'She’s bang to rights!' Shabana Mahmood 'shamelessly refuses' to back move to overrule 'two-tier justice'
Henry Tufnell says he is putting country before party to support farmers
GB NEWS
The Justice Secretary has "shamelessly refused" to overrule "two-tier justice" after she opposed policy to slap down new sentencing guidance to impose lighter sentences on minorities than straight, white men.
As a result, the Opposition benches were up in arms in response to her damning decision on the legislation.
A top Tory source said: "She’s bang to rights. If she doesn’t agree to this, in 21 days we will have two-tier justice. It’s shameless."
After a fiery clash in the Commons earlier today, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick - who introduced the Bill - shared his fury on X, warning that Britons are "set to have two-tier justice because of her and two-tier Keir".
Speaking before MPs, Jenrick said: "As she's been too lazy to do her job, I'll do it for her. Today I am presenting a Bill to block these two-tier sentencing guidelines and to fix her mess. It's here, it's ready to go. Will she support it?
"Will she stand with us on this side of the house for equality under the law, or will it be two-tier justice with her and two-tier Keir?"
In response, Mahmood simply accused her Conservative counterpart of chasing after Kemi Badenoch's role as party leader over amending the justice system.
'The facts aren't racist!' Martin Daubney TEARS into Labour activist after more than 100K migrants convicted for sex crimes
'The facts aren't racist!' Martin Daubney TEARS INTO Labour activist after over 100K migrants convicted for sex crimesGB News
A furious debate unfolded on GB News between Martin Daubney and Labour activist Aisha Ali-Khan today, as Martin told Khan "the facts" on migration "are not racist."
The heated exchange centred on new Ministry of Justice data about foreign nationals convicted of sex crimes in the UK.
New analysis by the Centre for Migration Control has revealed that there were over 100,000 migrant convictions between 2021 and 2023.
Keir Starmer spooked by Labour revolt as benefits cuts vote 'delayed to next week'
Sir Keir Starmer has seemingly been forced to delay his plan to cut benefits after being spooked by a potential Labour rebellion.
As many as 80 Labour MPs were preparing to defy the Prime Minister over his plan to overhaul Britain's "spiralling" welfare system.
Work & Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall was expected to unveil her plans as soon as today.
However, the announcement looks to have been pushed back to next week after nothing was spotted in the Government's schedule.
Farage suffers blow as third of Reform voters now back another leader - but what does it mean at ballot box?
Reform UK's clean run in the polls has ended following Rupert Lowe's suspension, and the fallout has raised questions about Nigel Farage's leadership and the populist party's electoral viability.
The shock outcome comes after the MP for Great Yarmouth was suspended from the party on Friday night and reported to the police over alleged threats of physical violence towards the party's chairman.
A statement from chair Zia Yusuf and chief whip Lee Anderson MP also said the party has received complaints from two female employees about alleged serious bullying in Lowe's offices.
As Lowe, who strenuously denies all allegations against him, trades verbal blows with Farage, a new YouGov poll has found that the party's disunity has dented its appeal to voters.
Elon Musk 'considers backing' rival to Reform led by Rupert Lowe as Nigel Farage feud deepens
Tech tycoon Elon Musk is considering backing a rival to Reform UK led by Rupert Lowe, it has emerged.
Musk, who briefly flirted with bankrolling Farage's populist party, suddenly took aim at the Clacton MP after the pair sparred over ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.
Having later thrown his weight behind Lowe, Musk now reportedly senses an opportunity following the Great Yarmouth MP's suspension over allegations of bullying and making threats of physical violence on March 7.
Musk is said to have indicated that he would support a credible party to the right of Reform, the Financial Times has claimed.
Sir Keir Starmer tells cabinet Government must stop ‘outsourcing’ decisions to regulators
Starmer
PASpeaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer told ministers they must take responsibility for decisions and stop “outsourcing” them to regulators.
He said he wanted to reverse the previous government’s “trend” of decisions being made by different bodies.
The PM’s comments come ahead of an “intervention” on Thursday in which Starmer is set to announce plans to change how the British state works.
He appeared to suggest regulators could see their powers moved “in-house”
The spokesman for the PM said Starmer wanted a "strong, agile, and active state that delivers for working people".
"This includes cabinet assessing processes and regulations that play no part in delivering the plan for change and the government taking responsibility for decisions rather than outsourcing them to regulators and bodies."
Rupert Lowe says he will “co-operate” with Met Police investigation
Suspended Reform MP Rupert Lowe said he will “co-operate” with The Metropolitan Police as they carry out their investigation.
In a statement he said his lawyers "have made contact with the Met Police and made them aware of my willingness to co-operate".
"My lawyers have not yet received any contact from the police," he added.
The Great Yarmouth MP, who is now sitting as an independent, said he is “unaware of the specific allegations” and denies any wrongdoing.
"The allegations are entirely untrue," he said.
Met Police launches investigation into Rupert Lowe 'verbal threats' allegations
Rupert Lowe
GETTYThe Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into the allegations of a “serioues of verbal threats” allegedly made by Rupert Lowe.
In a statement, they said: “The Metropolitan Police have now launched an investigation into an allegation of a series of verbal threats made by a 67 year old man.”
"Our original statement referred to alleged threats made in December 2024.
"We would like to clarify that when this matter was reported to us it referred to a series of alleged threats made between December 2024 and February 2025.
"Further enquiries are ongoing at this stage."
Older drivers express 'legitimate concerns' over new Labour driving licence changes
Nearly one in two drivers have expressed concerns over upcoming driving licence changes, which will see the UK move to a new digital era.
Earlier this year, Labour announced it would introduce digital driving licences in a new Government app, designed to simplify access for millions, although not everyone is on board with the move.
A recent survey found that 49 per cent of drivers welcomed the upcoming changes, while 47 per cent expressed concerns.
The digital initiative aims to save Labour £45billion through reforms to public sector technology with the wallet function allowing users to store Government-issued documents on their phone, with a digital driving licence set to be one of the first available later this year.
NHS to cut 7,000 jobs as part of Wes Streeting's plan to shrink central bureaucracy
Labour has ordered NHS England to cut up to 7,000 office-based jobs as part of a radical restructuring of the health service.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting's plan will slash approximately half of all central staff positions.
The move represents the biggest reshaping of NHS architecture in more than a decade, with power transferring back to ministers.
NHS staff were told on Monday that leaders would be "looking at ways of radically reducing the size of NHS England that could see the centre decrease by around half".
A recruitment freeze has also been implemented, with all vacancies "indefinitely frozen".
Nigel Farage calls Rubert Lowe row ‘huge distraction’ he could ‘do without’
Nigel FarageGETTYReform UK Leader Nigel Farage has called the Ruper Lower row a “huge distraction” he and his party could “do without”.
Speaking on ITV Politics, Farage said the hostility surrounging the Great Yarmouth MP could damage Reform’s progress ahead of local elections.
He said: “Mr Lowe has made a whole series of comments about the KC’s investigation, all of which were proved to be wrong.
“He’s then out [on Monday] saying there’s no accusation against him at all. Well, there is, so I’m afraid we’re not getting the full facts of this.
“Look, you know what, I could do without this. It’s a huge distraction for the party, for me, for everybody.
“I’ve spent seven months since the general election trying to get this party match-fit to fight the local elections in England on May 1 and that is still my focus.”
Housing Minister denies farmers are facing government ‘land grab’ under planning reforms
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has denied that the government is targeting farmers in order to meet its target of building 1.5 million homes.
Speaking on GB News, he said: “We are introducing a landmark planning and infrastructure bill into the House of Commons today. It will be transformative in terms of what it means for how we build things in this country.
“The purpose of the bill is to speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and infrastructure, and part of that is through compulsory purchase powers unlocking land more effectively.
“It won't be for ministers to decide what land is unlocked. It will be for local authorities in any particular area to use these powers where they think is appropriate, but we do want to make it easier for them to do so, we want to make the process more efficient.
“We want to reduce administration costs so that we can get greater use of these powers and enable more land to be unlocked, more land to be assembled effectively.
“But I see the real potential for these powers primarily in urban areas, on previously developed brownfield land, where regeneration projects can come forward, often really effectively once that land assembly piece, often supported by compulsory purchase powers, is taken through.
“It's not an attack on rural England, and it's not forcing farmers to give up their land for more than a reasonable rate.
DWP under fire as Keir Starmer slams benefit system as 'unfair' ahead of Universal Credit and PIP cuts
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has slammed the current Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as "unfair"
PAPrime Minister Keir Starmer has slammed the current Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as "unfair" ahead of looming cuts to benefits.
Labour is set to cut £6billion from welfare support with major reforms to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit.
Notably, the Government is planning to implement tougher assessments for disability benefits and freeze certain payments.
Starmer has described the existing welfare system as the "worst of all worlds" that is "discouraging people from working".
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle forced to 'correct record' after taxpayers shelled out £4k for 'extravagant' Gibraltar trip
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been forced to correct the record on why taxpayers shelled out £4,100 for a recent jaunt to Gibraltar.
Hoyle, who has splurged more than £250,000 on 19 overseas trips since October 2022, is expected to correct the record to "make it clear" how taxpayers' money was spent during his visit to the Rock.
The Speaker's office yesterday admitted there had been an "admin error" amid calls for a probe into Hoyle's log book.
A staggering £2,000 was paid for three-hour business-class flights, with £1,320 spent on accommodation and a further £700 forked out for food and drink.
Rupert Lowe’s parliamentary team calls him a ‘good, decent and honest man’
Rupert LoweGETTYRupert Lowe has been called a “good, decent and honest man” by his parliamentary team, after the Reform UK MP was suspended from the party.
The MP for Great Yarmouth will now sit as an independent MP.
In a statement released this morning, his parliamentary team showed their support for Lowe.
They said: "We have never seen any violent or vicious behaviour from him, ever. Nor have we heard any concerns, from anyone, about this before last Friday. It has never been discussed with any of us.”
"Rupert is a good MP, a good boss and a good man - he does not deserve what is happening to him."
This comes after Lowe suggested yesterday that he was suspended for being a “tall poppy” who threatened to overshadow leader Nigel Farage.
Justice Secretary to urge Sentencing Council to revoke guidance telling judges to ‘consider ethnicity’
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to meet with the Sentencing Council this week to ask them to consider removing guidance telling judges to consider a person’s ethnicity before sentencing.
Speaking on Sky News, housing minister Matthew Pennycook said: "We don't want to see differential treatment for anyone, whatever their background. We make clear we don't agree with this policy.”
"And the justice secretary has asked the Sentencing Council to rethink and rescind the guidance. They issued a reply late last night.
"The justice secretary will meet them later in the week to press her case again. But we've been very clear that we will take action through legislation if required.”
He added: "And we are going to review the role of the Sentencing Council, alongside the role of ministers in parliament in determining policy, because it is ministers that determine policy."
Starmer urges a ‘positive outcome’ for US-Ukraine talks
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told US President Donald Trump he wanted the negotiations to have a “positive outcome”
REUTERSNegotiations on peace in Ukraine are set to begin today as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s head of office Andriy Yermak in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, defence chiefs will also gather in France today to discuss plans for a “coalition of the willing” to protect Ukraine’s security.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told US President Donald Trump he wanted the negotiations to have a “positive outcome”, that would see the return of military aid and intelligence sharing.
Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin will attend for the UK in Paris.
Meanwhile, Starmer will lead a call on Saturday with allies from the “coalition of the willing”.
This call will involve countries who have expressed support in contributing to a peacekeeping force to stop Russia from breaking a future ceasefire.
Senior aide to Wes Streeting pleads guilty to indecent exposure as Health Secretary left 'horrified'
A Labour councillor serving as a senior aide to Wes Streeting has pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent exposure, The Sun reports.
The Health Secretary has been left "horrified" by the news - which saw 33-year-old Sam Gould admit to intentionally exposing his genitals "intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress".
"I am shocked and horrified by this news and my heart goes out to the victims of these totally abhorrent acts," he said.
"No one should have to endure this behaviour and I am grateful to the police for taking swift action.
"A disciplinary process has been underway since I was made aware of his arrest at the weekend and, following his guilty plea, I am calling for him to resign as a Redbridge Councillor immediately.
"He has abused my trust, the trust of my team and the trust of my constituents and must now accept the consequences of his actions."
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