Diane Abbott slams Keir Starmer over Winter Fuel Payments move before voicing support for Corbynista cabal defying PM

Labour confirms biological sex 'loophole' in Equality Act will not be closed amid fears for women's safety

Labour has confirmed that they will not rewrite the Equality Act 2010 and eliminate the biological sex “loophole”, amid fears that women’s safety will be compromised.

Anneliese Dodds, the Minister for Women and Equalities, said there were no plans to update the existing legislation, which Tories had previously promised to reform in an attempt to protect single-safe spaces.

The Conservatives had promised to rewrite the act so that “sex” in the legislation means “biological sex”.

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Rachel Reeves warns of 'difficult decisions' during showdown with Labour MPs over winter fuel payment cut

Rachel Reeves has warned Labour Party backbenchers and Cabinet ministers “there are more difficult decisions to come" at a packed meeting in Parliament to discuss the controversial axing of the unmeans-tested winter fuel payment.

The Chancellor told the meeting - attended by Cabinet ministers Yvette Cooper, John Healy and Steve Reed - to expect more controversial decisions, taken to mean tax hikes and spending cuts.

GB News understands that Reeves was pressed at the meeting to adjust the threshold when pension credit is paid to ensure that more people can benefit.

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NHS review to urge Starmer to spend billions on hospital buildings despite infrastructure budget raid

A review commissioned into the NHS has urged Starmer to spend billions on hospital buildings, in spite of a looming £800million raid on infrastructure budgets.

Former Labour health minister Lord Darzi of Denham is set to publish a report on Thursday documenting the problems facing the health service, with Sir Keir Starmer branding the assessment “raw and honest”.

The Prime Minister said the much-anticipated review showed that the state of the NHS was “unforgivable”, though whilst the health service was “broken”, it was not “beaten”.

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Tory leadership in turmoil as new polling shows Keir Starmer trouncing all five hopefuls

Sir Keir Starmer "comfortably beats” all five Conservative leadership contenders in a series of head-to-head polls, a new survey has found.

James Cleverly (23 per cent) and Tom Tugendhat (22 per cent) were considered the best potential leaders among the Conservative candidates.

However, the PM crushed both candidates in the poll, receiving over double of the public's support compared to either of his two potential opponents.

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40 MPs could look to defy Starmer but many aren't ready to 'fight' PM, ANALYSIS BY CHRISTOPHER HOPE

GB News' political editor Christopher Hope has put a number on how many Labour MPs he expects to rebel against Sir Keir Starmer's plan to means-test Winter Fuel Payments.

The political supremo joined Martin Daubney earlier today to discuss the move and addressed efforts taken by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Pensions Minister Alison McGovern to win over Labour MPs and members.

In his rebellion forecast, Christopher was keen to stress Starmer faces a big challenge tomorrow as he will head to the TUC's conference in Brighton to stare down critical trade unionists.

GB News' political editor said:

Forty is the ball-park figure. Revolt seems to be a funny word, it means not to be in support of the Government.

This includes abstaining or being absent without leave. It is unlikely many will be voting against the Government.

You'll have those six or seven rebels, including John McDonnell and others.

But you can imagine many others won't want to have that fight right now.

Labour Minister to 'brief' members on Winter Fuel Payments as pressure mounts on Starmer ahead of key vote tomorrow

NEW Pensions minister Alison McGovern will host an online briefing for party members at 7pm tonight as MPs prepare to vote on the withdrawal of the winter fuel payment tomorrow lunchtime, I understand.
"To deliver change, the Government must take the tough decisions now to…

— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) September 9, 2024

Tory leadership in turmoil as new polling shows Keir Starmer TROUNCING all five hopefuls

Sir Keir Starmer "comfortably beats” all five Conservative leadership contenders in a series of head-to-head polls, a new survey has found.

James Cleverly (23 per cent) and Tom Tugendhat (22 per cent) were considered the best potential leaders among the Conservative candidates.

However, the PM crushed both candidates in the poll, receiving over double of the public's support compared to either of his two potential opponents.

Despite the results, ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch continue to lead the race to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader.

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Reform issues stunning rebuke of Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper amid warning border crisis 'spiralling out of control'

Reform UK has issued a major rebuke of Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper as the Channel crossing crisis risks “spiralling out of control” under Labour.

The populist party is doubling down its pressure on the Prime Minister and his Home Secretary as migrants continue to make the perilous 21-mile journey.

More than 8,800 migrants have arrived on British shores via small boats since Labour won the 2024 General Election on July 4.

Reform UK highlighted how the figure stood at 133.5 per day, lower than the 95 per day average witnessed in the Tory Party’s dying days in Downing Street.

Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, who was involved in a three-way race with the Tories and Labour, argued Labour adopted a lax attitude towards migration.

The ex-Southampton FC chairman said: “Labour entered office promising to tackle the gangs, instead of making hay with this promise, Cooper and Starmer have allowed the crisis at the border to spiral out of control.

“It’s only today that it’s been reported that the NCA has a retention crisis, we’re being told the National Crime Agency is 'on its knees' and losing more officers than it recruits.

“It’s clear to British people up and down the country that things will only get worse."

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Trade union chief labelled 'idiot' after furious tirade against Nigel Farage

The Trade Union Congress' general-secretary Paul Nowak has claimed Nigel Farage is not a "friend of the working class" as he addressed delegates in Brighton this morning.

The 52-year-old said: "I don't believe for one moment that most of those who voted Reform at the last election are racist but let me say this clearly and unequivocally, Nigel Farage isn't a friend of the working class, he is a fraud."

Nowak is a longstanding critic of the Reform UK leader and last week set out how the left could thwart the rise of the revamped Brexit Party.

However, Reform UK MP Lee Anderson fired back against the TUC's general-secretary.

He told GB News: "Paul Nowak knows nowt. I've been with Nigel in Ashfield where he was mobbed by working class people.

"These idiotic union leaders need to focus on the real enemy of the working class which is the Labour Party they help fund.

"The unions and the Labour Party are no friend of the working class or our pensioners."

During his address to delegates, Nowak also claimed Sir Keir Starmer does have the "interests of working people at heart".

The Prime Minister, who will arrive in Brighton for the TUC conference tomorrow, is facing a backlash from trade union barons over his plan to means-test Winter Fuel Payments.

The policy could wreak havoc for millions of pensioners, with some even warning it could lead to deaths during a cold winter.

Rachel Reeves told putting VAT on school fees mid-year is 'cruel and punitive'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been told that putting VAT on school fees mid-year is “cruel and punitive”.

Dominic Norrish, the chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), penned a letter to Reeves over the decision.

In his letter, which was also addressed to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Norrish suggested the decision was deliberately destructive and would undermine the policy’s aims.

“It is not the start of the academic year for pupils, the fee year for schools, nor the fee payers’ tax year, or even the Government’s budgetary year,” he said.

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Keir Starmer dealt blow as OWN Labour research shows plan to axe Winter Fuel Payments could kill 4,000 Britons

Keir Starmer has been dealt a harsh blow as research conducted by Labour has revealed that almost 4,000 pensioners could die if Winter Fuel Payments are cut.

The analysis warned Conservative proposals to axe the allowance for 10 million elderly Britons in 2017 would increase excess deaths by 3,850.

Labour’s research, which was published when Sir Keir Starmer was serving as Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, also labelled Theresa May’s proposal the “single biggest attack on pensioners in a generation in our country”.

The research said: “Since the introduction of the Winter Fuel Payment by Labour in 1997, allowing for significant variation in winter weather, deaths among the elderly have fallen from around 34,000 to 24,000.“

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Andrew Pierce GRILLS Labour adviser on slashed Winter Fuel payments - 'If this were the Tories, you would say that it is wrong!'

GB News presenter Andrew Pierce has accused Sir Keir Starmer of "whacking" Tory voters by means-testing Winter Fuel Payments.

Tearing into former Labour adviser Matthew Laza, Andrew said: "If this were the Tories, you would say that it is wrong."

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WATCH NOW: Paul Nowak's tirade against Nigel Farage in full

'Nigel Farage isn't a friend of the working class.'

General secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Paul Nowak, calls the Reform UK leader 'a Putin apologist fraud'. pic.twitter.com/hXZt1shkwp

— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 9, 2024

Elba and Starmer discuss knife crime initiative

Idris Elba and Sir Keir Starmer have spoken out about their discussion to curb knife crime.

The award-winning actor said: “Talk is good, but action is important.”

He added: “We needed joined-up thinking, we needed so many different perspectives: parents’ perspectives, youth workers’ perspectives, charity organisations, governance, policing.

“We need all of these perspectives to sit around the table when you think about this. We aren’t going to end knife crime. We can’t, that’s not realistic.

“But we can tackle the attributes towards it. At the centre of it is obviously young people – my son’s 10, and I’m hoping the work that we do annually, keep pushing, (can) help him by the time he’s 16.

“There are kids right now that are 16-24, they’re in that cycle right now that we might not be able to help, but with our joined-up thinking we can help future generations.”

Starmer also acknowledged that “there is no quick fix” to the problems and urged campaigners around the table in No10 to be “brutally frank” with their views.

Keir Starmer issued warning over planned tax rises - Britain on 'path to destitution'

Keir Starmer has been issued with a stark warning about his planned tax rises in next month's Budget.

New data will put pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to consider the share contribution made by Britain's top earners to the Treasury as officials mull over capital gains and inheritance tax hikes.

Henley & Partners, which helps wealthy investors move overseas, estimates that Britain is on track to lose a record 9,500 millionaires this year.

The figure is higher than the loss expected in any country except China.

Analysis found the UK already suffered a net loss of 4,200 millionaires in the first five months of this year, with a further 5,300 expected to go before January.

Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins confirmed he was listing his £12million London penthouse to avoid Labour's tax raid in the first major sign of an exodus.

The House of Commons Library also revealed that the top ten per cent of income taxpayers contribute more than 60 per cent of all income tax receipts.

Tory leadership frontrunner Robert Jenrick said: "We've got to stop this slow march to Britain's destitution under Starmer."

Ex-MP Nadhim Zahawi warns Europe cannot 'absorb' migration influx

'Europe cannot absorb half a billion people.'

Former Chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, calls for a 'better debate' on the mobilisation of people living 'south of Libya' who are seeking a better life.

📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604 pic.twitter.com/iI9dLymQsF

— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 9, 2024

Former Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has claimed Europe cannot "absorb" half a billion people amid a migrant crisis from North Africa.

Zahawi, who is in favour of withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, voiced support for safe and legal routes but stressed a sustainable policy was needed.

He told GB News: "Europe cannot absorb half a billion people.

"We need to have a much better debate, quality of debate."

75% of Britons support banning MPs from gambling after election controversy

A staggering 75 per cent of Britons support banning MPs from gambling following a spate of controversies during the 2024 General Election, a new survey has revealed.

An OBLG and YouGov poll revealed 76 per cent of Brits think anyone working within politics should not be allowed to gamble on political markets.

Six-in-10 also say all politicians should be made to declare all their betting activity.

Nearly half claimed anyone found to have used inside knowledge to bet on politics should be banned from holding public office.

“While politicians are also private citizens and should enjoy a reasonable amount of privacy, as members of public office they are meant to serve the best interests of the public,” said OLBG CEO Richard Moffat.

“As a result they are held to a high standard, and if those involved have used insider information for financial gain, even at a token amount, it may have far-reaching consequences,” he added.

WATCH NOW: Ex-Johnson aide blasts BBC after it breaks own guidelines - 'Absolute failure!'

The BBC is breaking its own guidelines with its coverage of Israel's war with Hamas, a former adviser to Boris Johnson has claimed.

Oscar Reddrop told GB News: "That bias, I'm surprised isn't a bigger story.

"It's probably, internationally, the biggest news story we've had over the last year or so.

"And for the BBC, which is just something that, I don't want to bash too much, there's a lot to be proud of, in terms of the BBC and it does some really good stuff.

"But this is an absolute failing on probably the biggest international news story that they could have covered."

He added: "It's hugely contentious. As we all know, it's a hugely emotive subject.

"But it was frustrating because you were watching pretty much all other broadcasters be quite comfortable in describing her mass as a terrorist organisation.

"It was really frustrating as someone who actually does care about the BBC. It was so frustrating."

The BBC breached its own editorial guidelines 1,533 times in its early coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, a report that relied heavily on AI by the Telegraph has found.

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Trade unions to pose 'big test' to Starmer as PM set for showdown over Winter Fuel Payments, ANALYSIS BY ADAM CHERRY

GB News' political reporter Adam Cherry has claimed trade unions will pose a "big test" to Sir Keir Starmer when the Prime Minister arrives at the Trade Union Congress' conference in Brighton tomorrow.

Despite welcoming the first Labour Government after 14-years of Tory rule, trade unionists appear hellbent on extracting better pay and conditions from Starmer.

Adam, who is in Brighton to cover the conference for GB News, also argued trade unionists have got a particular eye on Labour's controversial plan to means-test winter fuel payments for pensioners.

GB News' political reporter Adam Cherry said:

The trade unions are not going quietly. There are plenty of bubbling tensions in Brighton.
The TUC's general secretary Paul Nowak made clear yesterday that he is concerned about the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Although he is pleased this is the first TUC conference since Labour has been in Government for 15 years, that doesn't mean they're going to step back.
They're trying to appear conciliatory and play ball for now but tomorrow will be a really big test when the Prime Minister arrives to deliver his speech on the same day that MPs will vote on the Winter Fuel Allowance.

Adam's analysis comes as Labour attempt to quell a rebellion from backbench MPs on the measure which could leave thousands of pensioners struggling this winter.

The Tories put enough pressure on the Prime Minister for him to seek a Commons vote on the measure this week rather than introducing the move via a statutory instrument.

The decision has resulted in Starmer's approval rating taking an almighty dip, with Reform UK also highlighting the issues with the move.

Jenrick and Badenoch continue to lead race to replace Rishi Sunak

Ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch continue to lead in the race to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader.

Jenrick and Badenoch have registered 18 public backers, a handful of votes below the numbers who voted for them last week.

Mel Stride, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat continue to see public support from MPs sit in single figures.

The result of the first ballot saw Jenrick pick up 28 votes, with Badenoch on 22.

Cleverly put up a strong performance with 21 votes, while Tugendhat and Stride registered 17 and 16 votes respectively.

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel was knocked out of the race on 14.

Elba arrives at Downing Street for knife crime summit

Award-winning actor Idris Elba has arrived at Downing Street to meet with Sir Keir Starmer at a key knife crime summit.

Elba, 52, will join the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper as a longstanding anti-knife crime campaigner.

He will bring together community groups and victims' families who have first-hand experience that can be used to change policy.

Elba launched an initiative to ban so-called zombie knives in January called Don't Stop Your Future.

Starmer also claimed he saw "first-hand" the "devastating" impact that knife crime has on families.

The Prime Minister even described the problem as a "national crisis", reiterating Labour's commitment to halve offences over the next decade.

Union chief turns screw on Starmer over 'picking pockets of pensioners' with 'austerity' plan

A Union bigwig has turned the screw against Sir Keir Starmer after accusing the Prime Minister of "picking the pockets of pensioners" through austerity measures.

Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite the union, said the move to scrap the payments for 10 million pensioners was “completely wrong” and must be reversed.

She told the BBC: "We need to make sure that he is making the right choices and leadership is about choices and he needs to be big enough and brave enough to do a U-turn on this choice.

“It is completely wrong. People do not understand how a Labour Government has decided to pick the pocket of pensioners and at the same time leave the richest in our society totally untouched.

“That is wrong and he needs to change course.”

Graham added: “This is saving minutiae in terms of money. It is £1.2billion in saving and at the same time you have got the 50 richest families in Britain worth £500 billion.

“Why has Labour made a choice to not tax the 1 per cent wealthiest which would get £25billion back into the pot? Black hole gone, £3billion left over.

“Why have they decided to put pensioners through pain to save £1.2billion which quite frankly doesn’t touch the sides of this so-called black hole?

“It is wrongfooted, they should change their decision and he needs to be big enough and brave enough to say ‘look, I have made an error here’.”

Starmer 'wipes floor' with all five Tory leadership contenders, poll shows

Sir Keir Starmer "wipes the floor" with all five remaining Tory leadership contenders, a new poll has revealed.

A new Savanta survey put former Home Secretary James Cleverly as the nearest challenger to the Prime Minister.

However, Cleverly just registered 23 per cent compared to 47 per cent for Starmer.

Ex-Security Minister Tom Tugendhat was marginally behind on 22 per cent compared to 47 per cent.

Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch and Mel Stride all fared a little bit worse against Starmer.

Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, said: “Even accounting for incumbent prime ministers having a natural advantage on this metric, this research shows that Starmer wipes the floor with all the prospective Conservative leaders on who the public thinks would make the best PM.

"Our research continues to suggest there isn't an obvious Conservative leader who could win an election in the public's eye - yet. It also serves as a reminder that despite a challenging few weeks for Labour, they're only really at risk when the Conservatives get their act together. That certainly won’t happen until a new leader is in place, and isn’t a given even then."

Reform UK set sights on 2029 victory as populist party fills war-chest

Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has set his sights on Reform UK winning the 2029 General Election with the populist party's support surging from 14 per cent to 32 per cent.

Speaking to The Sunday Times yesterday, Yusuf said: "By the time we get to 2029, we think we’ll have a large roster of council seats, where we are delivering for local people, fixing potholes, getting sewage out of the water, solving local problems.

"We think we’ll have a really strong showing in Wales, a really strong showing in Scotland."

Insiders hope to use Cardiff Bay and Holyrood as a springboard ahead of the next general election, with pollsters predicting up to 25 seats in Wales and a further 10 in Scotland.

Yusuf's comments come just days after former pop star Holly Valance hosted a Reform UK fundraiser last Wednesday.