Ministers will have to comply with tougher rules on declaring gifts as Labour closes "Tory freebies loophole", MPs told Ellie Reeves, the Cabinet Office minister, has confirmed that the government will tighten the rules about the declaration of gifts given to ministers. In response to an urgent question tabled by John Glen, a shadow minister, she said the “Tory freebies loophole” was being closed. She explained: Transparency is a critical part of restoring public faith in politics and the government recognizes the changes are needed. Under the last government, the rules for ministers declaring hospitality were less transparent than for other MPs. Lists of hospitality received by ministers were only published by Whitehall departments once a quarter and did not include the value. In contrast, MPs’ and shadow ministers’ interests must be declared within 28 days and include the cost of the hospitality. Tory ministers used this loophole even when events appeared to have little connection to their government roles. Both House of Commons committee on standards and the committee on standards in public life called for this disparity to be removed. Under the last government, Labour frontbenchers who went to events and ended sitting next to their Tory counterparts, and Labour MPs, had to declare details on their MP register – importantly, including value – while Tory ministers did not on the equivalent ministerial process. The government will correct this imbalance. The Tory freebies loophole will be closed. In the future, the government will publish a register of ministers’ gifts and hospitality on a broadly equivalent basis to that which is published in registers of members and Lords interests. This will bring publication of ministerial transparency data more closely in light of the parliamentary regime for gifts and hospitality. The government intends that these arrangements should be in place as soon as possible, and will set out further details in due course. Reeves also said Keir Starmer will “shortly” issue an updated version of the ministerial code setting out “his expectations for the conduct of all who serve in government and ministers”. It will include “additional guidance to ministers on the principles they should apply when considering whether to accept gifts or offers of hospitality, as part of the government’s work to restore public faith in politics as a force for good”, she said. Early evening summary Keir Starmer has told business leaders that regulation policy will be primarily determined by what’s best for growth, and that he wants to to “rip out” the planning bureaucracy holding up investment. (See 1.01pm.) The government is claiming that “nearly 38,000 UK jobs are set to be created across the UK after a total of £63bn of investment was announced around today’s international investment summit”. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, has told GB News that Labour’s manifesto promise not to raise national insurance did not refer to employers’ national insurance contributions, only employees’. This is what Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, indicated in an interview yesterday, but Reeves was even more explicit today. This is seen as her strongest hint yet that she will raise employees’ national insurance in the budget. The Tory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch has been criticised for a campaign pamphlet that said autistic people received “better treatment” and “economic privileges and protections”. Ellie Reeves, the Cabinet Office minister, has confirmed that the government will tighten the rules about the declaration of gifts given to ministers. She described this as closing “the Tory freebies loophole”. (See 4.30pm.) MPs have paid tribute to Alex Salmond, the former Scottish first minister who died suddenly at the weekend. Jenrick accepts BBC"s invitation to Tory leadership debate, while Badenoch"s team says CCHQ must have final say Robert Jenrick has accepted an offer from the BBC to hold a Question Time debate for the two Tory leadership candidates – while Kemi Badenoch it is not for her to decide, but the party. Jenrick was responding to a letter from Gerry Gay, the Question Time editor, who proposed a QT “Conservative Leadership Special” on Thursday 24 October, hosted by Fiona Bruce, the programme’s regular presenter. Gay said there would just be two guests debating, Jenrick and Badenoch, with an audience roughly 50% Conservative supporters, broadly split between supporters of each candidate, and 50% people with other political loyalties, some of whom may have voted Tory in the past. The letter was sent after Jenrick yesterday released an open letter to Tim Davie, the BBC director general, saying the BBC should organise a debate in the public interest. Jenrick has accepted. Originally Jenrick and Badenoch had been due to take part in a debate organised by the Sun on Thursday 24 October, but that was cancelled because of a dispute about who was going to chair it. In a post on social media Jenrick said: I’m disappointed that @TheSun debate won’t be going ahead. I was looking forward to answering their readers’ characteristically tough questions. However, I am delighted to accept the BBC’s invitation to a head-to-head special Conservative leadership Question Time at 8pm on the 24th October. A source from Badenoch’s campaign said they were considering the BBC’s offer, but that, under the rules of the contest, it was for CCHQ to decide what debates the candidates took part in. This is not the first time the BBC has been in talks with the Tories about holding a debate. But previous negotiations broke down because CCHQ wanted to choose the audience itself, BBC sources claim. Badenoch and Jenrick are both participating in an event on GB News on Thursday night this week. But they won’t be debating each other head to head, just taking questions from an audience one after the other. According to bookmakers, Badenoch is the favourite in the contest – and favourites in elections are almost always reluctant to take part in debates, because they have most to lose. Compensation for veterans affected by military"s pre-2000 LGBT ban to be rolled out from January, MPs told Veterans minister Al Carns has confirmed that the financial redress scheme for LGBT veterans will launch in 2025, Rosie Anfilogoff reports. She writes: Carns was speaking during defence questions in the Commons, where the Labour’s Chris Ward, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, raised the “appalling injustice and ingratitude” that LGBT veterans have suffered, and asked about the “financial redress and compensation” recommended in the 2023 Etherton review. Lord Etherton’s report looked into LGBT veterans’ experiences during the 1967 to 2000 military ban on LGBT personnel, which was described as “an appalling failure of the British state” by the then prime minister, Rishi Sunak. Carns sought to assuage concerns among veterans regarding the report’s cap of £50m on the total value of compensation payments, meaning the average payment per veteran might be as low as £12,500, saying the government was working on “an appropriate financial redress scheme”. He also said the scheme would be ready by the end of this year, with the roll-out starting in January. Ministers will have to comply with tougher rules on declaring gifts as Labour closes "Tory freebies loophole", MPs told Ellie Reeves, the Cabinet Office minister, has confirmed that the government will tighten the rules about the declaration of gifts given to ministers. In response to an urgent question tabled by John Glen, a shadow minister, she said the “Tory freebies loophole” was being closed. She explained: Transparency is a critical part of restoring public faith in politics and the government recognizes the changes are needed. Under the last government, the rules for ministers declaring hospitality were less transparent than for other MPs. Lists of hospitality received by ministers were only published by Whitehall departments once a quarter and did not include the value. In contrast, MPs’ and shadow ministers’ interests must be declared within 28 days and include the cost of the hospitality. Tory ministers used this loophole even when events appeared to have little connection to their government roles. Both House of Commons committee on standards and the committee on standards in public life called for this disparity to be removed. Under the last government, Labour frontbenchers who went to events and ended sitting next to their Tory counterparts, and Labour MPs, had to declare details on their MP register – importantly, including value – while Tory ministers did not on the equivalent ministerial process. The government will correct this imbalance. The Tory freebies loophole will be closed. In the future, the government will publish a register of ministers’ gifts and hospitality on a broadly equivalent basis to that which is published in registers of members and Lords interests. This will bring publication of ministerial transparency data more closely in light of the parliamentary regime for gifts and hospitality. The government intends that these arrangements should be in place as soon as possible, and will set out further details in due course. Reeves also said Keir Starmer will “shortly” issue an updated version of the ministerial code setting out “his expectations for the conduct of all who serve in government and ministers”. It will include “additional guidance to ministers on the principles they should apply when considering whether to accept gifts or offers of hospitality, as part of the government’s work to restore public faith in politics as a force for good”, she said. The tributes to Alex Salmond are over. MPs from all sides said they were shocked by his death, and praised his talents, particularly as a debater and a parliamentarian. The mini-speeches were moving and generous. I will post some highlights later. Starmer says reports capital gains tax could go up to 39% in budget "wide of mark" Last week the Guardian reported that the Treasury has been looking at the impact of raising capital gains tax, including taking it up potentially to 39%. In an interview today with Bloomberg TV, Keir Starmer said that reports that capital gains tax could go up to as much as 39% were “wide of the mark”. He also suggested that potential tax increases were not what worried businesses most anyway. He said: Contrary to perhaps what people might think, tax is not the first thing that businesses and investors are raising with me. In the Commons the Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, has allowed the SNP leader at Westminster, Stephen Flynn, to use a point of order to make a tribute to Alex Salmond, the former first minister who died suddenly at the weekend. Flynn described Salmond as “the most talented, formidable and consquential politician of his generation”. Ian Murray, the Scottish secretary, is speaking now. He describes Salmond as a formidable opponent who left an “indelible mark on Scottish public life”. RSPB says Starmer"s speech about ripping out planning laws to promote growth "unsettling" for those who love nature The Royal Social for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which describes itself as the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, has described Keir Starmer’s speech this morning, in which he said he wanted to “rip out” planning laws blocking growth (see 1.01pm) as “unsettling”. Its chief executive, Beccy Speight, said: An unsettling speech from the PM this morning for those who love and value nature. Deregulation done in the wrong way is effectively dropping standards, at a time when the natural world desperately needs better protection. It’s a short-sighted tactic that could have ramifications for us all in years to come, undermining our long term prosperity - better methods, such as nature-friendly planning, would give businesses the certainty they need. We support growth and we support the badly-needed energy transition, but not at the expense of our precious wildlife and wild places. His very own secretary of state [Steve Reed] said recently that “nature is dying” – uncontrolled deregulation is tantamount to hammering the final nail into its coffin. The Green party has expressed similar concerns. This is from Ellie Chowns, one of the four Green MPS. Starmer’s pledge to investors that he will “cut red tape” is a tired cliche that, in practice, too often means harming environmental standards and workers’ rights. We’ve had 14 years of successive Conservative governments promising to “cut red tape”, and all we have to show for it is a flatlining economy and falling living standards. UK imposes sanctions on Iranian military figures and organisations after missile attack against Israel Britain has imposed sanctions against senior Iranian military figures and organisations following the country’s 1 October attack on Israel, PA Media reports. PA says: Members of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, Iran’s air force and the IRGC Intelligence Organisation have been targeted with travel bans and asset freezes, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Farzanegan Propulsion Systems Design Bureau (FPSDB), which designs and manufactures parts that can be used in cruise missiles, has also been designated as part of the package of measures. The Iranian Space Agency, which develops technologies that have applications in ballistic missile development, will be subject to an asset freeze. Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel on 1 October. Most were intercepted but a number hit central and southern Israel, the country’s military said. Here is a clip of Keir Starmer speaking at the investment summit this morning. Turning back to the Conservatives, in an article for the Independent Prof Sir John Curtice, Britain’s leading psephologist, says there is no evidence to show that either Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick has the ability to take the Tories back to power. The main problem, he says, is that they do not realise why their party lost. Both candidates appear to believe the fault lies in a failure of the last government to be true to Conservative values. Rather than seeking to limit the size of the state, it presided over the biggest expansion since 1945 – thanks, of course, to the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. Rather than curbing immigration and challenging wokery, it presided over record levels of immigration and accepted too much of the equality and diversity agenda. However, an examination of the timeline of the Conservatives’ standing in the polls during the last parliament reveals that the party’s precipitous fall from grace was not occasioned by a failure to be truly Conservative. The first key event that cost the party support was Partygate, which cast doubt on the honesty and ethics of those who had been leading the party. The second was the Liz Truss fiscal event, which severely damaged the party’s reputation for economic competence. No reversion to “true” Conservative values is going to erase these stains on the party’s copybook. Curtice also says, although Conservative members want to see a smaller state, voters at large seem to want the opposite. He says that, although Badenoch and Jenrick are “largely unknown quantities”, to win the next election they would both have to “reveal a wider range of political talents than they have so far”. To coincide with today’s international investment summit, the government has published Invest 2035, its industrial strategy green paper. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, has said that the budget she is delivering at the end of the month will take the most from the richest. As the Telegraph reports, speaking on the New Statesman’s podcast, Reeves said: I said during the election campaign we’re not going to be introducing a wealth tax. But I think people will be in no doubt when we do the budget that those with the broadest shoulders will be bearing the largest burden. You saw that in our manifesto campaign. You know, non-doms, private equity, the windfall tax on the big profits the energy companies are making and putting VAT and business rates on private schools. Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle pays tribute to Alex Salmond At the start of business in the Commons Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, pays tribute to Alex Salmond, the former Scottish first minister, who died suddenly at the weekend. Hoyle says Salmond served the people of Scotland for more than 30 years as an MP, MSP and as first minister. He says there will be a short period set aside for tributes after defence questions, at 3.30pm. Later there are also two urgent questions, on “the reporting and acceptance of Ministerial gifts and hospitality” and on recent events at the Spanish border with Gibraltar, and a statement on the relocation of refugees from Afghanistan. UPDATE: Hoyle said: [Salmond] served the people of Scotland for over 30 years as a member of this House, a member of the Scottish parliament and, of course, two terms as first minister of Scotland. He was a tireless campaigner for Scottish independence, securing the UK government’s agreement for the 2014 referendum and playing a leading role in the Yes campaign. His final departure from this house was in 2017. It marked the first occasion in more than three decades when he was not serving in an elected role at either here or Holyrood. He leaves a deep and lasting legacy behind him. His sudden death at the weekend came as a complete shock and the thoughts of this whole House are with his family and friends at this difficult time. No 10 praises Louise Haigh"s record as transport secretary, drawing line under P&O Ferries row At the Downing Street lobby briefing the prime minister’s spokesperson insisted Keir Starmer has full confidence in Louise Haigh, the transport secretary. The question was prompted by Starmer says on Friday that Haigh was not setting out government policy when she suggested that customers should boycott P&O Ferries. Asked if Haigh had Starmer’s full confidence, the spokesperson replied: Yes, absolutely. The transport secretary in the run-up to the summit delivered significant investment in electric buses. She’s put an end to industrial disruption seen for the past two-and-a-half years that has cost the economy and commuters dearly, and she’s been driving forward reform and bringing rail services back into public ownership. No 10 always says the PM has full confidence in ministers – until the point where they get sacked. But this sounded like a genuine, sincere endorsement. Starmer is reported to have made up with Haigh after having to disown part of what she said last week. "Less poverty, more opportunity, more meals out" - Starmer explains why growth so important to his government And here are some more lines from Keir Starmer’s speech to the investment summit. Starmer told business leaders that increasing growth was “a cause that binds us together” and he explained why he had made it a priority. He said: Growth is higher wages. Growth is more vibrant high streets. Growth is public services back on their feet. It’s less poverty, more opportunity, more meals out, more holidays, more precious moments with your family, more cash in your pocket. And of course, for any business … It means a bigger market. Higher demand. He said Labour’s large majority meant he was in a position to offer stability. The stability that comes with a large majority in our system … That is a unique advantage. He said Labour’s industrial strategy was not about “picking winners”, but providing “the best conditions to succeed”. He explained: Well, we’re not in the business of individual picking winners. But we are in the business of building on our strengths. Mowing the grass on the pitch … Making sure the changing rooms are clean and comfortable … That the training ground is good. So that when our businesses compete … They are match fit … That, to put it simply … We give the businesses of this country the best conditions to succeed. He said people were less willing to trust Britain as a “stable, trusted, rule-abiding partner” after “the whole circus that followed Brexit”. Labour has “turned the page on that – decisively”, he said. Starmer says key test for regulation is growth, and vows to "rip out" planning laws blocking investment Graeme Wearden covered Keir Starmer’s speech at the investment conference this morning in the business live blog. No 10 has now sent out the full text. Much of it would have fitted quite happily into a speech by a mainstream Conservative PM (apart from the bit about how the Tories turned government into a “circus” after Brexit) and the most interesting passage was the bit dealing with regulation. Here are the key quotes. (This is the text as released by No 10, and including ellipses, which I use to indicate missing text, but No 10 uses to indicate a pause in the speech as it was delivered. Normally I would tidy up the text, but that would involve quite a lot of rejigging, which would start to change the emphasis, and so I have left it in the version provided by Downing Street.) Starmer said that, for him, the most important test for regulation was whether or not it helped growth. He said: Now, I don’t see regulation as good or bad. That seems simplistic to me. Some regulation is life-saving … We have seen that in recent weeks here, with the report on the tragedy of Grenfell Tower. But across our public sector … I would say the previous government hid behind regulators. Deferred decisions to them because it was either too weak or indecisive … Or simply not committed enough to growth. Planning is a very real example of that … Or – for our friends from across the pond … ‘Permitting’ is a really clear example of that ... The global language … But anyway – the key test for me on regulation … Is of course – growth. Is this going to make our economy more dynamic? Is this going to inhibit or unlock investment? Is it something that enables the builders not the blockers? He said the employment rights’ bill published last week was a “pro-growth” measure that would help businesses. Now – I know some people may be wondering about our labour market policies introduced last week. Let me be clear – they are pro-growth. Workers with more security at work … With higher wages … That is a better growth model for this country. It will lead to more dynamism in our labour market. Graeme summarises this as Starmer telling bosses: “Don’t worry about the workers’ rights bill.” Starmer said Britain had to break out of an economic model that was too reliant on low-paid, low-skilled workers. A nation’s position in the world is changing all the time … As must its growth model. So while I know this is a room full of businesses who take investing in their human capital seriously … When I look at the British economy as a whole… It does seem as if sometimes, we are more comfortable hiring people to work in low paid, insecure contracts… Than we are investing in the new technology that delivers for workers, for productivity and for our country. And so we’ve got to break out of that trap. He said he wanted to “rip out” the planning bureaucracy holding up growth. But we’ve also got to look at regulation – across the piece. And where it is needlessly holding back the investment we need to take our country forward … Where it is stopping us building the homes … The data centres, the warehouses, grid connectors, roads, trainlines, you name it … Then mark my words – we will get rid of it. Take the East Anglia 2 wind farm. A £4bn investment. One Gigawatt of clean energy. An important project – absolutely. But also the sort of thing a country as committed to clean energy as we are … Needs to replicate again and again. Now regulators demanded over 4,000 planning documents for that project… Not 4,000 pages – 4,000 documents. And then six weeks after finally receiving planning consent … It was held up for a further two years by judicial review. I mean – as an investor … When you see this inertia … You just don’t bother do you? And that – in a nutshell … Is the biggest supply-side problem we have in our country. So it’s time to upgrade the regulatory regime … Make it fit for the modern age.. Harness every opportunity available to Britain. We will rip out the bureaucracy that blocks investment … We will march through the institutions … And we will make sure that every regulator in this country … Especially our economic and competition regulators … Takes growth as seriously as this room does. Starmer also invited the business leaders in the room to contact him, or his ministers, if regulations were holding up their investments. What is interesting about this passage is that it implies reforms to planning laws that would go far beyond what has been announced by Angela Rayner, the housing secretary, or what was outlined in Labour’s manifesto. The plans, set out by Rayner in July, were mostly about streamlining processes, not ripping out laws. Alba party will carry on despite Alex Salmond"s death, says its acting leader Kenny MacAskill The Alba party will seek to continue Alex Salmond’s legacy, its acting leader and a lifelong friend of the former first minister has said. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland this morning, Kenny MacAskill – who served in Salmond’s cabinet and defected with him to his new party in 2021 – said Alba would continue despite Salmond’s surprise death at the weekend. He said: Of course, the party continues, we owe it to Alex. It was never the Alex Salmond party, it was Alex Salmond’s inspiration and Alex Salmond’s driving force, but the party is made up of thousands more and, as I say, that legacy will continue. Writing to Alba party members on Monday, MacAskill paraphrased Salmond’s resignation speech, saying: “The dream he cherished so closely and came so close to delivering will never die. We will honour him.”