Afternoon summary
Keir Starmer has defended the government’s handling of the economy – but declined to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget. He was speaking after the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, a thinktank, published a report saying the government would need to raise more than £40bn to cover the deficit it faces at the budget – or more than £50bn, if it wants a £10bn buffer. This prediction is more gloomy than those produced by other economic forecasters, and Starmer said he did not “recognise” the figures produced by the NIESR. But, in an interview, he declined to rule out increasing income tax, employee national insurance or VAT in the budget. In its manifesto Labour ruled out raising any these taxes and, only last month at PMQs, Starmer restated that commitment. Some economists believe Labour should abandon this promise because the fiscal situation is so dire. Starmer’s evasive answer might just have been down to a willingess to ignore the journalist’s question out of a desire to focus on the soundbite he wanted to deliver. But it could also be an indication that a rethink is underway, or that at least Starmer is holding open the option of an election pledge-busting tax increase.
Starmer has accused Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, of condoning Andrew Tate’s misogynist views. He hit out in an interview with 5 News where he was asked about the impact that Tate has on teenage boys. In the past Farage has described Tate as a “very important” voice for boys who feel that they keep being told “masculinity is something we should look down upon” – although, since Tate has been charged with offences including rape and human trafficking, Farage has been more keen to stress he’s “not a Tate supporter”. Starmer told 5 News that Farage was wrong to side with Tate’s misogyny. He said:
[Tate’s misogyny is] something we should be concerned about. Therefore I don’t share Nigel Farage’s view that this is alright. I don’t think any parent really seriously thinks it’s alright because misogyny is something that gets deep into the psyche, affects so many young people. And we should call it out … whether it’s Andrew Tate or others.
For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.
Updated
Labour members split almost 50/50 on how government should respond to supreme court transgender ruling, poll suggests
Labour party members are split almost 50/50 on whether they agree with the thrust of the supreme court ruling saying that references to sex in the Equality Act should be taken as referring to biological sex.
The government welcomed the ruling in April, saying that it would provide clarity and allow single-sex spaces to be protected for biological women.
But the judgment alarmed transgender campaigners, who fear that the judgment will led to trans people being excluded from single-sex environments where they were previously admitted on the basis of their declared gender, not their biological sex. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued interim guidance on what the ruling means, but a revised code of practice is yet to be published.
In his story about the poll for LabourList, Daniel Green says:
According to a poll conducted by Survation of Labour members who read LabourList, released in partnership with Metro, 43% said the government was right to say trans women should be excluded from women-only spaces based on their biological sex, while 40% disagreed with the government’s stance.
The narrow lead for those backing the government’s approach falls within the poll’s margin of error, indicating the membership is effectively split down the middle on the issue.
The poll follows the publication of a recent report in the Times saying numerous Labour MPs are telling constituents that they do not think it is right that trans people should be excluded from all single-sex spaces in the light of the supreme court judgment.
Updated
