Our political correspondent Hannah Miller reports. Were going to have to take the Tough Decisions and take them early. Things will get worse before they get better. So weve had to take Tough Decisions to stabilise the economy. Its already a familiar Refrain Keir Starmer saying hes going to make choices that seem uncomfortable in order to change the country. Top of the list of difficult decisions, targeting the Winter Fuel Payment at only the poorest pensioners. That is not easy, and no Prime Minister wants to take a decision like this, but the Winter Fuel Payments are now to be targeted, they were untargeted before, and i think everybody thought that wasnt a particularly good system. This year, around 10 Million pensioners in england and wales will no longer receive the allowance of up to £300, which the treasury suggests will save around 1. 4 billion. But at their conference in brighton, some Union Leaders are calling for the government to change course. To do this on the Winter Fuel
The competence of national governments to do with visas, length of stay, for instance, where certain things can be negotiated. But you are right, overall in terms of the big barriers to access to the european market, including the german market, that will require a negotiation with the European Union. So there are certain things they can do on the economic side with the Germans Today but The Big Picture is a European Picture and that Trade Agreement that borisjohnson signed with the European Union back in 2020. In terms of that conversation with the European Union, is that what the Labour Government want to do, or is this just a softly softly approach and just a realignment of what was a rather turbulent relationship when the conservatives were in power . To be honest, i dont know any more than you do about what they intend to do. Its clear they want to improve bilateral levers with key european statesmen. Today in germany with olaf scholz. Keir starmer will be visiting Emmanuel Macron
Surrounding hospitals. Israel claims it has killed, what it says, are nine palestinian terrorists. Its Foreign Minister, israel katz, has described the situation as a war that must be won. A senior palestinian official, has accused israel of trying to escalate the war in gaza and warned of dire but this operation, but this operation, looks a bit different, looks a bit different, it is a part of a wider, it is a part of a wider, coordinated operation coordinated operation across the northern West Bank. Across the northern West Bank. These kinds of operations these kinds of operations going on in several cities. Going on in several cities. What is not entirely clear what is not entirely clear at the moment is why this at the moment is why this operation is taking place now. Operation is taking place now. The kind of extensive the kind of extensive operation that People here havent seen in decades. Operation that People here havent seen in decades. Israels Foreign Minister says israels Fo
On the government to ban flavoured and Disposable Vapes to protect children against what they say is a growing epidemic in the uk. A bill aimed at restricting the Sale And Marketing of vapes, especially to children, Ran Out Of Time to pass into law under the last government. The British Medical Association says bold action is needed. Heres our Health Reporter michelle roberts. According to the latest estimates, around 8 of 11 to 17 year olds vape. Although its already illegal to sell E Cigarettes to anyone under 18, the British Medical Association says more needs to be done, and quickly, to protect children and young people from a vape epidemic. The bma wants Disposable Vapes and all flavoured ones to be banned. Its also calling for curbs on how vapes are marketed and sold, similar to cigarettes, with plain packaging and products kept behind the counter. If youre stopping smoking, you need a tobacco flavoured vape to jUst transfer from one to another. There is no need for any of the co
And charities are meeting with ministers to discuss the difficult winter ahead. Energy bills will rise again in october, when the Price Cap increases by 10 . Rachel reeves said she had to take difficult decisions in very challenging circumstances. The conservatives are calling for her to scrap the changes. Our political correspondent Iain Watson reports. Energy prices are increasing and so is the pressure on the government to help those who are struggling to pay their bills. We are bracing ourselves for a really difficult winter. We are already seeing Record Numbers of people coming to us with Energy Debt in the height of summer. That is only going to get worse when the energy Price Cap rises. From october, the Energy Regulator Ofgem is allowing prices to rise by 10 , and that represents bills of more than £1700 a year for a typical household. This morning, the government brought together big Energy Companies, the regulator, and Citizens Advice Bureau to discuss what more could be don