Politics LIVE: Kemi Badenoch vows to give JK Rowling peerage as she hits out at 'oddballs and bad people'
Badenoch has vowed to give fellow gender critical campaigner Rowling the gong
PA
Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has vowed to give Harry Potter author JK Rowling a peerage over her gender-critical stance.
Badenoch, who claimed to have "managed to get" Cass Review pioneer Dr Hillary Cass a peerage in the pre-election dissolution honours, pledged to hand the billionaire writer the gong - and hit out at "oddballs and bad people" in the process.
Asked whether she would sit Rowling in the Lords, Badenoch said: "I would. I don't know whether she would take it, but I certainly would give her a peerage," speaking to TalkTV.
She hailed the now-Baroness Cass as "a strong voice in Parliament" for "women who have fought for so much [and] need protection".
Badenoch also said that gender-critical activists had been "attacked relentlessly by all sorts of oddballs and bad people".
But she also hit out at "silly politics" ahead of her clash with Robert Jenrick on GB News tonight.
"I'm not getting involved in the people who are playing silly politics," she said. "They got us into this mess."
"They started the psychodrama that the party members are sick of - seeing all this petty squabbling, slandering, all the people briefing.
"It has to end. I am a clean slate. I am the bold choice. I am not more of the same. I'm something different."
But fresh polling has indicated rival Jenrick might present more of a threat in a future General Election.
Jenrick would win 50 extra seats if he was leader of the Tories - compared with 30 seats which would be gained if Badenoch was at the wheel of the party, according to the poll of nearly 6,300 people by Electoral Calculus.
SCROLL BELOW FOR MORE UPDATES FROM GB NEWS AHEAD OF TONIGHT’S SPECIAL POLITICAL PROGRAMME, DECISION TIME: THE RACE TO LEAD
Jenrick distances self from Chope after 'preoccupied' claims
Robert Jenrick has distanced himself from Sir Christopher Chope
PARobert Jenrick has distanced himself from Sir Christopher Chope after his "shocking" comments on ITV.
Speaking on ITV, Chope said: "Much as I like Kemi, I think she's preoccupied with her own children, quite understandably.
"Robert [Jenrick]'s children are a bit older - and I think that it's important that the Leader of the Opposition has an enormous amount of time and energy."
When pushed on his comments, Chope clarified: "Kemi spends a lot of time with her family - which I don't resent at all. You can't spend all your time with your family while being Leader of the Opposition."
He was then told: "Many women will be shocked by those comments... There should be no barrier to women standing in public life."
And now, a Jenrick campaign source has hit back, saying: "Rob doesn't agree with this. He's raising three young daughters himself."
DECISION TIME: THE RACE TO LEAD WILL AIR ON GB NEWS TONIGHT AT 7PM - READ MORE HERE
Labour hints at using AI to make judgments as Starmer tackles courts backlog
Mahmood said she was she is "very interested" in the role AI could play in speeding things up
PALabour has hinted that it could use artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up "small judgments" in a drive to clean up "efficiency and productivity" within Britain's courts.
Labour MP Oliver Ryan asked Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood who she believes is responsible for the number of crown court sitting days being cut, before adding: "Has she explored the further use of AI in small judgments to speed up the backlog?"
Mahmood said she was she is "very interested" in the role AI could play in speeding things up - but said she would not "speculate on who is ultimately responsible" on crown court sitting days.
She told the Commons: "I'm very interested in the role that AI and other technology and digital solutions can play in increasing efficiency and productivity with the crown court system and within the courts system more broadly.
"That is something that is subject to discussions in relation to the Budget and spending review. I hope to update the House further in due course."
Keir Starmer would LOSE Labour majority if Jenrick were Tory leader, shock poll reveals
"This is a contest to pick the next prospective Prime Minister, not just an opposition figure to shout at Starmer," a Jenrick campaign source said
PA
Labour would lose its Parliamentary majority if a snap election was called against a Robert Jenrick-led Conservative Party, a shock new poll has said.
Jenrick would win 50 extra seats if he was leader of the Tories - compared with 30 seats which would be gained if Kemi Badenoch was at the wheel of the party, according to the poll of nearly 6,300 people by Electoral Calculus.
That would leave a hung Parliament - compared to a tiny Labour majority of 14 seats under Badenoch's potential Tories.
Further Conservative membership surveys still have Badenoch out in front - but polls are narrowing, having slid from 59-41 in her favour compared to just 52-48.
But heavyweight pollster Sir John Curtice said earlier this week that neither Jenrick nor Badenoch would be able to win back voters.
Regardless, team Jenrick is bullish - one campaign source told The Telegraph: "All the polling shows that Rob is more popular than Kemi with the public - whether they are Labour, Lib Dem or Reform voters.
"This is a contest to pick the next prospective Prime Minister, not just an opposition figure to shout at Starmer.
"Everyone has had enough of excuses and drama... We just need to deliver."
DECISION TIME: THE RACE TO LEAD WILL AIR ON GB NEWS TONIGHT AT 7PM - READ MORE HERE
Tory MP sparks furious row with claim Kemi Badenoch 'too preoccupied' being a mum to be Conservative leader
Chope said Kemi Badenoch is too "preoccupied" with her children to be Leader of the Opposition
PA/ITV
Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope has claimed party leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch is too "preoccupied" with her children to be Leader of the Opposition.
Speaking on ITV, Chope said: "Much as I like Kemi, I think she's preoccupied with her own children, quite understandably.
"Robert [Jenrick]'s children are a bit older - and I think that it's important that the Leader of the Opposition has an enormous amount of time and energy."
When pushed on his comments, Chope clarified: "Kemi spends a lot of time with her family - which I don't resent at all. You can't spend all your time with your family while being Leader of the Opposition."
He was then told: "Many women will be shocked by those comments... There should be no barrier to women standing in public life."
"You're completely misrepresenting what I said," Chope retorted. "What I'm talking about is the time commitment."
Badenoch herself has put down claims she couldn't balance her commitments, telling TalkTV how "there's a lot that I can do and I can juggle it all".
DECISION TIME: THE RACE TO LEAD WILL AIR ON GB NEWS TONIGHT AT 7PM - READ MORE HERE
Legions of Labour luvvies descend on America to campaign for Kamala Harris
Hundreds of Labour volunteers are heading to the US to campaign for Harris
REUTERSLabour organisers are looking for an extra 10 handy volunteers to join "nearly 100" current and former party staff heading stateside to campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Posting on professional social network LinkedIn, Labour operations personnel are pushing for even more takers to bring the fight to Donald Trump in election battleground states North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The party will even sort volunteers' accommodation on the trip.
Campaigners will follow in Labour MP Ruth Cadbury's footsteps - who, just weeks ago, went door-knocking in New Hampshire.
Cadbury, for her efforts, was accused of "turning her back on constituents".
Reform UK boasts of surge in support as Labour voters 'flee to Farage in droves' - 'We will beat Starmer!'
Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has boasted about the populist party's soaring supportPAReform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has boasted about the populist party's soaring support in opinion polls as Labour voters appear to have flocked to Farage - just over 100 days into Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.
Responding to a recent poll of polls putting Reform UK up six points on 20 per cent, Yusuf said: "Labour voters are fleeing in their droves to Reform. Not the Tories. Only Reform can beat Labour. And we will."
The polling averages have placed Reform UK is just five points behind the effectively leaderless Tories - who, alongside Farage's party, are the only ones trending up - and nine points behind Starmer's faltering Labour.
Yusuf, who was last month instructed to democratise and professionalise Reform UK, also shared separate polls showing the populist party as more popular than Labour.
Directly addressing Reform UK's support in Wales, Yusuf warned: "You haven't seen anything yet."
Yusuf’s comments come as Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick prepare to lock horns tonight at 7pm on GB News for Decision Time: The Race to Lead - live on The People's Channel.
Despite Jenrick and Badenoch both hoping to thwart the rise of Reform UK, a new opinion poll has suggested Farage could make large gains if either succeed Rishi Sunak as Tory leader.
The situation prompted former Conservative MP Miriam Cates to urge her former colleagues to "swallow their pride" by entering a pact with Reform UK.
Writing in ConservativeHome, Cates said: "It is easy to dismiss Farage as merely a 'populist' - and certainly the Reform UK manifesto this year was a feast of fantasy policies - but this challenger party is rapidly professionalising and building infrastructure, and there is no reason to believe that their advances will be reversed."
Reeves under fire from anti-Monarchists demanding cuts to royal budget
The letter, addressed to Downing Street and signed by Republic CEO Graham Smith, was posted by the organisation on X at 8 o'clock this morning.X
Anti-Monarchy activists at Republic have written to Rachel Reeves demanding that she cut the royal budget instead of public services in her upcoming Budget.
The letter, posted to the group's social media accounts this morning, outlines its concerns about public service and welfare cuts - but Republic have claimed the cost of the Monarchy will continue to rise.
The group have urged the Chancellor to consider scrapping the Sovereign Grant used by the Royal Family to pay for expenses related to their official duties in a bid to fill part of the so-called "black hole" inherited from the Tories.
Streeting and Johnson in toe-curling 'good girl' exchange in Parliament
Seconds before the chamber descended into equal parts laughter, equal parts wincing
PARLIAMENT.TV
MPs in an access to primary healthcare debate were forced to endure a toe-curling exchange in Parliament yesterday, new video shows.
Asking Health Secretary Wes Streeting why it was taking so long to produce a tobacco and vapes Bill, shadow health and social care minister Dr Caroline Johnson asked: "Can he guarantee that he will deliver it, like a present, in time for Christmas? For clarity, I am hoping for this Christmas."
Streeting retorted: "Have you been naughty or nice?"
But the chamber swiftly descended into equal parts laughter, equal parts wincing when Dr Johnson replied: "I have been a good girl, thank you, Secretary of State."
HS2 set to be extended to Crewe - announcement expected next year
HS2 was scaled back by the Conservative Government
PAThe HS2 train line is set to be extended beyond Birmingham to Crewe, according to LBC.
In a move set to be announced early in 2025, sources close to the project say ministers have reevaluated HS2's costs and benefits - with the railway now set to link Crewe to London Euston.
The route had initially been set to connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, but was scaled back by the Conservative Government who scrapped its "Phase 2".
Rees-Mogg hails Jenrick's 'vision, work ethic and understanding' ahead of GB News special
I'm supporting @RobertJenrick for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Click below to read my article explaining why.https://t.co/qr1JtTLWwZ pic.twitter.com/m6Lv6NJubi
— Jacob Rees-Mogg (@Jacob_Rees_Mogg) October 17, 2024
Jacob Rees-Mogg has lauded Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick's "vision, work ethic and understanding" ahead of his appearance alongside Kemi Badenoch on GB News this evening.
Rees-Mogg, who has been offered the role of Tory chairman if Jenrick wins, hailed his plans for migration reform - saying "proper immigration policy is essential before anyone will listen to us on anything else".
"We can be a mass movement again, because being a Conservative is something you should be proud of," he added.
DECISION TIME: THE RACE TO LEAD WILL AIR ON GB NEWS TONIGHT AT 7PM - READ MORE HERE
'Shameful!' Tory MP fumes at Lammy's 'failure to engage' with Chagos Islanders
The Foreign Secretary did not meet any Chagossians before deciding to cede British Indian Overseas Territories to Mauritius.
— Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) October 17, 2024
He refused to admit this in the House.
A shameful failure to engage w/those to whom the state has a duty.
A great injustice against Chagossians, again. pic.twitter.com/hyhOYpdnVK
Tory MP and shadow foreign affairs minister Alicia Kearns has lashed out at Foreign Secretary David Lammy over his "failure to engage" with Chagos Islanders after surrendering their home to Mauritius.
Writing on social media after filing a written Parliamentary question to Lammy, Kearns said: "The Foreign Secretary did not meet any Chagossians before deciding to cede British Indian Overseas Territories to Mauritius.
"He refused to admit this in the House. A shameful failure to engage with those to whom the state has a duty.
"A great injustice against Chagossians, again."
Rachel Reeves set to launch largest Budget tax raid in HISTORY
The Treasury is aiming to fill a so-called "£40billion black hole"
PARachel Reeves is set to launch the largest Budget tax raid in history in her upcoming October Budget.
The Chancellor has reportedly faced backlash from her fellow Cabinet ministers, including the Deputy Prime Minister, as her first Budget is expected to include £35billion worth of tax rises as she commits to ending austerity.
It has been suggested that proposals set out in the Budget next Thursday will involve the first increase in fuel duty since George Osborne's freeze during the coalition Government, as the Treasury aims to fill a so-called "£40billion black hole" in the public finances.
Labour NOT hypocrites over donations scandal, says minister handed £14k birthday party by Lord Alli
Bridget Phillipson said that she does not accept the Government has been hypocritical on issues like Taylor Swift tickets and donations from Lord Alli
PA
Bridget Phillipson is still speaking to Times Radio, where she has been pressured on Labour's ongoing "donorgate" row.
The Education Secretary, who accepted £14,000 from Labour peer Lord Alli to fund a birthday party, said that she does not accept the Government has been hypocritical on issues like Taylor Swift tickets and donations from Alli - but accepted that she can "understand" why people would "see it in a certain way".
Asked about hypocrisy, Phillipson said: "I do recognise I'm in a very privileged position, a very fortunate position, but I reject the wider suggestion that you have put to me.
"And I can absolutely tell you that every single day what matters most to me is the work that we are doing as a Government to support our children and families."
Asked again whether she feels that "there is no hypocrisy in the Labour Government", Phillipson added: "I don't accept that, but I can understand how when lots of people would look at that they would see it in a certain way.
"I completely understand that we have responsibilities as politicians which I followed and honoured in terms of my responsibilities in line with the rules."
At the end of last month, when the five-figure sum came to light, Phillipson defended the donations to Sky News.
She told the broadcaster: "The first event was ahead of my birthday, so I was turning 40... I thought it was a good opportunity to get people together in a professional context, so it was journalists, trade unionists, education people, MPs and shadow cabinet.
"The second event was an event that I held, also again for lobby journalists, for people in the education world, as part of a reception. It was in a work context."
She said she didn't pay for the event because it was not attended by her family members.
Education Secretary warns of 'tough choices' to come - but can't resist swipe at Sunak
Education secretary Bridget PhillipsonPAMinisters will have to "make some really tough choices" ahead of the Budget, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has warned.
Asked about the revolt from within that the Prime Minister is facing over cuts to multiple departments' spending, and whether this marks a return to austerity, Phillipson told Times Radio that "we've got to fix the problems that we've inherited".
She was firm that there will be "no return to austerity", but joined a raft of Labour's top brass in blaming the previous Government as she added: "We do, all of us, have to make some really tough choices because of the inheritance... given to us by the Conservatives."
She also lashed out at prison overcrowding, and accused Rishi Sunak of not being "prepared to confront that difficult choice".
The Education Secretary added: "We've got to fix the problems that we've inherited but we want to make sure that we're delivering on the commitments that we made: Making sure that there are more jobs, more opportunities, a growing economy."
Tens of thousands of migrants could be handed asylum under Labour scheme to 'clear the backlog'
Small boat migrantsPAMore than 62,000 migrants could be granted asylum in Britain as part of Labour's plans to clear the backlog of claims waiting to be dealt with.
The number of asylum claims still waiting to be processed could stand at 118,063 by January after Labour controversially scrapped plans to send migrants to Rwanda and started processing applications again.
Analysis of official data, based on grant rates in the year to June, indicates as many as 62,801 more people could be recognised as refugees in the UK, according to migrant charity the Refugee Council.
The charity's chief executive, Enver Solomon, said: "People seeking asylum need quick decisions so they can feel secure about their future in Britain, while the public needs to feel confident that the Government is making fair decisions about who can stay in the UK and who cannot."
The charity also said the research suggests the total backlog at the start of next year could be as much as 59,000 lower than at the time of the July election and if no action had been taken to change Government policy.
Politics LIVE
Welcome back to GB News' Politics LIVE blog.
Check back here throughout the day for the latest politics updates from Westminster and beyond.
A reminder that at 7pm tonight on GB News, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick will appear on Decision Time: The Race to Lead - READ MORE HERE