Voters have “lost interest in Labour”, the Conservative shadow local government secretary has said, reports the PA news agency.
Asked about prime ministerKeir Starmer’s speech due later on Thursday, in which he is expected to criticise “fantasy” economics proposed by Reform UK leaderNigel Farage,Kevin Hollinraketold Sky News:
He continued:
Government ministerEmma Hardyhas urged doctors to “vote no” in an upcoming strike ballot.
The water minister told Sky News:
The MP forKingston upon Hull West and Haltempricecontinued:
Keir Starmerwill launch an attack onNigel Farageby accusing the Reform UK leader of promoting “fantasy” tax-and-spending plans that would unleash aLiz Truss-style economic crisis.
In a fightback against attempts by Farage to win over blue-collar voters with bold promises on taxes and benefits, the prime minister is to say Reform risks spooking the financial markets and driving up mortgage costs for millions of households.
In a speech at a manufacturing business in the north-west of England on Thursday, Starmer will say:
The Reform leaderlaid out several promisesduring a speech on Tuesday designed to take advantage of disquiet among Labour voters at the government’s policies on taxes and benefits.
Starmer’s address is scheduled to take place at11.30 amand will be followed by a Q&A with reporters.
Elsewhere, deputy prime ministerAngela Rayneris expected to be campaigning inScotlandtoday and water ministerEmma Hardyis on the morning media round, as is shadow local government ministerKevin Hollinrake. More updates from this in just a moment, but first here are some other key developments:
The British arm of a US contractor that profits from testing whether some people in the UK should receive disability benefits has paid out £10m in dividends to its investors.Maximus, a Virginia-based business, reported a 23% rise in pre-tax profit for its UK arm, from £23.6m to £29.1m, in its financial year to the end of September, accounts lodged at Companies House show. Its revenue rose 2%, from £294m to £300m.
The health secretary,Wes Streeting, has urged doctors to vote against industrial action as the British Medical Association (BMA) ballots resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, for strike action that could last for six months.Writing in the Times on Thursday, Streeting said: “We can’t afford to return to a continuous cycle of standoffs, strikes, and cancellations.”
TheHouse of Lordswatchdog has launched an investigation into a Conservative hereditary peer who admitted he “erroneously” made claims last year for travel expenses he did not incur.He is the fifth peer to face an inquiry after Guardian reporting into the upper house.
Jobcentres will no longer force people into “any job” available, the employment minister has said, promising there will be long-term, personalised career support for those losing out due to welfare cuts.Alison McGovern said she was ending the Conservative policy under which jobseekers were obliged to take any low-paid, insecure work and that the service would now be focused on helping people to build rewarding careers.
Scotland’s first minister has warned that the Hamilton byelection is now a “straight contest” between the SNP and Reform UK as he urged voters to back his party.John Swinney claimed the Labour campaign is in collapse and urged their supporters to act and “unite behind our shared principles” to defeat Farage’s party.