Watered down welfare bill passes after concessions to rebels

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Watch: 'It's been a bumpy time tonight, but we go forward'

The government has won a vote on its benefits bill by 75 votes, but only after offering last-minute concessions to Labour rebels. Ministers had already watered down their plans once by reversing some cuts to universal credit and protecting current claimants of personal independence payment (Pip) from stricter eligibility rules. However, some Labour MPs were still concerned the new criteria for claiming Pip would come into force before the recommendations of a review could be implemented. Fearing a humiliating defeat, the government announced a further U-turn, saying it would not change Pip rules until it had time to consider the review's conclusions.

The 11th hour changes leave the government's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill gutted of its most significant measures. The move undermines Sir Keir's authority, which has been called into question by a series of U-turns recently, and that of Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. It also puts pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending plans, as potential savings of around £5bn will now be delayed or lost entirely. Helen Miller, incoming director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank, said the figures would "intensify the speculation over the summer about which taxes may rise and by how much". She said it raised questions about the government's credibility adding: "It doesn't bode well for those hoping this government will grasp the nettle and address the deeper, structural challenges facing the UK public finances." Speaking after the vote, Kendall said: "I wish we had got to this point in a different way." She said there were "lessons to learn from the process" but defended the bill arguing it put in place "really important reforms" to help those who can, back into work. She insisted Labour MPs were "100% behind the prime minister".

Following a tumultuous few hours in Parliament, MPs voted by 335 votes to 260 to give the bill their initial approval. The result saw the government's working majority cut from 165 to 75. MPs will continue to scrutinise the bill when it returns to the House of Commons on Wednesday 9 July. Ministers had hoped changes made last week had convinced wavering rebels to back the bill, but during the debate many still expressed concerns. Less than two hours before the final vote, disability minister Sir Stephen Timms told MPs the government was making further compromises, by removing sections of the bill which would have introduced new Pip eligibility rules. "We will move straight on to the wider review and only make changes to Pip eligibility activity and descriptors following that review," he told MPs. Several MPs expressed anger and frustration at the last-minute changes. Labour MP Paula Barker said: "Whilst grateful for the concessions, this has further laid bare the incoherent and shambolic nature of this process - it is the most unedifying spectacle that I have ever seen." Labour's Mary Kelly Foy told MPs: "I popped out for a banana earlier on and, when I came back in, things had changed again. So I'm even more unclear on what I'm voting on." After the vote had taken place, Labour's Ian Lavery told the BBC: "This is an absolute shambles. I've never seen anything like it." Both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives criticised the process and said the bill should be pulled entirely.

Watch: Moment Labour wins crucial welfare reform vote

Facing intense pressure, House must now decide if Trump's bill is good enough

Watch: Trump reacts to the Senate narrowly passing his "big, beautiful" bill

After nearly 24 hours of debate - starting yesterday morning and stretching overnight - the US Senate approved Donald Trump's massive tax-cut and spending bill

Passing by the narrowest of margins, the bill, as it stood on Tuesday, contained key parts of the agenda he campaigned on last year.

Trump celebrated its passage during a visit to a migrant detention facility in Florida. "It's a great bill," he said. "There is something for everyone."

But in fact, while lawmakers may have gotten "something" they wanted, they likely faced concessions to achieve that - and ultimately to push the bill through the House on Tuesday.

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said she worked hard to ensure the bill provided for her state and ultimately voted for it, but was still unhappy. She called the process "rushed".

"My hope is that the House is going to look at this and recognise that we're not there yet," she told reporters just outside the Senate floor, moments after the vote.

In a game of political ping-pong, the bill now returns to the House, which passed its version of the bill weeks ago. If the narrow Republican majority in that chamber gives final approval, perhaps as early as Wednesday, the legislation can be presented to the president for his signature.

But it may be a tough pill for some House Republicans to swallow.

It includes massive new funding -$70bn - for Trump's immigration priorities. It boosts defence spending and makes the tax cuts Republicans passed in Trump's first term permanent. To offset this loss, it cuts funding for Biden-era environmental programmes and Medicaid, the health insurance programme for low-income Americans.

At least 180 aircrew pursuing Ministry of Defence after cancer diagnoses

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Anna-Louise Stubbings Flight sergeant Zach Stubbings trained the Prince of Wales on RAF Sea King helicopters during their time at RAF Valley in north Wales

At least 180 current and former armed forces aircrew with cancer they claim was caused by exposure to toxic fumes in helicopters are pursuing the Ministry of Defence for compensation. RAF flight sergeant Zach Stubbings, who died aged 47 in January, is one of at least six people who have received an out-of-court settlement from the MoD although the MoD has not admitted liability. A group that represents veterans has urged the MoD to take swift action to protect those still serving and also raise awareness among former servicemen and women. The MoD said it believed engine exhaust emissions were of no risk to health but it was conducting monitoring to demonstrate this.

The MoD confirmed in February it was trying to determine the number of people who have served as aircrew who have been diagnosed with cancer and was testing the exhaust emissions of its rotary wing aircraft. One law firm has said it had received inquiries from 180 aircrew and veterans. Hugh James solicitors told the BBC it was pursuing claims relating to four military aircraft - the Sea King, the Westland Wessex, the Puma and the CH-47 Chinook.

Anna-Louise Stubbings Anna-Louise says her late husband Zach was always incredibly proud of his military service

The Sea King was used in British military operations between 1969 and 2018 and has in the past been flown by both King Charles and the Prince of Wales. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003 while the Puma and the CH-47 Chinook are both still in use. Diseases contracted by some of the crew who flew the helicopters include lung cancer, throat cancer, testicular cancer and some rare forms of blood cancer.

Anna-Louise Stubbings Anna-Louise and Zach married in 2020 and his wife is now raising awareness of the issue to former military aircrew and veterans.

Flight sergeant Zach, who trained the Prince of Wales on RAF Sea King helicopters at RAF Valley in north Wales, was 33 when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable form of blood cancer that mainly affects those over the age of 65. "He started to think, 'hang on a minute, I'm a 33-year-old man who's had this diagnosis of a blood cancer that isn't common in men in their thirties... I'm going to look into it'," recalled his widow Anna-Louise. She is the founder of an organ donation charity which she set up nine years ago after her husband Stuart and seven-year-old son Fraser were killed by a careless driver. She met Zach when he contacted her charity Believe after receiving a stem cell transplant before marrying in 2020. "He was appreciating every day after his struggles with this illness and I was just appreciating being part of a team again, having somebody that just completely had my back," said Anna-Louise.

Anna-Louise Stubbings Zach was 33 when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and died aged 47 in January

Zach knew his time was limited and was determined to understand the cause of his cancer and spread awareness. He later discovered others who had worked on military aircraft had also received a cancer diagnosis. "Zach was never bitter, he wasn't vengeful at all, he was the most kind man and he adored his years of service," said Anna-Louise. Zach's case was settled without the MoD admitting liability.

Getty Images Zach was serving as a winch operator and winch man on Sea King aircraft at RAF Valley when he was diagnosed with myeloma

"That settlement for Zach allowed him the opportunity to have some kind of recompense but more importantly, to be able to make some memories," said Anna-Louise. Now she is focused on continuing Zach's work to encourage the MoD to launch a cancer screening programme and raise awareness of the issue to aircrew and veterans. "How many more people are not aware?" she said. "How many people don't know because they have not been screened? How many people don't know what's around the corner?".

Military lawyer Louisa Donaghy has submitted 50 claims to the MoD and has had six cases settled

Zach's solicitor Louisa Donaghy has been working through the inquiries from veterans and aircrew with cancer and has so far submitted 50 claims. "I do feel that is just the tip of the iceberg," said Louisa, a senior associate in Hugh James' military department in Cardiff. "There will be people out there that don't know they've got cancer and also that will be diagnosed in the future."

Ms Donaghy said for each of the six claims she had settled without any admission of liability by the MoD, she had to establish that the MoD had a duty of care to its employees and that the duty had been breached. Ms Donaghy added: "The people that I'm representing through no fault of their own have been exposed unnecessarily for long periods of time - and for thousands of flying hours - to these toxic fumes and these could have been prevented had the MoD given additional PPE such as filtration masks, which would have narrowed and lowered the levels of exposure."

Woody's Lodge chief executive Graham Jones wants the MoD to warn past and present aircrew of the possible dangers

One charity for veterans has called for the MoD to be more proactive raising awareness. "I don't think the MoD are going far enough," said Graham Jones of Woody's Lodge. "We need to get that message out to the veterans' community and get people through a screening process so we can get an early indication of cancer and then we might be able to get a better survival rate within those veterans that are suffering. Mr Jones said many veterans where he lives in north Wales were unaware of the issue. "We all knew when we served in the armed forces there were going to be certain risks, but they were from conflict," he said. "You don't expect it from the equipment that you're using."

Zach's local MS in Cardiff Julie Morgan has urged the MoD to carry out its investigations as swiftly as possible

Zach's local Welsh Parliament member wants PPE introduced for those still serving on Puma and Chinook helicopters and has called for a cancer screening programme for personnel and veterans. "It's really important to remember that there's human beings at the end of this, there's families at the end of this who are very anxious... and my constituent has died," said Cardiff North MS Julie Morgan. "It's a matter of huge concern. The MoD should be as transparent as it possibly can be and I urge the MoD to carry on their investigations as swiftly as they can because it's owed to people."

Getty Images Zach was Prince William's flying instructor during his time at RAF Valley on Anglesey

If you're just hearing about the British underdog who has caught Wimbledon's imagination, then there's one thing he would like you to know - he's Ollie, not Oliver, Tarvet.

"I usually only get called Oliver when my mum is annoyed at me. So you know, I try to avoid it at all costs," the 21-year-old said.

He added that when he heard "Oliver" being shouted from the stands of court four during his first-round victory on Monday, it made him think he had "done something wrong".

The fans could be forgiven for not knowing - after all, he is the world number 733 making his Grand Slam debut.

But he is quickly carving a name for himself and is unfazed by what lies ahead in the second round - namely, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court on Wednesday in front of 15,000 fans.

Should the US college student win, it would mark the biggest upset in Wimbledon history. But he is not ruling out his chances, choosing to see it as an opportunity not an experience.

"I don't really like the word 'experience' because I feel like then you're just there to almost just spectate; you don't really have the expectation to win," he told BBC Sport.

"And, obviously, I'm not saying that I expect to win. But at the same time I feel like I've been quietly confident this whole tournament and it's got me to where I am.

"A big thing for me is just playing the ball, not the player."

For his father Garry, it is a moment he can scarcely believe.

"What a mouth-watering prospect," he said.

"A week of qualifying, a round one win. And this is just too much. It is going to be fun because Ollie has played in front of big crowds - 700 or 800, maybe 1,000. To go in front of 15,000, that is quite a step up, isn't it?"