Rachel Reeves has been urged to implement a wealth tax by an ex-Labour minister who said it was “important” for the Government to consider “who has the broadest shoulders”.
Former International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds, who quit her position in February after the Prime Minister decided to slash the overseas aid budget, said there had been a “lot of discussion” about a wealth tax.
The tax is an annual levy on an individual’s total net assets, including property, investments, and cash above a given threshold.
The Oxford East MP admitted she had been “a bit sceptical about some of those claims for a long time because, of course, wealth is taxed in the UK”.
But, she said the Wealth Tax Commission had looked at various types of international wealth taxes in 2020 and how it could be delivered in Britain.
“I would hope the Treasury is considering that kind of evidence, as well as other changes that have been put forward,” Dodds added.
The former Shadow Chancellor, while Labour was in opposition, said the tax proposals outlined by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner ought to be “considered”.
The Daily Telegraph reported in May that Rayner suggested to the chancellor that she increase taxes, including restarting the pensions lifetime allowance and a higher corporation tax level for banks.
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Reform MP labels fellow parliamentarians as ‘bunch of spineless, weak… cowards’
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson
PA
Lee Anderson has condemned his fellow parliamentarians as “bunch of spineless, weak… cowards” when speaking on how illegal immigration has affected social cohesion across the UK.
He told GB News two consecutive governments “were frightened to death of breaking maritime law” and ruining “our international reputation on the world stage” and that they had “stood by and done nothing while we import third world cultures into our country”.
“Some of these (people have) got medieval ideologies,” he declared.
“They have no respect, some of them for women, young women and girls and women … like my own sister, and my niece are scared for their own children to go out or even walk home from school.”
The Reform MP said women are being warned “about the possibility of attacks”.
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Prime Minister ‘should be nervous’ over Labour grooming gangs ‘cover-up’
Keir Starmer will have “questions to answer” regarding the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) failures over the grooming gangs scandal when he was the Director of Public Prosecutions, a shadow Cabinet minister has said.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Starmer might be nervous over what an inquiry might uncover because that CPS had “early on” made some mistakes over prosecuting alleged perpetrators.
The Prime Minister was in charge of the CPS as the chief prosecutor in England and Wales between 2008 and 2014 during a period when failures by the crown prosecution over the grooming gangs scandal were highlighted in previous reports.
A 173-page review, covering 2004 to 2013 and set out multiple failed investigations by Greater Manchester Police, found one victim was treated as a co-conspirator by the CPS for “procuring children on behalf of the men who were abusing her” because she was “viewed as critical in their successful prosecution”.
In February 2011, the CPS formally agreed she never should have been arrested in 2009.
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Keir Starmer listening to hostages in wake of Palestinian state declaration
Keir StarmerGETTY
The Prime Minister said he is listening to hostages who were taken by Hamas during the October 7 massacre while adding he still intends on recognising a Palestinian state unless Israel commits to a ceasefire and two-state solution.
It comes after British-Israeli Emily Damari, held by Hamas for 471 days, accused Keir Starmer of “moral failure” over the move to recognise Palestine in September at the United Nations.
The move followed French President Emmanuel Macron declaring his country would recognise Palestine at the same UN General Assembly.
Speaking to ITV during a visit to Swindon on Thursday, Starmer said “I particularly listen to the hostages, Emily Damari, who I have spoken to”.
“I’ve met with her mother a number of times, and they’ve been through the most awful, awful experience for Emily and for her mother,” he added.
“And that’s why I’ve been absolutely clear and steadfast that we must have the remaining hostages released. That’s been our position throughout and I absolutely understand the unimaginable horror that Emily went through.”
Starmer said that “we do need to do everything we can to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where we are seeing the children and babies starving for want of aid which could be delivered”.
““That is why I’ve said unless things materially change on the ground, we’ll have to assess this in September, we will recognise Palestine before the United Nations General Assembly in September,” the Prime Minister added.