Farming minister TRAPPED in taxi by fuming farmers - ‘Come out and talk!’

Labour accused of grooming gangs 'sham' as Tory MP claims funding for inquiries is being 'watered down': 'This is a national scandal!'

Conservative MP Robbie Moore has launched a scathing attack on the Labour Government, accusing them of using "smoke and mirrors" when dealing with grooming gangs by "watering down funding" for localised inquiries into the crimes.

Taking to social media, the Tory minister claimed Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the Government have been "secretly gutting each of their promises to victims behind closed doors", branding their entire rape gang strategy a "sham".

Addressing the grooming gangs issue, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has also tabled an amendment to force Labour to hold a statutory national inquiry.

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Ed Miliband’s department racked up £40,000 on UK flights over SIX months

Ed Miliband is facing accusations of “astounding” hypocrisy after his department spent more than £40,000 on domestic flights during Labour’s first six months in Government.

As Energy and Net Zero Secretary, Miliband oversaw greater spending on UK air travel than his Conservative predecessor during the first half of 2024.

The domestic flights add to a series of international trips made by Miliband, including long-haul journeys to attend global climate summits.

According to newly released figures, Miliband—who has previously urged Britons to cut down on domestic flights “as much as we possibly can”—saw air travel costs within the UK by his department reach £43,644 between July and December 2024.

Labour-run council blasted over new 'white privilege test' for staff: 'This is Britain!'

Westminster City Council has been lambasted after encouraging staff to complete a "privilege" test as part of efforts to combat unconscious bias against ethnic minorities.

The Labour led council is seeking to boost its recruitment of "global majority" candidates for senior roles, insiders have claimed.

Speaking to GB News, Political Commentator Aman Bhogal hit out at the recruitment process, branding it "absolutely bonkers".

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WATCH: Daniel Zeichner blocked by protesting farmers

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs noted that both farming minister Daniel Zeichner and Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, had been visiting farmers on Thursday.

The protest was led by the group Farmers to Action, who were demonstrating against Rachel Reeves' inheritance tax changes.

Former Birmingham MP brands bin chaos 'absolutely disgraceful' in heated rant

Former Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood has branded the ongoing bin strikes in the city as "absolutely disgraceful" as an estimated 17,000 tonnes of waste remains uncollected across the UK's second largest city.

The strikes have been ongoing for weeks, leading to serious public health concerns with residents reporting rat infestations.

The situation has prompted Birmingham City Council to declare a major incident on Monday as the dispute between Unite union and the council continues.

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Farage’s odds of succeeding Starmer as PM surge with Reform leader twice as likely as Badenoch

Nigel Farage's odds of becoming the next Prime Minister have increased in a blow to Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives.

Latest odds on Oddschecker have the Clacton MP's chances to succeed Sir Keir Starmer in 10 Downing Street at 3/1, ahead of Badenoch on 6/1. Meanwhile, health secretary Wes Streeting, who some commentators have tipped as a possible future Labour leader, has odds of 10/1, with shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick at 11/1.

It comes as Reform UK has confirmed it is fielding 1,630 candidates across the country in the upcoming local elections, compared to Labour’s 1,540 and the Conservative's 1,594.

Farage said: "This will be the first time since 1902 that the Conservatives or Labour did not field the most candidates at an election. We are in the game and we’re in it to win it."

Downing Street declines to say if Starmer was 'very happy' with Trump

Downing Street declined to verify President Donald Trump’s claim that Sir Keir Starmer is "very happy" with Britain’s tariff treatment.

Asked whether it was right to say the Prime Minister was very happy, a Number 10 spokesman said: "I think you have the Business Secretary’s words… we’re disappointed by the tariffs that have been brought in.

"Clearly, there will be an economic impact from the decisions the US has taken, both here and globally, but both the Prime Minister and the Business Secretary have been very clear over the last 24 hours that we will continue to act in the best interests of the UK, and we’re prepared to do so."

Charity group says Labour’s refusal to lift the two-child benefit cap has pulled 30,000 more into poverty

A charity group has said Labour's refusal to lift the two-child benefit cap has pulled tens of thousands more children into poverty.

Analysis by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) finds that an estimated 30,000 more children will have been pulled into poverty by the policy since the government took office.

Polling suggests voters favour the cap, but most Labour MPs want to see it scrapped, and many are disappointed that has not happened already.

Chief executive of CPAG Alison Garnham said: "The government’s child poverty strategy will fall flat on its face unless it scraps the two-child limit.

"Every day the policy forces families to go hungry and damages the life chances of children up and down the country. Reducing the record high levels of child poverty in the UK will require a whole government effort, but abolishing the two-child limit is the essential first step."

WATCH: Stride issues warning over 'worrying time' as 'TRILLIONS wiped off global markets'

Mel Stride, has warned that "trillions of dollars" have been wiped off global markets following Donald Trump's sweeping tariff announcement.

The stark warning comes as financial markets continue to reel from the US President's "liberation day" declaration on Wednesday.

The Shadow Chancellor emphasised the urgent need for a UK-US trade deal as markets tumble.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Former home secretary Amber Rudd says she wants to relations between Tories and EU

The former Conservative Home Secretary Amber Rudd said "we’re all pro-Europeans" as she looks to rebuild relationships between her party and the EU.

Rudd, who served as Home Secretary between July 2016 and April 2018 insisted she was not looking to re-run the Brexit referendum.

She said: "I would say that now, under the current international circumstances, we’re all pro-Europeans...Former Remainers like myself are not campaigning to rejoin, we are not campaigning for another vote.

"All that is finished, it’s in the past, and I think it’s quite important to say that that’s all in the past.

"What we want now is what’s the best relationship within the Conservative Party to position ourselves for the future, for a future Conservative government facing towards Europe."

Starmer meets Barbados Prime Minister at Downing Street as countries call for 'common ground'

Sir Keir Starmer said the UK’s history with Barbados was “long and rich” as he welcomed Prime Minister Mia Mottley to Downing Street.

Prime Minister Mottley had previously said Barbados was owed $4.9tn (£1.9tn) by slave-owning nation.

The former British colony, became independent from the UK in 1966, assuming the status of a Commonwealth realm with Elizabeth II as monarch.

The country then transitioned to a republic within the Commonwealth in 2021, replacing the monarchy with a ceremonial president.

The Prime Minister said: "We’ve known each other many, many years as good colleagues and now as leaders who work together, think alike. The history between our countries is long and rich and the future challenges we face – we face together.”

Labour draws up '400-page hitlist' of US goods in revenge over Trump tariffs

Labour have drawn up a "hit list" of US goods amid discussion of potential retaliatory tariffs.

While ministers still hope for an "economic deal" with the US to secure some exemption from the tariffs, with Sir Keir Starmer promising businesses that he would "fight for the best deal for Britain."

An “indicative list” published by the Government showed products that could be targeted, including bourbon whiskey, motorcycles, guitars and jeans.

However, an immediate response is unlikely as Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told MPs he would hold a four-week consultation on retaliatory action.

Dental contract remains 'unfit for purpose' say Lib Dems

Measures introduced last year with the aim of boosting access to NHS dentists appear to have "resulted in worsening the picture."

The Dental Recovery Plan has "comprehensively failed" according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), amid warnings that vulnerable patients "continue to suffer the most."

Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said: "This report states what the millions who have tried to get a dentist appointment or even register with an NHS dentist have experienced. That dentistry is broken and is causing real suffering across the country.

"The Conservative Party’s beyond shameful neglect brought us to this point but the Labour government has offered absolutely nothing in rectifying this disastrous situation.

"Ministers have moved far too slowly in reforming the broken dental contract and bringing an end to dental deserts so everyone can get the care they need when they need it."

Hunt demands Starmer to copy Singapore to combat Trump tariffs

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt has called on Labour to "copy Singapore" in response to President Donald Trump's global tariff plan.

In his first major statement since leaving office, the MP for Godalming and Ash urged the Prime Minister to make Britain a low-tax nation that welcomed free trade and could thrive at a time of international instability, copying the model adapted by Singapore.

He told The Telegraph: “Countries like Singapore demonstrate, openness can still deliver excellent results. Over the last half century, its living standards have grown five times faster than ours.

"Those who deride the idea of 'Singapore-on-Thames' fail to understand that the heart of their success has not been a harder-edged social policy but the building up of internationally competitive businesses through willingness to trade."

Lammy says Britons would be 'very concerned' over Trump tariffs

David Lammy said he regretted the “return to protectionism” in the US and that Britons would be “very concerned” about how tariffs affect their finances.

The Foreign Secretary told reporters: “The United Kingdom, like France, is a great maritime nation. We are a nation that believes in open trade, and I regret the return to protectionism in the United States, something that we’ve not seen for nearly a century.

"As you know, we are consulting with business and industry. At this time, we are engaged in discussions with the United States to strike an economic agreement and an economic deal.

"And of course, we have been absolutely clear that all options are on the table as we ensure the national interests of the British people, who will be very concerned at this time about how this affects the bottom line for them and their economic welfare.

"We will put their national interest first, and it’s in their national interests to be negotiating with the United States an economic agreement at this time, but keeping all options on the table."

Reform and Liberal Democrats take victories in by-elections

Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats saw overnight success in three council by-elections.

Nigel Farage's party won the Sutton South East seat on St Helens Council, taking it off the Lib Dems.

Meanwhile, Sir Ed Davey's party took a pair of scalps from Labour on the Park seat on Lincoln Council and Cwmllynfell & Ystalyfera on the Neath Port Talbot council.

Greens call on Labour to take stance against Trump's 'divide and rule'

The Greens have called on Labour to take a stance against Trump's tariff plan and look towards the US and Canada for future trading.

Co-leader Carla Denyer said: "We need to work together to oppose Trump’s divide-and-rule tactics.

"In the first instance, that means standing with partners like the EU and Canada who share our commitment to trade agreements rather than trade coercion."

The MP for Bristol Central continued: "It’s a fantasy to believe that our long-term economic prosperity can be left in the hands of whether or not we are in Trump’s favour on any one given day.

"As such, we must prioritise securing a Customs Union agreement with the EU so that we regain the strength of being part of a larger bloc."

James Murray says UK in 'better position' than other countries over tariff plans

A Treasury minister said the UK was "disappointed" with US tariffs when asked if Donald Trump was right to say Britain was “very happy" with its treatment.

Exchequer secretary to the Treasury James Murray said the UK was in a "better position" than other countries because it is on the lowest band of tariffs but would keep all options on the table.

“The Prime Minister set out his reaction yesterday when he met businesses,” Murray told Times Radio when asked whether Trump was right. "We’re disappointed at tariffs being imposed globally.”