{"id":3767,"date":"2025-12-15T09:41:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T09:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=3767"},"modified":"2025-12-15T09:41:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T09:41:01","slug":"government-announces-extra-funding-for-safe-housing-for-domestic-abuse-survivors-uk-politics-live-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=3767","title":{"rendered":"Government announces extra funding for safe housing for domestic abuse survivors \u2013\u00a0UK politics live | Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

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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<\/a>, and the latest talks in Berlin tonight<\/a> on peace proposals for Ukraine. Keir Starmer is a key partner in this process, and he will be flying to Germany to attend.<\/p>\n

But first he will have to spend 90 minutes at the Commons liaison committee taking questions, not on foreign policy, but instead mostly on \u201cthe Plan for Change: one year on\u201d. These hearings normally don\u2019t reveal as much as a lengthy interrogation of the PM on policy probably should, but there is shortage of complaints about the government\u2019s record over the past year and there are plenty of interesting questions that could be asked.<\/p>\n

Part of Labour\u2019s 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<\/a> and Wales are going to get a dedicated rape and sexual offences teams by 2029.<\/p>\n

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There is more today. The government is announcing that councils will receive a further \u00a319m aimed at providing safe housing for domestic abuse survivors as part of the violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy.<\/p>\n

PA Media has more details. It says:<\/p>\n

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<\/svg>Ministers said the funding would help local authorities offer victims access to a \u201cfresh start\u201d on top of \u00a3480m already pledged over the next three years for support including refuges and sanctuary schemes.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cnational emergency\u201d, within a decade.<\/p>\n

Around \u00a3500m 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Homelessness minister Alison McGovern<\/strong> said: \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Mahmood will unveil the VAWG strategy on Thursday, the last day the Commons is sitting before the Christmas recess.<\/p>\n

Here is the agenda for the day.<\/p>\n

10.30am:<\/em> Rishi Sunak, the former PM and former chancellor, gives evidence to the Covid inquiry about the economic response to the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Morning:<\/em> Kemi Badenoch is on a visit to promote the Conservative party\u2019s call for an end the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.<\/a><\/p>\n

11am:<\/em> Danny Kruger, who is in charge of Reform UK\u2019s planning for government, holds a press conference.<\/p>\n

11.30am:<\/em> Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.<\/p>\n

2pm:<\/em> Keir Starmer<\/a> gives evidence to the Commons liaison committee.<\/p>\n

2.30pm:<\/em> John Healey, the defence secretary, takes questions in the Commons.<\/p>\n

Afternoon:<\/em> Blaise Metreweli gives her first speech at the new head of MI6. As Dan Sabbagh<\/strong> reports, she will warn<\/a> that assassination plots, sabotage, cyber-attacks and the manipulation of information by Russia<\/a> and other hostile states mean that \u201cthe frontline is everywhere\u201d.<\/p>\n

After 3.30pm:<\/em> MPs vote to overturn last week\u2019s Lords defeat on the employment rights bill.<\/a><\/p>\n

Afternoon:<\/em> Starmer flies to Berlin for talks about Ukraine.<\/p>\n

5pm:<\/em> Zack Polanski, the Green party, speaks at a press conference to announce councillor defections to his party.<\/p>\n

If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can\u2019t read all the messages BTL, but if you put \u201cAndrew\u201d in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.<\/p>\n

If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X<\/a>, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.<\/p>\n

I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can\u2019t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.<\/p>\n

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