Nearly half of Tory members back Reform UK merger as pressure heaped on leadership candidates
Union boss sets out Budget demands as warning issued to Starmer
PA
A new poll has revealed four in 10 Tory members would support a merger of the Conservative Party with Reform UK.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, found that while a total of 42 per cent of Conservative members supported such a move, slightly more members opposed a Tory-Reform merger, at 51 per cent.
The poll has exposed division within the Conservative membership on the future of the party. Just 12 per cent believed the party should stay where it is ideologically, and 34 per cent thought the next leader should move towards the centre with 51 per cent of members believe that the next leader should move the party to the Right.
Nigel Farage, the MP for Clacton and Reform UK leader, has changed his mind on whether he would support a Tory merger.
In June, he told LBC: "I think something new is going to emerge on the centre-Right, I don’t know what it is called...But do I think I am capable of leading a national opposition to a Labour Party with a big majority where I can stand up and hold them to account on issues? Yes."
However, in the same month, when asked if he could rule out joining the Tories, he said: "Boring! They're done. The brand is done."
Of the six Tory leadership candidates, Kemi Badenoch, Mel Stride and James Cleverly have explicitly ruled out merging with Reform. Robert Jenrick said the Conservatives should aim to put Reform UK "out of business."
He told Good Morning Britain: "I don’t think Nigel Farage wants to join the Conservative Party. I don’t think that he needs to. I want to put Reform out of business. I want to make them redundant, because I want to have clear policies on legal and illegal migration."
SNP warned party will lose Scottish election without major restructure
First Minister John SwinneyPASenior Scottish Nationalist Party figures have warned the party will lose the next Holyrood election without an urgent rethink of purpose and policy.
Members within the party have expressed doubt that the party’s leader, John Swinney, is strong enough to direct the scale of change required.
Read the full story here.
Nigel Farage slams 'two-tier Britain' as his attacker avoids jail
Nigel Farage has broken his silence after a man who threw items towards him during the General Election campaign was handed a suspended sentence.
Josh Greally, from Chesterfield, was filmed throwing objects while the Reform leader was travelling on an open-top bus in Barnsley on 11 June.
Now, the Reform UK leader and GB News presenter hit out at the decision to hand Greally a six-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
Starmer denies disagreements over Erasmus will impact the UK-German treaty discussions
Keir Starmer and Olaf ScholzPAAsked if the Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s desire for a youth mobility scheme would hamper negotiations, the Prime Minister told reporters in Berlin: "The treaty is a bilateral treaty, so that’s got nothing to do with youth mobility or anything like that.
"That’s to do with trade, defence, the economy, illegal migration, etc. In relation to youth mobility, obviously, we’ve been really clear: no single market, no Customs Union, no free movement, no going back into the EU.
"So the discussion about a close relationship with the EU is in that context and within those frameworks, I’m convinced, and I think you heard from the Chancellor himself, that we can have a closer relationship, notwithstanding those clear red lines that we’ve got, and we’ve always had."
Asked if he was open to re-joining the EU study abroad scheme Erasmus, Sir Keir said: "None of the detail like that was discussed today because the focus was on the bilateral treaty that we want to develop."
Sadiq Khan breaks silence on 'unacceptable' Notting Hill Carnival violence
The Mayor of London has told GB News that the violence that took place at the annual Notting Hill carnival was "unacceptable".
It comes as the Metropolitan Police said there were 349 arrests over the weekend with 102 on Sunday and 247 on Bank Holiday Monday.
Read the full story here.
Pressure on Starmer to undo 'Brexit rot' RAMPED UP as PM eyes Germany deal
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shakes hands with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Getty
Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure from politicians and activists both in the UK and on the continent to cede more power to the European Union. The Prime Minister, who held a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is being urged to adopt a youth mobility scheme between the UK and EU 27.
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said: "This is a positive step forward after years of the Conservatives trashing the UK’s relationship with Europe. But the new Government needs to be more ambitious about rebuilding stronger ties with our European allies.
"That should start with agreeing a Youth Mobility Scheme giving young people the opportunity to easily live and work across the continent."
Former Belgium Prime Minister and notorious Brexit critic Guy Verhofstadt described the UK's decision to leave the EU as an example of "years of rot" and urged the Prime Minister to undo the decision to restore opportunities to young people.
The pro-Brussels European Movement group added: "Let's not get carried away, though this is welcome, it still doesn't fix the enormous black hole caused by Brexit. Only by undoing the damage of Brexit can we begin to rebuild our economy!"
Calls for Labour to bring in a student scheme or free movement for under 30s has raises alarm among eurosceptics. Ex-Brexit Minister Lord David Frost warned: "Starmer's ambition is not to 'turn a corner on Brexit'.
"It's to reopen all the arguments and to renegotiate the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, in a way that starts making us subject to EU law once again. That's not moving on, it's moving back."
Migrant crisis: More than 20,000 people illegally crossed English Channel this year
More than 20,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel illegally so far this year, GB News can exclusively reveal.
The grim milestone was reached this morning, as hundreds more made the journey in small boats from France.
It follows a busy day on Tuesday, as official figures show that 526 people arrived illegally in UK waters in eight dinghies.
Union boss sets out Budget demands to Starmer as warning issued over plans
Union boss sets out Budget demands as warning issued to StarmerPASir Keir Starmer has been issued with a major warning from Britain's biggest trade union baron over austerity-style plans to cut spending and raise taxes in October.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is poised to introduce tough policies to fill a £22billion "black hole in public finances", with Starmer hinting at wealth taxes to cover the bill.
The Prime Minister also refused to rule out more spending cuts after coming under fire for means-testing Winter Fuel Payments.
Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham urged Labour against pursuing "austerity mark II" policies.
Graham said: "We need change. A bleak vision of Britain is not what we need now. It is time to see the change that Labour promised.
"The chaos of the previous Government is clear but we can make different choices to fix our nations. Britain can't wait for growth. Our industries can't wait for investment."
The UK's largest trade union has been a long-time supporter of the Labour Party.
However, Unite refused to endorse Starmer's 2024 manifesto and instead sponsored many Labour MPs.
Graham has since locked horns with Starmer over the threat to Port Talbot Steelworks.
Labour is also facing pressure from the right, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage asking: "Whilst we fight the Chancellor on this important issue [Winter Fuel Payments] I wonder what other shocks will come in the budget at the end of October?"
Germany's Olaf Scholz hints at new migration deal with Starmer to replace free movement
Olaf Scholz has hinted that a new migration deal could be launched with the UK as Keir Starmer faces pressure to loosen legal routes into Britain.
The Prime Minister, who joined the German Chancellor in Berlin, said he hopes to "reset" relations with the Brussels bloc post-Brexit.
Germany's new relationship with the UK will see London and Berlin become interconnected at many levels, the pair said.
Starmer prepares for Brexit grilling with Olaf Scholz
Sir Keir Starmer and Olaf Scholz
GB NEWS
Sir Keir Starmer's press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has started in Berlin.
The Prime Minister is expected to field questions from journalists about the UK's relationship with the EU after calling for a post-Brexit "reset" in relations.
There is growing concern Starmer could look to water down or even risk Brexit with his stance of relaxing the UK's position towards the Brussels bloc.
Lord Frost warns Starmer wants to 'reopen' Brexit debate
Former Brexit Minister Lord Frost has warned Sir Kier Starmer wants to “reopen all the arguments and to renegotiate” the UK-EU's relationship since Britain severed ties with the Brussels bloc.
He added: "That’s not moving on, it’s moving back."
However, Starmer is stressing he is merely looking to "turn a corner on Brexit" by "resetting" cross-Channel relations.
Tory leadership hopeful slams Labour over £22billion 'black hole' claim
'Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are pretending that the public finances are in a worse position than they are.'
— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 28, 2024
Robert Jenrick MP believes the Labour Party were 'left a good legacy' by the Conservative government. pic.twitter.com/ToWibyhTFO
Keir Starmer welcomed by Olaf Scholz in Berlin ahead of signing new pact
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) shake hands with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he arrives at the Chancellery in Berlin
GETTY
Sir Keir Starmer has been welcomed to Berlin by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ahead of signing a new pact.
The Prime Minister is looking to "reset" relations with EU member states after claiming the UK "must turn a corner" on Brexit.
Starmer shook hands with Scholz ahead of a military inspection, with the regiment bland greeting the Prime Minister with a rendition of God Save The King.
Scholz and Starmer will sign a new agreement later today, with Brexiteers fearing about the Prime Minister letting slip the benefits of leaving the EU.
Starmer signs guestbook after meeting German President in Berlin
Sir Keir Starmer in Berlin
REUTERS
Sir Keir Starmer has met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Bellevue Palace in Berlin.
He was snapped signing a guestbook after holding a short private meeting with Steinmeier.
Starmer is the first Prime Minister to visit the official residence of the German President since David Cameron in 2015.
Speedy Dover border processing zone which plans to axe waiting times 'needs French approval'
Plans for a new border processing zone at the Port of Dover will require French approval before getting the go-ahead, a Minister has claimed.
Immigration Minister Semma Malhotra claimed she was "very hopeful" Paris would reach a solution over the Kent port.
She added: "The reason we need to be confident is that we all share the same goals, that we want EES to be implemented as smoothly as possible.
"We want the risk of delays for travellers to the EU to be as little as possible."
Keir Starmer wants to 'turn a corner on Brexit' and 'fix broken relationships' with EU as he agrees new treaty with Germany
Starmer will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel MacronGetty/PASir Keir Starmer says he wants to "turn a corner on Brexit" and "fix the broken relationships" as he flies to Berlin to agree terms of a new UK and German treaty.
The Prime Minister will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday to discuss the deal.
The new deal will be signed within six months and will cover vital areas for increased collaboration, such as market access, critical science, innovation and tech, clean energy, trade across the North Sea, supply chain resilience, energy security and green transition education, biodiversity, and the environment.
No 10 said the new treaty would be a key pillar of the UK’s wider reset with Europe.
He said: “We have a once in a generation opportunity to reset our relationship with Europe and strive for genuine, ambitious partnerships that deliver for the British people.“
'Nothing will be safe!' Middle class tax raid fears erupt as Starmer tipped to target three major areas ahead of 'painful' Budget
Keir Starmer
PA
Middle class Britons are warned "nothing will be the safe" as the Labour Government is expected to raise capital gains and inheritance tax in the October Budget as the Prime Minister warns of "short-term pain' for long-term good".
Higher tax payers are warned they may bare the brunt of the tax raises as Kier Starmer stated those with "the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden".
In a speech in the Downing Street rose garden, the Prime Minister warned “things are worse than we ever imagined” because of a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances.
He said: “There is a Budget coming in October, and it’s going to be painful. We have no other choice, given the situation that we’re in."
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