Church must ‘turn back’ public opinion on assisted dying, says archbishop
Members of the Church of England should work to “withstand and even turn back” the forces of public opinion “that risk making … assisted dying a reality in our national life”, the archbishop of York has said.Speaking to the church’s General Synod on Friday, Stephen Cottrell said permitting assisted dying would change “forever the contract between doctor and patient, pressurising the vulnerable and assuming an authority over death that belongs to God alone”.MPs voted last month to pass a bill giving some terminally ill adults in England and Wales the legal right to be assisted to end their lives.It will now pass to the House of Lords, where 26 Anglican bishops sit by right, for further scrutiny.Cottrell is in the second most senior clerical position in the Anglican church and is currently its de facto leader after the resignation of Justin Welby as archbishop of Canterbury last year.
Addressing the church’s governing body on Friday in York, Cottrell thanked the bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, and the other Lords Spiritual “for their principled and persistent opposition to the assisted dying bill in parliament, which we now have a chance to debate as well”.He said his view of “the dignity and value of every life and every moment of life” came from his Christian faith.“Although we may take for granted the Christian roots of our shared values and legal system in this country, it would be wise to remember that other philosophies and worldviews teach different things and may not uphold the dignity and value of life in the same way,” he said.He added: “When we lose something as foundational as decisions over life and death, we are in danger of losing other safeguards and provisions as well.”Referring obliquely to Welby’s resignation, which followed the publication of a damning report on his handling of one of the C of E’s worst abuse cases, Cottrell said the church had been “humbled” over the past year.
“God has humbled us in so many ways this year,” he said,“It has not been easy, but if it has made us more penitent, more determined to put victims and survivors first, more resolved to sort out all sorts of things to do with clergy discipline and accountability, terms of service, independent safeguarding and other things besides, then … God the redeemer who believes in the church is at work among us,”The archbishop previously told the Guardian that the report’s publication and Welby’s resignation had led to an “unprecedented crisis” in the church,Eight months after Welby’s resignation in November, the church is still far from deciding on his successor – a process that is expected to take up to a year,Cottrell said he wanted the organisation to become “a simpler and a humbler and a bolder church”.
“Despite our failings, the people of this land have not given up on the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Rachel Reeves says May’s fall in GDP is ‘disappointing’; Trump tariffs knock markets – as it happened
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has described the latest GDP figures as “disappointing”.Following this morning’s news that the UK economy contracted by 0.1% in May, Reeves points to the government’s efforts to support households financially:“Getting more money in people’s pockets is my number one mission. While today’s figures are disappointing, I am determined to kickstart economic growth and deliver on that promise.“The choices we have made in our first year in government have seen us extend the £3 bus fare cap, fund Free School Meals for over half a million more children, press ahead with plans to deliver free breakfast clubs for every child in the country and increase the National Minimum and National Living Wage, giving a pay rise to 3 million workers
Fall in UK GDP puts focus back on expectations of tax rises in autumn budget
May’s unexpected 0.1% decline in GDP will make depressing reading for Rachel Reeves before a tough budget in the autumn.Stronger-than-expected growth would have helped to alleviate the squeeze on the public finances – but there is nothing in this latest data pointing to an upturn.The 0.1% fall in May is marginal, but it follows a 0
UK government considers rescue package for second major steel plant this year
Ministers are considering options to step in to save another major steel plant if its parent company collapses into administration after a key court case next week.The business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, is understood to be looking at what the government can do to support Speciality Steel UK (SSUK) – part of the Liberty Steel Group owned by Sanjeev Gupta – should it be faced with possible closure after Wednesday’s insolvency hearing.Those close to the government’s thinking say Reynolds has not ruled out taking full control of the business, which employs 1,450 people at plants in Rotherham and Sheffield in South Yorkshire.It would become the second plant to fall under state control this year, after ministers took control of the similarly threatened British Steel plant in Scunthorpe from its Chinese owners – though Speciality Steel’s plants are likely to prove easier to sell to a different owner.A government spokesperson said: “We continue to closely monitor developments around Liberty Steel, including any public hearings, which are a matter for the company
Zonal pricing is dead. Now Miliband should be less absolutist on his 2030 goals | Nils Pratley
The chief executive of Ofgem, Jonathan Brearley, backed zonal pricing. Fintan Slye, the head of the National Energy System Operator, also supported a system that could have led to different parts of Great Britain charging different rates for their electricity. Chris Stark, the head of the “mission control” unit within Ed Miliband’s energy department, declared himself to be “zonal curious”.But it’s not going to happen. After intense lobbying from both sides of the great philosophical divide in energy-land, Miliband has killed the zonal option
FTSE 100 hits record high as investors shrug off trade war concerns
The FTSE 100 index of the most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange has soared to a record high as investors shrugged off concerns over Donald Trump’s trade wars.The FTSE 100 had the 9,000-point mark in its sights on Thursday, as it climbed to 8,979 points, above its previous all-time high of 8,908 points.Stocks rose in London amid a global rally, as traders grew confident that Trump would either reach agreements with US trading partners, or again delay or dial back his threatened tariffs.Mining stocks led the FTSE 100 risers, with Anglo American, Glencore and Rio Tinto gaining about 3.8%
FTSE 100 share index hits record high; four people arrested over UK cyber-attacks – as it happened
Newsflash: Britain’s blue-chip stock index has hit a new alltime high, as investors shrug off the threat of Donald Trump’s trade wars.Update: The FTSE 100 index has risen by as much as 80 points, or 0.9%, to a fresh record peak of 8947.84 points, over the previous record of 8908.82 set in March
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