Former Tory leadership hopeful Mel Stride backs James Cleverly in shock move

James Cleverly caught in freebies row after taking wife to World Cup

James Cleverly has been caught up in the freebies row engulfing Government after taking his wife to a sporting event, a move which he denies.

Cleverly attended the Women's World Cup Final in Sydney last summer with his wife, according to the Mirror.

The pair were pictured smiling at the Stadium Australia on August 20.

At the time, the Foreign Office denied Cleverly had taken a family member or friend to the event.

During the Conservative conference last week, Cleverly told party members: "We win back voters by being honest, by being professional, by being conservative."

A spokesman for Cleverly confirmed that an error had been made in relation to the World Cup final and the Foreign Office has been asked to correct it.

Reform declares war on the CPS over Manchester Airport incident

Reform is threatening to carry out a private prosecution over the Manchester Airport "assault" if the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not charge the alleged attackers, the party has said.

Reform will be sending a letter to the Home Secretary setting out their "real concerns" on the state of justice in Britain in the wake of the "vicious, violent assault" on police at Manchester Airport.

Speaking to reporters at the party's "law and order" press conference, Richard Tice led calls for "prompt, fair justice" as he decried "misinformation being allowed to permeate" by the release of only one piece of footage from the incident.

Someone very senior, "possibly right at the top" of Greater Manchester Police, made a deliberate decision to "withhold the full footage" from the incident, Tice alleged.

Whoever leaked the second piece of footage "did a great service to the national public interest", he said.

"The British people want action, we want answers, we want equal, fair, prompt, justice," Tice continued.

Reform then proceeded to publish its letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper accusing her and Sir Keir Starmer of "denying the actual existence" of "two-tier policing and two-tier justice".

The party's five MPs - Tice, Nigel Farage, Lee Anderson, James McMurdock and Rupert Lowe - all signed off on the scathing letter accusing the alleged assailants of "being given special, different treatment".

They have claimed that the CPS is waiting for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to "find some fault" with Greater Manchester Police officers involved "to give them a reason not to progress charges against the assailants" - which they labelled "totally unacceptable".

Lammy finally forced to defend Chagos decision - prompting outrage from Tories, Corbyn AND the Speaker

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said the deal to relinquish sovereignty over the Chagos Islands is "strongly supported by partners" and recognises the "wrongs of the past" as he defended the archipelago's surrender to Parliament.

He told MPs: "It is strongly supported by partners, with President Biden going so far as to applaud our achievement. Within minutes of the announcement, [US] Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken and [Defence] Secretary [Lloyd] Austin have also backed this successful outcome, which reaffirms our special defence relationship.

"This agreement will be underpinned by a financial settlement that’s acceptable to both sides. Members will be aware the Government does not normally reveal payments for our military base overseas, and so it would be inappropriate to publicise further details of these arrangements at this stage.

"The agreement also recognises the rights and wrongs of the past. The whole House would agree that the manner in which Chagossians were forcibly removed in the 1960s was deeply wrong and regrettable."

His last comment brought on consternation from Jeremy Corbyn, who called on Government to formally apologise for the "forced removal" of the Chagossian people from the Chagos Islands in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Foreign Secretary also came to blows with Tory leadership contender Tom Tugendhat, who compared the Government's deal to relinquish sovereignty over the islands to the tale of Jack And The Beanstalk.

He argued that Lammy had "violated" the principle of self-determination "by undermining the rights of the Chagossian people in favour of a claim that was abandoned in 1965 - never really made because it was only administrative and never properly governed from Mauritius anyway.

"And in favour of a court whose judgment was advisory, he sold out the sovereignty of the British people.

"Truly nobody apart from a boy called Jack has ever made a worse deal on the way to market... He's come back with a handful of beans that he's trying to sell as a prize!"

Lammy replied: "He was part of the last Government - did he raise this when he was part of the last Government? Did he make it a resignation issue? No, he didn't!"

And even Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told Lammy it was "frustrating" that MPs had to learn about the Government's Chagos surrender during the Commons' recess.

He told the Foreign Secretary: "Whilst I appreciate the Government informing me directly on developments on some of these issues, that does not substitute informing the House.

"If announcements made towards the end of last week had been held over the weekend, then honourable members would have had the first opportunity to question the Secretary of State on it rather than learning about it through the media!"

Abbott DELETES 'hard-right' social media post

Diane Abbott has deleted a social media post claiming a "hard-right faction has taken over" the Labour Party in the wake of Morgan McSweeney's appointment to Sue Gray's recently-vacated position.

Writing online, the veteran MP continued her recent streak of non-party-line social media posts by pointing to Corbyn's apparent election success in response to a profile of McSweeney in the Independent newspaper which labelled him a "guru".

She jabbed: "In reality, a hard right faction has taken over, whose only interest is attacking the left."

Abbott appears to have recently taken down the post in question...

Labour MP slams 'ludicrous justification' for Winter Fuel Payment slash - 'It is a bad policy!'

Labour MP Graham Stringer has criticised the Government's Winter Fuel Payment policy and its communication strategy in recent comments to GB News.

The Manchester Blackley MP argued that there appears to be a lack of integration between policy decisions and how they are communicated to the public.

Stringer said: "It doesn't appear to me, the centre of Government that there is any integration between. This is the policy, this is how we communicate it."

He expressed concern that potential pitfalls in policies are not being addressed before implementation.

The MP highlighted the Winter Fuel Payment as an example of "bad policy very badly explained" and the Government had a "ludicrous justification" for the move.

Stringer dismissed the Government's justification for changes to the payment as "absolute balderdash and nonsense".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE:

Keir Starmer says Gaza is a 'living nightmare' and 'cannot endure' another year of suffering

Sir Keir Starmer said that Gaza is a "living nightmare" and the region "cannot endure" another year of suffering, speaking to the Commons on the year anniversary of the October 7 attack.

The Prime Minister said October 7 is also a “day of grief” for the wider Middle East, stating: “As we look back on a year of conflict and suffering, the human toll amongst innocent civilians in Gaza is truly devastating.

“Over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands orphaned – almost two million displaced, facing disease, starvation, desperation without proper healthcare or shelter.

“It is a living nightmare and it must end."

He also noted that 15 British citizens were killed on that day, and another has died since in captivity.

Starmer said that he has spoken to the families of those still being kept hostage in Gaza, stating that he can "hardly imagine" what they are going through.

“I sat with them as they told me about their loved ones. I will never forget their words.”

He continued: “We stand with all innocent victims in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and beyond.

“And we stand with all communities here in the United Kingdom against hatred of Jews or Muslims because any attack on a minority is an attack on our proud values of tolerance and respect and we will not stand for it.”

The Prime Minister also condemned last week's attacks by Iran on Israel.

He added that the region "cannot endure" another year like the last, and said that all sides "must now step back from the brink and find the courage of restraint".

Diane Abbott claims the 'hard right' has TAKEN OVER Labour after Sue Gray replaced

Diane Abbott has claimed a "hard-right faction has taken over" the Labour Party in the wake of Morgan McSweeney's appointment to Sue Gray's recently-vacated post.

Writing online, the veteran MP continued her recent streak of non-party-line social media posts by pointing to Corbyn's apparent election success in response to a profile of McSweeney in the Independent newspaper which labelled him a "guru".

Abbott wrote: "Labour got fewer votes and percentage in 2024 than either election in 2017 or 2019 under Corbyn.

"We also went from 44 per cent to 34 per cent in the election campaign. Not much of a 'guru'.

"In reality, a hard right faction has taken over, whose only interest is attacking the left."

'Freebies Starmer starves elderly' say placards as pensioners and unions join forces at the gates of Parliament

Pensioners, union members and activists have all gathered for a "mass lobby" outside Parliament rallying against Labour's controversial Winter Fuel Payment cuts.

The Unite union is joining forces with the National Pensioners Convention and Scottish Pensioners Forum for the demonstration - with placards seen reading "don't let us freeze", "save winter fuel" and "freebies Starmer starves elderly".

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The Government's winter fuel policy needs to be reversed. Picking the pockets of pensioners is not a tough choice - it is a mistake.

"There is no reason why we have to choose between paying workers and keeping pensioners warm. Unite's retired members are furious and will be making their voice heard."

After the rally, a delegation of Unite members is slated to meet MPs - but the Government has insisted it is "committed to supporting pensioners".

A Government spokesman said: "Given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, it's right we target support to those who need it most.

"Over a million pensioners will still receive the Winter Fuel Payment, while many others will also benefit from the £150 warm home discount to help with their energy bills over winter as well as the household support fund.

"Since our awareness campaign, we have seen a 152 per cent increase in claims, and we urge anyone who thinks they may be entitled to check their eligibility."

Downing Street defends Chagos surrender ahead of Lammy's archipelago address to Commons

Downing Street has defended the surrender of the Chagos Archipelago as necessary due to the islands' "unsustainable" legal position.

No10 also insisted that the giveaway had no impact on other British Overseas Territories - including the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman would not be drawn on the cost to the UK taxpayer of the deal - which comes alongside a "financial support" package to "address wrongs of the past" for Mauritius.

The spokesman said: "The Government inherited a situation where the long-term secure operation of the military base at Diego Garcia was under threat with contested sovereignty and legal challenges, including through various international courts and tribunals.

"You will be aware that the previous government initiated sovereignty negotiations in 2022 and conducted a number of rounds of negotiations.

"This Government picked up those negotiations and has reached an agreement, which means that for the first time in over 50 years, the base will be undisputed, legally secure, with full Mauritian backing."

Asked why the British Indian Ocean Territory should not be seen as a precedent for other sovereignty disputes such as the Falklands and Gibraltar, the spokesman said: "It's a unique situation based on its unique history and circumstances, and has no bearing on other overseas territories."

The spokesman added: "British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands or Gibraltar is not up for negotiation."

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who saw the deal through, will be making a statement to the House of Commons on the Chagos Islands after 4pm.

No10 hits back at Rosie Duffield over 'woman problem' claims

Downing Street has rejected suggestions that Sir Keir Starmer has a "woman problem" after he replaced his chief of staff Sue Gray with Morgan McSweeney.

Asked whether Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield was right to have said the PM has a problem with women after the most senior woman behind the scenes had been stood aside with a man taking over her role, his spokesman said: "I wouldn’t accept that characterisation at all."

Asked whether the PM believed journalists were "scumbags" after a report in The Times suggested Gray used the term to refer to some members of the press, the spokesman said: "I'm not going to get into unsourced briefings."

Greater Manchester Police comment on Reform's letter

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman has told GB News that the force is steering clear of "providing ongoing commentary on the case".

They said: "Following an investigation led by the GMP Major Incident Team, a comprehensive file of evidence was sent to the CPS in Mid-August, and we await a charging decision.

"We have avoided providing ongoing commentary on the case, including releasing footage, to ensure that justice can be served without the risk of prejudicing proceedings.

"We continue to support the officers involved and are committed to getting them justice."

Reform writes to Yvette Cooper in scathing 'two-tier justice' letter

In the wake of Reform's landmark press conference, the party has released its letter to the Home Secretary over "two-tier justice in Britain".

Captioning the letter on social media, where it remains available to view, the party wrote: "If the CPS do not charge the Manchester Airport assailants, we will organise a private criminal prosecution against them.

"Police officers cannot work in fear of being thrown under the bus."

Sue Gray to take pay cut after resigning as Starmer's chief of staff - and will finally earn less than the PM

Earlier, we reported on how Sue Gray is set to take a pay cut in her first job since stepping back as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff amid rising Downing Street "chaos".

Just yesterday, the PM announced Gray would be being shifted to a part-time role as Starmer's so-called "regions and nations" envoy - but the move will see his one-time top aide's salary slashed.

The new position is set to see Gray take home less than her former £170,000 salary in No10 - almost five times as much as the UK median wage.

It will also see her earn less than Starmer, who earns £167,000 per year - alongside a number of non-cash benefits.

She'll now be reporting to Pat McFadden - Labour's election campaign boss, who's said to be closely allied to her own replacement Morgan McSweeney.

The new role will see her report into the Cabinet Office rather than No10 as she focuses on keeping the UK together and devolution.

But it remains to be seen whether Gray will begin drawing a pension of up to £90,000 a year for which she is eligible from her career in the Civil Service.

Gray had declined the money while serving as chief of staff.

Her Tory predecessors in the chief of staff role, such as Liam Booth-Smith, Rishi Sunak's chief of staff, had been paid between £140,000 and £145,000 per year.

The BBC report which revealed her £170,000 pay had carried a quote from an anonymous source saying it had been suggested to her that it was best to be paid less than the Prime Minister to avoid headlines. She declined.

That claim was swiftly rejected by Downing Street, however, with a Government source saying it was "categorically untrue".

Reacting to the news of her departure yesterday, the Conservatives said in a statement: "In fewer than 100 days, Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Government has been thrown into chaos - he has lost his chief of staff who has been at the centre of the scandal the Labour Party has been engulfed by.

"Sue Gray was brought into deliver a programme for government... a Government of self-service. The only question that remains is: Who will run the country now?"

Reform UK 'law and order' conference underway

Reform UK's "law and order" press conference is underway.

All five of the party's MPs are in central London to speak to reporters. We'll bring you live updates as they come.

Boris Johnson warns 'the world is forgetting the horror and evil' of October 7 as he meets Israeli ambassador

A year after the October 7 massacre it feels as though the world is forgetting the horror and the evil that took place that day.

It is time for us to stand with Israel.

Bring back moral clarity. Bring back the hostages. pic.twitter.com/fkhQ6eulBn

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 7, 2024

Boris Johnson has warned that "it feels as though the world is forgetting the horror and the evil that took place" on October 7, 2023 at a meeting with Israel's ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely.

In a message on social media following his visit to the Israeli embassy, the former Prime Minister wrote: "A year after the October 7 massacre it feels as though the world is forgetting the horror and the evil that took place that day.

"It is time for us to stand with Israel.

"Bring back moral clarity. Bring back the hostages."

Defence Secretary butts heads with Alastair Campbell - but can't resist swipe at Truss and Kwarteng

Defence Secretary John Healey has rejected Alastair Campbell's claim that the Government has made a mistake in its timing of the Budget, and has let other stories fill the vacuum.

On BBC Radio 4, it was put to Healey that spin doctor-turned podcast host Campbell suggested it was a serious mistake to allow "narratives" to develop without enough sense of how the Government will deliver change.

But he put down Campbell's claims - and took a swipe at the Truss Government to boot.

He said: "We saw with Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng what happens when you try and rush a Budget.

"So this needs to be done properly."

Britain will NOT hand over Gibraltar or the Falklands vows minister as he claims Chagos surrender is 'win-win'

Fears that Britain could hand over Gibraltar or the Falkland Islands have been cooled by a cabinet minister amid fury over the surrender of the Chagos Archipelago.

Last week the Foreign Office announced that the British Overseas Territory (BOT) will be handed over to China ally Mauritius alongside a "financial support" package in order to "address wrongs of the past".

The move has prompted furious finger-pointing, with Tory leadership contenders looking to heap the blame on James Cleverly, who started talks with Mauritius in the first place, and at David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary who eventually saw the deal through.

It has also sent fears spiralling over the future of fellow BOTs, with ex-Tory MP and deputy chairman Brendan Clarke-Smith writing online: "Beijing will be delighted. Next it will be Gibraltar or the Falklands."

But Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has counselled calm, denying there were plans in place to give up the pair.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Lee Anderson teases 'big announcement' at Reform conference as he pushes for Lammy to address Chagos scandal

Walking To Work.

Today's Business 👇 pic.twitter.com/rbv5SloM1X

— Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_) October 7, 2024

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has teased that the party's upcoming press conference will herald a "big announcement" in a video on social media.

Addressing his followers on a sunny walk to Parliament on the banks of the Thames, Anderson told followers to "look out" for the party's address.

He also voiced his hopes that Foreign Secretary David Lammy will be making an announcement on the surrender of the Chagos Islands - and vowed that if not, "there will be a few of us submitting urgent questions, forcing him to the dispatch box".

Reform UK to hold 'law and order' press conference in just hours

Reform UK are set to hold an "important press conference on law and order" at 11am this morning.

The fledgling party - which took home more than 4 million votes on election day in July - has urged Britons to tune into its social media channels on the hour.

We'll be bringing you coverage right here on GBNews.com as their press conference gets underway.

Keir Starmer accused of having 'no political instinct' as 'disaster' premiership approaches 100 days - 'alienated everybody!'

Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government could become one of the "most unpopular" in the "quickest amount of time" out of all previous governments, it has been claimed.

The Prime Minister suffered a fresh blow as he approaches his first 100 days in power as his chief of staff Sue Gray quit, following a row over pay.

Discussing the Prime Minister's time in office so far on GB News, political commentator Suzanne Evans claimed his tenure so far has been a "complete disaster", with "no honeymoon period" for the party.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

READ IN FULL: Starmer's statement on October 7 anniversary

Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer’s statement on the one-year anniversary of the October 7th attacks. pic.twitter.com/EPvdIIQEeB

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 7, 2024

Starmer speaks out on October 7 - as 97 hostages remain in Hamas terrorists' hands

7 October 2023 was the darkest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust.

One year on from these horrific attacks we must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community and unite as a country.

We will not falter in our pursuit of peace and on this day of pain and sorrow, we…

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 7, 2024

The Prime Minister has called on Britons to "unequivocally stand with the Jewish community and unite as a country" on the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel.

On this day last year, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups surged into Israel from the Gaza Strip - killing thousands, injuring thousands more and taking hundreds hostage.

In the year since, Israel has been ruthless in its retaliatory assault on Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza and Lebanon - but 97 hostages still remain in the former's hands.

Today, Sir Keir Starmer has issued a statement online labelling the attacks the "darkest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust".

On social media, he wrote: "One year on from these horrific attacks we must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community and unite as a country.

"We will not falter in our pursuit of peace and on this day of pain and sorrow, we honour those we lost, and continue in our determination to return those still held hostage, help those who are suffering, and secure a better future for the Middle East."

Reeves caves to pensioner pressure as Labour set to abandon savings raid

Rachel Reeves is set to back down over plans to raid pension savings over fears it could unfairly sting as many as a million teachers, nurses and public sector employees.

Treasury officials are understood to have warned the Chancellor that reducing the current 40 per cent level of tax relief for higher earners would disproportionately hit those of relatively modest incomes who work for the state.

Her planned raid, for example, could lead to a nurse earning £50,000 facing an additional tax bill of up to £1,000 a year.

One senior Government figure said it would be "madness" to inflict large tax rises on public sector workers - having just given them what the Tories have called "inflation-busting" pay rises.

Another Government source, speaking to The Times, highlighted Labour's decision to drop plans to bring back a cap on the lifetime allowance on pension savings - amid concerns that doing so would hit junior doctors.

"The government will take into account the impact on public sector workers," they said.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

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