Starmer warned to reinstate left-wing Labour rebels or 'leadership is doomed'

Councils only 'persuaded to probe abuse after bad publicity' as local authorities fear becoming 'another Rotherham'

Councils are often only persuaded to investigate local grooming gang scandals after “bad publicity,” a leading voice on child abuse has said.

Prof Alexis Jay, the chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, told the Home Affairs Select Committee that some councils did not want to become “another Rotherham.”

Speaking to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Jay said that her report into Rotherham, which was published in 2014 and found that at least 1,400 children had been abused by gangs of predominantly Pakistani men, took “a lot of persuasion that this was the right thing to do.”

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Labour handed fresh blow after Waspi betrayal as Holyrood unanimously calls on Starmer to change course

Labour's failure to compensate the Waspi women has been dealt another blow after the Scottish Parliament unanimously urged Westminster to change course.

Last month, Labour's Pensions Minister Liz Kendall confirmed the move - which will see thousands of women miss out on up to £3,000 in compensation.

But now, Holyrood has urged Westminster to U-turn - with all 22 Labour MSPs rebelling against Starmer to back the Scottish Government motion.

Yvette Cooper blames social media for ‘misinformation’ surrounding Southport triple murders as she defends Labour’s stance

Yvette Cooper has blamed social media for spreading "misinformation" around the Southport triple murders.

Speaking in the Commons, the Home Secretary asked the independent reviewer on terrorism powers to examine the legislation "in light of the modern threats we face".

She said: "The issue of contempt of court, because the British way of justice means information is presented to the court by police and CPS with restrictions on what can be said beforehand so the jury does not get partial or prejudicial information in advance to make sure that the trial is fair and justice is done.

"Social media puts those long established rules under strain, especially where partial and inaccurate information appears online."

Sir Keir Starmer earlier said today that the sharing of information online that does not appear to be following contempt of court rules “needs to be addressed” and will be part of what the Government looks at.

The Prime Minister told reporters: “It is true that we live in a different age, in that available information is now available online as well as offline, and I understand the frustration of all, including some journalists, who observe the rules and don’t report what they know because they know that the law doesn’t permit it, and it runs the risk of collapsing a trial, only to see information online that doesn’t appear to be following the same rules, and that is not acceptable.

“That has to be addressed and will be part of what we will be looking at because that can’t be right.

“But in relation to the central thrust of your question, the importance of the rule about not disclosing this information is to ensure that the trial can take place and that where an individual is guilty, they’re held to account, as has now happened in this case, and that is why the law carefully restricts what can be said by anyone, not just me as Prime Minister, but anybody in these circumstances, and it is done to protect the family and their victims. That is the right thing and that is what the law requires.”

Rupert Lowe skewers Whitehall's 'petty bureaucrats' as taxpayers endure CENTURIES waiting to call HMRC

British taxpayers are being treated "like criminals" by "arrogant, petty, unaccountable bureaucrats" in Whitehall, Reform UK's Rupert Lowe has warned.

Lowe said he has spent "far too much of my life" trying to communicate with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over the phone - and warned he was "not alone".

The Great Yarmouth MP told the Commons: "Taxpayers cumulatively spent 798 years on hold with HMRC in 2022-23, with letters often going unanswered for months.

"When the phone is picked up, decent British taxpayers and their advisers are increasingly being treated like criminals by arrogant, petty, unaccountable bureaucrats.

"Will the Chancellor today commit to a comprehensive review of HMRC, to make them as accountable to the taxpayer as the taxpayer is to them - starting by answering the phone."

Treasury minister James Murray replied: "One of my key priorities as exchequer secretary and the minister with responsibility for HMRC is to oversee a programme of transformation at HMRC to improve its customer service, to digitise the service, to close the tax gap and to make sure that we have the modern, reformed service we need for the future."

Labour confirms plans to make driving licences digital for first time in 100-year history - 'Slippery slope!'

Motorists across the UK will soon be able to access driving licences through a new Government app, Labour has confirmed in a historic move.

The new digital system which would be a first for the country, will allow people to prove their age and identity through a Gov.uk app featuring a secure digital wallet for Government-issued documents.

The initiative marks a significant shift in how drivers can access and present their driving credentials and breaks away from the 103-year-old tradition of having a physical licence.

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Time to 'get rid of this entirely arbitrary distinction with motivation', Cleverly says

James Cleverly, the former home secretary, called on the Government to “get rid of this entirely arbitrary distinction with motivation” in the designation of terror offences.

Speaking in the Commons, he told MPs: “The fact is, much of the challenge over the summer is because there was an understandable lack of public understanding of the distinction between a terrorist incident and a non-terrorist incident.

“Had this person done exactly the same thing, but was driven by a desire to create a caliphate here in the UK, this would, of course, be defined as a terrorist attack. The fact it didn’t is of no solace to those families who have lost loved ones.

“Is it now not the time – I appreciate this could be part of the review, but I would urge her to make sure this is a particular emphasis of the review – to get rid of this entirely arbitrary distinction with motivation and focus exclusively on the risk and the actions.”

Yvette Cooper responded: “From the point of view of the community, this was an attack that was intended to terrorise.

“If it is around an extremist ideology that needs to be challenged and tackled and taken down, or alternatively, if the issue is around mental health or the issue is around obsession with violence and gore, those may need different kinds of response, but (Cleverly) is right that the threats from the point of view of the community will feel the same. That’s why the law needs to be looked at again.”

'Total disgrace' that Southport killer could buy knife on Amazon

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Axel Rudakubana said that it was a "total disgrace" that the Southport Killer was able to easily buy a knife online.

Speaking to the Commons, she said that the 18-year-old admitted to having carried a knife more than 10 times.

She told MPs: “Yet the action against him was far too weak. And despite the fact he’d been convicted for violence and was just 17, he was easily able to order a knife on Amazon.

“That’s a total disgrace and it must change. So, we will bring in stronger measures to tackle knife sales online in the Crime and Policing Bill this spring.”

Trump set to make major ultimatum over Lord Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to US

Donald Trump is continuing to threaten rejecting Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the US unless the UK Government accepts restrictions on his activities.

The Prime Minister is under pressure from the White House to bow to the demands or have their pick for envoy vetoed.

Sources close to the President said he is being reminded to reject the credentials of Sir Keir Starmer's pick when they are presented to him.

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Brexit fishing row heads for court showdown as the UK bans EU boats from catching tiny silver fish crucial for British marine wildlife

Britain and the EU are heading towards a court showdown after earlier negotiations on catching sand eel failed.

The UK has blocked EU boats from catching the tiny silver fish in order to preserve the British marine wildlife that depends on them for food, yet the economic bloc has sought to challenge the ban.

The courtroom showdown over a trade dispute will be the first between the two since the last Brexit negotiations took place in 2021 conducted by Boris Johnson.

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Rachel Reeves's Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton expansions branded 'desperate' as she bids to revive economy

Rachel Reeves's plans to approve a major expansion of London's airports, including the long-debated third runway at Heathrow, have been branded 'desperate' as she attempts to boost economic growth.

The Chancellor is preparing to give the green light to three significant airport projects across the capital with plans to bring Gatwick's second runway into full-time use and increase capacity at Luton airport.

Announcements are expected to come later this month as part of a broader speech on growth initiatives, despite anticipated opposition from senior Labour figures and environmental groups.

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Downing Street's £80,000 revamp makes TV debut

Sir Keir Starmer has held his first press conference in the Downing Street briefing room after up to £80,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent on a “politically neutral” refurbishment.

The room, in 9 Downing Street, was redecorated during December and the Prime Minister used it on Tuesday morning to make his statement on the Southport atrocity.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman has previously described the changes as a “one-off refresh” “to restore the room to a politically neutral setting”.

“The panelling restores the room back to its original state,” the spokesman said. “The cost is obviously a fraction of what the previous administration spent on the room.”

'They knew information!' Shadow Home Secretary backs Southport stabbings inquiry as he demands Labour 'answer questions' on 'failings'

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has called for scrutiny of the Government's handling of information in the Southport stabbings case, suggesting its failure to share details with the public may have worsened the situation.

Speaking to GB News about the newly announced inquiry, Philp said it must examine "the Government's handling of the aftermath of these terrible murders".

He pointed specifically to information about Prevent referrals that was withheld from the public, reportedly on Crown Prosecution Service advice.

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'Terrorism has changed!' Sir Keir Starmer warns that the UK faces 'new threat' of extreme violence

Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Britain faces a "new threat" as terrorism evolves from organised groups to lone actors radicalised through online content.

Speaking the day after Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana admitted to murdering three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, the Prime Minister said: "Throughout this case, up to this point, we have only been focussed on justice.

"If this trial had collapsed because I or anyone else had revealed crucial details while police were investigating, while the case was being built, while we were awaiting a verdict, then the vile individual who committed these crimes would have walked away a free man."

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GB News' Christopher Hope asks PM if he regrets 'blaming the far-right'

Sir Keir Starmer has said that "responsibility for the violence lies with them that perpetrated it", after being asked on whether he regretted "blaming the far-right".

Christopher Hope, Head of Politics and Political Editor at GB News, asked the PM: "Do you now regret blaming the far right for all those protests last summer? Was it a far right issue, or were some people entitled to be concerned and upset?

The Prime Minister responded: "I was in Southport the day after these terrible murders. I was acknowledging and thanking the frontline police officers and ambulance who had been at the scene. You can imagine what they had been through.

"They were back at work the next day. They were saying it was just their job, I could see in their eyes the impact it had had on them – what they had to deal with, what they had to see, how they endured that.

"As I arrived back in London, those same officers were putting their riot gear on and having bricks thrown at them. Those same officers. I don’t think anyone can justify that nor should they attempt to do so."

Sir Keir Starmer defends actions after being blasted for Southport cover-up

The Prime Minister has defended his actions after he was blasted with accusations of a cover-up.

His statement followed his admission that the British state failed the three girls brutally murdered by Axel Rudakubana at a Taylor Swift dance class last summer.

Starmer said that Southport "must be a line in the sand", although "nothing will be off the table in this inquiry", insisting that it will lead to change.

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Government 'withheld information about perpetrator', ​Shadow Home Secretary claims

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has claimed it appeared the Government “withheld information about the perpetrator, potentially, on CPS advice” in relation to the Southport stabbings.

Axel Rudakubana had been referred to the Government anti-extremism scheme Prevent three times due to concerns about his obsession with violence, though he was found not to be motivated by a terrorist ideology.

Asked whether he was confident in the Prevent counter-terrorism programme, he told Times Radio: “The Prevent programme is a long-running programme. It deals with about 7,000 referrals per year.

“There was quite a comprehensive review of Prevent by William Shawcross that was published in February of last year … So, one question I’ll be asking the Government is whether they plan to implement the recommendations in the Shawcross report.

“I think it’s just important the inquiry looks at all of this, gets to the truth both about what happened beforehand, but critically also the Government’s response afterwards, and what they knew when and whether they should have put more information into the public domain.

“It appears they withheld information about the perpetrator, potentially, on CPS advice.

“William Shawcross has raised questions over that, saying that if you leave a void, then speculation fills it, and William Shawcross is obviously an expert lawyer, and also says there’s quite a lot you can say about these incidents afterwards.

“But clearly in this case, the Government, it appears, didn’t share information which they had in their possession.”

The Government has said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was clear that information about the perpetrator’s past could not be made public before to avoid jeopardising the trial that had been scheduled, which is in line with the normal rules of the justice system.

Keir Starmer to address the nation on Axel Rudakubana in minutes

Sir Keir Starmer is to address the nation on Axel Rudakubana this morning at 8.30am after it was revealed that the killer teenager had been referred to a Government anti-extremism scheme three times before the Southport stabbings.

Starmer described the Rudakubana as "vile and sick", and said there were "grave questions to answer" on how the state "failed" to protect the three girls.

The PM added: "Britain will rightly demand answers, and we will leave no stone unturned in that pursuit."

It comes after the Home Secretary announced a public inquiry into the 18-year-old who carried out an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class

Yvette Cooper said the inquiry would examine how Rudakubana "came to be so dangerous" and why the Prevent programme failed to identify the risks he posed.

UK unemployment hits 4.4% in blow for Reeves

The rate of UK unemployment rose to 4.4 per cent in the three months to November, official figures have shown.

This is up from 4.3 per cent in the three months to October.

The UK's average regular earnings growth increased to 5.6 per cent in the three months leading up to November.

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UK needs ‘reckoning with Government spending’, Treasury minister will say

The UK is “long overdue a reckoning with Government spending”, a senior Treasury minister will say as Labour could be bringing in further cutes.

Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is expected to use a speech at the Institute for Government’s annual conference on Tuesday to stress that ministers need to take a different approach in order to ensure that taxpayers' money in spent effectively.

Jones is leading the spending review that will determine how much money departments will get over the coming years.

He will say the Government “will not settle for doing things the same and hoping for different results”.

It follows criticism of the previous government, with Labour accusing the Conservatives of wasting taxpayers’ money and leaving a £22billion “black hole” in last year’s budget – something the opposition denies.