Labour MPs to be forced to vote on public inquiry into grooming gangs scandal

Labour refuses to rule out axing free prescriptions for Britons over 60

Labour ministers have not ruled out plans to scrap free prescriptions for over-60s in England - in a move that could raise more than £1 billion for the NHS over five years.

The Government could raise the qualifying age for free prescriptions to 66, aligning it with the state pension age.

The potential change comes amid growing tensions between the Government and pensioners following recent cuts to winter fuel payments.

Sir Keir Starmer's Government has been challenged to provide clarity on whether the policy will change before the next election.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Labour to make it an offence to fail to report child sexual abuse, Yvette Cooper says

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said Labour will make it an offence if a child sexual abuse case is not reported.

She called this the “most vile and horrific of crimes” adding that “all of us have a responsibility to protect our children.”

She said: “These crimes have not been taken seriously for too long, and far too many children have been failed."

"That is why this government is determined to act, strengthening the law, taking forward recommendations from independent inquiries, supporting stronger police action and protection for victims."

She also discussed Asian grooming gangs in Rotheram and Telford, saying: "It is never an excuse to use race or ethnicity or community relations as an excuse not to investigate and punish sex offenders."

She told MPs: "We will make it mandatory to report abuse and we will put the measures in the Crime and Policing Bill that will be put before parliament this spring, making it an offence with professional and criminal sanctions to fail to report or cover up child sexual abuse.”

"The protection of institutions must never be put before the protection of children."

The home secretary added: "We will overhaul the information and evidence that is gathered on child sexual abuse and exploitation and embedded in a clear new performance framework for policing, so these crimes are taken far more seriously. "

No10 has confirmed the Government will continue to use X despite Elon Musk’s comments

Downing Street has confirmed that the Government will remain using X, despite comments made by its owner Elon Musk.

A spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer said that the government “will always use a range of platforms to communicate with the general public.”

They added that its position remains the same despite Musk’s comments about Labour, Starmer and Jess Phillips.

When asked if the Government was looking at leaving the social media site, the spokesman said: “No plans to do that. As I say, we communicate with the public on a range of platforms, and we will continue to do so.”

They added: “I’m not going to respond to each and every comment that politicians have made on this, political colleagues may want to. The Prime Minister is focused on delivery rather than rhetoric.”

John Healy admits the UK has not had any discussions with Trump over the Chagos Islands deal

Defence Secretary John Healy has said the UK has not had any discussions with the incoming Trump administration over the crumbling Chagos Islands deal.

This comes amid growing concerns over the future of the agreement.

While Joe Biden’s administration supported the deal, Trump’s team is looking to veto it over concerns of possible Chinese interference.

The Chagos Islands are seen as strategically important in southeast Asia as the US uses the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia for ships and long-range bombers.

When asked to outline the discussions that had been carried out, Healy admitted that no talks had taken place.

Speaking to the House of Commons, the defence secretary said: “The system in the US... is very different to ours. The administration that is in place at the present is in place until inauguration day on January 20. That will be the point at which we as the UK government starts to pick up direct discussions with the incoming administration.”

“The relationship with the US is our closest security ally. We will work with them to ensure we continue to do that.”

General Election petition author scolds 'disastrous' Labour ahead of Parliamentary debate - 'Things have to change!'

The author of a viral petition demanding a fresh general election has reaffirmed his calls for "change" in Government, ahead of today's parliamentary debate.

Michael Westwood told GB News he anticipates the full three-hour debate, starting at 4.30pm, will see substantial participation from MPs.

"I spoke to MP Jamie Stone, who's going to be hosting it, he said there will be a lot of interest in this, and I've had a lot of media coverage over the last 24 hours as well. So yeah, I'm expecting a decent turnout," Westwood said.

The pub owner, who launched the petition that garnered over three million signatures, confirmed he will attend the Westminster Hall debate in person.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Millions who want justice for Britain's abused young girls are NOT far-right, Robert Jenrick warns

The millions of Britons who "want justice and answers for the thousands of young girls who were raped and abused in the most evil ways imaginable" are not "far-right", Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has said.

In response to Sir Keir Starmer's comments that outrage over the grooming gangs scandal was "jumping on the bandwagon of the far-right", Jenrick launched into an outspoken rebuttal - accusing the PM of "smearing individuals demanding an inquiry".

Writing on X, Jenrick said: "Millions of people in this country want justice and answers for the thousands of young girls who were raped and abused in the most evil ways imaginable.

"They want an end to the abuse that victims say continues to this very day. They are not the far-right - and to suggest otherwise is outrageous.

"They are normal people - including mothers and fathers who hear the testimony of the victims, and imagine it was their own children or grandchildren.

"They are rightly furious about the most appalling abuse of incredibly vulnerable little girls and the subsequent cover up.

"In seeking to smear individuals demanding an inquiry - which is supported by many victims - as 'far-right', Starmer displays the same attitude that led to this scandal continuing for so long.

"Where once weak and cowardly local councillors and officials suppressed proper scrutiny, now it is the Prime Minister himself. He has learned nothing.

"Starmer's Government has launched more than 60 reviews since taking office, but won't launch a national inquiry into rape gangs. Why? There is no acceptable excuse.

"Unlike during the last Government, Oldham Council have now requested Government support and say they are not best-placed to conduct a review. Victims now demand a national inquiry.

"Previous reviews have looked at specific places and elements of the scandal, but nothing has explored it in totality.

"Such grave state failure warrants the same form of national inquiry we have undertaken in the past. Nothing less is acceptable."

Summon the US ambassador over Musk's 'dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric', Davey says

Britain must summon the US ambassador over Elon Musk's "dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric", Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey has said.

Writing on Musk's social media platform X, Davey said: "People have had enough of Elon Musk interfering with our country's democracy when he clearly knows nothing about Britain.

"It's time to summon the US ambassador to ask why an incoming US official is suggesting the UK Government should be overthrown.

"This dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric is further proof that the UK can't rely on the Trump administration. It's in our national interest to rebuild trade and security ties with our allies in Europe."

Musk is set to co-lead Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) alongside Vivek Ramaswamy when the former President returns to the White House in two weeks.

Yvette Cooper to make announcement on 'child sexual exploitation' after Labour hit by grooming gang backlash

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to make an announcement on "child sexual exploitation" this afternoon following a deluge of calls for a Public Inquiry into Britain's grooming gangs scandal.

Cooper will be addressing the Commons at around 5.30pm today - just hours after Sir Keir Starmer spoke to reporters about the gangs at a press conference in Surrey.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Braverman reaffirms call to leave ECHR as shock migrant crime statistics emerge

Suella Braverman has reaffirmed her calls to leave the European Convention on Human Rights today in the wake of a damning report on migrant crime statistics in Britain.

The Centre for Migration Control found that migrants are three times more likely to be arrested for sexual offences than Britons, while for all crimes, Albanians were the nationality most likely to be arrested - followed by Afghans, Iraqis, Algerians and Somalis.

But the former Home Secretary has warned that the statistics "are the consequences of mass migration and the woke 'diversity is our strength' brigade".

She said: "It's the same all over the Western world. 'Cultural enrichment' has made all of us, especially British women and girls, less safe and prey for violent rape gangs.

"In order to save our country, we have to stop importing men with a primitive, backwards ideology. Foreigners who commit a crime in this country should be out on their feet and deported, never to be returned to our shores.

"This is a national emergency and requires the strongest possible response: leaving the ECHR is the necessary first step."

READ THE FULL MIGRANT CRIME DATA STORY HERE

Musk hits back at Starmer's 'far-right' attack with ANOTHER inflammatory claim - 'Deeply complicit!'

Elon Musk has hit back at Sir Keir Starmer's warning that outrage over grooming gangs is "jumping on a bandwagon of the far right" with a fresh attack at the PM.

Responding to footage from Starmer's press conference today on his social media platform X, Musk wrote: "What an insane thing to say! The real reason is that it would show how Starmer repeatedly ignored the pleas of vast numbers of little girls and their parents, in order to secure political support. Starmer is utterly despicable."

The Tesla owner also claimed that Starmer was "deeply complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes" - adding that "that's what the inquiry would show".

Rachel Reeves's National Insurance hikes send confidence plummeting as almost two thirds of UK businesses left fearing Labour's 'hammer blow'

Rachel Reeves's "hammer blow" National Insurance hikes have sent business confidence plummeting, a damning new British Chambers of Commerce report has revealed.

Business confidence under Labour has tumbled - with some 63 per cent of businesses warning they were concerned about the tax burden, up from 48 per cent before Reeves's Budget.

The survey - which comes just as the Prime Minister looks to "reset" his barely six-month-old stint in Downing Street - also shows investment tumbling and price hikes looming thanks to the "devastating" Budget.

One business leader quoted by political blog Guido Fawkes has laid into Labour's policies, saying: "Labour's decision to increase National Insurance for businesses has been a hammer blow to business confidence and has caused a reversal in plans to increase investment."

But it's not just the Treasury sparking fears across British business.

Deputy PM Angela Rayner's Employment Rights Bill has forced two thirds of small businesses to plan to slash hiring, with a further third preparing to reduce their overall headcount, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.

Labour Anti-Corruption Minister under investigation on ministerial interests over 'dictator links'

Labour's Anti-Corruption Minister Tulip Siddiq is under investigation over her use of properties linked to her aunt, the deposed Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed.

Speaking to reporters today as he unveiled a new "relationship between the NHS and the private healthcare sector", Starmer said Siddiq had referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards.

He added: "It's to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts - and yes, I've got confidence in her, and that's the process that will now be happening."

Siddiq had also been due to travel to China with Rachel Reeves this week - but will now remain in Britain to "assist the independent adviser on ministerial standards", a source said.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'The wrong response' - fury over Starmer's choice of words after PM hits out at 'far-right bandwagon'

Reform UK's Rupert Lowe has warned that the Prime Minister's choice of words on Elon Musk today is "the wrong response" to criticism of Labour's handling of the grooming gangs scandal.

"Regardless of Starmer's politics, it is incredibly disappointing to hear a British Prime Minister accuse politicians concerned about the mass rape of young British girls by Pakistani gangs of wanting to 'jump on a bandwagon of the far right'," Lowe said.

"The wrong response."

'You can't ignore us!' Reform UK eyes-up 'turquoise tsunami' as petition against axing Local Elections nears milestone

A petition demanding Essex County Council's 2025 Election goes ahead as planned on May 1 has almost received 2,000 signatures as Reform UK sets its sights on a “turquoise tsunami”.

Tom Allison, who secured 34.7 per cent of the vote as Reform UK's candidate in Stock’s Essex County Council by-election last month, created the petition on December 29 following reports that the county-wide poll could get canned.

Authority leaders across the country are expected to formally request for their respective elections to get pushed back as part of Labour's plans to rejig devolution across England, including in Essex and Thurrock.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Keir Starmer takes aim at Elon Musk as he blasts 'lies and misinformation' before swiping at Tories for 'far right' attack

Sir Keir Starmer has finally responded to days of criticism from Elon Musk and the Conservatives over Britain's grooming gangs scandal.

Speaking to reporters today as he unveiled a new "relationship between the NHS and the private healthcare sector", Starmer laid into "the far-right playbook of whipping up intimidation and violence" after repeated questions on Musk's remarks.

The PM avoided mentioning the X owner by name - instead opting to swipe at the Tories for "tweeting and talking" rather than doing "anything about it" for their 14-year stint in Government.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Starmer gears up to hit back at Musk as under-fire PM attempts to 'reset' six-month No10 stint

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to defend his record on grooming gangs today in an attempt to quell a bitter row with tech magnate Elon Musk.

Musk has been directing insults in Starmer and Labour's direction since New Year's Day after GB News revealed that Jess Phillips had failed to reply to repeated requests for a Public Inquiry into the abuse - and just yesterday he labelled the PM a "national embarrassment" as he called for him to step down.

But with Starmer's tenure in Downing Street having crossed the six-month mark, it is understood that he will publicly defend his record of prosecuting child abusers as Director of Public Prosecutions in a speech today.

The Prime Minister is also set to defend the Labour Government's determination to crack down on grooming gangs, as well as keeping political debate in the realms of verifiable fact.

Also in the speech, Starmer will attempt to "reset" his premiership and switch focus to the NHS by promising patients millions more appointments closer to home in a bid to cut down on waiting lists.

Writing in The Times on Monday, he said that the NHS "exhibits all the symptoms of chronic illness" and needs "radical changes" to improve.

Meanwhile, Wes Streeting - the first Labour Minister to directly address Musk's comments - has warned that the NHS could "go the way of Woolies" unless it is brought "into the 21st century" through reform.

Starmer gears up to hit back at Musk as under-fire PM attempts to ‘reset’ six-month No10 stint

The petition for Labour to call a fresh General Election is set for a Parliamentary debate in just a few hours' time after amassing millions of signatures.

The petition, which accuses the Government of "going back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election", has brought in over three million signatures - a number which is still rising.

It's expected to be debated in Westminster Hall at 4.30pm today.

Labour's response to the petition reads: "This Government was elected on a mandate of change at the July 2024 General Election. Our full focus is on fixing the foundations, rebuilding Britain, and restoring public confidence in Government."

But a sizeable slice of the electorate is already regretting its choice, a damning new poll has found.

A quarter of people who voted for Labour last year now regret their choice, according to fresh data from pollsters at More in Common and LBC.

The poll has revealed that one in four 2024 Labour voters now rue their decision to vote for Sir Keir Starmer's party - while more than half now hold a lower opinion of the PM after his first six months in power.

In another damning blow for Labour, voters think the party has made three decisions which were more damaging than Partygate was for the Conservatives: Slashing the Winter Fuel Payment, not compensating the Waspi women, and the farmers' Inheritance Tax raid.

General Election petition to face Parliamentary debate TODAY

The petition for Labour to call a fresh General Election is set for a Parliamentary debate later today after amassing millions of signatures.

The petition, which accuses the Government of "going back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election", has brought in over three million signatures - a number which is still rising.

It's expected to be debated in Westminster Hall at 4.30pm today.

Labour's response to the petition reads: "This Government was elected on a mandate of change at the July 2024 General Election.

"Our full focus is on fixing the foundations, rebuilding Britain, and restoring public confidence in Government."

One in four 2024 Labour voters now REGRET their choice, damning new poll finds

A quarter of people who voted for Labour last year now regret their choice, a damning new poll has revealed.

Fresh data from pollsters at More in Common and LBC has revealed that one in four 2024 Labour voters now rue their decision to vote for Sir Keir Starmer's party - while more than half now hold a lower opinion of the PM after his first six months in power.

Surveyed Britons also think Labour has made three decisions which were more damaging than Partygate was for the Conservatives.

Those three are:

• Slashing the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners (51 per cent vs 16 per cent for Partygate);
• Hiking Inheritance Tax on Farms (36 per cent vs 24 per cent);
• Failing to compensate the Waspi women for state pension changes (31 per cent vs 22 per cent).

Elon Musk calls for America to 'liberate Britain from tyrannical government' in social media poll

Elon Musk has called for America to "liberate Britain" in a new post on his social media platform, further inflaming a furious row with Labour over grooming gangs.

The billionaire has posted a poll on his X site with the caption: "America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government."

The poll is slated to remain open for the next 24 hours - and just minutes after it opened, almost 72 per cent of respondents had voted "yes".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Labour mounts defence of Starmer and Phillips amid Musk row as X owner urged to combat 'misogyny'

Labour has continued its defence of Sir Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips following the pair's barrage of criticism for their handling of grooming gangs over the last few days.

Health Minister Karin Smyth told Times Radio that Phillips is "an excellent colleague", adding that "we know that particularly many women in politics before this have been subject to these sorts of attacks".

"She will continue to do the work that she has done throughout her career in supporting victims of this crime," Smyth added.

Asked about Elon Musk's remarks, Smyth said: "I think Keir will respond to that later. He is someone who has led the attack on the evil perpetrators of these crimes and supported victims."

Though Smyth added that "it would be more helpful if Mr Musk wanted to use his platform to support victims," she extended a similar olive branch to the X owner as Wes Streeting did on Friday.

Smyth said: "He could use his platform to educate his audience about misogyny, about the evils of the crime.

"It's clearly a long-standing problem and using that (platform to) expose the evilness of that would be a more helpful thing."

Labour 'working at pace' to implement Jay Report's recommendations amid grooming gangs row

Labour has vowed it is "working at pace" to implement the recommendations of the Jay Report - the Public Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham - as the fallout over grooming gangs continues to grow.

A Government spokesman said this morning: "No child should ever suffer sexual abuse or exploitation and it is paramount we do more to protect vulnerable children - which is why we are working at pace across government to drive forward real action to implement the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

"Professor Alexis Jay worked for seven years on a comprehensive independent inquiry and continues to work with survivors of these heinous crimes.

"This Government is committed to working closely with survivors and expert groups like Act on IICSA."

‘They’re coming to us!’ Inside Reform UK’s defection deluge as Farage’s charm secures Tory bigwigs

Reform UK is securing major defections without actively seeking out disgruntled ex-Tories, senior figures from the populist party have told GB News.

Nigel Farage is instead attracting Conservative bigwigs due to his pre-existing relationships with veteran Brexiteers.

Former Dudley MP Marco Longhi became the latest ex-Tory to jump ship, joining Dame Andrea Jenkyns and Aidan Burley in the populist party’s ranks.

But now, Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has revealed that the series of defections came without any outreach from the populist party.

READ THE FULL GB NEWS EXCLUSIVE HERE

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