Keir Starmer discusses Donald Trump trade deal in late-night call as UK makes ‘good progress’ on major Brexit win

Farage pleads Tories to smash 'Rayner's local election stitch-up' as cancellations face crunch vote TODAY

Nigel Farage has urged Tory peers to condemn Angela Rayner's local election cancellations in the Lords today in a bid to hand 5.5 million Britons the chance to vote.

This morning, the Reform UK leader unusually put his weight behind Green and Liberal Democrat baronesses who have tabled "fatal motions" to avert Rayner's local authority shake-ups and allow the May 1 elections to proceed.

With both Labour and the Conservatives widely expected to suffer large-scale losses in May, the "minor" parties have come together to demand democracy in the face of the Government's "stitch-up".

And now, Farage has said: "It would be disingenuous for the Conservatives to vote for the same motion in the Commons but then vote against this motion in the Lords.

"If the Conservatives really care about democracy, their peers will vote for 5.5 million people to have their voice heard in May."

While his Lib Dem counterpart Sir Ed Davey said: "This is a disgraceful stitch-up between Labour and the Conservatives... The Liberal Democrats made sweeping gains at the general election, and failing Conservative councils are now running scared of the voters.

"It's now down to Kemi Badenoch to make sure the Conservatives in the Lords do the right thing and back our motion so we can restore votes to millions of people."

His comments were echoed by a Reform spokesman - who said the Tories "have a chance today to stand against Rayner's local election stitch up" and let "people have their voices heard".

While a spokesman for Rayner's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We have agreed to postpone scheduled elections from May 2025 until May 2026 only, for nine councils whose requests met the high bar we set.

"This postponement is necessary to unlock devolution and deliver reorganisation to the fastest-possible timeline, which will drive growth and mean more money in people's pockets, greater accountability, and the ability to reinvest in vital public services."

IN FULL: Runcorn & Helsby by-election candidates

Following Reform UK's announcement, all the major parties have selected candidates to contest an expected May 1 by-election in Runcorn & Helsby.

Ranked by their parties' vote share at the 2024 General Election, they are:

• Karen Shore (Labour)
• Sarah Pochin (Reform UK)
• Sean Houlston (Conservative)
• Chris Copeman (Green)
• Paul Duffy (Liberal Democrats)
• Danny Clarke (Liberal)
• Peter Ford (Workers Party)
• Michael Williams (Independent)

'Lawmaker, not a lawbreaker!' Tory defector Sarah Pochin to contest Runcorn by-election for Reform UK

Former Conservative councillor Sarah Pochin will contest the Runcorn & Helsby by-election for Reform UK, the party has confirmed.

In a statement this afternoon, leader Nigel Farage said: "Sarah is a great candidate who has enjoyed a successful career in private business and has represented the local community as a magistrate for the past 20 years.

"She has honourably resigned from that role to fight this by-election for Reform UK. Vote for a lawmaker, not a lawbreaker in Runcorn & Helsby."

While Pochin herself said: "Runcorn & Helsby has been failed by successive Labour representatives - now is their chance to elect someone that can fight their corner in Westminster and deliver the regeneration that we desperately need.

"Reform UK stands for family, community, and country - values that I have dedicated my life to upholding. Whether it's higher taxes, cutting the winter fuel allowance or destroying small business, Labour has let local people down. Runcorn & Helsby needs Reform."

Reform UK to unveil Runcorn & Helsby by-election candidate in just MINUTES

Reform UK is set to unveil its candidate to contest the Runcorn & Helsby by-election in just a few minutes' time.

Leader Nigel Farage will be holding a press conference in the constituency from 1pm - and is set to put speculation to bed over who could be running to replace disgraced MP Mike Amesbury.

Among the names suggested include Jason Moorcroft, who stood for Reform at the General Election, "Brexit bad boy" Arron Banks, and ex-Tory councillor Sarah Pochin.

We'll bring you live updates as they come in...

Starmer hints at UK-US 'economic prosperity deal' in Brexit breakthrough - despite Labour left's meltdown over 'appeasing' Trump

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump spoke about an "economic prosperity deal" over the phone on Sunday night, Downing Street said.

Asked whether Labour's digital services tax would be axed, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Firstly, just taking a step back, the UK is working with the United States on an economic prosperity deal, building on our shared strength of that commitment to economic security.

"As part of those discussions, the Prime Minister and President Trump discussed progress made in those discussions last night.

"The UK will only do a deal in the national interest, which reflects this Government's mandate to deliver economic stability for British people."

"In relation to the digital services tax, the Chancellor this morning said that the digital services tax is hugely important.

"It brings in around £800million a year and ensures that companies pay tax in the country that they're operating in. So we will continue to make sure that businesses pay their fair share of tax, including businesses in the digital sector."

Last night, left-wing Labour MPs accused the Prime Minister of "appeasing" Trump through a rumoured tax cut for American tech firms.

One, Clive Lewis, said: "This was entirely predictable given how desperate the Government is to appease the Trump administration and tech oligarchs around it.

"This is extractive politics at its worst and exactly the kind of deal the Maga movement wants. Rather than move closer to Europe and stand together, we're allowing ourselves to be ripped off."

MPs in line for £1.6MILLION pay rise next year, parliamentary standards watchdog confirms

Commons salaries will rise by 2.8 per cent over the next financial year, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has confirmed.

At present, MPs receive £91,346 of taxpayer cash every year alongside expenses - which is set to rise to a little over £93,903.

Multiplied by 650, that amounts to a more than £1.6million-valued pay rise.

Taxpayer-funded migrant hotels will continue for YEARS, Treasury admits - as hoteliers rake in 'record profits'

Migrant hotels across Britain will continue receiving millions of pounds of taxpayer cash for years to come, the Treasury has revealed.

New papers published by No11's "Office for Value for Money" have warned that "global instability" means the hotels will continue - at a cost of £41,000 per migrant, or a staggering £5.5millon every day.

Shortly after last summer's General Election, Rachel Reeves claimed a £4.6billion overspend on the hotels formed a significant chunk of the so-called £22bn "black hole" inherited from the Conservatives - and now, ahead of the Spring Statement, the Treasury could move to slash public spending on them.

The papers also reveal that migrant hotel contractors "made record profits in recent years, leading to accusations of profiteering", with the £41,000-per-migrant figure a nearly 2.5-fold increase from £17,000 in 2020, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank.

Right now, there are 8,000 more asylum seekers living in hotels than when Sir Keir Starmer pledged to end them in the run-up to the election, "saving the taxpayer billions of pounds".

It costs £145 every night to house just one asylum seeker in a hotel - while "dispersal accommodation" including houses and flats costs around £14.

More than 38,000 migrants are in hotels, while further 65,707 migrants are in dispersal accommodation.

Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft has said his department's "overarching aim" is to "exit" hotels by the end of the Parliament - while Labour expects that its commitment to build 1.5 million homes in England by the next election will wipe out the demand for migrant hotels.

Average pint prices to SOAR thanks to 'unfair' Rachel Reeves tax hike

The average price of a pint of beer is set to surge past £5 for the first time in the UK, hospitality bosses have warned.

Research from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and Frontier Economics shows the average cost is expected to rise by 21p, from £4.80 to £5.01 in April.

It comes amid a raft of cost increases linked to last October's Budget which will come into force next month - with the National Minimum Wage and employers' National Insurance contributions both going up.

Meanwhile, a new packaging reform scheme, described by the BBPA as "chaotic and unfair", will add further pressure on pubs and drinkers alike - with the group's chief executive Emma McClarkin issuing a dire warning...

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Rare relief for Rachel Reeves as business booms - but economists warn new figures 'do NOT signal a recovery'

Rachel Reeves has been handed a growth lifeline this morning after private sector activity grew by the highest rate since August last year, according to new data.

The S&P Global flash UK composite purchasing managers' index (PMI) reported a reading of 52 in March, up from 50.5 in February.

The latest reading was stronger than expected, with analysts having predicted a reading of 51 for the month.

Any score above 50.0 indicates that activity is growing, while any score below means it is contracting.

In response, Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: "An upturn in business activity in March brings some good news for the Government ahead of the Chancellor's Spring Statement, offering a respite from the recent flow of predominantly downbeat economic data.

"However, just as one swallow does not a summer make, one good PMI doesn't signal a recovery," he warned.

Starmer rules out 'Minister for Men' role as he reveals personal talks with Gareth Southgate

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out having a "Minister for Men" amid a row over problems facing Britain's boys and men sparked by Netflix drama Adolescence.

Last week - just as a row over the show began to brew - ex-England manager Sir Gareth Southgate warned that males were turning to "manipulative and toxic influencers" because of a lack of role models.

And speaking to the BBC this morning, the Prime Minister has backed the former Three Lions boss's call.

After revealing he had spoken to Southgate about the issue, he said: "I am worried about this, I've got a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl.

"There's a reason why the debate has suddenly sparked into life on this and that's because I think a lot of parents, a lot of people who work with young people at school or elsewhere, recognise that we may have a problem with boys and young men that we need to address."

He also suggested footballers and athletes could be inspiring role models for boys and young men - but said there was also a need for "inspirational people in communities".

Asked who British male role models were, Starmer said: "I always go to sport for this. Footballers, athletes, I think they are role models.

"But I also think if you actually ask a young person, they're more likely to identify somebody who's in their school, a teacher, or somebody who maybe is a sports coach, something like that."

But he rejected the idea of creating a "Minister for Men", saying: "I don't think that's the answer."

Transport Secretary dodges questions on Rachel Reeves's Sabrina Carpenter 'freebies' row

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said she does not have "anything further to add" about Rachel Reeves accepting free tickets to see Sabrina Carpenter live as she vowed that she had not accepted any "freebies" herself.

She told Times Radio: "I haven't taken any tickets, to be honest, since I was elected back in (July) as a new Member of Parliament, and going straight into the Ministry of Justice and then coming straight into the Department for Transport.

"I actually, sadly, haven't been to see any concerts at all over the last nine months, partly because I've been very, very busy.

"As a Member of Parliament, I have never accepted tickets to any concerts or anything like that."

When pressed on the issue, she said she has not been to concerts because she has "a very busy diary and I've got to prioritise my time".

"When I've got time off, actually, spending some time with my family and my husband is actually a more attractive option to me, if I’m honest," she said.

Mike Amesbury admits downing 'six or seven pints' before punching constituent as he reveals winter fuel cuts were part of late-night row

Disgraced MP Mike Amesbury has revealed that he drank "probably six or seven pints" before punching a constituent.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, the outgoing Runcorn & Helsby MP said he had consumed the drinks in three pubs on an empty stomach after a busy Friday in Parliament.

Amesbury pleaded guilty in January to assaulting constituent Paul Fellows, 45, after a late-night row in Frodsham, Cheshire, in the early hours of October 26.

He said the incident happened as Labour was having "a tough time in Parliament" - and admitted: "I am being punished and rightfully so."

"I was a very public face in community, a connected Member of Parliament - but whether it [was] winter fuel, other issues as well... People were quite vexed," he said.

"Lots of MPs have got personal alarms on them and so forth. Fellows was somewhat vexed about a local bridge. I think you mentioned winter fuel as well.

"I did feel personally threatened at that time and I made an instantaneous judgment call which was wrong. I should have walked away."

Fury as it's revealed Angela Rayner requested personal SAFARI TRIP on Ethiopia visit

Angela Rayner asked to go on a personal safari trip during an official visit to Ethiopia last month, The Times reports.

The Deputy Prime Minister had been visiting the east African nation on business - but two Government sources said that while away, she asked officials whether she could use the opportunity to see Ethiopia's wildlife.

Rayner was then slapped down by civil servants, with one source telling the newspaper that "she was told that's not how these things worked".

Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: "You'd think she'd have enough on her plate dealing with the realities of setting a totally unrealistic target of building 1.5 million homes, abolishing every district and county council in England and trying to save the high street from the disastrous impact of massive tax hikes and new employment red tape.

"Clearly she has more important things to do swanning around the world."

But No10 defended the trip - the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "She's in Ethiopia to develop the UK's ambitions for the region.

"UK ­companies have played an important role in strengthening financial markets in Ethiopia.

"We'll be working with Ethiopia in developing AI... There's plenty of areas in the UK-Ethiopia partnership which support UK businesses."

'Fix the potholes or lose your funding!' Starmer's gambit to councils as PM lays siege to Britain's ruined roads

Sir Keir Starmer has told councils to prove they are tackling potholes - or face losing the cash to fix them.

The Prime Minister said councils must "get on with the job" of fixing potholes as he announced an additional £4.8billion of funding to carry out work on motorways and major A-roads across Britain.

Local authorities will start to get their share of £1.6billion in highway maintenance funding confirmed by the former Tory Government last year in mid-April.

But from Monday, they will be required to publish annual progress reports - or face having funding withheld.

"The public deserves to know how their councils are improving their local roads, which is why they will have to show progress or risk losing 25 per cent of their £500million funding boost," Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.

Councils will have to detail how much they spend and how many potholes they have filled in reports published on their websites by June 30.

Sir Keir Starmer said: "British people are bored of seeing their politicians aimlessly pointing at potholes with no real plan to fix them. That ends with us.

"We've done our part by handing councils the cash and certainty they need - now it's up to them to get on with the job, put that money to use and prove they're delivering for their communities."

Top Tories lay groundwork for MERGER with Reform UK - 'We can't go into an election divided!'

Tory peer Lord Frost has opened the door to a merger with Reform UK as the two right-wing parties continue to jostle in the polls.

The ex-Brexit negotiator told attendees at the Margaret Thatcher Centre yesterday that "pacts or arrangements will have to be on the agenda" - and warned colleagues against saying anything "difficult to come back from".

"We need to let this competition play out," Frost said. "If we get to within 12 months of another General Election and we're still divided 50/50 or thereabouts, then obviously pacts, arrangements will have to be on the agenda.

"We can't go into an election divided again and losing... but we're not at that point at the moment. We do need competition. We do need to show who is the most fitted to hold out on the right.

"We are going to have to work together at some point, whether it’s in two parties, whether it's in one party, that's still to be decided.

"But the people - us - all of us as people on the right are going to have to work together, and we need to act in ways that makes that possible."

Labour admits migrant hotel costs 'skyrocketing' as spokesman blames 'Tory backlog'

Reacting to this morning's top story on migrant hotels, a Government spokesman said: "The cost to the taxpayer for short-term residential accommodation has skyrocketed, after the Government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed.

"We are absolutely committed to ending the use of hotels, and since coming into government have taken immediate action to restart asylum processing to begin closing hotels, have surged the number of returns, removing more than 19,000 people with no right to be in the UK, and established the Border Security Command to dismantle the gangs driving this trade.

"The Office of Value for Money will work with departments, local government and the private sector to tackle these problems, ensuring a more strategic, co-ordinated approach that delivers better value for the taxpayer."