Politics LIVE: Starmer faces YET ANOTHER conflict of interest row after Siddiq’s successor’s Beijing links - 'China will be rubbing their hands!'

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Starmer says UK will discuss peacekeeping troops in Ukraine with allies

The UK will discuss deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine with its allies, Sir Keir Starmer said, as he said Britain will “play our part” in guaranteeing the country’s security following any ceasefire with Russia.

The Prime Minister indicated he was speaking to international partners, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, about the prospect of western soldiers monitoring a future deal.

Starmer's first visit to Kyiv since entering No 10 coincided with a drone attack by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces on the Ukrainian capital. The Prime Minister heard sirens warning Kyiv’s citizens of the air raid as he met Mr Zelensky, a moment he said highlighted the “incredible resolve” of the Ukrainian people.

Starmer said: "Let’s be clear, we all want this war to end, no-one wants that more than Ukrainians, but right now Putin shows no sign of wanting peace."

Conservative MP hopes Nigel Farage will have ‘blown up’ by next election as Badenoch tears into Reform UK

A senior Conservative MP has suggested that he hopes Reform UK leader Nigel Farage might have "blown up" by the time of the next general election, dismissing concerns about Reform UK's growing influence.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart made the remarks in response to questions about the party's lack of current policies.

GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope said: "The next general election is a four year wait. Nigel Farage might have amassed AMS in Wales and the MSPs in Scotland.He'll have momentum. You'll be on the back foot, risking this by just not having policies. You give the head start to Reform UK under Farage."

Burghart responded saying: "He might have blown up as well Chris so you don't take anything for granted there."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Reform MP clashes with Nandy over football governance bill

Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has clashed with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy over plans regarding an independent regulator to the football league.

Lowe, who is the MP for Great Yarmouth and former chairman of Southampton FC, said: "I think that we can all agree that the Premier League is the world’s most successful league. It’s grown up under self-regulation, there are proposals to now regulate it.

"It transposes soft power across the world, it raises huge amounts of revenue for the Government. Looking at the Financial Services and Markets Act and the damage that’s done to the London Stock Exchange and other markets, will the Government take responsibility if football declines after they introduce football regulation?”

Nandy responded saying: "Football is an eco-system and we work very closely with the Premier League, it’s a crown jewel of British exports and brings joy to millions of people all over the world.

"But the fact is that there are far too many football clubs that are currently unsustainable, they suffer from poor ownership, poor financial flow."

Lammy urges Israel to accept peace deal proposed with Hamas

David Lammy has demanded Israeli politicians to accept the peace deal proposed with Hamas. The Foreign Secretary also called on Jerusalem to repeal its law to ban Unwra, the relief agency which is due to come into force later this month

He told the Commons: "It is critical that there is final approval of this agreement, and as the Israeli cabinet meets, I urge them to back this deal. Now is not the time for any backtracking. This deal is now final and needs to be implemented.

"The unravelling of Unwra will make the West Bank even more fragile than it currently is."

In a rare moment of unity, Conservative politicians agreed with the Foreign Secretary and called on Lammy to continue putting pressure on the Israelis to abide by the agreement.

Former deputy PM and MP forHertsmere Oliver Dowden said: "Can I urge the foreign secretary to use all the diplomatic efforts of His Majesty’s government...to secure agreement from the Israeli cabinet?"

Rotherham MP says child abuse inquiries need 'the ability to compel witnesses'

The Labour MP for Rotherham said inquiries into child sexual abuse need "the ability to compel witnesses."

She told the Commons: She told MPs: "[Home Secretary Yvette Cooper] cites Telford, which was victim focused, which was why it was so important, because we must have those victims and survivors’ voices.

"But what they said they lacked, what Greater Manchester said they lacked, was the ability to compel witnesses, and a big strand of what we need to do is make sure there have been no cover ups, and it’s only if it’s on a statutory footing that we can do that.

The Home Secretary responded, saying: "Obviously, the work in Telford and in Rotherham, in the original work that Baroness Casey did, did manage to uncover truths in different areas.

"But there also need to be other new arrangements on accountability, and that is what we are working with the Cabinet Office and also with mayors and councils to draw up what new accountability arrangements would be, to ensure that there is proper either follow up or as part of those initial inquiries, that you have that proper accountability framework in place and we will link that to the duty of candour as part of the Hillsborough law."

Ukraine downs Russian drone over presidential palace where Starmer was speaking

A Russian drone hovering above Ukraine's presidential palace was shot down today while Sir Keir Starmer was speaking.

As Starmer met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's forces downed the drone - but eyewitnesses have warned there were "at least two" more of the craft in the area, and said they suspected they were surveillance drones, as the one taken out didn't explode on impact.

Zelensky took a swipe at his Russian invaders when the drone was detected, jabbing: "We will say hello to them too."

'Serious questions need to be asked' warns Badenoch as BBC-promoted rapper revealed as killer of schoolboy Jimmy Mizen

"Serious questions" need to be asked of the BBC after it emerged that it promoted a rapper who had murdered a schoolboy, Kemi Badenoch has said.

Jake Fahri, who was then just 19, was convicted of the murder of 16-year-old Jimmy Mizen in 2008 - and though he was sentenced to life in prison, he was released in 2023.

Fielding questions from reporters after her first speech of 2025 today, she said: "Serious questions need to be asked - it is shocking that someone who murdered someone is being promoted by the BBC."

READ THE FULL STORY ON MURDERER JAKE FAHRI HERE

Reform UK renews call for by-election in Mike Amesbury's seat after MP expelled by Labour

Reform UK has renewed its call for a by-election in Runcorn & Helsby after Mike Amesbury was expelled from the Labour Party.

Amesbury was ejected from Sir Keir Starmer's party after admitting to repeatedly punching a man in the street in court today.

Amesbury, 55, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Chester Magistrates' Court after punching 45-year-old Paul Fellows in Frodsham, Cheshire after a bust-up over a bridge closure in the town.

A Labour Party spokesman had said: "It is right that Mike Amesbury has taken responsibility for his unacceptable actions.

"He was rightly suspended by the Labour Party following the announcement of the police investigation. We cannot comment further whilst legal proceedings are still ongoing."

GB News understands that Amesbury will not have the whip returned to him, and is no longer a Labour Party member.

And now, Reform's chairman Zia Yusuf has said: "Today, Mike Amesbury has pleaded guilty to assault. The great people of Runcorn deserve far better than this.

"We call on Mike Amesbury to do the honourable thing and resign immediately so a by-election can be held."

Reform UK looks to Scotland as Farage's party secures ANOTHER defection

Glasgow Council Conservatives leader Thomas Kerr has defected to Reform UK, the party has announced.

With Nigel Farage's party eyeing up next year's Holyrood election, it said it was "rewarding to welcome someone as passionate and driven as Thomas to Reform."

Meanwhile, Farage himself said he was "delighted" to welcome Kerr, and added: "We look forward to the Scottish parliamentary elections with increasing anticipation."

Yvette Cooper set to announce grooming gang inquiries as Labour BACKS DOWN amid outrage

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will announce a plan for Government-backed local inquiries into grooming gangs today, GB News understands.

With Labour under increasing pressure to launch a national Public Inquiry into the rape gangs scandal, Cooper will be addressing MPs on "child sexual exploitation and abuse" at 2pm on Thursday.

Three of Labour's own MPs had already turned on the party to call for Government-backed locally-led probes - which are now set to go ahead.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Lib Dems embroiled in ANOTHER nepotism row as second MP hands Parliamentary gig to son

A second Liberal Democrat MP has referred himself to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority after taking his son on board as a staffer.

Horsham MP John Milne has joined Tiverton and Minehead colleague Rachel Gilmour in self-referring to the standards body after bringing his son Oscar on board as an "unpaid volunteer" - while Gilmour said her son Henry Oliver was "assisting me with the setting up of my office in a voluntary capacity".

IPSA rules state that any MP elected after 2017 is banned from employing close relatives, including children - but both MPs have said the moves were not intentional when quizzed by political blog Guido Fawkes.

Gilmour had told the outlet: "This was an honest mistake, Henry was assisting me with the setting up of my office in a voluntary capacity after I was elected.

"As soon as I became aware of this mistake, I rescinded his pass and referred myself to the Standards Commissioner."

While Milne has said: "Oscar Milne was acting as an unpaid volunteer, assisting me with the set up of my office post-election.

"At no point was he employed as a paid staff member. I have referred myself to the Standards Commissioner, as is proper, to ensure any unintentional breach of the guidelines on my part is properly investigated."

Nigel Farage voted most popular politician in the UK as new poll delivers dire assessment of Keir Starmer's Britain

Nigel Farage has been voted the most popular politician in the country in a fresh poll which has delivered a damning assessment of Sir Keir Starmer's Britain.

The polling, exclusively shared with GB News by Friderichs Advisory and JL Partners, has handed the Reform UK leader a flattering approval rating - with 32 per cent of Britons viewing him positively.

Pollsters also quizzed respondents on grooming gangs, Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk - who have all made headlines since the turn of the New Year.

Elon Musk is the most disliked major figure for Britons, with 52 per cent of those surveyed holding a negative view of the tech tycoon - more than Starmer at 49 per cent.

Tommy Robinson has the lowest 'positivity rating' of any major figure at -33. Only 14 per cent of Britons have a positive view of him, with 47 per cent feeling negatively about the EDL co-founder.

In a sign Farage may have played his cards right when he clashed with Musk over Robinson, the new poll has revealed that Reform UK voters vastly prefer their leader to either of the pair - Musk enjoys a +13 rating, while Robinson sits at -5.

And in a scathing indictment of the state of the UK, Britons surveyed said they were nervous, upset, afraid, distressed, scared and ashamed overall.

Only 12 per cent said they felt either extremely or quite a bit proud or enthusiastic about the current state of the country, the poll revealed.

PICTURED: Amesbury arrives to give guilty plea - court hears how he punched victim 'at least five times' while downed on street

Mike Amesbury MP pleads guilty to assault after punching man in early-morning street row

Labour's suspended MP Mike Amesbury has pleaded guilty to assault by beating in court today after punching a man in a late-night bust-up in Cheshire.

The Runcorn & Helsby MP had the Labour whip removed in late October after multiple videos of the assault emerged on social media.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Yvette Cooper to give grooming gangs update after Labour MPs break rank to demand national inquiry

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will be giving a statement to Parliament on grooming gangs today, the House of Commons has confirmed.

With Labour under increasing pressure to launch a national Public Inquiry into the rape gangs scandal, Cooper will be addressing MPs on "child sexual exploitation and abuse" at 2pm on Thursday.

It comes just days after Labour's own Rotherham and Rochdale MPs - Sarah Champion and Paul Waugh, respectively - broke ranks with the party's top brass to demand a national probe.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Labour's suspended MP Mike Amesbury set for court date today after being charged with assault

Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury is set to appear in court today charged with assault after allegedly attacking a man in a late-night bust-up in Cheshire.

Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn & Helsby, had the Labour whip removed in late October after multiple videos of the alleged assault emerged on social media - just a day after the incident took place in the early hours of October 26 on Main Street in Frodsham, Cheshire.

The 55-year-old has been summonsed to court to face a section 39 assault charge after a file was passed to prosecutors on October 29.

He has previously said he is "continuing to co-operate" with police following the "deeply regrettable" incident.

Amesbury is set to appear at Chester Magistrates' Court today.

Reeves meeting regulators for growth ideas is like 'asking the village speed watch group to organise the next British Grand Prix', Griffith jabs

Rachel Reeves's meeting with regulators to discuss growth ideas is like "asking the village speed watch group to organise the next British Grand Prix", Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith has said.

Describing regulators as a "weight in our nation's backpack", Griffith warned that meeting watchdogs to stimulate the economy "smacks of desperation".

He said: "Whilst regulators can sometimes play a useful role, they generally depress growth through risk aversion, bureaucracy and simply slowing down decision-making.

"In the global economic race, our well-compensated and well-pensioned corps of regulators are a weight in our nation's backpack making it hard to compete.

"In fact, the best thing the Chancellor could do with the quangos today to help the economy grow is to launch a metaphorical 'Squid Game' to significantly slim down their ranks."

Reeves under fire for 'subdued' GDP figures as UK economy only grows by 0.1%: 'Concerning!'

The British economy grew by 0.1 per cent in November, the first expansion in three months after two consecutive months of declining output in September and October.

It's a minor reprieve for Labour's growth pledge, but the figure still falls below expectations - economists had forecasted a growth rate of 0.2 per cent for the 12 months to November.

Reacting to the news, Rachel Reeves said: "I am determined to go further and faster to kickstart economic growth, which is the number one priority in our Plan for Change.

"That means generating investment, driving reform and a relentless commitment to root out waste in public spending, and today I will be pressing regulators on what more they can do to deliver growth."

But analysts aren't convinced. Hailey Low, an associate economist at the National Institute of Economics and Social Research, warned that the "subdued" growth figures "elevate concerns over the UK's economic outlook moving into 2025".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Starmer swipes at Putin as PM signs '100 Year Partnership' with Ukraine in Kyiv

Sir Keir Starmer is in Ukraine today for the signing of a "100-Year Partnership" with the embattled country.

The PM arrived by train in the capital Kyiv - where he's set to announce the new long-term partnership with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

The deal is set to boost military collaboration on maritime security and will bring together experts in areas including drone technology - a key feature of the gruelling war, which has nearly crossed the three-year mark.

In a swipe at Russia, Starmer said: "Putin's ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure.

"Instead, we are closer than ever and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level.

"This is not just about the here and now, it is also about an investment in our two countries for the next century, bringing together technology development, scientific advances and cultural exchanges and harnessing the phenomenal innovation shown by Ukraine in recent years for generations to come."

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