Politics LIVE: Labour WINS 'punitive' farming tax vote as Starmer's MPs 'side with their party over family farms'

Badenoch travels to Washington in bid to meet Donald Trump - but Tories stay quiet on whether she'll be successful

Kemi Badenoch is heading to Washington DC tonight on a "fact-finding" mission in an attempt to meet Donald Trump.

Though the Tory leader is set to speak at the Margaret Thatcher-founded International Democracy Union, party sources are remaining tight-lipped on whether she'll actually meet the President-elect, LBC reports.

One told the broadcaster that the Conservatives would not be commenting on Badenoch's schedule in advance - leaving a question mark over a possible encounter between the two party leaders.

A Tory source said: "There are strong links between the Conservative Party and the Republican Party... and as the new Conservative leader Kemi is going to bolster relationships with centre-Right parties across the world."

Streeting raises eyebrows after unleashing series of barbs at Cabinet colleagues

Wes Streeting rattled off a list of barbs at his Cabinet - and ex-Cabinet - colleagues' expense at an awards bash last night.

Speaking to attendees at The Spectator's Parliamentarian Awards in Westminster on Tuesday, the Health Secretary lashed out at Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner, Pat McFadden and Louise Haigh.

On disgraced ex-Transport Secretary Louise Haigh:

"After a spate of phone thefts in Westminster, police warn vigilance [as a photo of Haigh flashes up behind him].

"For the record, I actually love Louise. She is a good friend. I genuinely want to see her back in the Government soon. And I'm going to phone her tomorrow on one of her numbers."

On Angela Rayner and Pat McFadden:

"We've got a good Labour showing here, too. The Deputy Prime Minister is here. Good to see you, Pat. Thanks for coming."

On Kemi Badenoch - and Ed Miliband:

"It's good to see [Kemi Badenoch] repeating all the same mistakes we made in opposition - trashing her party's own record, protests over power, talking to the members not the voters.

"Kemi, If you carry on like this, you'll be Energy Secretary in 10 years' time."

GB News has approached the Labour Party for comment.

Johnson RAGES after accusing Starmer of 'misleading' MPs with brutal response to Haigh fraud conviction - 'Correct the record!'

Boris Johnson has demanded Sir Keir Starmer corrects the record after accusing the Prime Minister of “misleading” MPs with his response to a jibe about Louise Haigh’s fraud conviction.

Johnson, who left the House of Commons after a so-called “witch-hunt” found he misled MPs over Partygate, was left outraged after Starmer claimed that he was convicted during the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Hillman probe - rather than being handed a Fixed Penalty Notice.

During a heated exchange with Kemi Badenoch about Haigh’s previous conviction, Starmer felt the need to “gently remind” the Leader of the Opposition that two of her predecessors had “convictions” for breaking Covid rules.

Johnson, who was given a FPN alongside then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak, has since said: “The Prime Minister has clearly misled the House and should correct the record today.”

Clarifying the situation, lawyer Steven Barrett added: “The Prime Minister has just misled the House. He has falsely claimed that two former PMs have ‘convictions’ for breaching Covid regulations.

“That is false - as the PM (a criminal barrister) knows paying a Fixed Penalty Notice is not a conviction. He must correct the record.”

Ministers could return to Chinese-owned TikTok to 'woo young voters' as Britain's online youth turns to Reform UK

Labour Ministers are eyeing up a return to Chinese-owned social media firm TikTok in a bid to win over young Britons after the Tory Government cracked down on the platform over "security concerns" last year.

The Prime Minister himself as well as Government departments could once again be allowed their own accounts on the Gen-Z hit app - but with Reform UK having used TikTok to its advantage more effectively than any other UK party, it could be too little too late for Labour.

Reform's 300,000-plus followers puts them leagues ahead of Labour on just over 230,000, while Nigel Farage's personal account boasts more than one million.

But now, Downing Street looks to be trying to get in on the act - having not used its account since Boris Johnson's time.

Officials are in the process of setting up a "New Media Unit" working between Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, to use influencers to target younger voters.

One source told LBC: "It's been kept under consideration. It's not totally banned, but you do need permission, as it were.

"Any changes we could make wouldn’t be sweeping ones."

TikTok users must hand over contacts, user content and location data - which Tory Ministers feared may be being passed to the platform's owner, the Chinese state-linked firm Bytedance.

Labour lashes out at Johnson 'conviction' dispute in crowing statement - 'If the Tories want to have a row, that's fine by us!'

Labour has piled into the Boris Johnson Partygate "conviction" row in the wake of today's heated PMQs exchange.

A party source told GB News: "If the Conservatives want to have a row about the extent of their criminality while in Downing Street, that's fine by us.

"The fact is, two of the Leader of the Opposition's predecessors were found guilty of breaking the law with partying in Downing Street while telling everyone else to follow the rules, something the Leader of the Opposition said a few weeks ago was 'overblown'. She might want to retract that statement."

‘Are they stupid?!’ Bev Turner erupts at Labour’s inheritance tax defence as Tories force vote

GB News host Bev Turner has lambasted the defence from Labour ministers of their inheritance tax raid on farmers, questioning if they are "stupid".

Following widespread backlash on the policy, the Conservatives have now forced a debate and vote in the House of Commons on the issue.

Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins has pledged that the Tories will "reverse" the tax if re-elected, telling GB News that Labour MPs must "really think about the impact" of the policy.

However, the Government's new Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stood firm on the decision, and claimed it was a "fair and balanced" policy during an interview with GB News.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

WATCH: Labour releases attack ad over Badenoch's support for 'open borders'

WATCH: Kemi Badenoch was one of the leading lobbyists for the Tories’ open borders experiment. pic.twitter.com/IzV51ssofv

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) December 4, 2024

The Labour Party has released an attack ad against Kemi Badenoch accusing the Tory leader of supporting the Conservatives' "open border" policy.

In the short 17-second clip, Badenoch is heard describing the Tories' position as "wrong" but later a clip is shown showing the North West Essex MP "lobbying" for the removal of annual limits on work visas and international students.

'It's a genocide!' Anti-Israel protesters unveil 'utterly offensive' banner outside Parliament

A massive anti-Israel banner has been unfurled outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday by political trouble-makers Led by Donkeys.

The 40x40-metre banner, laid out in Parliament Square, displayed the stark message: "Yes, its a genocide."

The demonstration marked one of the most visible protests against Israel's actions in Gaza to take place directly outside the Houses of Parliament.

An Israeli historian, Professor Amos Goldberg, issued a statement supporting the protest's message.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Nigel Farage blasts 'car-crash' Kemi Badenoch after PMQs

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has blasted Kemi Badenoch after her latest Prime Minister's Questions performance.

He said: "Today was a car crash from Kemi Badenoch at PMQs."

In a subsequent post, Farage added: "Tim Montgomerie says the gap between what the Conservatives promised and what they delivered was so great it pushed him to support Reform. I suspect there are many millions like him in the country."

Starmer shuts down calls for proportional representation

The leader of the Liberal Democrats encouraged Starmer to allocate time in the House of Commons to consider the issue of electoral reform, advocating a more proportional system of representation in Westminster.

Davey asked: "Will the Prime Minister find government time, make it available, so we can consider this Bill on electoral reform and restore the public’s trust in our politics?"

Starmer responded: "Proportional representation is not our policy. We won’t be making time for it."

Tory leader slams Starmer for appointing convicted criminal to top role - 'The country needs conviction politicians, not politicians with convictions'

The Tory leader led PMQs by criticising the Labour leader over the appointment of Louise Haigh as his Transport Secretary.

Haigh stepped down after it came to light that she pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade ago.

Badenoch said: "He can try and change the topic as much as he likes but the public are watching. He owes them an explanation.

"The country needs conviction politicians, not politicians with convictions."

Starmer responded: "I gently remind her that two of her predecessors had convictions for breaking the Covid rules."

PM refuses to commit to making Britain the fastest growing economy in the G7

The Tory leader has said that Starmer's refusal to repeat Rachel Reeves’s pledge that the Government would not raise taxes on businesses suggested that they would be "coming back for more".

She asked: "In his manifesto he committed to making Britain the fastest growing economy in the G7. Does he stand by his own pledge?"

The Prime Minister referred to this morning's OECD report, which he said "upgraded growth" for the next two years, which "now puts us on target to be the highest growing major economy in Europe in the next two years".

In response, Badenoch said: "I think the whole House will would have heard him fail to repeat his own pledge.

"He can’t even repeat the pledges he made just a few weeks ago."

Starmer stumbles over Transport and Justice Secretary in embarrassing mix up during PMQs

The Prime Minister has once again muddled up his words, suggesting that his Justice Secretary resigned instead of the Transport Secretary.

In response to Badenoch's grilling on the resignation of former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, Starmer said that she had stepped down after "further information" came to light.

After Badenoch asked what that "further information entailed", he said: “I am not going to disclose private conversations.

"Further information came to light, the justice secretary resigned. As I say, what a marked contrast. Whilst she is obsessing with the Westminster issues, we are getting on with fixing the mess, fixing the foundations..."

Starmer faces tax hurdle TODAY as farmers 'take lid off pressure cooker' over 'vindictive' raid

Sir Keir Starmer faces a major hurdle to his plan to raid British farmers for inheritance tax as MPs prepare to vote on a Conservative opposition motion later today.

The Prime Minister, who is hoping to force farmers to pay 20 per cent inheritance tax on the value of their farm above £1million, will face the non-binding challenge just weeks after tractors descended on Whitehall.

After pushing the opposition day motion, Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “Labour’s vindictive family farm tax threatens to destroy British farming as we know it.

“Labour MPs have a choice to make. Will they vote to axe the tax, and save the family farm? Or will they turn their backs on rural communities and back the Budget of broken promises?

“Thousands of farmers descended on Westminster to try and make the Government listen. So far, they’ve refused. Labour MPs now have a chance to back British farming.”

National Farmers' Union chief Tom Bradshaw also claimed the group were taking the "lid off the pressure cooker" given a number of rural Labour MPs have since spoken out against Starmer's plan.

The motion also comes just days after Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell came under fire over his family's decision to transfer land to his brother.

'They'll blight communities!' Criminals given electronic tags as fewer sent to prison to combat 12,000-cell shortfall

Sir Keir Starmer's Government has unveiled sweeping plans to reduce prison populations through increased use of community punishments and electronic tagging.

The decision comes after a damning report from the National Audit Office revealed the true extent of severe overcrowding in British prisons.

The changes will end short custodial sentences in favour of house arrest and technological monitoring, aiming to free up 6,000 prison places by 2027.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Reform UK MP demands urgent 'update' on migrants claiming benefits - 'The public deserve to know!' 

Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has yet again asked Sir Keir Starmer to provide an "update" on foreign nationals claiming Universal Credit.

He said: "Last week, the Prime Minister stated that he would 'update' me on publishing statistics around the number of foreign nationals accessing Universal Credit.

"I am yet to receive any update. The British public deserve to know this information."

Tories pledge to 'reverse' Labour's inheritance tax raid on farmers as MPs force vote: 'It's bad policy!'

The Conservative Party has pledged to reverse Labour's inheritance tax changes affecting family farms, Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins announced on GB News.

Speaking ahead of a Commons debate, Atkins expressed concern about the impact of the tax policy on rural constituencies.

She highlighted how farmers are often "asset rich" due to high land prices but can be "cash poor" with annual incomes as low as £20,000.

Atkins called on the 114 Labour MPs representing rural constituencies to "really think about the impact" of the tax policy on their constituents.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Three major rail networks renationalised under Labour's plan to 'overhaul' 'failed' services

Labour has unveiled plans to bring the first three railway companies back into public ownership, marking the start of its national rail reform programme.

South Western Railway, which operates services from London Waterloo to Weymouth, Exeter and , Bristol, will be the first to transition in May.

The Southend-on-Sea to Fenchurch Street C2C will follow in July, with Greater Anglia becoming the third operator to be nationalised in autumn.

Sir Keir Starmer's Government claims the move will reduce delays and cancellations that have plagued British rail services, aiming to encourage more passengers to choose train travel.

READ THE FULL STORY

Jeremy Corbyn lambasts Britain over reparations in Jamaica speech: 'UK continues to drag its feet'

Jeremy Corbyn has slammed the UK over slavery reparations in a speech in Jamaica, accusing Britain of “dragging its feet”.

The former Labour leader spoke in Kingston - the capital of the Caribbean nation - last night, where he said that the issue of reparations is “not an issue of the past”.

He said he found it “bizarre” that Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy thought so, insisting that reparations are “about building something new”.

The independent MP for Islington North said: “It is deeply ironic that one of the reasons why reparations are a so-called historic issue is precisely because the West has dithered and delayed for so long.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

WATCH NOW: Labour Minister defends inheritance tax raid on farmers

'Those with the broadest shoulders need to make the biggest contributions.'

Heidi Alexander MP defends Labour's inheritance tax changes. She says 'difficult decisions had to be taken'. pic.twitter.com/0Hhc6xcnb3

— GB News (@GBNEWS) December 4, 2024

Labour's Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has defended Sir Keir Starmer's inheritance tax raid on farmers ahead of today's opposition day motion spearheaded by the Tories.

Speaking to GB News, Alexander said: "Those with the broadest shoulders need to make the biggest contributions."

Alexander added that "difficult decisions had to be taken".

Benefit claimants can get more money being off sick than doing a job, admits minister

Benefits claimants can receive more money by being signed off sick than actively seeking work, Alison McGovern, employment minister has said.

The minister acknowledged there is "clearly a problem" with incentives in the current welfare system.

Speaking to the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, McGovern said the present system "doesn't work for anybody" as it makes it difficult for the long-term sick to find employment while simultaneously increasing costs for taxpayers.

She described it as "bleak" that rising numbers of young people are being signed off sick with conditions such as mental health problems.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Farage leaves room 'stunned' after telling crowd hundreds of Reformers will fill Commons at next election

Last night I told the @Spectator awards there would be hundreds of Reform newcomers in Parliament before long. The look on @WesStreeting’s face says it all! pic.twitter.com/Md9dZnJvsC

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) December 4, 2024

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has left Westminster big beasts stunned after claiming the populist party will return hundreds of MPs to the House of Commons after the next election.

During the Spectator annual awards event held last night, Farage won Newcomer of the Year.

Taking to the stage to Lee Greenwood's now-Donald Trump anthem, God Bless the USA, Farage took swipes at Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick.

He said: "I've got a bit of a shock for you. If you think that I - and four other people, the newcomers into Parliament this year was a shock - I'm afraid, I'm really, very, very sorry, but in the next election in 2029 or before, there will be hundreds of newcomers under the Reform UK label.

"We are about to witness a political revolution, the likes of which we have not seen since Labour after the First World War."

'Not our friends!' New migrant crisis looms as Brexit-hating French PM Barnier faces chaotic confidence vote

Sir Keir Starmer has been warned that a new migrant crisis is looming, as Brexit-bashing French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is set to face a no-confidence vote today.

France’s interior minister Bruno Retailleau said that his department could face a funding shortfall of €751million (£624million) in 2025.

He said this could result in the government having insufficient funds to pay the police who patrol the Channel in northern France.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

WATCH NOW: Ex-No11 aide accuses Labour of wanting to 'punish' farmers ahead of tax raid motion

'Labour doesn't care about our rural communities.'

James Price doesn't believe the inheritance tax raid will be reversed because the Labour Party want to 'punish' our rural communities. pic.twitter.com/jDdRP7pvg2

— GB News (@GBNEWS) December 4, 2024

Former No11 aide James Price has accused Labour of wanting to "punish" farmers ahead of today's motion on Sir Keir Starmer's inheritance tax raid.

Speaking to GB News, Price said: "I think the problem is that the numbers for Labour clearly don't stack up - the Treasury have made a mistake her, the Department for Environment have made a mistake here ... In any just world they'd do a big reversal on this.

"They're not going to do it. And why's that? I think it's because they genuinely want to punish rural communities."

Sue Gray poised for peerage as Starmer stuffs allies into House of Lords

Sir Keir Starmer's ex-chief of staff Sue Gray has been tipped to enter the House of Lords as part of the Prime Minister's plan to stuff allies into the upper chamber.

The Financial Times has reported that Gray will accompany a number of ex-Labour MPs who stood down to "make way for new party talent" on July 4.

They include Lyn Brown, Julie Elliott and Kevin Brennan.