Politics LIVE: Reform UK demands ‘PEOPLE VOTE’ in push to ‘save’ local elections as Farage sees red after topping poll
WATCH: Sir Keir Starmer wants to reverse Brexit 'by stealth' in 2025, Sir Geoffrey Cox says
GB NEWS
Reform UK has launched a new campaign to protest against plans to cancel local elections up and down the country.
A total of 18 councils in England have asked for permission to delay their upcoming elections to next year.
Sir Keir Starmer will have until mid-February to choose as many as 10 that will have their elections scrapped.
Nigel Farage’s party said that “the Labour Government and Conservative County Councils are colluding” to cancel elections in areas where Reform UK’s support is the strongest.
A new petition from Reform UK stated: “It is a disgrace that Labour and the Conservatives are colluding to cancel elections and stop Reform. I demand that the English County Council elections go ahead in full on May 1st.”
The launch of the campaign comes hours after Reform UK was handed a four-point polling lead over Labour, with the populist party’s support hitting 27 per cent.
The party now has its biggest-ever lead since rebranding from the Brexit Party, fresh data from pollsters at Find Out Now has revealed.
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Reform UK sees largest EVER polling lead as Badenoch's Tories crumble to third place
Reform UK has been handed its largest ever national polling lead, pulling ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives for the second time in a matter of days.
Some 27 per cent of Britons would now lend their votes to Nigel Farage's party if a General Election were called tomorrow, fresh data from pollsters at Find Out Now has revealed - its largest ever lead since rebranding from the Brexit Party, who led by six per cent in 2019.
Find Out Now's latest survey has Reform topping the charts, with Labour four points behind on 23 per cent in second place, and the Conservatives a distant third with 21 per cent.
It marks a drastic change from their last data - which had placed Kemi Badenoch's Tories second, trailing Reform by three percentage points.
The poll also makes grim reading for Sir Ed Davey's Liberal Democrats, who have seen their potential support slashed to 11 per cent.
Reacting to the news, deputy leader Richard Tice called the data "huge", while Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe said: "Reform now four points ahead in the latest polling. We are going to win the next election. Real change is coming."
And party chairman Zia Yusuf - who has long warned that with sufficient polling numbers, Reform UK would be helped, not hindered, by First Past the Post voting - called the lead "decisive".
"Another poll showing Reform with a decisive lead," he said.
"We are now just four points away from the support level we need to have 326 MPs and form the next Government.
"No wonder odds on Nigel Farage being the next Prime Minister continue to narrow!"
Rachel Reeves claims there are 'plenty of reasons to be optimistic' about UK's economy
Rachel Reeves has pledged to begin construction of Heathrow's third runway, declaring "we want spades in the ground" as she unveiled her ambitious expansion plans.
Speaking to GB News, the Chancellor emphasised her commitment to swift action, calling for Heathrow to submit proposals by summer.
The move forms part of Labour's broader strategy to boost Britain's sluggish economy, with Reeves promising to make Britain "the world's best connected place to do business."
Prime Minister is 'deeply shocked' by 'tragic scenes' from Washington DC plane crash
I am deeply shocked by the tragic scenes coming out of Washington D.C. My thoughts are with all those on board and their families desperately waiting for news.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) January 30, 2025
I pay tribute to the emergency services for their dedicated work in such challenging conditions and I send the UK’s…
Sir Keir Starmer has said that he is "deeply shocked" by the Washington DC plane crash, giving his thoughts to those on board and their families.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the emergency service workers for operating in such "challenging conditions".
Migrants who resist rescue until small boats reach UK waters to receive five-year jail terms in Labour crackdown
Labour's Border Security Bill will also impose 14-year prison sentences on those who supply or handle small boat equipment PAMigrants who resist rescue attempts in the Channel until reaching British waters will face up to five years in jail under new legislation tabled today by Labour.
In a "counter-terror-inspired" crackdown, the Border Security Bill will also impose 14-year prison sentences on those who supply or handle small boat equipment for people smuggling operations.
The new offence targets migrants who use physical aggression, intimidation or coercive behaviour to overload boats during Channel crossings.
Rival poll hands LABOUR three-point lead - but Reform UK sees biggest gain
New Survation data has handed Sir Keir Starmer's Labour a three percentage point lead
PAA rival poll to this afternoon's Find Out Now survey has handed Sir Keir Starmer's Labour a three percentage point lead.
The data from pollsters at Survation has the party of Government in first place - but indicates that both it and the Conservatives are losing ground.
Labour sits at 27 per cent in the Survation poll, Reform UK 24, the Conservatives 22 and the Lib Dems 13.
But it's the changes compared to Survation's last data which have raised Reform eyebrows - both the Tories and Labour have seen their support crumble by three percentage points, while Nigel Farage's party has increased its prospective vote share by four points.
Starmer told to accept over 70 MILLION migrants in fresh Brexit betrayal as EU leaders issue major demand
Sir Keir Starmer is to be told to accept more than 70 million migrants by EU leaders in a fresh Brexit betrayal in just a few days' time.
On Monday, the Prime Minister will head to Brussels for talks on a new UK-EU security deal - but as German ambassador Miguel Berger warned GB News last month, the continental bloc is set to issue a major demand of Britain in return.
The EU's top brass are said to be preparing to demand Starmer submits to a youth mobility scheme granting 18-to-30-year-olds from across the 27-member-strong alliance the right to live and work in the UK.
Berger has vowed that free movement would form "an important element" of any deal, and had explicitly told GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope that "it will be included".
Downing Street maintains it has "no plans" to open up Britain's borders to the EU - despite Sir Keir Starmer's much-hailed "relations reset" with the bloc.
But Labour minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has refused to rule out such a scheme, telling MPs he was "not going to give a running commentary".
At the same time, Eurostat data from 2020 reveals that there were 73.6 million people aged 15-29 in the EU - more than the entire UK population.
Badenoch urges Starmer to 'get serious' after crucial oilfield plans thwarted by eco-zealots - 'Act of self-harm!'
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has told Sir Keir Starmer to "get serious" after a Scottish court blocked the drilling of two crucial oil and gas fields in the North Sea.
Greenpeace and Uplift brought the challenge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh over decisions to give approval to the Rosebank oil field northwest of Shetland and the Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen. The approval has since been ruled "unlawful" by a judge.
Labelling the move an "act of self-harm", Badenoch has told the PM not to "cave to the green lobby" in a furious social media post this afternoon.
"This ruling is an act of self-harm. Yet more lawfare killing economic growth," she wrote.
"The Labour Government who were banging on about growth yesterday are too scared to fight for the oil and gas fields that deliver energy security and provide jobs for thousands of people.
"For the sake of our country, Keir Starmer needs to get serious. He talks a lot, but his actions so far are all hiking taxes and caving to the unions and the green lobby!"
Priti Patel DEFENDS 'Boriswave' as ex-Home Secretary confronted with damning migration graph - 'Fudging the numbers!'
Priti Patel has defended her and ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson's migration record
THE SUN/HOME OFFICE
Priti Patel has defended her and ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson's migration record in a fiery clash with The Sun's Harry Cole.
Speaking to the newspaper's political editor, the former Home Secretary said that the millions-strong post-Brexit migration spike was necessary to staff the NHS during the Covid pandemic.
She pointed to Ukrainian refugees and BNO (British National (Overseas)) visas making up a chunk of the surge - dubbed the "Boriswave" by some - but was accused of "fudging the numbers".
Patel had hailed what she called a "significant overhaul of our asylum system" when she introduced the "New Plan for Immigration" to the Commons in March 2021.
And she again said the move attracted the "best and brightest" to Britain.
But her claims have been rebuffed in the past in analysis by Karl Williams, from the Centre for Policy Studies, which has revealed that "just five per cent of all visas in 2022-23 were given to high-skilled migrants who are likely to be net contributors".
People-smugglers 'to face counter-terror tactics' as Labour vows again to 'smash the gangs'
People-smugglers will face "counter-terror tactics" as part of "powerful" new legislation to quell the migrant crisis, the Home Office has said.
As part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, set to be introduced to Parliament today, Labour will activate "counter-terror style tactics" to crack down on organisers behind the small boat crossings, a department statement says.
The Home Office says its measures include stronger powers to seize and search mobile phones to investigate organised immigration crime, the introduction of specific new offences to prosecute gangs conspiring to plan crossings, the selling or handling small boat parts, supplying forged ID documents, and for migrants attempting to come to the UK illegally.
Sir Keir Starmer had previously vowed to treat people-smugglers as "terrorists" - and has made "smashing the gangs" a cornerstone of his party's approach to the crisis.
'A moment to reflect' - Starmer issues message of condolence to John Prescott
'Today we give thanks for a remarkable life well lived,' the PM said
PA
Sir Keir Starmer has issued a message of thanks and remembrance as John Prescott's funeral gets underway.
Starmer, attending the service today, wrote on social media: "John Prescott’s funeral is a moment to reflect on his legacy with those that loved him most.
"He will be remembered for standing up for working people, fighting for what he believed in, and changing Britain for the better.
"Today we give thanks for a remarkable life well lived."
PICTURED: New Labour heavyweights join mourners for John Prescott funeral
PICTURED: Labour heavyeweights arrive at Hull Minster - just outside Prescott's former Kingston upon Hull East seat, which he held for almost 40 years
PA
New Labour heavyweights have assembled at Hull Minster today for the funeral of John Prescott.
Prescott, who died on November 20 aged 86 at his care home where he had been living with Alzheimer's, will be remembered at England's largest parish church today - with former Prime Ministers Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to deliver eulogies to their former Cabinet colleague.
Those pictured arriving at the venue today include Blair, Brown, Sir Keir Starmer, Alastair Campbell, Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper.
Tice and Philp fume at SEVEN-FIGURE migrant clothing costs - with 'leftie luvvies' told to foot the bill
Both Chris Philp and Richard Tice have called for the spending to stopPARichard Tice and Chris Philp have laid into damning new data showing how much money taxpayers have spent on clothes for Channel migrants over the last few years.
Clothes for migrants cost taxpayers £3,733,145 for 2022-23 and the first 10 months of 2024 - sparking fury from the Shadow Home Secretary and Reform UK's deputy leader.
The former, Philp, said: "Illegal immigrants crossing the Channel are disrespecting our laws and should not be getting free clothes and accommodated in hotels - costing billions a year.
"These illegal immigrants do not need to cross the channel. France is safe and has a perfectly good asylum system."
While Tice said: "The taxpayer should not be footing any new clothing bill... If [refugee charity] Care for Calais and other leftie luvvies care so much, they can source clothing from their donations."
From earlier: Keir Starmer set to appoint bungling diplomat who left top secret files at BUS STOP as Britain's Nato ambassador
Sir Keir Starmer is set to appoint a diplomat who left sensitive top secret files at a bus stop as Britain's ambassador to Nato.
Angus Lapsley lost a 50-page classified file which held the locations of British special forces in Kabul, Afghanistan, and the Royal Navy's movements in the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, in June 2021.
The dossier included one document marked "secret, UK eyes only" and others labelled "official, sensitive".
Despite the error, Lapsley kept his job in the civil service and was later promoted from the Foreign Office to Nato in 2022, where he was made the assistant secretary-general for defence policy and planning.
More recently, he has worked on Britain's crucial strategic defence review.
Lapsley, according to The Times, is set to take over from Sir David Quarrey, who has been the UK's permanent representative to Nato since April 2022, next week.
One senior defence source who worked with Lapsley in the past said: "It is deeply worrying that the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence don't take security seriously."
He had been tipped for the ambassadorship before the security breach - but defence sources have said that he is now expected to take it up in just days.
But officials have remained coy - a Ministry of Defence spokesman told The Telegraph that Lapsley was still working on the strategic defence review and that there were no plans for that to change.
While a Foreign Office spokesman said: "Ambassador appointments will be confirmed in the usual way."
Toby Young spearheads efforts against Starmer's free speech clampdown just 24 hours after entering Parliament
New Tory peer Toby Young, now Baron Young of Acton, has joined a cross-party drive to protect free speech just 24 hours after taking his seat in the House of Lords.
The Free Speech Union founder was nominated for his peerage by Kemi Badenoch - and was installed in Parliament's upper chamber earlier this week.
A new All-Party Parliamentary Group was set up just yesterday afternoon by ex-Tory chairman Richard Holden to scrutinise Labour policy on free speech grounds - and Lord Young was among the first to join.
Holden told the Express: "It's clear that whether it's on our university campuses, in our civil service, or even in football, free speech is a big target", and has warned that MPs and peers must "come together to defend this most important of values".
Shadow Foreign Secretary: Washington DC plane crash 'devastating and deeply tragic'
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has labelled this morning's plane crash in Washington DC "devastating" in a heartfelt tribute to its victims.
Writing on social media, Patel said: "Devastating and deeply tragic news this morning from the US.
"My heart goes out to our friends in the US and the people of Kansas and Washington DC at this deeply distressing time, following the terrible accident near Reagan Airport."
Dozens are thought to be dead after the horror crash between a passenger plane and a US Army helicopter - with 64 people aboard the former and three on the latter.
Reeves slaps down Sadiq Khan as Labour in-fighting grows over Heathrow
Reeves has slapped down London Mayor Sadiq Khan's environmental objections to a third runway at Heathrow
PA
Rachel Reeves has slapped down London Mayor Sadiq Khan's environmental objections to a third runway at Heathrow Airport as Labour's fault lines over the expansion grow once again.
Khan, alongside Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, is a vocal opponent of growing Britain's largest airport - and the Chancellor has looked to quell the party's divisions this morning and rally Labour's climate-conscious top brass to her cause.
She said: "I have huge respect for Sadiq, but on this I know that sustainable aviation and economic growth can, and do, go hand-in-hand.
"The way that we fly has changed hugely in recent years, engines have become so much more efficient, reducing carbon emissions and also sustainable aviation fuel is changing the way that we fly with a mandate that came in at the beginning of this year."
Asked whether Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was fully behind the plans, Reeves replied: "Yes, we are all united as a Cabinet backing these plans. We know that we have to grow our economy, we can't keep saying no to big infrastructure projects."
Starmer's 'Office for Value for Money' NOT involved in £9billion Chagos surrender talks
Sir Keir Starmer's Office for Value for Money has "not been involved" in discussions over the reported £9billion fee to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, Labour has confirmed.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge had probed Cabinet counterpart John Healey on whether the MoD had been in talks with the office over how much money British taxpayers would be expected to hand over to lease the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base from Mauritius if the surrender goes through.
Answering on Healey's behalf, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said: "We continue to work closely with HM Treasury on the agreement with Mauritius and will take this forward into the Spending Review.
"The Office for Value for Money has not been involved in these discussions to date.
"Details of the treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature."
Reeves: 'I wasn't aware that previous Chancellors had released their tax return'
Rachel Reeves has now said that she 'wasn't aware that previous Chancellors had released their tax return'
PA/HMRC
Rachel Reeves has now said that she "wasn't aware that previous Chancellors had released their tax return" after yesterday's row over making her HMRC filings public.
She told Times Radio this morning: "I'm very happy to release my tax return in accordance with what's happened in the recent past, and I'll be doing that alongside the Prime Minister in due course."
When probed on whether Kemi Badenoch should follow suit, the Chancellor said: "That's a matter for Kemi Badenoch, but the Prime Minister and I will be releasing ours."
Our top story from yesterday: Reeves WILL publish tax return but Badenoch refuses after GB News question forces Chancellor U-turn
Rachel Reeves has performed a spectacular U-turn just hours after refusing to release her tax return with the public.
The Chancellor had ruled out sharing the details after being quizzed by GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope at her growth speech in Oxfordshire earlier today.
He asked: "Millions are sending in their tax returns this week to HMRC, you're in charge of it, will you publish your tax return?"
But Reeves quashed his question, saying: "Chancellors and Prime Ministers haven't published their tax returns in the past, and I don't have any plans to do so."
However, a Treasury spokesman has since confirmed the details will soon be made public.
Reeves's decision to U-turn on her tax return comes shortly after it was pointed out that ex-PM Rishi Sunak and former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt both shared information on their tax affairs while holding high office.
But in the face of Reeves eventually opting to release her tax return, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch refused to make the same promise.
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