The government is promising “seismic reforms” for the planning system under legislation published today, which it hopes will boost economic growth. But one thing that won’t help on that front is tariffs, which are set to come into force from Washington overnight.
Tuesday 11 March 2025 22:50, UK
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By Dan Whitehead, West of England and Wales correspondent
A “shattering blow” has been dealt to farmers with the sudden pausing for new applications for environmental payments, according to the National Farmers’ Union.
The NFU says it was given just 30 minutes notice by the government that applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) were to close on Tuesday.
The post-Brexit scheme, launched in 2022, pays farmers and land managers to take up practices that improve productivity and protect the environment and climate.
There were more than 100 options for farmers to choose from, including the management of hedgerows, organic farming development and providing habitat for wildlife.
The government says the budget for SFI has now been reached, adding that a “record” 50,000 farm businesses and more than half of all farmed land is now managed under the schemes.
Both Conservatives and Liberal Democrat politicians have criticised the move and the lack of any prior warning.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has reacted to the peace talks between Ukraine and the US.
Ukraine has said it is willing to agree to a ceasefire – provided Russia does too.
Reacting on social media, Lammy said: “We welcome the breakthrough ceasefire proposal agreed today by the US and Ukraine.
“The ball is now firmly in Russia’s court.
“Looking forward to working with G7 partners this week to drive progress towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”
By Alix Culbertson, political reporter
Up to 300,000 people with side hustles selling clothes on Vinted and eBay or making money from TikTok will no longer have to report their income to HMRC.
The threshold for having to file a self-assessment tax return for trading income will be lifted from £1,000 to £3,000 by the next election, set for 2029.
This will include people with side hustles selling vintage clothes on websites such as Vinted and eBay, selling handcrafted gifts on Etsy, dog walking, gardening, driving a taxi, delivering food, or creating online content.
However, they will still have to pay tax on anything earned over £1,000 – they just will not have to report their income until it gets to £3,000.
Tax minister James Murray said: “From trading old games to creating content on social media, we are changing the way HMRC works to make it easier for Brits to make the very most of their entrepreneurial spirit.”
The government is expected to reveal cuts to welfare in the next week or so.
Understandably, many Labour MPs are less than thrilled by the proposition – but it is something the government seems intent on doing.
MPs from Labour have been sent invitations to discuss the proposed changes in Downing Street in roundtable discussions over the next couple of days.
The party insists that meetings with MPs are regular.
While it was initially thought the details of the announcement would come this week, it seems like it may now happen next week.
Could the Planning and Infrastructure Bill be the most important piece of legislation in this parliament?
Our deputy political editor Sam Coates has been looking through the details following its publication today.
And specifically, whether it could help with four major projects…
“This clause could well function as a banter ban.”
Heaven forbid the government legislate against banter.
But that’s what the Tory shadow business minister believes the government’s employment rights bill could do by giving employers a responsibility to protect staff from harassment.
Greg Smith said there is a “high risk” that people might “hear comments they don’t like” in workplaces like universities, pubs, or comedy clubs.
“But it is wrong to restrict free speech just because somebody doesn’t like something,” he told the Commons.
“In other words, this clause could well function as a ‘banter ban’ at best, and a restriction on academic debate and inquiry.”
Emma Little-Pengelly is speaking to Sophy Ridge tonight about her visit to the White House.
Little-Pengelly is a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland.
She’s on equal footing with First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Fein, who has boycotted the trip to see Donald Trump over the president’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Speaking to Sophy, Little-Pengelly says she wants to engage with the office of the president as a representative for her nation.
She says there is “undoubtedly” a risk that Northern Ireland is at risk in any tariff war due to its unique trading relationships with the UK and EU.
She tells Sophy it’s “important the prime minister and others are advocating and making sure there is an awareness about this”, to avoid any “indirect or non-intended” consequences.
Little-Pengelly says she hopes she can follow Keir Starmer’s successful visit to Washington a few weeks ago.
On O’Neill skipping the meeting, Little-Pengelly says she doesn’t agree with Sinn Feinn’s stance – “and I’m quite sure she wouldn’t agree with me coming along, but of course, it is a joint office”.
Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposal and the US says it will restart military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv after a big day of peace talks in Saudi Arabia.
Donald Trump has said he’s ready to have Volodymyr Zelenskyy back in the White House, and wants to talk to Vladimir Putin too.
For now, the news of a breakthrough between Kyiv and Washington has been warmly welcomed by Sir Keir Starmer.
Hailing a “remarkable breakthrough”, the PM congratulated Trump and Zelenskyy and said it was an “important moment for peace in Ukraine”.
He added: “We now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible.
“As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court.
“Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting too.”
Starmer will be hosting virtual talks with potential members of a peacekeeping coalition on Saturday.
In light of her campaigning on online pornography and the violence it often depicts against women, Gabby Bertin is asked by Sophy Ridge about the Kyle Clifford case.
Clifford was given a life sentence today for raping and killing his ex-girlfriend, and also murdering her mother and sister.
It emerged during legal proceedings that Clifford had searched for an Andrew Tate podcast in the lead-up to his killing spree.
Conservative peer Bertin has a particular interest in this area, as her cousin was stalked and murdered.
She says it is important for people to ask themselves why influencers Tate have such a big following.
‘We can’t give power to people like Tate’
Bertin tells Sophy: “You know, what are we doing to look after our young men and boys as well as our young women and girls?
“And I think that pitting the sexes against each other is not really the answer to getting solutions in this.
“And so I think we have to be very careful that we include everyone in the conversation and that we don’t give power to those types of influences who are attracting horrendous numbers of people.
“I think the government needs to look at that very seriously.”
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