Politics LIVE: Starmer REFUSES to rule out second Budget as Reeves awaits OBR verdict after market turmoil

Lammy says ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is 'on the brink' of agreement

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is "on the brink" of agreement.

Lammy told the Commons a deal to enable the "rebuilding of Gaza with Israel safe and secure" will allow the region to "move forward in an atmosphere of peace."

Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas stormed across its borders on October 7 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza and left much of the country in ruins, according to Palestinian health officials.

The Foreign Secretary said: "As has been said by Joe Biden, we may well be on the brink of a deal, and I know this whole House will want to see that deal emerge in the coming days. Rest assured that humanitarian access, as we have continued to press for the people of Gaza, is hugely important, but it’s as important for those hostages."

Starmer's Chagos deal left in tatters as PM forced to WAIT for Trump's blessing

Sir Keir Starmer will have to wait for approval from Donald Trump before finalising a deal with Mauritius over the future of the Chagos Islands, a bombshell report has revealed.

Labour had been hopeful about certifying an agreement with Mauritius over the islands before the incoming President's returns to the White House on January 20.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Dame Harriet Baldwin tells GB News Tulip Siddiq's position in the Treasury was 'untenable'

Conservative MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has accused Labour of becoming a "laughing stock around the world" following the resignation of Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq, amid a "corruption" scandal.

Speaking to GB News, Baldwin said Siddiq "had to go" from her position as anti-corruption minister due to her connections with the former Bangladeshi government.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Greens SLAM 'shockingly offensive' Badenoch comments on GB News in scathing rant

The Greens have lashed out at comments made by Kemi Badenoch on GB News where the Tory leader called grooming gang abusers "peasants" from "sub-communities" in foreign countries

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: "These comments are shockingly offensive and irresponsible. Kemi Badenoch is the leader of the opposition, she should know better than to peddle this backwards Islamophobia which only leads to division and hatred in our communities, and drives support for the far right.

"Any politician who is serious about tackling sexual abuse and exploitation of girls in this country must put the victims and their needs front and centre, not use the issue as an excuse to push their own agenda and try to make political capital.

"I hope to see senior Conservatives distancing themselves from Badenoch’s comments, as politicians we all have a responsibility to our communities to stop a dangerous race to the bottom in how we speak about these issues."

Starmer forced into ‘mini-reshuffle’ after scandal-stricken Siddiq quits over 'corruption probe'

Sir Keir Starmer has been forced to complete a "mini-reshuffle" after Tulip Siddiq announced her resignation as his Anti-Corruption Minister.

Emma Reynolds has been appointed as Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Torsten Bell will serve jointly as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Department for Work & Pensions.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Siddiq said that while she had "not breached the ministerial code", it is clear that continuing in her post would be "a distraction from the work of the Government".

The Prime Minister has already conducted a separate "mini-reshuffle" after Louise Haigh was forced to quit as Transport Secretary in December.

MPs called for more rent controls in the Renters’ Rights Bill to prevent 'extortionate' rises in price.

Labour MPs have called for more rent controls in new bill to prevent "extortionate" rises in price.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, MP for Poole, told the commons: "There is nothing to protect tenants from extortionate, unjust rent hikes. The Renters Rights Bill doesn’t do enough to change that.

"Last year, a Government survey of landlords found rent increases of 15 per cent or more when renewing or extending a contract were common. Despite the Bill’s passage, renters who cannot afford extortionate rent hikes will continue to have no alternative but to move, fall into debt or face eviction."

Independent MP and former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: “We can have a tribunal system and we can go to that tribunal that’ll determine on the basis of what the market rent is – the market rent is determined by an almost oligarchy of landlords within a particular area who are maintaining high rents because they want to maximise those profits.”

"We need a comprehensive system of rent controls. I don’t think there’s any other solution. The argument is very simple. We just want a system where rents are linked to wages or inflation, and then that way people can’t be ripped off by higher rent increases."

Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins announces he will stand for Reform UK

Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins has announced that he will stand for Reform UK after a personal request by Nigel Farage - sparking a heated row between two of the party's former top brass.

Speaking to TalkTV this morning, Mullins was probed on whether he was looking to become an MP - and said he'd "start with [being] a local councillor, and see how it goes from there".

He added: "I've been asked if I'd like to do it by Nigel, and yeah - why not? Anything to get Labour out and get Reform in, I think!"

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Liberal Democrats say voters 'expected better' of Labour following Siddiq resignation

The Liberal Democrats said voters "expected better" from a Labour Government, in reaction to Tulip Siddiq’s resignation.

The party's Cabinet Office spokeswoman Sarah Olney said: "It’s right Tulip Siddiq resigned, you can’t have an anti-corruption minister mired in a corruption scandal."

The MP for Richmond Park added: "After years of Conservative sleaze and scandal, people rightly expected better from this Government."

Badenoch SLAMS Starmer's 'weak leadership' over Siddiq resignation

Kemi Badenoch has slammed Keir Starmer following the resignation of anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq.

The Conservative leader wrote on X: "It was clear at the weekend that the anti-corruption minister's position was completely untenable.

"Yet Keir Starmer dithered and delayed to protect his close friend. Even now, as Bangladesh files a criminal case against Tulip Siddiq, he expresses 'sadness' at her inevitable resignation. Weak leadership from a weak Prime Minister."

Scottish Tory leader distances himself from Badenoch’s 'peasants' comments

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has distanced himself from Kemi Badenoch’s comments on GB News calling grooming gang abusers "peasants" from "sub-communities" in foreign countries

Russell Findlay said he "didn’t want to demonise particular groups of people" and that he would have "thought twice" about using such language.

However, the MSP for West Scotland added that he "won’t shy away from demonising those who have inflicted such horrific abuse on children."

When asked by reporters if he thought Badenoch's language was acceptable, he said: "Well, I don’t want to demonise particular groups of people in society but I absolutely won’t shy away from demonising those who have inflicted such horrific abuse on children in towns and cities across our country.

"I think it’s entirely right that we should be angry about that. Reading some of the accounts of what these children were put through, as devastating as that was, only to be compounded by authorities who are there to protect them, telling them to keep quiet, in some cases, going after them as the victims."

Chagos deal to be signed THIS WEEK, Mauritius says, as Britain set to 'spaff away' billions

The Chagos Islands handover deal is set to be signed this week, Mauritius has claimed.

A source close to the Mauritian government told The Telegraph today that both sides have reached a consensus on the pact following talks in London.

A special council of Mauritian ministers will convene on Wednesday - five days out from Donald Trump's White House return - with Sir Keir Starmer said to be racing to get the agreement over the line before his inauguration to avoid a clash with the President-elect, who is said to be strongly opposed to the surrender.

And the giveaway has been met with fierce criticism at home, too - Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith warned that the UK was "spaffing away" billions on the deal.

"We intend to agree before January 20," the source said. "The PM has decided to discuss it in the Cabinet on Wednesday and all the ministers are on the same page, supporting prime minister Ramgoolam on the agreement. The deal will be concluded this week."

But a source on the UK side has counselled caution over assuming the deal is done - and suggested Mauritius was getting ahead of itself.

Reeves admits Britain must 'go further and faster' as Chancellor rebuffs 'duck' jab

Rachel Reeves has vowed that Britain "must go further and faster" in the face of "economic headwinds" facing the country in order to secure growth.

The Chancellor defended her China trip as an opportunity "to secure tangible benefits for British businesses trading overseas" - and hit back at Mel Stride's earlier "Peking duck" jab in the process.

She said: "We have seen global economic uncertainty play out in the last week. But leadership is not about ducking these challenges. It is about rising to them.

"The economic headwinds that we face are a reminder that we should - indeed we must - go further and faster in our plan to kickstart economic growth that plunged under the last Government."

Tories lash out at Chancellor's 'shameful' laughter - 'They think it's a laughing matter!'

The Conservatives have issued a scathing response to Rachel Reeves's laughter in the Commons after Mel Stride's attacks.

"Labour think that losing control of the public finances, and sending the economy into crisis, is a laughing matter… Shameful," the party said on social media.

PICTURED: Reeves laughs with Labour frontbenchers as Stride issues 'crisis' warning

'To go, or not to go?' Stride asks amid mounting speculation over Reeves sacking

Mel Stride has taken a string of Shakespearean swipes at the Chancellor amid mounting speculation that she could be forced to step down.

"They promised the electorate much while pouring the poison into their ear," he told MP, referring to markets' reaction to worries over the public finances.

He added: "To go or not to go? That is now a question. The Prime Minister will be damned if he does - but he will be surely damned if he does not."

Downing Street insists that Reeves will stay in her role "for the whole of this Parliament" - despite the PM's refusal to do so yesterday.

Chancellor addresses Commons - follow live

Rachel Reeves is addressing the Commons today amid tumbling exchange rates and skyrocketing borrowing costs - just days after her own Cabinet colleagues warned she'd "lost the plot".

Yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer failed to confirm she would remain in her post until the next General Election after being probed by GB News.

Downing Street was later forced to clarify that Reeves would stay in her role "for the whole of this Parliament".

Starmer convened a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street this morning ahead of Reeves's statement - with the Chancellor set for a grilling on the UK's gloomy economic outlook.

But a Cabinet source told The Times on Friday that the Treasury is in "make-or-break territory now" as Reeves was accused of "fleeing" to China, while another added: "They've lost the plot."

And with Labour at risk of failing to meet its own fiscal rules and Reform UK on the rise, ex-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP issued a dire warning to his party earlier today.

He told the BBC: "The electorate have to be protected, otherwise I'm afraid we're looking at a level of disillusionment which then turns people towards, unfortunately, Reform, and I think that would be a disaster for the country."

Mandelson summoned to Downing Street with just six days remaining until Trump inauguration

Lord Mandelson, the incoming British ambassador to the US, has been summoned to Downing Street today, just six days before Donald Trump is sworn in as President for a second time.

GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope is on the scene outside No10 - and has pictured Mandelson on his way into the Prime Minister's residence.

When news of the Labour grandee's appointment to the post emerged, Trump's campaign adviser Chris LaCivita labelled him an "absolute moron".

But Sir Keir Starmer said: "Peter will bring unrivalled experience to the role and take our partnership from strength to strength."

Starmer rules out national grooming gangs inquiry despite Rotherham and Rochdale rebellions

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out a national inquiry into grooming gangs yet again - despite Labour's Rochdale and Rotherham MPs breaking ranks to support one.

Sarah Champion (Rotherham) and Paul Waugh (Rochdale) have both called for Public Inquiries - though both have stressed there should be "locally-led" aspects to any probe.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said there were no plans in place for a national inquiry, and has instead vowed that the focus of the Government is to deliver the 20 recommendations in Alexis Jay's report.

"The Government will deliver on the recommendations in the report, but some do require further work," the spokesman said.

Starmer also took aim at Kemi Badenoch's comments to GB News last night - his spokesman said "peasants" is "not language the PM would use in this case" to describe the largely Pakistani rape gangs.

Downing Street refused to say whether the PM watched Charlie Peters's interview with the Tory leader.

Nigel Farage within touching distance of No10 as Reform UK sits just 1% behind Labour

Nigel Farage's Reform UK has been handed a major boost after renowned pollsters YouGov placed the party just one point behind Labour.

In what has been dubbed the start of a "new era of three-way party politics", the surging right-wing party has ranked in second place among British voters - with 25 per cent of adults opting for Reform UK, and 26 choosing Sir Keir Starmer's Labour.

There is also a small gap between Reform and the Conservatives - Kemi Badenoch's party sits at 22 per cent - while the Lib Dems and Greens sit at 14 and eight per cent, respectively.

The polling, commissioned by Sky News and The Times as part of a new weekly data drop, has prompted glee from Reform's top brass.

Reacting to the news, party leader Nigel Farage said: "The Tory brand is completely broken. We are the real opposition to this disastrous Government."

Deputy leader Richard Tice added: "Only Reform UK can save Britain from Labour and Tory uniparty failures."

Chairman Zia Yusuf jabbed: "Looking at the latest YouGov poll, I'm starting to understand why Robert Jenrick just continued his leadership campaign," while chief whip Lee Anderson added: "That'll teach ya."

'Dreadful' Labour 'leading the UK down a very dangerous path', Braverman warns

The "dreadful" Labour Government is "leading the UK down a very dangerous path" by "kowtowing" to China, Suella Braverman has warned.

Responding to Rachel Reeves's social media post announcing that Britain is "engaging pragmatically with international partners", the former Home Secretary said cosying up to Beijing was "naive and incredibly dangerous".

Braverman said: "China is committing genocide in Xinjiang, funding Putin's war of aggression in Europe and has committed acts of cyber-terrorism against the British people.

"I saw first hand the danger the CCP poses and this economic appeasement is a reckless gamble.

"This dreadful Government is leading the UK down a very dangerous path."

'I won't rest until the victims get justice' - Kemi Badenoch's pledge after exclusive GB News interview

Kemi Badenoch has vowed that she "won't rest" until grooming gang victims get justice following her exclusive interview with GB News.

The Tory leader had warned that "peasants" from "sub-communities" within some countries are behind the rape gangs abuse that has scarred the country last night - and reaffirmed her call for a Public Inquiry into the scandal.

Now, writing on social media, Badenoch has pledged to uproot a "cover-up" through a national probe.

She said: "Last night I met rape gang survivors from Oldham and Rotherham.

"Their stories were shocking and it reaffirmed my belief that none of the victims in this scandal will get justice until a national inquiry has uncovered the full truth of what happened, why and who was involved in the cover-up.

"The Conservative Party is under new leadership, and I won't rest until the victims get justice."

Rachel Reeves to address Parliament today after return from China as under-fire Chancellor battles economic chaos

Rachel Reeves will address the Commons today after returning from China - with the Chancellor set for a grilling on tumbling exchange rates and skyrocketing borrowing costs.

Reeves will be fielding questions from MPs after securing a £600million-valued investment package from Beijing.

That's a fraction of the £9billion Labour is set to pay China ally Mauritius for the whole of the lease period on Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos archipelago.

Pressure is mounting on the Chancellor - just yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer failed to confirm she would remain in her post until the next General Election.

Downing Street was later forced to clarify that Reeves would stay in her role "for the whole of this Parliament".

Security Minister backs Tulip Siddiq as ethics investigation rumbles on - 'She's getting on with her job!'

Tulip Siddiq is "getting on with doing her job," Security Minister Dan Jarvis has vowed, as pressure grows on Labour's Anti-corruption Minister to stand aside.

Siddiq has referred herself to the Prime Minister's ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus over a series of properties in London she has rented or lived in, with links to Bangladeshi political party the Awami League.

Jarvis told Times Radio: "There is now an independent process where [Magnus] is looking to establish the facts of this case and he will make a judgment. I am not independent in the sense that I'm a ministerial colleague of hers, so it's not for me to make a judgment.

"I'm sure that [the ethics adviser] will.

"She's getting on with doing her job... corruption is a process that's managed across Government, between the Home Office, the Treasury... the Prime Minister's independent adviser is looking carefully at the circumstances of this particular case and the Prime Minister will ultimately make a decision."

REVEALED: Mauritius's lawyer on Chagos negotiations campaigned for Starmer's Labour leadership - 'Strong candidate!'

Mauritius's chief counsel on the Chagos Islands, Philippe Sands KC, campaigned for Sir Keir Starmer when he was running to lead the Labour Party, it has emerged.

A new report in political blog Guido Fawkes reveals that Sands - a friend of the now-Prime Minister - hailed Starmer on social media and took shifts on his phone bank, calling Labour members in 2020.

Replying to a campaign video at the time, Sands had said of Starmer: "Strong message, strong candidate, strong support."

No deal has yet been reached on the Chagos surrender - but it's understood that Britain is tabling an offer of some £90million every year for a 99-year lease deal on Diego Garcia, a strategic island which plays host to a joint UK-US military base.

Marco Longhi's switch to Reform UK was 'strategically motivated', rival candidate claims, as Farage's defectors spark 'Tory 2.0' fears

Former Tory MP Marco Longhi's defection to Reform UK was "strategically motivated", the man he replaced has revealed.

Andrew Southall had stood for Nigel Farage's party in Dudley at the election last summer - where he received just under 10,000 votes, while Longhi took home just over that number.

Ultimately, Labour's Sonia Kumar won the seat with 12,215 votes - but Longhi and Southall combined dwarfed her total, with 19,757 ballots cast for the pair.

But on January 3, Longhi switched allegiance to Reform - which Southall said was a complete surprise.

"I found out on the Friday night when the news broke. I won't lie - a little heads-up would've been a nice courtesy," he told GB News.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

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