Despite widespread support for house building, with 54 per cent of all UK adults supporting more construction, Rt Hon Andrew Stephenson argues that “it is not enough to be right on policy. You have to convince people you can follow through”.

The polling coincides with the upcoming debates in the House of Commons on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, planned for June 9 and June 10.

The report outlines a number of strategies the government could undertake to increase trust in their housing policy, including ensuring that new builds are high quality and in keeping with local character and showing tangible development through transforming vacant brownfield sites.

The report, which polled a nationally representative sample of 2,050 UK adults, also found significant divergences in trust and support between NIMBYs and YIMBYs.

It defined NIMBYs as UK adults who support limiting new building projects in order to preserve the character of local areas, and YIMBYs as those who support increased construction to address housing shortages and rising property prices.

Using these definitions 45 per cent of adults were classed as NIMBYs and 37 per cent as YIMBYs.

While 17 per cent of all UK adults believed that Labour would hit its target of 1.5 million new homes, this rose to 25 per cent of YIMBYs and fell to 13 per cent of NIMBYs.

Support for house building also differed, with 79 per cent of YIMBYs supporting new house building, almost double NIMBY support of 39 per cent and the UK average of 54 per cent.

They also cited different ways in which the government could increase support for house building, with NIMBYs supporting the use of brownfield land in order to protect green spaces as the strategy they would support the most (57 per cent), and thinking that prioritising affordable housing for low income households is less important (36 per cent) than the average UK adult (42 per cent) or YIMBYs (56 per cent)

In contrast, YIMBYs prioritise high-quality, attractive homes that fit local character (56 per cent) and affordable housing (56 per cent) while supporting brownfield development (47 per cent) and infrastructure (44 per cent) slightly less than NIMBYs (57 per cent and 53 per cent) and the UK average (47 per cent and 44 per cent).

Support for infrastructure development significantly outperformed support for housing (48 per cent compared to 37 per cent), while 44 per cent of adults said that building infrastructure before adding housing would increase public trust and support in Labour’s construction plans.

This suggests a shift from housing to public infrastructure projects could also be more beneficial, building trust in the government’s wider construction plans, with Stephenson saying the government should “lay the groundwork before you lay the bricks”.

The contrast between infrastructure and housing support is particularly apparent in local areas, where house building was only supported by 7 per cent of people if it took place in their local area, compared to 42 per cent support for local infrastructure investment

Support is particularly strong for projects like wastewater plants (53 per cent), rail infrastructure (49 per cent), wind farms (49 per cent), and digital infrastructure (46 per cent).

Despite high support for digital infrastructure, AI projects appear to suffer from a lack of clear understanding, with 32 per cent of people saying they don’t understand what the government’s new AI growth zones are meant to be, and only 21 per cent believing they will benefit their local areas.

Stephenson explains that the public “don’t want sweeping rhetoric about growth zones or deregulation – they want to see real infrastructure, better quality homes, and trust restored at a local level.”

Another roadblock for the government’s plans is its approach to environmental regulation, with 30 per cent of UK adults believing protections do not go far enough and allow “too many things to be built which have a damaging environmental impact”, compared to 14 per cent who believe they are too restrictive, and 28 per cent who believe it is “about right”.

Support for environmental protections also increase for certain species like ancient trees (84 per cent), wild birds (82 per cent) and butterflies and otters (78 per cent).

As a response to the findings, Curia’s Housing and Infrastructure Research Group, which commissioned the polling and co-designed the research with Opinium, is calling for policy to focus on place-based delivery, brownfield-first development, and early infrastructure investment to rebuild confidence in planning and development.

“Labour has successfully positioned itself as the party of house building”, said James Crouch, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Opinium, “but that won’t shield the government from voter backlash if it fails to meet its own housing targets.”

Find the full Curia and Opinium report here.

Featured image via Simon Dawson / No 10.

Author: Jamie Calder.

Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine. That ends today.”

The vape ban will impact single-use disposable vapes, but reusable and rechargeable vapes will still be available for purchase.

As part of the vape ban, measures will be taken against any traders breaking the rules with a fine of £200 for the first incident, and the products will be seized. However, for those who keep reoffending, they will face hefty penalties including increasingly harsh fines or even jail time.

The vape ban was announced last year under Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government, as statistics from the public health charity Action on Smoking Health (ASH) showed that in 2024, 5.6 million adults were vaping in the UK. This included 7% of 11- to 17-year-olds in the UK who were also using vapes. 

Previous governments had supported vaping as an anti-smoking measure, offering tobacco smokers a less harmful alternative, but in recent years concerns have grown over the number of young people vaping when they otherwise would not have smoked.

Ahead of the vape ban, new data from ASH shows the number of vapers has fallen from last year, from 30% to 24% in 2025. The percentage of vapers aged 18–24 in particular decreased dramatically in 2025 from 52% to 40%.

Caroline Cerny, Deputy Chief Executive, Action on Smoking and Health, said: “It’s promising to see that many people switched away from disposable vapes to reusable products well ahead of the ban.”

She continued saying that this vape ban is aimed particularly at young people who are more likely to use these disposable products because of how attractive and affordable they are. Young people have also been especially targeted by vape companies in their marketing in recent years.

Disposable vapes are often colourful, with sweet flavourings and are presented as harmless compared to tobacco, despite this not being true with the NHS warning that vaping could lead to an addiction to nicotine and negatively impact brain development in young people, particularly effecting the part of the brain that controls emotional regulation and attention spans.

Due to their non-refillable nature, people typically discard these single-use vapes as general waste without recycling them. This contributes to the “flood of litter blighting the country”, as the government described while passing the bill. Even if recycled, the process is slow and costly, as waste industry workers must disassemble them by hand. The batteries themselves represent a fire hazard, and the chemicals inside are harmful for the environment.  

“This new law is a step towards reducing vaping among children while ensuring products are available to support people to quit smoking. It will be up to manufacturers and retailers to ensure customers are informed and able to reuse and recycle their products, securing a real change in consumer behaviour and reducing environmental waste,” Cerny explained.

The government has reported that they have been working closely with retailers to ensure a smooth transition once the legislation has been passed. In its guidance for businesses preparing for the vape ban, the government explains what products and devices can’t be sold and how to get rid of current stock safely.

Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: “Convenience retailers have been preparing for the disposables ban for several months, adapting their ranges and training colleagues on the products that they can sell.

“We have been working with Trading Standards officers across the country to ensure they know what to look for once the ban comes into force and support robust enforcement activity to take illegal vapes off the streets.”

However, according to a BBC report, it is doubtful whether the vape ban will undermine the appeal of vaping. Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), told the BBC that “new reusable vapes are very similar to single-use vapes, meaning it is “unlikely will have that much impact.”

Justin Greenaway, Commercial Manager at SWEEEP Kuusakoski, said: “We hope this ban will succeed in reducing the amount of vapes being discarded. Every vape has the potential to start a fire if incorrectly disposed of. Logically vape unit waste will reduce as single-use stops and multi-use must start, but it does rely on consumers changing from a disposable mindset to refilling.”

Featured image via Vaping369 / Flickr.

Author: Ana Garcia Sancho

The RISE teams have been trialled in an initial 32 schools, the expansion would mean that over 120,000 students would be impacted by the scheme.

The push to extend RISE comes alongside the government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill continues through the House of Lords later this week [May 1].

Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence teams are to be sent to schools with the aim to “break the link between young people’s backgrounds and their future success.”

RISE consists of enlisting leader expertise in improving schools as advisors to collaborate with school administrators in new teams that will work together to raise standards in the education of each school.

The RISE advisors’ job is to address specific improvement needs identified by Ofsted. They can arrange high-quality external support and monitor progress closely alongside Ofsted. They operated across two levels: Targeted intervention and universal support.

According to the government, the RISE universal program aims to “share best practices,” increase peer assistance, and promote collaboration across the education sector.  The program focusses on four national priorities: Improving English and math proficiency, increasing inclusivity in mainstream education, boosting quality in reception-year teaching, and increasing school attendance.

As for the targeted intervention, it consists of schools that are “stuck”, which means they currently hold a “requires improvement single headline grade” and were rated below ‘good’ in their Ofsted inspection.”

The UK has already identified 600 schools that require targeted intervention, impacting over 300,000 children. The RISE advisors would then arrange high-quality organisations to work for the school, improving with the hand of Ofsted monitoring them.

RISE teams are currently only available in 32 schools in the UK. Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of Education, said that the RISE teams have already been doing great in the schools it has been applied to.

She said: “No child should be spending precious days, let alone years, in schools that are underperforming.

“Our new RISE teams, made up of the best of the best in school improvement, can be the spark that turns around the life chances of tens of thousands of children.

“RISE teams have already hit the ground running, and as we deliver on our Plan for Change, I am determined to make sure we lift every school, for every child, up to the standard of the best.”

As part of the government’s Plan for Change, £20 million was given to the RISE programme, and each school that is part of the programme can be eligible for a support of up to £100,000 “to help turn around the quality of education for children and young people”.

Since February, the schools already in the programme have begun working with “supporting organisations, including high-quality multi-academy trusts, who will provide support and expertise to assist the schools on their improvement journeys.

High-performing multi-academy trusts such as Mulberry Schools Trust, L.E.A.D Academy Trust and the Northern Education Trust are some of the trustee organisations already working along with RISE teams.

Gaenor Bagley, Chair of Trustees, and Dr Karen Roberts, CEO, The Kemnal Academies Trust, whose schools are receiving RISE support, said: “We would like to say, at this juncture and for the record, just how refreshing, different and positive the experience of working with the RISE advisers has been – it really does feel like a genuine partnership.”

Now with this expansion, the goal is to get new RISE teams to “work up and down the country providing a universal service, signposting to best practice and bringing schools together to share their knowledge and innovation.”

Anita Cliff, a RISE adviser, Chief Executive Advisor, Manor Multi Academy Trust, said: “This role gives me the opportunity to support schools across the region in removing barriers to achievement—helping to transform children’s life chances and ensure every child can thrive, regardless of background.”

A Lib Dem FOI campaign found that there had been nearly 49,000 trolley waits of 24-hours or longer last year. The party claims that only 54 of the 141 NHS Trusts provided full data reports, so this figure is likely much higher.

This is up from only 689 in 2019 and have risen dramatically since the pandemic with 2,839 in 2021 jumping to 30,921 in 2022, 40,735 in 2023 and 48,830 last year.

Pensioners reportedly are impacted the most, with an increase 76-fold the 2019 total from around 441 to 33,000, meaning that the elderly account for almost 70 per cent of long trolley waits.

The FOIs also asked what the longest trolley wait each NHS Trust has recorded in the past year was.

One patient had to wait 235 hours, the equivalent of 10 and a half days before being admitted following a decision being made.

The same trust, the James Paget University Hospitals Trust, also had the longest trolley wait for someone aged 65 or over where one pensioner waited 139 hours or almost six days before being admitted.

Trolley waits are when patients must wait longer for an admission decision because there are no available beds in A&E. The royal College of Emergency Medicine found that patients are twice as likely to die within 30 days if they are made to stay in an emergency department for longer than 12 hours compared to those who are treated quicker.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new “Winterproofing NHS Taskforce” made up of experienced NHS “super-heads” who will go into struggling trusts to provide expert advice.

A similar scheme was previously implemented in schools where experienced head teachers were sent to struggling schools to improve pupil performance.

Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Helen Morgan MP said: “The least patients deserve is the dignity to be treated in an appropriate area. Not the ramshackled waiting rooms and corridors that far too many have to suffer through for hours. That is why the Government must ensure that this is the last winter crisis anyone will experience and end corridor care by the end of this Parliament.

“The Conservatives’ beyond shameful neglect brought us to this point but the Labour government’s approach of sitting on its hands and hoping it all gets better has not survived contact with reality. Corridor care has become normalised to the point that hospitals are now advertising for specialised nurses to treat patients in hallways.

“This cannot go on any longer. Liberal Democrats are calling for a new Winterproofing taskforce, alongside a team of experienced NHS heads who can go into failing NHS Trusts and bring them up to the standard patients deserve.”

The party want “a ringfenced fund of £1.5 billion over the next four years to build resilience in hospital wards, A&E departments, ambulance services and patient discharging.”

They report: “This would allow integrated care boards and NHS Trusts to plan their budgets more efficiently to prevent winter crises, instead of just receiving emergency funding from the government at the last minute.”

The change will allow all pubs to remain open until 1am. While many pubs in the country already hold a 1am licence, it will help those currently having to close their doors at 11pm.

Pub licensing hours can be altered to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, having previously been done to celebrate events like the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

Other events include important sporting events like the 2024 Euros Final. The Liberal Democrats had also called for a bank holiday to be established if England had won.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all. 
 
“Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.”

The move comes only a week after the government rejected calls by the Liberal Democrats to implement a new bank holiday to commemorate VE (Victory in Europe) and VJ (Victory in Japan) day.

In response to the Liberal Democrats, a Labour spokesperson said: “Obviously, the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ day will be moments of huge significance for our country, where we will come together to honour the memory of those who served, the legacy left behind and what we owe them.

“We are committed to commemorating these nationally important occasions appropriately, which is why we have announced more than £10 million for events to mark them.” The spokesperson insisted that their plans “do not include an additional bank holiday”.

Despite this, the extended opening hours are expected to be a welcome boost to the hospitality industry.

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association said: “This is a momentous occasion and, as the nation’s second home, the pub is the perfect place for communities to gather and raise a glass to all of those who made huge sacrifices for our freedom. 
 
“Extending licensing hours will mean people can come together for longer, nurture community spirit, and allow pubs to host even more commemorative events that honour our veterans and heroes and celebrate peace.” 

The government has already announced plans to “cut red tape” in licensing decisions to permit late-night industries to open later in more circumstances. The changes are being trialed in London where mayor Sadiq Khan will be able to reassess failed licence applications and progress them where appropriate. If successful this will be rolled out to other metro-mayors in England.

A government spokesperson outlined the plans for the day, saying: “The VE Day commemorations will start on Bank Holiday Monday, with the Cenotaph dressed in Union flags, a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, and an RAF flypast over London.

“On Thursday 8th May, a day of celebrations across the country will culminate in a party at London’s Horse Guards Parade, televised live on BBC One, with more than 10,000 members of the public attending the event to see performances by stars from the stage and screen. “

Grangemouth is Scotland’s only refinery and supplies the majority of aviation fuel to Scotland’s airports, making it an important part of Britain’s energy security and economic ambitions.

The SNP claim that Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, is showing signs of breaking his promise that his party would “step in to save the jobs at the refinery” after u-turning to say that there was nothing the party could do since Grangemouth is part of a “privately owned company”, the British-Chinese corporation Petroineos.

Thomson criticised the hypocrisy of the recent decision by the government to reconvene on a weekend to save the financially troubled Chinese owned British Steel plant in Scunthorpe, saying: “It would appear the only reason these sites are not comparable, and why Westminster is not offering parity of treatment, is geography. One site is in England, the other is in Scotland.”

The Scunthorpe plant was saved in part due to its strategic importance, being the UK’s last steel mill capable of producing virgin steel, a material essential for construction projects like railways and buildings.

The SNP claim that the government’s decision to take control of the mill should be extended to Grangemouth with Thomson urging Anas Sarwar “to support a nationalisation plan for Grangemouth and as the Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland instruct Scottish Labour MPs to do likewise.”

She continues: “On Saturday, your Labour UK Government took the extraordinary step of recalling Westminster to press forward with plans to nationalise British Steel in a decision that will rightly protect jobs and a critical asset.

She explains that despite claims that Grangemouth’s financial situation cannot be compared with that of British Steel, the refinery is actually running less of a deficit than the steel plant, saying: “The Chinese company, Jingye, in Scunthorpe is reporting losses of around £700,000 whereas PetroChina, at Grangemouth reports losses of around £500,000.”

She continues: “That decision calls into question why the same could not be done for Grangemouth, which is vital to economic growth, supports thousands of jobs and is an asset of critical importance to both our energy and national security.

“You promised before the General Election that a UK Labour Government would ‘step in to save the jobs at the refinery’ and Daniel Johnson MSP said the refinery could be saved with a ‘small investment’.

Despite this, under Labour Government plans, the refinery will be lost and most jobs that could come from Project Willow recommendations will not be delivered until at least 2030.”

Set to open in 2031, the 476-acre development will mark Universal’s first theme park and resort in Europe. It is expected to generate a £50 billion boost to the UK economy by 2055 and attract approximately 8 million visitors in its opening year.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the park will create nearly 20,000 jobs during the construction phase, with an additional 8,000 jobs in the hospitality and creative sectors once it opens.

“It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about creating real opportunities for people across our country,” adding that Universal’s investment will make Bedford “home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage”.

Under the proposed plans, the government says the resort will include “immersive storytelling, thrilling rides, innovative attractions and exciting entertainment”, as well as a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining and entertainment complex.

The proposals remain subject to a planning decision from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with construction to start in 2026 if approved.

Nearby residents have been sent a letter by Universal, stating the announcement and timeline, with construction expected to begin in 2026 if planning permission is approved pic.twitter.com/41vN3Af2Ie

— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) April 8, 2025

Mike Cavanagh, president of Comcast Corporation – the owner of Universal – praised the government’s role in securing the deal, saying the company appreciated the “leadership and support” of Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Minister for Investment Poppy Gustafsson and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.

“We could not be more excited to take this very important step in our plan to create and deliver an incredible Universal theme park and resort in the heart of the United Kingdom,” he added.

The project will also deliver a boost to the regional economy, with around 80 per cent of the workforce expected to come from Bedfordshire and surrounding areas. Infrastructure upgrades are also planned, including a new A421 slip road and an expansion of Wixams station to improve transport links. The theme park resort will be built on the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks.

Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Andrew Griffith welcomed the investment, calling it “a major opportunity to boost economic growth and attract private sector investment”.

He added: “That’s why the Conservative government worked closely with Universal Studios to secure the land and help bring forward plans for the new park.

“We’re pleased that, despite Labour’s economic mismanagement, Universal Studios has committed to investing in Bedfordshire. But Labour’s punishing jobs tax – which will cost every working household £3,500 – and their job-destroying Employment Rights Bill risk putting this transformative project in jeopardy.”

Universal, known for producing films like Minions and Wicked, currently operates theme parks in Orlando and Los Angeles in the US, as well as in Japan, Singapore and China.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that at a time of “global change”, the company’s investment “is a vote of confidence in Britain as a place to do business”.

And yet, in 2025, people with Parkinson’s in England are still being asked to pay for those prescriptions.

That’s because Parkinson’s is not included on the NHS medical exemption list – a list created almost 60 years ago, when our understanding of long-term conditions was far more limited than it is today. While the list covers some conditions, it excludes many others. It hasn’t kept pace with medical science, with public health priorities, or with common decency.

What makes this even harder to justify is that England stands alone. Prescription charges have already been scrapped in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – but here, people with long-term health conditions are still penalised for needing the medicine that keeps them well.

Let’s be clear: people with Parkinson’s should not be forced to choose between medication and other essentials. And yet we know that prescription charges are a real barrier. Parkinson’s UK, who I’m proud to support in this campaign, have heard from people who skip doses, reduce their intake, or simply go without. That is not a safe or sustainable system.

Research shows that nearly one in five people with long-term conditions skip doses of their medicine, and many cut pills in half just to make them last. For others, prescriptions are left uncollected altogether – not because they aren’t needed, but because they simply can’t afford them.

At the start of February, I raised the issue in Parliament – drawing attention to the local reality in Newcastle-under-Lyme and paying tribute to my constituent Julie from Bradwell. Julie has lived experience of Parkinson’s and has campaigned for years with strength and determination to make sure others with the condition get the support they need. It was clear from the Minister’s response that this is a conversation that needs to continue, and I’ll be making sure it does.

This week, I also discussed Julie’s case in a meeting with Health Minister Karin Smyth. She, like so many others, is facing the injustice of a system that makes it harder – and more expensive – to live well with Parkinson’s. Her story is one I’ll continue to carry with me in Westminster.

In my view, this is a matter of fairness. People over 60, children, pregnant women, and those with a handful of specific health conditions are exempt from prescription charges in England. But many living with chronic and life-limiting conditions fall through the cracks.

Parkinson’s UK have put forward a number of constructive proposals to help ease the burden on people with long-term conditions. These include freezing the prescription charge in 2025, reviewing the medical exemption list, and improving awareness of support schemes like the NHS Low Income Scheme and the Prescription Prepayment Certificate. They’ve also highlighted the impact of shortened prescription durations, which can increase costs and create barriers to access.

Now is the right moment to look again at how we support people managing long-term conditions. I’ll continue to work with Ministers and organisations like Parkinson’s UK to make the case for sensible, compassionate reform.

No one should have to pay to stay alive. That’s the principle at the heart of this issue – and it’s one I’ll keep fighting for in Parliament.

The plans will start with a trial in London where the city mayor will be able to review blocked licencing applications, calling “last orders” on the administrative red tape hampering the hospitality industry.

If successful, the new mayoral powers will be rolled out across England, working in close collaboration with local police forces.

The reform is intended to provide the hospitality sector, which employs over three million people and is adds around £62 billion to the economy each year, with more opportunities for growth and make licencing decisions more transparent and consistent.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “British businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. We want them to Our Plan for Change will make sure they have the conditions to grow – not be tied down by unnecessarily burdensome red tape.

“We’ve heard industry concerns and we’re partnering with businesses to understand what changes need to be made, because a thriving nighttime economy is good for local economies, good for growth, and good for getting more money in people’s pockets.”

While supported by many in the Labour camp, the plans have been criticised by the Conservatives.

Andrew Griffith MP, Shadow Business Secretary, said: “The hypocrisy of this Labour government is staggering.

“The government claims it is looking to slash red tape on business whilst doing the exact opposite, with their smoking ban proposals, scrapping of takeaway pints, recycling tax and attack on free speech in venues all set to make life harder for our publicans – and that’s all before the impact of their Jobs Tax and Employment Rights Bill kicks in.

“But with Labour-run Westminster council is trying to enforce ‘quiet spaces’ on the capital’s night time economy, and Sadiq Khan’s former Night Tzar overseeing over 3,000 venue closures, it is clear Labour does not understand business. Only the Conservatives will stand up for their interests.”

Major players from across the industry consulted with the government on the changes, including Nick Mackenzie, CEO of Green King and the chair of the British Beer and Pub Association, Kate Nicholls, national chair of the Institute of Licensing and Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association.

The group of business leaders are working with local police forces and the government to reform the licensing system into one that creates a better hospitality experience for all.

As part of the government’s Plan for Change, focus is being paid to how hospitality can be used to prevent reofending and aid in efforts of rehabilitation. The new plans will include new prison training programmes set up to “address skills gaps and provide prison leavers with a fresh start and opportunities on release, reducing unemployment and the £18 billion cost of reoffending.”

There will be a report due in six weeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures in London.

Mackenzie said: “Licensing regulations provide a clear example of how well-intentioned legislation can inhibit economic growth, with excessive restrictions often limiting premises’ ability to respond to changing circumstances and customer demand.”

Nicholls agreed, saying that red tape had to be cut to “unlock” the sectors potential for economic growth, and that a “new and improved licensing system that is fit for the 21st century” will be a “huge boost” to the UKs nighttime industry.

Yesterday [2nd April] marked Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day”, in which the US President imposed a raft of tariffs on countries across the globe, including 10% tariffs on UK exports and 25% on all automotive exports to the US.

The Lib Dems’ campaign aims to send a collective message that they vow to take a firm stand against Trump’s tariffs, alongside launching a new, official “Made in Britain” logo for businesses who wish to adopt it.  

“The Government should launch a campaign to encourage people to buy British and support our high streets, as part of a national effort to back British businesses,” said Liberal Democrat Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper. 

“People across the country are deeply worried about what Trump’s trade war means for their living standards and want to know what they can do to help. We need to bring the country together and show collectively that we won’t take Trump’s tariffs lying down.”

The party emphasised the need for pro-business policies to lower operating costs and boost demand for British products, outlining several steps the UK government should already be following to keep our high streets and businesses thriving in the face of Trump’s tariffs. 

A similar campaign, launched in Canada, has seen a surge in people opting to buy Canadian goods, backed by the country’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney.

Cooper emphasised the need for the UK to follow suit: “We need to send Trump a clear message that Britain will not be bullied, by rallying round our businesses at home and working with our Commonwealth and European allies abroad.”

A Reform UK spokesperson said Yasmin Qureshi, who represents the constituency of Bolton South and Walkden, “should focus on her constituents in Bolton” after she wrote a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan asking him to intervene to reverse a decision to shut the airline’s London office despite the fact that the airline is currently banned from flying in Britain due to its poor safety record.

The airline was banned from British airspace in 2020 after a crash that claimed 97 lives and an incident in which the airline was forced to ground 150 of its 434 pilots over concerns they may not have held valid licences.

In a letter she wrote in December, she asked Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander if the Civil Aviation Authority would commence an “urgent review” into the ban.

The Civil Aviation Authority conducted a review, and found last week, that the ban should remain in place. In response, PIA announced the closure of its central London office.

Qureshi then pleaded to Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister. “I urge you to reconsider this decision and take the necessary steps to keep the London office operational. This will not only support PIA’s growth but also ensure that it remains competitive in the international aviation market.”

Conservative heavy hitter Robert Jenrick weighed in on Qureshi’s letter writing efforts: “I am fed up with Labour MPs spending their time lobbying for foreign interests, rather than focussing on their constituents.

“It is a damning failure of integration that MPs are spending their time doing the bidding of other countries. Their loyalty should solely be to the UK.”

Yasmin Qureshi said: “After receiving a number of enquiries from constituents across Bolton South & Walkden about improving links between the UK and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, I co-signed a letter to the Pakistani government asking them to fulfil their commitment to a new airport in the region, spearheaded by the UK Trade Envoy to Pakistan.

“The advocacy I have done in regards to Pakistan International Airlines is similarly based on issues my constituents have faced, especially when travelling to Pakistan to see loved ones after a bereavement.

“Reform are entitled to their opinion, but they’d do well to focus on their own leader – who seems more interested in lobbying for corporate interests in the United States than representing the people of Clacton in Parliament.

‘I’ll never apologise for representing my constituents on any issue.”