-hour antisemitism awareness course.

Ms Abbott did the module in February, after which it is understood she received an email from Labour's chief whip acknowledging she had completed it.

'Slap in the face'

As recently as Friday, Sir Keir had been saying the investigation into her comments was not "resolved".

Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden said it was "inconceivable" that the Labour leader "wasn't told the process had finished and a warning issued".

Questioned about the situation earlier, Sir Keir told reporters that "the process overall" was "obviously a little longer than the fact-finding exercise".

Ms Abbott, who became the first black woman to be elected to Parliament in 1987, was a close ally of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and served as his shadow home secretary.

Mr Corbyn, who was suspended as a Labour MP in 2020 for saying the scale of antisemitism within Labour's ranks had been "dramatically overstated" by his opponents, has confirmed he will stand against the party.

He will contest Islington North, which he has held since 1983, as an independent candidate. A complete list of candidates standing in the seat will be available on the BBC website after nominations close.

Momentum, the left-wing campaign group set up support Corbyn's leadership, said it would be "outrageous" for the party not to pick her as its candidate, having readmitted her as an MP.

"Anything less is a slap in the face to Diane, her constituents and the millions inspired by her example," it added.

Labour's full list of candidates is set to be endorsed at the NEC on Tuesday next week.

Parliament is due to be formally shut down on Thursday, triggering the official five-week election campaign ahead of polling day on Thursday 4 July.

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2024-05-28 22:47:39Z
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General election 2024: Diane Abbott given Labour whip back 'but banned from standing' - The Telegraph

Diane Abbott will not be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate at the general election, according to reports.

The MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington, who served in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet, was suspended from the party in April last year after she suggested that Jewish people did not experience racism “all their lives”.

Her comments came against a backdrop of historical claims of anti-Semitism in the party – a problem Sir Keir Starmer has been keen to stamp out since he took over as leader.

Despite her allegedly not being able to stand again, it is understood that Ms Abbott was given back the Labour whip on Tuesday with Labour sources telling The Telegraph that senior figures in the party were trying to reach a “soft landing” for the MP whereby she can “go with grace”.

The party leadership has decided that there are no circumstances in which she will stand for Labour on July 4, according to The Times.

Those close to Sir Keir are hoping to reach a deal with Ms Abbott, whereby in exchange for having the whip restored she agrees not to stand as an MP, according to the source.

“They don’t think it is appropriate for her to stand again but they are trying to reach out to her and get a soft landing – an agreement that she will retire in exchange for symbolically getting the whip back,” they said.

“They are keen to reach an amicable agreement that reflects her unique status as an iconic figure for a lot of ethnic minority people.”

Some Labour MPs have been pushing for Ms Abbott, who is the first black female MP, to be given a seat in the Lords.

Kim Johnson, a Labour MP on the Left of the party, urged Sir Keir to allow Ms Abbott to stand as the party’s candidate in the election.

She wrote on Twitter:

Solidarity with Diane, undeniably a trailblazer & a hero of our movement.
At a time when all our energy should be focussed on throwing the Tories out, this process looks nakedly factional.
Diane should have the whip restored now so she can stand as Labour's candidate in the GE.
— Kim Johnson MP (@KimJohnsonMP) May 28, 2024

Earlier on Tuesday, Sir Keir was accused of lying after it emerged that the investigation into Ms Abbott was completed last year.

When asked whether Ms Abbott would be readmitted into the party, he has repeatedly insisted that the matter is being dealt with by an independent process that has nothing to do with him.

On Tuesday, BBC Newsnight reported that Labour’s national executive committee had completed its investigation into Ms Abbott in December and she subsequently took a two-hour online anti-Semitism awareness training course.

The matter was subsequently said to have been passed to Sir Alan Campbell, the Labour chief whip, but Ms Abbott has not heard from Sir Alan since they held a meeting earlier this year.

Asked about the row on Tuesday morning, Jonathan Reynolds, a Labour frontbencher, refused to say whether Ms Abbott would be one of the party’s candidates at the general election.

Mr Reynolds said he wanted the case “resolved as soon as possible” but declined to say whether she should be allowed to stand on a Labour ticket.

The Labour Party has set an internal deadline of June 4 to select all its candidates around the country, meaning it now has a week to decide whether to readmit Ms Abbott and allow her to run as the Labour candidate for her constituency. She could otherwise stand as an independent candidate.

Jess Barnard, who sits on Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, told The Telegraph that Sir Keir has been “untruthful” to suggest the process is independent, given that the “independent” NEC investigation concluded five months ago.

She told The Telegraph: “It is clear for everyone to see that they are running the clock down to the general election and they are using the NEC as a cover to run an alternative candidate. Although we see Keir Starmer claim that this is an independent process, we all know that it’s not.

“If the conclusion of a case is that Diane Abbott should have been readmitted, those are instructions that the whip and Keir Starmer should have followed. Their decision not to conclude that case is political interference. It is very clear for everyone to see that it is Keir Starmer who is calling the shots.”

Sir Keir, along with members of his shadow cabinet, has maintained that there is an ongoing independent process into Ms Abbott. In March, he said her suspension from the parliamentary Labour Party was subject to an independent process that was separate from him.

A spokesman for Momentum, the Left-wing pressure group, claimed the revelation that the NEC investigation had concluded in December showed Sir Keir had been “lying”.

He said: “The whole process has served to expose the fiction that the Labour leadership’s handling of the whip is independent and that what is happening has nothing to do with Starmer. It has everything to do with him.

“Clearly it has been in his hands and in the hands of the chief whip for months now and they have been pretending it isn’t to try and push Diane out. Now they have been exposed and they have a choice – do they really want to go ahead with forcing out Britain’s first black woman MP or do they want to do the right thing, let her back in and let her run?”

Asked whether he had given misleading answers over Ms Abbott’s case, Sir Keir, speaking at an event in Stevenage, said: “The process as a whole obviously involves both the findings of fact and then the consequent action on the back of that, which the chief whip is overseeing.

“That always takes time. So the process as a whole was not completed, but in the end, it’s a matter for the NEC.” Asked when a decision would be made, he added: “I think fairly soon. The question of candidates is being finalised at the moment.”

Following her suspension from the party last year, Ms Abbott apologised for her remarks and claimed they were a first draft sent to The Observer in error.

In March, she claimed Labour would not return the whip because she was too critical of the party leadership. She has said Labour’s economic policy is not Left-wing enough and advocated a return to policies advocated by Mr Corbyn.

Last week, the former Labour leader announced that he would stand against Labour as an independent candidate in Islington North, presenting a major headache for Sir Keir.

The Labour Party has been contacted for comment.

General election 2024 polls

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Angela Rayner: No police action after council house probe - BBC

By Paul Seddon

Politics reporter, BBC News

Angela Rayner will face no police action after an investigation into the Labour deputy leader's previous living arrangements.

Greater Manchester Police has been investigating the 2015 sale of her former house in Stockport after a complaint from a senior Tory MP.

She had faced questions including over whether she owed tax on the sale, and paid the right amount of council tax.

She welcomed the result and said she was focused on the election.

In a statement, Ms Rayner criticised the Conservatives for referring her to the police, calling it a tactic to "distract from their dire record".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his deputy, who had pledged to step down if found to have committed a criminal offence, had been "vindicated".

But the Conservatives said she hadn't "provided an explanation" to the questions facing her, and called on her to publish her personal tax advice.

A spokesperson for the force said it had carried out a "thorough" investigation and determined it would take no further action - but questions on personal tax and council tax were outside its remit.

Stockport Council, which has powers to investigate unpaid council tax, also said it would take "no further action" after assessing information from the police.

GMP also said it had passed information from its inquiry to HMRC, the UK's tax authority.

HMRC cannot comment on personal tax affairs - but a Labour source told the BBC it had concluded she did not owe tax on the sale of the house, after she asked them to look into the matter.

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Ms Rayner has faced questions over whether she should have paid tax after selling a council house she bought under the government's right-to-buy scheme in 2007.

She sold the property eight years later for £48,500 more than she paid, after getting married in 2010.

She initially said she didn't pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the profit, because it was "my home and the only one I owned".

Those selling their "main residence" typically don't have to pay the tax - but married couples can normally only count one property as their main home for CGT purposes.

It led to questions over whether she owed tax on the sale, with Conservative deputy chair James Daly calling for an investigation.

Police inquiry reversal

GMP initially decided not to investigate in March, but reversed that decision last month, in the run-up to England's local elections, following a "reassessment" of information provided by Mr Daly.

As the row developed, the deputy Labour leader also faced questions over whether she had registered to vote at the right address, which eligible voters are required to do.

It is an offence to give "false information" when joining the electoral roll.

She was reportedly registered at the house she sold, in Vicarage Road in Stockport, Greater Manchester, until she sold it in 2015.

But she appears to have given two different addresses when she re-registered the births of two of her children in 2010 following her marriage to Mark Rayner, listing her then-husband's home on Lowndes Lane in the town.

Last month, a Labour spokesperson said Ms Rayner spent time at her husband's house after their marriage, but "the house she owned remained her main home".

In a statement, Ms Rayner said she welcomed the conclusion of the police probe and attacked the Conservatives for referring her.

"We have seen the Conservative Party use this playbook before - reporting political opponents to the police during election campaigns to distract from their dire record," she added.

Following the police announcement, a spokesperson for the party said GMP's confirmation it would be taking no action "draws a line under the matter".

"Angela has always been clear that she was not liable for capital gains tax on the sale of the home she owned before she was an MP, that she was properly registered to vote, and paid the appropriate council tax," they added.

"She took expert tax and legal advice which confirms this," the spokesperson added.

Tories pledge 'Triple Lock Plus' pension allowance

An elderly couple sit in the sunshine on the Hoe promenade overlooking the sea

The Conservatives have promised to raise the tax-free pension allowance via a "Triple Lock Plus" if they win the general election.

Under the plans, the personal allowance for pensioners will increase at least 2.5% or in line with the highest of earnings or inflation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the scheme "shows we are on the side of pensioners," who the Tories say will save £275 by 2030.

Labour said the government's plan was not "credible".

At the moment, the state pension already rises in line with whichever is the highest - average earnings, wages or by 2.5%.

This meant in April the state pension rose by 8.5%.

Both the Conservatives and Labour are committed to keeping the policy, designed to ensure pensions keep up with rising prices and wages.

But currently income tax thresholds have been frozen since 2021. Income tax is also paid on money received via pensions.

By 2027, the state pension is expected to be higher than the tax-free personal allowance according to independent fiscal watchdog Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

That would mean many millions more pensioners paying income tax, according to the Tories.

Charities have been reporting heightened concern among pensioners who fear being dragged into paying income tax.

Both Age UK and Independent Age saying they have seen an increase in calls to their helplines in recent weeks from pensioners confused about the issue.

Under the new scheme, the state pension will always be below the tax-free threshold.

The Conservatives claim the plans will cost £2.4bn a year by 2029-30, funded by the previously announced strategy to raise £6bn annually through improving tax collection and cracking down on tax avoidance and evasion.

A similar policy existed in the past but was scrapped by former Conservative chancellor George Osborne.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Paul Johnson from the IFS public spending think tank said the cost of the policy was "not a very big number, but these promises are beginning to add up.

"What this is, is a demonstration of priorities, and the priority is to take a few hundred thousand pensioners out of income tax."

Mr Sunak said: "I passionately believe that those who have worked hard all their lives should have peace of mind and security in retirement.

"Thanks to the Conservatives' Triple Lock, pensions have risen by £900 this year and now we will cut their taxes by around £100 next year.

"This bold action demonstrates we are on the side of pensioners. The alternative is Labour dragging everyone in receipt of the full state pension into income tax for the first time in history."

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds did not set out whether Labour would rule out a similar move but said he didn't think the Conservatives' plan was "credible".

He said the government under Mr Sunak had frozen thresholds for income tax and that their proposal "contradicts what they've done in the last few years".

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride defended previously freezing thresholds – arguing it happened at a “very difficult time” citing Covid and increasing inflation.

“What we’ve been doing since is reducing taxes”," he added.

Lib Dem Treasury spokeswoman Sarah Olney said: "The Conservative Party has hammered pensioners with years of unfair tax hikes and broken their word on the triple lock.

"People won't be fooled by yet another empty promise from Rishi Sunak after this record of failure."

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Senin, 27 Mei 2024

General election: Tories announce 'Triple Lock Plus' pension allowance - BBC

Sam Francis

Political reporter

5 hours ago

The Conservatives have promised to raise the tax-free pension allowance via a "Triple Lock Plus" if they win the general election.

Under the plans, the personal allowance for pensioners will increase at least 2.5% or in line with the highest of earnings or inflation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the scheme "shows we are on the side of pensioners," who the Tories say will save £275 by 2030.

Labour called the policy a "desperate move from a chaotic Tory party".

At the moment, the state pension already rises in line with whichever is the highest - average earnings, wages or by 2.5%.

This meant in April the state pension rose by 8.5%.

Both the Conservatives and Labour are committed to keeping the policy, designed to ensure pensions keep up with rising prices and wages.

But currently income tax thresholds have been frozen since 2021. Income tax is also paid on money received via pensions.

By 2027, the state pension is expected to be higher than the tax-free personal allowance according to independent fiscal watchdog Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

That would mean many millions more pensioners paying income tax, according to the Tories.

Charities have been reporting heightened concern among pensioners who fear being dragged into paying income tax.

Both Age UK and Independent Age saying they have seen an increase in calls to their helplines in recent weeks from pensioners confused about the issue.

Under the new scheme, the state pension will always be below the tax-free threshold.

Mr Sunak said: "I passionately believe that those who have worked hard all their lives should have peace of mind and security in retirement.

"Thanks to the Conservatives' Triple Lock, pensions have risen by £900 this year and now we will cut their taxes by around £100 next year.

"This bold action demonstrates we are on the side of pensioners. The alternative is Labour dragging everyone in receipt of the full state pension into income tax for the first time in history."

Labour shadow cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth said Mr Sunak "is planning to reward Britain's pensioners for their loyalty by stabbing them in the back, just like he did to Boris Johnson and just like he has done to his own MPs".

"Not only have they promised to spend tens of billions of pounds since this campaign began, they also have a completely unfunded £46bn policy to scrap National Insurance that threatens the very basis of the state pension," he said.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has previously described ending National Insurance as a "long-term ambition" but acknowledged that it would not happen before 2030.

Lib Dem Treasury spokeswoman Sarah Olney said: "The Conservative Party has hammered pensioners with years of unfair tax hikes and broken their word on the triple lock.

"People won't be fooled by yet another empty promise from Rishi Sunak after this record of failure."

Babak Belurs

Selasa, 28 Mei 2024

Diane Abbott readmitted as Labour MP after race row probe - BBC

'Slap in the face'

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General election 2024: Diane Abbott given Labour whip back 'but banned from standing' - The Telegraph

Angela Rayner: No police action after council house probe - BBC

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Police inquiry reversal

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More than 120 business leaders back Labour 'to achieve UK's full economic potential' - Sky News

General election: Tories announce 'Triple Lock Plus' pension allowance - BBC.com

Tories pledge 'Triple Lock Plus' pension allowance

Senin, 27 Mei 2024

General election: Tories announce 'Triple Lock Plus' pension allowance - BBC

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More than 120 business leaders back Labour 'to achieve UK's full economic potential' - Sky News

Selasa, 28 Mei 2024

'Slap in the face'

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Police inquiry reversal

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Tories pledge 'Triple Lock Plus' pension allowance

Senin, 27 Mei 2024

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