Panicked Labour considers U-turning AGAIN on grooming gang inquiries after furious backlash from own MPs

Sadiq Khan BANS consultant from TfL campaign after firm ditched its 'woke' diversity policies

A consulting firm which scrapped its diversity policies following Donald Trump's return to the White House has had its contract blocked by Sadiq Khan's Transport for London.

Accenture’s bid to work on a TfL marketing campaign has been vetoed by Khan's City Hall, The Telegraph reports.

The firm said earlier this year it would be "sunsetting" its diversity policies it first set out in 2017 in response to Donald Trump's "war on woke".

A TfL spokesman told The Telegraph: "We were unable to continue with [Accenture’s] bid for our creative tender contract as they no longer met the criteria for diversity that we expect from all suppliers.

"We are proud to hold our suppliers to account, making sure they are aligned with our commitments on diversity and inclusivity to help expand opportunities across our supply chain and create equal opportunities for all."

An Accenture spokesman told The Telegraph: "We can’t comment due to the strict confidentiality around the bidding process."

Starmer: Calm and pragmatic approach required in response to US tariffs

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK needs a "calm and pragmatic approach" to Donald Trump's tariff plan following conversation with his Japanese counterpart.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba this morning. On trade, the leaders agreed that a trade war does not benefit anyone, and that now is the time for a cool, calm and pragmatic approach.

"They agreed on the importance of like-minded partners such as the UK and Japan to work closely together to lower trade barriers.

"Through trading blocs such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and working bilaterally, there are many options to accelerate growth."

Farage slaps down idea of Conservative-Reform merger

Nigel Farage has rejected the idea of a Conservative-Reform UK merger after next month’s local elections.

While Kemi Badenoch has consistently ruled out any national deal with Reform, the Tory leader suggested some of her party's councillors could go into coalition with Farage's party.

Badenoch told the BBC: "I’ve seen Conservatives go into coalition with Labour, with Liberal Democrats, with Independents. You don’t get to have a rerun of an election at local level, so what I’m telling local leaders across the country (is) they have to do what is right for the people in their local area."

However, Farage rejected this idea, saying: "The Tories broke Britain nationally for 14 years, and their councils continue to break local communities with the highest taxes ever and worst services. Reform have no intention in forming coalitions with the Tories at any level."

'A genuine cross-party effort!' Reform UK's James McMurdock joins Rupert Lowe's rape gang inquiry

Reform UK MP James McMurdock has become the latest figure to join the panel of Rupert Lowe's crowd-funded rape gang inquiry.

A statement from the inquiry on Thursday afternoon hailed his arrival as "a genuine cross-party effort" - and comes just hours after Tory MP Esther McVey joined the team.

"This is a genuine cross-party effort - united by our commitment to uncovering the truth, delivering justice, and holding failed institutions to account," it said.

British armed forces chief visits China for the first time in a DECADE - but MoD keeps quiet on foreign trip

The head of the British armed forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, has visited China for the first time in a decade.

Radakin discussed "issues of common concern" with Chinese military bosses when he visited Beijing, according to China's defence ministry - but the UK's Ministry of Defence has so far remained silent on the trip.

General Liu Zhenli, a member of China's central military commission, was among those who held talks with the armed forces boss on Wednesday.

"The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on China-UK relations and military-to-military relations, international and regional situations and issues of common concern, and had communication on strengthening exchanges and co-operation between the two militaries," a Chinese readout of their meeting said.

The Chief of the Defence Staff also gave a speech to future Chinese military commanders, at the People's Liberation Army National Defence University in Beijing, according to The Times.

But his visit comes following a series of warnings over the British Government's China ties - as well as the appearance of Chinese long-range bombers on satellite images as Beijing bids to assert its dominance in the South China Sea.

WATCH: Keir Starmer announces target for 3,000 more neighbourhood police officers by 2026

Healey leads 'coalition of the willing' talks as he teases more military support tomorrow

Defence Secretary John Healey is leading a meeting of defence ministers at Nato headquarters in Brussels today - and has teased a new military support announcement tomorrow.

Healey said that the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, and his French counterpart Thierry Burkhard willupdate ministers on the progress of plans for a "reassurance force" for Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary said: "We cannot jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war. The daily reality for millions of Ukrainians continues - drone attacks, missile strikes, brutal fighting on the front line - so we must put more pressure on President Putin to end his war and we must step up support for Ukraine both in the fight and in the push for peace.

"That's why I'm grateful that so many of you who are here today will also be here tomorrow for the meeting of the Ukraine defence contact group when we will pledge more military support to bolster Ukraine on the battlefield."

'As embarrassing as this reverse ferret is, it STILL doesn't go far enough!' Tories slap down second Labour rape gangs U-turn 

The Conservatives have lashed out at Labour's second U-turn on grooming gangs today after GB News was told that the Home office was now weighing up "more than five" local rape gang inquiries.

Tory sources told the People's Channel: "This is a humiliating U-turn from Labour after a fierce backlash to their decision to cancel the five local inquiries on the last day of Parliament.

"But as embarrassing as this reverse ferret is for Yvette Cooper and Jess Phillips, it still doesn't go far enough.

"Local inquiries cannot compel witnesses to give evidence, and they will not enable the public to see the full extent of the horrific abuse that occurred.

"Labour continue to shamefully drag their feet on this issue, and the British people will rightly be wondering why."

Badenoch hits back at sneering BBC Adolescence interview - 'SO many odd things!'

Kemi Badenoch has hit back at her BBC interviewers after she was forced to endure a grilling on Netflix drama Adolescence this morning - with the Tory leader having been left visibly non-plussed as the broadcaster's hosts rattled off a series of talking points.

"So many odd things about this interview," she said, then listed the following:

• BBC encouraging us to watch a fictional drama on a rival platform;
• The presenters thinking it was a real documentary;
• A lack of interest in REAL LIFE misogyny like the grooming gangs scandal - which Labour just broke a commitment on.

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".

'Ludicrous' Hamas ECHR legal case branded 'amateurish and desperate'

Hamas's legal application to be removed from Britain's list of proscribed terrorist groups has been branded "ludicrous", "amateurish" and "desperate" by the Campaign Against Antisemitism as the outcry against the bizarre ECHR case grows.

The appeal, submitted on behalf of Hamas by London-based law firm Riverway Law, said it was an "opportunity for the UK to change its course on the state's historic complicity in settler colonialism".

But now, Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, has said: "Our initial review of the so-called 'Hamas case' is that the submission is amateurish and desperate.

"It demonstrates that Hamas is struggling by any means necessary to stay afloat as pressure is brought to bear on the murderous Islamist group. If Hamas is no longer proscribed, it can be funded from the UK.

"It's a grotesque irony that the case to de-proscribe Hamas is being made as a human rights claim. Yes, a group that has deprived well in excess of a thousand Jews of their lives and two million Gazans of their safety is basing its appeal on human rights. The case argues that the proscription of Hamas deprives British citizens of their rights to freedom of expression and protest.

"But haven't we been told for a year and a half that all the protesters on our streets and elsewhere are not terrorist sympathisers? So whose rights are being curtailed, exactly? Are there people in Britain who are desperate to be able to reveal that they support Hamas and its aspiration to annihilate the Jewish people? This case appears to rest on the claim that there are.

"The courts must stand firm against Islamist antisemitism, and the Home Secretary must take seriously what this claim represents."

Birmingham Labour MPs and councillors flock to Runcorn - despite 'public health hazard' bin strike chaos

A string of Labour councillors and a party MP from Birmingham have all visited Runcorn & Helsby to campaign - despite a raging bin crisis in their backyard.

Political blog Guido Fawkes pointed out how when Glasgow North MP shared a photo of himself signing Labour's "activist wall" where Runcorn campaigners sign their names, several other Labour bigwigs could be seen.

Birmingham councillors Waseem Zaffar, Bushra Bi and Saima Suleman's signatures are all there - as is Birmingham Erdington MP Paulette Hamilton's.

Disgraced "sucker-punch MP" Mike Amesbury resigned on March 17, five days after the bin strike kicked off.

As of Thursday, the rubbish crisis has spiralled to the extent that health experts have issued a deadly disease warning.

Pat McFadden takes axe to Civil Service as more than 2,000 jobs cut

More than 2,000 jobs will be axed - with around 1,200 people set to be made redundant altogether - as part of sweeping cuts on the Civil Service, the Government has said.

Pat McFadden's Cabinet Office will cut its workforce by almost a third thanks to the cuts - and a source said on Thursday that the department was "leading by example".

A Cabinet Office source said: "Leading by example, we are creating a leaner and more focused Cabinet Office that will drive work to reshape the state and deliver our plan for change.

"This Government will target resources at frontline services - with more teachers in classrooms, extra hospital appointments and police back on the beat."

Home Office weighs up 'more than five' local inquiries - where could they be?

As the Home Office U-turns and moves to implement "more than five" local inquiries, speculation is growing as to where the local probes could fall.

An exclusive investigation by GB News earlier this year identified 50 towns and cities where child exploitation gangs have operated, revealing that the scale of the abuse is far greater than official reports have suggested.

Analysis suggests reports from Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford are the tip of the iceberg. Could your area soon see a rape gang probe?

SIGN UP TO GBN MEMBERSHIP AND READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Jess Phillips to host SECOND urgent briefing in 24 hours as Labour scrambles to calm MPs' fury 

Jess Phillips is now set to host an urgent briefing with MPs at 5pm this afternoon - the second she has held in 24 hours - in a bid to quell rising fury among the ranks of Labour backbenchers.

The Safeguarding Minister - who had made the initial announcement that Labour would be walking back from its pledge to back five locally-led rape gang inquiries - had previously decried "party-political misinformation about the action that is being taken when everyone should be trying to support victims and survivors".

RECAP: Labour MPs in uproar over party's grooming gangs U-turn as Jess Phillips fumes at 'misinformation'

Swathes of Labour MPs are in uproar over the party's controversial grooming gangs U-turn after Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips pared back the Home Office's plans for a series of locally-led inquiries.

Yesterday, ex-Equalities and Human Rights Commission boss Sir Trevor Phillips called the move "utterly shameful" as he warned that the decision was "obviously political" because of the "demographic of people involved".

And in a private WhatsApp group for Home Office affairs, MPs have complained that the walk-back has left them "besieged" by constituents - and have fumed that Trevor Phillips's remarks "are not helping".

The Times reports that backbenchers Cat Eccles, Dr Allison Gardner, Antonia Bance and Dan Aldridge are among those to voice their outrage and demand answers - but in response, Phillips chose to attack "party-political misinformation".

Dr Gardner said she would "appreciate" clarity as she claimed "Reform Facebook group infiltrators" were "going hard on this".

While Bance added that her email inbox had been "besieged with accusations" from furious constituents.

The Home Office then stepped in with a response - but that prompted further complaints as MPs accused the department of not answering their questions. "So Trevor Phillips is right then?" Aldridge jabbed.

Jess Phillips later said: "There is far too much party-political misinformation about the action that is being taken - when everyone should be trying to support victims and survivors.

"We will not hesitate to go further, unlike the previous Government, who showed no interest in this issue over 14 years and did nothing to progress the recommendations from the seven-year national inquiry when they had the chance."

'We can't just sit back and hope!' Starmer vows to 'rise to the moment' as PM backs £30m Doncaster Airport reopening

Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Britain cannot "just sit back and hope" and vowed to "rise to the moment" as he backed a £30million-valued investment in Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Speaking at the airport today, the Prime Minister said: "We've got to rise to the moment here, recognise where our future lies, renew Britain and deliver security for working people - and that's why we've taken the decision to accelerate our plans to create wealth in every community, and every community is really important here.

"We are not a Government [which is] just going to sit back and hope. I strongly believe that is how politics has failed our communities for so many years... what we've got to do, what we're offering, is fundamental change."

Labour South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard confirmed the decision to invest £30million in devolved funding to back a so-called "sustainable aviation hub" - which Angela Rayner's Housing Ministry said would create 5,000 jobs, boost the economy by £5billion and provide "wider benefits" of £2billion by 2050.

Esther McVey joins Rupert Lowe's rape gang inquiry

Tory MP Esther McVey has joined an "expert panel" on Rupert Lowe's crowd-funded rape gangs inquiry.

The probe - which has surpassed its £500,000 target to reach over £540,000 in public donations - released a statement on Thursday morning hailing how McVey, who started life as a Barnardo's child, "has a deep personal understanding of what it means to overcome adversity".

"She has spent years working with schools, teachers, and pupils to extend opportunity to every corner of the UK - regardless of background.

"Esther joins the panel to ensure that young voices are heard, victims are respected, and the institutions that failed them are held to account," it continued.

And reacting to the news, Lowe said: "So pleased to welcome Esther McVey to the inquiry's expert panel - we are building a proper team, including cross-party support."

Yvette Cooper insists local rape gang probes WILL go ahead as Home Secretary regurgitates Jess Phillips's 'political misinformation' claim

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has insisted that local inquiries into rape gangs in five towns will be going ahead - despite claiming a police investigation is "actually the best way of all of doing this".

Asked if all of the local investigations would take place, Cooper told LBC: "Yep. We're still going ahead. The framework is being drawn up at the moment."

And in a direct repeat of Jess Phillips's claims of "party-political misinformation", she added: "There's been, sadly, a lot of, I think, party-political misinformation about this.

"What we should be doing is all working together to support victims and survivors of these really vile crimes."

Starmer green-lights Sizewell C nuclear power plant as PM signs off on Tory Government plans

Sir Keir Starmer is set to green-light the Sizewell C nuclear power station as part of Labour's bid to boost Britain's growth.

The Prime Minister will formally approve investment for the Suffolk plant before the spending review in June, with the facility set to provide up to 7 per cent of the UK's energy by its completion in 2035 - at an estimated cost of £20billion.

Starmer will also announce the outcome of a Tory Government-era competition to develop "mini nuclear power stations" or small modular reactors (SMRs), for which he will push to be built across Britain alongside larger plants.

But the news, revealed by The Times this morning, has raised eyebrows - not least because Sizewell C was granted a nuclear site licence in May 2024 under Rishi Sunak's Government.

"Sizewell C will be the cornerstone of the UK's clean energy transition, supplying 6 million homes with green energy for decades," then-Conservative Nuclear Minister Andrew Bowie said at the time.

Kemi Badenoch forced to endure sneering BBC grilling on Adolescence TV show - 'I'm spending my time campaigning!'

Kemi Badenoch was forced to endure a grilling by BBC hosts on a Netflix TV show this morning - with the Tory leader visibly non-plussed as the broadcaster's presenters rattled off a series of talking points.

Asked whether she had watched "Adolescence" 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".

Badenoch hit back, saying: "Those are all important issues that I've been talking about for a long time. But in the same way that I don't need to watch Casualty to know what's going on in the NHS, I don't need to watch a specific Netflix drama to understand what's going on."

Adolescence has seen severe criticism from Free Speech Union director Lord Young, who warned that it "demonises white working-class boys".

However, an official Department for Culture, Media and Sport report labelled the show "vital", and has called for streaming firms like Netflix to pay a share of their revenue to support Britain's TV industry - including the BBC.

NHS waiting list shrinks for sixth consecutive month in reprieve for Wes Streeting

The waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has fallen for the sixth month in a row, NHS figures show.

An estimated 7.40 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of February, relating to 6.24 million patients - down from 7.43 million treatments and 6.25 million patients at the end of January.

Liz Truss leads fury at West Yorkshire Police white applicants BLOCKED in attempt to boost diversity - 'Two-tier Britain!'

Liz Truss has voiced her fury at West Yorkshire Police after it was revealed the force has temporarily blocked applications from white British candidates in an effort to boost diversity.

The former Prime Minister said this morning that the country was facing down a "serious problem" with "ideologically captured" police leadership - and warned that "a lot" was required to put an end to "two-tier Britain".

"Britain has a serious problem with police leadership being ideologically captured and pursuing anti-white discrimination," Truss fumed.

"Ministers should have to answer for this and take back the powers to do so. Also, Conservatives should have repealed the Equality Act, something I advocated at the time. A lot required to end two tier Britain."

Her outrage came after that of ex-Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, who warned that "anti-white racism is rife".

"Those responsible for this filth should be sacked in disgrace," Lowe said. "What message are we sending to young white boys and girls?"

READ THE FULL STORY ON WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE HERE

Now Yvette Cooper DEFENDS Labour U-turn as Home Secretary claims 'police investigations' are BETTER than inquiries

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended Labour's grooming gangs inquiries U-turn by claiming a police investigation is "actually the best way of all of doing this".

Speaking to the BBC this morning, Cooper backed the party's move to step back from running probes into Bradford, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford as she vowed "we've had already a seven-year statutory inquiry into child sexual abuse".

"Actually the best way of all of doing this is a police investigation," she said. "It’s not an inquiry, it's a police investigation so the most important thing we are doing is increasing police investigations."

But earlier this year, it was revealed that police officers failed to protect young girls from Rotherham's grooming gangs, opting instead to prioritise other crimes to meet Home Office targets.

The revelations were written up by police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in a report which was never published - despite its completion in June 2022 - before being leaked in January this year.

'Working people deserve better!' Farage fumes at Labour's 'pathetic' bid to rescue British Steel

Nigel Farage has launched a blistering attack on a Labour bid to rescue the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe in the latest intervention on the vital steelworks by the Reform UK boss.

Last night, the BBC reported that the Government has offered to buy the coking coal which is essential to keep steel production going in a written offer to British Steel's Chinese owner Jingye.

Today, talks between British Steel chiefs and Government officials are set to resume - and so far, Labour has not ruled out nationalising the firm, which employs 2,700 people, saying all options remain on the table.

Nationalising has also been a key pledge from Reform's top brass - which some have hailed as a calculated intervention to win over working Britons and traditional union-backing left-wing voters.

And this morning, Farage has slated Labour's coking coal push.

He said: "The Government's offer to buy coking coal for British Steel is pathetic. The Chinese owners want it to close down. Thousands of working people deserve better and our country needs this vital strategic asset."

'Not giving a running commentary!' Yvette Cooper plays it cool after latest Donald Trump tariff twist

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has vowed not to give a "running commentary" on Donald Trump's tariff U-turn after the President brought almost every country's levies back down to 10 per cent.

Cooper said: "We are seeing changes all the time. We are seeing quite a lot of global instability... in the economy, we are seeing it also on security, on defence issues.

"But I think that just comes back to the approach that we have taken - it's the plan for change the Prime Minister's set out, maintaining that stability in the face of the different turbulences," she told Sky News.

"We are not keeping a running commentary on different trade negotiations, on the different approaches that other governments are taking.

"What we are doing is just being really steady about this. We have made clear our principles and our approach. We want to see a reduction of trade barriers and we want to negotiate good arrangements that are in the UK’s interests."

'The madness continues!' Tice left incredulous after 'vile' Hamas SUES Labour under 'ludicrous' ECHR rules

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has been left incredulous after Hamas launched a legal application to be removed from Britain's list of proscribed terrorist groups.

The appeal, submitted on behalf of Hamas by London-based law firm Riverway Law, said it was an "opportunity for the UK to change its course on the state's historic complicity in settler colonialism" - and has invoked the controversial ECHR to make its case.

This morning, Tice said in a video message: "The madness continues! I'm not sure if it's April Fool's Day - but seriously, that vile antisemitic murderous terror group Hamas are appealing using, guess what, the European Convention on Human Rights, against their designation in the UK as a terror group. Unbelievable.

"I do hope that all those Labour MPs that rush to criticise Israel at the slightest provocation... I do hope they also condemn this as absolute madness.

"What happens if the ECHR says they're not a terror group? Will Keir Starmer, as our Prime Minister, abide by that? Or will he ignore such an ECHR ruling?

"This is complete insanity, and another reason why we must leave the ludicrous ECHR."

Home Office AGAIN slaps down grooming gang inquiry 'cancellation' claims - FULL STATEMENT

The Home Office's statement in response to The Times's reports of Labour MPs' uproar reads as follows:

"It is wholly wrong to claim the Government is cancelling local child sexual abuse inquiries. We will pursue justice for victims without fear or favour, and claims we would not do so to avoid offending any group are false.

"This Government is taking decisive action to finally tackle grooming gangs: strengthening the child sexual exploitation police taskforce, giving victims more powers to have their cases reviewed and making it a criminal offence to cover up any report of child sexual abuse.

"We have also commissioned a rapid national audit, led by Baroness Casey, to uncover the true scale of grooming gangs in the UK today, including looking at ethnicity.

"And we are providing £5million to help support local inquiries so we can deliver the meaningful change victims deserve."

Starmer told to 'get a grip and keep Britons safe' ahead of 'bobbies on the beat' police announcement

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to "get a grip" and "keep the British people safe" ahead of a major police announcement which will see the Prime Minister push for 13,000 more "bobbies on the beat" by 2029.

Starmer is expected to unveil the plan later today - with fears rising over a lack of visible police presence and soaring street crime.

And Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "Thanks to Labour’s jobs tax, our police services face a £118million shortfall, putting over 1,800 police jobs at risk.

"What's more, the Metropolitan Police are cutting 1,700 jobs and services, including moving officers out of schools, making our streets and schools less safe.

"The previous Conservative government delivered record police officers, but law and order is taking a back seat under Labour.

"They must urgently get a grip to ensure our police have the resources they need to cut crime and keep the British people safe."

READ THE FULL STORY ON STARMER'S POLICE SPEECH HERE

Fewer than two days remain to register to vote ahead of crunch local elections

Fewer than two days remain until you can register to vote in May 1's local and mayoral elections taking place across England.

Anyone not yet registered, or who is not sure about their eligibility, has until 11.59pm on Friday to submit an application at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

A total of 1,641 council seats in England are up for grabs on May 1 across 23 local authorities - and at the same time, voters will pick four regional mayors, two local mayors, and an MP for Runcorn & Helsby - where ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury resigned his seat after a common assault conviction.