Priti Patel says four-day week would have ‘devastating impact’ as smoking ban faces backlash – UK politics live

Eton College will raise fees by 20 per cent as a result of the Government’s removal of the VAT exemption on independent schools, it said in a letter to parents.

The £52,749-a-year private boys’ school said fees will “likely” increase in January, meaning most parents will have to pay about £63,000.

Parents whose sons are in receipt of 100 per cent bursaries will not be affected by the increase, the college said.

From January, the government plans to remove the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools to enable funding for 6,500 new teachers in state schools.

Currently, independent schools do not have to charge 20 per cent VAT on their fees because there is an exemption for the supply of education.

In a letter to parents on Friday, the Berkshire boarding school said: “The Provost and Fellows regret that the government has chosen to tax education in this way.

“Furthermore, we are disappointed that the introduction of VAT will take place partway through an academic year and at short notice.

“We recognise the concern that will be felt by many parents following this announcement.”

I’m not somebody who cries ‘nanny state!’ every time a new rule is introduced, writes Ryan Coogan.

But if Keir Starmer can ban us from sparking up in beer gardens, then where does it end?

Amid growing speculation, Sir Keir Starmer has not denied reports that Labour might introduce a smoking ban in certain outdoor areas, including pub gardens and small parks.

The prime minister emphasized the need to alleviate pressure on the NHS and reduce taxpayer burdens, hinting at stricter public health measures.

Currently, smoking is banned in encolsed public spaces and workplaces across the UK since 2007, with Scotland leading the charge a year earlier. violations can result in fines of up to £200 for individuals, while businesses face penalites of up to £2,500 for non-compliance.

This proposed expansion of smoking restrictions builds on the unfinished agenda of Rishi Sunak, whose “smoke-free generation” bill aimed to make the UK one of the toughest anti-smoking nations globally.

Although Labour supported the Tory initiative, it never materialised before the end of the last parliament.

The potential Labour-led smoking ban could target various outdoor venues, marking a significant shift in public health policy.

However, specific details remain unclear as the government deliberates on how to implement these changes if they ever happen.

By using a Holocaust poem about the horrors of Nazi persecution to criticise Keir Starmer’s proposals to ban smoking in pub beer gardens, the former ‘minister for common sense’ appears to have abandoned what little of it she may have had, says Sean O’Grady:

Newly-elected MP Jas Athwal is facing crutiny after the BBC uncovered poor living conditions in some of his flats.

The MP for Ilford South is parliament’s largest landlord with 15 rental properties. Nearly half of the tenants in one block of seven flats reported regularly cleaning mould from their bathroom ceilings, with some dealing with ant infestations.

According to the broadcaster, one resident described the ant problem as severe, with insects found on children’s bodies and clothing.

Another tenant claimed they were threatened with eviction if they complained or applied for benefits.

Mr Athwal, who has long championed himself as a “renter’s champion| denied knowledge of these issues, attributing management to a third-party agency and refuted allegations of eviction threats.

The Labour MP claimed he avoided tenants on housing benefits to prevent conflicts with his council duties.

Conservative Andrew boff said he is “deeply concerned” adding: “I worry that there are people who are Jas Athwal’s tenants who are now frightened to speak for fear of being evicted.

“We’ve heard this time and time again about how the threat of eviction is used to excuse poor maintenance of properties.”

The owner of an alpaca who was culled three years ago has called for the new Labour government to provide answers about how Geronimo died.

Helen Macdonald wants a meeting with Environment Secretary Steve Reed about her case.

Geronimo, who had twice tested positive for bovine TB, was put down by vets on August 31 2021 after his owner lost a lengthy legal fight to halt the culling.

Ms Macdonald was campaigning for the move to be halted after insisting bovine tuberculosis tests returned false positives.

She had wanted Geronimo to be tested for a third time or allowed to live to aid research into the disease.

The veterinary nurse argued the Enferplex test was fundamentally flawed and said Geronimo tested positive because he had repeatedly been primed with tuberculin – a purified protein derivative of bovine TB bacteria.

The alpaca was put down after police and staff from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) arrived at Ms Macdonald’s farm near Wickwar, south Gloucestershire.

A planned strike by hundreds of London Underground managers in a dispute over terms and conditions has been suspended.

Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) working as customer service managers were due to walk out next Wednesday.

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “Our members have been clear all along that continued threats to their roles, locations, terms and conditions will not stand unchallenged.

“Their determination in this dispute has now delivered some progress and, as a result, the decision has been taken to suspend strike action on 4 September.

“However, we remain in dispute and call on London Underground to respond positively and work constructively with us to reach a resolution which addresses our concerns.”