Politics LIVE: Starmer’s Attorney General ADMITS recusing himself after being embroiled in conflict of interest row stretching Gerry Adams to Chagos Islands

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Conservative peer says Southport killer Axel Rudakubana could 'one day walk free amongst us'

Conservative peer Lord Davies has called for a review on sentencing to allow whole-life orders to be given to under-18s, claiming Axel Rudakubana could "one day walk free amongst us."

Rudakubana was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years last week, one of the highest minimum terms on record, for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a dance class in Southport on July 29 last year.o

Lrd Davies said the attack is “one of the most despicable criminal acts” he has ever encountered.

He said: “My previous career, 32 years as a detective policing in London, I saw some of the most violent and atrocious criminals at work, but this certainly ranks as the most heinous of crimes.”

Lord Davies added: “I must express my grave concerns about the limitations of our current sentencing framework. The public will rightly question how someone capable of such monstrous crimes could one day walk free amongst us.

"This is undoubtedly a question of moral clarity and public confidence in our justice system. There is a strong case here for amending the law to give clear judicial discretion toward whole-life sentences to under-18s."

Home Office minister Lord Hanson replied: “We must remember that the individual who committed these crimes has faced a life sentence given down last week, does face a 52-year minimum sentence.

“But the issues Lord Davies has mentioned about the whole-life sentence are tendered by the fact that we do sign up to as this UK Government, to the United Nations conventions on the Rights of the Child, which means that we can’t currently give a whole-life sentence to somebody under the age of 18."

‘Uber-hypocrite' Ed Miliband hires taxpayer funded ‘vanity photographer’ to fix public image

Ed Miliband is the latest Labour minister to receive backlash for hiring a tax-payer-funded "vanity photographer".

Previously, as leader of the Labour Party, Miliband took aim at Lord Cameron - who was serving as Prime Minister at the time - for having a personal photographer in 2010.

Now, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is looking to hire a photographer to take pictures of ministerial visits and shoot official portraits.

Taxpayers will foot the bill of the position's hefty pay and pension package - at around £50,000 each year on a pro-rata basis.

Shadow paymaster general Richard Holden hit out at the energy secretary, saying: "It wasn't that long ago that Red Ed was attacking David Cameron for having an official photographer," he said.

"Now, with photos of him and a bacon sandwich and the 'Ed Stone' seared in the public mind, you can see why uber-hypocrite Ed 'two kitchens' Miliband has hypocritically hired a taxpayer-funded vanity photographer to try and avoid such snaps in the future."

Miliband calls on Britons to "speed up, not slow down" in push for Net Zero

The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband has called on the UK to 'speed up, not slow down' in the drive for Net Zero.

Giving evidence to the Commons environmental audit committee, the former Labour leader said the country needed to "go all out for clean power."

He said: "I would also argue … that all of the evidence about our national interest says we should speed up, not slow down. Geopolitical instability continues to put pressure on energy prices; we need to go all out for clean power.

"The economic opportunities are going to go to those who lead, not those who hang back. And on climate, most recently in Los Angeles, we’ve seen the climate crisis is real."

Phillipson brands Tory proposals to ban smartphones in schools as a 'gimmick'

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has dismissed calls to bring in a new law to ban phones in classrooms, as she branded the Tory proposal a"headline-grabbing gimmick."

While Phillipson agreed that mobile phones should not be in lessons, she added the opposition were wrong to say it could only be done by introducing legislation.

Shadow education secretary Laura Trott MP told the Commons: "We know that smartphones in the classroom have a negative impact on reading and educational attainment of children in general.

"When in government, we issued guidance to try to ban smartphones in the classroom, but the latest evidence is clear that they are still far too prevalent in schools. So to fix the problem, guidance needs to be put on a statutory footing.

"Does the Education Secretary agree that children’s education outcomes are negatively affected by smartphones, and if she does, will she back our amendment to ban them from the classroom?"

Phillipson responded: "I agree that phones have no place in the classroom. It is entirely right that schools take firm action to stop their use, and I know that that is what the vast majority of schools already do.

"As (Ms Trott) just said, last July, they said that they didn’t need to legislate in this area. Nothing has changed in this time. I back the approach that they took in July in this area. Yet again, another headline-grabbing gimmick. No plans to drive up standards in our schools."

Lib Dems call for Reeves to 'handbrake turn' over controversial budget

The Liberal Democrats have called for a u-turn over Rachel Reeve's budget, claiming that their policies have not worked in turning around "years of Conservative economic vandalism."

It comes as the CBI Growth Indicator indicated that the private sector thinks activity will fall again over the next three months.

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper MP said: "The Chancellor must heed these warnings and do a handbrake turn to reverse the misguided jobs tax, properly reform the broken business rates system and create growth through a bespoke UK-EU customs union.

"After years of Conservative economic vandalism millions have been hammered by a cost of living crisis but the Labour Chancellor must accept that her budget has not worked in turning that around.

"We simply cannot afford to continue down this path of economic stagnation. Only with a change of direction will we see the growth needed to protect family finances and rebuild our public services."

Government has a 'cast-iron commitment' to defence spending, says minister

A defence minister has claimed the Government has a "cast-iron commitment" to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP .

Luke Pollard’s remarks came in response to questions from the Conservatives amid reports the target will not be met by 2030.

A senior Government source told The Times that meeting the target in five years would mean "deeper cuts in the run-up to the election” and "feels like a non-starter."

Pollard, responding to an urgent question, told the Commons: "The Government’s plan for change says, 'We will set out a path to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence in the spring.'"

He said he would reiterate the words of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey as he stated: "This Government has a cast-iron commitment to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence and this Government is already delivering for defence by increasing defence spending. At our first budget we announced an extra £3 billion on spending on defence in the next financial year."

Keir Starmer accused of 'putting Britain at risk' from China in attempt to fix 'self-inflicted economic woes'

Keir Starmer has been accused of "putting Britain at risk" in an attempt to remedy his "self-inflicted economic woes" ahead of a visit from one of China's top diplomats.

Wang Yi is believed to be set to visit the UK next month to conduct talks with David Lammy as Labour continues to try to forge a closer relationship with Beijing.

During a visit to China in December, Chancellor Rachel Reeves dubbed the country as "crucial" to growth of the UK's economy while she worked to secure trade agreements with the nation.

However, concern has stemmed from suspicion over China's tightening Communist rule and increased fears of Chinese espionage in Britain.

Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel has said: “China continues to threaten our interests and the safety and security of our country.

"But instead of defending our interests, in a desperate rush to think China can solve the self-inflicted economic woes of his Government, Starmer is putting Britain at risk."

"He needs to be honest about what he intends to compromise in his pursuit to make friends with China," she added, speaking to The Telegraph.

The PM has refused to declare China a national security threat as top Tories - and even some Labour politicians - insist on such action.

‘It absolutely stinks!’ Jenrick reignites call for INVESTIGATION into Starmer’s ‘murky’ Attorney General after Lord Hermer refuses to declare new legal earnings

Robert Jenrick has demanded yet another investigation into Lord Richard Hermer after the Attorney General refused to declare future earnings from legal cases undertaken before joining Sir Keir Starmer's Government.

In a letter seen by GB News, the Shadow Justice Secretary expressed his concern to the Lords Commissioner for Standards over the “absence of any declarations relating to his [Lord Hermer’s] previous works at Matrix Chambers”.

He said: “This omission is particularly significant given Lord Hermer’s position as Attorney General and his extensive practice at the Bar.

“The matter warrants investigation for several reasons … Barristers typically receive payments significantly in arrears of their work, often months or years after services are rendered.

“This is especially pertinent in cases involving Conditional Fee Arrangements (CFAs), which Matrix Chambers routinely offer.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Rachel Reeves hits back at 'misogynistic and deeply unprofessional' nickname as she admits 'I've been called worse'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has hit back at critics using a "misogynistic and deeply unprofessional" nickname, insisting that her entire life has been spent "proving people wrong".

Reeves - who critics have dubbed "Rachel from accounts" - admitted she's "probably been called worse things".

"In the end, people are going to judge me on the job that I’m doing now, that I’m doing as Chancellor of the Exchequer," she told Sky News.

The nickname originally came from accusations that Reeves had lied on her CV, although she has rejected such allegations.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'Politicians could benefit from taking a page from Trump's playbook!' Majority of UK voters support Trump's hard-line immigration policies in new poll

A majority of British voters support the new US President's hard-line stance on immigration as Donald Trump declared a "national border emergency" along America's southern coast shared with Mexico.

Out of Opinium's survey of 2,000 people, some 58 per cent agreed that Britain should "declare a national emergency in the Channel" and the Government must "begin the process of returning thousands and thousands of criminal migrants back to the places from which they came".

Head of policy at Opinium James Crouch said: "While Trump’s policies are rightly scrutinised, it’s his mastery of narrative and storytelling that stands out – the polling suggests British politicians could benefit from taking a page from his playbook when advancing their own policy agenda."

Keir Starmer receives backlash after inviting drag queen 'troll' to No 10 for Burns Night celebration

Keir Starmer has come under fire after Downing Street invited a drag queen to celebrate Burns Night at No 10.

In an online post, the PM was pictured posing alongside Lawrence Chaney - who has won RuPaul's Drag Race UK - for the traditional Scottish celebration.

Rosie Duffield, who became an independent MP in the Commons after she resigned from Labour, said: “I’d be interested to know whether the Prime Minister’s staff briefed him on this drag performer’s historic online trolling of women MPs and JK Rowling before he posed for photographs with him.”

Chaney had previously accused Rowling of rallying "hate" towards transgender people while, more recently, he has compared gender-critical activists to racist segregationists in America during the 1960s.

Michael Gove believed to be offered peerage in Rishi Sunak's honours list

The former Tory big beast is believed to have been offered a peerage in Rishi Sunak's resignation honours list, according to reports from senior Conservative sources.

Before stepping down before the General Election, Michael Gove, who is now editor of The Spectator, was one of Sunak's key allies in his final weeks as Prime Minister.

Others believed to be offered peerages include ex transport secretary Mark Harper, former Scottish secretary Alister Jack as well as former CCHQ chief Stephen Massey.

Starmer pledges to make Holocaust education 'national endeavour' to 'defeat hatred of difference'

Keir Starmer has pledged to make education on the Holocaust a "truly national endeavour" on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

The PM asserted that the devastation of the Second World War must be remembered - during which six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis.

He added: "But as we remember, we must also act. Because we say "never again" – but where was never again in the genocides of Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur – and where is never again as anti-semitism kills Jewish people still?

"Today, we have to make those words mean more. We will make Holocaust education a truly national endeavour.

"We will ensure all schools teach it and seek to give every young person the opportunity to hear a recorded survivor testimony, because by learning from survivors we can develop that empathy for others and that appreciation of our common humanity, which is the ultimate way to defeat the hatred of difference."

PM in 'complete agreement' with Reeves over Heathrow expansion - as Reeves instructs ministers to fall in line

The Prime Minister is now in "complete agreement" with Rachel Reeves on Heathrow's third runway to boost Britain's economy - according to a Whitehall source.

Over recent days, she has attempted to stifle bitter opposition within her Cabinet by warning ministers that they must fall in line and that the issue will be bound by "full collective ministerial responsibility".

Just yesterday, Reeves indicated that the plans would be backed by the Government, explaining that "sustainable aviation and economic growth go hand in hand".

The Chancellor will deliver a major speech to give the go-ahead to London Heathrow's expansion plans this week.

Reeves accused of 'playing with fire' as she 'plots' to return Britain to EU through customs deal

The Labour Chancellor has come under fire for bringing Britain back into the EU via the backdoor with a new European customs deal.

Reeves has indicated that Labour would consider slapping the UK's name on a tariff-free trading scheme - the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM) - something that she would be "absolutely happy" to think about.

However, Conservative and Labour politicians alike have criticised her actions, warning that she is indeed "playing with fire" as her actions will amount to a backtrack on Brexit.