News about Laura Trott

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that the party had not ruled out upping the NICs made by businesses before being elected, as Rachel Reeves faces accusations of ripping up a manifesto pledge. Sir Keir Starmer's party sad it would not raise taxes on 'working people', sparking a row over who was covered by the definition. This morning Mr Streeting told Sky News that former Tory minister Laura Trott had 'listed a whole load of things that we hadn't ruled out, including employers National insurance rise' before the election. He continued; 'Now, I don't know if that's going to be in the budget, but we did not rule out that or a number of other things, because we were very clear in our manifesto that every single promise we made, was a promise we could keep and one we could afford.'

Tory leadership hopefuls Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat have closed in on frontrunner Kemi Badenoch , a new poll of party members suggests. The survey shows Mrs Badenoch would lose to ex-Immigration Minister Mr Jenrick if Tory members voted now - but by just one percentage point. And Mrs Badenoch would only narrowly beat Shadow Home Office Minister Mr Tugendhat in a final run-off vote by the party faithful. But last night, pollsters JL Partners said both results were 'a statistical tie' and declared this was 'the most open Conservative leadership election' since rank-and-file party members were given a vote.

The Whitehall watchdog last night launched a probe into civil service appointments in the wake of the 'cronyism' row engulfing Labour. The Civil Service Commission said it would review appointments made between July 1, four days before Labour won the election , and August 31. Baroness Gisela Stuart, First Civil Service Commissioner, wrote to government department chiefs reminding them that appointments should take place 'on merit on the basis of fair and open competition'. She said the probe was being launched 'given [the] interest in a number of recent Civil Service appointments' and because of the 'importance of public trust in these appointments'.

A Labour 'cash for jobs' row has deepened as the Tories demanded the Treasury 'come clean' over the appointment of a party donor to a top civil service role. Laura Trott, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, has written to a senior Whitehall official with a series of questions over the growing controversy. Ian Corfield, a banker who previously donated more than £20,000 to senior Labour politicians, was recently made a director at the Treasury. It has since been reported how a watchdog was not informed of his past donations - including £5,000 to Chancellor Rachel Reeves - before it approved his appointment. Ms Trott said the Government appeared to have 'withheld important information' from the Civil Service Commission over the hiring of Mr Corfield. The Conservative MP wrote to James Bowler, the Treasury's permanent secretary, with nine questions for the department to answer. These included queries over whether Ms Reeves had any role in the employment of Mr Corfield to her department, or if she had recused herself from the process.

RacheL Reeves will today unveil plans to flog off several public buildings and plots of land. The Chancellor will use a keynote statement in Parliament to argue that the sell-off is needed to help fill the £20billion 'black hole' in the public finances she claims the Tories have left. 'Surplus' sites owned by the NHS , Ministry of Defence and Network Rail are all being considered for sale, it is understood. Ms Reeves will accuse the Tories of 'covering up the true state of the public finances' before 'running away'.

Labour's Darren Jones, in line to be number two at the Treasury under a Labour government, said in a leaked recording the council tax system is 'very out of date', as Laura Trott, Tory Chief Secretary to the Treasury said Labour had been 'caught out' on plans for a potential tax hike. As one of the 17 taxes Labour have been unable to rule out, shadow minsters have been repeatedly pushed on their plans to reevaluate council tax but have failed to say they would not raise the tax. The party has only ruled out increases to income tax, national insurance and VAT - but has refused to explicitly rule out any others.

Labour see the much-maligned inheritance tax as a way to redistribute wealth, a party frontbencher has claimed. Darren Jones, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, told a public meeting that funds from the levy should be used to address 'intergenerational inequality'. In the leaked recording, Mr Jones - who will be responsible for public expenditure if Labour wins the election - said there is a 'bulk coming through the system of huge amounts of inherited wealth'.

The Tories, Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens have all unveiled their pitches to Brits with under three weeks until July 4. But with only Reform's package due Monday, so far none of the proposals would see the tax burden decline. The Tories' pledged £17billion in cuts - including 2p off headline NICs and abolishing the levy altogether for the self-employed. However, according to calculations by the respected IFS think-tank that was not enough to stop the burden from increasing. It would reach just under 37 per cent of GDP by 2028-29. Labour's plan, including £8.5billion of tax hikes, would take the level to 37.4 per cent - above the previous record high set in 1948.

Keir Starmer (left) unveiled his manifesto yesterday with plans to boost the burden by £8.5billion to pump money into services. However, while promising no changes to income tax, national insurance or VAT, Sir Keir has refused to rule out moves on council tax and capital gains. Treasury minister Laura Trott (right) used a press conference to claim Labour 'are secretly planning to put capital gains tax on your primary residence', which would be a 'disastrous policy for families up and down the country'. Labour flatly denied that it would charge CGT on main home sales, accusing the Tories of 'lying'.

Former Defence Ministers James Heappey (pictured), Mark Francois and Tobias Ellwood are 'disappointed' after the Treasury said there will be no defence cash boost before the General Election. Mr Heappey, who has repeatedly called for defence spending to rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP, had submitted a written parliamentary question asking when an increase would happen. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Laura Trott, responded on Mr Hunt's behalf saying the 'pathway' to 2.5 per cent 'will be set out at the next Spending Review', confirming it would have to wait until the next parliament.

The Scottish sojourn of Covid-19 Inquiry has provided us with so many low points that choosing just one is impossible. My pick is based on a conversation between Yousaf and Leitch, in which the future First Minister told the clinical advisor: 'I am winging it.' 'And it will be discovered sooner rather than later'

Wasps RFC is fighting to keep Wasps RFC's new 28,000-seater stadium on their idyllic countryside. According to a draft plan unveiled in November, an arena with a greater capacity than the O2 Arena will be constructed on a single field along the edge of Swanley, Kent, Kent's town. The rugby club, which went bankrupt in 2022, is looking for a new home for their return to the professional game in 2025, and new owner Christopher Holland needs a new home that is closer to the capital. People from the surrounding villages have largely criticized Sevenoaks District Council's plan for the green belt, which also includes the construction of a new hotel and the construction of 2,500 homes on the site of Pedham Place Golf Club. Locals from Crockenhill, Eynsford, and Farningham, which have a total population of 4,522, are concerned that the local infrastructure will not be able to cope with such large crowds.

According to official estimates, government borrowing was higher than expected last month, as higher benefits prices were incurred and increased interest payments were made. The public sector borrowing in November was £14.3 billion, down slightly than the month before but much more than the expected £12.9 billion forecast by economists. The level of borrowing for last month was the fourth highest level in November since monthly figures began in 1993. For the month, economists expected borrowing of £13.1 billion.

With engineering duties taking priority, traveling over the holiday period is going to be a nightmare. We'll soon know how much (regulated) fares will climb next year. If so, the aim is for an eight percent rise, but it is unjustified. However, some train commuters in the South East have just found that their fares are already higher, much to their apprehension. Our rail service is no longer safe for use. Privatization hasn't worked.

Laura Trott, the new Treasury Secretary, told MPs that 'taxes for the average employee have dropped by £1,000' since 2010. She did not provide evidence to back up her assertion when she was asked about her statement. According to the House of Commons library, personal taxes will have risen by around £1,200 from 2010 to 2024. Ms Trott has written to Ms Trott, asking that she correct the Parliamentary's record.

As he appeared in the Commons, a group of MPs assaulted Home Secretary James Cleverly, alleging that international human rights legislation is not 'fit for purpose.' Mr Cleverly left his deputy Robert Jenrick to tackle the majority of the difficult cases, lauding his efforts on the halting of the boats as the pair attempted to avoid rumors of tensions. In an attempt to ban legal challenges to the UK deporting arrivals, the Rwanda deal is expected to be turned into a Treaty. The deal had been expected last week but it now looks unlikely to appear before next week, and likely not before Christmas.

In a move to eliminate judicial challenges to the UK deporting Channel boat arrivals there, the pact with Rwanda is likely to be enhanced. Last week, the deal had been expected, but it now seems unlikely to be available before next week. The apparent delay was debunked by government officials, who insist that it was not down to a 'impasse' between ministers. However, it comes as a result of Cabinet tensions over how to keep the Rwanda scheme alive after the Supreme Court blocked it earlier this month. Robert Jenrick, the British Immigration Minister, is in favour of radical legislation to exclude the initiative from existing human rights legislation, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights. (ECHR). At the weekend, Home Secretary James Cleverly voiced his opposition to leaving the ECHR.

Last night, British Home Secretary James Cleverly was asked about his government's Rwanda program, despite the fact that he had'repeatedly blocked' attempts to implement a back-up plan in place. According to Tory reports, alternative plans involving negotiations with a variety of African countries and the British Overseas Territories, such as Ascension Island, were thwarted by Mr Cleverly in his previous work as Foreign Secretary. Mr Cleverly's "has the wrong attitude for the job," he said just two weeks after being summoned to replace sacked Suella Braverman. Mr Cleverly last night denied the charge, which was refuted by the Supreme Court last month, as Cabinet tensions about how to maintain the Rwanda scheme remain.

Pension analysts have expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that there was no Pension Bill in the new King's Speech, but pension activists insist Maynard will still have plenty on his plate. Between 2016 and 2020, the MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys served in the Department of Transportation, Ministry of Justice, and Whips Office. He served on the Work and Pensions Committee for six months beginning nine years ago.

MPs raged over Rishi Sunak's 'astonish' high-stakes reshuffle, ousting Suella Braverman and installing a slew of 'Cameroon' centrists as he tried to change the dial ahead of the general election. In the Home Office, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, a close ally of Mr Sunak with less ardent views than Ms Braverman on the European Convention on Human Rights, is taking over. David Cameron has been given Mr Cleverly's old position in a decision that resulted in an earthquake in Westminster. Since he is not an MP, he has been granted a peerage so he can assume the government role. He was the first member of the Upper House to serve in the 1980s, and the first ex-PM to return to Cabinet since Alec Douglas-Home in the 1970s. Laura Trott, Lord Cameron's former speechwriter, has been promoted from a lowly pensions minister to Treasury Secretary, raising the ranks from a lowly pensions minister to becoming Chief Secretary. Ric Holden, the Tory press office's deputy chief when Lord Cameron was premier, has taken over as the party chair. Esther McVey, a former Prime Minister of the United States, has risen to No10 and is likely to be given a mid-ranking post in the Cabinet, according to a sop to the right.

Laura Trott's promotion to Chief Secretary of the Treasury in today's reshuffle is the newest turning point in her rapid political ascension. The Sevenoaks MP has been in Parliament for less than four years, having first been elected in the 2019 general election, but now finds herself in Cabinet. When the 38-year-old grandmother sat near her for the first time, she will see her old boss, former prime minister David Cameron, seated beside her. It follows the ex-premier's surprise as Foreign Secretary after seven years away from Westminster. However, Mr Cameron's old friends Oliver Dowden and Richard Holden, both former aides to the ex-PM, are now part of Rishi Sunak's top team. Ms Trott's political career began at CCHQ, where she served as a political advisor for more than a year before the 2010 general election. Ms Trott, a born in Oxted, Surrey, joined the Conservative Party in the coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, then became a cabinet advisor. But it wasn't long before she was accepted into Mr Cameron's Downing Street operation, first as head of education and family affairs in No10's policy unit and then as director of strategic communications.

Laura Trott oversaw the unveiling of the first official measure of the gender wage gap, which revealed a bleak pit in women's savings. Following a five-year government slowdown, she also promised that mums would be given valuable state pension credits. This is Money campaign on behalf of families. On her watch, however, the state pension top-ups system has devolved into chaos. This is Money readers' furious emails about thousands of pounds missing.

According to reports, Rishi Sunak (left) intends to postpone the next General Election until Halloween 2024 in the hopes of avoiding a horror show on polling day. Tory strategists have pencilled in October 31 next year as the most likely date for the General Election, but not so late as to appear desperate. According to surveys, the Conservatives trailed Sir Keir Starmer's (right) Labour by 20 points. January 28, 2025, the last possible date for an election. Mr Sunak's consultants are also planning a pre-Christmas reshuffle to attract young people like Pensions Minister Laura Trott (inset) to become one of the party's "faces" in the media in the run-up to polling day.

Buying top-ups can be a cost-effective way to raise your state pension, but it is a lengthy process. Many people endure long delays just to get to the point of making a payment, then face the fear of massive sums going missing, and for all they know, the scheme is broken for good.