Politics LIVE: ‘Wheels coming off!’ Top Tory breaks ranks with Badenoch to back Farage pact

Starmer warns Putin would face 'severe consequences' if Russian leader breaches ceasefire

Vladimir Putin would face "severe consequences" for breaching a ceasefire deal, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The Prime Minister, when asked if Russia breaching a future ceasefire in Ukraine could draw UK troops into the conflict, said: "The point of the security arrangements is to make it clear to Russia there will be severe consequences if they are to breach any deal.

"That’s why we need a forward-leaning European element, which is what I’ve been working on intensely – obviously with the French – that bring these allied countries together, and beyond."

He added: "This is why it will require a US component because it needs to be clear to Putin that there will be severe consequences if he breaches the lines.

"So the purpose of this plan is to ensure that we maintain the peace, as it is in Estonia and all the other countries in which we’re deployed. We do have capability in other countries at the moment, and we are doing that to preserve the peace."

Reed branded ‘Where’s Wally’ as Environment Secretary accused of ‘ducking scrutiny’

Environment Secretary Steve Reed has been branded as "Where’s Wally", as he was accused of "ducking scrutiny" after the abrupt closure of a nature-friendly farming payments scheme.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department (Defra) announced that the SFI, which pays farmers in England for "public goods" such as insecticide-free farming, wildflower strips and managing ponds and hedgerows, was fully allocated for this year.

Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said: "May I welcome the Secretary of State back to the chamber? He has been in hiding for a week, we were so worried about him we were going to start a Where’s Wally? competition.

"And the reason he’s been in hiding is because he is ducking scrutiny of his dreadful decision to stop the SFI farm payment scheme immediately and without warning."

Reed responded: "There were of course, unfortunately, record levels of bankruptcies of farm businesses under the previous government, of which she was a member of the cabinet. Under this Government, we have more money in the hands of more farmers through SFI than at any point under the Conservative government."

Lib Dems accuse Tories of 'desperate' move following local election launch

The Liberal Democrats have accused the Tories of being "desperate" following their local election launch.

Deputy leader Daisy Cooper MP said: "The first brick in the blue wall came tumbling down in Buckinghamshire in the Chesham and Amersham by-election.

"Now Kemi Badenoch is back there in a desperate attempt to shore up the crumbling Conservative vote as people in the home counties turn to the Liberal Democrats.

"Whilst Kemi's Conservatives compete with Reform in their policy agenda, the Liberal Democrats are focused on delivering for residents on issues including the cost of living, sewage in our rivers and the emergency in our NHS and care.

"Voters in Buckinghamshire and across the country haven't forgiven the Conservatives for all the damage they've done. Badenoch will hear the very same if she knocks on doors today.

"Voters have a clear choice in May, and across the country, including in Buckinghamshire, they are turning to the Liberal Democrats as community champions who will stand up for them."

Tory MP says Drill music is 'pushing knife crime into mainstream' in swipe at BBC and The Guardian

A Tory MP has accused the press of pushing drill music into the mainstream saying it contributes to "toxic" culture.

Ben Obese-Jecty accused the press, including the BBC, the Times and the Guardian, of validating gangs’ use of music and videos to promote stabbings and taunt their opponents.

The Huntingdon MP said the success of drill rappers who have criminal convictions could suggest to some there is no consequence for carrying a knife.

He told the Commons: "Whilst drill music is a genre, it is also the medium by which various groups, come gangs are able to taunt their ops. The catalyst for multiple stabbings, often fatal. The line between gang and a group are blurred at points of irrelevance. Meanwhile, the media either doesn’t know or doesn’t care.

"Inner city black youths are, whether consciously or unconsciously, expendable and interchangeable, over represented in statistics as both victim and perpetrator.

"The soft bigotry of low expectations makes black culture ripe for exploitation as a cheap way to appear edgy, irrespective of the upstream impact.

"But media, large corporations, even the BBC, play their part in the creation of this milieu, leaning into it and giving it validation."

Nicola Sturgeon CLEARED in SNP police probe as her husband Peter Murrell appears in court charged with embezzlement

Nicola Sturgeon has been cleared of any wrongdoing in Police Scotland's probe into SNP finances.

Ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, who was arrested and questioned before being released without charge in 2023, is also now no longer under investigation.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Lee Anderson secretly splits from wife as Reform MP puts family home up for sale

Lee Anderson told GB News: “It’s been a very difficult period working away for long periods of time which has impacted our relationship, so we made the mutual decision to separate early last year.

"We are trying to sell our house as we have both moved on.

"We remain very good friends, and we will always support each other in the future.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'Save the UK!' Parliament forced to suspend tribute to WW2 hero after protesters lob confetti from public gallery

The House of Lords has been forced to "pause" its tribute to Battle of Britain hero John 'Paddy' Hemingway after protesters lobbed confetti from the chamber's public gallery.

Protesters, who appeared to voice support for replacing the unelected chamber, shouted: "Aristocrats and oligarchs: Out.

"Posties, mums, nurses and neighbours: In.

"Replace the House of Lords to save the UK."

'I'll see you in my office!' Lib Dem 'defector' brought to whips office after 'crossing Commons floor'

Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain has pulled a "defector" into her office after a surprising incident in the House of Commons yesterday.

Jennie, who is the guide dog for Torbay MP Steve Darling, appeared to cross the floor to approach Labour MPs in a cute Commons moment.

The golden retriever was petted by three Labour MPs before returning to Darling on the opposition benches.

Chamberlain last night joked: "I'll be expecting to see Jennie in my office in the morning."

The North East Fife MP later showed pictures of the pair sat in the party's chief whip's office, adding: "She said she's sorry and won't do it again."

‘Increasingly untenable!’ Keir Starmer rocked by mass councillor exodus as Labour MPs plot ‘mother of all rebellions’

Sir Keir Starmer has been rocked by a mass exodus of local councillors over Labour’s decision to push ahead with cuts to Britain’s ballooning benefits bill.

The Prime Minister, who already lost a number of leading grassroots politicians following his decision to axe Winter Fuel Payments, sat loyally alongside Liz Kendall on Tuesday as the Work & Pensione Secretary unveiled measures to curb welfare spending by £5billion.

Starmer faced fury from Labour MPs in the House of Commons yesterday, with ex-Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott accusing the Prime Minister of “balancing the books” on the backs of Britain’s poorest and most vulnerable.

Richard Burgon, who was briefly suspended as a Labour MP after rebelling last summer to vote in favour on an SNP two-child benefit cap amendment, later warned the “mother of all rebellions” looms for the Prime Minister.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Kemi Badenoch launches 2025 Local Elections campaign

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has launched the Conservative Party's 2025 Local Elections campaign.

Speaking to supporters in Buckingham, which is currently run by the Tories, said: “If you match the general election result of 2024 onto this coming May, then we don't win the councils like we won in 2021 - we lose almost every single one.”

“But I think we're going to do a bit better than that”, she added.

Badenoch also channelled her inner Margaret Thatcher, imploring voters: "Don't just hope for a better council, vote for one."

Jeremy Hunt admits Remainers 'overly exaggerated' Brexit impact as leaving EU opens door to Donald Trump trade deal

Ex-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has lashed out at Brexit doomsters by accusing them of “overly exaggerating” the impact of the UK’s departure from the Brussels bloc.

Hunt, who campaigned to Remain in the European Union in 2016 and later voiced support for both a second referendum and Single Market membership, also appeared to pile pressure on Keir Starmer to keep a trade deal with Donald Trump firmly on the table.

In a report released by Policy Exchange, the South West Surrey MP took aim at pro-EU MPs for “re-opening” Brexit debates after Trump’s tariff war sparked calls for Britain to pursue closer ties with the continental club rather than embolden the so-called “special relationship”.

He said: “This is a false dichotomy. In the first instance, we should not give up on the idea of a trade agreement with the United States, either comprehensive or sectoral, – something that it is much more feasible to achieve with our own independent trade policy."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Rachel Reeves to unveil biggest spending cuts since austerity – but Autumn tax hikes still on the table

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to prioritise spending cuts in next week’s Spring Statement, delaying potential tax hikes until October.

Despite mounting pressure, government sources suggest she will hold off on announcing tax rises — despite Conservative warnings of a stealth income tax raid through frozen thresholds.

Reeves is grappling with a budget deficit of £15-20billion after the Office for Budget Responsibility downgraded its growth forecasts.

The Chancellor has not ruled out making such a move later in the year, should the economy continue to struggle.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Net zero could CRASH Britain's economy with poorest in society hit hardest, leaked document admits

A leaked Whitehall assessment has revealed that the UK's rush to achieve net zero could wipe 10 per cent off economic growth by 2030 and potentially trigger a financial crash.

The never-before-published Government document contains stark warnings about the economic consequences of poorly planned carbon neutrality efforts.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Starmer unlikely to meet NHS backlog target, think tank warns

Sir Keir Starmer is unlikely to meet his commitment to clear the NHS backlog, a think tanks has warned.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said it would take unprecedented improvements in productivity to get NHS waiting lists back under 18 weeks within the next four years.

The IFS report said that the Government would “need to pull several policy levers at once – and hard – to stand a chance of delivering on its promise this Parliament”.

It added: "It’s by no means impossible but we judge it unlikely that the 18-week target will be met during this Parliament.”

Keir Starmer faces 'mother of all rebellions' over benefits bill cut, Labour rebel warns

'We won't defend them!' EU blocks Brexit Britain from £125billion Brussels defence fund

The European Union has blocked Brexit Britain from joining the bloc's £125billion defence fund.

France succeeded in keeping suppliers from the UK, Turkey and US outside the tent.

Responding to the decision, leading Brexiteer Lord Daniel Hannan said: "The EU is under no obligation to buy weapons from Britain.

"Britain is under no obligation to defend Europe. If the EU does not want us as an ally, it is wholly within its rights."

Vladimir Putin 'fears' Britain's 'incredibly effective' nuclear weapons, Keir Starmer insists

Russian President Vladimir Putin is fearful of Britain's "incredibly effective" nuclear weapons, Sir Keir Starmer has insisted.

The Prime Minister said Trident had proved “incredibly effective” since its introduction in the 1990s.

He added: “I think they appreciate our capability. What is obviously important is that they appreciate that it is what it is, which is a credible capability.”

Kemi Badenoch blasts Nigel Farage for 'siding with Britain's enemies'

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is expected to renew her feud with Nigel Farage today.

During the launch of the Conservatives 2025 Local Elections campaign, the Leader of the Opposition will go after the Reform UK leader over Reform UK's alleged sympathy to Russia.

Badenoch, echoing Sir Keir Starmer's attack of Farage "fawning" for Vladimir Putin, is expected to accuse the Clacton MP of "siding with Britain's enemies".

She will also say: “The Conservatives are the only party that stands up for families, for rural communities, and for local businesses.

“Labour pander to the unions. The Lib Dems waste your taxes. Reform have no experience running anything."