Priti Patel crashes out of race to find successor for Rishi Sunak

Hereditary peer challenges Lords reform plans after summer riots

An aristocrat has questioned the wisdom of Lords reform that would see himself and other hereditary peers booted out of Parliament in the wake of the summer riots.

Speaking in Parliament, Lord Devon said: “The riots were deplorable and their perpetrators and instigators are criminals.

“Those criminals feed on a real fear, however, and a dangerous sense of dislocation among those who consider themselves our traditional indigenous English population.

“At a time of such social dislocation, is it wise for the Government to be assaulting the traditional fabric of this Parliament and our constitution by reforming this House?”

Communities minister Lord Khan of Burnley said: “Government policy plays a key role in supporting thriving and resilient communities. Under the Conservative government, however, we saw a lack of investment in local authorities and public services. That has left our communities more vulnerable to cohesion challenges and wider economic and social deprivation challenges.”

He added: “I reassure him that work is under way in my department to develop a stronger approach to support our communities and build resilience against challenges.”

Former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Hogan-Howe said: “We saw in the riots police officers outnumbered and attacked with bricks for defending people in mosques — asylum seekers and some of their colleagues. Their job is made no easier by excusing the behaviour of the rioters, even though the causes of that riot may need to be understood.”

He added: “We should celebrate the officers’ behaviour and the fact that they did it while outnumbered and carried on walking forward when it would have been easier to run away.”

Responding, Lord Khan said: “The police have our full support to use their powers without fear or favour. I have enormous gratitude for the dedicated officers who worked tirelessly to respond to the unfounded violence and abuse. The Home Secretary continues to work with law enforcement, across Government and with the entire criminal justice system to ensure that we are fully equipped to deal with these incidents.”

Flesh-rotting zombie drug ‘tranq’ among series of dangerous drugs to be banned

The flesh-rotting “zombie drug” found in vapes and known as “tranq” is to be banned by the Government.

Laws have been set out in Parliament to make powerful animal tranquiliser xylazine a class C drug as well as 21 other dangerous substances illegal. The changes mean there will also be tougher restrictions on synthetic opioid nitazene and its derivatives.

The Home Office said xylazine had “increasingly been used in combination with opioids such as heroin as a cheap means of stretching out each dose” as well as being found in cannabis vapes.

Scottish Government appears to drop universal free school meal pledge

The Scottish Government appears to have dropped its pledge to provide universal free school meals to primary pupils, despite the First Minister claiming he aims to “lift every child out of poverty”.

In his first Programme for Government since taking on the job, John Swinney announced plans for “significant reform” to public services in order to provide “whole-family support” in the fight against child poverty – which he has said is his overriding goal in Government.

But Mr Swinney did not mention in his 30-minute speech in Holyrood a rolling back on his Government’s commitment to free school meals. According to the 47-page document published with the speech, the Government will “Work towards further expanding free school meals to those in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment in Primary 6 and Primary 7”.

The document also said nearly £22 million would be made available for “free school meal alternatives in all school holidays for eligible families”.

While the SNP’s 2021 manifesto said: “We will provide free school breakfasts and lunches to every primary school pupil in Scotland, all year round, and for all children in state-funded special schools in Scotland.”

Keir Starmer warned Labour 'must take on Reform' BEFORE Nigel Farage poses election danger

Labour has been urged to stop "shying away" from attacking Reform UK policies if they are to win the next General Election.

Nigel Farage's party has begun putting pressure on Keir Starmer's party across the country by setting up about 120 local branches to focus on Labour-held seats, mainly in south Wales and the north of England.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Business tycoon and Apprentice star Lord Sugar sworn in at House of Lords

Business tycoon Lord Sugar has sworn allegiance to the King at Westminster, where he has not spoken in the chamber for six years.

Many peers had already made the required pledge at the despatch box with the return of Parliament in July following the election. According to the parliamentary record, the Apprentice star’s last spoken contribution in the Lords was back in October 2018.

It also shows the Amstrad founder, who is listed as an independent crossbencher, has not voted since 2017 and has never asked a written question.

A participation requirement by members of the unelected chamber had been proposed by Labour as part of a package of Lords reforms in its election manifesto, alongside a mandatory retirement age of 80, and the removal of hereditary peers. However, only the latter proposal is currently being taken forward.

Priti Patel breaks silence on leadership result 

pic.twitter.com/I1OkI4kiEL

— Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) September 4, 2024

Starmer says Grenfell Tower disaster raises 'fundamental questions'

The Prime Minister said tenants of the high-rise block were treated as “second class citizens” and the publication of the report should force people to reflect on the state of social justice in the country.

Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s report said there was “no evidence” that decisions about the tower’s refurbishment, which resulted in the flammable cladding being used, were “affected by racial or social prejudice”.

But it noted that in the aftermath of the blaze which killed 72 people “certain aspects of the response demonstrated a marked lack of respect for human decency and dignity” and Kensington and Chelsea Council “should have done more to cater for those from diverse backgrounds”.

In his statement to MPs, Sir Keir said the report should be “a moment to reflect on the state of social justice in our country”.

Swinney says arts body Creative Scotland’s remit will be reviewed

Arts body Creative Scotland will face a review to ensure it is meeting the needs of the cultural sector, John Swinney has announced.

In his first Programme for Government speech, Scotland’s First Minister also pledged money which would allow a fund for individual artists to be reopened.

Many prominent artists and musicians had demanded that Creative Scotland reopen its Open Fund for Individuals, which the organisation had closed due to uncertainty over funding from the Government.

Acts including Paolo Nutini, Biffy Clyro and Lewis Capaldi were among those calling for the change. The review announced on Wednesday will be the first since Creative Scotland was established in 2010 and will examine its remit and functions as a funding body.

WATCH: Tory MP Peter Fortune reacts to the Tory leadership race

Conservative leadership race - what happens next?

Another of the candidates will be knocked out before the party's conference later this month. A hustings will then be held during the conference later, when MPs will vote again to narrow the field to two candidates.

The party's wider membership will then vote with the winner announced on November 2.

Current party leader Rishi Sunak will not be voting in the contest to replace him.

Labour spokesperson says candidate list is 'damning indictment of the state of the Conservative Party' 

A Labour spokesperson said: “The Tories have successfully slimmed down the pool of contenders from six people who each played their hand in 14 years of chaos and decline, to five people who each played their hand in 14 years of chaos and decline.

“From what we have seen so far, not one of them is prepared to learn from the lessons of the past. It is a damning indictment of the state of the Conservative Party that these candidates are the best they have to offer.

"The Conservatives left the worst possible inheritance. Labour is getting on with the job of fixing it."

​James Cleverly claims 'momentum is on our side' after coming third in the first ballot

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the shadow Home Secretary said: "Great to be through to the next round and proud to have the support of my fellow MPs.

“We can only unite our party with Conservative values and I am ready to lead, and win, the next general election. Momentum is on our side, but the work continues.”

WATCH: The moment it was announced Priti Patel was OUT of the leadership race

​Kemi Badenoch has 'momentum' after coming second in leadership ballot

Shadow minister and MP for Arundel & South Downs Andrew Griffith told Sky News: “Kemi did really well in this round, second, coming through very strongly for someone who, remember, is one of the younger members of the candidate team here.”

Pointing to polls suggesting Ms Badenoch has significant support among party members, Mr Griffith added: “At this point in the cycle, you often see people come through and gather support and momentum, and it seems to me Kemi’s got that momentum.”

Priti Patel is OUT of the Conservative leadership race

The former Home Secretary is out of the race after finishing last in the first round of voting.

• Kemi Badenoch - 22 votes
• James Cleverly - 21 votes
• Robert Jenrick - 28 votes
• Priti Patel - 14 votes
• Mel Stride - 16 votes
• Tom Tugendhat - 17 votes

​Sir Keir Starmer accused of choosing train drivers over pensioners by Sunak

Addressing his successor at PMQs, the outgoing Tory leader said Starmer was taking the allowance "away from low-income pensioners" and handing it to public sector staff in "inflation-busting pay rises".

Some 10 million pensioners are set to have the payments rescinded this winter.

At £300 each, scaling back the winter fuel allowance is set to save the Government about £1.4billion - but the move has come under heavy fire.

Campaign groups for the elderly have led the way, with one, Silver Voices, labelling the cuts "callous" and "cruel".

Silver Voices' director Dennis Reed said: "We call on the Government to reverse its callous decision to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million older people from this year.

"According to the charities this move will put 2 million older people into dire straits this winter.

"Deaths from hypothermia and other cold-related causes will undoubtedly increase.

"Silver Voices will campaign with vigour to convince politicians that this cruel policy must be reversed and that older people should not be the ones targeted to pay for the country's financial difficulties."

Last week, Starmer had declared: "I don't want to cut the winter fuel allowance.

“I don't think anybody in the government wants to do that. But we've got to fix the foundations of our economy."

First round of voting taking place in Conservative leadership ballot

The first round of voting between Conservative MPs is currently taking place to determine who will succeed Rishi Sunak.

The six candidates are James Cleverly, Priti Patel, Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat. The results are expected at some point this afternoon.

You can follow all the updates and analysis throughout the day on GB News.

Theresa May responds to Grenfell fire report

Baroness Theresa May of Maidenhead, who was prime minister at the time of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, said national and local government, regulators and industry “must all acknowledge their part in the history and series of events that led to this tragedy”.

She added: "Today’s report into the Grenfell Tower fire is a significant step in providing the Grenfell community with the answers they deserve after 72 people died – deaths that we now know were avoidable - while the lives of their loved ones, and all those living in and around the tower, were changed irrevocably that night.

“I would like to thank Sir Martin Moore-Bick and his team for the dedication and tenacity they have shown in getting to the truth and for this forensic and powerful final report.

“I know that, while necessary, the inquiry process can be immensely distressing for all those involved. I would like to pay tribute to the bereaved families and the survivors for the dignity they have shown in the face of a tragedy so extreme, it is beyond our imagining.

“Children, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, good friends and loving partners, were all lost the night of the fire.

“Amid this devastation, the people of Grenfell not only began rebuilding their lives, they also consistently campaigned for justice for those who died."

Angela Rayner wants to SCRAP Thatcher policy - after benefitting from it herself

Angela Rayner is weighing up bringing Margaret Thatcher's Right to Buy scheme to an end - despite using it to buy her own home, it has emerged.

Rayner - both the Deputy PM and Housing Secretary - had held "urgent" talks with local authorities in August on housing reforms, and now more than 100 councils have come forward to urge her to repeal Right to Buy.

In a report published just yesterday, London's Southwark Council accused the scheme of contributing to a £2.2billion shortfall in local authority accounts.

The council, which houses more than 1,500 asylum seekers, also claimed Right to Buy was worsening Britain's housing crisis, and had presented "a serious problem for the sustainability of England's council housing".

The Telegraph, which revealed Rayner's plan, was told by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government that it was "working at pace to reverse the continued decline in the number of social rent homes".

That "continued decline" refers to damning statistics across the last financial year in which 10,896 homes were sold through Right to Buy - but a mere 3,447 were replaced, leaving Britain with a net loss of 7,449.

The Thatcher-era scheme lets council tenants buy their homes off their local authorities for a discount of up to 70 per cent.

Since 1991, it has led to a net loss of 24,000 social homes - one being Rayner's own, which she snapped up from Stockport Council for £79,000 in 2007 - a 25 per cent discount, leaving her nearly £49,000 better off.

Shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch said it was "no coincidence" that Labour "wants to destroy one of Margaret Thatcher's most transformative policies".

She added: "If Angela Rayner was serious about improving people's lives, she would be finding ways to increase house-building, rather than cutting a programme that gets people on the housing ladder and gives them a stake in their communities."

Government action following Oasis ticket fiasco has already started says Starmer

Labour Co-Operative MP Emma Foody has drawn attention to the outrage across the country at the dynamic pricing used by TicketMaster for fans attempting to buy Oasis tickets.

Starmer responds saying "it's great that Oasis are back together" and jokes that about "half the country were queuing for tickets" on Saturday.

He says he is "committed to putting fans at the heart of music", adding that a consultation looking at pricing mechanisms for gigs has already begun.

Starmer causes outrage as he defends suspending Israel arms licences

Rishi Sunak has moved on to the Government's decision to suspend some arms export licences to Israel.

"Can the Prime Minister explain how his decision will help secure the release of the 101 hostages still being held by Hamas?," he asks.

Starmer says the Opposition Leader "understands the framework" under which his decision was made and that the suspensions were authorised upon legal advice. He says he will share the advice with MPs.

However, the Prime Minister leaves Tory MPs vocally furious as he claims: "This is a legal decision not a politics decision."

Starmer says 'tough decisions' have to be made - but Tories aren't convinced

Rishi Sunak says the UK's public finances are "more robust than almost any other advanced economy".

Defending his own record in office he says the Tories left Labour with "a lower deficit than France, America, Italy and Japan" as well as the "second lowest debt in the whole G7".

He highlights that in 2023 when the Conservatives were in power, pensioners received not only Winter Fuel Payments but extra cost of living support. Sunak says Age UK has warned against the actions being taken by the Government.
The Conservative leader demands the Prime Minister tell pensioners how much worse off they will be this winter.

Responding, Starmer says: "No Prime Minister wants to do what we have to do in relation to the Winter Fuel Allowance but we have to take the tough decision to stabilise our economy to ensure we can grow it for the future.

"As I say we are working hard on pension credit, we're reviewing housing benefit which they didn't do for years, and over five years it's a projected increase of up to £1,000 for those on pensions."

Sunak blasts Starmer over prioritising train drivers over pensioners

Rishi Sunak takes aim at the Government's plans to axe universal Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners inches first question in the Commons.

"He has chosen o take the winter fuel allowance away from low income pensioners and give that money to certain unionised workforces in inflation-busting pay rises," he say.

The Opposition leader demands to know why Starmer chose to prioritise train drivers over pensioners.

Starmer responds saying "the first thing we did was audit the books" upon entering Government, claiming there was a £22billion black hole.

He says Labour has been forced to take "tough decisions" to balance the books.

Starmer says 'thoughts of the whole House' with the Grenfell community

The Prime Minister has opened PMQs by paying tribute to Team GB at the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.

He also references the tragedy in the English Channel yesterday which saw 12 asylum seekers die.

Saying he would give his full response to the Grenfell Inquiry after PMQs, Starmer adds that he knows the "thoughts of the whole House will be with the bereaved and the survivors" of the fire.

PMQs is about to begin

Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak are about to go head to head for the first time since Parliament returned following the summer recess.

The pair will clash at PMQs in the House of Commons with Winter Fuel Payments and reports of Angela Rayner planning to ditch Right to Buy likely to be high on the agenda.

The Grenfell Fire Inquiry is unlikely to feature heavily with Starmer due to address the tragedy separately in a statement at 12.30pm.

Sadiq Khan demands BAN on firms responsible for Grenfell Fire

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said those responsible for the Grenfell fire should be banned from receiving government contracts and urged the Crown Prosecution Service to bring criminal charges against them.

He said: “The Grenfell Tower fire isn’t just a heart-breaking tragedy, it’s a horrific injustice and a national disgrace.

“That the lives of 72 Londoners were stolen from us in such circumstances is a moral outrage.

“The inquiry makes clear in stark terms that all these deaths were entirely avoidable, and that the residents of Grenfell Tower have paid the price for systematic dishonesty, corporate greed and institutional indifference and neglect.”

Starmer vows action after Grenfell Fire report published

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report had found "substantial and widespread failings" as he vowed action to prevent similar tragedies in future.

The inquiry’s final report, published today, found the fire was the result of “decades of failure” by central government and the construction industry.

Giving his reaction in a written statement, Starmer said: The Government will carefully consider the report and its recommendations, to ensure that such a tragedy cannot occur again.

“I hope that those outside government will do the same.

“Given the detailed and extensive nature of the report, a further and more in-depth debate will be held at a later date.”

He added: “My thoughts today are wholly with those bereaved by, and survivors of, the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the residents in the immediate community. This day is for them.

“I hope that Sir Martin’s report can provide the truth they have sought for so long, and that it is a step towards the accountability and justice they deserve.”

France demands migrants from ANYWHERE in the EU be allowed to claim asylum in Britain

France has called for Britain to accept asylum claims from within the European Union in the wake of Tuesday's boat disaster which killed 12 migrants.

A number of children were among the casualties after the boat capsized in the English Channel yesterday afternoon - with French authorities declaring most of the dead were from Eritrea or other African countries.

French interior minister Gerald Darmanin has called for a new treaty between Britain and the bloc - all 27 member states of which are designated "safe" nations.

He also lambasted current and former British measures to deal with the crisis, particularly the Conservative Government's Rwanda deportation scheme - which was swiftly binned off after Labour came to power.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

First of six Tory leadership campaigners set to bow out this afternoon

The Tory leadership race is mere hours away from its first casualty, with one of the six candidates vying to replace Rishi Sunak set to be voted out of the running this afternoon.

At 3pm today, Conservative MPs will cast their votes for their choice to lead their party against Labour - and, hopefully, into the next General Election.

Voting is expected to finish at 3pm, with an announcement at 3.30pm.

Badenoch called to axe winter fuel payments in 2022 - despite slating Labour's planned crackdown

Kemi Badenoch called for wealthy pensioners to have their winter fuel payments removed at her Conservative leadership campaign launch in 2022 - despite laying into Labour over their rumoured cuts to the allowance.

Badenoch, currently knee-deep in this year's Tory leadership race, had argued for a "means-tested" approach to the assistance payments two years ago.

Then, this year, she has accused the Government of being "dishonest with the British public" over the move.

Labour says cutting the payments will form part of a number of measures to address the Tories' so-called budgetary "black hole".

But Badenoch has taken flak from rival leadership camps over the comments - one told The Telegraph: "This is terrible... Labour's decision to cut the winter fuel payment was our one effective attack on Labour. They'll seize on these comments!"

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