Reform UK's Rupert Lowe has lashed out at "waves and waves of unskilled immigration" plaguing Britain's labour market.
In last night's special political programme on GB News, Decision Time: The Race to Lead, Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick had warned that the Tories' approach to immigration had lost the party key votes at this summer's election.
"It's the reason that we lost four million of our people to Reform at the General Election - and millions more who decided to stay at home," Jenrick said.
Mere minutes later, Lowe launched into a scathing attack on the "total tripe" line that Britain's workforce, particularly the NHS, "would collapse without mass immigration".
Writing on social media, the Great Yarmouth MP said: "Skilled migrants, who contribute and importantly INTEGRATE, should be welcomed where needed.
"With a proper plan to train and develop our own workforce - and the millions currently out of work - that need would lessen and lessen.
"Any targeted and controlled immigration must, above all else, provide benefits for our country. That is NOT happening, and hasn't for decades.
"Quite frankly, we need to be selfish. The needs and the interests of the British people must be the top and only priority of the British Government - all else is entirely secondary.
"Skilled and decent professionals, when needed, from overseas should be actively poached.
"Waves and waves of unskilled immigration, which is a relentless drain on our economy? Sorry, but the answer is no. It's not our problem.
"Our immigration system should be designed to benefit those who live here, not those who wish to live here."
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Salmond's coffin leaves North Macedonia
The plane carrying former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond's body has taken off from North Macedonia, bound for Aberdeen.
Salmond's coffin was draped in a Saltire before the plane bringing him home to Scotland took off.
Salmond died on Saturday from a heart attack while speaking at a diplomacy conference in the lakeside city of Ohrid.
Nigel Farage 'living rent free' in Conservative heads amid growing threat of Reform UK: 'He'll be our next Prime Minister!'
Nigel Farage is "living rent-free" in the heads of the Conservatives, Zia Yusuf said
GETTY
Nigel Farage is "living rent-free" in the heads of the Conservatives and the Reform UK leader "will be the next Prime Minister", it has been claimed by the party's chairman.
During Thursday night's GB News Tory leadership special Decision Time: The Race to Lead, Badenoch delivered her verdict on Farage amid the growing support for the party.
She told host Christopher Hope that although she has "a lot of respect" for the Reform UK leader, she is "definitely not going to let him into the Conservative Party".
WATCH IN FULL: Decision Time: The Race to Lead
Christopher Hope chaired last night's special programme
GB NEWS
A reminder that GB News viewers can re-watch - or watch for the first time - last night's landmark political programme in the midst of the Tory leadership race online.
By clicking the link below, you can watch Decision Time: The Race to Lead - direct on GBNews.com.
SNP chief resigns in 'substantial' shakeup as party reels from election embarrassment
SNP chief executive Murray Foote (left) has announced he will stand down
PA
SNP chief executive Murray Foote has announced he will stand down, saying he could no longer make the "necessary personal commitment" to change in the party ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election.
The former Daily Record editor was put in the role two years ago in a shock move, having previously resigned as the SNP's communications chief over a row with former chief executive - and Nicola Sturgeon's husband - Peter Murrell.
But following the pro-independence party's disastrous General Election wipeout, Foote is walking away.
In a statement today, he said: "The SNP has recently embarked on a substantial process of internal reorganisation and renewal to better equip it for current electoral contests and to prepare for the critical Scottish Parliament elections in 2026.
"While I agree these changes are both essential and appropriate, I also recognised after a period of reflection that I could not make the necessary personal commitment to leading the delivery of these changes into 2026 and beyond.
"In the circumstances, I concluded it would be in my best interests and the best interests of the party that I step down to give my replacement the time and space to mould and develop these changes in a manner they deem appropriate."
Foote will stay in the role until a successor is appointed.
Red-faced BBC presenter apologises for 'Jeremy C**t' slip-up
Robinson had been speaking to employment minister Alison McGovern when he erred on Hunt's surname
PAThe BBC's Nick Robinson has apologised for mistakenly calling former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt "Jeremy C**t" live on air.
Robinson had been speaking to employment minister Alison McGovern on welfare cuts in the build-up to October 30's looming Budget when he made the gaffe.
He said: "The Tories announced £12billion in welfare cuts, and at the time, the local party condemned that. They said that Rishi Sunak, Jeremy C**t had no idea where they get the money."
But then, Robinson - in line with BBC guidance to issue an "on-air apology at the earliest opportunity" - said: "The eagle-eared amongst you have just pointed out that I repeated what was known as the 'Jim Naughtie error' up until my last interview, in which I mispronounced the name of the former Chancellor.
"So can I just apologise for Jeremy - Hunt - again. I'm so sorry."
Badenoch reacts to Hamas leader's death - 'The world is a better place!'
Yahya Sinwar was a terrorist and dictator. The world is a better place without the mastermind of the sickening and barbaric acts we saw on October 7th. Israel defended the peace-loving world, in ridding humanity of this evil.
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) October 18, 2024
Let us now work for the release of the remaining… https://t.co/9qX3CosZUs
Kemi Badenoch has issued a statement in response to Israel's "elimination" of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Writing on social media, the Tory leadership frontrunner called his killing a step in "ridding humanity of its evil" as she urged for the release of the terror group's remaining Israeli hostages.
Badenoch said: "Yahya Sinwar was a terrorist and dictator. The world is a better place without the mastermind of the sickening and barbaric acts we saw on October 7.
"Israel defended the peace-loving world, in ridding humanity of this evil. Let us now work for the release of the remaining hostages, and an end to the cycle of violence that has plagued the region. Sinwar's death aids that noble pursuit."
Labour MP CONFRONTED by GB News viewer over Starmer's riots putdown in fiery exchange: 'Two-tier policing!'
Labour MP Lucy Rigby was confronted by a GB News viewer on Thursday night's show over Labour's 'two-tier policing'GB NewsLabour's Lucy Rigby has been confronted by a GB News viewer in a heated exchange over Labour's handling of Britain's growing crime rates, as the MP defended Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's handling of this summer's violent demonstrations.
Following the special GB News leadership event Decision Time: The Race to Lead, one member of the audience confronted the Labour representative on their recent prison early release scheme, urging the Government to "stop blaming the Tories".
Starmer: UK 'will not mourn' death of Hamas terror group leader Sinwar
Starmer pushed for an "immediate ceasefire" following Sinwar's death
PA/REUTERS
Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK "will not mourn" the death of Hamas leader and October 7 massacre orchestrator Yahya Sinwar.
Junior Israeli troops are understood to have practically stumbled across Sinwar in southern Gaza on Thursday - with Israeli officials confirming they had killed their number one target yesterday evening.
The personnel who killed Sinwar were initially unaware that they had caught their country's number one enemy after a gun battle on Wednesday, Israeli officials said.
In response to the terror leader's death, the Prime Minister said: "Yahya Sinwar was the mastermind behind the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust, as 1,200 people were slaughtered in Israel.
"Today my thoughts are with the families of those victims. The UK will not mourn his death.
"The release of all hostages, an immediate ceasefire and an increase in humanitarian aid are long overdue so we can move towards a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East."
But despite Starmer's plea for a ceasefire, his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu said his country will keep fighting until all Israeli hostages are free, and that it will keep control over Gaza long enough to ensure Hamas does not rearm.
In his own address on Sinwar's death, Netanyahu vowed: "Our war is not yet ended."
Salmond's body to return to Scotland this afternoon
Salmond had died in North Macedonia aged 69
PAThe body of ex-Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is set to return to his country this afternoon.
Salmond had died in North Macedonia aged 69 from a "massive" heart attack on Saturday.
Despite Sir David Davis, a friend of the independence firebrand, pushing for an RAF flight to bring him home, businessman Sir Tom Hunter stepped in to pay for a chartered flight to repatriate Salmond's body.
Hunter said: "Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and as such he, and importantly his family, deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth.
"Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family at this time. To be clear, I remain resolutely apolitical."
The flight is due to take off at about 11am, landing in Aberdeen at about 1.45pm.
The former SNP and Alba boss's family, along with Alba's acting leader Kenny MacAskill, will be there to receive the coffin, which will be taken by hearse to the family home.
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