Farage defends Kaba firearms officer after 'astonishing' reaction sparks fresh cries of 'two-tier policing'

Starmer REFUSES to say if Sue Gray still being paid bumper £170K salary despite being sacked

No10 has refused to say if Sir Keir Starmer's former Chief of Staff Sue Gray is still being paid her bumper salary of £170,000-a-year.

Gray, who was sacked after losing a power struggle with Labour campaign guru Morgan McSweeney, was demoted into a new role as envoy for the nations and regions.

However, the ex-civil servant missed an inaugural gathering of the Prime Minister's new council of nations and regions on October 11, instead taking a "short break".

Starmer's official spokesman remained tight-lipped on Gray's whereabouts and the situation involving her salary.

Asked by reporters about Gray's new role, the spokesman said: "I haven't got an update since when I previously said she was taking a short break between roles and will be taking up duties in the future."

When pushed on Gray's salary during her short break, the spokesman added: "I'm not going to get into HR issues.

"As I say, she's taking a short break between roles and will be taking up duties in the coming weeks."

Labour MP who attended £22k private school lauds VAT raid

Labour MP Josh Simons has lauded Rachel Reeves' VAT raid on private school despite attending Cambridge's Perse School at a cost of £22,350-a-year.

The 31-year-old Makerfield MP argued the move is better for “our schools and for our country”.

He added that children should not be “syphoned off into a private school” or “insulated” from the state school system.

Loveena Tandon, of Education not Taxation, a grassroots campaign of more than 23,000 private school parents, criticised the Labour MP, claiming: "We are appalled by Josh Simons’ comment praising the displacement of children from their schools because of his party’s policy."

Angela Rayner set to cripple UK firms with £5 BILLION in extra costs

Inmates have celebrated Labour and the Prime Minister after they were released from prison early, with one shouting "big up Keir Starmer".

Suella Braverman has endorsed Robert Jenrick to be the Conservative Party leader, whilst William Hague has given his support to Kemi Badenoch.

Angela Rayner's Employment Right's Bill will cost businesses up to £5billion a year, the Government has said.

A row has erupted after the NHS started to remove “inappropriate” suggestions on its consultation page, which is looking for feedback on the health service as part of Wes Streeting's 10 Year Health Plan for England.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves may target Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) in next week's Budget, potentially introducing a £500,000 lifetime limit on these tax-free accounts.

Criminals could be spared jail and sentenced to house arrest instead, under new plans by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Around 1,100 inmates are set to be released early today as part of the Government's policy to free up prison space.

Currently, there are just over 2,000 free spaces in prisons across England and Wales.

Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure from Labour ranks and Caribbean countries to rethink his resistance to reparatory justice for the UK’s role in the slave trade.

Prisoners REJOICE at Labour in power as they celebrate being released early from prison

Inmates have celebrated Labour and the Prime Minister after they were released from prison early, with one shouting "big up Keir Starmer".

Some 1,110 prisoners are being released early today as part of the Government's policy to free up prison space.

One inmate, Daniel Dowling-Brooks, cheered "big up Keir Starmer” as he celebrated his release with his friends, mother and sister, who picked him up in a convoy of a white Bentley and black Mercedes G-Wagon outside HMP Swaleside in Kent.

He told reporters he had been in prison for seven years for kidnap and grievous bodily harm of someone who owed money to his friend, and was leaving jail seven weeks earlier than planned.

The 29-year-old said the first thing he would do is “go to McDonald’s, go to my hostel and follow all the rules”.

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Nigel Farage questions Labour over Chagos bugging allegations

News reports confirm the British High Commission was bugged by the Mauritian government.

Is our so-called agreement over the Diego Garcia military base even worth the paper it’s written on? pic.twitter.com/UcSSvUyAKZ

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) October 22, 2024

Nigel Farage has questioned Labour over allegations that the British High Commission in Mauritius had its phones bugged during the time that the Chagos negotiations were taking place.

Speaking in The Commons, the Reform UK leader doubted the legitimacy of the deal struck by the UK Government to stay on the Diego Garcia military base for the next 100 years.

He said: "Is our so-called agreement over the Diego Garcia military base even worth the paper it’s written on?

The UK and US have a joint air base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago.

There are concerns that the deal will allow the Islands to be susceptible to Chinese interference.

Most common adjective Britons use to describe UK is 'broken'

If asked to describe the UK with an adjective, the most popular is "broken", a study has found.

Other popular responses included the words "divided", "struggling", "mess," "poorly" and "badly", according to a poll conducted by the More in Common think-tank.

The poll also revealed that just 31 per cent of those surveyed believe that British democracy is working, whilst 74 per cent think that the Government is rigged to cater to the needs of the rich, rather than those of the general public.

Luke Tryl, More in Common’s UK director, said that these negative sentiments were common across different voter groups and demographics.

He said: "I’ve said before doing focus groups during the election often felt like being hit with a battering ram of disillusionment that often bordered on and occasionally spilled over into anger.

"This Government has its work cut out because what happens next really matters. I used to be an optimist about the state of democracy, I’m not anymore. But I’m also not a fatalist – if our politicians and policy makers can show that democracy can and does work."

'Dangerous prisoners should not be released early,' says Shadow Business Secretary

Shadow Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake has criticised the Government for releasing more prisoners early to ease overcrowding.

He said on GB News: “There's no way that prisons should be released if they're a danger to society…the fact that some of these prisoners can be released when serving longer sentences is quite wrong, in my view.

“We need to deliver more prison places…and it was a mess last time, when Labour released prisoners, including 37 prisoners who weren't supposed to be released.

CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY HERE:

Starmer buys poppy from veteran outside No10

Outside Downing Street today, the Prime Minister bought his poppy from National Service veteran Michael Homer.

Michael has dedicated his life to the British Armed Forces and has been a #PoppyAppeal organiser for over 16 years. pic.twitter.com/XmAGXMT1TE

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 22, 2024

Sir Keir Starmer has purchased his poppy from a veteran outside of Downing Street.

The Prime Minister purchased the badge from Michael Homer, a veteran who served in the National Service and has organised the Poppy Appeal for over 15 years.

This kicks off this year's Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal, ahead of this upcoming remembrance events.

Sinn Fein member resigns after damaging portrait of DUP mayor

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has told the Northern Ireland Assembly that a Sinn Fein member has resigned from the party after they admitted to damaging the portrait of a former DUP lord mayor.

An investigation had been launched after the official portrait of Lord Wallace Browne, which was hanging at Belfast City Hall, was damaged at the weekend.

O’Neill told MLAs: “Yesterday a Sinn Fein employee who worked in the Assembly made the party chief whip aware of their involvement in an incident regarding a portrait in Belfast City Hall.

“This took place on Saturday October 19. The employee was immediately suspended and we notified the PSNI.

“The employee has now resigned from their employment and their party membership.”

William Hague endorses Kemi Badenoch in Conservative Leadership race

William Hague, a former leader of the party, has given his backing to Kemi Badenoch to be the new leader of the opposition.

Hague, who led the Conservtive Party from 1997 to 2001, said that “after hesitating for a while”, he has decided to support the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Writing in his The Times Column, he said: "It is Badenoch who has set out the strategy most suited to a political battle on multiple fronts and a pace of change that will make many policies of today obsolete in five years’ time.

"While Jenrick has set out a series of very specific commitments, most notably on immigration and leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, Badenoch has rightly resisted the pressure to do so. She seems to know instinctively what I wish I had worked out before I became opposition leader in 1997: that before voters will pay any attention to the policies you announce, they need to understand your values."

He said that Badenoch is correct in her "insistence that principles rather than policies are the starting point for political revival", adding that she has "strong foundations on which to rethink policies over seveal years."

Hague said that she could "lift the Conservative Party up from the electoral floor".

Suella Braverman backs Robert Jenrick for Tory leader

Suella Braverman has endorsed Robert Jenrick to be the Conservative Party leader, saying "he just gets it".

As the race draws its close, just Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch remain vying for Rishi Sunak's role, after he led his party to a historic defeat at the general election in July.

The former Home Secretary revealed who she would be backing on November 2.

She told LBC: "I have known Robert a long time and I worked closely with him at the Home Office to deliver the immigration system today.

"I saw how the Home Office informed his views. I know he gets it.

"He has a clear plan today, not a promise of one tomorrow.

"That's why I am backing him to be leader of our party."

WATCH Patrick Christys slam Labour MPs for 'passing a death sentence' to pensioners

Patrick Christys has blasted nine Labour MPs and accused them of "charity washing" as they become Age Champions for the charity Age UK.

As he named and shamed the group, he revealed that despite claiming to stand up for pensioners in their constituency, they voted to slash the Winter Fuel allowance.

The Government voted to make the Winter Fuel payment means-tested earlier this year, meaning many pensioners are likely to struggle to get by this winter.

Age UK have since launched a petition "to save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners" and the GB News host revealed that some MPs have become "champions" for the charity.

CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY HERE:

​Angela Rayner's revolution in workers rights will cost businesses up to £5billion a year

Angela Rayner's Employment Right's Bill will cost businesses up to £5billion a year, the Government has admitted.

The legislation will include plans to ban zero-hour contacts and “unscrupulous” fire and rehire practices.

The Deputy Prime Minister has maintained that her reforms are "pro-business" and "pro-growth", bringing in a "new era for working people".

According to an impact assessment published by the Government on Monday, officials have estimated the changes would cost businesses around £4.5bn a year, stating: "We are confident that the total direct cost to business will be less than £5bn annually."

The assessment added that the costs will be "proportionately higher for small and micro businesses", while the impact on economic growth will be ‘small’.

However, businesses have said that the Government was using a “sledgehammer to crack a nut” when it came to improving standards for workers.

At a meeting attended by the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses, the British Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Directors, amongst others, directors warned the Shadow Business Secretary that the bill will make employers "more risk averse".

A source present at the meeting said: “Given that business confidence is pretty fragile currently given what businesses have been through in recent years, this is damaging growth and employment prospects.”

A row has erupted after the NHS started to remove “inappropriate” suggestions on its consultation page.

Yesterday, NHS Change went live as part of Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s “10 Year Health Plan for England”, which called on the public and staff members to offer feedback on the health service.

Billed as the Department of Health and Social Care “the biggest national conversation about the future of the NHS since its birth”, feedback to “fix the NHS” can be submitted until the end of the year.

Since its launch, the page has been inundated with suggestions, some serious, some less so.

One recommendation titled “Mandatory Euthanasia to fill up hospital beds” suggested that overweight and obese people who could be given Ozempic to help them lose weight and back in the workforce, should instead end their lives to free up space in the wards.

Some of the controversial posts have since been deleted, with the health department telling the BBC that they were reviewing material that was “clearly inappropriate or irrelevant”.

However, the removal of the posts caused a ruckus online, with some critiquing the NHS for hindering free speech.

One said: “The NHS has finally begun deleting some consultation responses from its website despite widespread public support.

“Classic Labour censorship. What happened to free speech?”

CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY HERE

Over 1,000 prisoners are set for early release today

Some 1,110 prisoners will be released early today, as part of the Government's policy to free up prison space.

Those serving over five years will be released on licence after 40 per cent of their time behind bars - it had been previously been 50 per cent.

The total number of convicts released early will soar tomorrow after a further 1,700 were released from jails across England and Wales on September 10.

The prison population of England and Wales hit a record high of 88,521 on September 6 this year, just days ahead of the first wave of releases.

The second set of emergency releases since September comes as ministers launch a comprehensive overhaul of sentences, in light of overcrowding in prisons.

The review could lead to judges having powers to sentence people to "prison outside prison", such as house arrest.

The scheme will free up 5,500 spaces across England and Wales and many of those leaving jail today will come from open prisons, which means that inmates have been working towards rehabilitation.

Reeves could introduce 'dangerous' cap on ISA savings next week

Chancellor Rachel Reeves may target Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) in next week's Budget, potentially introducing a £500,000 lifetime limit on these tax-free accounts.

This proposal harks back to an idea she floated in 2016 in an article for The Independent with analysts claiming it could be "dangerous" for savers.

Currently, savers and investors can contribute up to £20,000 annually to ISAs without paying tax on the returns.

These accounts have proven immensely popular, with 12.5 million adult ISA accounts subscribed to in the 2022-2023 financial year.

Any changes to the ISA system could have significant implications for savers across the UK, experts are warning.

Jason Hollands, of wealth manager Evelyn Partners, cautioned: "Meddling with ISAs would be quite dangerous for any Chancellor to do. It would very visibly be something that would not be popular."

CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY HERE

Labour could replace prison sentences for low-level criminals with house arrest

Criminals could be spared jail and sentenced to house arrest instead, under new plans by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Later today, Labour will launch a comprehensive overhaul of sentences, with former Conservative Justice Secretary David Gauke to lead the scheme.

The review will consider the advantages of using technology to place criminals in a "prison outside prison", and get them doing more community service.

Currently, many prisoners are released from prison on "house arrest", which requires them to wear an electronic tag and follow a curfew. However, this type of punishment cannot be imposed as a sentence.

The review could look to change this.

It comes amid a jail crisis thanks to overcrowding, which has seen thousands of inmates released early in the last six weeks.

Mahmood said: "We have an opportunity now to reshape and redesign what punishment outside of a prison looks like.

"Theoretically a judge could hand down a sentence of house arrest.

"I'm interested in what punishment outside of ag prison looks like.

'"It still has to be punishment, they still have to have their liberty curtailed, people have to know and believe there are consequences to breaking our laws."

Starmer faces pressure from Labour and Caribbean nations over reparations 

Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure from Labour ranks and Caribbean countries to rethink his resistance to reparatory justice for the UK’s role in the slave trade as he attends a major Commonwealth summit.

The Prime Minister will travel to Samoa this week for the biennial gathering of heads of government for the 56 nations, where leaders will elect the new Commonwealth secretary general.

All three candidates vying for the job have called for reparations to countries that were affected by slavery and colonialism, but Downing Street has said the issue is “not on the agenda” for the event and “we won’t be offering an apology.”

Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill Bell Ribeiro-Addy said Number 10’s position was “disappointing” and likened it to old “colonial attitudes.”

“The idea that we wouldn’t be addressing it at all and just ignoring the question feels wrong to me, that we would dismiss it when we know that so many people have these concerns – countries we say are our equals, but we’re not willing to discuss something that so many of them have on the agenda."

“For us to say we don’t want to talk about it at all kind of harks back to colonial attitudes. I think it’s wrong for us not to discuss it and I hope that that will change.”