‘Net Zero is greatest act of self-harm ever imposed' Reform UK launches attack on Labour’s green plans and announces proposals to ‘lower the cost of living’

EXPOSED: Labour set to BLOCK 'last chance' for grooming gang inquiry in crunch vote TODAY

Labour politicians are preparing to block an inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal in crunch vote this evening, sources have confirmed.

The vote, which is calling on the ‘Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs’, was forced by the Welsh Conservatives who say there is clear evidence of abuse in Wales.

The Conservative’s calls are backed by a Welsh woman called Emily Vaughan- not her real name- who was trafficked aged 12 and raped over 1,000 times by gangs, amongst other unspeakable abuse.

GB NEWS MEMBERS CAN READ THE EXCLUSIVE STORY HERE

Home Office chief announces he will leave

Sir Matthew Rycroft, the Home Office's Chief Civil Servant, has announced he will leave in March

In a message to Home Office staff, Rycroft said:“After 35 years in the Civil Service, including seven years as a Permanent Secretary and five years here in the Home Office, it is soon time for me to leave for pastures new.

“As a Permanent Secretary, I have served ten different Secretaries of State and worked with four different Cabinet Secretaries. I will leave by the end of March and the Cabinet Secretary will set out arrangements for the appointment of my successor before then.

“It has been such a privilege to lead the brilliant Department of State that is the Home Office. Thank you all for the tremendous work you do, day in day out, especially to the unsung heroes who keep the show on the road often without getting the credit you deserve.

“I look forward to seeing your achievements continue from afar, and wish you well.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “I want to thank Sir Matthew for his 35 years of dedicated service to public life.

“The Home Office ministerial team are grateful for the fulsome support and leadership he has provided since we entered government and during the transition period.

"The whole department wishes him well as he embarks on his next steps.”

'We've heard America's call to step up' in relation to Ukraine, says Defence Secretary

The UK and other European nations have heard the US's call for them to step up in relation to Ukraine, JohnHealey said, adding: “We are and we will.”

At a press conference in Brussels following a meeting of defence leaders from across the world, the Defence Secretary said: “It was a pleasure in his third full week in the job to welcome Secretary (Pete) Hegseth.

“He confirmed the US’s continued commitment to this group, to Ukraine’s pursuit of a lasting peace and the importance of security guarantees… we heard his call for European nations to step up. We are and we will.

“Nato allies pledged £40 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine in 2024 and then went on to deliver £50 billion. The majority, nearly 60% of that aid to Ukraine last year came from European nations.

“And while at the same time, we did more on Ukraine and will do more, we did more on defence spending and will do more.”

Badenoch slams Starmer after Palestinians granted right to stay in UK under Ukrainian refugee scheme

Kemi Badenoch has slammed Keir Starmer after it was revealed that a Palestinian family was granted the right to stay in the UK under a Ukrainian refugee scheme.

The Tory leader used her first question at PMQs to say that the court's decision was “completely wrong, it cannot be allowed to stand” and asked the Prime Minister if the Government will appeal.

Starmer replied: “I do not agree with the decision. She is right, it is the wrong decision. She hasn’t quite done her homework because the decision in question was taken under the last government.”

“It should be parliament that makes the rules on immigration, it should be the government that makes the policy, that is the principle and the Home Secretary is already looking at the legal loophole which we need to close in this particular case”.

However, Badenoch hit back once more saying: "Given this crazy decision and so many others, new legislation is needed to clarify the right to a family life in Article 8.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Judge-led inquiry to be held into Nottingham attacks in 'matter of weeks', Prime Minister announces

The Prime Minister has announced a judge-led public inquiry into the 2023 Nottingham attacks during an emotional meeting with victims' families at Number 10.

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the probe would examine "a number of different agencies" and would begin "in a matter of weeks".

The announcement came during Wednesday's meeting with the families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Families of Nottingham victims arrive at No 10

The families of the Nottingham attack victims have arrived at Downing Street before their meeting with the Prime Minister.

Earlier, Emma Webber - the mother of one of the victims - said that she expected an inquiry to be confirmed during their meeting.

In 2023, Valdo Calocane killed two 19-year-old students and a 65-year-old caretaker before trying to kill three more people in a series of attacks in Nottingham.

'Constitutional abomination!' Suella Braverman tears into judge's ruling on Gazan refugees using Ukrainian scheme: 'Human rights gone wrong'

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has torn into a judge's decision to allow a Gazan family to seek refuge in the UK despite applying via a scheme specifically for Ukrainian refugees.

Speaking to GB News, Braverman claimed that judge Hugo Norton-Taylor had "usurped the role of Parliament" by allowing them to stay in Britain.

The family of Gazan refugees made their initial application through the Ukraine Family Scheme and their case was accepted.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Prevent case into David Amess murderer closed 'too quickly', review finds

The Prevent case into Sir David Amess' killer deemed assessments to be "problematic" and found that his case was closed "too quickly", the security minister has said.

Dan Jarvis told the House of Commons: "The reviewer found that from the material reviewed, the assessment in terms of the perpetrator’s vulnerabilities was problematic, and this ultimately led to questionable decision making and sub-optimal handling of the case during the time he was engaged with Prevent and Channel.

"It identified that the vulnerability assessment framework was not followed with the perpetrator’s symptoms being prioritised over addressing the underlying causes of his vulnerabilities.

"The reviewer ultimately found that while Prevent policy and guidance at the time was mostly followed, the case was exited from Prevent too quickly."

The MP was stabbed to death by an ISIS supporter during one of his constituency surgeries at a church hall in Leigh On Sea in 2021.

International judge who ruled against Britain on Chagos is ex Chinese government official who backed Putin's invasion of Ukraine

An international judge who ruled against Britain on the Chagos Islands used to be a Chinese government official who supported Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

While she served as vice president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Xue Hangin ruled in 2019 that Britain should hand over the archipelago to Mauritius "as rapidly as possible".

In the written document submitted to the ICJ, China declared that it backed the "decolonisation" of the territory. Her support for such a stance was considered controversial given her previous support for Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

She supported the majority verdict that led the UK to start up negotiations over the islands, which is home to a joint base shared between the UK and US.

Last October, Labour announced that it would "surrender" the territory to Mauritius and has drafted a handover deal.

China has consistently supported Mauritius' claim over the islands and those slamming Starmer's deal have suggested that Beijing is hoping to gain a foothold in the region.

Xue used to work as a Chinese Communist Party official and was director general of the department of treaty and law in the nation's foreign ministry.

The judge later became China’s ambassador to the Netherlands and to the Association of South-east Asian Nations further on in her career.

'A privilege not a right!' Badenoch hits out at Starmer over citizenship rules

Kemi Badenoch has said that a British passport is a "privilege not a right" as she urged for new citizenship laws.

Badenoch said: "This case has arisen because a Palestinian came to the UK from Gaza in 2007, he is now a British citizen. This is precisely why we need to break the conveyor belt from arriving in the UK, to acquiring indefinite leave to remain, and then a British passport, and now a right to bring six family members here as well.

"Just last week, the Prime Minister bizarrely claimed that a British passport was not a pull factor for those coming to the UK. Will he now support our plans to toughen the process on indefinite leave to remain and make getting a British passport a privilege, not a right?"

Keir Starmer responded: "They presided over record high levels of immigration, it reached nearly one million. It was a one nation experiment in open borders, and she was the cheerleader, she was the one campaigning for more people to come.

"So before she lectures us, I think she should just reflect on her own record," he said.

PM announces Government official will now work from UK after commuting from Finland for YEARS

The chief of the borders and immigration watchdog - who used to commute from Finland for six years - will work from the UK, Keir Starmer has announced.

John Tuckett, who has served as the immigration services commissioner, revealed his unique work arrangement when answering questions by the Home Affairs Select Committee.

Starmer took the opportunity to criticise the Tories' legacy, explaining that the situation had started under the previous Conservative Government.

Lib Dem leader demands 'trade war' with Trump

Ed Davey has encouraged the Prime Minister to ready Britain for a 'trade war' with Donald Trump by preparing tariffs on American electric cars.

The suggested tariffs would take aim at Tesla chief Elon Musk in retaliation against the President's imposition of taxes on US steel imports.

The leader of the Liberal Democrats said: "Trump’s tariffs against steel and aluminium will hit Canada the hardest, and will also hit jobs and the cost of living in our country.

"So in reminding President Trump who America's true and long, long standing friends and allies really are, will the prime minister also prepare a plan for tariffs in return, starting with tariffs on American electric cars?"

Badenoch demands change of immigration law 

The Leader of the Opposition has insisted that Britain requires a change of immigration law.

“We cannot be in a situation where we allow enormous numbers of people to exploit our laws in this way,” Kemi Badenoch said.

In response, Starmer said Labour had already started to conduct such changes “because we are taking control”. Meanwhile, he said the Tories “lost control of immigration”.

PM vows to close loophole on Gazans' right to settle in UK

The Prime Minister has vowed to close the legal loophole on the issue of Palestinian migrants given the right to reside in the UK after they applied under the Ukraine refugee scheme.

Kemi Badenoch slammed Keir Starmer, claiming that the decision was "completely wrong, it cannot be allowed".

Starmer responded: “I do not agree with the decision. She is right, it is the wrong decision. She hasn’t quite done her homework because the decision in question was taken under the last government."

He further insisted that it "should be parliament that makes the rules on immigration, it should be the government that makes the policy, that is the principle and the Home Secretary is already looking at the legal loophole which we need to close in this particular case".

PMQs underway: Keir Starmer arrives in the House of Commons

All set for Prime Minister's Questions as Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch as they prepare to face off. Follow along for all the latest updates.

 'It would deny Paddington!' Labour MP laments new Home Office guidance cracking down on citizenship rules

A Labour MP has criticised newly issued guidance from the Home Office which makes it almost impossible for illegal refugees to become UK citizens - on the basis it would deprive Paddington Bear of citizenship.

Now, anyone who arrives in the UK by making the perilous journey - via boat or hiding beneath vehicles on ferries - will normally not be allowed citizenship.

Hitting out at the latest rules, Stella Creasy MP said: "It would deny, frankly, Paddington. Paddington did the same thing, he came by an irregular route and we couldn’t give him a passport."

Reform TOP YouGov poll AGAIN as Rayner, Streeting, Cooper and ‘slew’ of other Labour big beasts projected to LOSE seats

Reform UK has topped a YouGov national poll for the second time in a row sending a major warning shot to the establishment parties.

The highly respected pollsters YouGov put Nigel Farage’s party on 26 per cent, one percentage point ahead of Labour on 25 and the Conservatives on 21 per cent.

Delving into the data, YouGov’s research revealed Reform polled as the biggest party in England, third in Wales and a shocking second in Scotland.

READ THE FULL EXCLUSIVE ANALYSIS FOR GB NEWS MEMBERS

Labour's new border tsar on £130k per year wants to work from Finland as Tories slam 'ludicrous' decision

Labour’s new border tsar will earn £130,000 per year while living in Finland as Tories have slammed the “ludicrous” decision.

John Tuckett, 73, was named by the Government last month as the “preferred candidate” for the role.

As Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, he would be in charge of assessing the Government’s performance in all areas of immigration, including tackling the small boats crisis.

In response to the appointment, shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "It’s totally ludicrous to claim an important public official can work from a different country hundreds of miles away."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Assisted dying bill in 'real jeopardy' senior campaign figure claims

The future of the assisted dying bill hangs in the balance as around a dozen MPs begin to waver on the policy's support.

Yesterday, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater proposed scrapping a safeguard requiring a High Court judge to sign off chioices for terminally ill individuals to end their lives.

The amendment was dubbed a "disgrace" by critics, who argued that the proposal seriously undermined any protection in place for vulnerable people.

"For the first time it looks like third reading is now in real jeopardy," said one senior source involved in the campaign against the policy.

Patrick Christys baffled as guest repeatedly dodges probe in defence of people identifying as llamas: 'At least answer ONE question!'

Labour's new Health Minister has sparked fiery clash on GB News after claiming that people can "identify as llamas".

Following the Government's WhatsApp scandal, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer appointed Ashley Dalton to replace outgoing minister Andrew Gwynne.

However, her appointment sparked controversy after a 2016 social media post resurfaced, where she claimed that if someone chose to identify "as a llama", they should be "treated with dignity and respect".

Discussing the claims on GB News, host Patrick Christys grew increasingly frustrated as commentator James Barr defended Dalton's stance on llamas, and dodged repeated probes on the issue.

As Patrick asked Barr how "someone who thinks that people can be animals be a health minister", Barr joked: "Where are the llamas in this conversation?"

Patrick laughed and pressed Barr for an answer again, with the commentator telling GB News: "I think the question is about llamas, really. If we're talking about llamas, we're talking about llamas, aren't we? Why are we asking a question of whether she should be near a position?"

READ FULL STORY HERE

Labour MP mocks Jewish headwear in 'vile' Labour WhatsApp group

Text messages sent by a now suspended Labour MP have appeared to mock Jewish clothing - and threatens to kickstart a fresh row on antisemitism within the party.

In 2019, Oliver Ryan wrote that he would "eat his hat" if Labour won a Peterborough by-election.

Once the party claimed the seat, one member of the group chat said that their success was in spite of the anti-semitism allegations that had taken hold of the party at the time.

In response, Ryan made a reference to headwear worn by orthodox and practising Jews, saying: "[I] won’t eat my Shtreimel then. Or Kippah, it’ll have to be a cowboy hat or something."

Ryan became the second MP in Starmer's party to be suspended over his involvement in a 'vile' WhatsApp group called "Trigger Me Timbers".

Sinn Fein leader rejects King's offer to stay at Windsor

Sinn Fein's First Minister of Northern Ireland has snubbed the King as she rejected a formal invitation to stay the night at Windsor Castle.

Keir Starmer - along with the leaders of the devolved nations - was invited for a "sleepover" at the historic location after a private dinner on Wednesday night.

Michelle O'Neill was the only one to reject the offer, while the first ministers of Scotland and Wales and the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland accepted to stay the night.