Politics LIVE: 'They’re deceiving voters!' Reform blasts 'no plan' Labour after Runcorn candidate vows to close asylum hotel after BACKING plan

Helen Whately says pensioners are having to choose between 'heating and eating'

Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said pensioners were having to choose between "heating and eating."

The MP for Faversham and Mid Kent said: "Today was yet another betrayal for pensioners who have suffered this winter because of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves.

"We gave Labour MPs a chance to put party politics aside and protect vulnerable pensioners from another winter of chaos and cruelty. But their consciences failed them again.

"The British public deserve to be told the truth about what the Government have done to pensioners, but Labour refuse to do so."

Matt Hancock slams 'wholly naive' Covid inquiry

Disgraced former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has defended government deals to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic.

The former Tory MP told the Covid Enquiry: "We were radically short of PPE [at the time] and the country was about to run out at a national level.

"No-one has testified that the call to arms led to anything other than more PPE… So I stand by that."

Hancock was grilled about the High Priority Lane, or "VIP lane", which was set up by officials in the Department of Health to help balance offers by prioritising those referred by an MP, member of the House of Lords or senior civil servant.

He responded, telling the enquiry he was not involved in designing the system. He said the claim had made him the target of an "enormous amount of conspiracy theories."

Sir Ed Davey tells GB News the Lib Dems are the 'only party calling out President Trump'

Sir Ed Davey has accused the Tories and Reform UK of apologising for Trump and suggested Labour should be "more critical" of the President's actions

The Lib Dem leader told GB News: "I'm really disappointed that it's only the Liberal Democrats who are calling out President Trump. I'm afraid the Conservatives and Reform seem to apologise for him.

"And while I understand the government has to walk a difficult line with the White House, I really think they should be more critical of him.

"He is an unreliable ally and other leaders of governments, whether it's Prime Minister in Canada or other presidents and prime ministers in of Europe have been tough, much tougher on President Trump. And that's what Liberal Democrats want our government to do."

Tory MP accuses Labour of being 'the nasty party'

Labour has been branded the "nasty party" after its MPs defended cuts to the winter fuel payment for pensioners.

Conservative MP for South Leicestershire Alberto Costa told the Commons: "The very fact that we’ve heard from Labour Party members, those very members during the election that said they cared for the most vulnerable and the poorest in society, hearing now today from them reminds me of a comment that they once made about this party over here.

"If there’s any nasty party, it’s proof positive – by the removal of the winter fuel payment and the total absence of Labour MPs in this chamber – that there’s only one nasty party today, and it’s the Labour Party."

WATCH: Robert Jenrick urges emergency legislation to stop ‘biased’ sentencing rules

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has called for urgent action to halt new sentencing guidelines which he claims will undermine public trust in the justice system.

Speaking to GB News, the Conservative MP has proposed several solutions to prevent the implementation of the guidelines, including "emergency legislation" to block changes taking place in just 13 days.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

EXPOSED: Millions of non-EU migrants still using EU settlement scheme almost FOUR years after deadline

Millions of non-EU migrants have used the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to come to Britain despite the scheme ending four years ago, analysis by Facts4EU and GB News has revealed.

A total of 2.3 million applications have been lodged under the scheme since its official deadline of June 2021.

That number is just over twice as big as Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city with 1.1million inhabitants, though it is possible for people to make more than one application.

GB NEWS MEMBERS CAN READ THE EXCLUSIVE ANALYSIS HERE.

Starmer takes swipe at Greens in PMQs clash over welfare reforms

Sir Keir Starmer took a swipe at the Green Party's election manifesto in a clash with co-leader Carla Denyer at PMQs, comparing the party to Liz Truss.

The Bristol Central MP told the Commons: "We have a deeply unfair and unequal economic system where vast numbers of people are struggling yet billionaires are getting richer and richer.

"Does the Prime Minister think really the way to tackle this to put the onus onto older people, children and now sick and disabled people rather than the ultra-wealthy?"

The Prime Minister responded "Her advice would count a bit more if her manifesto hadn't been a recipe for £80bn of extra borrowing, that is to do exactly what Liz Truss did to the economy and that doesn't help any of the people she claims to support."

Reform 'tying with Labour' in Scotland as Swinney tries to counter 'far-right'

A polling expert in Scotland has suggested Reform UK has 'around the same vote share as Labour' in key constituencies ahead of the Holyrood election next year.

It comes after First Minister John Swinney has convened a summit to counter what he has described as the "far right" which he included Nigel Farage's party.

Professor Nicola McEwen of Glasgow University said: "The rise of Reform across the UK has been one of the key features of polling in the last year. Until now, Scotland had seemed to buck the trend, but this poll puts Reform UK at its highest share of the vote in Scotland to date.

"The poll suggests Reform UK could be a real contender for constituency seats in those regions where it has most support, especially Central Scotland, Mid Scotland and Fife, and the West of Scotland.

"The party is also polling strongly in party list preferences...in the three regions where it is strongest, Reform UK now has around the same vote share as Labour."

Starmer says he is 'deeply concerned' by Israeli military action in Gaza

The Prime Minister said he is "deeply concerned" about the resumption of Israeli military action in Gaza, as Downing Street urged both sides to respect international law.

The strikes, which killed mostly women and children according to Gaza health officials, were ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early on Tuesday after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement.

Starmer told the Commons: "I am deeply concerned about the resumption of Israeli military action in Gaza. The images of parents carrying their children, young children to hospitals that have emerged over the last few days are truly shocking alongside the sheer number of people who have been killed.

"We will do all we can to ensure the resumption of the ceasefire to get the remaining hostages out and to get aid that’s desperately needed in."

Phillips says locations of grooming gang inquiries to be revealed 'very soon'

The locations of upcoming grooming gang inquiries will be revealed "very soon" equalities minister Jess Phillips has told the Commons.

Shadow equalities minister Mims Davies had pressed the Government to disclose the remaining areas conducting local inquiries, with Oldham already being named as one of them.

During women and equalities questions, Ms Phillips asked for "patience" and said the Government’s plans would "come before Easter."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a country-wide audit looking into the scale and nature of "gang-based exploitation”"earlier this year, in addition to local reviews into grooming in up to five areas.

Anderson grills Starmer on net zero push as PM attacks Reform on Russia

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has grilled Sir Keir Starmer over his push for net zero.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Anderson asked: "If we became net zero tomorrow, how much would the temperature reduce by?"

After describing net zero as a "huge opportunity", Starmer slapped down Anderson by accusing Reform UK of "fawning over" Vladimir Putin.

He also landed a blow against Nigel Farage by swiping at Rupert Lowe's suspension, adding: "He can't even lead a party that fits in the back of a taxi."

Keir Starmer REFUSES to rule out scrapping 'stealth tax' as millions forced to pay more to HMRC

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused to rule out continuing a controversial "stealth tax" levied on millions of Britons ahead of next week's Spring Budget.

During Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon, Starmer was unable to guarantee that the Labour Government will not an extension of the freeze on income tax thresholds.

This is widely referred to as a "stealth tax" as when incomes or inflation rise during a period of time when allowances remain the same, people are dragged into higher tax brackets.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

‘This isn’t about morality!' Diane Abbott slams Keir Starmer for ‘balancing books’ on ‘backs of poorest’ Britons

Labour veteran Diane Abbott has slammed Sir Keir Starmer after accusing the Treasury of “balancing the books” on the “backs” of Britain’s poorest people.

Taking aim at Starmer’s Government, the ex-Shadow Home Secretary said: "This is not about morality, this is about the Treasury's wish to balance the country's books on the back of the most vulnerable and poor people in this society".

Abbott is expected to rebel against the Prime Minister’s plan to pull back £5billion by making eligibility criteria for personal independent payments stricter, among other changes.

Responding to Abbott, Starmer said: "All the evidence suggests that someone in this situation... is going to find it incredibly difficult to ever get out of that level of dependancy."

He added: "I do see it as a moral issue. I'm not prepared to shrug my shoulders and walk past it."

​Starmer faces 'mother of all rebellions' as Labour MPs rally against PM after refusing to answer 'simple question'

Sir Keir Starmer has been warned he faces the “mother of all rebellions” after being accused of failing to answer a simple questions during Prime Minister’s Questions.

Ex-Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon, who briefly lost the Labour whip after supporting an SNP amendment on the two-child benefit cap last summer, said: “The Prime Minister was unable to answer a simple question today about why a disabled person who needs help to eat, wash and manage toilet needs could no longer get PIP under his proposals.

“The Government must drop this cruel proposal or it’ll face the mother of all rebellions.”

‘It’s indefensible!' Starmer grilled by MP after disabled mother stripped of key benefits payment

Sir Keir Starmer has been grilled over his cuts to benefits by SDLP MP Colum Eastwood.

Eastwood, who sits behind Starmer as a member of Labour’s sister party in Ulster, told the Prime Minister: “A lady came to see me recently who needed help, she had a disability.

“It meant that her children have to cut up her food, they have to help her wash between the waist, they have to supervise her when she goes to the toilet.

“Under the Tory welfare system we were able to get that lady on PIP. Under the Prime Minister’s new proposed system she will get zero, nothing.

“And after 14 years of the Tory Government and many of us wanted to see the back of them, can the Prime Minister answer one question – what was the point if Labour are going to do this?”

The Prime Minister replied: “I have lived with the impact of a disability in our family through my mother and brother all my life. I do understand the human impact of this. But the current impact is morally and economically indefensible and we’re right to reform it and nobody should be defending the broken status quo.

“We are proceeding on three principles that if you can work you should work, if you need helping to work the state should help you not hinder you, and if you can never work you must be supported not protected. They are the right principles but we can’t leave the current system as it is.”

Starmer backs calls to show Netflix show about radicalisation of young men in schools

Sir Keir Starmer said that the radicalisation of young men online is "abhorrent" and supports calls to play the Netflix series Adolescence in Parliament and schools.

Labour MP Anneliese Midgley asks about the four-part series, which and says the creators of the programme are asking for it to be shown to "spark change" in the UK.

The PM said he is watching it at home with his teenage children.

"This violence carried out by young men, influenced by what they see online, is a real problem.

"It's abhorrent and we have to tackle it," he said.

Starmer urged to act after 'balaclava-clad' criminal gangs terrorise rural England

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to act after Sir Ed Davey warned criminal gangs wearing balaclavas have been terrorising rural England.

Davey was referring to the issue of illegal hare coursing, which was banned under the Hunting Act 2004.

He told the Prime Minister: "Men in balaclavas are threatening and abusing farmers as these criminals tear across their fields in 4x4s.

"It is only a matter of time before somebody is killed."

The Prime Minister admitted the matter is of "deep concern", adding that a strategy is already in development.

Starmer won’t make hospices exempt from NICs hike as Labour's tax raid bites

Kemi Badenoch asked the PM he would support making hospices, pharmacies and care providers exempt from the Government’s hike to employer National Insurance contributions.

He implied that he would not support the move.

Starmer said: "We have made provision for hospices, we have made provisions for charities, but we had to secure the economy, we had to fill the £22billion black hole that they disgracefully left."

Badenoch labelled the NICs increase as "jobs tax”"

Kemi Badenoch raises alarm bell over ‘emergency Budget’ after Keir Starmer defends Labour’s tax raid

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has sounded an alarm bell by labelling Rachel Reeves's imminent spring statement an "emergency Budget".

Badenoch said: “The Chancellor claimed that her Budget was a once in a Parliament reset.

"So why are we having an emergency Budget next week?”

Responding to the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer said: “We have delivered record investment into this country, three interest rate cuts in a row and wages are going up faster than prices which is a massive cost of living boost.

“That is after only eight months after 14 years of absolute failure...”

Starmer defends Labour economic record after Badenoch grilling

Sir Keir Starmer defended Labour’s economic record since coming into Government, amid questions from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on why Rachel Reeves will hold her spring statement next week.

The Prime Minister said: “We have delivered record investment into this country, had three interest rates cuts in a row, and wages are going up faster than prices which is a massive cost-of-living boost.

“That’s after only eight months, after 14 years of absolute failure. What did they do? Interest rates 11 per cent, a massive £22billion black hole in the economy. They crashed the economy, we’re rebuilding Britain.”

Ms Badenoch had asked: “The Chancellor claimed that her budget was a once in a parliamentary reset. So why are we having an emergency budget next week?”

Starmer reiterates 'unwavering support' to Ukraine following recent call with Zelensky

Sir Keir Starmer started by talking about his recent call with Volodymyr Zelensky when he reiterated the UK’s “unwavering support to the people of Ukraine”.

The PM told the Commons: “Last night, I spoke to President Zelensky to discuss progress that (US) President (Donald) Trump had made with Russia towards a ceasefire.

“And I took the opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering support to the people of Ukraine.”

Starmer opens PMQs with tribute to last surviving pilot of the Battle of Britain

Sir Keir Starmer has begun his weekly Prime Minister's Questions by paying his respects to the last surviving pilot of the Battle of Britain.

John 'Paddy' Hemingway DFC died peacefully on on March 17 at the age of 105.

The PM remembered the former Group Captain who retired from the Royal Air Force 30 years a "hero".

Keir Starmer locks horns with Kemi Badenoch after PM’s plan to slash ballooning benefits bill sparks Labour fury

Keir Starmer locks horns with Kemi Badenoch after PM’s plan to slash ballooning benefits bill sparks Labour fury

Sir Keir Starmer is about to lock horns with Kemi Badenoch in yet another despatch box bout.

The Prime Minister is expected to face a grilling over Liz Kendall’s plan to pull back £5billion from Britain’s ballooning benefits bill.

A growing gaggle of Labour MPs have vowed to vote down the Government’s measures after warning it will adversely impact hundreds of thousands of poor and disabled Britons.

The Tories also criticised the measures, with Shadow Works & Pensions Secretary Helen Whately saying: “The welfare bill is too high and our country needs the Government to bring it down.”

She added: Labour opposed this time and again in opposition and their plans today are too little too late.”

Starmer's plan to end asylum hotels ripped apart by border tsar as migrant crossings soar by 20%

Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to end the use of asylum hotels has been ripped apart just days after a fresh wave of migrant arrivals on British shores.

David Bolt, who serves as independent chief inspector of borders, provided a far from glistening assessment while addressing MPs at the Home Affairs Select Committee yesterday.

Responding to Shadow Environment Minister Robbie Moore, Bolt said: “I’m not entirely clear what its strategy is. If it has one, it hasn’t articulated it in a way that I know what it stands for.”

He added: “In terms of the planning … and if there’s a different direction asylum accommodation might go in, not having a clear strategy is going to have an impact on that.”

Bolt also voiced concern about the Government’s switch from large sites to small and medium sized sites.

“I’m not entirely sure exactly what that means,” Bolt told MPs.

The border tsar’s comments come after a fresh surge of Channel crossing migrants reached British shores.

Migrant crossings recorded earlier this month marked a shocking milestone, with 592 arrivals on March 2 bringing the total increase compared to the same period last year to 20 per cent.

Kemi Badenoch dismisses Reform-Tory toppling plot after swiping at 'showman' Nigel Farage

Kemi Badenoch has dismissed the threat posed from a Tory-Reform "Unite the Right" toppling plot after taking a swipe at Nigel Farage.

The Leader of the Opposition, who yesterday delivered her biggest policy commitment since Rishi Sunak in November, provided a stark account of her reaction to reports suggesting a Conservative cabal is already circling around her ahead of the 2025 Local Elections.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Badenoch said: “I read it and I laughed. There is a phenomenon of wishful thinking where people want to do something and so they try and talk it into reality and make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Employers have 'got a lot of heavy lifting to do' following welfare cuts, MP says

Employers have “got a lot of heavy lifting to do” after the welfare cuts, a Labour MP has said.

Rachael Maskell, who has served in York Central since 2015, told the BBC: “It’s got to be a partnership between the disabled person, the state and employers, so employers have got a lot of heavy lifting to do in this.

“However, it can’t be at the expense of disabled people, pushing them into work when they just simply will not be able to sustain that work, or indeed could end up in a capability procedure, or bullied out of work.

“So we’ve got to make this work for disabled people, and we’ve got no detail as to the employer’s responsibility within this, we’re just hearing about the money.”

Reform UK reaches highest level of support in Scotland, poll shows

Nigel Farage’s party Reform UK has recorded its highest level of support in a Scottish poll, with the party on 14 seats if the results were replicated in next year’s Holyrood election.

This would mean they finish ahead of both the Greens and Lib Dems, with the SNP still the largest party, according to analysis of the Survation poll for Quantum Communications.

The poll put the SNP on 55 seats, Labour on 19, the Conservatives on 17, with the Lib Dems on 13, the Greens on 10 and Alba with one seat.

Survation polled 1,012 people in Scotland between March 6 and 13.

Professor Nicola McEwen of Glasgow University said: “The rise of Reform across the UK has been one of the key features of polling in the last year.

“Until now, Scotland had seemed to buck the trend, but this poll puts Reform UK at its highest share of the vote in Scotland to date.

“The poll suggests Reform UK could be a real contender for constituency seats in those regions where it has most support, especially Central Scotland, Mid Scotland and Fife, and the West of Scotland.

“The party is also polling strongly in party list preferences … in the three regions where it is strongest, Reform UK now has around the same vote share as Labour.”

People with anxiety could still claim Pip if wellbeing is 'severely impacted', minister says

People who have anxiety and similar conditions will still be able to claim personal independence payments (Pip) if their wellbeing is impacted severely enough, a minister has said.

The Government introduced a raft of welfare measures yesterday that it says will help bring more working age people back into jobs, and which will save the taxpayer billions of pounds.

Social security minister Sir Stephen Timms was asked whether the £5billion worth of cuts would mainly come from tightening eligibility for Pip, which would mean people with anxiety will not be able to claim it.

“No, it depends what the effect of the condition is on people’s wellbeing, and the indicators are all published and set out,” he told Times Radio.

“So if you have difficulties doing certain things, then you get points on the Pip assessment. And the number of points you get determine how much Pip you get.”

He said whilst the cost of Pip will still rise, it will be “nothing like as fast as if we didn’t act” and said the changes will make the cost “sustainable in the long-term”.

GCSE exams could be cut under Labour to reduce pupil stress and 'improve their wellbeing'

GCSE exams could be cut in order to reduce pupil’s stress, Labour’s curriculum review is expected to recommend.

In an interim report published yesterday, concerns were raised by ministers that too much emphasis is being placed on “intensive, high-stakes” exams and not enough on applied skills and other subjects.

Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, claimed that the assessments were having an impact on the “wellbeing” of teenagers.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Keir Starmer slams 'devastating' sickness and disability benefits bill 

Sir Keir Starmer has said the rising sickness and disability benefits bill is “devastating” public finances and has “wreaked a terrible human cost”, following the Labour Government's £5billion cut to welfare announced yesterday.

The Government revealed a raft of welfare measures it says will help bring more working age people back into jobs, and which will save the taxpayer billions of pounds.

Writing in The Times, the PM pointed to the 2.8 million working age people out of work due to long-term sickness, claiming this was a “damning indictment of the Conservative record” on welfare.

The Prime Minister added: “The result is devastating for the public finances. By 2030 we are projected to spend £70billion a year on working-age incapacity and disability benefits alone.

“But more importantly it has wreaked a terrible human cost. Young people shut out of the labour market at a formative age. People with complex long-term conditions, written off by a single assessment.

“People who want to return to work, yet can’t access the support they need. All this is happening at scale and it is indefensible.”

​Tulip Siddiq says corruption claims against her are 'false and vexatious'

Tulip Siddiq has debunked the Bangladeshi authorities' corruption claims against her as "false and vexatious".

The MP for Hampstead and Highgate stepped down from her post as Treasury Economic Secretary in January, amid scrutiny of links to her aunt Sheikh Hasina - Bangladesh’s deposed prime minister.

She has now accused the South Asian country of running a “targeted and baseless” campaign against her, questioning why they had briefed the media but not put any allegations to her directly.

Writing to the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), her lawyers have claimed that its methods were an “unacceptable attempt to interfere with UK politics”.

In a letter that marks her first significant response since her resignation two months ago, her lawyer, Stephenson Harwood, said “At no point have any allegations been put to her fairly, properly and transparently, or indeed at all, by the ACC or anyone else with proper authority on behalf of the Bangladeshi government.

"We require that you immediately stop manufacturing false and vexatious allegations against Ms Siddiq and further media briefings and public comments designed to harm her reputation.”

'It won't raise a single penny!' Reeves issued chilling warning over National Insurance raid

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has received a chilling warning from top Tories over her National Insurance raid.

Reeves announced the £25billion "Jobs Tax" raid in her maiden Budget, with the employers' levy being increased.

However, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride claimed that there will be an estimated loss of £9.6billion due to economic damage and warned more than £5billion is needed to compensate public sector workers.

He said: “The Labour Chancellor promised £25billion from her Jobs Tax, but we’re likely to end up with less money for our public services because of Labour’s economic mismanagement.

“The OBR had already highlighted the economic damage Labour’s tax hike will cause, and now we see that higher borrowing costs and lower growth will rob the country of much of the remaining revenue.

“This tax is a burden on businesses and workers, and a ticking timebomb that will cripple the economy – with hardworking families hit the hardest.

“If Labour grips welfare, they can cancel their reckless ‘Jobs Tax’ before it bites.”