Government announces extra funding for safe housing for domestic abuse survivors – UK politics live | Politics

Good morning. The news will be dominated by two foreign stories today: the ongoing response to the Hanukah killings at Bondi beach, which we are covering on a live blog here, and the latest talks in Berlin tonight on peace proposals for Ukraine. Keir Starmer is a key partner in this process, and he will be flying to Germany to attend.

But first he will have to spend 90 minutes at the Commons liaison committee taking questions, not on foreign policy, but instead mostly on “the Plan for Change: one year on”. These hearings normally don’t reveal as much as a lengthy interrogation of the PM on policy probably should, but there is shortage of complaints about the government’s record over the past year and there are plenty of interesting questions that could be asked.

Part of Labour’s plan for change is to halve violence against women and girls over a decade and this week we are getting a series of announcements about that. As Geraldine McElvie reported at the weekend, all police forces in England and Wales are going to get a dedicated rape and sexual offences teams by 2029.

There is more today. The government is announcing that councils will receive a further £19m aimed at providing safe housing for domestic abuse survivors as part of the violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy.

PA Media has more details. It says:

Ministers said the funding would help local authorities offer victims access to a “fresh start” on top of £480m already pledged over the next three years for support including refuges and sanctuary schemes.

Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, is set to unveil sweeping reforms to the criminal justice system this week as part of government plans to halve Vawg, which it has declared a “national emergency”, within a decade.

Around £500m will go towards the domestic abuse safe accommodation duty, which places a statutory requirement on local authorities to provide support to survivors and children in safe accommodation.

Measures can include access to housing in refuges or confidential locations, or security upgrades such as lock changes and alarms for people staying in their own home.

Homelessness minister Alison McGovern said: “This funding will help local authorities provide safe accommodation and tailored support, including refuges and sanctuary schemes, so every survivor can access safety, stability and a fresh start.”

Mahmood will unveil the VAWG strategy on Thursday, the last day the Commons is sitting before the Christmas recess.

Here is the agenda for the day.

10.30am: Rishi Sunak, the former PM and former chancellor, gives evidence to the Covid inquiry about the economic response to the pandemic.

Morning: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit to promote the Conservative party’s call for an end the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.

11am: Danny Kruger, who is in charge of Reform UK’s planning for government, holds a press conference.

11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.

2pm: Keir Starmer gives evidence to the Commons liaison committee.

2.30pm: John Healey, the defence secretary, takes questions in the Commons.

Afternoon: Blaise Metreweli gives her first speech at the new head of MI6. As Dan Sabbagh reports, she will warn that assassination plots, sabotage, cyber-attacks and the manipulation of information by Russia and other hostile states mean that “the frontline is everywhere”.

After 3.30pm: MPs vote to overturn last week’s Lords defeat on the employment rights bill.

Afternoon: Starmer flies to Berlin for talks about Ukraine.

5pm: Zack Polanski, the Green party, speaks at a press conference to announce councillor defections to his party.

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