Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has doubled-down on his "impossible" push to achieve net zero by 2050 and accused is critics of misunderstanding Britain's support for tackling climate change.
Miliband took a swipe at Kemi Badenoch after the Tory leader rowed back on her previous support for net zero.
"She's completely wrong and I think she's way out of step with the British people," Miliband said.
"I don't think the British people want a culture war on climate, which I think is what she wants."
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North West Mayors secure agreement with US space company
Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham is an example of successful devolution in the UK.Getty ImagesThe mayors of Liverpool and Manchester have struck a deal with an American space company to position North West England at the heart of the global space economy.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham signed the agreement with Axiom Space on Thursday, highlighting its potential to generate billions for the region.
Houston-based Axiom, which is developing a commercial space station, stated that the partnership will focus on space-based communications, disaster response, cybersecurity, microgravity research in medicine, and in-space manufacturing.
Burnham said: “Space is one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors, and Greater Manchester is perfectly placed to lead this innovative work, with our strengths in advanced materials and manufacturing, life sciences, AI and data.
“The expertise in our universities, digital sector, and manufacturing and engineering firms mean that we can seize this opportunity to create highly skilled, well-paid jobs across our city region.”
Migrant Channel crossings this year surpass 5,000 at record pace under Labour
Channel migrant crossings this year have exceeded 5,000 at a record pace despite Labour’s efforts to crack down on people-smugglers, new figures reveal.
Since the start of the year, Border Force has intercepted and brought ashore 5,025 migrants—a rate of arrival faster than in any of the past seven years since small boat crossings began in 2018.
This figure marks a 24 per cent increase from the same point last year, when it stood at 4,043, and a 36 per cent rise compared to 2023, when it was 3,683.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said on Friday: “We’ve acknowledged that there is a flow of migrants into this country by illegal means on small boats, and we’ve seen a number of incidents this week in French waters.
"That’s why this Government has put forward a serious, credible plan to finally restore order to the chaos we inherited in our asylum system.”
Britons to 'pay the price' as Rachel Reeves's borrowing soars to £10.7bn and growth plan stumbles
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will outline the Government's fiscal agenda on October 30 GB NewsUK Government borrowing rose to £10.7billion last month, exceeding forecasts and marking the fourth-highest February figure on record.
With public finances "operating on increasingly fine margins" experts have explained tax rises in the autumn are "inevitable".
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that public sector net borrowing was £100million more than in February 2024.
Downing Street says 'nothing is off the table' in deploying UK troops on the ground in Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer
PAWhen whether the focus of discussions had moved away from the prospect of ground troops for Ukraine, a Number 10 spokesman said: “No, nothing is off the table on any of these fronts, so I wouldn’t start ruling anything out.
“But clearly thousands of troops will be required to support any deployment, whether that is at sea, on land or in the air.”
"We’ve moved into an operational phase now and what that means is… bringing together military planners to look at the potential design of force structures, interoperability and what capability is needed to ensure a sovereign Ukraine is able to defend itself for generations to come.
"Next week, we’ll continue to accelerate the pace and scale of operational planning with further meetings at our Northwood headquarters as we look forward more closely at the details and structure of any future force."
Nigel Farage’s feud with Kemi Badenoch deepens as ‘disingenuous’ Tories reject Reform demand - 'Running scared!'
Nigel Farage has added further fuel to his feud with Kemi Badenoch after putting pressure on the Tories to back a motion pushing for all scheduled Local Election contests to get the go ahead.
Just days after Badenoch swiped at the Reform UK leader over his reality TV experience, Farage claimed that Tories in the House of Lords will vote to block Labour’s attempts to postpone polls if they “really care about democracy”.
Farage said: “It would be disingenuous for the Conservatives to vote for the same motion in the Commons but then vote against this motion in the Lords.
“If the Conservatives really care about democracy, their peers will vote for 5.5m people to have their voice heard in May.
“In reality, the Conservatives are running scared of facing the voters after a disastrous 14 years in Government.”
The motion is being tabled by the Liberal Democrats and could succeed with the support of Tory peers.
“Our motion on Monday will succeed if the Conservatives vote for it, it’s as simple as that,” a Liberal Democrat source said.
'Stop saying stupid things!' Abbott swipes at Labour Minister over benefits bill cuts
Ex-Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott has taken a massive swipe at a Labour Minister as rebels prepare to defy Sir Keir Starmer's efforts to curb welfare spending.
Responding to Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones's assertion that the cuts did not constitute to a return to austerity, Abbott said: "It is one thing for ministers to say stupid things from time to time. But treating the voters as if they are stupid is unacceptable.
"Of course these fierce cuts are a return to austerity.
"Cuts aren't austerity if you have a spreadsheet, Reeves deputy says."
Keir Starmer keeping eye on Heathrow disruption after 1,300 flights cancelled
Sir Keir Starmer has been receiving regular updated on developments at Heathrow Airport.
Confirming he is keeping an eye on the situation, the Prime Minister said: "I know the situation in Heathrow is causing distress and disruption, especially for those travelling or without power in their homes. I'm receiving regular updates and I'm in close contact with partners on the ground. Thanks to our emergency workers for keeping people safe."
'Don't travel near there!' Sadiq Khan releases statement after Heathrow Airport chaos
WATCH NOW: Rachel Reeves issued warning from rising star red wall Labour MP ahead of spring statement
Rachel Reeves must not bring back austerity at next week's spring statement, a rising star red wall Labour MP has warned, urging the Chancellor not to ignore the plight of seaside towns.
Labour MPs are worried about the scale of cuts next week when the Chancellor presents her spring statement including new forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Asked if he had a message for Reeves, Chris Webb, Labour MP for Blackpool South, told Chopper's Political Podcast: "We've made a promise not to go back to austerity, so I'm hoping that isn't the case.
"We can't go back to austerity. Blackpool and places like mine, coastal communities, they've been forgotten about."
Free speech row as Home Office worker sacked for 'spreading hatred' after sharing post by Richard Tice
A Home Office worker has been fired for sharing a social media post by Reform deputy leader Richard Tice in a damning blow to free speech.
Gary Costin was dismissed from his job after 15 years of working for government contractors Mitie and G4S for sharing the MP's response to a GB News article about a Muslim lobbying group.
The original article reported that members of the Home Office's Islamic staff network aimed to recruit Muslim staff to "influence policymakers" and support "Muslim needs".
Costin then forwarded the post on WhatsApp, which was followed by his suspension in April 2024.
Reform’s Richard Tice blames net zero as shutdown sparks travel misery - ‘Gross negligence of the highest order’
Chaos at Heathrow Airport can be blamed on the drive for net zero, Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has claimed.
Speaking on GB News, the Boston & Skegness MP said Heathrow has changed its backup electrical systems to reach green targets and the decision has now come back to bite them.
He added: “Critical infrastructure like that obviously needs a backup and I can exclusively reveal to you this morning that Heathrow changed its backup systems to be net zero compliant.
“It got rid of their diesel generators and moved to a biomass generator which was designed not to completely replace the grid, but work alongside the grid.
“Their net zero compliant backup system has completely failed in its core function at the first time of asking. It beggar’s belief.”
Britons to 'pay the price' as Reeves's borrowing soars to £10.7bn and growth plan stumbles
UK Government borrowing rose to £10.7billion last month, exceeding forecasts and marking the fourth-highest February figure on record.
With public finances "operating on increasingly fine margins" experts have explained tax rises in the autumn are "inevitable".
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that public sector net borrowing was £100million more than in February 2024.
'We're up to the fight!' Miliband takes on net zero sceptics after accusing Farage of 'betraying' future generations
Ed Miliband
PAEnergy Secretary Ed Miliband has taken the fight to net zero sceptics after accusing Nigel Farage's Reform UK of "betraying" future generations.
Miliband said that Sir Keir Starmer's Government is “absolutely up for the fight” over net zero, adding that the Conservatives and Reform have opted for “a total desertion and betrayal” of future generations by failing to tackle the climate crisis.
'It's not austerity!' Labour fires back against Tory 2.0 claims ahead of cost-cutting spring statement
A Labour Treasury Minister has denied Sir Keir Starmer's returning to UK to a Conservative-style era of austerity.
In a Q&A at the Institute for Government think tank, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said: “Just factually, it would be incorrect to say that we are doing what the Conservatives did after 2010.
“The numbers will be published next Wednesday, but as you saw at the budget last year, we are increasing public spending, and we’ve increased it quite a lot.
“The fact is that we’ve got to do this modernisation and reform agenda. But we’re not, factually, taking an approach that is just blindly cutting spending because we think we should just reduce spending without a plan for how to get there. So I wouldn’t recognise that kind of definition of what’s taking place.”
NHS banned from changing children's gender on records after Streeting declares it 'completely wrong'
A general view of staff on a NHS hospital wardPAThe NHS has been banned from changing children's gender on their medical records after Wes Streeting slammed it for being "completely wrong".
Ahead of the ban, there was no minimum age for a child's sex to be changed on their official records, a review found.
In response, the Health Secretary declared the situation "completely wrong" and urged that "children's safety must come first" after a Government report pointed out "serious safeguarding concerns".
The Sullivan Review discovered that, in one case, NHS authorities allowed one mother to change their baby's sex at just a few weeks old "and the GP had complied".
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