'What a guy!' Nigel Farage introduces Reform UK's last minute MP as he hails 'amazing' result
WATCH: Starmer speaks at first cabinet meeting
GB NEWS
Nigel Farage hailed the unexpected victory of Reform UK in South Basildon and East Thurrock as "amazing" after travelling to the constituency to congratulate new MP James McMurdock this morning.
The Reform leader, who won is own seat in Clacton on Thursday night, upset the political establishment with the election of five MPs to the House of Commons.
He said while standing alongside McMurdock in a video on social media: "Four of us got elected, we thought that was that. And suddenly I heard in Essex, somewhere in Essex, something amazing was going on.
"We had a second recount and then a third recount and then, Reform won by 98 votes."
Introducing the new politician, he added: "What a guy."
Farage watched a football club’s first match in Corringham, Essex, with McMurdock earlier today.
The Reform leader was met by Mr McMurdock and the club’s chairman Jack Duffin when he arrived to watch East Thurrock Community Football Club on Saturday afternoon.
He posed for photos with locals in the bar of Wyldecrest Sports Country Club and is drinking a pint of Doom Bar.
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WATCH: President Joe Biden congratulates Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Jacqui Smith confirmed as new Education minister
Jacqui Smith
Getty
A No.10 spokesperson said: "The King has been pleased to signify His intention of conferring a Peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on the Rt Hon Jacqui Smith."
Former Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh calls Conservatives 'dead' as he announces resignation
PA
On social media, the defeated Yeovil MP wrote: "I hereby resign from [the] Conservatives . It's dead. No chance of ever being electable again with its current non-Conservative Parliamentary composition Move on. Let's do something else."
Fysh lost his seat which he had held since 2015 to the Liberal Democrat candidate, Adam Dance.
He added: "It's over. Need to rebuild a new centre / centre right party that is actually small c conservative where 65 per cent of the country is, that is isn't nativist or weird and believes in human agency for a better future. Who's with me?"
Rebecca Long-Bailey deletes tweet urging people to vote, two days after polls closed
The MP for Salford and Eccles and former Shadow Education Secretary wrote "When you go vote this evening, you'll need to take photo ID with you. So dig it out and don't get caught out."
Turnout lowest at a General Election for more than 20 years
With all 650 results now declared, the overall turnout was 59.9 per cent. This is down sharply from 67.3 per cent at the last election in 2019.
It is also the worst turnout at a general election since 2001, when the figure slumped to 59.4 per cent: the lowest since before the Second World War.
The highest turnout at a general election since the war was 83.9 per cent in 1950, according to figures compiled by the House of Commons Library.
Turnout remained above 75 per cent at every post-war general election until 1970, when it dipped to 72.0 per cent. It then stayed above 70 per cent at every election until plunging to 59.4 per cent in 2001 – since then it has never been above 70 per cent.
Lib Dems win final seat in General Election
Angus MacDonald has become the sixth Scottish Liberal Democrat MP, taking the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire seat after two recounts.
He had a majority of 2,160 over Drew Hendry of the SNP, who had conceded that he would not win the seat.
The final result in the General Election was announced at around 6pm on Saturday, 44 hours after the polls closed at 10pm on Thursday evening.
Turnout at General Election lowest for more than 20 years
Turnout at the General Election was the lowest for more than 20 years.
With all 650 results declared, the overall turnout was 59.9 per cent.
This is down sharply from 67.3 per cent at the last election in 2019.
It is also the worst turnout at a general election since 2001, when the figure slumped to 59.4 per cent: the lowest since before the Second World War.
The highest turnout at a General Election since the war was 83.9 per cent in 1950, according to figures compiled by the House of Commons Library.
Turnout remained above 75 per cent at every post-war general election until 1970, when it dipped to 72.0 per cent.
It then stayed above 70 per cent at every election until plunging to 59.4 per cent in 2001 – since then it has never been above 70 per cent.
Starmer ignites fresh row after Labour 'snubbed' St George Cross
Starmer has been criticised for its lack of St George's FlagsPABunting featuring St George's Cross has been placed on the railings outside Downing Street as Labour found itself criticised over its use of flags.
Yesterday GB News viewers noticed that the Saltire and the Welsh Dragon were handed out to supporters for the new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer but not the flag of St George nor the flag of Northern Ireland.
Now, the flag of St George has been raised above the residency as well as bunting hung up on the railings to mark England's Euros match.
This was pointed out by people on social media, with some calling it 'conspicuous.'
Farage vows to build 'mass movement' before next election
Nigel Farage said his aim is to “build a mass movement for real change leading up to the next sets of elections”.
Speaking from Wyldecrest Sports Country Club in Essex, the Reform UK leader said: “We will do what we can with five in Parliament, what I will do for certain is provide real opposition in the country.
“And my aim and ambition is to build a mass movement for real change, leading up to the next sets of elections.”
Asked how he would sell proportional representation to the public, Mr Farage said: “Well, the fact that for every Reform MP there are 800,000 voters, and for every Labour MP there are 30,000 voters suggests something is very badly, fundamentally wrong.”
He added: “We have five MPs, PR would have given us 97 MPs, but we are where we are.”
Nigel Farage introduces Reform UK's last minute MP
Nigel Farage took to social media to introduce James McMurdock.
The Reform UK candidate become the fifth person to be elected to the Commons for the party after two recounts in his South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.
He won the seat by just 98 votes.
Starmer outlines packed first week after ALREADY scrapping Rwanda and Labour vow to nationalise rail 'asap'
The Rwanda scheme is "dead and buried" Sir Keir Starmer confirmed today when outlining a packed dairy for his first week in charge, as the new PM declared: "I'm restless for change."
PA
The Rwanda scheme is "dead and buried" Sir Keir Starmer confirmed today when outlining a packed dairy for his first week in charge, as the new PM declared: "I'm restless for change."
The new Prime Minister has already scrapped the Rwanda plan and his Transport Secretary has vowed to nationalise the railways as soon as possible.
Giving a press conference from Downing Street this morning, Starmer said Labour's landslide victory in the General Election gives his party "a clear mandate to govern in all four corners of the United Kingdom".
He said he had already set out to his Cabinet "exactly what I expect of them in terms of standards, delivery, and the trust that the country has put in them".
Lib Dems win final seat to be declared in General Election
The Liberal Democrats have won in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire after two recounts in the constituency
PA
The Liberal Democrats have won in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire after two recounts in the constituency.
This is the final seat to be declared in the General Election.
Angus MacDonald won the seat from the SNP’s Drew Hendry. This takes the Lib Dems to a total of 72 seats.
Wes Streeting says Cabinet was 'very good'
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the first Cabinet meeting was “very good”, adding: “We’re getting to work straight away.
PA
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the first Cabinet meeting was “very good”, adding: “We’re getting to work straight away.”
Streeting was joined by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who described the meeting as “superb” as they left No 10 Downing Street.
Beaming Starmer sits next to grinning Angela Rayner as new PM chairs first Cabinet: 'Huge amount to do'
Sir Keir Starmer has begun chairing his first Cabinet as Prime Minister after winning a landslide at the General Election
PA
Sir Keir Starmer has begun chairing his first Cabinet as Prime Minister after winning a landslide at the General Election.
Opening the meeting, the Prime Minister said: "It is absolutely fantastic to welcome you to the Cabinet. Our first meeting.
"And it was the honour and privilege of my life to be invited by the King yesterday to form a government and to form the Labour Government of 2024. And now we hold our first Cabinet meeting.
"I welcome you to it and we have a huge amount of work to do so now we get on with our work."
'She can't get in!' Awkward moment Rachel Reeves left waiting outside 11 Downing Street
Watch the awkward moment new Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces difficulties in entering 11 Downing Street
PA
Watch the awkward moment new Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces difficulties in entering 11 Downing Street.
Reeves was granted the position yesterday after Sir Keir Starmer's Labour's party romped to an overwhelming majority in the General Election.
The 45-year-old has served as Shadow Chancellor since 2021.
Suella Braverman breaks silence on leadership rumours as she rages as Starmer scrapping Rwanda plan
Suella Braverman has broken her silence on Conservative leadership rumours, hitting out at Sir Keir Starmer's decision to scrap the Rwanda migration plan
GBN
Suella Braverman has broken her silence on Conservative leadership rumours, hitting out at Sir Keir Starmer's decision to scrap the Rwanda migration plan.
Asked whether she will be the next leader of the Tory party, Braverman said there will be "no announcements" yet, adding: "We've just got to take our time. We've got to figure out what the situation is."
The former Home Secretary added: "It's been a really bad result. There's no two ways about it."
Sir Keir Starmer to address the nation: New PM calls press conference on day one to unveil plans for Britain
Sir Keir Starmer is set to address the nation today in a press conference where he will unveil his plan for Britain
PA
Sir Keir Starmer is set to address the nation today in a press conference where he will unveil his plan for Britain.
This comes the day after the Labour Party won a landslide victory in the General Election.
Starmer's party won 412 seats, with a majority of 176. There is one result still to come today.
The Tories have been reduced to just 121 seats so far.
Jeremy Hunt rules himself out of Tory leadership race
Jeremy Hunt has ruled himself out of standing for the Conservative Party leadership
PA
Jeremy Hunt has ruled himself out of standing for the Conservative Party leadership.
The former Chancellor, who narrowly won his Godalming and Ash seat, told GB News: “No...that time has passed.”
Wes Streeting: 'The NHS is broken'
The NHS is "broken" and cannot be "fixed overnight", Wes Streeting has warned
PA
The NHS is "broken" and cannot be "fixed overnight", Wes Streeting has warned.
In his first speech as Health Secretary, he added: "This Government will be honest about the challenges facing our country, and serious about tackling them. From today, the policy of this department is that the NHS is broken.
“That is the experience of patients who are not receiving the care they deserve, and of the staff working in the NHS who can see that – despite giving their best – this is not good enough."
He also announced that he will start talks with the unions next week in order to end the junior doctors’ strikes.
Driving law changes launching under Labour to have huge impact on Britons - Fuel duty, car insurance and more
Britons are being prepared to see a number of driving law changes over the coming years following the landslide victory of Labour in this week's General Election
PA
Britons are being prepared to see a number of driving law changes over the coming years following the landslide victory of Labour in this week's General Election.
Keir Starmer's dominated the vote winning 412 seats in a staggering election campaign which saw the Conservatives lose 250 seats and Rishi Sunak ousted as Prime Minister.
With Labour taking control of Parliament in the coming days, motorists will be looking at the party to improve their lives, cut costs and crack down on schemes that make it more difficult to get behind the wheel.
Following the landslide election win, GB News has rounded up the driving law changes and motoring pledges that could be realised in the near future under a Labour Government.
Sir John Curtice issues warning to Labour despite landslide victory
Sir John Curtice has issued a warning to the Labour Party - despite their landslide election victory
PA
Sir John Curtice has issued a warning to the Labour Party - despite their landslide election victory.
He said Labour's strength in the Commons is "heavily exaggerated".
The pollster told the Times: "In the most disproportional electoral outcome in British electoral history, Labour’s strength in the new House of Commons is a heavily exaggerated reflection of the party’s limited popularity in the country.
"It is an outcome that may well breathe new life into the debate about electoral reform, perhaps not least within the Conservative Party."
He added: "If he is to maintain the unusual coalition that brought him to power, Sir Keir Starmer will need to convince voters that he and his party really are now up to the daunting task that now confronts them."
Keir Starmer ends Rwanda scheme on first day as PM, insider claims
An insider has claimed that Keir Starmer has scrapped the Conservative's Rwanda scheme on his first day as Prime Minister
PA
An insider has claimed that Keir Starmer has scrapped the Conservative's Rwanda scheme on his first day as Prime Minister.
Labour had always pledged to overturn the plans, but an insider told the Telegraph that within one day of being in office, the plan is already "dead".
They said: "If Rishi Sunak thought Rwanda would work, he wouldn’t have called an election.
"It was a con. By calling an election, Sunak was acknowledging that fact."
Boris Johnson warns Tories not to merge with Reform
Boris Johnson has issued a warning to the Tory Party not to merge with Reform UK following their general election wipeout
PA
Boris Johnson has issued a warning to the Tory Party not to merge with Reform UK following their general election wipeout.
The former prime minister laid out his vision for how the party can rebuild itself after the crushing defeat, which saw them reduced to just 121 MPs.
He urged the "Tory survivors" in the Official Opposition not to "absorb other parties" as part of their attempt to rebuild - despite the party have haemorrhaged votes to Reform.