Starmer takes extraordinary swipe at Badenoch's Tories just days after congratulating new leader

Kemi Badenoch unveiling top team to take on Starmer as former rivals handed prime jobs

New Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has made her fourth top Shadow Cabinet pick, appointing leadership race runner-up Robert Jenrick as Shadow Justice Secretary.

Earlier this afternoon, Badenoch announced two more top-ranking Shadow Cabinet members ahead of its first meeting tomorrow - Mel Stride as Shadow Chancellor, and Priti Patel as Shadow Foreign Secretary.

The pair had both challenged Badenoch in the Tory leadership race, but were eliminated in the second and first rounds respectively.

Jenrick had made it all the way to the final membership-wide vote, but fell at the last hurdle to Badenoch.

An ally of Jenrick told GB News: "Rob is keen to take the fight to Labour immediately."

GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope confirmed The Times's report that Jenrick had accepted the role -

GB News understands both Stride and Patel - from different wings of the Conservative Party - are a move to show Kemi Badenoch's desire to unite the party.

They will join Laura Trott, the new Shadow Education Secretary, as the party's new leader continues to assemble her top team.

It's hoped that the full Shadow Cabinet will be formed by mid-morning tomorrow - while both Trott and shadow education minister Neil O'Brien will be on the opposition front bench in Parliament today.

In an address at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) on Monday morning, Badenoch told staff the first challenge for the party will be winning back council seats at local elections.

She is also understood to have pledged that the party can turn their situation around in one term - and while policy will come soon, the Tories must start with principles including free speech and personal responsibility.

WE'LL BRING YOU THE LATEST SHADOW CABINET ANNOUNCEMENTS AS THEY COME IN...

Farage outlines plan for Trump defeat as US polls reach historic narrowing

Over in the US, Nigel Farage has said Donald Trump should concede defeat and "go and play golf" in Scotland if he loses decisively to Kamala Harris tomorrow night.

Speaking to The Telegraph from Palm Beach, Farage has also called on Harris to pardon Trump if elected.

But the Reform UK leader still thinks Trump will win.

He told the newspaper: "If it was clear and decisive then maybe it's time to go and play golf at Turnberry.

"If it was clear and decisive. It's all hypothetical and I still think he is going to win.

"If she gets in on Tuesday I hope she pardons him. She could look magnanimous and it would dampen down potential tensions," Farage said.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

New Shadow Chancellor rips into '£22 billion black hole' claims in first address to Commons

Kemi Badenoch's Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride has labelled Labour's claims of inheriting a "£22billion black hole" in the economy a "dead parrot".

Speaking to the Commons for the first time in his new role, he said: "It is quite normal, year in, year out to manage in-year fiscal pressures.

"To net off the underspends against the overspend... That is quite normal practice.

"The reality is, that this black hole is a dead parrot. It has ceased to be.

"If it wasn't nailed to its perch it would be pushing up the daisies. Far from being just shagged out after a prolonged squawk, it is dead. The black hole is an ex-parrot!"

Tuition fees to see £285 annual hike as ministers double down on breaking Labour's manifesto pledges

Tuition fees in England are set to rise by £285 annually next year, the Education Secretary has confirmed.

Speaking in the Commons, Bridget Phillipson said the annual maximum fee will rise from £9,250 to £9,535 next year.

Though maintenance loans are also set to rise - with students in England handed up to £414 extra per year.

Phillipson's comments confirm Labour has broken yet another pledge - after the Prime Minister voiced support for "abolishing" university costs.

READ THE FULL STORY ON LABOUR'S BROKEN EDUCATION PROMISES HERE

Starmer locks Britain to ECHR as Farage warns Channel crossing crisis will 'never stop'

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to lock the UK to the European Convention on Human Rights just days after Nigel Farage warned the Strasbourg court means the Channel crossing crisis will "never stop".

Speaking at Interpol's summit in Glasgow, the Prime Minister said: "We will never withdrawn from the European Convention on Human Rights."

Starmer, who was setting out the UK's plan to halt the migrant crisis, instead vowed to act “with humanity and with profound respect for international law”.

He also claimed Britain would work with countries around the world and pump in around £150million to its new Border Security Command over the next two-years.

The Prime Minister later repeated that he intends to “treat people smugglers like terrorists”.

However, Starmer's comments about the ECHR come just days after Farage waded in on the Strasbourg court over the weekend.

In a video released on Saturday, Farage said: The Tories have chosen, they've chosen Kemi Badenoch over Robert Jenirck.

"What that means is the Conservative Party is now committed to staying in the ECHR which means we can't deport foreign criminals and they will never ever stop the boats."

Following Starmer's speech, the Reform UK leader added: "Now Labour are calling the Channel crossings a ‘National Security Threat’. I wonder where they got that from?"

Farage: The world will be a 'safer place' under Donald Trump

Just landed in America with @GBNEWS.

A Trump win will make the world a safer place. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VSwa1NqPSv

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

Nigel Farage has said a Donald Trump victory tomorrow "will make the world a safer place" as Americans prepare to head to the polls.

Having just touched down stateside, Farage said: "There's all sorts been talked about in opinion polls... There's no doubt it's tight.

"But I still think Trump's going to win!"

Farmers vow to be 'militant' as they take on Reeves's inheritance tax raid

Farmers will be "militant" in their response to Rachel Reeves's controversial inheritance tax raids on farms, the National Farmers' Union's president has said.

NFU chief Tom Bradshaw has said something "has to change" on the much-maligned policy - as British farmers begin preparations to stage large-scale protests across the country.

He said: "I have never seen the weight of support, the strength of feeling and anger that there is in this industry today.

"Many of them want to be militant. Now we are not encouraging that in any way shape or form but the Government need to understand that there is a real strength of feeling behind what this change means for the future of family farming in this country.

"We'll wait to hear from the Government and Treasury and see if we can get to a resolution."

He added that he had taken calls from "people in their middle age who have been running a very successful business, but for very good reasons, their parents are still in the family house, and are still partners in the business - because that was the right thing to do for tax planning".

He said that people in circumstances like those "are caught in the eye of the storm and they might not live seven years".

"There's no way through it for them," he added.

But Labour has insisted they're still committed to farmers.

A Government spokesman said: "It's why we have committed £5billion to the farming budget over two years - more money than ever for sustainable food production.

"We understand concerns about changes to Agricultural Property Relief, and the Defra Secretary of State and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury met with NFU president Tom Bradshaw today.

"Ministers made clear that the vast majority of those claiming relief will not be affected by these changes. They will be able to pass the family farm down to their children just as previous generations have always done.

"This is a fair and balanced approach that protects the family farm while also fixing the public services that we all rely on. We remain committed to working with the NFU and listening to farmers."

Andrew Mitchell returns to the backbenches as the Badenoch Shadow Cabinet takes shape

Shadow Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell says he is returning to the backbenches as new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch assembles her Shadow Cabinet.

Mitchell will join Conservative heavyweights Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, James Cleverly, Steve Barclay and Sir Oliver Dowden in taking the step back.

He said: "It has been an honour to serve under Rishi Sunak as Deputy Foreign Secretary and Shadow Foreign Secretary.

"But it is time to pass the baton! I look forward to continue serving my constituents in the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield.

"Kemi Badenoch will have my full support from the backbenches as she rebuilds the Conservative Party, exposes the terrible Labour Government and sets us on a path to victory at the next general election."

Starmer breaks yet ANOTHER pledge as tuition fees rise - after PM voiced support for 'abolishing' university costs

Sir Keir Starmer has broken yet another pledge as Labour push a tuition fee hike after the Prime Minister voiced support for "abolishing" university costs.

University fees will rise for the first time in eight years as Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson looks set to announce the increase will be in line with Retail Price Index inflation.

The fee rise is expected to come into force in September 2025, meaning it will impact A-level students currently applying to universities.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'No resolution!' Farmers' protest gets go-ahead as Labour slammed over 'unbelievable discrepancy' on crippling inheritance tax

A scheduled farmers' protest appears to have received the go-ahead after a meeting between NFU chief Tom Bradshaw and Environment Secretary Steve Reed failed to result in a resolution.

Bradshaw, who is representing growing numbers of disgruntled farmers, accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of introducing an “unfair” inheritance tax levy after leaving Whitehall earlier today.

Reeves announced a 20 per cent levy on farms worth more than £1million in last week’s tax-raising Budget.

The Chancellor suggested the threshold could be placed at closer to £3million in some cases.

Speaking after he emerged from a meeting with Reed and Treasury Minister James Murray, Bradshaw said: “Obviously, we fully dispute the figures the Treasury has been using and we’ve played back Defra’s own figures.

“So, the Treasury is saying only 27 per cent of farms will be within scope of these changes, Defra’s own figures suggest that two-thirds of farms will be in scope.

“How they can have that wide a discrepancy within Government is quite unbelievable.

“There’s certainly no resolution today, we’ve made very passionately our perception clear: that this tax change is completely unfair.

“It had been ruled out by the Secretary of State in the run-up to the election and now there are many family farms right across the United Kingdom that are worried for their future.”

No10 refuses to set migrant boat crossings target 

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to set a target for bringing down Channel crossings.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “I am not going to set out new targets here today.

"You have got the manifesto commitment, you have got the Prime Minister’s words.

"Clearly the Government’s ambition is to reduce small boats crossings and that is why we are putting significant resource focus into this crisis.”

He added: "[The Government is] going to make progress as rapidly as is possible.”

Starmer defends farmers' tax raid - 'Never easy!'

Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman has defended Rachel Reeves' tax raid on farmers.

Responding to questions about the impact of the tax changes on farmers, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Chancellor had to set out a range of very difficult, tough choices at the Budget on Wednesday in order to address the fiscal black hole that the Government inherited.

“Those decisions were never going to be easy but it means that the Government’s able to wipe the slate clean and put our public services and our economy on a sustainable footing.”

Dowden joins Tory top brass exodus as Badenoch assembles Shadow Cabinet

Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has joined an exodus of top Tories leaving the Shadow Cabinet.

Dowden will join ex-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and former Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly.

New Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is putting together her top team just days after succeeding Rishi Sunak.

Badenoch adds two more Tories to Shadow Cabinet

Kemi Badenoch has appointed Sevenoaks MP Laura Trott as her Shadow Education Secretary.

Trott, who served as Rishi Sunak's Chief Secretary to the Treasury, supported Badenoch's leadership campaign.

Former Health Minister Neil O'Brien will also work under Trott as Shadow Education Minister.

NFU chief rejects Labour's inheritance tax figures - 'It's unbelievable!'

NFU President Tom Bradshaw has rejected the Treasury's figures on Rachel Reeves' new inheritance tax levy after meeting with Environment Secretary Steve Reed.

Following the meeting, Bradshaw said: “Obviously, we fully dispute the figures the Treasury has been using and we’ve played back Defra’s own figures.

“So, the Treasury is saying only 27 per cent of farms will be within scope of these changes, Defra’s own figures suggest that two-thirds of farms will be in scope.

“How they can have that wide a discrepancy within Government is quite unbelievable. There’s certainly no resolution today, we’ve made very passionately our perception clear: that this tax change is completely unfair.

“It had been ruled out by the Secretary of State in the run-up to the election and now there are many family farms right across the United Kingdom that are worried for their future.”

Bradshaw, who will return to Whitehall with protesters on November 19, also met with Treasury Minister James Murray.

PICTURED: Badenoch leaves CCHQ after addressing Tory staff

New Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has addressed staff inside CCHQ as she continues to appoint members to her Shadow Cabinet.

The North West Essex MP waved to photographers as she headed down the steps shortly before midday.

Badenoch has started putting together her top team, with Rebecca Harris becoming her Shadow Chief Whip.

Nigel Huddleston and Lord Dominic Johnson will also serve as co-chairs of the Conservative Party.

Starmer pledges more Interpol funding as PM vows to give Border Force 'counter-terror-style powers' 

Sir Keir Starmer has announced new UK funding for Interpol during an address to the organisation’s summit in Glasgow this morning.

Starmer said: “I am pleased to say today that the UK is increasing its funding for Interpol projects, investing £6million this financial year.”

The Prime Minister also vowed to pump in around £150million over two-years to curb Channel crossings.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper separately said there needed to be a “much stronger and more integrated response” to immigration crime.

“No single state can tackle these threats in isolation,” she added.

Starmer refuses to remove whip from Labour MP after ‘race-baiting’ Badenoch post

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to remove the whip from a Labour MP who shared a social media post accusing Tory leader Kemi Badenoch of representing “white-supremacy in blackface”.

Labour MP Dawn Butler shared a post by Nigerian journalist Nels Abbey that offered “tips for surviving the immediate surge of Badenochism (ie white supremacy in blackface)”.

Butler, who served as Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Equalities Secretary, later deleted the post from her feed.

Labour sources noted the post was quickly taken down by Butler and pointed to the Prime Minister saying that Badenoch becoming the first black leader of a British party was “a proud moment for our country”.

However, ex-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng yesterday slammed Butler over her decision to share the offensive post on the social media.

Speaking to Camilla Tominey on GB News, Kwarteng said: “On a personal level I’ve always got on with her, but her race-baiting is completely crazy.”

He added: “I genuinely think that given what she said, she should have the whip removed from her. There should be some discipline and some disciplinary measure against this kind of really hateful divisiveness.”

Kwarteng was at the heart of a separate Labour race row after Rupa Huq was suspended in 2022 for saying the ex-Spelthorne MP was only “superficially black”.

Huq regained the Labour whip six months later after apologising for her comments and undergoing anti-racism training.

Kemi Badenoch addresses CCHQ staff as Shadow Cabinet reshuffle continues

Newly elected Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has addressed staff at CCHQ as she continues to appoint members to her Shadow Cabinet.

Badenoch stressed staff do not have to do things the way they've always been done, emphasised the focus now is on the 2025 Local Elections, and will get to policies after addressing Conservative principles.

The North West Essex MP appointed Nigel Huddleston and Lord Dominic Johnson as co-chairs after making Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris Shadow Chief Whip.

Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf hails surge in populist party's new members

Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has hailed a recent surge in members joining the populist party's ranks.

Yusuf said: "Reform UK just had its best weekend for new member signups since our party conference in September."

The 38-year-old's comments this morning came after Reform UK confirmed its membership now exceeds 93,000.

Meanwhile, the Tory Party's grassroots have suffered a massive slump in recent years.

The Conservatives' membership figure stands at just 132,000, down from 172,000 in 2022.

Tory membership once peaked at a whopping 2.9 million in 1951.

Former RAF base 'closed' by Starmer could be expanded to take MORE migrants

The Home Office has confirmed it is looking into ways to expand an ex-RAF base to take in more migrants after Sir Keir Starmer vowed to close the Essex facility.

RAF Wethersfield, which currently houses around 540 migrants, sparked outrage among local politicians after being used to accommodate for Channel crossing asylum seekers.

The Prime Minister had pledged to close the site in July, along with the Bibby Stockholm barge and RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

However, the ongoing surge in Channel crossings has complicated his once cast-iron plan.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Tice slams Starmer over Labour's Channel crossing plan - 'Meaningless twaddle!'

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has slammed Sir Keir Starmer over Labour's plan to deal with the Channel crossing crisis.

In a social media post, the Boston & Skegness MP said: "Meaningless twaddle from Home Secretary.

"Labour will not stop the boats. Labour’s policy means more people dying. Only Reform UK will stop the boats."

Starmer turns to Europe over Channel crossing crisis - 'Rebuild global alliances!'

Sir Keir Starmer has seemingly turned to Europe over the Channel crossing crisis.

The Prime Minister, who pledged to "smash the gangs" ahead of the 2024 General Election, has struggled to deal with increasing numbers of migrants embarking on the perilous 21-mile journey.

However, in a social media post this morning, Starmer appeared to speak out just days after GB News revealed that the 2024 number has already exceeded the total haul for 2023.

The Prime Minister said: "As a former Director of Public Prosecutions, I know that the operations fighting organised crime are complex. It doesn't stop at our borders.

"It can’t be defeated by one country alone. By rebuilding our global alliances, we can smash the gangs and secure our borders."

Badenoch makes first Shadow Cabinet appointments

Kemi Badenoch has started appointing members to her Shadow Cabinet after winning the Tory leadership race on Saturday.

The Leader of the Opposition made Nigel Huddleston and Lord Dominic Johnson joint-chairs of the Conservative Party.

Badenoch's decision came just hours after Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris was made Shadow Chief Whip.

Reform UK casts major shadow over Tory Party as membership slumps

Reform UK has cast a major shadow over the Conservative Party as data reveals voter turnout in the Tory leadership contest hit a record low following the victory of Kemi Badenoch yesterday.

Despite Badenoch securing 53,806 votes against Jenrick's 41,388, the contest was marked by a record-low turnout and the tightest margin of victory in Tory leadership history.

The result showed the Conservative Party's electorate has shrunk by 23.6 per cent since 2022, with only 131,680 eligible voters this time (down from 172,437).

GB News also understands that Reform UK's membership has grown to more than 93,000 as of November 3, 2024.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE