Politics LIVE: Keir Starmer warns national security 'on the line' with British Steel on brink of collapse

Badenoch accuses Labour of 'bungling' British Steel negotiations

Kemi Badenoch has said Labour "bungled" negotiations over British Steel and are now "scrambling for a solution" that will come at a big cost to taxpayers.

The Conservative Party leader said: "The Labour Government have landed themselves in a steel crisis entirely of their own making. They’ve made poor decisions and let the unions dictate their actions.

"As business secretary, I negotiated a modernisation plan with British Steel to limit job losses and keep the plant running, including introducing an electric arc furnace in Teesside, similar to what we did with Tata at Port Talbot steelworks.

"However, the union-led Labour Government have bungled the negotiations, insisting on a Scunthorpe-only deal that the company has deemed unviable. Keir Starmer should have seen this coming."

Badenoch said Labour’s "incompetence" had led to the last-minute recall of Parliament.

She added: "Now the British public can see the Government scrambling for a solution to a problem they created and could have resolved months ago. It is inevitable that it’s going to cost taxpayers a lot of money."

Greens say they will back plans for steel nationalisation

The Green Party has said it will back plans to nationalise British steel in a rare moment of cross party co-operation with Reform UK.

Green MP Ellie Chowns said nationalisation was "the only sure way to secure this strategically important sector so vital to national security and British jobs."

The MP for Herefordshire North added: "Public ownership of key sectors like steel, water, energy and transport has always been Green Party policy. And where it is in the public interest to have public ownership of a key strategic industry, which appears to be the case with Scunthorpe Steelworks, Greens are in full support.

"Taking British Steel into public ownership provides the opportunity to help drive the green industrial revolution, supporting Scunthorpe Steelworks to make the transition from blast furnaces to electric arcs, which are cheaper and far better for the environment to run.

"Supporting decarbonisation of steel will further enable the UK to produce the green steel necessary to transition to a green economy, such as wind turbines and trains.We must not leave the future of steel communities to the whims of multinational companies or unhinged American presidents."

Reynolds says Chinese owner of British Steel has left Labour 'no choice' but to act

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has told reporters the Chinese owner of British Steel has left the Government "no choice" but to act.

Jingye had confirmed plans to close the blast furnaces at Scunthorpe immediately despite months of talks and an offer of £500 million of co-investment from the UK Government, he said in a statement.

MPs will vote on a Bill on Saturday to ensure “continuity of production” at the Scunthorpe plant in North Lincolnshire, with investment for the site coming from the Government’s £2.5 billion steel fund.

Reynolds said: "We negotiated with British Steel’s owners in good faith ever since coming to office.

"We made a generous offer of support to the company and I am deeply disappointed that we have been forced to take these measures, but Jingye have not been forthright throughout this process and left us no choice but to act.

"We’re in a new and changing world where it’s never been more important to support our security and build our resilience, so that we can have strength abroad and renewal at home, and that’s what this Government has done."

Union boss welcome's Labour's plan to hold discussions over British Steel

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "I am pleased that the government has listened to representations by Unite and other steel unions over the future of British Steel.

"Ministers could not have allowed a foundation industry to go under with the loss of more than 3,000 jobs and key skills. It is absolutely the right thing to do to begin the process of nationalisation.

"Discussions have been positive and whilst a longer-term plan needs to be developed, this gives workers the reprieve we have been asking for.

"It is essential that Scunthorpe receives the relevant infrastructure and kit to allow it to thrive as a modern steel producer long into the future.

"Unite is also urging the government to consider making steel an area of critical national infrastructure and ensure that UK steel is used on all infrastructure projects. This move is needed to back the British steel industry as a whole.

"It is also vital that the government tackles the issue of industrial energy costs."

Starmer says the future of British Steel 'hangs in the balance'

Sir Keir Starmer has said the future of British Steel “hangs in the balance” and the British economic and national security is "all on the line."

The Labour leader said: "As Prime Minister, I will always act in the national interest to protect British jobs and British workers. This afternoon, the future of British Steel hangs in the balance.

"Jobs, investment, growth, our economic and national security are all on the line."

Afghan national charged with making threats to kill Nigel Farage appears in court 

An Afghan national who is charged with making threats to kill the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has appeared briefly in court.

At Westminster Magistrates Court, Fayaz Khan, also known as Mada Pasa, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

The 26 year old was charged earlier this week with making threats to kill the Clacton MP over social media. The case has been adjourned until next Tuesday.

Plaid Cymru calls on Labour to answer why Port Talbot steelworks wasn't protected

Plaid Cymru has demanded to know why Labour had not intervened to protect Port Talbot steelworks in the same way it is acting over Scunthorpe.

Plaid’s Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts MP said: "Parliament is being recalled tomorrow to debate the nationalisation of Scunthorpe steelworks.

"But when global market forces devastated Welsh livelihoods in Port Talbot, Labour dismissed Plaid Cymru’s calls for nationalisation as ‘pipe dreams’.

"In a real emergency, governments step up to defend their strategic interests. Plaid Cymru recognised the importance of Welsh steelmaking. Labour chose to look the other way.

"When it was Wales, they mocked. Now it’s England, they act. Labour has taken Wales for granted for far too long – and the people of Wales won’t forget it."

Greens win SHOCK council by-election victory in Lammy's constituency 

The Green Party picked up a shock by-election victory in Haringey Council, in the constituency of Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Ruairidh Paton pulled a massive swing away from Labour's Stephen Tawiah, taking the seat in the St Ann's ward, which Labour had held since it was first established in 2002.

The newly elected Green Councillor wrote on social media: "Thank you to every single person who knocked on a door, made a call, delivered a leaflet — or simply believed that St Ann’s deserves better.

"Thank you to the voters of St. Ann’s for this opportunity. This is a historic victory, & it belongs to all of you."

RECAP: Nigel Farage takes unexpected swipe at Donald Trump as he attacks President's tariff plan

Nigel Farage has taken an unprecedented swipe at his friend Donald Trump, comparing the President's tariffs to Liz Truss's mini-Budget.

The Reform UK boss said Trump had attempted to do "too much too soon" - and vowed he had "never agreed" with the Commander-in-Chief's decision to slap import taxes on trade partners around the world.

Asked whether he thought Trump would emerge as a "chump or champion" if and when his trade war with China comes to an end, Farage told LBC: "Remains to be seen. I've never agreed with the tariff policy.

"I do understand that China poses an existential threat to the West economically and perhaps even, ultimately, in different ways as well."

But he warned: "I think Trump did too much too soon, rather like Liz Truss did a couple of years ago."

"I've never in my life before seen stock markets fall quickly and bond markets fall at the same time," Farage said. "There's little doubt that Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary - who's also a friend of mine, played a decisive role in saying, whoa, we've got to ease back on this.

"As for slugging it out with China... Who's going to win? right now, I just don't know."

Rishi Sunak's resignation honours confirmed - top Tories take knighthoods, 7 peerages handed out

Rishi Sunak's resignation honours have just been published - with top Tory ex-Ministers taking knighthoods, alongside the conferral of seven peerages. Among the recipients of the high-ranking honours include:

• Andrew Mitchell MP - Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George;
• Theresa Villiers MP - Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire;
• James (Jimmy) Anderson, England cricketer - Knight Bachelor
• James Cleverly MP - Knight Bachelor
• Jeremy Hunt MP - Knight Bachelor
• Grant Shapps MP - Knight Bachelor
• Mel Stride MP - Knight Bachelor
• Matthew Vaughn, filmmaker (Layer Cake, Kingsman) - Knight Bachelor

• Michael Gove
• Mark Harper
• Simon Hart
• Sir Alister Jack
• Stephen Massey
• Victoria Prentis
• Eleanor Shawcross

Tom Harwood: This is a CRISIS in British Steel

GB News' Deputy Political Editor Tom Harwood says tomorrow's emergency sitting of Parliament marks a moment of crisis.

The Commons wil be recalled tomorrow to discuss the crisis in British steel, he writes.

There have only been five Saturday sittings since the war:

• July 30, 1949: To conduct summer adjournment debates before the summer recess;
• November 3, 1956: In response to the Suez Crisis;
• April 3, 1982: Following the invasion of the Falkland Islands;
• October 19, 2019: To debate the EU Withdrawal Agreement;
• September 10, 2022: To pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

BREAKING: MPs urgently pulled back from Easter holidays for emergency Parliament debate on British Steel

The House of Commons is set to be recalled tomorrow for an historic sitting to discuss the future of British Steel.

MPs from across Britain will be returning to Parliament for a rare Saturday sitting - with speculation soaring that Labour could move to nationalise the Chinese-owned firm.

Politicians had left Westminster for their Easter recess on Tuesday - and it marks the first time Parliament will sit on a Saturday since Britain's emergency withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

READ THE FULL BREAKING STORY HERE

RECAP: Emmanuel Macron BLOCKING crucial UK peace plans over Brexit row as France makes demands

A UK-France defence partnership to shore up support for Ukraine is being stalled over fishing rights, the EU's foreign affairs chief has said.

French and British military chiefs have been thrashing out plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine if a potential peace deal with Russia comes to pass - but once again, France has demanded access to UK waters.

Since Labour's General Election victory last summer, the Government has talked up a "relations reset" with the EU - with a post-Brexit trade deal potentially on the table.

But Brussels has repeatedly called for "the maintenance of the status quo" to permit access for European boats in British waters.

Several EU countries are dissatisfied with the current fishing arrangement and are urging EU chiefs to pressure Britain into granting permanent access to their trawlers.

That forced Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner to vow to MPs late last month: "Other countries are clearly pushing very hard, and we will push equally hard for our sector."

But today, the EU's Kaja Kallas admitted that the French were holding things up - she said: "I'm surprised how important the fish are given the security situation."

Reform UK and Labour NECK-AND-NECK in polls as parties clash on British Steel

Reform UK and Labour have been placed joint-top of a new poll - as the the two parties go head-to-head on the impending closure of the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe.

New data from pollsters Techne UK has placed both Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage's parties at a potential 24 per cent vote share each, with the Conservatives slipping by a point to 22 in third place.

It comes as Rachel Reeves vowed "all options remain on the table" regarding the plant - with rumours circulating that Labour may move to nationalise the firm altogether after Chinese owners Jingye cancelled future orders for the iron ore, coal and other raw materials required to keep the blast furnaces running.

"All options remain on the table regarding British Steel," she said.

"This government recognises the importance of those jobs in Scunthorpe and in the local area, and we're doing everything we can to preserve those jobs and to support those communities.

"We're in conversation both with the owners and with the trade unions to find a deal."

Farage, his deputy Richard Tice and Greater Lincolnshire mayoral candidate Dame Andrea Jenkyns all visited the works on Tuesday - with Farage warning that there were mere "days" to save British Steel, and the way to do that was to take it "into public ownership".

His push for nationalisation has been seen in some quarters as a deliberate bid to outflank Sir Keir Starmer to his left and win over traditional "Red Wall" voters - while Labour have been attempting to sway them with attacks on Farage's own stance on the NHS and Ukraine.

PICTURED: John Healey greets Kaja Kallas after EU foreign affairs boss reveals 'surprise' at fishing demands

Healey reveals £20BILLION Nato funding drive for Ukraine as he blasts Putin for 'dragging his feet'

Nato allies have pledged almost £20billion in new military aid to Ukraine, Defence Secretary John Healey said after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels today.

In a speech alongside his German and Ukrainian counterparts, Healey slated Vladimir Putin for "dragging his feet and delaying" despite the Russian premier's claims of wanting peace.

From January to March, Russia launched 10,000 glide bombs, alongside 100 drones every day.

Now, up to 80 per cent of battlefield casualties are inflicted by drones, Healey said.

As a result, jnow is the moment for defence industries, militaries and governments to step up - and send "a signal to Putin but a mesage to Ukraine", he added.

RECAP: Sweden warned of fishing rights 'sensitivity' TWO WEEKS ago

Sweden's EU affairs minister Jessica Rosencrantz warned of how fisheries could obstruct a crucial defence pact two weeks before Kaja Kallas's remarks today.

"Just to be clear, I think it's really important that the EU and UK work together on defense and security," Rosencrantz told Politico.

"Obviously, there are other sensitive issues as well for many member states which also need to be resolved - fisheries being one."

Asked whether it would be possible to complete a defence pact first and then sort out fishing later, she said: "I think we have to find a way where we can do both because we want to move ahead with the defence partnership - but for many countries it's important to solve the other sensitive issues as well.

"And therefore I think it will be important to take steps also when it comes to fisheries and other topics."

Robert Jenrick and Michael Gove mount defence of Kemi Badenoch following 'ridiculous' BBC interview - 'Not serious people!'

Top Tories Robert Jenrick and Michael Gove have launched a defence of Kemi Badenoch after she was forced to endure a grilling on Netflix drama Adolescence by the BBC.

Earlier, asked by Charlie Stayt whether she had watched the show yet, Badenoch replied: "No, no, I haven't. I probably won't. It's a film on Netflix, and most of my time right now is spent visiting the country and talking to businesses."

She was then interrupted by host Naga Munchetty, who said: "It's a four-part series on Netflix and everyone is talking about it. It is prompting conversations about toxic masculinity, smartphone use, young men feeling that they're being ignored, the idea of misogyny being increased in school... Why would you not want to know what people are talking about?"

Munchetty later described the fictional drama as a "documentary".

And now, Robert Jenrick has labelled the BBC "ridiculous".

"The most ridiculous interview since, during the pandemic, this pair mocked me for having a Union flag and a portrait of the Queen in my office," Jenrick said. "Well done Kemi Badenoch for returning to what really matters: the rape gang scandal."

While Gove added: "The BBC have the Leader of the Opposition on - and waste more than four minutes talking about a fictional drama series and ignore her important points about the failure to tackle real child abuse.

"These are not serious people."

Richard Tice joins Kemi Badenoch in condemning Labour U-turn following GB News exclusive - 'It won't work!'

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has joined Kemi Badenoch in condemning Labour's latest grooming gangs U-turn following GB News's reveal that a former police officer "was threatened with arrest" for attempting to expose child sex abuse.

Tice, like Badenoch, has warned that since Bradford officials allegedly threatened investigators, Labour's pledge to make inquiries locally-led "will not work".

"Shocking," he jabbed.

RECAP: Labour faces PERMANENT Donald Trump tariffs as Keir Starmer told only 'extraordinary' deal will save UK

Britain is facing down permanent 10 per cent tariffs on exports to the US - even if it reaches a deal with Donald Trump, the President's allies have warned.

Ministers are growing concerned that securing an outright exemption from the levy might not be possible - despite Trump's tariff U-turn just days ago.

Senior US economic adviser Kevin Hassett has said that the White House is in talks with around 20 countries on some kind of economic deal - with two countries, thought to be the UK and Australia, the closest.

He said: "I think everybody expects that the 10 per cent baseline tariff is going to be the baseline. It is going to take some kind of extraordinary deal for the president to go below there."

This side of the Atlantic, a senior Government source told The Times that while there was less optimism about removing the 10 per cent tariffs, there was a high degree of uncertainty.

"Things change by the day," they said.

Economists have also warned that 10 per cent tariffs and a global trade war could spark a 0.6 per cent hit to GDP - wiping out this morning's growth announcement, and then some.

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed yesterday that he has not spoken to Trump since he brought in the tariffs - but vowed: "We have got a very strong relationship on defence, security, intelligence-sharing. No two countries are as closely aligned as ours."

'It's truly ABSURD!' Kemi Badenoch tears into Labour's latest U-turn as she warns councils 'could have something to hide' 

Kemi Badenoch has once again called for a full national inquiry into Britain's grooming gangs shame following Labour's second U-turn on a number of local probes yesterday.

The Tory leader has warned that the Government's scheme to hand councils powers to carry out their own inquiries is "truly absurd" - and claimed councils in question "may have something to hide".

"The Labour Government asking local councils to carry out rape gang inquiries is truly absurd, when the councils themselves may have something to hide," she said.

"If Bradford Council threatened investigators over grooming gangs, how can we trust them?

"Only a full statutory national inquiry will do."

Defence Secretary: '2025 is CRITICAL for Ukraine'

The Defence Secretary has told today's Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting that 2025 is the "critical year" for the war in Ukraine.

"2025 is the critical year for the war in Ukraine, and this is the critical moment," John Healey said.

"A moment for our defence industries to step up, and they are; a moment for our militaries to step up, and they are; a moment for our governments to step up, and they are.

"Together, we are sending a signal to Russia and we are saying to Ukraine that we stand with you in the fight and we will stand with you in the peace."

Tory MP brands latest grooming gangs revelation 'sickening' as he praises GB News exclusive - 'Yvette Cooper MUST act!'

Tory MP Robbie Moore has branded the news that a former police officer "was threatened with arrest" for attempting to expose child sex abuse in Bradford "utterly sickening" following reports by GB News.

He said: "These revelations are utterly sickening and demand an immediate response from the very top of Government. No one, especially not a decorated former officer investigating the abuse of children, should ever be threatened with arrest for simply doing their job.

"The Home Secretary must act today. She has the statutory powers to order a full, independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act - and she must now use them. No more delay, no more excuses.

"I urge the Home Office to see through the culture of denial from senior leaders and authorities in Keighley and Bradford who cannot be allowed to block the truth any longer. We owe it to victims and survivors, past and present, to get to the bottom of what happened - and who tried to cover it up. The British public will not accept anything less."

And writing on social media this morning, the Keighley and Ilkley MP heaped praise on GB News' National Reporter Charlie Peters - and hailed his "excellent work".

'It's happening!' Reform UK top brass delight as Labour unhorsed in council by-election

Reform UK's top brass have voiced their glee after the party unseated a Labour councillor in a local by-election.

Nigel Farage's party surged from a standing start to a 46.6 per cent vote share in Tameside Council's Longendale ward - while Labour lost more than half its votes, sinking by 28.8 percentage points to just 25 per cent.

Richard Tice called the victory an "amazing win" - while former Tory MP-turned Reform UK man Marco Longhi vowed: "It's happening."

With just days remaining until May 1's local elections, anyone not yet registered to vote - or who is not sure about their eligibility - has until 11.59pm on Friday to submit an application at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Britain to help fund £450MILLION Ukraine defence boost - as UK takes over key military meeting from US

Labour has announced a £450 million "surge" in military support to Ukraine ahead of a 50-nation-strong defence meeting today.

Defence Secretary John Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, will co-chair the 27th Ukraine Defence Contact Group on Friday.

Meetings of the defence contact group had been chaired by the US Defense Secretary until Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year - but with America stepping back from Europe, Healey has taken over, and chaired his first meeting in February.

The package, worth £450 million, includes £350 million from the UK, with further funding being provided by Norway, via the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.

It will include £160 million of UK funding to provide repairs and maintenance to vehicles and equipment the UK has already provided to Ukraine.

Tories issue dire warning after OBR announcement - 'Killed growth stone dead!'

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride and Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith have issued a pair of stark growth warnings following this morning's news that February's growth rate hit 0.5 per cent.

Griffith said: "Any growth is welcome, but these figures confirm recent halving of growth forecasts for 2025.

"Today's figures are BEFORE the impact of Labour’s choices to levy a £25 billion jobs tax, hike up rates on high street businesses and pass hundreds of pages of additional employment red tape."

While Stride blasted: "Since coming to office, Labour's choices have killed growth stone dead and there is still a long way to go to recover.

"At the emergency budget, the forecasts for growth, inflation and borrowing all moved in the wrong direction because of Labour's decisions.

"Hardworking families deserve better than a Government crowing about sluggish growth whilst they will be £3,500 worse off because of the jobs tax."

Michael Gove to receive peerage in Rishi Sunak's resignation honours - full list expected today

Tory grandee Michael Gove is set to receive a peerage as part of Rishi Sunak's resignation honours today, according to reports.

The former Minister-turned-Spectator editor is understood to be heading to the Lords alongside a handful of close Sunak allies including ex-chief whip Simon Hart and ex-Transport Secretary Mark Harper - with the full list set to be released later today.

Labour handed MAJOR boost as UK economy finally grows - but tariffs don't yet feature

Labour has been handed a major growth lifeline after the British economy grew by 0.5 per cent in February, according to the Office for National Statistics.

It comes after months of miniscule 0.1 per cent expansions and contractions - but February's figures are still too early to factor in the effect of Donald Trump's 10 per cent tariffs.

Reacting to the news, Rachel Reeves said: "The latest growth figures are encouraging signs that our plan for change is working. But we are not complacent. The world has changed.

"We must go further and faster to kickstart economic growth, provide security for working people and put more money in their pockets."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Grooming gangs EXCLUSIVE: Retired police officer claims he was threatened with arrest amid abuse gangs investigation

An ex-senior police officer has claimed that he was threatened with arrest after he presented a lengthy investigation into child sexual exploitation in Bradford.

John Piekos, a retired Detective Chief Inspector, told GB News that a senior member of social services in the West Yorkshire town made the threat next to a uniformed officer.

In an exclusive interview with the People's Channel, he said that he staked out a children's home with a colleague in Bradford for three months, where he recorded multiple incidents of grooming and children going missing.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE