'Nasty dog-whistle'

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [The Independent]( July 18, 2023 [View online](   [Morning Headlines]( 1 /[Labour backlash against Starmer over child benefit U-turn]( Sir [Keir Starmer]( is facing mutiny from [Labour]( MPs over his plan to uphold the Tories’ “nasty dog-whistle” two-[child benefit]( cap, exposing a huge rift in the party ahead of crucial by-elections. The Labour leader’s latest U-turn – which saw him backtrack on plans to scrap the controversial policy devised by austerity architect [George Osborne]( – was openly condemned by backbenchers and sparked a backlash in the shadow cabinet. Sir Keir is set to be grilled on the controversy at a meeting of the party’s shadow cabinet on Tuesday. One shadow minister told The Independent that the move was “extremely disheartening”, while another frontbencher said they were “not happy” with the U-turn. The Labour leader will be concerned that allies from the centre such as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also spoke out against the plan alongside left-wingers such as Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and Zarah Sultana. Labour funder Unison called the two-child benefit cap “cruel” while the Fabian Society, an affiliate usually sympathetic to Sir Keir, criticised it as “nasty dog-whistle” politics aimed at appealing to voters unhappy about large families getting benefits. The growing row came as Labour’s North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll dramatically quit the party and lashed out at Sir Keir in an extraordinary exit letter, telling him: “You’ve U-turned on so many promises.”   2 /[UK relaxes immigration rules for construction workers as Brexit labour shortages bite]( Construction industry says more needs to be done to close skills shortage in long-term 3 /[Greek holiday villages evacuated as wildfires rage during scorching Europe heatwave]( An all-time heat record could be set in Italy, Spain or Greece this week 4 /[Kevin Spacey flew into charity ball at Elton John’s home on private jet, singer tells trial]( Kevin Spacey, accused of various charges of sexual assault, also stored a Mini Cooper in the singer’s garagell 5 /[‘Turning point’ in the fight against Alzheimer’s as drug found to slow disease]( The results of a new trial were labelled as symbolic of ‘a new era where Alzheimer’s disease could become treatable’ THE BIG QUESTION [Why will the Crimea bridge attack get under Putin’s skin?]( A pre-dawn deadly assault on the Kerch Bridge is the second such attack in just nine months. As [Ukraine]( pushes ahead with a summer counteroffensive, it amounts to a personal jab at [Vladimir Putin](, who has often boasted about its construction. The 12-mile rail and road structure – the longest in Europe – was a £2.7bn prestige project and was opened by Mr Putin five years ago. It links the Russian mainland and occupied [Crimea](, which Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. When it was opened, Mr Putin boasted that Russian tsars had dreamed of building this “miracle” but had never succeeded. Russian state media hailed it as the “construction of the century”. Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine last February, the bridge has morphed into a military supply lifeline for Moscow’s men on the battlefield. In the summer it is also gridlocked with Russian tourists wanting to holiday in Crimea – a popular holiday destination, despite the war rumbling mere miles away. [For the full article click here]( Enjoy a year of unlimited digital access for just £99 £20 ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more [SUBSCRIBE NOW](   Watch /[Tour de France spectator causes huge crash by taking selfie]( NUMBER OF THE DAY 4,000 – Raging [wildfires]( forced the evacuation of holiday villages in [Greece]( on Monday as [Europe]( was braced for record [temperatures]( and meteorologists warned the deadly heatwave was likely to stretch into August. With fires still burning on [La Palma]( in the [Canary Islands](, where more than 4,000 people were evacuated on Sunday, two separate blazes which ignited near Athens on Monday saw hundreds of children forced to flee a summer camp and villagers abandon their homes. [Read more]( QUOTE OF THE DAY “This is truly a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer’s and science is proving that it is possible to slow down the disease.” – Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, after a new drug is being hailed as a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer’s after a groundbreaking trial found it slows[the progression of the disease](. [Read more here](   OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE [Russia stops crucial Ukraine grain export deal hours after attack on Crimea bridge]( UK to open trade negotiations with Turkey to ‘deepen relationship’]( [BBC reveal record Wimbledon viewing figures after Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic final](   Articles available exclusively to subscribers Nick Ferris](- Forget Cerberus – these heatwaves will soon be Britain’s new normal](   OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE [The Race Report]( The Race Report Fortnightly Written by Nadine White [Join now]( [The View from Westminster ]( The View from Westminster Every weekday Written by John Rentoul [Join now](   The Independent proudly partners with [Refuge]( and the [National Domestic Abuse Helpline](: 0808 2000 247 If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Download the free Independent app 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](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). 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, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.