Politics LIVE: Liz Truss issues stark warning as she issues stunning takedown of new budget responsibility bill

Liz Truss has issued a stark warning against the Government’s plans to give more powers to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The former Conservative Prime Minister, who resided in No10 for just 44 days, has criticised the new Government’s Budget Responsibility Bill, which is due to be debated in the Commons for the first time later today.

The bill is aimed at creating what the Government has dubbed a “fiscal lock”, ensuring that any major tax or spending plans set out by ministers are automatically subject to an assessment by the independent OBR.

Truss, who lost her South West Norfolk seat by just 630 votes, and her then-chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced £45billion in unfunded tax cuts following a mini-budget in Autumn 2022 spooking the markets, leading to soaring mortgage rates. She also sought to challenge the narrative that it was her short-lived tax-cutting agenda that caused financial chaos.

Speaking about the Bill, Truss said: “The OBR has been found time and time again to have been wildly inaccurate in its forecasting, so enhancing the status of this unelected and unaccountable body is a fatuous move that will only serve to restrict the ability of elected ministers to make decisions in the national interest.

“Since 2010, the OBR – according to its own assessment – has, on average, misjudged the UK’s public sector net borrowing by £52.5billion and miscalculated the UK’s annual growth by £46.5billion every year.

“These are hardly rounding errors, yet its incorrect projections are used to put politicians in a straitjacket, as I discovered when attempting to boost economic growth with relatively modest tax cuts.”

David Lammy urges British nationals to leave Lebanon

The Foreign Secretary said events were “fast-moving” and Foreign Office staff are working “round the clock” to help ensure the safety of UK citizens.

It comes as Lammy said Britain the welcomes the Lebanese government’s call for a cessation of all violence after an attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights blamed on Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The strike killed 12 children and teenagers.

“I spoke to (Lebanon’s) Prime Minister @Najib_Mikati today to express my concern at escalating tension and welcomed the Government of Lebanon’s statement urging for cessation of all violence,” David Lammy wrote on social media.

Robert Jenrick calls for end to mass migration in campaign launch video

The Newark MP, who resigned from as Rishi Sunak’s Immigration Minister over the Rwanda scheme, this morning released the policy-led video filmed on Sedley Beacon.

He opened up about the “hard truths” facing the UK as he calls for an end to mass migration.

Jenrick said: “Our NHS has a fifth more money, doctors, and nurses than it did five years ago. But isn’t treating any more people. The hard truth is that we lost this election because we failed to tackle these challenges.

“The even harder truth is that the severity of these challenges now threatens our future.”

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE

Jeremy Hunt admits he was ‘angry’ in showdown with Rachel Reeves

Speaking on GB News, the Shadow Chancellor said: “I was angry, I will be quite upfront about that. It’s perfectly alright to disagree with good, conservative plans to deal with public finances.

“But what you can’t do is junk the plans we had in place then blame the black hole on the previous Conservative government.

“We had plans based on public sector productivity. She has just given an inflation-busting £9bn pay award to nearly the entire sector, the unions that helped Labour in the sector.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Yvette Cooper in Southport today after shocking knife attack

Asked whether the Prime Minister will be in the north-west seaside town, Rachel Reeves told Sky News: “I’m sure he will be and I know that the Home Secretary is already there.”

Reacting to the attack, the Chancellor said: “Beyond the worst nightmare of any parent what’s unfolding in Southport. And my thoughts and prayers are with all of those families affected.

“And I also just pay tribute to the emergency services, particularly at Alder Hey Hospital having to treat the children and families who have been impacted by what happened yesterday.

“Nothing can prepare you for something like this. And I think everybody across our country today is thinking of that community and those families.”

Long awaited public hearing into Omagh bombing to start later today

The probe, led by chairman Lord Turnbull, is examining whether the atrocity could reasonably have been prevented by UK authorities.

Some 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed in the dissident republican bomb attack which devastated the Co Tyrone town on August 15 1998. Some of the bereaved families have called for decades for a public inquiry into alleged security failings.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the atrocity, said today’s hearing will be the first time since 1998 that all of the bereaved families, including those caught up in the blast from Spain, will come together.

Survivors are also expected to gather at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh for the hearing which will include opening remarks from the chair and counsel to the chair Paul Greaney KC.

Angela Rayner set to announce ‘sweeping changes’ to planning system

The Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary is expected to address MPs about an overhaul set to include bringing back mandatory housing targets and more detail on the land Labour could use for development.

The Government says it is committed to preserving nature, but that the so-called grey belt, low-quality areas such as disused car parks and wasteland on parts of protected land known as the green belt, could be built on.

The announcement will introduce “golden rules” to ensure development works for local people and protects the environment, Rayner has said.