Now Tory rebels vow to block cuts to benefits

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View online October 04, 2022 1 / Tory MPs vow to block Truss cuts to welfare and services Centrist Conservative MPs have vowed to block Liz Truss's plans for reduced spending on public services and welfare, after a humiliating U-turn on tax left the prime minister's authority deeply damaged.   One former minister told The Independent that opponents of the PM's radical economic policies had been "invigorated" by the sight of Ms Truss "blinking" over a scheme to abolish the 45p top rate of tax for the highest earners.   Senior backbenchers made clear that they were ready to do battle on welfare, with two former work and pensions secretaries saying it would be wrong to renege on Boris Johnson's pledge of an inflation-matching rise and Michael Gove indicating he would need "a lot of persuading" to back cuts. 2 / North Korea launches first missile over Japan in five years as Tokyo tells citizens to take cover Japanese defence minister says he wouldn't rule 'counterattack' option 3 / Women much more likely than men to be prescribed 'heroin-like' anxiety pills Exclusive: 'It was like living in a chemical haze,' says woman 4 / 'It is going to be very, very difficult': Liberated Kharkiv braces for winter of war Ukrainian forces are exultant but civilians still face difficult months ahead 5 / Woman, 60, dies after being mauled by dogs Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene The Big Question Why don't we care about the awfulness of adultery any more? When a series of women started accusing married Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine of cheating last week, the internet didn't exactly overthink the situation. It didn't spark a wave of earnest discussions about morality on social media, nor did people express the feeling that he (or his wife) had a reasonable expectation of privacy at this difficult time, writes Oliver Keens. Worryingly, few even seemed to acknowledge or care that Levine's wife, Behati Prinsloo, is pregnant and may be experiencing huge trauma right now – simultaneously going viral while carrying the child of someone who's potentially been telling models "how f***ing hot" they are. No, we processed the challenging life situation of others by... making memes. Hilarious memes recontextualising his vapid and (in Levine's own words) "flirtatious" messages. We (myself included) turned the awful domestic situation of total strangers into a big in-joke for our own entertainment. For the full story click here > Watch/ When will we start seeing our energy bills capped? NUMBER OF THE DAY £11bn – Schools and hospitals must find a whopping £11bn of cuts after chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng  refused to protect their budgets from rampant inflation, experts say.   QUOTE OF THE DAY "This is nonsense. To make that stamp duty saving you'd need to be buying a £500,000+ property. With 10% deposit, cheapest fix mortgage would cost £2,400/mth (£28,000/yr). How can someone on £30k afford that. I am asking treasury to remove." – Martin Lewis has branded a government claim over stamp duty savings as "irresponsible nonsense". Other stories you might like Danish Queen 'sorry' after stripping grandchildren of titles Donald Trump sues CNN in $475million defamation lawsuit Suella Braverman considers pre-charge anonymity for suspects to end 'media circus' Articles available exclusively to subscribers Marie Le Conte, The Independent - Truss may be trying to steady the ship, but many have fled already Other newsletters you might like The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White Sign up Inside Politics Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Matt Mathers Sign up If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders.   If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please unsubscribe.   If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.