Politics latest: Government under fire over airport decision as PM touts green agenda (2024)

Key points
  • Government under fire over airport decision
  • Analysis:An element of class war to attacks on airport expansion
  • PM touts green credentials on visit to Wales
  • Pay talks with rail union end with no sign of outcome
  • Listen:Can police and courts cope with prison overcrowding?
Our latest explainers
  • What is Operation Early Dawn?
  • Why it's so quiet in UK politics
  • What is the two-child benefit cap?
  • What does 'two-tier policing' mean - and does it exist?
  • Robert Jenrick and the Allahu Akbar row

12:23:01

Government defends decision to approve London City Airport expansion

London City Airport has been given permission to get a lot busier.

The travel hub by the Thames has been granted a more than 30% increase in annual capacity, going from 6.5m passengers to nine million.

It'll also be able to fly three extra flights in the morning during the week.

Deputy PM Angela Rayner and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh signed off on the expansion - and critics are questioning their green credentials, given it comes as Sir Keir Starmer touts the government's commitment to clean energy while on a trip to Wales.

'Worrying precedent'

Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, said the move "flies in the face of action to cut emissions".

Greenpeace said it would "undermine the UK's climate leadership" and only benefit "wealthy frequent flyers", with the environment costs dumped upon "some of London's poorest neighbourhoods".

The Green Alliance described it as a "disappointing decision" that set a "worrying precedent" for planning applications at Luton and Gatwick, which also want to expand, while climate charity Possible said it went against the advice of the government's own scientific advisers.

Government claims it will keep to climate targets

A government spokesperson said they are "committed to securing the long-term future of the aviation sector", while also "protecting our climate obligations".

The airport's application had previously been knocked back by the local Newham Council, which is run by Labour.

The government has maintained the council's ban on Saturday afternoon flights.

15:00:01

An element of class war to attacks on government's controversial airport decision

Our lead story in the Politics Hub today is the government approving plans for London City Airport to expand.

The transport hub on the Thames, not far from Canary Wharf, has been given permission to increase its annual capacity from 6.5 million to nine million over the next seven years.

While a ban on Saturday afternoon flights has been upheld, the capacity increase has not gone down well with green campaigners - especially as it comes after the airport's application was initially knocked back by the local council, Labour-run Newham.

Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig says it's a "controversial move" from the government, especially given the prime minister is in Wales today talking up his green energy plans.

"Environmentalists have reacted angrily to this decision and are claiming the government has gone against advice from official bodies such as the Climate Change Committee," says Jon.

"But there's also an element of the class war here - green groups are hitting out at the fact London City Airport is one of the main centres for private jets."

They've pointed out it's people living in poorer neighbourhoods near the airport who will suffer from air and noise pollution, and that many of the European cities served by the airport can be reached by train.

The government of course rejects such criticisms, but it seems the prime minister's finding out it might not be easy being green.

14:40:01

Who is running in the Conservative Party leadership race?

The race to replace Rishi Sunak still has a long way to run.

Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Tom Tugendhat are the six contenders, to be narrowed down to four after parliament returns on 4 September.

Those four will be whittled down to the final two on 10 October by Tory MPs, with the winner chosen by party members through an online ballot on 31 October and announced on 2 November.

14:00:01

What is the two-child benefit cap?

By Jennifer Scott, political reporter

The government's child poverty taskforce has got to work as ministers begin putting together a strategy to lift families out of destitution.

But despite pressure within Labour and from other parties, it won't be scrapping the controversial two-child benefit cap.

What is the policy?

The two-child benefit cap was announced by the Conservatives in 2015, forming part of their austerity measures.

It means while parents can claim child tax credit or Universal Credit payments for their first and second child, they couldn't make claims for any further children they had.

These are separate payments to child benefit, which has no limit on how many children can be claimed for.

The argument from the Tories limiting the tax credit to two children made the system fairer for taxpayers, ensuring households on benefits "face the same financial choices about having children as those supporting themselves solely through work".

But opposition MPs and campaigners said the measure would drag more children into poverty and hit hard up families.

What is Labour's stance on it?

Labour were strong critics of the policy while in opposition and many expected they would scrap it if they won power.

But last year, Sir Keir Starmer ruled it out due to the public finances.

The Resolution Foundation has said abolishing the two-child limit would cost the government somewhere between £2.5bn and £3.6bn, but the Save the Children charity estimated the move would take half a million children out of relative poverty.

Seven Labour MPs paid the price for trying to force the government to scrap the policy - they were suspended from the parliamentary party for voting against the King's Speech.

Ministers have hinted they don't particularly like the policy - but it's not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.

13:04:32

Rail talks conclude for the day - and there's no clue of how they ended

Talks between members of the RMT Union and the Department for Transport appear to have concluded for the day.

In the last few moments, Mick Lynch, general secretary of the union, was spotted leaving the department after discussions on the RMT's next pay round.

Mr Lynch previously said he expects a "parallel, synchronised offer" similar to that which was previously offered to drivers' union Aslef.

As a reminder, this saw train drivers offered a deal amounting to a 15% three-year backdated pay rise including a4.5%increase for 2024/25.

However, Mr Lynch offered no indication of which direction today's talks took.

Government defends approach to pay talks

The discussion comes after senior Tories criticised Sir Keir Starmer over pay offers to train drivers and junior doctors, with James Cleverly claiming the government has been "played by its union paymasters".

In defence of the government, Nick Thomas-Symonds said it was "sticking to the promises we made in opposition" in its deals with public sector workers.

13:00:01

ICYMI: Scottish government suspends meetings with Israel

The Scottish government has announced it will no longer hold meetings with Israeli ambassadors until "real progress has been made towards peace" in the Gaza conflict.

The move comes after theSNPadministration faced criticism over a meeting earlier this month between External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson and Daniela Grudsky, Israel's deputy ambassador to the UK.

In a statement on Monday, Mr Robertson apologised that the meeting was not "strictly limited" to talks about a ceasefire in theIsrael-Hamasconflict.

He claimed the meeting with the new ambassador was made at Israel's request, which gave the Scottish government an opportunity to express its "clear and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza".

"And I did exactly that," Mr Robertson added.

12:00:01

It's lunchtime!

Not only does that mean it's time for a screen break and a sandwich, it also means there's a round-up of the main things you need to know from this morning's Politics Hub coverage:

  • Sir Keir Starmer has been continuing his visit to Wales this morning, primarily touting his government's green credentials;
  • He and First Minister Eluned Morgan have visited a wind farm, one of the many green infrastructure projects Labour's GB Energy initiative will aim to support and help the UK hit its climate targets;
  • But the prime minister has admitted it's a "difficult" situation at Wales's massive steelworks Port Talbot, where upwards of 2,800 workers are facing redundancy due to the green transition.
  • In other domestic challenges for the government, the transport department will meet RMT union boss Mick Lynch today to discuss a potential pay deal for more rail workers;
  • Drivers were offered a raise last week, but this would concern other people who work on the network.
  • And on prisons, minister Jo Stevens has told Sky News the decision to activate emergency measures yesterday was down to the failures of the last government and the impact of the riots;
  • Operation Early Dawn will see defendants held in police cells until prison places are freed up, but could see court dates delayed.

That's all for now, we'll have another bulletin for you later and more updates throughout the afternoon.

11:27:10

PM vows to do 'everything we can' to preserve jobs at major steelworks

We've just heard from the prime minister following his trip to a clean energy site in South Wales this morning (see previous post).

Sir Keir Starmer's there to tout his government's climate credentials, with the state-owned GB Energy company set to help develop future offshore wind projects to help the UK transition to net zero.

But some have blamed the green agenda for job losses at the country's largest steelworks at Port Talbot, where Tata Steel has said the move to renewables makes hundreds of roles redundant.

Sir Keir was asked about the redundancies, which could total 2,800, and said the government would do "everything we can" to help workers.

'Difficult' situation at Port Talbot

"We were working on this when I was in opposition - we've turbocharged that since we've been in power," he said.

Last week, the government announced £13.5m in support to help businesses affected by the Tata Steel redundancies.

The package is designed to support businesses that rely on Tata Steel as their main customer, while the money will also be used to help workers who have been made redundant by giving them access to training and qualifications in sectors where there are job vacancies.

The prime minister admitted it was a "difficult" situation, but said he was determined to help save jobs.

11:00:01

In pictures: Starmer visits Welsh windfarm

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan visited Alltwalis Wind Farm, a clean energy site in Pencader, South Wales, today.

GB Energy, which has been allocated £8.3bn of funding over the next five years, has been tasked with developing future offshore wind projects as part of moves to hasten the UK's transition to renewable energy.

10:31:53

Lib Dems fined £3,600 over late reporting of party donations

The Liberal Democrats have been fined more than £3,000 for the late reporting of party donations, the Electoral Commission has said.

The party was handed five fines totalling £3,600 after an investigation into the late reporting of 22 donations, the Commission said.

The penalty was paid by the Liberal Democrats on 2 August.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission found that the Richmond Park Constituency Labour Party had failed to deliver its 2022 statement of accounts by the deadline.

It was handed a £1,000 fine, which was paid in July.

Jackie Killeen, director of electoral administration and regulation, said: "The laws we enforce are there to ensure there is transparency over the money spent and received by political parties, and to increase public confidence in our system.

"It's important that parties comply with the requirements, and report to us in a timely fashion."

Politics latest: Government under fire over airport decision as PM touts green agenda (2024)

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