MPs to get vote on winter fuel payments in Labour U-turn cut as Starmer fights backlash – UK politics live

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over its handling of Oasis tickets.

CMA said its investigation would include how so-called ‘dynamic pricing’ may have been used and would scrutinise whether the sale of tickets by Ticketmaster may have breached consumer protection law.

The investigation would consider whether Ticketmaster had engaged in unfair commercial practices, if people were given clear and timely information to explain that the tickets could be subject to so-called ‘dynamic pricing’, and if consumers were put under pressure to buy tickets within a short period of time – at a higher price than they understood they would have to pay.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of a member of the Royal Navy after a Merlin helicopter ditched in the English Channel.

The Royal Navy said the helicopter crashed off the coast of Dorset on Wednesday night during the training exercise with the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.

He said in a post on X: “Deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of a member of the Royal Navy.

“My thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this painful time.”

Sir Keir paid tribute to the ship’s company “particularly those involved in the search-and-rescue operation”.

In an interview with The Independent ahead of his party’s conference in Manchester this weekend, Adrian Ramsay dismissed the personal claims made against him by prime minister Keir Starmer, among others.

The debate has centred around objections to pylons being built through his picturesque Waveney constituency, which straddles the Norfolk/Suffolk border in East Anglia.

David Maddox and Archie Mitchell report

Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has been appointed as the new French prime minister following weeks of political deadlock.

Mr Barnier, who negotiated Britain’s departure from the European Union between 2016 and 2019, has been tasked with forming a new government by French president Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Macron has spent weeks trying to find a compromise candidate for his minority government that would not be blocked by the powerful left-wing alliance in parliament or the hard right National Rally (RN).

Nadine Dorries will ramp up her war with the Conservatives in another bombshell book promising to lay bare “the story of a political party on the verge of extinction”.

The former culture secretary, who last year attacked the behind-the-scenes power players at the top of the party in her previous book, promises to “pick up where The Plot left off”.

Scheduled for release on 21 November, Downfall promises to expose events behind the scenes during LizTruss’s disastrous 49-day stint in Downing Street and during “the self-serving drift of Rishi Sunak’s time in office”.

MPs will be given the chance to vote on the government’s move to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.

Commons Leader Lucy Powell announced a motion relating to the changes would be debated on September 10.

People in England and Wales not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will lose out under the policy.

It is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the up to £300 payment by 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving around £1.4 billion this year.

The government has reaffirmed its plans to introduce a new system of business rates, after the Liberal Democrats raised concerns about the state of high streets in England.

Lib Dem business and industrial strategy spokeswoman Sarah Olney said that high streets were being held “hostage” by an “outdated, damaging business rates system”.

She added: “Empty shop fronts, shuttered windows: we should never see these become the norm in our town centres.

“Small businesses in desperate need of a helping hand will have been deeply concerned not to see any mention of business rates reform in the King’s Speech.

“Can the minister assure us that reform of the business rates system is coming, and when reform comes it will be a comprehensive replacement of this damaging system?”

Business minister Gareth Thomas, whose portfolio covers small businesses, confirmed that the Department for Business and Trade is working with the Treasury on plans.

Mr Thomas said: “We are looking at this with colleagues in the Treasury. We have made commitments to introduce a fairer business rates system in opposition, and work is going on led by Treasury colleagues on this issue. They will bring forward proposals in due course.”