Starmer survives first big vote as seven left-wing Labour MPs suspended over two-child benefit cap

Alec Shelbrooke reveals he will be nominating Priti Patel for the Tory leadership

The Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwood Alec Shelbrooke says he will be nominating Priti Patel for Tory Party leader.

Speaking on GB News, Alec Shelbrooke said: “I will be nominating Priti Patel because I think Priti has not just the pragmatic approach to all the issues but she was also there, brought into CCHQ, by Cecil Parkinson in 1997 about how to rebuild the Conservative Party after that defeat.

“You get this pattern in government, that after a long period of time in government, the structure starts to fall down. You think it would do the opposite, but it doesn't. You're so busy governing that the structure falls down.

“Priti has had senior roles and she's respected on all wings of the party, and I think that's an important point. And it comes back to the fact we've got to have a Conservative leader representing the Conservative Party and get away from these different gangs that have formed and have been fighting with each other.

“The enemy's not within the Conservative Party. The enemy is the 174 Labour majority sitting opposite us. There's going to be a lot of people who didn't vote for us, who are starting to think, ‘Wow, this is not the direction I wanted my country to go in.’

“I think if you look at Western governments around the world, most of them then went on to lose the next election [after the pandemic], and I think Covid has a very long tail to it.

“We did raise taxes and the size of the state is expanding and that has to change. But if we look at the government we’ve now got, they actually want to take that further, just as a matter of policy.

“And that's what a Conservative Party trying to become a Conservative government has to clearly outline; that big state and big taxes are not the way that you're going to prosper as a country.

“As Margaret Thatcher said it was the small shopkeeper syndrome. It was a small business syndrome. Balance the books, know what you're spending, know where it comes in.

“Profligate spending, having to raise taxes more and more, especially with an ageing population and that tax base decreasing and the costs going up, there is a balance to be had. You’ve got to grow your economy.

“Labour talks about this all of the time: we're going to grow the economy, not put taxes up. Let's see how much that holds out in September.”

Former Immigration Minister joins those backing Priti Patel for leader

The former immigration minister Kevin Foster has said he will be supporting Priti Patel as the next leader of the Conservative Party.

Speaking on GB News, Kevin Foster said: “For me, I hope Priti runs. I worked with her in the Home Office. She's got a wealth of experience in virtually every role in the party.

“Our next leader is going to take on an immense challenge. Just to be heard, will be one of the biggest challenges.

“At the last leadership race, the person was going to be Prime Minister the day they became leader. This time, it's going to be very different, facing over 400 Labour MPs each week.

“I think the way the rules have been set up shows what's expected. There are probably the four clear front runners and I think we can already start getting some of some of those names from some of the people already mentioned and already seen in the media.

“They'll then be, over the summer, trying to make that case, probably hoping in particular that MPs will be at home in the constituencies, listening to their members, hearing what they have to say. And then in September go down to the final two.”

Labour rebel Zarah Sultana vows to protect 'most vulnerable' after losing whip 

Labour rebel Zarah Sultana has spoken out after seven MPs lost the whip for voting for an SNP amendment calling for an end to the two-child benefit cap.

The Coventry South MP, who chairs the Socialist Campaign Group, said: "I have been informed by the Chief Whip and the Labour Party leadership that the whip has been withdrawn from me for voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which would lift 330,000 children out of poverty. I will always stand up for the most vulnerable in our society."

James Cleverly launches leadership bid

I’m running to be Conservative Party Leader. Here’s why 👇 pic.twitter.com/6eFPMocIyc

— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) July 23, 2024

James Cleverly has launched his leadership bid to succeed Rishi Sunak.

The former Home Secretary revealed his intention to run in a video posted on social media.

Cleverly, who overcame a scare in his Essex seat of Braintree, urged Tories to "ditch self-indulgent infighting".

Writing for The Telegraph, Cleverly set out his pitch as the unity candidate who can lead a party with a “broad appeal” to Reform UK voters as well as Liberal Democrats and Labour.

Bibby Stockholm SCRAPPED as Labour abandons another Tory migration plan

The Bibby Stockholm barge used to house asylum seekers is to be scrapped, the Home Office has announced.

The new Labour Government is ditching the use of the giant floating structure - which currently houses 400 migrants - as part of its overhaul of the UK's asylum system.

It comes after the Rwanda deportation scheme was also abandoned by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Labour claims there will be no need for the barge beyond January because the asylum backlog will have been cleared.

Cooper announced yesterday he plan to quickly clear the build up of asylum cases by allowing caseworkers to decide asylum claims that have been put on hold.

the Home Office estimates that around 40 per cent of those who have arrived and claimed asylum since March 2023 met conditions in the Illegal Migration Act 2023 which meant their claims were unable to be processed.

As there is no current operational way to distinguish between these cases and the rest, however, all cases have been delayed.

King's Speech defence amendment defeated

An amendment to the King's Speech tabled by Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly has been emphatically defeated.

Cleverly wanted to express "regret" about Sir Keir Starmer stopping short of committing to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030.

However, only 117 MPs voted in favour of the amendment and 384 against.

A total of 105 Tories voted for the change, with MPs from Reform UK and the Democratic Unionist Party also entering the aye lobby.

However, MPs from Labour, independents, the Greens and Social Democratic & Labour Party defeated the proposed change.

Farage calls for REFERENDUM on ECHR

Nigel Farage has demanded yet another referendum on the UK's relationship with Europe.

The Reform UK leader, who put pressure on David Cameron to call an in-out referendum on EU membership while heading up Ukip, used his maiden speech to voice support for another poll.

Farage said: “We will only stop this if we start deporting people that come illegally. Then they won’t pay the smugglers. But we will only do that by leaving the ECHR."

The Clacton MP added: “I have got a fun suggestion that I think would liven up politics, engage the public and see a massively increased turnout. Why don’t we have a referendum on whether we continue to be members of the ECHR?”

MPs elect three deputy speakers

Three deputy speakers have been elected to assist Sir Lindsay Hoyle in the House of Commons.

Labour's Judith Cummins joined ex-Tory Ministers Nusrat Ghani and Caroline Nokes after a secret ballot was held on Tuesday.

Nigel Farage makes maiden speech in Parliament - 'More supporters of Brexit in Brussels than here in the Commons!'

Nigel Farage has used his maiden speech in the House of Commons to launch a furious attack on fellow parliamentarians.

The Reform chief says he and his party colleagues have found themselves “outnumbered” in the Commons on the matter of Brexit, claiming the chamber has a majority of pro-EU MPs.

Sitting alongside fellow Reform MPs Lee Anderson, Richard Tice, Rupert Lowe and James McMurdock, he told MPs: “I spent nearly 21 years as a member of the European Parliament in Brussels.

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Yvette Cooper slammed for failure to take knife crime seriously

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been accused of not taking knife crime seriously during a back and forth in the Commons with her Conservative shadow, James Cleverly.

Cleverly claimed Cooper was “chatting and chuckling” while he was speaking about stabbings on the final day of the King’s Speech debate.

The Home Secretary hit back, saying those were “unfounded allegations”, before describing the Tory leadership contest as “a cross between Love Island and the jungle”.

Opening the debate on Tuesday, Cleverly said: “I really hope that (Cooper) takes this seriously. She can chuckle all she likes, but this is about kids getting stabbed on the streets of London, and she should take this more seriously.”

Intervening, Cooper said: “He knows he should not make disgraceful, unfounded allegations like that about my response to knife crime when he knows I have met with families right across the country who are devastated by knife crime, including in towns and smaller communities and suburbs right across the country, where this terrible crime is going up.

“Where his party when in government repeatedly failed to bring in the bans on serious weapons on our streets, will he now support this party and this Government when we bring in the ban on ninja swords, as well as on dangerous machetes, that he should have brought in long ago?”

Former home secretary Cleverly replied: “I made the observation that, whilst I was talking about young people getting stabbed, (Ms Cooper) was chatting and chuckling with her colleagues on the front bench. That was a statement of fact.”

Nigel Farage makes his maiden speech in the Commons

Nigel Farage has used his maiden speech in the House of Commons to call for a referendum on the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The Reform UK leader warned it was impossible to stop the influx of illegal migrants to the UK while Britain continued to subscribe to the international court.

"We will not stop the boats, even if we send a handful to Rwanda, we will not stop the boats by attempting to smash the criminal gangs," he said.

"We’ve been doing that to the drugs industry in Britain year after year, decade after decade with no success whatsoever.

"The financial rewards for smuggling people across the English Channel can now net a gang two to three million euros a week.

"Whatever prison sentences or penalties are put upon them, there will always be people volunteering to make millions of euros a week.

"We will only stop this if we start deporting people that come illegally, then they won’t pay the smugglers. But we’ll only do that by leaving the ECHR.

"But I’ve got a fun suggestion that I think would liven up politics, engage the public and see a massively increased turnout: why don’t we have a referendum on whether we continue to be members of the ECHR?"

He also said that there were more supporters of Brexit in the European Parliament than in the House of Commons.

Read the full story HERE.

Priti Patel 'feared the most' by Farage for Tory leadership

Nigel Farage fears "Priti Patel the most" out of all possible replacements for Rishi Sunak as Tory leader, the party's former Chairman has claimed.

The Reform UK leader has predicted that "several" Conservative MPs could defect to the party following their agonising defeat in the General Election.

Discussing the threat of Reform UK to the Conservatives on GB News, Jonathan Gullis said there "aren't many obvious contenders" that would defect to Farage's side.

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Andrew RT Davies rasies concerns after school offers 'only Halal meat options'

A constituent recently contacted me about school meals, because all meat options are Halal only.

My letter to the Council 👇 pic.twitter.com/YOq4LSS9Y2

— Andrew RT Davies (@AndrewRTDavies) July 23, 2024

Over a third of Britons think Starmer is doing a good job, poll says

New from @IpsosUK: More signs of a honeymoon period for Keir Starmer.

- 36% say he’s doing a good job as PM. Highest score for a PM since Johnson 2021 during peak of vaccine rollout.

More here https://t.co/Xd8YgJ3FPO pic.twitter.com/jOlSsGcn9O

— Keiran Pedley (@keiranpedley) July 19, 2024

Braverman tells Tories to reject ‘woke nonsense’ ahead of leadership race

Suella Braverman has urged the Tories to reject “divisive identity politics and woke nonsense” in order to win back Reform voters.

The former Home Secretary, who is widely expected to launch a bid to lead the party from the right, said “we had quite a centrist Conservative agenda” and that “identity politics got out of control” under Sunak.

“We need to be a party that’s firm and credible on immigration,” she said.

“We need to give some hope to the British people on taxation, robust on security and defence, and a real champion for common-sense British values. None of this divisive identity politics and woke nonsense. It really frustrates me that that has happened on our watch.”

Rishi Sunak’s HS2 axe means Labour may need to cut demand for trains

Rishi Sunak’s decision to curtail HS2 means the public may need to be incentivised not to travel by train, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said that axed plans to extend the high-speed railway between Birmingham and Manchester mean the Department for Transport (DfT) will need to address “capacity issues”.

Following Sunak’s decision, the DfT said HS2 trains will run north of Birmingham on the existing West Coast Main Line (WCML) which the NAO said “may provide some time savings” on journeys running through to London, but “will not improve capacity on the line”.

Its report stated that HS2 services will have fewer seats than those currently operating unless changes are made to infrastructure and stations to accommodate longer trains.

The report also found it will cost HS2 Ltd up to £100million and take up to three years to scale back its plans which will include decommissioning and closing down construction sites, and reinstating land to its original state.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “It’s long been clear that the Conservatives recklessly mismanaged HS2 and allowed the costs to spiral entirely out of control – but this report lays bare the scale of their mistakes.

“We are reviewing this report’s findings, alongside the position we have inherited on HS2 and wider transport infrastructure, and will set out next steps in due course.

“Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain – and we’re committed to delivering infrastructure that works for the whole country.”

Asylum minister hails Yvette Cooper's illegal immigration plan

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle MP, said the Bibby Stockholm was being scrapped because Labour was "clearing the asylum backlog and making savings on accommodation".

She said: “We are determined to restore order to the asylum system, so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly; and ensures the rules are properly enforced.

“The Home Secretary has set out plans to start clearing the asylum backlog and making savings on accommodation which is running up vast bills for the taxpayer.

“The Bibby Stockholm will continue to be in use until the contract expires in January 2025.”

Ben Habib blasts Tory policy in heated immigration row

Ben Habib has scolded the Conservatives for their policy on immigration, in a fresh row over party policies to tackle the surging issue.

Criticising the Tories on GB News, the former Deputy Leader of Reform UK detailed his latest attack on the party and claimed they have been "hijacked by globalism".

Habib also claimed that Labour and the Conservatives are similar in the fact that both operate in a "fundamentally anti-British way".

Sharing his views with former Conservative MP Miriam Cates, Habib explained: "When I joined Reform UK, we were polling at six per cent. When the General Election kicked off, we were polling at 16 per cent.

"We got five seats, which from a political perspective under first past the post is seismic. But we came second in 98 seats to Labour. It's Labour who's heels we were looking at."

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John Swinney announces over £40m to deliver electric bus fleet

John Swinney has announced that the Scottish Government will provide £40million in funding to help put over 250 electric buses on the roads – as well as deliver a new charging network for buses, coaches and HGVs.

The Scottish First Minister said the vehicles would serve “100 new inter-city bus routes” throughout Scotland and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 600,000 tonnes.

Grant funding worth a total of £41.7million will support eight operators, resulting in 252 new buses and coaches.

These will be delivered by electric vehicle fleet specialist Zenobe, which will also work on a Scotland-wide charging network for use by all buses, coaches and HGVs.

Speaking during a visit to the Stagecoach depot in Dunfermline, Swinney said: “Supporting zero-carbon buses as a sustainable means of public transport across Scotland will connect communities and open up new economic and social opportunities.”

He added: “This investment will deliver 100 new inter-city bus routes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 600,000 tonnes over the lifetime of the fleet by encouraging more people to swap the car for efficient public transport, which is crucial to reaching net zero by 2045.

“Every £1 from the Scottish Government will leverage £3.20 of private sector investment – demonstrating that our shared decarbonisation goals can be met by working together when it comes to removing carbon emissions from our bus and coach fleets.”

The First Minister continued: “All bus and coach operators, including those operating in smaller towns and communities, will benefit from both the novel approach to financing and the Scotland-wide charging network that will be delivered, helping other modes of transport make the switch to electric vehicles too.”

Nigel Farage eyes up a number of Tory MP defections

Nigel Farage anticipates that several Tory MPs will defect to Reform UK within the coming months.

The party leader has said that whilst no discussions have taken place, there is room in his party for “like-minded” individuals. He specifically mentioned Suella Braverman, who has been tipped to jump ship to Farage’s party.

Braverman, who is expected to run to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader, has denied she is switching teams but Farage has said he is open to any Tories who wish to make the jump.

Discussing Braverman, whom he insists he had not spoken to, Farage said: “There’s a place for like-minded people but is that what she wants?

“I’ve no idea, it’s not my focus."

“I’ve spent zero time on defections. If they come about as an issue they come about as an issue.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'Universities are not nurseries for people who don’t fancy going out to work,' blasts former Tory MP

Former Tory MP Philip Davies has said fewer people should be going to university, saying they are not nurseries for people who don’t fancy going out to work.

Speaking on GB News, Davies said: “Lots of people who do their A levels, fail their A levels, yet still get the opportunity to go on a university degree course, because everyone has this view that, ‘I've got a right to go to university’.

“What's happening is that people who should be going to university are being deterred because of the cost, because they're having to, in effect, subsidise the ones who shouldn't be going to university.”

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British military 'not as strong as we could be,' warns defence chief

The British military is “not as strong as we could be,” the head of the armed forces has warned as it battles “historic underinvestment”.

Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there are “deficiencies” in personnel, training, technology and stockpiles of munitions.

But he said the “near-term financial challenges” are being addressed and he wants an Army that can “push the boundaries of technology and lethality”.

Sir Keir Starmer’s administration has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP but has not said when it will meet that ambition.

Addressing the Royal United Services Institute’s land warfare conference, Radakin said: “There are near-term financial challenges to work through.
“We’re addressing historic underinvestment and beneath the headline capabilities there are deficiencies in people equipment, stockpiles, training and technology.

“We need the humility to recognise that we’re not as strong as we could be. And then the determination and focus to put this right.”

Starmer is putting trade unions above the best interests of the British people, claims former Tory MP

Sir Jake Berry has said the Labour Party is putting trade unions above the best interests of the British people by signalling their support for above-inflation public-sector pay rises.

The former Chairman of the Conservative Party also said that the increase in public sector pay would lead to 'out of control inflation' and higher mortgages.

Speaking on GB News, Berry said: “Keir Starmer fought this election saying,’ I am going to put politics back in the service of the British people.’

“What he's really done is put the British people back in service of the trade unions, which is what the Labour Party always do.”

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James Cleverly issues warning to UK amid migrant riots in Dublin

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly has warned of the “abuse of the UK's generosity” as illegal migration continues to surge.

Speaking to GB News about the Channel crossings and whether the UK could see protests similar to those taking place across the Irish Sea in Dublin, Cleverly said: "When I stepped in as Home Secretary, I recognised that migration was far too high and I took action.

“And I put a series of restrictions in place for visas to bring down that volume of net migration, which was the the biggest contributor to migration figures.

“The UK is a warm, welcoming, generous country. But generosity cannot be abused and it is certainly not infinite. And I want to make sure that we maintain good relations in the UK, and that requires us to take firm but fair action.”

WATCH THE FULL CLIP HERE

Labour vows to 'prioritise' migrants from 'safe countries' first in bid to end small boats crisis

The Government will “prioritise” processing asylum claims made by illegal immigrants from “safe countries”, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been tipped to announce.

Cooper, who yesterday claimed Rishi Sunak’s Government spent £700million on its Rwanda scheme, is expected to clear much of the backlog by addressing claims from migrants originally from India, Vietnam and Albania.

Asylum seekers from such countries have been warned they are far less likely to have their claims accepted.

Only three per cent of claims from India were accepted, with just seven per cent being accepted from Albania.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Tories confirm leadership election plan with crunch battle for top job to begin in days

The Tory Party will unveil its next leader on November 2 in plans devised by Conservative chiefs, a report has claimed.

Conservative MPs can get the ball rolling on the looming leadership contest from July 24, with nominations opening at 7pm.

Leadership hopefuls will need the backing of just 10 Tory MPs to reach the first round of voting.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Streeting to begin formal talks with junior doctors over pay row

The Health Secretary will open formal talks with junior doctors with a view to ending their long-running dispute with the Government over pay.

Wes Streeting was meeting with the British Medical Association’s junior doctors committee on Tuesday.

He previously described the move as “a crucial step forward, as we work to end this dispute and change the way junior doctors are treated in the NHS”.

“This Government has been honest with the public about the terrible economic circumstances we inherited, and I have repeated that message in meetings with the junior doctors,” Streeting added.

“But I am encouraged by our early meetings that there is a deal to be done.

“Strikes have had a significant cost to patients, staff, and the NHS. Serious work is now underway to finally bring them to an end.”

​James Cleverly hints at Tory leadership bid

James Cleverly has hinted that he will launch a Tory leadership bid ahead of nominations in the contest opening on Wednesday.

“Well, I've always believed that you should do the jobs that you need to do in the order that you need to do them,” the Shadow Home Secretary told GB News.

“So nominations open tomorrow. So thoughts and activities about the leadership of the party in my mind, start tomorrow.

“Today's work is about making sure that I discharge my duty as the Shadow Home Secretary. I'll be at the despatch box later on today holding the new Home Secretary to account.”

Digital IDs will allow people to collect parcels and open bank accounts

Britons will be able to use Government-backed digital identities to buy age-restricted goods, collect a parcel from the Post Office or open a bank account under new Labour legislation.

The Digital Information and Smart Data Bill unveiled in the King’s Speech will underpin a framework for providers to offer trusted digital identity services and make transactions more secure.

The legislation will allow for a system of “trust marks” issued to services that meet the Government’s standards. They would be available to view on a public register of certified services so businesses and users can look them up.

The digital ID system will not be compulsory – people will still be able to use physical documents to prove their identities.

Science Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Digital identity services are already being used by millions of people to save them time. When people choose to use them, these services cut down admin and increase security making it much easier to open bank accounts, start jobs, rent flats and much more.

“Our legislation will make sure that people can fully trust these services. We will give certified services a trust mark so people can find the digital identity providers that are following our strict security and data processing rules.”