Faye Brown

Political reporter @skynews. Desperately seeking followers after old account was hacked 🙏🏻 Prev @metrouk @livechonews. [email protected]

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

NEW: Ed Miliband has told Labour MPs he is committed to looking at decoupling electricity from gas prices, saying it is "complicated but possible". He is said to be looking at a report by Dale Vince, which warns govt's clean energy drive won't bring down bills while gas effectively sets the price of the wholesale market... https://t.co/zhTjmQK08S

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

🚨NEW: Selected for oral qs on Thursday, Lord Leigh of Hurley to ask His Majesty’s Government how they intend to fund the proposed removal of VAT from electricity bills 👀
https://t.co/kw1dfu7bSj

[Darren Jones MP @darrenpjones]

Good news that VAT will be cut on electricity bills. It’s a simple way for families to save a few quid, and to mechanically help to keep inflation that little bit lower.

But the DigitalID program was unfunded.

The government will have to set out how it will pay for its new policies at the budget.

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

Lord True, Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, said: “Andy Burnham is running scared of Parliamentary scrutiny because he hasn’t done the hard work to craft a coherent plan for government. He and his party have gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid having to answer basic questions from MPs by letting the House of Commons go home for the recess and leaving the public in the dark.

“That is why we are asking ministers to answer questions in the House of Lords which is still sitting and come clean about their intentions for the country. We will consider any reasonable proposal from government that allows parliamentary scrutiny of the new prime minister's briefing and declarations about his policies.

"Our democracy relies on the government being held accountable, and the Conservatives will fight to make sure that happens.”

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

New: The Lib Dems slap down the Tories' plan to force a minister to face questions in the House of Lords this week, accusing them of "playing political games".

The Conservatives have been pushing for a debate on Andy Burnham's policies before the Lords closes for the summer recess.

Lord True is set to table a Business of the House motion
later today which, if passed, would pave the way for a debate on Wednesday. The Tories are the largest party in the House of Lords but they don't have a majority so whether it passes depends on what the LDs and crossbench peers do.

A Liberal Democrat House of Lords spokesperson said: "The motion on the table is a weak “take note” motion which would not result in anything substantive actually happening. We would prefer that the new Prime Minister and new Government focus on the real things that can make a difference for the economy, for families and for the country.

"The Tories are playing political games and attempting to disrupt the important business of scrutinising legislation already scheduled in the House of Lords—something they claim is important to them. It is worth noting that during the four changes of Conservative Prime Minister between 2016 and 2022, the Tories never offered the sort of debate they now want. Liberal Democrats want to get on with the important work of the House of Lords as planned."

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

If Lord True's motion is agreed it would mean a debate on Wednesday to "take note of the Prime Minister's statements regarding the policies of His Majesty's Government". It follows criticism from the Tories that the govt last week cancelled their scheduled opposition debate, when they planned to force a vote parliament sitting this week so Burnham could take questions (the Commons closed for recess on Thurs).
https://t.co/A68apqOfwd

[Conservative Peers @HLConservatives]

Tonight the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, Lord True, tabled a business of the House motion to enable ministers to come to the House of Lords and answer questions on the Prime Minister’s policies. If passed, this motion would ensure the Prime Minister’s announcements are subject to proper Parliamentary scrutiny before the summer recess.

If the initial motion is passed on Tuesday, peers will debate the below “take note” motion on Wednesday, allowing peers to ask questions of ministers and scrutinise the Government’s announcements:

Lord True to move that this House takes note of the Prime Minister’s statements regarding the policies of His Majesty’s Government.

Read Lord True’s letter to all peers here👇

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

EXCL: Mainstream, the Burnham-backing soft left organisation, has said they will unite behind the new cabinet.

Last week they urged Burnham to appoint a progressive chancellor, showing tactic support for Ed Miliband following reports Shabana Mahmood was locked in.

Now it turns out the centrist John Healey has the job.

But while Mainstream say they’ll unite behind Burnham because the ‘moment demands it’, they warn unity is not a ‘one way street’ and they will hold the new PM to his pledges.

Sources suggest he shouldn’t underestimate that, pointing to signs of Mainstream’s growing influence within the party (👇).

Mainstream candidates earlier this year topped the CLP nominations for NEC elections.

I’m told the grassroots membership has also been growing since the local elections and Burnham’s return to Westminster - indicating soft left becoming more muscular within the party.

Mainstream’s PLP network has also grown, from around 13 members at its launch to around 30- 40 now.

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

More from me on this here: https://t.co/RGjYhMcBff

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

EXCL: Mainstream, the Burnham-backing soft left organisation, has said they will unite behind the new cabinet.

Last week they urged Burnham to appoint a progressive chancellor, showing tactic support for Ed Miliband following reports Shabana Mahmood was locked in.

Now it turns out the centrist John Healey has the job.

But while Mainstream say they’ll unite behind Burnham because the ‘moment demands it’, they warn unity is not a ‘one way street’ and they will hold the new PM to his pledges.

Sources suggest he shouldn’t underestimate that, pointing to signs of Mainstream’s growing influence within the party (👇).

Mainstream candidates earlier this year topped the CLP nominations for NEC elections.

I’m told the grassroots membership has also been growing since the local elections and Burnham’s return to Westminster - indicating soft left becoming more muscular within the party.

Mainstream’s PLP network has also grown, from around 13 members at its launch to around 30- 40 now.

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

Mainstream’s Interim Council said:

‘Andy Burnham has moved fast to assemble his team and the whole Labour movement will unite behind this cabinet, because the urgency of this moment demands it.

‘This government must deliver a new politics and a new economy. Our movement has backed Burnham because we believe he can chart a different course, now we need to see that belief matched by delivery. The test will be whether the government has the political courage to take on vested interests, redistribute power, and shift wealth decisively into the hands of working class communities.

‘Unity cannot be a one-way street. If this Cabinet has the political courage to transform Britain, it will find in Mainstream its most constructive critics and its most determined allies. We will judge this Government on its actions - and we will hold it to the highest standards.

‘The task ahead is too big for anything less.’

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

And on Shabanna Mahmood staying as Home Sec he says: "Shabana Mahmood staying as Home Secretary to presumably continue her appalling record of performative cruelty towards migrants and refugees is a warning sign that Burnham has not learnt the lessons from Starmer's failure. Voters don't want Reform-lite, they want bold action to end rip-off Britain - and a compassionate, sensible approach to migration."

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

NEW: Green Party leader Zack Polanski responds to John Healey's appointment as chancellor.

"John Healey's appointment as chancellor is clearly a political compromise between appointing Ed Miliband, who the bankers in the City of London rejected, and Shabana Mahmood, who the Labour Party rejected.

"But now is not the time for compromise. If Healey is to succeed in fixing our rigged economy, he needs to be decisive: taxes on extreme wealth, support with energy bills, and an end to the increasing burdens on small businesses."

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

🚨BREAKING: John Healey has been confirmed as Andy Burnham's chancellor. He was defence sec under Keir Starmer but quit last month over a spending row.

Quite the appointment after weeks of Shabana vs Ed briefings.

Healey seen as a trusted figure and was Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Financial Secretary to the Treasury under Gordon Brown for five years.

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

Rachel Reeves now out the door too. Our pol ed @BethRigby understands she was offered a big job but she declined.

Reeves was the country's first female chancellor. She said: "To every young woman and girl let my time in office show there should be no ceilings on your ambitions, your hopes or your dreams."

Now the q is will another woman hold that post?

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

Rachel Reeves now out the door too. Our pol ed @BethRigby understands she was offered a big job but she declined.

Reeves was the country's first female chancellor. She said: "To every young woman and girl let my time in office show there should be no ceilings on your ambitions, your hopes or your dreams."

Now the q is will another woman hold that post?

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

It begins! Housing sec Steve Reed leaves government with a parting shot at the lack of "loyalty" shown by Burnham's backers.

In his letter he says he is "disappointed" to be leaving the role, but that he wishes his replacement all the best.

He adds: "Keir Starmer showed loyalty to me by appointing me to his Cabinet. I make no apology for returning that loyalty. It's what is expected of functioning teams, and I hope those who did not show loyalty to Keir will now show it to you. I'm proud I acted with integrity at every step over the turbulent past few months."

Peter Kyle and David Lammy also out. Follow our blog for all the latest: https://t.co/MzGGL1snv7

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

EXCL: Labour MPs have formed a new Reindustrialisation Research Group (ReRG) to hold Andy Burnham to his pledge to Reindustrialise.

They say the pledge should be backed by a target of creating one million jobs in production over the next decade if it wants to pass the ‘Makerfield Test’ - ie make a tangible difference to communities.

About 30 MPs have been involved in the launch but the hope is to grow it rapidly and be as effective as the Tories’ ERG on influencing policy.

Read more: https://t.co/JMFnNdVvOZ

[Alex Wickham @alexwickham]

Keir Starmer’s allies think this was all entirely predictable. “No honour among thieves,” one says

[BBC Newsnight @BBCNewsnight]

"The whole city was being stigmatised."

Hillsborough survivor Professor John Ashton recounts the brutal mistreatment Liverpool faced in the disaster's aftermath.

#Newsnight

[Faye Brown @FayeBrownSky]

EXCL: Labour MPs have formed a new Reindustrialisation Research Group (ReRG) to hold Andy Burnham to his pledge to Reindustrialise.

They say the pledge should be backed by a target of creating one million jobs in production over the next decade if it wants to pass the ‘Makerfield Test’ - ie make a tangible difference to communities.

About 30 MPs have been involved in the launch but the hope is to grow it rapidly and be as effective as the Tories’ ERG on influencing policy.

Read more: https://t.co/JMFnNdVvOZ

[Tim Baker @TimJ_B]

As I was saying https://t.co/lszE08V2If