Politics LIVE: Reform UK poised to become official opposition - but Labour RETAKES polling lead after Starmer steps up on Ukraine

Farmers return to Whitehall as Labour savaged for 'ideological attack on rural communities'

Farmers are descending on Westminster once again this morning as Britain's agricultural communities gear up to protest Labour's family farm tax raids.

Tractors have been seen rolling down Whitehall ahead of a planned "Pancake Day" demonstration, which organiser and farmer Olly Harrison has said will aim to explain to MPs "the levels of investment needed in agriculture just to produce something simple like a pancake".

It comes after Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins told GB News that Labour was mounting an "ideological atack on rural communities" - and that recent developments in the US and Ukraine have only highlighted the need to back Britain's farmers.

"National security is not just about defence spending - important though that is," Atkins said. "It's also about food security. It's about energy security. It's about industrial security.

"And this family farm tax is completely undermining our food security."

Vance's remarks branded 'deeply disrespectful' by furious Shadow Defence Secretary - 'Britain and France came to their aid!'

JD Vance's comments that a Franco-British peacekeeping force would be just "20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years" have been slapped down as "deeply disrespectful" by the Shadow Defence Secretary.

Writing on social media this morning, Tory frontbencher James Cartlidge said: "Nato Article 5 has been invoked once - on September 12, 2001 by the US after 9/11.

"Britain and France came to their aid, deploying thousands of personnel to Afghanistan, including my own brother and numerous parliamentary colleagues past and present.

"It's deeply disrespectful to ignore such service and sacrifice."

Angela Rayner: 'Laser-focused' Starmer will NOT be 'derailed' in push for peace

A "laser-focused" Sir Keir Starmer will not be "derailed" in his push for peace in Ukraine, Angela Rayner has vowed.

The Deputy Prime Minister told broadcasters this morning: "We are absolutely focused on making sure that we get that peace and the security guarantees as part of that.

"We won't be derailed or sidelined by ongoing commentary... We will use our long-standing relationship with the US and our European allies to support Ukraine and President Zelensky in getting that peace deal and making sure those securities are part of that."

"He's laser-focused on getting peace," she added. "He will continue that dialogue with our oldest and strongest ally, the US, and with European partners and with Ukraine."

Rayner told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the halt in military aid was "a matter for the US President" but the UK would be an "honest broker", working with both the White House and European allies.

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'Malevolent' Russia is 'not our friend', Salisbury MP says on 7-year anniversary of Novichok poisonings

Salisbury MP John Glen has vowed that "malevolent" Russia is "not our friend" on the seven-year anniversary of the Novichok poisonings in his constituency.

"Seven years ago today in Salisbury, a former Russian military officer [Sergei Skripal] and his daughter Yulia, were poisoned by Russian agents on the orders of Putin, with the deadly nerve agent Novichok," Glen said.

"Both spent weeks in a critical condition in hospital. A Wiltshire police officer, Nick Bailey, was taken into intensive care after attending the incident.

"Later that year, my constituent Dawn Sturgess, an innocent member of the public, died following contact with debris casually discarded by the Russian agents.

"When we reflect on the loss of life and the audacity of Russia's actions we should be left in no doubt about the character and outlook of Putin.

"In today’s changing world we need to build an enduring security arrangement with our neighbours in Europe to protect ourselves from future threats and attacks.

"Russia is not our friend and we must be prepared for all manifestations of their malevolence in future."

Tory MP: 'President Trump could be a Russian asset'

Tory MP Graham Stuart has claimed that Donald Trump could be a "Russian asset" after his withdrawal of military aid to Ukraine.

In a social media post this morning, Stuart declared: "We have to consider the possibility that President Trump is a Russian asset.

"If so, Trump's acquisition is the crowning achievement of Putin's FSB career - and Europe is on its own."

Keir Starmer risks clash with Trump as PM moves to BLOCK major US weapons takeover

Sir Keir Starmer has moved to protect Britain's defence industry from American takeovers as the Prime Minister begins following through with his vow to put the country on a "war footing".

At a defence event in Westminster yesterday, Starmer pledged to put "Britain first every step of the way" as he heaped praise on the UK's aerospace firms - which he said must be kept British.

It follows reports that American private equity giant Bain Capital has tabled a £1.1billion bid to buy Chemring, which makes crucial countermeasures used by RAF and US Air Force jets against missiles.

Bain's looming buyout could extend a list of defence firms which have been snapped up by US investors - a situation which the UK, as it appears to pivot away from America towards Europe, has been urged to avoid.

At Monday's event, the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary John Healey both wooed military tech firms as the pair pushed to keep production lines within the UK.

Starmer said: "We're really good at this in Britain. We're really good at creating things, making things. We're front of the game when it comes to AI and technology. We punch above our weight. We want to make sure that we stay in that position."

Asked whether it was important Chemring stays UK-based, the PM replied: "Keep them British, absolutely. We're really proud of what we do."

Healey added that last week's increase in defence spending highlighted a "need to reinforce British industry, British innovation, British jobs, British business".

Donald Trump threatens Britain with trade tariffs just DAYS after telling Starmer UK could be spared

Donald Trump has threatened Britain with potential trade tariffs - just days after suggesting the UK would be spared such measures during his meeting with Sir Keir Starmer.

The President made the warning on Monday as he discussed potential trade agreements following the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

As he slapped heavy duties on his neighbours to the north and south, Trump turned his attention to the UK, saying: "We're looking at the UK with things.

"It doesn't have to be tariffs, but tariffs are easy. They're fast, they're efficient. And they bring fairness."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'It only helps Putin!' Now Farage lays into Trump's Ukraine aid cut as President faces cross-party condemnation

Nigel Farage has warned that Donald Trump's removal of US aid to Ukraine "only helps Putin" - uniting all major British political parties in opposition to the President.

Writing on social media this morning, the Reform UK leader warned: "The breakdown in talks and aid between the US and Ukraine only helps Putin.

"I hope that Keir Starmer can use his new role to bring the two together - and soon."

Germany readies 'hundreds of billions of Euros' in defence and infrastructure funding as Europe pivots away from America

Germany's Parliament is reportedly readying to sit for a special session next Monday to green-light hundreds of billions of Euros in defence and infrastructure funding.

The next Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and his outgoing predecessor Olaf Scholz's parties are said to be discussing the creation of two "off-books" funds, according to German media - which could see sums close to €1trillion raised.

With the US withdrawing aid to Ukraine, Europe's largest economy is under pressure to step up to the plate - and this morning, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has urged the continent to act.

"The news overnight that America is halting military aid to Ukraine is profoundly worrying," she said. "It is clear that Britain and Europe must re-arm much faster if we want to provide Ukraine with more than just warm words of support.

"We must work to keep America in, and Russia out."

It comes after shares in Italian and German defence firms Leonardo and Rheinmetall surged after Sir Keir Starmer's summit on Sunday, which saw both countries' heads of governments descend on London for urgent talks on Ukraine.

Britain 'absolutely committed' to peace in Ukraine, No10 says, after Trump leaves Zelensky in limbo

A Government spokesman has vowed that the UK is "absolutely committed" to securing peace in Ukraine following the news that Donald Trump has halted American aid to Volodymyr Zelensky's forces.

A statement this morning reads: "We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort. It is the right thing to do, and is in our interest to do so.

"We have bolstered Ukrainian military capabilities through our commitment to provide Ukraine with £3billion a year in military aid for as long as it takes and through a £2.26billion loan using sanctioned Russian assets.

"In addition, we've set up a partnership with Ukraine that allows them to use £1.6billion of UK Export Finance to buy 5,000 air defence missiles manufactured in Belfast, putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace."

Labour RETAKES polling lead after Starmer's defence-Trump-Ukraine triple-header week - as Reform UK poised to become official opposition

Labour has retaken the lead in a national poll following Sir Keir Starmer's triple-header week of hiking defence spending, travelling to the White House and bolstering support for Ukraine.

Pollsters at YouGov surveyed Britons across Sunday and Monday - and the party of Government has gained two percentage points to leapfrog Reform UK to first place.

Labour now sits at 26 points, with Nigel Farage's party at 25.

Meanwhile both the Tories and Lib Dems have seen their support fall by one and two points to sit at 21 and 14 points respectively, while the Greens have gained one to take back nine per cent support.

After running the figures through Electoral Calculus's prediction tool, the polling would see Labour slump by 187 seats to just 217.

But Reform would surge to 175 seats - making them Britain's second-largest party in the Commons.

Farmers to return to Whitehall TODAY in fresh blow for Rachel Reeves's family farm tax raids - but they won't be allowed tractors

British farmers will descend on Whitehall once again today for a "Pancake Day Rally" as they continue their assault on Rachel Reeves's family farm tax.

Attendees will march from Whitehall at around midday before ending up at Parliament Square, with the demonstration due to end at 3pm.

But their use of tractors will be limited - the Met Police have imposed conditions have been imposed under the Public Order Act stopping demonstrators from bringing the farm vehicles, save for a limited number being brought by organisers.

Yesterday's top story: Starmer makes Trump feelings 'crystal clear' after Zelensky's White House bust-up as PM warns taking sides is 'totally unserious'

Sir Keir Starmer made his feelings on Donald Trump "crystal clear" to the Commons yesterday following the 47th President's now-infamous bust-up with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.

After a weekend which has seen more questions than ever posed on the state of the "special relationship", the Prime Minister told MPs: "I do want to be crystal clear - we must strengthen our relationship with America, for our security, for our technology, for our trade and investment.

"They are, and always will be indispensable, and we will never choose between either side of the Atlantic.

"In fact, if anything, the past week has shown that that idea is totally unserious, because while some people may enjoy the simplicity of taking a side, this week has shown with total clarity that the US is vital in securing the peace we all want to see in Ukraine."

Starmer had also spoken about the incident which unfolded at the White House, describing the viral spectacle as "something nobody in this house wants to see".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE