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Will Meakin-Durrant

@wmeakindurrant.bsky.social
388 followers 462 following 303 posts

Parliamentary Reporter at the PA news agency 📌 House of Commons

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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Despite efforts by some backbenchers in the House of Commons, the Representation of the People Bill does not feature a cap on donations from voters who live in the UK.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
On tomorrow's House of Lords order paper - the Representation of the People Bill, including proposals to cap the amount that Brits abroad can donate to political parties at £100,000/year.
House of Lords Business for Monday September 14, including: Representation of the People Bill - second reading.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The House of Commons business for tomorrow, when MPs are due to restart their debate on the assisted dying Bill
Business of the Day: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - second reading; Gaza (Independent Public Inquiry) Bill - second reading; Hospitality Services (Value Added Tax Exemption) Bill - second reading.Business of the Day (continued): Sporting and Physical Education Services (Value Added Tax Exemption) Bill - second reading; Meat (Information About Method of Killing) Bill - second reading; Covid-19 Vaccine Damage Payments Bill - second reading; European Convention on Human Rights (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill - second reading; Lobular Breast Cancer Bill - second reading; Controlled Drugs (Procedure for Specification) Bill - second reading; In-person Banking Services Bill - second reading; Home Cooling Bill - second reading.Business of the Day (continued): Northern Ireland Troubles (Criminal Investigations etc) Bill - second reading debate which began on September 4 to resume; Multi-storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill - second reading; Sale and Supply of Glue Traps (Prohibition) Bill - second reading.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Ministers are facing pressure to publish the legal advice which derailed the Government’s reorganisation of local councils.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Anneliese Midgley has moved the writ for a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, following the departure of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer from both No 10 and the House of Commons.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Independent MP James McMurdock makes a quick exit from his seat before he can hear the answer to his own question, which earned him a telling off from Madam Deputy Speaker.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Water levels on the Danube River, the second longest in Europe, have dropped so low because of drought that the hulks of dozens of World War II German battleships are emerging into view. (Associated Press) apnews.com/article/serb...
apnews.com
The Danube River's water is dropping so low that World War II ships are emerging
Water levels on the Danube River have dropped so low due to drought that World War II German battleships are emerging into view.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
AstraZeneca has held talks with US rival Bristol Myers Squibb over a merger which could create a drugs giant worth more than £300 billion, according to reports. (Press Association) www.standard.co.uk/business/bus...
standard.co.uk
AstraZeneca in talks over £300bn mega-merger with US rival – reports
The move would mark one of the industry’s largest ever deals and create the world’s fourth largest pharmaceutical company.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
A licence for the annual guga hunt on a remote island has been refused by a Scottish Government agency. (Press Association) www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Licence for annual guga hunt refused by Scotland’s nature agency
Young gannets – guga – are taken from open cliffs using a pole and noose, before being gutted, salted and preserved in brine.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
End-of-life care can be improved at the same time as legalising assisted dying, the MP behind the campaign to do so has insisted after Andy Burnham said he believes palliative care needs to be fixed first. (Press Association) www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Assisted dying Bill MP says new law and better end-of-life care both possible
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will return to Parliament for debate in September.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The House of Commons Library has modelled England's new local government boundaries, as the Government slashes the number of councils from 317 to a maximum of 173.
A map of English local authorities. Highlighted are the areas where local government reorganisation is taking place - Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire (reorganisation delayed), Hertfordshire, Devon, East Sussex, West Sussex (reorganisation delayed), Surrey, Kent, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Animal rescue centres are “fit to bursting” with hedgehogs and foxes suffering from heatstroke during one of the hottest summers on record, the RSPCA said. (Press Association) www.standard.co.uk/news/environ...
standard.co.uk
Wildlife centres ‘fit to bursting’ with hedgehogs amid scorching weather
Gardeners are being urged to create shaded spaces for wildlife struggling to keep cool during the scorching weather as another heatwave looms.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The publisher of Harry Potter and bestsellers by Sarah J Maas has revealed it is set for a payout from a record 1.5 billion dollar (£1.1 billion) settlement of a copyright class action in America against AI firm Anthropic. (Press Association) www.independent.co.uk/tech/bloomsb...
independent.co.uk
Bloomsbury set for payout from £1.1 billion Anthropic US copyright settlement
The settlement is said to be the largest known copyright payout in US history.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Defence shares increased in value in London on Tuesday after the former defence secretary was appointed as Britain’s new Chancellor. (Press Association) www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...
independent.co.uk
Defence shares climb on investment hopes after new Chancellor named
Babcock was the top riser on the FTSE 100, with shares up 7.8%, while BAE Systems lifted by 3.25% and Qinetiq moved 4% higher.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Thames Water’s lenders have revealed they are looking at offering a “golden share” to the Government as part of a revised rescue deal to stave off nationalisation of the stricken supplier. (Press Association) www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/nationa...
oxfordmail.co.uk
Thames Water lenders consider offering ‘golden share’ to avert nationalisation
London & Valley Water said ‘material improvements’ are being made on its previous £10 billion proposal to appease government concerns over…
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
State of play on Tuesday morning, as Andy Burnham continues to appoint ministers across Government: Chancellor of the Exchequer - John Healey Foreign Secretary - Ed Miliband Home Secretary - Shabana Mahmood
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Reposted by Will Meakin-Durrant
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
It's on! The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026 has been laid before Parliament to ease licensing restrictions until 5am when England take on Mexico in the Round of 16.
The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Relaxing the licensing rules used to involve an extra step - a vote in Parliament. But earlier this year, the Licensing Hours Extensions Act 2026 was approved, so the Government can let pubs open longer without waiting for MPs' say-so.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
It's on! The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026 has been laid before Parliament to ease licensing restrictions until 5am when England take on Mexico in the Round of 16.
The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
The royal family isn't a public authority for the purposes of Freedom of Information - and the organisations which are can refuse to disclose their "communications with the sovereign” and related people.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Summer solstice at 1.678° E - at Southwold in Suffolk, one of the first places in the British Isles to see sunrise.
A yellow line marks the edge of the promenade, parallel to the shore all the way to Southwold Pier. Beach huts painted in pastel colours line the cliff.Swimmers in the North Sea as dawn breaks - the Summer Solstice. Crimson water reflects the pink sky behind Southwold Pier’s pillars.Southwold Pier silhouetted against a rising sun.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
The 20 private members’ bills at the top of the queue for a debate, including: - A return of the assisted dying Bill. MPs voted it through with a majority of 23 at third reading in the last session, but peers in the House of Lords ran out of time to conclude their debates.
Presentation of Bills
Infants, Parents and Carers (Sir Desmond Swayne)
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) (Lauren Edwards)
Heritage Public Houses (Mike Wood)
Homes and Planning (Andrew George)Presentation of Bills
First Cousins (Prohibited Relationships) (Luke Evans)
Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (Sir John Whittingdale)
Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (Amendment) (Jessica Toale)
Emergency and Life-saving Skills (Schools) (Neil Shastri-Hurst)
Ceramics (Country of Origin Marking) (Gareth Snell)
Northern Ireland Troubles (Criminal Investigations etc) (Lincoln Jopp)
Fireworks (Patricia Ferguson)Presentation of Bills
Group-based Child Sexual Offences (Mandatory Life Sentences) (Robert Jenrick)
Automated Online Software (Access and Transparency) (Damian Hinds)
Relationships and Sex Education (Further Education Sector) (Alistair Strathern)
Cancer (Reporting and Strategy) (Clive Jones)
Planning (Solar Power Generation) (Victoria Atkins)
Child-like Sexual Abuse Dolls (Offences) (Munira Wilson)Presentation of Bills
Coastal Communities (Health) (Steff Aquarone)
Hospice Funding (Paul Foster)
Work Experience (Schools) (David Pinto-Duschinsky)
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Labour MP Lauren Edwards, who came second in this session's private members' bills ballot, has said she is reintroducing the assisted dying Bill to Parliament. It will be formally presented to the House of Commons on Wednesday.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
After several water-related deaths during the recent hot spell, Baroness Sharron Davies of Devonport says "it's important to inspire people to want to swim".
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Rule changes for children on social media will be unveiled in a matter of "weeks, not months", bereaved parents have been told.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
The Government has gathered more than 80,000 responses to its consultation on social media harms affecting children, according to Department for Science, Innovation and Technology figures I've seen - Parents: 42,410 Young people: 13,890 Total: 81,283
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Sizzling Saturday was replaced by scorching Sunday this weekend as the UK saw its hottest May day for at least 79 years.
A woman holds a tray of orange and yellow flowers as she browses a market stall brimming with mostly green plants.A trader under a blue canvas weighs olives and puts a lid on the pot.Two people walk through a green field of barley. In the background, a large church with a steeple - St Mary’s, Saffron Walden.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Ballot for Bills at 9am - Twenty MPs from this list will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have their own private members' bills debated.
Members entering the Ballot for Bills - numbers have been assigned to each MP who entered the draw. The winners will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have a Bill of their choosing debated.Members entering the Ballot for Bills - numbers have been assigned to each MP who entered the draw. The winners will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have a Bill of their choosing debated.Members entering the Ballot for Bills - numbers have been assigned to each MP who entered the draw. The winners will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have a Bill of their choosing debated.Members entering the Ballot for Bills - numbers have been assigned to each MP who entered the draw. The winners will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have a Bill of their choosing debated.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
The Makerfield by-election will take place on June 18, Wigan Council has confirmed.
A Notice of Election - UK Parliamentary Election for the Borough Constituency of Makerfield - confirming the election, if contested, will take place on June 18.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
"It was a slip of the tongue but a pretty unfortunate one," says Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after telling MPs the UK had struck a trade deal with North Korea.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
As part of its proposal to free up burial space, Bishop's Stortford Town Council has published the names of people whose remains it is proposed to disturb.
Title page featuring the Bishop’s Stortford town crest - Notices and Schedules under the Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Act 2024 and Faculty 1903 in the Diocese of St Albans.Schedule of names of persons whose remains it is proposed to disturb. The following table shows the names of persons whose remains it is proposed to disturb, sorted by grave number. It begins with grave EAST/B6/2E. Infant Ernest Taylor was interred there on August 30 1880.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Human remains in more than 900 graves are set to be disturbed over the coming decades, as part of a proposal to free up plots in a Hertfordshire town. www.essexlive.news/news/essex-n...
essexlive.news
Hundreds of human remains to be disturbed to address grave shortage
The burial site is set to be reused
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
HS2 is expected to cost up to £102.7 billion, priced in 2025, Heidi Alexander said. "It gives me no pleasure to say the expected cost of completing HS2 is now between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion, priced in 2025," the Transport Secretary told MPs.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Also by-elections in - Aberdeen South - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry after SNP MPs Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins were elected to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. Kirsty Blackman moved the writs on Monday, describing it as a "bittersweet task".
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Jonathan Reynolds has moved the writ for a by-election in Makerfield, where Josh Simons stood down as an MP to clear a path for Andy Burnham's return to Parliament.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
The Government has named the 37 bills it would like to start steering through Parliament this session: 1. Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill 2. Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill 3. European Partnership Bill 4. Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill 5. Clean Water Bill
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
As the second parliamentary session of Sir Keir Starmer's premiership gets under way, one Labour MP shouts "not now Andy". Three backbenchers tell me the heckler was Torcuil Crichton.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
Storm Goretti has brought icy winds and cold rain to replace Monday’s snow (pictured) in Saffron Walden
Sledge tracks in the snow on Saffron Walden Common, as a family (two adults, a dog and a child riding a sledge) crosses.A person walks up Market Hill, Saffron Walden, in the snow.St Mary’s Church, Saffron Walden, in the snow.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Temperatures in Saffron Walden remained below freezing throughout Monday morning and into lunchtime after snow fell overnight
A father lugs a sledge up a snowy hill (The Common, Saffron Walden) as two children follow behind.Snow covers the roofs of old houses which line a quiet road.The Common, Saffron Walden after snow, with St Mary’s Church steeple in the background.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
A brief break in the clouds over Stansted Airport in Essex teased yesterday’s winter solstice sunrise
A Ryanair flight bound for Porto takes off from London Stansted Airport, against a glowing orange sunrise.At sunrise - The silhouette of Stansted Airport’s tall control tower and two aircraftA Ryanair plane waiting during sunrise at Stansted Airport.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Even closer than the Brexit referendum - MPs tied 100-100 in their vote on the Lib Dems' UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Expanded licensing powers for the Mayor of London will "create the conditions for London’s night-time economy to thrive", says Miatta Fahnbulleh www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
mylondon.news
Sadiq Khan set to be given extra powers over London's pubs, bars and nightclubs
It has also been confirmed the possibility of a tourist tax is in 'the remit of the Chancellor', Rachel Reeves, who will unveil her Budget on Wednesday
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Peers took 4h44 to debate just 21 amendments to the assisted dying Bill - and there are now more than 1,000 to get through.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
After the review into Sara Sharif’s murder, Will Forster last week described “constant management failures” at Surrey County Council. “I don’t have faith and trust that they’ll put this right,” he tells me.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
“It’s the hokey cokey Budget – one minute it’s in, the next minute it’s out" Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said a minister of old "would be resigning for anything that was released", as James Murray took questions about pre-Budget briefings.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Peers debated assisted dying and the devolution settlement as they began line-by-line scrutiny of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Westminster must ‘avoid treading on Cardiff Bay’s toes over assisted dying’
Peers began their line-by-line scrutiny of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Benefit claimants risk falling victim to Government “mass fishing” exercises, as ministers receive new powers to look at bank account details to tackle fraud, says Steve Darling. www.independent.co.uk/money/govern...
independent.co.uk
Benefit fraud crackdown should not see claimants ‘de-banked’ – minister
Several MPs urged the Government to consider widening the role of an independent person, whose job will be to keep ministers’ new powers in check.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Hiding money away in British overseas territories has a knock-on effect for British families, a Labour MP has warned. www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...
independent.co.uk
Hiding money away in overseas territories starves Treasury, warns MP
Phil Brickell will call for Whitehall clarity over ministers’ efforts to tackle financial secrecy in the British Overseas Territories.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Labour backbenchers David Smith and Maya Ellis challenged Treasury ministers to consider tweaking their plan to bring farms into inheritance tax www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...
independent.co.uk
Treasury ministers stand by farm tax plan
Exchequer Secretary Dan Tomlinson said the Government made ‘the right decision’ at last year’s budget to end a tax relief for farmers.
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Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged Home Sec Shabana Mahmood to “look at the very serious problem of some trains operating without any staff on at all”. www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
standard.co.uk
‘Pause’ operation of trains without carriage crew, urges Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn urged the Home Secretary to make the move in the Commons.
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