Labour ministers have warned electoral reforms could prevent Andy Burnham’s party from winning an outright general election majority.
The Prime Minister announced a new national commission, which aims to explore reforms, with all political parties invited to be a part of its work.
The move will be welcomed by nearly 100 Labour MPs who have backed calls for a commission to rethink the rules.
However, several Cabinet ministers have expressed concern it would reduce Labour’s chances of securing a majority.
Mr Burnham told his Cabinet the proposals were likely to prove controversial but argued that it was the right approach.
He told the BBC: “In an era of five party politics can we really watch a party with less than 30 per cent walk into Downing Street? Is that what we’re really about? We have had a decade of turbulence in our politics.
“That has stopped Britain moving forward. If we look to the next decade we need to show the markets, the world and everybody that we can have a better politics, more about problem-solving than point-scoring. That would come I think if we had a different approach to the voting system.”
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said Mr Burnham’s proposals would require a referendum and be impossible to implement before 2034.
He said: “Sounds like he’s rather prejudged the outcome of the Commission. Burnham wants to remove voters’ power to sack their MP.
“It’s a bad idea that Labour would need to win a referendum on and couldn’t implement before 2034. In the meantime: no plan to reduce unemployment, no plan for growth, no plan to defend the country, no plan at all.”
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Conservatives to introduce ‘tough love’ for young ‘Neets’
The Conservatives have said people who are fit to work and aged under 25 will be unable to claim benefits if they have not worked continuously for six months.
In the run-up to its party conference in Birmingham which begins on Sunday, it characterised its plans as “tough love” for unemployed people aged 16-24.
It will replace universal credit with another benefit, a “Get to Work allowance” for the age group.
It means that school or education leavers who do not have a job will be offered support through the Get to Work scheme, and will only be able to claim money if they take part in it.
They will have to attend job centres on a daily basis, and take part in work experience placements, training courses or community work schemes through local councils.
They will also have to take part in job searches and application workshops. Interview preparation sessions will be provided.
The party said the plans will complement the party’s wider welfare and tax reforms.
SNP plans for green energy ‘at risk of failure’, watchdog warns
A £500million plan by the Scottish Government to boost investment in offshore wind is at risk of failure, a watchdog has suggested.
Audit Scotland said the project is moving too slowly, with less than a third of cash spent so far.
Its report found clear risks that ministers may not achieve their aim of boosting the supply chain needed to support the industry.
The Auditor General said there is also “no clear plan” for the project beyond 2028/29.
The Government set up the five-year Offshore Wind Investment Programme in 2023 with the aim of spending £500million of public money to speed up the building of the port infrastructure and manufacturing facilities needed to support offshore wind projects.
So far, only £141million has been committed across 17 projects.
Audit Scotland said reduced investor confidence and wider regulatory issues were listed among the reasons.
Conservatives warn Labour is putting public at risk over early prisoner release scheme
The Conservative Party said the Government is putting the public at risk as it prepares to release hundreds of prisoners today.
Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said the public would “pay the price” for the decision, which ministers have said is necessary to create capacity in jails.
The former adviser to Theresa May during her time as prime minister said the policy was an “insult to victims”.
It came as the Victims Commissioner warned the early release scheme may not be workable as it comes into force on Thursday. Claire Waxman said the Government’s confidence “is not yet matched by the reality on the ground”.
Around 700 prisoners will walk free from jail in the first wave of the controversially expanded programme to free up spaces in prisons.
It is the latest in a series of early release schemes, including under the Conservative government and Sir Keir Starmer.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said offenders would be monitored under the “toughest supervision in British history”.
However, Mr Timothy said: “Today’s releases are an insult to victims, a danger to the public, and will only encourage more lawbreaking from criminals who know they have a ticket out of prison.
“Labour say they have no choice but to release prisoners early, but we know they don’t believe in prison.
“It is their decision to release vile criminals including abusers, historic child sex offenders and human traffickers – but it is the public who will pay the price.”
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