Martinelli sins leave sour taste in Arsenal and Liverpool’s drab draw

Arsenal wanted a statement, but there won’t be much more said about this 0-0 draw with Liverpool at all – outside the controversy surrounding Gabriel Martinelli’s shameful moment. It was perhaps surprising that Arne Slot’s players didn’t respond with even greater fury after he pushed a clearly injured Conor Bradley off the pitch.

It was otherwise very much like the game in August, except without a moment of magic to settle it, or pretty much any creativity at all.

An otherwise great Christmas for Arsenal still ends up feeling, well, like a rainy midweek evening in January. The entire occasion involved a certain restlessness, but the home crowd can at least remind themselves that they are in a better position than they were a month ago, and a commanding six points clear.

It was just that Mikel Arteta’s side were too willing to cede control, in a game that will at least offer Slot some solace.

This was a third successive draw, but one that wasn’t like the others.

If Arsenal are to end up winning the title, they will have done so without actually beating last season’s champions in the league. Liverpool have claimed four points against them, out of two matches where the best you can say is that both showed each other an awful lot of respect. That’s despite constant murmurs that they don’t really like each other too much.

Perhaps that was seen in Martinelli’s stunning intervention, but there’s absolutely no excuse for that. That could be one moment from this match that provokes further discussion – and a lot of controversy – but Slot did take the temperature out of it by almost speaking on the Brazilian’s behalf. The Liverpool manager said that time-wasting is a general problem in football and it should be understood that frustrated players might feel that every incident is such in the heat of the moment – even if this obviously wasn’t.

“You cannot expect Martinelli to think so clear in the 94th minute,” Slot said.

Liverpool did enough to remind the world of their quality without actually showing it, while Arsenal weren’t allowed to play their game. Liverpool had most of the possession in the second half.

Ultimately, though, very little actually happened in a match from which everyone expected so much.

And, for want of an actual discussion, it’s impossible not to say that more was by now expected of Viktor Gyokeres. It is a talking point.

Arsenal may still be in firm control of their destiny, but one of the lingering doubts is over the forward line, and what Arteta actually ends up deciding to do there.

How long will he keep faith with Gyokeres?

The recovering Gabriel Jesus is already a ball of energy any time he comes on, something that stands out all the more when it’s put in immediate contrast with the Swede’s relative sluggishness. Kai Havertz is, meanwhile, expected back on Sunday.

There’s even an argument that midfielder Mikel Merino is a more useful option right now.

It’s hard not to think that Gyokeres will soon be on the bench, which is probably better for Arsenal than five yards behind a ball that flashes across the box.

This isn’t to immediately dismiss the player. He’s clearly still adapting to the leap that the Premier League represents, and isn’t quite up to speed.

It is very much speed that is the issue, though.

There were three big moments in the first half, where you would have expected a striker of his profile to do everything to get there.

One was a Jurrien Timber head back. One was a Saka cut back. Another was a flashed Leandro Trossard ball across the box.

Yet, for each, Gyokeres ended up around five yards behind play.

He ended up going off on 64 minutes after making a mere eight touches.

A bit more force for even one of those chances, and it could have been nine and a goal.

For Gyokeres’ part, he did offer one fine moment with a smart reverse pass for Timber. Arsenal didn’t even have another shot until the 90th minute, either, but that wasn’t completely down to the attacking options.

Arteta was evidently willing his team to be much more contained.

That was despite Liverpool not having much in attack themselves, which is much more explainable.

Three of their attacking stars are out, and they ended up playing a forward up front who has occasionally filled in at left wing-back.

Liverpool did begin to get control of the game in the second half, but couldn’t do much with it.

They didn’t have the individual creativity or the collective integration.

Florian Wirtz was often left looking frustrated near the area as another Liverpool attack went nowhere, and certainly not towards him.

This is maybe the greater concern for Slot. His team aren’t really building. They’re now too dependent on individual inspiration.

The difference in what Liverpool were and are could be seen in one set piece, albeit not from Arsenal. Back in August, Dominik Szoboszlai struck a 30-yard free-kick that flew into the top corner. Here, it flew into the crowd.

Wayward, indulged and not looking like anything it was expected to be: a bit like the team right now.

He did get closer with one that was nearer to the goal. Like so much in this match, though, it did not ultimately end with a shot on target.

Arsenal couldn’t even do that with one of their late set pieces, with the final whistle going just after Gabriel headed down and wide.

Even the last word was muted.

PM accused of delaying ethnic pay gap law over Farage backlash fears

Keir Starmer’s government has been accused of delaying moves to tackle the ethnic minority pay gap because of fears of a backlash from Nigel Farage’s Reform.

A scathing letter from the Ethnicity Pay Gap Steering Committee has questioned why it has taken the government six months to introduce legislation to make reporting on the issue mandatory for large employers, as promised following the end of a review.

In the letter to equalities minister, Seema Malhotra, the committee has lashed out at the delay and suggested that fear of right-wing political pushback was at the heart of the issue.

Noreen Biddle Shah, founder of the think tank Reboot, who wrote the letter on behalf of the committee, said: “My view is that it is reasonable to ask whether the lack of movement on long-awaited legislation is being shaped by concern about political pushback, particularly at a time when the rhetoric around race has become more charged and the popularity of Reform has grown.

“But our research shows something very clear: despite heightened social tension, the public still overwhelmingly supports transparency and fairness at work.”

Her comments come as a More in Common poll saw support for Reform surge by three points to 31 per cent, ahead of the Tories on 23 per cent, with Labour down two on just 19 per cent.

There are concerns that Labour is losing out in traditional so-called red Wall seats in the north of England, the Midlands, and Wales to Reform by pushing an anti-migrant message, with leading politicians using racially charged language.

Calling for an explanation on the delay in legislation, Ms Biddle Shah wrote: “The King’s speech was in July 2024 and the consultation ended in June 2025. We expected clarity by late 2025. The longer the government says nothing, the harder it becomes to explain why.”

The issue has been pegged to economic growth, with Sandra Kerr, race equality director at Business in the Community, previously highlighting that closing ethnicity pay gaps could add £37 billion a year to UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while mandatory reporting on wages would help ensure employees feel “valued, respected, and treated fairly at work.”

The letter was sent to coincide with Ethnicity Pay Gap Day, aimed at drawing attention to the persistent pay inequalities faced by ethnic minority workers. It represents an embarrassment for Ms Malhotra, who is set to be the keynote speaker at the Ethnicity Pay Gap Summit in February.

The Ethnicity Pay Gap Campaign, founded by Dianne Greyson, has been calling on employers and policymakers to address the lack of transparency around ethnicity pay disparities, which continue to leave many workers earning significantly less than their white counterparts.

Unlike gender pay gap reporting, ethnicity pay gap reporting remains voluntary in the UK, despite mounting evidence of structural inequality in pay, progression and opportunity, with campaigners calling for it to be made mandatory.

According to multiple studies, employees from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are, on average, paid less than white employees across many sectors, even when accounting for their role and seniority. Campaigners argue that without mandatory reporting, organisations lack both the incentive and accountability to address the problem.

A study by the University of Surrey in 2024 found that in the NHS, 29.5 per cent of staff were from ethnic minorities, but only 7.9 per cent of senior management came from ethnic minorities.

A government spokesperson said: “The government is committed to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting.

“Ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting will provide transparency and vital data to help businesses identify and close ethnicity and disability pay gaps within their workforces.

“Good progress has been made in analysing the responses to the public consultation and developing our policy and legislative approach. We will announce further details in due course”

Meet Stephen Miller — Trump’s man with the plan for Greenland

Stephen Miller rocked the world this week when he took to the airwaves and declared that Greenland “should be part of the United States,” insisting that no country would dare fight the US over the territory’s future. The bracing “America first” message came as an unpleasant shock for many, but it was all in a day’s work for those who had experience of the man credited with turning Donald Trump’s words into policy deeds.

Described by Steve Bannon, the ultra-conservative pundit, as “Trump’s Prime Minister,” Miller, 40, has long been one of the “true believers” who can make the unthinkable happen. Not for nothing is Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff lavishly trolled by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who casts him as Voldemort — the source of evil in the world of Harry Potter.

It was hardly surprising, then, that a photograph issued by the White House seemed to show that Miller may have been one of the few people in the Mar-a-Lago “war room” as President Trump monitored US military strikes against Venezuela. He is also credited with being one of the key architects of ICE, having served as senior adviser to the President during his first term. Even after leaving office, Miller continued to defend ICE and shape immigration rhetoric, making good on the pledge to “oversee the largest deportation operation in American history.” It’s why critics often describe ICE as being “run from the White House,” with Miller as one of its most powerful behind-the-scenes drivers.

Until recently, Miller, whose twin roles currently include Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Adviser, appeared content with modest titles, so long as he retained the power to enact policy and ensure its delivery. But this week, he thrust himself into the limelight like never before with his forthright and contentious statements that America should, and could, “take” Greenland.

One of the President’s inner circle since the 2016 campaign, Miller’s influence stretches back to the melee of Trump’s first run, and in the second presidential incarnation he has become the prime implementer of “America first” thinking. From national security decisions to the endgame of Ukraine-Russia talks, and now the withdrawal from dozens of UN-led and climate-crisis-combating organizations, Miller cuts a saturnine figure feared by many for his brutal teardowns of those around him.

One UK trade official says: “If you fall on the wrong side of what he wants, whatever else you’ve agreed counts for nothing,” adding: “Miller doesn’t just have the President’s ear, he shapes what goes into it, which is far more important.” While figures such as Scott Bessent at the Treasury or Howard Lutnick at Commerce maintain friendly relations with the UK — particularly as a new ambassador, Christian Turner, takes up his post — Miller is no cocktail-sipping diplomat. His days are a relentless round of pressure, and brow-beating anyone who gets in his way.

Even in this gloves-off realm, Miller is seen as a bare-knuckle fighter for the MAGA cause. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the issue of Greenland could be handled more delicately to shore up security in a way that suits US interests, Miller went straight into fight mode, telling CNN: “What is their basis for having Greenland as a colony of Denmark? The United States is the power of NATO… Obviously, Greenland should be part of the United States.”

One view of these abrupt “Millerisms” is that they serve to make the final outcomes of Trump’s foreign policies seem less extreme. Democrats such as Newsom needle Miller mercilessly, trolling him as a glum-faced automaton and posting: “AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, WE ARE GIVING SERIOUS THOUGHT TO TAKING AWAY STEPHEN MILLER’S CALIFORNIA RESIDENCY.”

The only authoritative biography of Miller is Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda, by American reporter Jean Guerrero, published in 2020. She describes his early childhood in a $1m, five-bedroom home in the North of Montana area of Santa Monica — one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in greater Los Angeles.

At school, Miller was known for baiting liberal-minded peers and teachers, reportedly throwing rubbish on the floor and demanding the cleaning staff pick it up. “Am I the only one here who is sick and tired of being told to pick up my trash when we have plenty of janitors who are paid to do it for us?” he once said.

While many classmates found his behaviour abhorrent, Miller cast himself as a free-speech champion. An aversion to immigration drove his trajectory from California schooldays to Duke University, where he read politics, and later to Breitbart — the right-wing news website. When Trump declared, “Our whole country is rotting, like a third-world country,” Miller emailed friends: “Trump gets it… I wish he’d run for President.” A year later, Trump launched his campaign, and Miller, barely 30, joined it.

More than almost anyone else in Trump’s orbit, Miller now pushes the pace and scope of the President’s doctrine. He is still seen as the central force driving immigration enforcement and asylum removals, turning ICE into one of the most feared federal agencies in the country.

Miller set targets of thousands of deportations a day, blurring the distinction between asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. The use of force as a means to an end has been normalised, at home and abroad. On Monday night, talking about Greenland on CNN, Miller shared what might be called the Trump Doctrine, telling Jake Tapper: “We live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.”

Many figures in Trump’s universe love to talk — JD Vance rarely stops issuing opinions — but Miller is known for his tart tongue and terse delivery. “Donald Trump without the sense of humour,” says one veteran of the 2016 campaign.

I first encountered him that year, as he lurked at the edge of the cordon in the plush velvet of the massive Trump Hotel, his famous perpetually sulky expression a contrast to the giddy roar and glitz of the rest of the Trump team. Among them was Ivanka, Trump’s daughter, who is married to Jared Kushner, the Middle East and Ukraine talks envoy. Miller was seen as “a bit too much”. Later, as a “zero tolerance” immigration policy led to thousands of children being separated from their parents at the southern border, Melania Trump — along with Ivanka — expressed discomfort and urged Trump to change course. They did not prevail, and Miller’s continued rise is cited as one possible reason for Ivanka’s decision to step back during Trump’s second presidency.

His demanding nature is notorious. The Atlantic recently cited a senior official who has participated in his infamous progress-chasing calls: “He pushes everybody to the absolute limit because he knows that the clock is ticking,” the source said. “He gets on the phone and he yells at everybody. Nobody is spared from his wrath.” Miller “counts in thousands,” one figure who defends illegal migrants tells me, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals against his clients and colleagues.

Miller is so purist in his beliefs that even the President jokes about his zeal. When I attended a Christian Conservative-MAGA event not long ago at the Liberty University, General Mike Flynn spoke at length in biblical terms about America being “one step away from destruction” and locked in a battle with the “forces of darkness.” That language is religious in inspiration and has been honed by Miller as a way of adding a Christian Conservative framework to the personality cult of MAGA. As The Nation noted in a recent profile of Miller, the most memorable line of Trump’s 2017 inauguration — “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now” — came straight from Miller’s pen.

Miller’s glamorous wife, Katie, a Conservative podcaster targeting middle-America mums, is on-message too, unnerving European leaders with a social media post depicting a stars and stripes flag covering a map of Greenland under the word “SOON”. Even the couple’s marriage in 2020 was blessed in Trump’s presence at the Trump Hotel.

How Vance views Miller’s growing prominence is unclear, but, make no mistake, the fight for MAGA’s future is already underway. With Rubio another contender, it is no coincidence that Miller has played a prominent role in the capture of Nicolas Maduro and the escalation over Greenland, signaling a new phase in the administration’s disregard for international norms.

“Stephen’s mode is always to outdo any other competitor on the Trump team,” says one former aide. Even Trump has joked about Miller “sitting at the top of the totem pole” in his hierarchy. The public profile Miller now enjoys is a far cry from the sweaty backroom world of Breitbart websites and trying to keep the 2016 election message centred. While Newsom’s barbs about Miller as Voldemort, the incarnation of bad intentions, might amuse America’s battered liberals, it is worth remembering that Voldemort wielded power for a very long time before his downfall.

Trump without Miller, reflects a former campaigning colleague, “would be far less effective across so many areas of this presidency.” Beyond the Trump era, the fight for the future of the right is already starting — and Miller shows every sign of being a central player at the heart of what could be a very fraught battlefield.

Anne McElvoy is host of the ‘Politics at Sam and Anne’s’ podcast and executive editor at Politico

Three missing in ‘catastrophic’ Australia bushfires

Three people, including a child, are missing after bushfires tore through parts of Victoria under “catastrophic” conditions, destroying homes and forcing emergency warnings across south-eastern Australia.

Around 40 fires were burning across Victoria, driven by a severe heatwave and damaging winds, as extreme heat and strong winds fuelled dangerous fire behaviour.

Several properties have been destroyed, and police said a man, woman and child remain unaccounted for after a house burned down in Longwood East.

Fire officials warned the situation could worsen, with dozens of towns under threat. Victoria and South Australia were placed on high alert, with total fire bans declared and large areas given “catastrophic” or “extreme” fire danger ratings – the most severe warning level.

Describing the damage from Longwood fire, Country Fire Authority captain George Noye told ABC Radio:“The town’s been impacted severely. The main street looks like a bomb’s gone off.”

Authorities urged residents in fire-prone areas to leave immediately, warning that staying could cost lives.

More than 700,000 disability benefits claimants transferred to devolved agency

More than 700,000 people receive disability or carer benefits from Scotland’s devolved social security agency, it has been revealed.

Social Security Scotland provides the vast majority of the payments north of the border, with just 28 complex cases yet to be moved from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) attendance allowance scheme to the Scottish equivalent, which is expected in the coming weeks.

The process was done without forcing those in receipt of benefits to re-apply for the Scottish equivalent payments.

The agency has said it has hit its target of full case transfer by the end of the year.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Moving more than 700,000 benefits safely and securely from the DWP to Social Security Scotland was a huge undertaking that was essential to ensure carers and disabled people who need financial support are treated with the dignity, fairness and respect they deserve.

“We have also met our commitment to complete case transfer on time and on budget by the end of 2025.

“When developing our case transfer process, people told us about the stress and anxiety caused by DWP transitions where they had to apply for benefits again with no guarantee they would continue to be eligible.

“We’ve taken a different approach, transferring people’s benefit awards without requiring an application and ensuring no break in entitlement to protect people’s critical payments.

“We set out to deliver a fairer social security system starting from a position of trust, and the majority of clients have told us they were treated with kindness by staff during the process.”

Your dream cruise formula: From Caribbean islands to European cities

If your ideal holiday is one that blends fuss-free adventure with great culinary choices and sumptuous relaxation, then book yourself onto a cruise immediately. From experiencing rich cultures, visiting breathtaking beauty spots, and dining on delicious delicacies – cruising has become one of the most luxurious ways to travel.

This dream-holiday formula is something that Virgin Voyages has perfected with its multi-award-winning, adult-only cruises, which sail across Europe, North America and the Caribbean. From entertaining onboard experiences and modern facilities to exciting escapades on land, these are the types of trips that are worth writing home about, and why Virgin Voyages has been named Travel + Leisure ® World’s Best #1 Mega Ship for an impressive three years in a row.

Here’s what would-be Sailors can expect from a Virgin Voyages cruise…

Whichever of the 150-plus destinations you choose to sail to, one thing remains guaranteed, you’ll get an unforgettable journey, and leave with happy stories to share with loved ones back home. Why not make those memories on Virgin Voyages’ impressive Lady Ships, with Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady each offering a distinct personality which is encapsulated in everything from decor to destinations. Expect enough amenities and activities to entertain a small city: from tequila tasting to spa days and over 20 premium eateries serving menus curated by Michelin starred chefs. There’s a whole holiday’s worth of experiences before you’ve even docked at your first port.

Be gone any thoughts of pokey, old-fashioned interiors and get ready to embrace charming cabins with a super-yacht aesthetic. No matter which of the Virgin Voyages sleeping quarters you choose from, you’ll be met with super comfortable beds, a roomy rainshower, mood lighting, free Wi-Fi and a large flat-screen HDTV. Want to really push the boat out? Opt for luxury suites that promise five-star comfort and opulence, with champagne tables, sun loungers, handwoven terrace hammocks and in-room bars. Virgin Voyages ‘RockStar’ Sailors can also enjoy everything from VIP entrances to private access to rooftop terraces.

Whether your spirit is one of a dancing queen or a sophisticated theatre-goer, Virgin Voyages has nightlife and entertainment options to suit every taste – developed with the help of the world’s most-talked-about directors, choreographers, and artists. Choose from 80s parties, festival acts or classic stories like Romeo and Juliet – reinvented with a circus twist. Each ship offers something different, so if you’re a Virgin Voyages regular, you’ll never see the same thing twice. Save your vocal chords for the private karaoke rooms, while the casinos and gaming arcades could elevate an already winning mood even further.

Don’t want to leave your full-on fitness regime behind when you go on holiday? Or are you just curious to try a new healthy group class? Whatever your wellness wishes, there’s plenty to keep you busy onboard with workouts for every level. There’s yoga, HIIT, weight training, boxing, meditation and more, plus running or walking the signature 255-metre-ish Virgin red running track, which curves around the top of the ship in a halo shape. If relaxation is your main goal, head to the spa for everything from steam room and sauna to hot stone massage and seaweed wrap. The beauty salon offers a range of professional treatments, from manicures, pedicures and nail art to IV therapy, Botox and fillers.

While you’re free to enjoy port cities at your own leisure, Virgin Voyages also curates an array of land excursions or ‘Shore Things’ for those who want to immerse themselves in local culture. Why not enjoy a barefoot fish cookout on the Mexican island of Cozumel, a late night party on the Greek Island of Mykonos or visit the historic halls of Harvard University when sailing through Boston, Massachusetts. If you’re cruising the Caribbean, choose from a beach day in St Vincent and The Grenadines; explore the private island of Mustique or visit the colourful buildings of the capital Kingstown. Do as much or as little as you like – you’re always in charge!

Proving that there really is a cruise for everyone, Virgin Voyages’ child-free cruises visit almost endless destinations that span Europe, North America and the Caribbean. Choose a five-night cruise from New York to Bermuda, taking in the paradise pink-sand beaches, maritime history and cafe culture of the island, or maybe a seven-night voyage starting in Los Angeles and sailing to Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan in Mexico. For a trip closer to home, soak in the Mediterranean sunshine while visiting Europe’s most famous cities and islands starting in the homeports of Greece and Spain. Tick off an array of bucket list destinations with the Idyllic Ibiza cruise aboard the Valiant Lady; set sail from Rome to Barcelona with stop offs at the superluxe Amalfi Coast, Cannes and Ibiza – now, that’s what you call an A-list adventure.

With so many incredible destinations to visit and on-board luxury to explore, a cruise with Virgin Voyages is a holiday you’ll never stop talking about.

Discover Virgin Voyages luxury range of cruises and plan your next adventure today

Starmer ‘warned of £28bn defence funding shortfall’

The Ministry of Defence is facing a £28 billion shortfall in funding for the next four years, according to reports, just days after Sir Keir Starmer committed to sending British troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal.

The UK’s top military chief, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, is said to have told the Prime Minister that an MoD assessment showed a £28 billion shortfall between now and 2030, The Times reports.

Sir Richard showed the PM the assessment at a meeting before Christmas also attended by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Defence Secretary John Heeley, according to the newspaper.

The news could influence the defence investment plan (Dip), which has been delayed. It was initially expected in the autumn and will set out how the strategic defence review will be delivered.

Last year, Sir Keir vowed to make Britain “battle ready” but his defence plans have been overshadowed by a row over money, despite warnings over the threat of an increasingly bellicose Russia.

A Government source said the UK is “on track” to fulfil the commitments outlined in the review.

Sir Richard took over as Chief of the Defence Staff in September and is responsible for the delivery of the strategic defence review published in June, as the UK has pledged to boost defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027.

The review also set out a goal to raise spending to three per cent in the next Parliament “when fiscal and economic conditions allow”.

Britain and France this week signed a historic agreement committing to putting boots on the ground in Ukraine as soon as any ceasefire with Russia comes into effect.

The document, signed at a summit in Paris by French president Emmanuel Macron, Sir Keir and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, was hailed as “a significant step forward” in ensuring Kyiv has security guarantees that would deter a future Russian invasion.

UK bases and military personnel also supported a US operation to seize an oil tanker in the Atlantic on Wednesday. The vessel was said to be part of a “shadow fleet” seeking to evade sanctions on Iranian oil.

Sir Keir spoke to US President Donald Trump for the second time in as many days on Thursday as the two discussed the threat that an “increasingly aggressive” Russia poses in the “High North”.

An MOD spokesperson told The Independent: “The UK defence budget is rising to record levels as this government delivers the biggest boost to defence spending since the Cold War, totalling £270bn this parliament alone.

“Demands on defence are rising, with growing Russian aggression, increasing operational requirements and preparations for a Ukraine deployment.

“We are working flat out on the Defence Investment Plan, which will fix the outdated, overcommitted, and underfunded defence programme we inherited.”

Pubs handed lifeline as Reeves set to U-turn on business rate reform

Rachel Reeves is set to hand Britain’s ailing pubs a lifeline with a U-turn on plans to scrap business-rate relief for the hospitality industry, ministers have told The Independent.

In what will be another humiliating climbdown for the government, the chancellor is expected to extend the relief in an effort to help landlords with rising bills, instead of scrapping cash support from April.

It comes after a furious reaction from the industry, which has warned of widespread closures. Financial pressures have seen one pub close its doors every day since Sir Keir Starmer took office.

In the November Budget, the chancellor announced plans to scale back the business-rate discount that has been in force since the pandemic, from 75 per cent to 40 per cent – and said there would be no discount at all from April.

But ministers have told The Independent that Ms Reeves is now expected to row back on her plans, with one saying: “There’s going to be a U-turn on pubs.”

Another said that the changes were “politically unsustainable” in a year in which local elections, to be held in May, could decide whether Sir Keir survives as Labour leader and prime minister.

Pub landlords have reacted with cautious optimism to the news. Dawn Hopkins, 56, who runs the Rose Inn in Norwich, said news of the U-turn will come as a “huge relief” to many pubs, but that there are still concerns about the re-evaluation of business rates.

“Getting a discount back would be a huge relief, and at this point, anything would help,” Ms Hopkins, who is also the vice-chair of the Campaign for Pubs, told The Independent.

“But a major problem is that they’ve done these re-evaluations of business rates, which have been astronomical in a lot of places,” she said. “So getting a discount back would be amazing, but we still need to look at the re-evaluation issue.”

Chris Welch, 39, who runs the Fishnet Tavern in North Tyneside, said: “It’s really positive news if this happens, but I still think more needs to be done.”

While it is unlikely that the business-rate relief in existence since the pandemic will be completely reinstated in the same form, it is understood that an alternative discount could be negotiated.

The hospitality sector has already been hit by increases to national insurance contributions and the minimum wage, which have cut margins, meaning that many are making a loss.

Analysis by UKHospitality shows that the average pub faces a 15 per cent rise in business rates next year – an extra £1,400 – rising to £4,500 in 2027/28 and £7,000 in 2028/29, which represents an increase of £12,900 over the next three years. Hotels are to be hit even harder, with bills rising on average by £28,900 next year, £65,000 in 2027/28, and £111,300 in 2028/29, totalling £205,200 extra over three years. Meanwhile, online giants, office blocks and out-of-town supermarkets will benefit from far smaller increases.

Kate Nicholls, the chair of UKHospitality, said: “The entire hospitality sector is affected by these business-rate hikes – from pubs and hotels to restaurants and cafes.

“We need a hospitality-wide solution, which is why the government should implement the maximum possible 20p discount to the multiplier for all hospitality properties.”

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, welfare secretary Pat McFadden was challenged about whether another U-turn was on the way, but refused to rule one out.

Hinting at changes to come, he said: “Believe it or not, we’re human beings as well as politicians, so we understand the role that pubs play. You know, we value that very much. We’ll keep talking.”

This will be the latest in a string of U-turns wrested from the chancellor by angry Labour MPs. Ms Reeves had to back down on her plan to cancel winter fuel payments to around 10 million pensioner households, was forced to abandon plans for £5bn worth of welfare cuts, and had lift the two-child benefit cap despite originally opposing the move. Finally, she had to drop plans to raise income tax in the Budget, which would have broken Labour’s manifesto pledge.

The chancellor has also had to water down inheritance tax changes targeting family farms.

Labour MPs have heaped pressure on the government to help out the struggling hospitality industry. York Central MP Rachael Maskell, who led the welfare cuts rebellion last year, said: “In York, hospitality businesses will see an average business-rate rise of 41 per cent, music venues a rise of 44.4 per cent, and many independent shops increases of around 27 per cent, meaning doors closing and trade ceasing – businesses simply cannot do it.”

Reacting to the potential U-turn on pubs, she said: “While I welcome the government announcing that they will provide relief, I want to ensure that the support goes far enough, and that cafes and shops are also protected. So this is a positive first step, and I will continue to engage with the government to protect our high streets.”

While Labour MPs welcomed the expected U-turn, a number were unhappy at the government’s communication on the issue.

One Labour MP told The Independent: “It’s good news we are U-turning on pubs, but why has it taken so long? And why don’t we have an announcement from the government with some proper detail, so we can tell people in our constituencies what is happening?”

Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, described pubs and other hospitality businesses as “critical infrastructure” in his city, adding: “People come here for it. They visit us, and actually people invest, locate their businesses here, because they think it is a great place to live and a great place to go out.

“That infrastructure is absolutely critical to us as a city region, and I am pleased, if there is this change coming, that the government is recognising that as well.”

The news follows a campaign, launched over Christmas and backed by TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, in which hundreds of pubs up and down the UK banned Labour MPs from their premises.

The issue had also been pushed by the Conservatives, who believe that they are close to forcing another U-turn. Writing in The Telegraph, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch promised to scrap business rates altogether.

Reacting to the expected U-turn, she said: “Labour are killing Britain’s pubs. This rumoured U-turn is too little, too late. It’s time to back our local pubs.”