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Politics latest: Labour MP resigns as government whip over benefit cuts

Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft has resigned as a government whip over Sir Keir Starmer's plan to cut benefits.

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MP resigns as government whip over benefit cuts

Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft has resigned from her post as a government whip over Sir Keir Starmer's plan to cut benefits.

She wrote in a letter to the prime minister that she could not vote "for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances".

The former shadow minister for disabled people becomes the first MP to quit the government over the controversial welfare reform plans.

The MP for Lewisham North wrote that the benefits system is in "desperate need of reform", adding: "I absolutely understand the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill in these difficult economic times, but I have always believed this could and should be done by supporting more disabled people into work.

"I do not believe that cuts to personal independence payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit should be part of the solution."

Foxcroft said she has "wrestled" with the decision over whether to resign, but said: "Sadly it is now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see.

"I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip 鈥� or indeed vote 鈥� for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances."

To read the government's response, tap here.

Labour MPs praise colleague's 'principled' decision to quit as whip over benefit cuts

We're starting to get some more reaction from Labour MPs to Vicky Foxcroft's decision to resign as a government whip to oppose Sir Keir Starmer's plan to cut benefits.

 Jonathan Brash, MP for Hartlepool, wrote on X: "Utmost respect for @vickyfoxcroft and her principled stand here.

"She's right. Our welfare system does need change, but the cuts proposed are not the right way to do it."

Josh Fenton-Glynn, MP for Calder Valley, echoed those sentiments, saying: "Vicky is a friend and a colleague. She has taken a brave and principled stand on this."

 lan Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby, simply wrote: "Solidarity."

Dawn Butler, MP for Brent East, wrote on X: "Vicky is my whip and we have had many conversations. I know this would have been a very hard decision to make.

"I totally understand and appreciate how hard she has worked and her decision. Much respect Vicky."

And Connor Naismith, MP for Crewe and Nantwich, said: "Huge respect for Vicky. This must have been an incredibly difficult decision, but she should be commended for standing by her principles.

"I agree with her that reducing the welfare bill is the right ambition, but cuts to UC and PIP should not be part of the solution."

Government defends 'principled reforms' to welfare after whip quit over cuts

We've just had a statement from the government after Vicky Foxcroft MP resigned as a government whip over the plans to cut benefits.

A spokesperson said: "This Labour government was elected to deliver change. The broken welfare system we inherited is failing the sick and most vulnerable and holding too many young people back. It is fair and responsible to fix it.

"Our principled reforms will ensure those who can work should, that those who want to work are properly supported, and that those with most severe disabilities and health conditions are protected."

Former shadow chancellor praises MP for quitting government job

Labour MPs are likely still digesting the news that Vicky Foxcroft has resigned as a government whip over the welfare reform plans, and so reaction has been muted so far.

But John McDonnell, who served as shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the party, has posted his reaction on X.

The now independent MP wrote: "Vicky Foxcroft worked really hard as the shadow minister for the disabled, and as a result will have a thorough understanding of the implications of the benefit cuts on disabled people.

"I fully respect her for the decision she has taken."

Crucial evidence in Post Office scandal found in garage

By Adele Robinson, news correspondent

A damning report into the faulty Post Office IT system that preceded Horizon has been unearthed after nearly 30 years - and it could help overturn criminal convictions.

The document, known about by the Post Office in 1998, is described as "hugely significant" and a "fundamental piece of evidence" and was found in a garage by a retired computer expert.

Capture was a piece of accounting software, likely to have caused errors, used in more than 2,000 branches between 1992 and 1999.

It came before the infamous faulty Horizon software scandal, which saw hundreds of sub postmasters wrongfully convicted between 1999 and 2015.

The "lost long" Capture documents were discovered in a garage by a retired computer expert who came forward after a Sky News report into the case of Patricia Owen, a convicted sub postmistress who used the software.

Adrian Montagu was supposed to be a key witness for Pat's defence at her trial in 1998 but her family always believed he had never turned up, despite his computer "just sitting there" in court.

Mr Montagu, however, insists he did attend.

Liam Byrne, the Labour MP and chair of the business and trade committee, will be speaking to Sky News after 8am.

'Tough questions' for Whitehall about grooming scandal

Lord Michael Gove has told Sky News that a national inquiry could see some "tough questions" asked of the Home Office about it culture and its interactions with the police.

But those questions will also be posed to two departments he led - the Department for Local Government and the Department of Education.

The veteran cabinet minister welcomes the inquiry and the accompanying "tough question", saying: "I think it's right that there should be, because the nature and scale of what the victims have endured means that there's an obligation on all of us who've been in any form of elected office to be honest and unsparing in looking at what went on."

He said he "certainly didn't have the knowledge at my command that we now do about the widespread nature of this activity".

'Not nearly enough' progress made

Sophy Ridge put to Lord Gove that despite commissioning a report on what was happening to girls in care, and not seeking to block the publication of Andrew Norkfolk's story, he still failed to make change.

He replied: "Yes, so it is undoubtedly the case that more should have been done."

He admitted that it "absolutely" weights on him, and that "not nearly enough" progress was made.

"With the benefit of hindsight, I do wish that I had been more vehement in trying to persuade people to take appropriate action," he said.

The Department for Education and Rotherham Council were approached for comment earlier this week on the claims first made by Dominic Cummings, revealed by Sky News.

Gove confirms Sky News story about grooming 'cover up' in Whitehall

Lord Michael Gove has confirmed the report from Sky News this week that Whitehall officials tried to convince him to go to court to cover up the grooming scandal in 2011.

The allegations of a cover-up were first made to Sky News by former Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings in an interview with Sky News, and the claims were substantiated by other sources as well. Mr Cummings was working for Lord Gove, who was then education secretary.

Speaking to Sky's Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge, Lord Gove explained that in 2011, he learned that the late Times journalist Andrew Norfolk, who he described as "a heroic reporter who did more than anyone to initially uncover this scandal", was seeking to publish details of a report from Rotherham Council about the abuse and grooming of young girls.

He said: "Rotherham Council wanted to stop that happening. They wanted to go to court to prevent him publishing some details, and we in the Department for Education were asked by the council, 'would we join in, would we be a party to that court action to stop it'.

"And I had to look at the case, advised by Dominic [Cummings] and by others, and there were some within the department, some officials who said, 'be cautious, don't allow this to be published, there may be risks for relatives of the victim concerned."

'We believe in transparency'

Rotherham Council also argued that publication may pose "risks" to the process of "improving in the way in which it handles" grooming cases, he continued.

The judicial review wanted by officials would have asked a judge to decide about the lawfulness of The Times' publication plans and the consequences that would flow from this information entering the public domain.

But Lord Gove said: "My view at the time, advised by Dominic and by others within the department, was that it was definitely better for it to be published."

"So we said to Rotherham, we will join the case, but we're joining it on the side of the Times and Andrew Norfolk because we believe in transparency."

The Department for Education and Rotherham Council were approached for comment earlier this week on the claims first made by Dominic Cummings, revealed by Sky News.

Israel-Iran live: Trump reveals timeline on Iran attack decision

We're starting tonight's programme with a discussion about the latest on the situation in the Middle East - including Donald Trump's deliberations on whether to join Israeli strikes on Iran.

Catch up on the latest here:

Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live

Our flagship weeknight politics programme is under way.

We will be joined by former veteran cabinet minister Lord Michael Gove, and former MP and Post Office scandal campaigner Lord Beamish (Kevan Jones).

On our panel is Guto Harri, former Downing Street director of communications, and Baroness Luciana Berger, former MP.

Watch live on Sky News and in the stream at the top of this page.

Sky News Daily: Could there be another聽Post Office scandal?

The Horizon scandal captured the nation after the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office.

And now, more faulty Post Office accounting software has been uncovered, in what some are calling a second Post Office scandal.

Today, the government's announced details of a compensation scheme for postmasters who suffered through using Capture in the 1990s.

In today鈥檚 episode, Sarah-Jane Mee is joined by news correspondent Adele Robinson, who has unearthed new evidence to show the system was faulty and speaks to families devastated by the scandal.