Kate Whannel

United Kingdom

Political Reporter at BBC

Articles

MPs make case for and against assisted dying bill, as campaigners wait

1 week ago | aol.com | Kate Whannel |Jennifer McKiernan

MPs are debating whether to allow terminally ill adults to end their own lives, ahead of a crucial vote in the House of Commons. The vote will take place at about 2pm and if MPs back the bill, proposed by Labour's Kim Leadbeater, it will go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. When the Commons first voted on the bill last year, it passed with a majority of 55 - since then at least a dozen MPs have switched to opposing the bill, but Leadbeater has said she is confident it will pass.
I forgave Yusuf, says Farage after burka row

2 weeks ago | aol.com | Kate Whannel |Sima Kotecha

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he "forgave" Zia Yusuf after he criticised one of the party's MPs and quit as its chairman, but told him "don't do it again". Yusuf stepped down from the role last week shortly after saying it was "dumb" for MP Sarah Pochin to call for a burka ban.
Jess Phillips apologises for grooming gangs report delay

3 weeks ago | bbc.com | Kate Whannel

Minister apologises for grooming gangs report delayKate WhannelPA MediaHome Office Minister Jess Phillips has apologised to MPs for a delay to the publication of a report on grooming gangs. In January, the government asked Baroness Louise Casey to lead a "rapid" three-month audit into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.
Fare dodgers chipping away at society, Jenrick says

4 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Kate Whannel

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has said he hopes his video confronting fare evaders on the London Underground will "shame people into action". Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Matt Chorley, Jenrick said activities such as fare dodging along with graffiti and playing music on public transport were "chipping away at society". Asked if his party's policy of austerity was a contributing factor, Jenrick said he believed in being "honest about the mistakes of the last Conservative government".
Fare dodgers chipping away at society, Jenrick says

4 weeks ago | ca.news.yahoo.com | Kate Whannel

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has said he hopes his video confronting fare evaders on the London Underground will "shame people into action". Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Matt Chorley, Jenrick said activities such as fare dodging along with graffiti and playing music on public transport were "chipping away at society". Asked if his party's policy of austerity was a contributing factor, Jenrick said he believed in being "honest about the mistakes of the last Conservative government".
Reform UK want to make it easier for people to have children

1 month ago | bbc.com | Kate Whannel

We want to make it easier to have children - FarageKate WhannelWatch: BBC asks Nigel Farage if Reform UK's "numbers add up" to pay for policy plansReform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he wants to make it easier for people to have children, as he confirmed his party would back more generous tax breaks for married people and scrap the two-child benefit limit.
Nigel Farage: Reform UK want to make it easier for people to have children

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Kate Whannel

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he wants to make it easier for people to have children, as he confirmed his party would back more generous tax breaks for married people and scrap the two-child benefit limit. In a speech in central London, Farage said he wanted to lift the cap "not because we support a benefits culture" but because it would make things easier for lower-paid workers.
Ministers considering scrapping two-child benefit cap

1 month ago | bbc.com | Kate Whannel

Ministers considering scrapping two-child benefit capKate WhannelPA MediaEducation Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said the government is looking at scrapping the two-child benefit cap but warned it would "cost a lot of money". Speaking to the BBC, the minister said the policy - which prevents most families from claiming means-tested benefits for any third or additional children born after April 2017 - had pushed people into poverty.
Government delays publication of child poverty strategy

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Leila Nathoo |Kate Whannel

A senior No 10 source said the government was not waiting to take action to tackle child poverty, pointing to the roll out of free breakfast clubs, benefits uprating and the rise in the minimum wage. The party's work and pensions spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman accused Labour of being "more interested in imitating Nigel Farage than tackling the scourge of child poverty, which has risen to record levels on Keir Starmer's watch".
Chagos deal set to go ahead as legal challenge dismissed

1 month ago | sg.news.yahoo.com | Kate Whannel |Alice Cuddy

Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, was separated from Mauritius along with the rest of the Chagos Islands in 1965 and now houses a US military base [Reuters]A deal that would see the UK hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius can go ahead, the High Court has said, after lifting a temporary block on the agreement. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had been due to sign the deal at a virtual ceremony with Mauritian government representatives on Thursday.