Politics LIVE: Tories hit with three defections just hours after Farage's plea

NHS faces 'irreparable damage' under Reeves tax raid on pensions, doctors warn

The British Medical Association (BMA) has issued a stark warning to the new Labour Government regarding potential changes to pension tax relief.

Members of the doctors' trade union has written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, urging her not to target key retirement tax perks or reintroduce the pensions lifetime allowance in the upcoming Autumn Budget.

Part of the BMA's concerns stem from rumoured plans to introduce a flat rate of pension tax relief or reduce pension tax-free cash entitlements.

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Starmer gives up on meeting Harris after Trump files 'foreign interference' complaint

Sir Keir Starmer is unlikely to meet with Kamala Harris before the US election, after Donald Trump filed a complaint against the Labour Party for “foreign interference”.

The Prime Minister had previously met with Donald Trump in September whilst in New York, and had hoped to link up with Harris in order to speak face to face with both presidential candidates ahead of polling day.

However, the “usual diary challenges” got in the way, as Starmer is now in Samoa for a Commonwealth leader’ summit, whilst the US campaign enters its final two-weeks.

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Reeves to change public finance rules as Labour plots £50billion borrowing spree 

Rachel Reeves has admitted that she plans to rewrite the Government's fiscal rules in the Budget to free up as much as £50billion for infrastructure spending.

The Chancellor said she will reverse huge cuts in public investment by revising how the Treasury calculates shortfalls in the Government's budget.

She said that there will be a change to the way debt is measured which will allow it to fund extra investment, "so that we can grow our economy and bring jobs and growth to Britain".

Reeves said she did not want to see public investment fall even further behind the levels seen in other major economies.

Speaking in Washington DC where she is currently attending the International Monetary Fund (IMF), she said: "I can confirm today that I will be changing the way that we measure debt in the budget statement next week, but I’ll set out the details of that to parliament."

Liberal Democrat MP says 'a rising tide of racial equality truly lifts all ships'

The Liberal Democrats’ first elected black MP has said “a rising tide of racial equality truly lifts all ships" as he paid tribute to two members of House staff Margaret and Godfrey.

During a Black History Month debate in the House of Commons, Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde said: "The response of folks like Margaret, Godfrey and many others have made me feel more welcome than so many other things that could possibly have in this House – their warmth, their humour, their generosity."

The Liberal Democrats’ justice spokesman continued: "This House has come far. The country has come so far and I’m not prepared to let a group of unpatriotic folk in the minority in this country take us way back. I wish to reclaim the narrative that a rising tide of racial equality truly lifts all ships."

Home Secretary to appoint 'Windrush Commissioner' 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has committed to a “fundamental reset of the response" to the Windrush scandal.

A Windrush Commissioner is to be appointed with £1.5 million to be made available for organisations providing advocacy for applicants to the compensation scheme, which has been criticised by many as complicated and too slow.

The scandal, which campaigners have since said should be known as the Home Office scandal, erupted in 2018 when British citizens were wrongly detained, deported or threatened with deportation despite having the right to live in Britain. Many lost homes and jobs and were denied access to healthcare and benefits.

Labour had committed in its manifesto to appointing a commissioner as well as promising that victims would "have their voices heard" and the compensation scheme would be "run effectively." No timeline has been set out for when the commissioner might be in place or when the grant funding scheme will be open for applications.

Findlay urges Scottish Labour to back winter fuel payment U-turn

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay urged Anas Sarwar to back a U-turn on the winter fuel payment ahead of the UK Budget next week.

It comes as the UK Government announced this summer that the benefit provided to pensioners would be means-tested rather than universal as a result of intense budget pressures. The decision set off a political firestorm, with criticism from across parties, charities and activists.

Findlay, who has been in the job less than a month said: "Labour’s decision to axe the winter fuel payment will cause suffering for millions of elderly people across the UK, forcing many to choose between heating and eating.

"I’m urging every Holyrood political leader to do the decent thing and join me in signing this letter calling for Labour to reinstate these lifeline payments.

"Anas Sarwar should stand up for Scotland’s pensioners by exerting whatever influence he has on Sir Keir Starmer to reverse this reckless decision, which was imposed with zero consultation. Snatching cash from the elderly is surely not the ‘change’ that Labour promised.

"I know where I stand, but Anas Sarwar has a simple question to answer, is he on the side of Keir Starmer or Scotland’s pensioners?"

Former Conservative councillor becomes first to defect to Reform UK 

An independent councillor has become the first to defect to Reform UK following Nigel Farage's announcement. Epping Forest District Councillor Jaymey McIvor announced on social media he was joining the party, saying he will be the "first of many."

The Councillor for Ongar ward, had been due to fight the Hemel Hempstead seat for the Tories in the July General Election, but announced on Friday afternoon that he was withdrawing from the contest "for personal reasons."

In a message to local members, Hemel Hempstead Conservative Association chairman William Wyatt-Lowe said Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) had made him and McIvor aware of "an anonymous complaint” about the candidate’s "prior conduct."

The message said McIvor had denied the allegations and refused to resign his candidacy, but his party membership had been suspended pending an investigation meaning he was not eligible to stand as the party’s candidate.

Corbyn and Khan urged to apologise over Kaba comments

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour MP Diane Abbott have been urged to apologise after criticising the police over the shooting of Chris Kaba.

It comes after a jury at the Old Bailey took just three hours to clear Martyn Blake of murdering Kaba following a three-week trial, after the 23-year-old was stopped by armed police and shot in South London in 2022.

Following the verdict, it was revealed Kaba was a "core member" of the most dangerous street gang in his neighbourhood. His mother had applied for her son’s background to remain secret pending an inquest, although no date had been set. His family insisted Kaba had turned his life around and wanted to be an architect.

The then Labour MP for Islington North attended a protest shortly after the shooting in 2022, alongside Brit Award winning rapper Stormzy, Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy and former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman.

Corbyn said days after the shooting: "No family should have to go through the pain Chris Kaba's family have suffered following his killing last week. My thoughts are with them as they fight for justice and accountability for his death."

Crossbench peer and former Met commissioner Lord Stevens said many people simply assumed that Kaba was an entirely innocent man.

He said: "People need to stop and think. I believe the liberal Left should apologise, now it has come out that his background included him having been involved in a shooting and chasing a man outside a night just days before his death...Let’s have an acceptance of what he was and what he did."

Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Ribeiro-Addy said: "The fatal shooting of Chris Kaba caused pain to his family and considerable fear and anger, not only in my community but across London, and this House must understand that the concerns being raised are not anti-police but pro-accountability."

Labour says freedom of movement will not return but will 'look at' youth mobility scheme

Labour has said it would look EU proposals on introducing a youth mobility scheme with the EU but said freedom of movement will not return.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney said: “I’m sure Government can agree that support and providing opportunities for young people should be central to the policy of any Government. We are glad to see the Government working to build closer economic and cultural ties with Europe. We want to forge a new partnership with our European neighbours, built on cooperation, not confrontation and move to a new comprehensive agreement.

"We must build rebuild confidence through seeking to agree partnerships or associations helping to restore prosperity and opportunities for British people. So I ask the minister if he will consider the extension of a youth mobility scheme and acknowledge the breadth of ways in which this would strengthen our cultural, educational and economic links with Europe."

Paymaster general Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "We are not going to give a running commentary on the negotiations. We will obviously look at EU proposals on a range of issues, but we are clear that we will not return to freedom of movement."

Free bus passes and prescriptions for pensioners won't be scrapped in Budget

Rachel Reeves is expected to protect free bus passes and prescriptions for pensioners in the upcoming Budget. The Mirror reports the Chancellor is expected to shield the benefits in the budget, set to be delivered next week.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was questioned on whether he would protect free prescriptions and free bus passes as he travelled to a Commonwealth summit in Samoa.

He said: "I'm not going to pre-empt that but we do want to make sure that pensioners are properly protected, of course we do."

Anthony Slaughter re-elected as Wales Green Party leader

Anthony Slaughter has been re-elected as the leader of the Wales Green Party. The 62-year-old has been leader and spokesperson of the party since December 2018, and previously served as its deputy leader in 2014 and 2015.

He said "I am proud and excited to have been re-elected for a further term as Wales Green Party leader.

"I’m looking forward to working with our activists and members across Wales to grow the party and breakthrough into the Senedd. Our historic second place in Cardiff South & Penarth at the general election shows we are on the cusp of achieving this.

"I want to congratulate Philip Davies and Linda Rogers on their election as deputy leaders. Together they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the leadership team and will play a crucial role in our 2026 Senedd campaign."

Single-use vapes 'WILL be banned in the UK by next summer' amid crackdown

Disposable vapes will be banned across Britain by next summer amid a crackdown on children smoking e-cigarettes.

Health Minister Andrew Gwynne told The Sun: "We know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today. Banning them will keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.'

Environment Minister Mary Creagh added: "Single-use vapes waste precious resources and blight our towns, parks and cities.'

The NHS has historically recommended vapes to help people quit smoking, which is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in the UK.

Rachel Reeves claims first Labour Budget in 14 years will be an economic 'reset' for the UK.

The Chancellor has said her first Budget said her statement on October 30 will invest in the “foundations of future growth" calling it a "reset."

Rachel Reeves was speaking before talks with finance ministers from around the world in Washington DC at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meeting.

The MP for Leeds West and Pudsey said: "A Britain built on the rock of economic stability is a Britain that is a strong and credible international partner. I’ll be in Washington to tell the world that our upcoming Budget will be a reset for our economy as we invest in the foundations of future growth.

"It’s from this solid base that we will be able to best represent British interests and show leadership on the major issues like the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine."

Sir Keir Starmer 'unlikely' to meet Harris ahead of polling day

The Prime Minister is unlikely to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris before Americans go to the polls.

Sir Keir Starmer met with Donald Trump when he was in New York in September, and at the time said he wanted to meet both presidential candidates. However, as both campaigns enter the final week ahead of the November 5 poll, and Starmer is in Samoa for a Commonwealth summit, it has been accepted the window of opportunity for such a meeting is closing.

It comes as Labour is currently under fire from the Trump-Vance campaign after staff members joined Democrat election efforts. Trump’s team has filed an official complaint with US federal election authorities, in which they claim the UK Labour Party has "made, and the Harris campaign has accepted, illegal foreign national contributions."

The Prime Minister insisted any members of his party were in the US on an entirely voluntary basis in their spare time, comparing the arrangement to similar situations during previous elections.