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☆ New Zealand farmers sour on Ardern’s Labour, complicating new PM's path
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Rural voters say reforms by Ardern's Labour Party, meant to improve the environmental impact of farming, are costly and ineffective. Farmers worry that the extra costs and work will make their products more expensive and less competitive in foreign markets. The government has proposed an unpopular plan for farmers to pay for methane emissions from their sheep and cows. New Zealand farmers are some of the most efficient in the world. Andrew Hoggard, national president of Federated Farmers, said many Labour regulations were impractical and made farming difficult.

[1/2] Chris Hipkins speaks to members of the media, after being confirmed as the only nomination to replace Jacinda Ardern as leader of the Labour Party, outside New Zealand's parliament in Wellington, New Zealand January 21, 2023. We are different people though, and I'm sure that people will see that," Hipkins told a news conference on Saturday after emerging as the only candidate to lead the ruling Labour Party. First elected to parliament in 2008, Hipkins became a household name fronting the government's response to the pandemic. He was appointed health minister in July 2020 before becoming the COVID response minister at the end of the year. Hipkins is known around parliament for his sense of humour - including an ability to laugh at himself.

Her successor as Labour leader and prime minister faces a stern test in a general election in October, with support for the party falling and the country expected to fall into a recession next quarter. Despite her high global profile, Ardern's Labour Party has slid in the polls, hurt by rising living costs, growing crime and concern about social issues. That meant that even with traditional coalition partner the Green Party, polling at 9%, Labour could not hold a majority. Ardern most likely stepped down to give the Labour Party a chance to refresh and reposition itself ahead of an election in October, experts said. CONSERVATIVES BUOYEDThe conservative National Party may be buoyed by Ardern's resignation.

☆ Davos 2023-'Open for business' Labour slams PM Sunak no-show
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Brenda Goh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 19 (Reuters) - British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer set out his green growth plan in Davos on Thursday and criticised British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for not showing up at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. "Somebody has got to be an ambassador for Britain and the prime minister and the chancellor are not here," she told a separate audience referring to finance minister Jeremy Hunt. "We are here to send a message that at the next election ... the British economy will be open for business again." Although Sunak did not attend the event, the British government did send Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch and Business Minister Grant Shapps to Davos. And former Prime Minister Boris Johnson also made an appearance, which he used to urge Britain's allies to double down on sending military equipment to Ukraine.

☆ Davos 2023: UK Labour signals pragmatism over divergence on EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Britain's Labour leader Keir Starmer and the party's financial chief Rachel Reeves walk to a meeting during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023, in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland, January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Arnd WiegmannDAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour party, ahead in polls with an election due in less than two years, said that in government it would favour pragmatism over divergence for its own sake in dealings with the European Union. Labour has ruled out seeking to re-enter the EU's single market. She added: "Having to certify things twice, once for the UK once for the EU, is another cost that frankly we could do without." Reporting by Mark John in Davos; Editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UK parliament considers recalling Amazon exec after lawmaker "unhappy" with testimony
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

An Amazon spokesperson strongly denied the executive - European policy chief Brian Palmer - misled the committee. It cited legal filings related to U.S. court cases and testimony from workers at five warehouses in the UK. "We were extremely unhappy with his testimony," McDonald told Reuters. An Amazon spokesperson said that Amazon used CCTV cameras "to ensure the safety of employees and security of products". "To suggest that the use of these standard business practices amount to surveillance of employees is wrong," the Amazon spokesperson added.

☆ Britain's Labour wins vote on COVID contracts against government
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A general view of the Houses of Parliament at sunrise, in London, Britain, February 9, 2022. REUTERS/Tom NicholsonLONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Britain's main opposition Labour Party won a vote on Tuesday to force the government to release documents on COVID-19 contracts awarded to a firm with links to a Conservative member of parliament's upper house. Labour won the vote after Conservative lawmakers were told by their party they could abstain on the opposition motion which sought to force the publication of documents relating to 200 million pounds ($244 million) of personal protective equipment contracts given to PPE MedPro. Conservative lawmakers said there was no deadline in the motion to force the government's hand quickly. But since then, there has been criticism over the way the contracts were awarded.

☆ UK Labour's Starmer supports plans to spread power away from Westminster
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - British opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer will on Monday support plans to spread power away from the political centre of Westminster, aiming to offer people more control over their lives and local politicians a greater say on transport, housing and jobs. Starmer, whose centre-left Labour Party is leading the governing Conservative Party in opinion polls, is moving to outline his agenda to show voters how he might govern before an election widely expected to be held in 2024. In response to the government's effort to "level up" the country by tackling regional inequalities, Starmer will say this can only be achieved by delivering "the biggest ever transfer of power from Westminster to the British people". Starmer will say there would now be a consultation on the proposals. "Now, if you dig beneath the data, I'd be worried if I was Keir Starmer, because if you look at his numbers, it's very soft."

☆ UK could use military to ease strikes, Conservative chairman says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Britain's government is looking at bringing in the military to help keep public services running if key workers, including in the state-run National Health Service, take strike action, the chairman of the governing Conservative Party said on Sunday. "We're looking at the military, we're looking at a specialist response force... a surge capacity," he said, adding that the military could be brought in to drive ambulances. Workers at post and parcel company Royal Mail have held several rounds of strikes this year in a dispute over pay and working conditions and more strikes are planned this month. Zahawi again blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine for fuelling energy price rises and double-digit inflation, calling on public sector workers to "come together". "There is a minimum safety level of delivery in place already, but the NHS will look at all contingency planning," he said.

☆ UK's Labour comfortably beat PM Sunak's Conservatives to retain parliamentary seat
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party retained a parliamentary seat in the northwest of England on Friday, comfortably winning the vote in the first electoral test for Rishi Sunak as prime minister. Labour candidate Samantha Dixon won the City of Chester constituency, securing 61% of the vote, compared to 22% for the candidate from Sunak's Conservatives. The next national election is expected in 2024. Curtice said the scale of the swing could indicate Labour winning an outright majority in parliament at the next national election, but noted that local elections were rarely a good guide. Labour have held the Chester seat since 2015, when it was the most marginal seat in the country.

Summary Raab asks PM to investigate complaintsMinister claims he never tolerated bullyingOpposition parties question Sunak's judgementLONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said on Wednesday he has requested an independent investigation into two formal complaints about his behaviour, the latest case of alleged bullying to put pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. In a letter to Sunak, Raab said he had "just been notified" of complaints, both relating to his behaviour when he served under former prime minister Boris Johnson. Sunak defended his deputy this week, saying he did not recognise allegations that Raab had bullied staff. With Sunak travelling from a G20 meeting, Raab instead will face Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner. It is not clear who will investigate the allegations against Raab as Sunak has yet to appoint a new independent adviser on ministerial standards.

Summary Williams resigns to comply with inquiryOpposition parties question Sunak's judgementLONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - British minister Gavin Williamson resigned on Tuesday from the government over claims that he bullied colleagues, raising questions about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's judgement just weeks into the job. Sunak became Britain's third prime minister in two months in October, pledging to restore integrity and professionalism to the heart of government following months of turmoil under his predecessors, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson. The opposition Labour Party said Williamson's resignation was a "damning reflection of a weak prime minister". The government and fellow ministers had previously said that Williamson's messages, if true, were not acceptable but that more time was needed to investigate the situation. Reporting by Muvija M and Kate Holton, Editing by Kylie MacLellan and Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earned cheers from his lawmakers and plaudits from political commentators on Wednesday as he locked horns with the opposition Labour Party in parliament for the first time since becoming leader. "My record is, when times are difficult in this country I will always protect the most vulnerable," Sunak said to vociferous support from the Conservative benches in the House of Commons. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak walks outside Number 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, October 26, 2022. Sunak's Conservatives saw their standing in opinion polls sink to multi-year lows as Truss stumbled through her six weeks as prime minister. "The only time he ran in a competitive election, he got trounced by the former prime minister who herself got beaten by a lettuce," Starmer said.

☆ UK PM Truss met with chair of committee in charge of leadership contests - Guardian
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chairman of the 1922 Committee Graham Brady congratulates Liz Truss, as she is announced as Britain's next Prime Minister at The Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, Britain September 5, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah McKayLONDON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Liz Truss met earlier on Monday with lawmaker Graham Brady, who heads up the committee in charge of running Conservative Party leadership contests, The Guardian reported, citing sources from Truss's office. "Truss was with Sir Graham Brady during Labour's urgent question in HoC (House of Commons) - as per No 10 sources," Guardian Political Editor Pippa Crerar said on Twitter. "They tell me it was a pre-planned meeting - rather than crisis talks." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Sachin Ravikumar, writing by William James; Editing by Kate HoltonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Monday ditched her signature plan to cut taxes for the country's top earners after it triggered market turmoil and a huge domestic outcry. The pound rose after the announcement to around $1.12 — about the value it held before the Sept. 23 budget announcements. The dramatic reversal comes just hours after Truss defiantly defended the tax cut and her broader radical economic agenda, saying it was necessary to solve the country’s long-term economic woes. Faced with a growing political rebellion after days of economic chaos, the government said early Monday it was abandoning the plan. The plan to cut taxes for the wealthy was part of a broader "mini-budget" announced soon after the new administration took office.

"We are really a government in waiting and we have a chance to set out our ideas for the country. Labour is positioning itself as the party of fiscal responsibility and say it stands for "sound money". Almost half of voters say that Labour has not produced a clear set of policy ideas, according to polling from Savanta ComRes. In the most recent poll, Labour now has a six-point lead. But Curtis said the Conservatives still lead on the crucial question about who is best placed to make voters and the country wealthier.

☆ UK Labour's Reeves: 'incredibly worried' by fall in the pound
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterLONDON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The financial policy spokeswoman for Britain's opposition Labour Party said she was incredibly worried about the fall in the pound overnight, saying it put pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates. Sterling tumbled nearly 5% to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar on Monday, before partly recovering, as the fall-out from the new government's fiscal plan on Friday continued. "I started my career as an economist at the Bank of England and like everyone else I'm incredibly worried about what we've seen, both on Friday with market reactions to the chancellor's so-called mini-budget, and also the reactions overnight," Rachel Reeves told Times Radio. "It also puts more pressure on the Bank of England to increase interest rates," she added. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Kate Holton and Kylie MacLellan; editing by David MillikenOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is interviewed outside the BBC in London, Britain, October 24, 2021. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File PhotoLIVERPOOL, England, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Britain's Labour Party will unveil on Monday its plans to set up a national wealth fund to invest in green projects which will benefit the public, part of the opposition party's answer to the Conservative government's tax-cutting approach. The so-called mini-budget has opened up a divide between Prime Minister Liz Truss's Conservatives and the Labour Party of Keir Starmer, who wants to use the years before an expected election in 2024 to prove his team is ready for power. "That is a real plan for growth," she will say, taking aim at the "Growth Plan" presented by finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng on Friday, when Labour accused him of prioritising the wealthy over working people struggling with rising prices by turning to the discredited theory of "trickle-down economics". Ed Miliband, Labour's climate policy chief, said Labour's plans would return jobs to Britain.

REUTERS/Peter NichollsLONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Britain's main opposition Labour Party criticised the Conservative government's economic plans on Friday, describing the new prime minister and finance minister as "two desperate gamblers in a casino" who had run out of ideas. "The prime minister and chancellor (finance minister) are like two desperate gamblers in a casino chasing a losing run," she told parliament. Taking aim at the lack of independent scrutiny of the government's plans, Reeves described Kwarteng's statement as "a budget without figures, a menu without prices". While Labour and other opposition lawmakers were biting in their criticism of the government's fiscal statement, supporters of Britain's new government hailed its radicalism. Some said previous Conservative governments, in power for 12 years with five of them in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, should have adopted the policies a long time ago.

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