Politics latest: New plans to improve housing for veterans - but critics call for long-term funding (2025)

Laws may need to be strengthened to crack down on the exploitation of child "influencers", a senior Labour MP has warned.

Chi Onwurah, chair of the science, technology and innovation committee, said parts of the Online Safety Act - passed in October 2023 - may already be "obsolete or inadequate".

Experts have raised concerns that there is a lack of provision in industry laws for children who earn money through brand collaborations on social media when compared to child actors and models.

This has led to some children advertising in their underwear on social media, one expert has claimed.

Those working in more traditional entertainment fields are safeguarded by performance laws,which strictly govern the hours a minor can work, the money they earn and who they are accompanied by.

The Child Influencer Project, which has curated the world's first industry guidelines for the group, has warned of a "large gap in UK law" which is not sufficiently filled by new online safety legislation.

In his Easter address, we heard from the PM about the values that can be found at Easter.

Sir Keir Starmer said the Christian meaning of Easter is a "story of hope, redemption and renewal".

Well, the SNP perhaps has some other ideas for the Easter period.

The party has pointed to figures from the consumer choice company Which?, whose survey shows the price of Easter eggs are rising.

The findings show a Twix white chocolate egg has risen by a pound to £6 since last year, while dropping in weight from 316g to 258g.

It's a bank holiday, so we'll do the maths for you - that's a price hike of 47% in one year, when considered at cost by 100g.

The data also showed a five-pack of 200g Cadbury Creme Eggs sold at Morrison's had risen from £2.62 to £4, while a Kit Kat Chunky milk chocolate egg held its price but fell in weight by 129g to 110g. That's a price jump of 17%.

So, who is to blame for these soaring costs, pinching the pockets of working people this Easter?

Well, globally, the price of cocoa has risen sharply since 2022, reaching a record high in January this year. It's in part due to unusually dry weather in parts of West Africa.

But the SNP has another suggestion: Brexit.

Evelyn Tweed, an MSP, said: "The cost of living is skyrocketing in the UK - and households will feel that this Easter.

"While inflation and international volatility is undoubtedly a factor, so too are deliberate UK decisions like Brexit,and the recent hike in employers National Insurance.

"Many will feel short-changed during a time that should be enjoyable for them and their families - Easter eggs may still look the same on the outside, but what’s inside is shrinking as prices go up.

"The UK Government could act now on the cost of living crisis - but the reality is, whether ending the damage of Brexit or scrapping National Insurance hikes, Scotland will only ever be an afterthought to Westminster."

Something to think on while you're munching on your overpriced Easter egg, then. Happy Good Friday.

We're looking across the pond to the US for a moment, because peace negotiations involving Foreign Secretary David Lammy and European partners seemed to have stalled.

We heard an update from Lammy about the meeting held in Paris this week a little earlier, where he called for Russia to accept an "unconditional ceasefire".

You can see more on his comments in our post lower down the Politics Hubhere.

But in the last hour or so, we've now heard from White House representatives - and it doesn't seem to be good news for Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US will walk away from its efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine unless there are clear signs of progress in the coming days.

"We need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this [peace deal] is doable in the short term, because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on," he said.

"We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end," he added.

Rubio said Donald Trump is still interested in pursuing peace, but that the US has many other priorities around the world.

"We need to determine very quickly now - and I'm talking about a matter of days - whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks. If it is, we're in. If it's not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well."

It's rotten luck for the government.

On the day John Healey, the defence secretary, is trying to talk up efforts to improve homes for members of the military and their families, he's being faced with a large protest from the one of the groups he's trying to please.

Yes, it's thought around one thousand veterans will be marching on Whitehall today, to protest the government's plant to repeal the Legacy Act.

What is the Legacy Act?

The veterans attending served in the British Army during the Northern Ireland Troubles.

They're worried by minsters' plans to revoke key elements of The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

The law, introduced by the Conservatives when they were in power, halted dozens of civil cases and inquests linked to the conflict and offered conditional immunity for perpetrators of crimes during the Troubles in exchange for their co-operation with a new truth recovery body.

The Act followed a number of British Army veterans ending up in court in recent years - being prosecuted for fatal incidents that happened during the Troubles.

It was opposed by victims' groups in Northern Ireland, all the main political parties at Stormont and the Irish government.

What does Labour want to change?

In Westminster, Labour opposed the law at the time and said they would repeal it if they won the 2024 General Election - which, obviously, they did.

Now, the government says it will retain certain elements of the law, such as the recently created investigatory body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

But it will axe the contentious immunity provision and restore legacy inquests and civil cases being brought against veterans.

So, why are veterans angry, and what are they saying?

Veterans are calling for the Legacy Act to be retained in full and are angry at plans to change it.

Paul Young, the campaign group’s national spokesman, said: "What we’re protesting about is we don’t want them to take thelegacy [investigations] away from the ICRIR, and we don’t want them to havelegacycivil cases brought about.”

The 74-year-old added: “We continue to support ICRIR and theLegacyAct… so we’re totally against what the Labour Party are doing.”

Young served in the Blues and Royals regiment between 1968 and 1975, carrying out multiple tours in Northern Ireland.

He says around one thousand veterans from "all over the country" are expected to march on Whitehall to parliament today to demonstrate their anger.

Young added that some demonstrators, belonging to the Rolling Thunder group, will be coming on motorbikes.

It follows a similar demonstration in February, where veterans again protested in a bid to make Labour retain the act.

They walked in a group, many wearing army caps, and holding a banner which read: “Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans: If they won’t listen, we will shout louder.”

Kemi Badenoch has accused ministers of "lying to the country about its record" on gender identity and are trying to "gaslight the public".

The Conservative leader has come out strongly, swinging hard at the government for their record on legislating around single-sex spaces.

It follows the Supreme Court's ruling on Wednesday, which defined a woman under the Equality Act as a biological woman.

That judgement has sent shockwaves through Whitehall and the wider country, with numerous public bodies such as the NHS and some police forces saying they are now reviewing or need to amend their current policies.

Watch: The court's gender ruling - how it happened

The Labour government has said the ruling "gives clarity" to women and service providers.

Bridget Phillipson, the minister for women and equalities, wrote following the verdict: "We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex.

"Single-sex are protected in law and will always be protected by this government."

But this post has sent Badenoch into a fury, with the MP saying the "sheer mendacity of Labour is breathtaking".

She replied: "Rather than accept they made mistakes, Labour are trying to gaslight the public and rewrite history on the Supreme Court judgement.

"They must think all of us on here who received relentless abuse for taking this position have forgotten.

"I don’t say this lightly, but the Labour Party is lying to the country about its record here"

She went on to say Sir Keir Starmer "swallowed trans ideology whole and was ready to open up women's spaces to biological men".

Badenoch called Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar's decision to whip his MSPs to vote for the Scottish government's self-identification bill "bonkers".

She continued: "As recently as June last year Bridget Phillipson said men could use female toilets. Yesterday, she forced neutral civil servants in a government department to tweet a demonstrable lie.

"It is a total disgrace."

Badenoch called on the government to reinstate guidance published for schools on gender questioning children, drawn up by the Conservatives - including Badenoch herself - while in government last year.

The foreign secretary has insisted that Russia must accept a "full and unconditional ceasefire" following talks with his US and European counterparts.

David Lammy travelled to Paris for high-level discussions with British, French and US officials among others, to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine.

The cabinet minister gave an update on the talks yesterday, saying they "underscore our shared commitment to global security".

Lammy said: “In a volatile world, unity is our strength.

“Today’s meetings with France, the US, Ukraine, and Germany underscore our shared commitment to global security.

“We must see a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and stability in the Middle East.”

He added: “We are working hard with allies to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine.

“Russia must agree to an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire as Ukraine has done.”

Among those also present were Ukraine's foreign minister Andriy Sybiga and chief of staff to Volodomyr Zelensky, Adriy Yermak.

For the US, secretary of state Macro Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff also made the trip to the French capital.

Talks about a possible peace have faltered since Moscow rejected a ceasefire proposal that had been agreed by the US and Ukraine last month.

Meanwhile, the UK and France have been seeking to assemble a so-called Coalition of the Willing, which would volunteer to defend a truce if one is reached.

Following the talks, Zelensky said it was “important that we hear each other, refine, and clarify our positions and work for the sake of real security of Ukraine and all our Europe",

He added: “I spoke for the second time today with the president of France Emmanuel Macron.

“I am grateful to Emmanuel for his leadership and for today’s work in Paris by our representatives – Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States.

“It is important that we hear each other, refine and clarify our positions, and work for the sake of real security of Ukraine and all our Europe.”

Away from ending the war, thoughts are beginning to turn to how Ukraine will look when the conflict is over.

Ukraine’s economy minister Yulia Svyrydenko posted on X that a memorandum of intent with the US has been signed, paving the way for an economic partnership agreement between the two nations.

She said a final deal would also involve an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine. US officials expressed hope that an accord could be completed by the end of next week.

Happy Good Friday - here's something to sink your teeth into (besides the Easter eggs) as the bank holiday gets underway.

The latest episode of the Electoral Dysfunction podcasthas dropped, where Sky's political editor Beth Rigby is joined by fellow hosts Harriet Harman, the former deputy Labour leader, and Ruth Davidson, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

The trio finally lift the lid on the House of Lords, with Baroness Harman and Baroness Davidson answering listeners' questions.

What’s it really like on the red benches in Parliament? And if you’re a Lord, are you a has-been?

👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈

Don't forget, tickets are also on sale for a special, one-off live recording of Electoral Dysfunction in London on 20 May - link here.

You can listen to the full episode below or you can watch it in full on YouTube.

US president Donald Trump has suggested he may be making his second state visit to the UK in September.

Yes, if you've just woken up - guess who says he'll be back.

Sir Keir Starmer delivered an invitation to the 47th president at the White House on behalf of King Charles earlier this year.

At the time, Buckingham Palace said the visit would only happen "when diaries allow".

But Trump told reporters yesterday that he thinks "they are setting a date for September".

He added: "I don't know how it can be bigger than the last one.

"The last one was incredible, but they say the next one will be even more important."

Both Number 10 and Buckingham Palace have declined to comment on the date, so perhaps don't get the silver cutlery out just yet.

Trump is the first US president - in fact, the first elected politician in modern times - to be invited to carry out a second state visit to the UK, having made his first in 2019.

A state visit involves meetings with the monarch, a lavish banquet and much pomp and ceremony.

The unprecedented second invite was given as the government calculated it a good use of soft power to curry favour with the new US administration.

Perhaps it hasn't worked so far - as the UK has since been hit with 10% tariffs, along with many other countries.

But the government has argued it has been the personal relationship between Starmer and Trump that has helped avoid higher tariffs, as originally experienced by the EU and China.

Housing for members of the armed forces and their families will be improved in an effort to boost morale and retention, the government has announced.

Ministers say a new Consumer Charter for families in military homes will be set up.

The government says this will lead to higher move-in standards, more reliable repairs with set timelines in place, and a renovation of the worst homes.

It also says there will be a named housing officer for each military family.

The policy, announced by Defence Secretary John Healey, will also seean independent, expert team appointed to help deliver a new Defence Housing Strategy, which is said to be already under way and will be published later this year.

The Charter will be part of that strategy, which will be overseen by Healey and Al Carns, the people and veterans minister.

There's evidence that some men and women quit the military due to being housed in poor-quality homes - something the government wants to reverse.

Other measures also include speeding up the development of surplus military land to deliver more affordable homes, and publishing public "satisfaction figures" for families in military homes.

The government points out that in January, ministers completed a deal to bring back 36,000 military homes into public ownership, which they say will save taxpayers £600,000 per day by cutting back on rental payments to a private company.

John Healey said: "Our Armed Forces serve with extraordinary dedication and courage to keep us safe. It is only right that they and their families live in the homes they deserve.

"For too long, military families have endured substandard housing without the basic consumer rights that any of us should expect in our homes. That must end and our new Consumer Charter will begin to stop the rot and put families at the heart of that transformation."

Families: 'Put your money where your mouth is'

So far, so good, right?

Yes, but the families of members of the military are pointing out that there's no new government cash attached to the new policies, and without that, they fear it may ultimately make little difference.

They are now calling on John Healey to announce long-term funding to support housing for military families.

Good morning!

Welcome to the Politics Hub this Friday, 18 April!

Happy Good Friday to those who celebrate - hot cross buns at the ready. It's a bank holiday in the UK, so congratulations to those of you reading this at 6am.

But the bank holiday does not mean there's been a total freeze in the world of Westminster - as politics rumbles on.

First up, good news for military families because the government has announced plans to improve housing standards for those who are serving in the armed forces.

It means there will be a range of new measures, including a simplified complaints system, a higher move-in standard and a set time for repairs to be carried out.

Ministers hope this will boost morale, but critics say long-term funding is needed to give the policy some weight.

Across the pond, US President Donald Trump has suggested he may be making his state visit to the UK in September.

Trump, who has been causing a headache for the government with his imposition of 10% import fees on the UK, announced the move at a press conference last night.

But don't get your MAGA caps out just yet - as both Buckingham Palace and Number 10 have declined to comment.

In Westminster itself, veterans who fought in Northern Ireland will be gathering this morning to protest against repealing the Legacy Act.

Passed by the Conservative government last year, it was designed to minimise prosecutions brought against former members of the British military.

And of course, the fallout from the Supreme Court's ruling on what it means to be a woman, made on Wednesday, continues. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has hit out at ministers, accusing them of lying, while calling for the Equality Act to be reviewed.

We will bring you all the latest throughout the day as we have it.