The Independent's Political Editor David Maddox says that despite the clash with Unite, the deputy prime minister’s influence is unmatched since the welfare rebellion

Keir Starmer’s government has hit its lowest ever approval rating with the public, according to a damning new poll. The YouGov survey, carried out to mark Labour’s first year in power, found that just 13% of voters are happy with the party’s performance. By contrast, 67% of the public say they disapprove of how the government is doing.

Deal with Macron to end small boat crossings won't work, according to the officials charged with implementing it

Keir Starmer has come under pressure over claims more state pensioners will be forced to pay income tax. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch attacked the Prime Minister over frozen tax bands which are pushing more pensioners into paying income tax.

Although MPs comfortably passed the government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill by 336 votes to 242, dozens of Labour backbenchers thumbed their nose at the prime minister. Some 47 voted against the legislation, with a further 14 abstaining.

Sir Keir Starmer has sparked fears of a new stealth tax after Kemi Badenoch warned that "millions of our poorest pensioners face being dragged into income tax for the first time ever". Fears arose after the Leader of the Opposition quizzed the Prime Minister on whether Labour would maintain its commitment to unfreeze income tax thresholds.