Politics LIVE: Shock new poll has Reform UK surging to highest figure so far with more than one in four picking Farage's party
Nigel Farage says the UK is in 'very much deeper trouble than they care to admit'
GB News
A national poll has put Reform UK surging to its highest figure so far - with more than one in four choosing Farage's party.
The research, conducted by pollster YouGov, reveals that 26 per cent of the public would vote for the populist party, if an election were to be held tomorrow - meaning that Reform has topped the poll for the second week in a row.
Labour is one point behind on 25 per cent, meanwhile the Tories are trailing at third place with 21 per cent.
The Lib Dems have kept their 14 points with the Greens on nine cent and the SNP taking three per cent.
Reform chairman Zia Yusuf said: "Reform now leads in the latest YouGov voting intention poll - with our highest ever level of support, and five points clear of the Tories. Real change is coming to Britain."
With just five MPs in the Commons, the party has proved itself capable of effectively climbing the polls ahead of the local elections in May.
Their poll success has come amid refutations from both Farage and Kemi Badenoch on the possibility of a pact between the two political parties.
Badenoch said the very suggestion of an agreement was "for the birds" as she dismissed the idea altogether on her 100th day as Leader of the Opposition.
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UK funded £1.3m diversity scheme in Mauritius during Chagos negotiations despite £18bn payment for Diego Garcia base
The UK splashed £1.3million of taxpayer funds on a diversity scheme in Mauritius
GETTY/PA
The UK splashed £1.3million of taxpayer funds on a diversity scheme in Mauritius while conducting the Chagos Islands' negotiations.
British taxpayers' cash has gone towards a bespoke aid programme - which included a scheme to hike up female representation in the Mauritian renewable energy sector - while Starmer was fighting to "surrender" the territory.
In his attempt to give up the Indian Ocean Territory, the PM has been blasted for the sheer cost of giving up the land - which could be up to £18billion to the Diego Garcia base.
The Government would be required to make the payment across 99 years.
Those fighting against the plans have claimed that Keir Starmer is trying to appease international courts - which could, in turn, put the UK's special relationship at risk.
The diversity scheme is costing Britain tens of thousands each month and is run by the British High Commission in Port Louis.
In addition to the £200,000 aimed at increasing the number of women and young people "occupying jobs in the renewable energy sector" by March this year.
The Government has deemed the project "good value for money" while Britain continues to foot the bill for training workshops for women and young people interested in green energy.
Britain not expected to join EU in retaliation against Donald Trump
Britain is not set to join the economic bloc in its fight to retaliate against America in the wake of Donald Trump's announcement of his plans to slam steel imports with 25 per cent tariffs.
The Republican announced that the new tariffs would be imposed on "any steel coming into the United States".
Senior Whitehall sources have revealed that plans for retaliatory tariffs on the US had been drafted up, although they shared concerns that any retaliatory move might end up spurring on more drastic action from the President.
Badenoch to take inspiration from Trump in newest media approach
The Leader of the Opposition has been inspired by the US President's media playbook as Tory co-chairman Nigel Huddleston announced that "non-traditional media outlets" are "vital" to engage younger voters.
In an email to commemorate Badenoch reaching 100 days in her role - a feat which has not been managed by all her successors - Nigel Huddleston said: "As we also saw in the USA, engagement with the non-traditional media outlets, such as podcasts, is vital to connecting with younger, more online audiences.
“There’s a lot we can learn from our sister parties around the world. Particularly those who’ve recently taken their party from opposition into Government," he added.
Farage blasts Labour's 19,000 migrant removals as 'feeble' pointing to 600,000 illegals in London
PA/Home Office
Nigel Farage has slammed Labour's crackdown on migration as "feeble" - as he pointed to 600,000 illegal migrants living in London alone.
Yesterday, Starmer's party bragged about removing 19,000 illegal migrants by releasing pictures of migrants' deportations.
The video, which is about two-and-a-half minutes long, shows multiple foreign nationals, some in restraints, being led onto a specially chartered aircraft.
It is believed that the Home Office carried out 5,074 enforced returned between July 5 last year and the end of January.
As a result, since the General Election last year, Home Office has claimed that a total of 18,987 unsuccessful asylum seekers, foreign criminals and illegal migrants have been removed from Britain and sent back to their home nation - the highest rate of returns in the UK since 2018.
Officials confirmed that 2,925 foreign national offenders have been deported.
"With an estimated 600,000 illegals in London alone, these numbers are feeble," he told the Daily Mail.
Research led by think tanks, campaign groups and universities, however, indicate that there are approximately 600,000 to 1.2million illegal migrants in Britain.
'Our hands are tied!' Labour accused of 'not listening' despite THIRD tractor protest by farmers: 'We have to wait four years for a U-turn'
Farmer James Fairlie claims Labour 'haven't grasped the importance of what they're messing with'PA / GB NewsA farmer has claimed that the agricultural industry will have to "wait longer than Labour survives in Government" before they see a U-turn on inheritance tax.
Following their third Westminster protest against the proposed changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, farmer James Fairlie told GB News that they are "still not being listened to".
Discussing the latest protest, Fairlie described a "buoyant atmosphere" in Westminster, but noted significant disappointment at the lack of official engagement with the Government.
"Rachel from accounts, she's just not listening, and I don't think Labour have grasped the importance of what they're messing with here," Fairlie said.
Labour MP proposes axing safeguarding provision in assisted dying bill
The Labour MP responsible for spearheading the assisted dying bill has sought to scrap a key safeguard of the controversial policy.
Kim Leadbeater proposed the removal of the requirement to gain a High Court's approval of each assisted death after ex-judges suggested that such a provision might overwhelm the courts.
Instead, the MP suggested that each case must be seen by a three-person panel, made up of a social worker and psychiatrist, accompanied by a senior lawyer or former High Court judge.
Starmer set to meet Trump as soon as NEXT WEEK in first summit since President enters Oval Office
The Prime Minister is due to visit Donald Trump in Washington DC
PA/REUTERS
The Prime Minister is due to visit Donald Trump in Washington DC before the end of February - marking their first engagement since the President entered the White House.
It is possible the meeting could take place as soon as next week while Downing Street remains alert for Trump's availability.
The summit of the two world leaders could prove detrimental to the "special relationship" between Britain and America as Donald Trump continues on his tariff tirade across the globe.
Donald Trump will not target UK in tariff trade war, Mandelson says
Donald Trump will not take aim at Britain over tariffs, the British ambassador to the US has said.
Peter Mandelson - whose job started yesterday - promised to ensure the UK did not "become collateral damage" in the President's international trade war.
Although he admitted that he was "concerned" about potential tariffs on Britain, he said: "We actually have a very balanced trade relationship between Britain and the US. I don’t believe that his tariffs are actually directly targeted at us.
"That shouldn’t make us complacent, and I’m not complacent. I’m going to focus, in a laser-like way, on the dialogue between us to make sure that we do not become collateral damage in the US," he told the BBC.
"But in the meantime, I don’t think we should be overreacting."
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