Cherie Blair represents sanctioned Russian oligarch in £12billion case after assets frozen

British Challenger 2 tanks are thought to have been used in Ukraine’s incursion into Russia

It comes after the Government confirmed Kyiv was free to use UK weapons in its offensive in Kursk Oblast. A UK source said the battle tanks had been deployed by Ukrainian troops.

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on “operational” matters but said there had been no change in policy since the green light was given for UK weapons to be used on Russian soil as part of Kyiv’s self-defence.

The only exception is Britain’s powerful Storm Shadow missiles, which remain off limits beyond Ukraine’s borders. The 82nd Air Assault Brigade, which has been operating UK tanks since last year, has been involved in the ongoing incursion.

Priti Patel REFUSES to apologise for record migration as Home Secretary

Speaking to Chopper's Political Podcast the former Home Secretary said it was "lazy" to suggest net migration was too high.

She said: "During the pandemic our borders were effectively closed. There was no travel. What about all those international students they came in after the pandemic? Are we saying that they should not have come into the country?"

Asked if she wanted to apologise for high migration under the Tory government, Patel said it was important to look at the context of the the pandemic which closed borders shortly after the 2019 election victory.

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Swinney and Rayner clash over winter fuel payments during talks in Edinburgh

The Scottish First Minister has challenged the Deputy Prime Minister over the means testing of winter fuel payments – as he conceded “tens of thousands” of pensioners in Scotland will be impacted.

In the wake of the UK Government’s decision to only award the winter fuel payment to pensioners in receipt of certain benefits, ministers at Holyrood said the loss of £160 million cash as a result meant their replacement for benefit, the pension age winter heating payment – would also have to be means tested.

The Scottish First Minister raised the issue as he held talks with Angela Rayner in Edinburgh. While the SNP leader insisted he was “committed to building a constructive and collaborative relationship with the UK Government”, he revealed afterwards he had "expressed concern at the UK Government’s decision to cut spending for the winter fuel payment for pensioners without any consultation with the Scottish Government."

He stated: "Scotland faces the most challenging financial circumstances in the devolution era and has no alternative but to replicate this decision which will impact tens of thousands of pensioners in Scotland."

Patel says Conservative Party members should elect the party chairman

Writing in ConservativeHome, Dame Priti said that party members have been left with “no voice” while the national party adopts "an out-of-touch, one-size-fits-all approach."

She said: "I’ve been listening to our members for many years and have long believed that there is a democratic deficit in our party. I will address it through a package of reforms, including an elected party chairman chosen by members."

She added that she felt "let down" by Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ), the party’s central decision-making body, which has become "a centralised institution remote from members."

David Lammy says resumed talks aiming to halt the Israel-Hamas war “could define the future of the Middle East

The US, Qatar and Egypt are to meet with an Israeli delegation in Qatar, accusing Israel of adding new demands to a previous proposal that had US and international support. Hamas has not yet said whether it will be participating.

Mediating parties have been attempting to secure an agreement to a three-phase plan in which Hamas would release a number of hostages captured in the October 7 attack in exchange for a lasting ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The Foreign Secretary said: "“The coming hours and days could define the future of the Middle East. That is why today, and every day, we are urging for our partners across the region to choose peace.

“As the UK made clear at the UN Security Council this week, the situation in Gaza is devastating. The strike on the al-Tabeen school demonstrated that Palestinians in Gaza have nowhere safe to turn.

“These talks are an opportunity to secure an immediate ceasefire that protects civilians in Gaza, secures the release of hostages still cruelly held by Hamas and restores stability at a dangerous moment for the region. The UK will continue to use every diplomatic lever to bring about a ceasefire."

Unveiling of new Tory leader will not be brought forward says 1922 chairman

Bob Blackman told GB News: "I am in charge of the process and we have not discussed it. It is not going to happen."

It is thought that the idea of bringing forward the result from Nov 2 was discussed by candidates' teams when Chancellor Rachel Reeves set the date of the Budget for Oct 30, to allow the new leader to challenge Reeves in the Commons.

However the idea was never discussed with Blackman nor the 1922 Treasurer Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who are in charge of the election.This means that either Tory leader Rishi Sunak or shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will take the fight to Reeves over a Budget which could see big tax rises.

Separately GB News understands that the Tories are planning to give the final four candidates the chance to address members at the four day party's conference on Monday morning, Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning and then Tuesday afternoon.

There then might be a four way hustings debate before MPs vote for the final two to be put to a vote of members. Party bosses are planning for one single two way televised debate between the final two.

Former asylum seekers call on Starmer to "learn vital lessons" from riots

Director at charity Freedom from Torture Kolbassia Haoussou told The Mirror: "The far right attacks we’ve seen in recent weeks have left me reeling.

"This racist violence has no place in the country that has welcomed me with open arms. And I’ve been devastated by how frightened people are. Some of the survivors we support have been too scared to take their kids to the playground or to go shopping for food."

"We’ve been warning for so long about the dangers of the politics of hate and the scapegoating of refugees. Demonising and inflammatory language puts people seeking sanctuary at very real risk, and it needs to stop once and for all."

Mohamed Omar, of Refugee Action, added: "The scapegoating and political exploitation of migrants including refugees must end and the Prime Minister must stand with people who choose to rebuild their lives in the UK."

Welsh Secretary says she hopes for 'improvement' after top grades at A-level fell in Wales

Speaking to the BBC Jo Stevens said: “First of all I want to say congratulations to every single student in Wales who’s getting their results today, and I hope that they will all have a positive future ahead of them.

"Now, obviously, education is devolved to the Welsh Government, and I know that the Welsh Government and the Education Minister want to see improvements, obviously.

"But there are particular things in Wales that impact on how our results have come out: we’ve got a new curriculum that is being embedded in Wales. And I think that the improvements or the focus on the improvements is very clear from Welsh Government, and I would anticipate, and I hope, that we will see those strides made in the very near future."

Tories consider accelerating Sunak's departure as 'big moment' requires new leader

Tory Party insiders are now considering speeding up Rishi Sunak's departure to allow a new leader to respond to Rachel Reeves' maiden Budget.

Reducing the contest by a week would also ensure the race winds up a few days before November 2, which was considered awfully close to the US Election on November 5.

The current plan ensures that the members' ballot will close on October 31 but October 24 is now being earmarked as the potential deadline date for voting.

Such a change would mean the victor would be announced on October 26 rather than November 2.

A Tory source told The Sun: “It makes no sense to have Sunak responding to Reeves, even though he would probably do a pretty good job.

"This is a big moment and the new leader should be the one to have it.”

Labour Minister refuses FOUR TIMES to say who will fund train drivers' 14 per cent pay rise

Labour's Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has refused four times to say who will fund an expected 14 per cent pay rise for train drivers.

Phillipson, who was doing the morning rounds as 18-year-olds received A-Level results this morning, struggled to quell concerns about taxpayers picking up the bill.

She instead told the BBC that the Government would ensure a “fair deal” for passengers, while pointing to “wider reform” of the industry.

Phillipson said: “Well, I think it is important that we settle these disputes, and I’m glad that it sounds like we’re going to be able to completely resolve this.

“Because the disruption that passengers experience, and also the massive hit that we took to our economy was completely unacceptable and was a symptom of the wider failure that we saw right across the public sector, right across industries by the last Conservative Government.

”Pressed on the same point again, the Education Secretary added: “We are working through this process, and we will make sure that this deal is fair, as we did where it comes to teachers as well, for example, where we had wide-scale, widespread industrial action that caused huge disruption.

“And again, that was another area where we’ve come in, we’ve taken action, and we’ve sorted it out.”

Brexit Britain's economy GROWING FASTER than France and Germany new data shows

Britain has become the fastest growing economy in the G7, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

UK gross domestic product (GDP) jumped by 0.6 per cent over the second quarter, April to June, of 2024.

In comparison, the country's economy has grown more than the US and double as fast as France over the same period.

This economic bounce back comes after Britain fell into a "technical recession" towards the end of 2023.

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Nigel Farage surge puts Reform UK in touching distance of snatching 20 seats

Nigel Farage has received a poll boost which puts Reform UK in snatching distance of almost 20 seats.

Farage, 60, who was elected alongside four other Reform UK candidates last month, could pick up around a dozen more after an Omnisis poll put the populist party on 21 per cent.

Reform UK received 14.7 per cent support on July 4, leaving the populist party second in just under 100 other seats.

The Tories found themselves down on their 2024 General Election drubbing, with just 20 per cent support.

Labour's support appears somewhat stable at 33 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats and Green Party raking in 11 and eight per cent respectively.

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Conservatives are 'doing themselves no favours' with Farage ban, says Lee Anderson

Reform MP Lee Anderson has called on the Conservatives to "listen" to Nigel Farage and not "diss" him, following a party ban.

All six Conservative leadership candidates have imposed a "ban" on the Reform UK leader from joining or striking a deal with their party.

FULL STORY HERE

Hunt slams Reeves over economic blame-game amid tax hike fears

Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has slammed his No11 successor Rachel Reeves over Labour's economic blame-game.

In a social media post, Hunt said: "Today’s figures are yet further proof that Labour have inherited a growing and resilient economy.

"The Chancellor’s attempt to blame her economic inheritance on her decision to raise taxes - tax rises she had always planned - will not wash with the public.

"Labour promised over 50 times in the election they would not raise people’s taxes and we will hold them to account on their promises."

Labour spent the general election campaign decrying the Conservatives' economic record and consistently claimed it would inherit the worst finances since the Second World War.

Rachel Reeves signals tax rises imminent irrespective of economic growth

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signalled tax rises are just around the corner even though the UK economy grew 0.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2024.

The rise was in line with expectations and follows growth of 0.7 per cent in the first three months of the year.

However, Reeves said: The new Government is under no illusion as to the scale of the challenge we have inherited after more than a decade of low economic growth and a £22billion black hole in the public finances.

“That is why we have made economic growth our national mission and we are taking the tough decisions now to fix the foundations, so we can rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off.”

Reeves is expected to unveil a series of "tough decisions" in her maiden Budget on October 30.

Jess Phillips admits ‘mistake’ after defending masked men in Birmingham riot rant

Labour MP Jess Phillips has admitted she made a “mistake” after defending masked men who were accused of intimidating a journalist in Birmingham.

Phillips, who clung onto her Birmingham Yardley over her Workers Party challenger by just 693 votes, was involved in a row with Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice after a group of predominantly Muslim men brandished weapons and slashed tyres.

Conceding she made a mistake, Phillips yesterday told Sky News: “Of course, I would choose my words more carefully [in future].

“I’m more than happy to say that when I make a mistake. Absolutely.

“I was trying to get across that this gathering of people had been manufactured by misinformation.”

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Nicola Sturgeon remains under investigation as SNP finances probe continues

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon remains under investigation, Police Scotland's top officer has claimed.

Jo Farrell, who is Chief Constable of Police Scotland, issued an update yesterday about the investigation into the SNP's finances, known as Operation Branchform.

“That inquiry is ongoing,” she said as she refused to be drawn on when it would end.

Asked specifically if Sturgeon remains under investigation, Farrell replied: “Still ongoing.”

The former First Minister denies any wrongdoing and was released following her arrest in 2023 pending further enquiries.