Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has rejected recent reports claiming that major tax increases will be needed in the upcoming autumn budget. Speaking during a visit to Milton Keynes, Starmer said the figures being reported were not ones he recognised and stressed that the government’s focus would remain on improving people’s living standards.
Although he did not completely rule out tax rises, Starmer repeated that the next budget would build on what the government had already done to stabilise the economy. He highlighted recent interest rate cuts, which he said would bring relief to people paying mortgages.
Meanwhile, the UK’s new migrant returns deal with France officially began, with the first detentions taking place. Under the agreement, which follows months of negotiations, the UK can return migrants who arrive illegally in small boats to France. In exchange, the UK will accept an equal number of asylum seekers through legal routes, as long as they haven’t previously entered illegally. The pilot scheme is expected to begin with around 50 returns per week.
As the deal came into effect, small boats were seen arriving in Dover for the first time in a week, likely delayed earlier by poor weather. A UK Border Force vessel and a Coastguard plane helped bring the arrivals ashore.
In another development, more than 100 MPs have signed a letter asking the UK government to delay biometric checks for 80 students from Gaza. These students have been offered places at UK universities but are struggling to complete fingerprint and photo identification due to the war in Gaza. Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Barry Gardiner are leading the effort, saying that helping these students would support the future of Palestine. The final version of the letter was sent directly to Prime Minister Starmer, suggesting checks could be completed in Egypt or Jordan instead.
Also related to Gaza, Starmer confirmed that the UK is increasing the number of seriously ill children brought to the UK for urgent medical care. Though the number remains small, he said they are expanding the effort, with children being treated in specialised hospitals.
The prime minister also addressed concerns around his plan to set a timeline for recognising Palestine. Some critics suggested this could benefit Hamas, but Starmer firmly said Hamas is a terrorist group and should have no role in Palestine’s future. He added that a review of the recognition decision would take place in the coming month.
Elsewhere, Home Office Minister Jess Phillips has strongly criticised councils that deny having grooming gang issues. She called them “idiots” and confirmed that six councils had requested to be part of a national inquiry into the problem. Phillips expects the inquiry to take up to three years and said a shortlist has been drawn up for someone to lead the investigation.
Back in the Channel, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp tried to highlight what he called flaws in the new migrant returns deal by visiting the area himself. In response, Home Office Minister Angela Eagle reminded him of the Conservative Party’s failed Rwanda deportation plan and accused him of hypocrisy.
In other news, health experts across the UK have urged the government to introduce a minimum price for alcohol in England. Scotland and Wales already use such policies, and officials in Wales plan to raise the minimum price from 50p to 65p per unit of alcohol. Experts say this could reduce harmful drinking and save lives, but England has not yet committed to the move.
As political activity slows during summer recess, major announcements are fewer, but key topics like migration, healthcare, and the economy continue to spark debate. Parliament is expected to return on September 1 before another break for party conferences starting September 16, 2025.