Nigel Farage makes startling Trump admission as he weighs in on 'excessive' tariffs

Scotland to hold counter-populism summit as Reform support surges

Scotland's First Minister is set to hold a counter-populism summit this month as Reform UK sees surging support in the country.

Despite Jon Swinney's insistence the summit is “above party politics”, polls have suggested Nigel Farage's party could return its first ever group of MSPs in next May’s Holyrood elections.

Swinney claims the event will help protect Scottish values, which he claims are “under threat by the rise of populism”.

Swinney insisted that the SNP was a “progressive political party that has taken bold action on equalities within our society” and had also “given a welcome to people from other countries who have come to live in Scotland”.

He continued: “Those are the values of the Scottish National Party, they are the values of Scotland, they are my personal values and I want to make sure that they are the values for Scotland for tomorrow, the values that my children, my grandchildren can grow up to experience.”

Kemi Badenoch suffers major blow as top Tory donor halts cash flow

One of the Conservatives' biggest donors has paused his funding to the party in a significant blow to Kemi Badenoch's leadership.

Richard Harpin, founder of HomeServe, has stopped his donations to the cash-strapped Tories.

Halting the monthly £33,000 donation from Harpin is reported to result in the closure of the party's northern headquarters in Leeds.

Harpin has donated nearly £850,000 to the Conservatives in 2024 alone, according to the Guardian.

Since 2008, he has given the party a total of £3.8million, with £2million of that in cash.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds rejects claims UK is 'passive' in response to tariffs

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has rejected claims the UK is being "passive" in response to Donald Trump’s salvo of tariffs which have hit the world economy.

When put to him that the Government had not stepped up at all, only announcing tweaks to the zero emissions vehicle mandate, Reynolds told BBC Radio 4’s PM: "No, I think that is completely incorrect. We’ve leveraged the difficult situation with the US to advance all of those talks.

"Obviously, these deals are never… you can’t announce them until they’re done. You don’t give a running commentary on the progress of them, but that’s been a key part of that."

He added: "I’m always keen to stress that when I talk about the need for calm, for level heads. That is not a passive response.

"There’s a huge amount going on, whether that’s on trade defence, on domestic competitiveness, on our negotiations with other countries, but that is the right response. Calmness in the face of what we’re seeing isn’t being passive, it is actually doing the right thing in our national interest to make sure we can respond to this difficult situation."

Kemi Badenoch accuses Starmer of 'not doing much' in response to US tariffs

Kemi Badenoch has claimed Keir Starmer is "not doing very much yet" in response to US tariffs.

The Leader of the Opposition said: "Well in terms of the tariffs, he’s not doing very much yet.

"What we want to see is a trade deal that helps lower the tariffs.

"He has made an announcement today about reducing the targets for the zero electric vehicles mandate. That’s something he should have done a long time ago."

'Remainiac!' David Lammy refuses to admit key Brexit benefit in latest outburst

David Lammy has refused to admit that Britain escaping the worst of Donald Trump's tariffs is a Brexit benefit in the latest pro-EU outburst from the Foreign Secretary.

Last week, Trump slapped the UK with a 10 per cent tariff on goods exported to the US - but at the same time, handed the EU a 20 per cent rate.

And Lammy told Italian paper La Repubblica this morning: "We are facing a significant change in the way the global trading system works, but it has nothing to do with Brexit.

"We have been working intensively in recent weeks on a negotiation for a broader economic agreement with the United States, and these negotiations will continue."

That came despite his Cabinet colleague Darren Jones declaring that the lower 10 per cent rate facing the UK was indeed a "Brexit dividend", telling Sky News that "I've struggled to find one in the past but there is one we've ended up with".

Lammy had previously declared that Brexit was a "national tragedy", a "con", a "trick", a "swindle" and a "fraud".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Now Tories join Lammy pile-on after 'student activist' Foreign Secretary refuses to admit to Brexit benefit

Now the Conservatives have piled on the pressure on David Lammy over his refusal to admit Britain's 10 per cent tariffs on exports to the US were a Brexit benefit.

A Tory source told GB News: "Once again, Labour's Remoaner-in-Chief just couldn't help himself.

"The Labour Party might try and pretend it's changed its stripes, but at its core - underneath the fancy freebie suits and taxpayer-funded media training - they are still clearly nothing more than the student union activists who would see the will of the British public undone at the first opportunity."

Starmer: 'We can't just rip up the special relationship'

Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain cannot simply "rip up" its relationship with the US following his Transport Secretary's refusal to rule out cancelling Donald Trump's impending state visit to the UK.

He told reporters in Solihull: "I've been clear throughout and in all our discussions that nobody welcomes tariffs, that has been my consistent position, because I think directly or indirectly they damage all of us.

He also said tariffs "do not detract from the fact that the US is a very close partner of the United Kingdom".

On whether he should rescind Trump's landmark second state visit invitation from the King, the PM replied: "It is not in our interest to simply rip up that relationship any more than it is on defence and security and intelligence sharing where we 24/7 are operating with the US as our closest ally.

"So yes, we have to keep pragmatic and calm in the steps that we take, but we also need to keep a sense of perspective and context."

Starmer slaps down Trump tariff threats as PM vows 'we can't be cowed'

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed that Britain cannot be "cowed" in the face of Donald Trump's tariffs - but again hinted that the UK and US could still sign some kind of deal.

"Look, I think there are undoubtedly challenges here... Nobody welcomes tariffs, we don't want to get into a trade war," he said.

"Obviously we will continue to talk to the US about a deal to alleviate the situation whilst keeping all options on the table but what's important... is at a moment like this we have to shape our future, we have to step up.

"We can't be cowed and simply say there are things happening in a changing world which make it more difficult and therefore we retreat. This is the moment to seize the opportunity."

'This is British brilliance in the flesh', Starmer vows as he vows 'our future is in our hands'

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed that "our future is in our hands" as he addressed reporters at the JLR factory this afternoon - where he said the Range Rovers rolling through on the production line behind him exemplified "British brilliance in the flesh".

In what some have suggested could be a hint at big policy changes to come, the Prime Minister said: "We have your back. This Government will not just sit back and hope. That is how politics has failed you in recent years - attempting to manage crisis without change just leads to managed decline.

"We're going to seize the possibilities, fight for the future, on defence spending, on AI, clean British energy and on manufacturing including car building.

"Make those forces work for Britain, rewire our economy and our state, so that once again they serve the interests of working people. And that is why we're rewiring the state completely, ripping up the regulation that stops it being a force for good. Building new homes, new towns, new infrastructure, putting in the investment that will finally unlock the potential of every community.

"And let me be really clear at a moment like this. Our future is in our hands. And so of course we will keep calm and fight for the best deal with the US, and we've been discussing that intensely over the last few days.

"But we are also going to work with our key partners to reduce barriers to trade across the globe, to accelerate trade deals with the rest of the world, and champion the cause of free and open trade across the world."

Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer speak at Jaguar Land Rover - follow live

Rachel Reeves told British carmakers that Labour "has got your back" at a speech at Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull this afternoon.

Both the Chancellor and the Prime Minister are addressing the market fallout to Donald Trump's tariffs at the JLR plant - we'll bring you all the latest updates as they come in.

You can watch their speeches at the live stream above by refreshing this page, or on our dedicated GBN 2 live stream.

'They have no shame!' Lee Anderson condemns Labour's NHS Reform UK attack line with brutal put-down

Lee Anderson has condemned Labour's anti-Reform UK NHS attack line with a scathing put-down this afternoon.

The party's chief whip, writing on social media, vowed that Britain's healthcare service will "always be free under a Reform Government" - and took a series of swipes at Labour's controversial benefits cuts.

"Just To Clarify: the next time the Labour Party tells you that Reform UK will charge you for using the NHS, then just show them this," Anderson captioned an image containing the message "Reform will never charge you to use the NHS".

"You might also want to remind them that it was them who cut the winter fuel payments and attacked our disabled community," he added. "They have no shame."

It comes just days after a Reform source told GB News: "Labour has resorted to telling lies... Reform will always keep the NHS free at the point of use. The NHS is broken and Reform will fix it."

Meanwhile, Labour insiders also told the People’s Channel that internal polling shows key swing voters turn on Farage once shown clips of his previous comments on the NHS - including in 2012 when the then-Ukip leader suggested moving to an insurance-based health programme.

INSIDE KEIR STARMER'S 'PROJECT FEAR' TO STOP NIGEL FARAGE - READ THE FULL STORY HERE

UPDATE: Arrested Labour MP Dan Norris accused of bullying and harassment by staff in separate incident

Labour MP Dan Norris - who was recently arrested over alleged child sex offences - has been accused of bullying and harassment by employees in a separate incident.

The Telegraph has obtained documents outlining allegations over his conduct at the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), which he oversees as West of England Mayor.

The documents include a "proposal regarding a culture review" after complaints were raised against Norris for harassment, bullying and constructive dismissal.

A staff survey was also revealed to have raised concerns about needing to "protect officers from the mayor"...

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Yvette Cooper confirms Southport inquiry as she vows 'thorough' probe into 'horrendous attack'

Yvette Cooper has formally launched an inquiry into Axel Rudakubana's vile 2024 Southport attacks.

The probe - a two-phase statutory public inquiry - will "thoroughly investigate" the circumstances around Rudakubana's attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in which he killed Elsie Stancombe, seven, six-year-old Bebe King and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar.

The first phase is set to look into policing, the criminal justice system and the multiple agencies involved with Rudakubana after it emerged he had been referred to the Prevent scheme on three occasions but the cases were closed.

The second phase will examine the wider issue of young people being drawn into extreme violence.

Sir Adrian Fulford, a former vice-president of the Court of Appeal who sentenced Sarah Everard's killer Wayne Couzens to a whole-life term, will chair the inquiry.

Cooper said: "The brutal murder of three young girls: Bebe, Elsie and Alice in Southport was an unimaginable tragedy - we owe it to their families, and all those affected on that terrible day to quickly understand what went wrong, answer difficult questions and do everything in our power to prevent something like this from happening again.

"The Southport Inquiry will provide insights into any failings that allowed a young man with a previous history of violence to commit this horrendous attack."

Starmer snubs Trump as PM schmoozes with EU leaders - despite 'Brexit benefit' tariff escape

Sir Keir Starmer did not speak to Donald Trump over the weekend, No10 has said.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said he did not have any update on calls with the US President, and pointed to other calls the Prime Minister had held instead with leaders from Canada, Germany, France and the European Commission over the weekend.

Asked whether Starmer was trying to persuade Canada and the EU not to retaliate over the US tariffs, the spokesman said it is "up to every country to respond in the way they see fit".

And despite the furore over Trump's tariffs, the last few days have not "fundamentally changed the calculation" on Labour's drive for an EU "relations reset".

Labour Minister refuses to rule out RESCINDING Trump state visit

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has refused to rule out rescinding the offer of a second state visit to Donald Trump as the fallout over the President's tariffs grows.

Probed on whether Labour should withdraw the historic offer, Alexander failed to provide a direct answer as she told the BBC: "So, standing up for British industry is about finding solutions, and, as I have said, a constantly escalating trade war is in nobody's best interest.

"I know that the Prime Minister has been speaking to Mark Carney in Canada, President Macron from France, over the last couple of days to ensure that we have those conversations with our international partners to make sure that we navigate this situation as well as we can.

"And it's part of the reason why today I am announcing those changes to the zero-emission vehicles mandate, which provides certainty to the car industry and British manufacturers."

Then asked whether Starmer would be pressuring Trump to row back on his levies, she said the Prime Minister "has discussions internationally with allies, [and] he will be honest about what is both in the best interests of the British people, and actually the sort of global impacts of the global tariffs will have a knock-on impact upon our economy".

Now is the moment to seize Brexit Britain's trade opportunities, Nigel Farage vows

Donald Trump's tariffs mean that now is the moment to take advantage of Brexit Britain's "advantages", Nigel Farage has said.

Speaking to reporters in Doncaster, the Reform UK leader said: "This is the moment to recognise that, as an independent nation with its own trade policy, we can actually benefit out of this. Certainly in the way the European Union can't. That positioning is right.

"Where I disagree fundamentally with the Prime Minister is that he's making a big speech today about the state of the car industry. It is nothing to do with the tariffs that last year was our lowest level of car production since 1954.

"The EV mandates that were put on by the last Conservative government have been destroying the car industry - and all the Prime Minister is doing this afternoon, frankly, is fiddling around the edges. Even without America and tariffs our car industry is in crisis."

Farage added that he believed Trump's worldwide levies are part of a wider negotiation strategy - and that while it was "painful" in the short term, it "exposes" Britain's Brexit "advantages".

"I still think that this big tariff threat globally... It'll look different in three months' time. He'll use it as a big negotiating tool. I think we're better positioned to come out of this with a deal than almost any other country," Farage said.

"So, short term it's painful - but what it does do, it exposes the fact that not being in the European Union does have advantages and ones that we ought to use."

Pro-migration activists in MELTDOWN over Starmer's 'smash the gangs' pledges - 'You're demonising migrants!'

More than 100 pro-migration activist groups have blasted Sir Keir Starmer for "demonising" migrants in a furious open letter accusing the Prime Minister of using language which promotes "racist rhetoric".

The letter, written in the aftermath of the PM's Organised Immigration Crime Summit, warns that Starmer is playing into the hands of "those seeking to build them-and-us division between local communities and refugees".

Its signatories have claimed he has failed to recognise asylum seekers' "contribution to this country, its economy and culture" - despite warnings that dependants of migrants who entered the country since 2021 will cost taxpayers £35billion by 2028.

Tim Naor Hilton, the chief executive of Refugee Action - represented in the letter - has railed against the "hostile policies and rhetoric" which risks "fuelling more of the racist, Islamophobic and anti-immigrant riots that tore through our communities last summer" and has called on the "Prime Minister and his Government to be brave and ditch the divisive language that scapegoats migrants".

The letter is signed by 136 groups including City of Sanctuary UK, Choose Love, Freedom from Torture, One Strong Voice, Rainbow Migration, Refugee Action, Refugee Council, Safe Passage International, Scottish Refugee Council, Welsh Refugee Council and the Public and Commercial Services Union.

But a Government spokesman hit back, saying: "As the Prime Minister made clear, there is nothing compassionate about turning a blind eye to the vile gangs who ruthlessly exploit vulnerable people and trade in human misery.

"This is why we have launched an unprecedented global fight against these criminals to secure our borders as part of our plan for change."

However, after news of the letter came to light, long-time Labour rebel Diane Abbott lined up a pot-shot against her party leader.

She wrote on social media: "Starmer thinks demonising migrants means Labour can outdo Reform. But it only gives credibility to their hateful narrative."

Tories urged not to try to 'out-Farage Farage' as rival parties launch 'anti-Reform UK summit'

The Conservatives have been warned against trying to "out-Farage Farage" ahead of a crunch series of electoral tests across the UK.

Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie said his party should steer clear of "aping" the Reform UK boss - which he claimed would put voters off - as he laid down his vision for the future of the Tory Party's principles.

With Farage's party surging in the polls once again, Bowie was asked by Holyrood magazine how to respond to a right-wing challenger - to which he replied: "By being authentic and true to ourselves, by not trying to out-Reform Reform, by not trying to appeal to the common denominator in terms of chasing the voter.

"We need to stick true to who we are as Conservatives, offer a pragmatic, sensible, liberal, Conservative vision of what the future can be in Scotland, and indeed the UK."

The party would not return to power "if we are purely focused on countering, responding to and aping Nigel Farage at every available opportunity, because nobody can out-Farage Farage", Bowie added.

It comes as a cross-party "anti-Reform" summit in Scotland led by First Minister John Swinney looms - which has sparked fears of "stifling democracy" from the Liberal Democrats.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said he had "deep concerns about anything which aims to stifle a democratically elected voice".

He told BBC Radio Scotland: "I believe you defeat arguments you disagree with in open ground... You don't try and shut them out, you don't try and lock them in a dungeon somewhere, because that will martyr them, that will make them probably more popular, give them more air time and offer more grist to supporters' mills."

Ftse 100 falls by 3% as global stock markets plunge AGAIN

London's Ftse 100 plunged by three per cent this morning - joining Asian and US markets in plummeting in the aftermath of Donald Trump's tariffs.

US stock futures fell overnight ahead of opening on Monday, with the Dow Jones dropping by 1,033 points (2.68 per cent).

The S&P 500 futures shed 3.34 per cent, while Nasdaq futures plunged even further with 4.26 per cent.

Meanwhile, Asian markets suffered a brutal opening on Monday morning - with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong plummeting by nearly 13 per cent, in what could end up being its worst day since 1997.

You can follow GB News' markets live blog alongside our politics coverage at the link below.

GB NEWS MARKETS LIVE - FOLLOW HERE

Transport Secretary plays down looming Cabinet net zero battle over EVs

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has played down a looming battle over net zero in the wake of Labour's newly-announced electric vehicle rule changes.

On Sunday, the Government announced that it would be relaxing a forced switch to EVs in a bid to stave off the worst effects of Donald Trump's tariffs - but with net zero hawk Ed Miliband still in his post in Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet, Alexander was forced to reassure that the changes would have a "negligible" impact on carbon emissions.

She told the BBC: "The changes we are making have been very carefully calibrated so as not to have a big impact upon the carbon emissions savings that are baked into this policy.

"In fact, the impact upon carbon emissions as a result of these changes is negligible."

Eritreans overtake Afghans as largest nationality of Channel migrants - but experts warn they could be LYING about where they're from

As many as a fifth of all migrants crossing the channel are Eritreans, damning new figures have revealed.

Fresh data seen by The Times has unearthed that over 1,200 Eritreans crossed the Channel in the first three months of 2025 - making up a fifth of the 6,642 migrants who crossed in small boats this year.

Felix Sinclair, who heads the NCA unit responsible for gathering intelligence on people-smuggling networks, said that Eritrean organised crime groups held good relationships with Kurdish gangs who dominate the trade in northern France - but officials have also warned they could actually be Ethiopians lying about their nationality to circumvent asylum rules.

The migrants are said to have been told by smugglers to say they were Eritrean to increase their chances of being granted asylum - as the rate was 87 per cent compared to 58 per cent for Ethiopians.

And with fears of dubious asylum claims growing, the news has prompted fury from migration hardliner MP Rupert Lowe, who warned: "I do not want thousands of unvetted Eritrean men roaming our streets. Do you?

"Every single one should be deported. Those arriving, but more crucially - those ALREADY here. Flight after flight after flight, as many as it takes. Every single one needs to go."

READ THE FULL STORY ON THE NEW MIGRATION FIGURES HERE

WEEKEND RECAP: Labour MP Dan Norris arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences

A high-ranking Labour MP was arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences, it emerged over the weekend.

Dan Norris, 65, was quizzed by officers on Friday over claims of historic sexual attacks on a girl and a rape allegation from the 2020s.

Avon & Somerset Police confirmed that the North East Somerset & Hanham MP had been held on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Labour also confirmed Norris, who is also seeing out his final days as the West of England's Mayor, was immediately suspended after Southside had been informed of his arrest.

A Labour Party spokesman said: “Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest.

"We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Labour to swing axe on 'Quangos' AGAIN in fresh crackdown on unelected busybodies

Quangos could be forced to close, merge, or have their functions taken back by Government departments under a new review.

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has written to departments telling them that every arm's-length body will be examined - and could be shut down altogether if its existence cannot be justified.

His is set to examine four areas in each organisation, including whether policy areas are of "national importance" and should therefore be looked after by Ministers, and looking to improve efficiency by reducing duplication of work.

McFadden said: "We are taking action to ensure decisions of national importance that affect everyone in this country are made by those who have been elected to do so.

"Only by fundamentally re-wiring the state, can we deliver our Plan for Change - kick-starting economic growth, rebuilding the NHS and strengthening our borders."

It comes just weeks after Sir Keir Starmer made the shock move to abolish NHS England - where he vowed that he could not "honestly explain to the British people why they should spend their money on two layers of bureaucracy".