Liz Truss ‘not ruling out’ direct financial support for cost of living – as it happened

“,”elementId”:”f0a8fddb-157f-470b-8b3d-1c32ee6e6ea2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• Liz Truss’s camp has said the Tory leadership frontrunner is leaning towards targeted support over help for all to ease the cost of living crisis, but said she is not “ruling anything out”. Various possibilities have been floated in the media, with Rishi Sunak’s team warning that cutting VAT by 5% across the board would be “regressive” amid reports over the weekend his rival was considering the move as a “nuclear” option, the Press Association reported. The Sunday Telegraph said this was one of a series of possible strategies to ease the strain being drawn up by the Treasury for the new prime minister to look at when they take office.

n

• Ministers must act immediately on soaring energy prices to avoid people being hit with a “lethal cocktail” of high inflation and recession, Alistair Darling, the Labour chancellor during the 2008 banking collapse, has said. With Liz Truss, the expected successor to Boris Johnson, still refusing to set out what additional help she could give households to pay bills, Darling said a key lesson from the 2008 crash was that action needed to be swift and radical. “You need something significant and substantial and you need it now, because people’s bills are going to start coming in in a few weeks’ time,” Darling, who served as chancellor under Gordon Brown, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

n

• The government is working on plans to help people with energy bills this winter, a Tory minister has claimed. Victoria Prentis, a minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, told Times Radio on Monday: “It’s right that people need help and I’m really here to try to reassure that the government is making plans to help people as they will need it with energy bills this winter.”

n

• The outgoing prime minister, Boris Johnson, is set to call on his successor to not give up investing in green energy in favour of quick fixes for the spiralling cost of living crisis, according to the Daily Telegraph. It is understood Johnson will argue in a farewell message that Britain can tackle future energy crises while pursuing its net zero targets at the same time as supporting those struggling to pay for their heating.

n

• Boris Johnson is “hoping to do a Berlusconi” and make a “populist return” to Downing Street after being ousted by his own MPs, according to a former Conservative cabinet minister. In an interview with the Guardian, Rory Stewart said people needed to be reminded Johnson was forced to quit – over a slew of scandals – because some supporters wanted Johnson to “come back”. Several of Johnson’s allies believe his detractors will come to rue removing him from office upon his successor taking over, and will brush off the poor polling as midterm blues.

n

• A trade union boss has defended Keir Starmer’s support of working people and criticised the general secretary of Unite for saying Labour needs to “get a spine”, the Press Association has reported. Paddy Lillis, the leader of Usdaw, the shopworkers’ trade union, said Sharon Graham’s criticism of the Labour leader was “unfair” and should be directed towards the government instead.

n

• The Home Office is paying firms £2.5m to pick up people trying to cross Channel, amid tension with the Royal Navy over its role in Priti Patel’s plans to deter asylum seekers. Contract disclosures published on a government portal show that Aeolian Offshore, which is based on the Isle of Wight and usually serves the offshore wind industry, is the largest beneficiary. It provided three boats for six months, earning just under £2m. The Home Office spent a further £564,000 for five months of vessel hire from another company, CWind, which also usually works for wind power firms.

n

• The Home Office is accused of deliberately failing to appoint a new anti-slavery commissioner to avoid scrutiny while trying to push through legislation on the issue. It has been a legal requirement to have an independent commissioner since the post was created as part of the Modern Slavery Act in 2015. Yet this week will mark four months with nobody in the role, despite sources saying that the interview process concluded two weeks before the previous incumbent, Sara Thornton, left.

n

• Refuse workers in Scotland have been presented with a new offer in an attempt to end ongoing strike action. Scottish council cleansing staff across much of the country are striking over pay disputes with local authorities. A strike in Edinburgh led to rubbish including food waste building up in the streets during the Edinburgh festival fringe – the busiest time of year for the city – and is due to end on Wednesday while staff in authorities across Scotland have taken action over the weekend with a further stretch planned for next week.

n

• Ministers have been told to “get the wheels of justice turning” again by allowing more legal specialists to serve as crown prosecutors to help clear the courts backlog. With record numbers of outstanding cases in magistrates and crown courts in England and Wales, the shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry, said the more junior associate prosecutors were “not being used to the maximum extent possible” in crown courts due to an “unnecessary and outdated legal restriction”.

n

“,”elementId”:”7cf59d4b-4ed6-4ded-973d-3b7910c35e82″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

That’s it from me, Tom Ambrose, and the UK politics blog for today. I will be back tomorrow morning but, for now, good night.

“,”elementId”:”d6ee530f-517c-4097-88ae-0ef25dccce73″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:false,”summary”:true},”blockCreatedOn”:1661787882000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.44 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1661789193000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.06 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1661788506000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.55 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.55″,”title”:”Summary”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 29 Aug 2022 12.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 29 Aug 2022 04.40 EDT”},{“id”:”630cd1278f080ba02dce964e”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A trade union boss has defended Keir Starmer’s support of working people and criticised the general secretary of Unite for saying Labour needs to “get a spine”, the Press Association has reported.

“,”elementId”:”541ff731-a59b-4c07-bbdf-18193568d5f6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw’s leader, Paddy Lillis, said Sharon Graham’s criticism of the Labour leader was “unfair” and should be directed towards the government instead.

“,”elementId”:”86a83603-9e66-4f4d-95f4-33f391c86214″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“I think it’s actually unfair. I think Keir Starmer has demonstrated over and over again that he’s on the side of workers. He understands the industrial actions taking place at the minute,” he told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme.

“,”elementId”:”1477b375-78d0-4196-ad16-df8d5ee0ec19″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“We need to be, as a trade union movement and a Labour movement, putting the blame squarely where it belongs. And that’s with this Tory government, who have been missing in action.”

“,”elementId”:”3f9f378e-e034-4b59-b76f-84bbcf9c60f7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Graham told the BBC on Sunday: “From my point of view, I think we are doing Labour a favour actually by saying, ‘Look, get a spine, stick up for workers.”’

“,”elementId”:”c269341b-51bb-4262-b3a5-7f4c27fd99e9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

She said the party needed to provide “a strong message” and do more to back workers seeking pay rises as employers make big profits. But Lillis called for a “degree of silence” from his fellow trade union chief. He said:

“,”elementId”:”36aaa4ae-4094-41ab-82d7-39e00153d827″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I think there’s a degree of silence needed sometimes and let the Labour leadership get on with taking the fight to the Tories and holding them to account for what’s wrong with this country in this moment in time.

n

“,”elementId”:”e114f428-3928-4f1d-acaf-5d882eb28385″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1661784359000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.45 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1661786242000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.17 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1661785425000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.03 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.03″,”title”:”Trade union boss defends Starmer’s support of workers”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 29 Aug 2022 12.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 29 Aug 2022 04.40 EDT”},{“id”:”630ccaec8f0823769647667b”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The Home Office is accused of deliberately failing to appoint a new anti-slavery commissioner to avoid scrutiny while trying to push through legislation on the issue.

“,”elementId”:”48957313-8e0b-4051-8351-ad849ffd7b85″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

It has been a legal requirement to have an independent commissioner since the post was created as part of the Modern Slavery Act in 2015.

“,”elementId”:”d57aa05b-ffb2-4085-a5ec-e189b2349f5b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Yet this week will mark four months with nobody in the role, despite sources saying that the interview process concluded two weeks before the previous incumbent, Sara Thornton, left.

“,”elementId”:”3c371446-6f24-44e0-8962-8ee60b2cdbb9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Thornton, along with other experts, is calling for a replacement as soon as possible. She argues that the risks of exploitation have increased and that planned legislation on modern slavery needs scrutiny.

“,”elementId”:”bf3b746a-7c24-4ae5-972c-873a939ea5da”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The number of potential trafficking victims identified has reached record levels this year, with 4,171 referrals recorded between April and June.

“,”elementId”:”1e979271-790e-4a70-876f-4e097186fe33″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/29/home-office-accused-of-deliberately-leaving-anti-slavery-post-unfilled”,”text”:”Home Office accused of deliberately leaving anti-slavery post unfilled”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”dc72b6a7-decc-41fd-a9a8-9d68ed56d2e8″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1661782764000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.19 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1661784431000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.47 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1661783553000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.32 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.32″,”title”:”Home Office accused of deliberately leaving anti-slavery post unfilled”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Emily Dugan”}],”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 29 Aug 2022 12.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 29 Aug 2022 04.40 EDT”},{“id”:”630ca6508f080ba02dce9495″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The Home Office is paying a private company £2m over six months to charter boats and crew to pick up people trying to cross the Channel, amid tension with the Royal Navy over its role in Priti Patel’s plans to deter asylum seekers.

“,”elementId”:”c7434c82-3777-429f-b141-932dd0d55b21″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Contract disclosures published on a government portal show that Aeolian Offshore, which is based on the Isle of Wight and usually serves the offshore wind industry, has provided three boats.

“,”elementId”:”097d37da-f736-4a07-bb2b-c0b3c90a404a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Details of the outsourcing plan were published as the number of people crossing the channel in small boats hit a new record, despite the government’s controversial plan to deter them by striking a deal with Rwanda to deport asylum seekers to the central African state.

“,”elementId”:”6b5001d9-55c5-4852-b03c-3030d8a7db62″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

According to the contract with Aeolian, its three vessels will work in 12-hour shifts, departing from Ramsgate, Kent, and sailing to “reported sightings of migrant vessels, to collect the migrants found”.

“,”elementId”:”4d8255bd-c018-4c65-87bc-84db5d8247fd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The boats, which usually have space for 12 passengers and three crew, must be able to accommodate a “minimum of 100 migrants” on deck, it states, as well as towing any craft that the people they pick up may have used to cross the Channel.

“,”elementId”:”5190f378-e885-404f-b92d-f4b80772271d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/29/home-office-pays-aeolian-offshore-channel-crossings”,”text”:”Home Office pays firm £2m to pick up people trying to cross Channel”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”b933a92e-5fab-4730-8412-0951e19845a4″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1661773392000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.43 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1661773456000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.44 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1661773441000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.44 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.44″,”title”:”Home Office pays firm £2m to pick up people trying to cross Channel”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Rob Davies”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/02/08/RobDavies.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c1612b19cb30687698b444ae387ebb90″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 29 Aug 2022 12.06 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 29 Aug 2022 04.40 EDT”},{“id”:”630c761b8f08237696476371″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Good morning and welcome to the UK politics live blog on this August Bank Holiday Monday. I hope you are having a good weekend so far.

“,”elementId”:”9ddb6238-d5c2-4ef3-a06a-2abf5afd14c1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

We start with news from Team Truss. Her camp has said the Tory leadership frontrunner is leaning towards targeted support over help for all to ease the cost of living crisis, but said she is not “ruling anything out”.

“,”elementId”:”7080e7aa-e20f-451a-91cd-2dbe40ad03b3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Various different possibilities have been floated in the media, with Rishi Sunak’s team warning that cutting VAT by 5% across the board would be “regressive” amid reports over the weekend his rival was considering the move as a “nuclear” option, the Press Association reported.

“,”elementId”:”0429672c-773e-4b6b-911f-785debf08deb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The Sunday Telegraph said this was one of a series of possible strategies to ease the strain being drawn up by the Treasury for the new prime minister to look at when they take office.

“,”elementId”:”3a48790b-5c2a-4f6d-8bd5-655cc9d6639a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

It was also reported by the BBC on Sunday that Liz Truss had “ruled out” direct support for everyone to assist with soaring bills. But a source from the foreign secretary’s team later said that – while she is more attracted to targeted assistance – she has not yet ruled anything out.

“,”elementId”:”d69e8962-5945-474e-b336-e64faf359298″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

They said:

“,”elementId”:”414afdf7-3a97-4149-928f-8f450b6896a3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

Liz has been clear we need to lower the burden of taxation and focus on boosting energy supplies and this will be her priority as prime minister.

n

She’s also been clear further support may be required to help. Her preference is to target this to those most in need, but isn’t ruling anything out.

n

“,”elementId”:”da0cc5db-ad5f-427c-ad30-aa0667cdd4bf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”2100″,”width”:”3500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/09a4d463cfcf62800bc57da2485b60f2bde545a7/0_117_3500_2100/3500.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”2100″,”width”:”3500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/09a4d463cfcf62800bc57da2485b60f2bde545a7/0_117_3500_2100/master/3500.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1200″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/09a4d463cfcf62800bc57da2485b60f2bde545a7/0_117_3500_2100/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”600″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/09a4d463cfcf62800bc57da2485b60f2bde545a7/0_117_3500_2100/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”300″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/09a4d463cfcf62800bc57da2485b60f2bde545a7/0_117_3500_2100/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”84″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/09a4d463cfcf62800bc57da2485b60f2bde545a7/0_117_3500_2100/140.jpg”}]},”data”:{“alt”:”Liz Truss during a hustings event at the Holiday Inn, in Norwich North, Norfolk, as part of her campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party and the next prime minister.”,”caption”:”Liz Truss during a hustings event at the Holiday Inn, in Norwich North, Norfolk, as part of her campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party and the next prime minister.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Joe…