Farage SLAMS Tories for ‘non-announcement’ on immigration - 'Why on earth would I or anyone else believe them now?'

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That's it for our live blog from GB News today. We'll be back tomorrow morning.

You can catch up on all the coverage from Westminster today on GB News here.

Starmer urged to intervene in bid to free Alaa Abd El-Fattah from Egyptian jail

Sir Keir Starmer must intervene in the case of a dual national who is imprisoned in Egypt, his mother has said 58 days into a hunger strike.

Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a 43-year-old British-Egyptian pro-democracy writer, was sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of spreading false news in December 2021.

Based on his sentence, he should have been released in September but remains behind bars, according to the Free Alaa campaign which is calling for his release.

His 68-year-old mother Laila Soueif is now 58 days into a hunger strike in protest over his continued imprisonment in Egypt.

Downing Street says UK would respect domestic legal process on Netanyahu ICC arrest warrant

The UK would respect the process set out under domestic legislation when it comes to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, Downing Street said, after France suggested it might not enforce it.

The French Foreign Ministry said the Israeli prime minister benefits from immunity because Israel is not a member of the court.

Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: "When it comes to the ICC judgment, as we’ve said previously, we’re not going to comment on specific cases, but we have a domestic legal process in the UK that follows the ICC Act of 2001 that includes various considerations as part of that process, including immunities.

"And that’s exactly why… we aren’t going to pre-empt the domestic legal process, which… has not been used in the UK before, as an ICC indictee has never travelled to the UK."

Lammy insists Donald Trump is 'not a loser'

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has told the Commons that Donald Trump is "not a loser."

It comes after Lammy came under fire described the President-elect in historic comments as a "tyrant" and "a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath"

Asked whether he thought the US would comply with its Article 5 responsibilities under Trump’s presidency, Lammy told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee: “I’m really confident.

"I think it’s important to recognise that Donald Trump’s pushing and cajoling of Europe to step up on defence spending is consistent with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Obama all saying the same thing."

Pointing out that Trump had increased spending on Nato and sent the first Javelin missiles to Ukraine, Lammy said: "The rhetoric is tough and exacting under Donald Trump, and the global community can look back and can see that.

"He wants a deal. I’ve met him, he’s certainly not a loser. I’m quite sure that Nato as we understand it, the best alliance of countries the modern world has seen, will continue and go from strength to strength."

Farage slams Kemi Badenoch's Conservative announcement

The Conservative Party broke its manifesto promises on immigration in 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Why should we believe a word they say?

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) November 27, 2024

Lammy insists there can be 'no room' for annexation of the West Bank by Israel but refuses to say what Labour would do

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has issued a stark warning that there can be "no room" for the annexation of the West Bank by Israeli troops.

He told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee: "It is the UK Government’s position that we want to see two states. We want to see a secure and safe Israel, but the Palestinian cause and the desire for a state of their own is an admirable one that I would want to support.

“There can be no room for annexation, which would be illegal and quite outwith of international law and international norms.

“So, I’ve heard that talked about, but I, again, across the G7 that I have just come from, there was widespread concern about any suggestion of annexation because annexation would run a coach and horses through the Oslo Accords and through our desire for a two-state solution to this problem.”

He declined to specify what actions the UK would take if Israel annexed the West Bank, saying he would not "engage in hypotheticals of that kind."

He added: "I’m going to do all I can to ensure that that doesn’t happen."

Martin Daubney left GOBSMACKED as Tories make ‘damage limitation’ announcement

Kemi Badenoch’s “damage limitation” announcement today in Westminster left Martin Daubney “gesticulating at the TV”, the GB News star has revealed.

The new Tory leader pledged to review the UK’s membership of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) in a bid to clamp down on migration.

Along with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Badenoch took aim at the new Labour Government ahead of tomorrow’s data dump which is expected to show a reduction in net immigration.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Badenoch says leaving the ECHR is not a 'silver bullet'

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has admitted that if the UK was to leave the ECHR, they would need a "plan, not just a promise."

She told a press conference: "I have always said that leaving the ECHR is not a silver bullet. It’s not even the most radical thing that we’re probably going to have to do. But if we’re going to leave the ECHR, we need to have a plan, not just a promise.

"There is a lot more that is going on in our immigration system beyond the ECHR and what I don’t want to do is what has happened before, where politicians make promises quickly to get votes and then things aren’t delivered.

"What you are going to see from us is a new approach, principles and policy based on a plan."

Philp says the Tories would bring in 'a hard cap on numbers and zero tolerance for illegal migration'

Chris Philp said that Labour 'don't have the answers' about immigration.

The Shadow Home Secretary told a press conference: "Labour MPs and ministers now seem reluctant to talk about immigration much at all. The truth is they don’t have the answers.

Philp said the Conservatives had taken "some steps" to reduce migration, adding: "It is also true that we need to go much further to take tougher measures, as Kemi set out a few minutes ago.

"And those tougher measures will include a hard cap on numbers and zero tolerance for illegal migration. So with a new leader, the Conservatives will develop a new approach."

Badenoch hits out at Starmer over immigration comments - 'Labour have no serious plan for ending illegal immigration'

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed Labour "won’t change anything" pointing to previous remarks by Sir Keir Starmer that there was a "racist undercurrent that permeates all immigration law."

She told reporters: "Even though those figures tomorrow are likely to be a start in the right direction, it’s not enough. We remain a world away from where we need to be.

"Labour will get us there, under a Labour Government immigration will remain far too high. We are already seeing the signs.

"Labour have no serious plan for ending illegal immigration... Enforcement on its own will never solve the problem. People know if they can make it to the UK, they will be able to stay. We must end that.

"The result of Labour’s policies will be consistently high illegal immigration throughout this Parliament and insufficient action on legal migration."

Badenoch concedes her predecessors did not do enough to tackle immigration

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has said the Conservatives 'did not deliver' on their promise to bring immigration numbers down.

She told a press conference: "During the last Conservative administration, we promised to bring numbers down. We did not deliver that promise. We ended free movement but the system that replaced it is not working.

"Under my leadership we are learning from our mistakes and it is time for a new approach. We need to change. Let’s break it down. First, if immigration is too quick there is no integration, the ties that bind us start to fray.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re massively for immigration or massively against it, without a shared national identity our country will suffer. When people come here, they must buy into the values, customs and institutions that attracted them here in the first place."

Badenoch lays out new Tory immigration policy - 'It's time to tell the truth'

Kemi Badenoch has called for a "restart" to the Conservative immigration policy.

Speaking in Westminster, the Conservative leader said: "Migration affects all of our lives in different ways. It certainly affected mine and that is why I am happy to speak about it without fear. I believe our country is a beacon of light that shines all over the world, a place of security, opportunity and prosperity, where people are treated equally. Millions want to come here but we as politicians have to do right by the citizens of this country before anyone else.

"Our country cannot sustain the numbers we have seen. We are reducing the quality of life for people already here because immigration is at a pace too fast to maintain public services and at a rate where it is next to impossible to integrate those from radically difficult cultures.

"It is time to tell the truth. For decades the entire political class of this country has presided over mass migration. Since 1994 every year has seen more people arrive in this country than leave. Numbers climbed and climbed."

ICYMI: Starmer REFUSES to repeat Reeves's vow against yet another tax raid

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to repeat Chancellor Rachel Reeves's vow against raising taxes in the future.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer said: “We set out our position at the Budget, it was just set out, we are fixing the foundations, we are dealing with the £22billion black hole that they left.

“I am not going to write the next five years of Budgets here at this despatch box.

"But we said we wouldn’t hit the payslips of working people, we passed the Budget, we invested in the future, and we kept that promise.”

The Prime Minister was responding to Kemi Badenoch's question about Reeves's comments on Monday.

She said: “At the CBI conference on Monday, the Chancellor said ‘I am clear, I am not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes’.

“I know that telling the truth to this House is important to the Prime Minister,. so will he repeat his Chancellor’s pledge now?”

Reform UK lays down gauntlet for MPs to house illegal migrants in their homes in major prod at Starmer's asylum backlog

Reform UK's Rupert Lowe has challenged MPs to house so-called "irregular migrants" in their homes in a fresh swipe at soaring migration under Labour.

Writing on social media after PMQs today, the Great Yarmouth MP said: "I have asked the Home Office to establish an official scheme through which MPs can house an 'irregular' migrant in their own home.

"Numerous MPs tell us that illegal migrants are welcome in our communities.

"Let's see how many will take one of these young men into their own home."

One social media user replied: "I've got zero in the sweepstake," to which Lowe himself jabbed: "Already taken!"

SNP MP clashes with Starmer over Israel arms sales

SNP MP Brendan O'Hara has clashed with Sir Keir Starmer over suspending all arms sales to Israel.

O'Hara asked: “Now that arrest warrants have been issued for his allies, Netanyahu and Gallant, the Prime Minister’s determination to supply Israel with the weapons it requires to carry out its atrocities in Gaza which has always been morally repugnant is now completely untenable.

“What these warrants do is present him with the perfectly valid legal avenue by which he can end the UK’s complicity in this slaughter so will he do that or will the Prime Minister continue to choose to licence F35 components to a regime which is now led by a man wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity?”

The Prime Minister replied: “We have set out our position under the current law as he well knows.

"I have set out my position very, very clearly in relation to the sale of capability to Israel to defend itself against attacks such as those from Iran and I am very clear that we will continue to do so.”

Starmer refuses to reverse decision to axe Winter Fuel Payments

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to reverse his decision to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners.

Responding to Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, the Prime Minister said: “Obviously the whole House is concerned about energy bills which are actually lower this year than they were last year.

"The long term way to deal with this is clean power by 2030 to make sure we drive those energy bills down on a permanent basis and that is what we will do.

“On the winter fuel allowance, he knows very well what the Government’s position is and I have rehearsed it indeed with him many times.”

Reform UK MP quizzes Starmer on releasing nationality breakdown for Universal Credit

I questioned the Prime Minister today on releasing a full nationality breakdown of those claiming Universal Credit - the British people deserve to have this data published in full, on a regular basis.

I look forward to hearing from the Prime Minister on its swift publication. pic.twitter.com/BFfFrEEUHc

— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) November 27, 2024

Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has quizzed Sir Keir Starmer on releasing nationality breakdown data for Universal Credit claimants.

Lowe said: "In response to my written question on publishing the number of foreign nationals receiving Universal Credit.

"I was informed by a Department of Work & Pensions Minister that the feasibility of developing suitable official statistics was being examined.

"Will the Prime Minister today commit to using his good offices to publish this data transparently?"

Responding to Lowe, the Prime Minister said: "I'm grateful to him for raising this, and I know there's been an exchange on it, and as soon as I've got an update from him, I will provide that for him, so he's got it."

Davey demands Starmer makes hospices exempt from National Insurance raid

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has urged Sir Keir Starmer to make hospices exempt from the Labour Government's increase to National Insurance contributions.

Davey said: “Does the Prime Minister agree that whatever the House decides on Friday, it is urgent that we improve access to high quality end of life care?

“Will he make that a key focus of the 10 year NHS plan and will he commit now to protect hospices from the National Insurance rise?”

Starmer replied: “Obviously there is a very important vote on Friday but whichever way that vote goes we must invest properly in care across our health service.”

'We had a massive petition on July 4!' Starmer swats away 2.7 million Britons who want another General Election

Sir Keir Starmer has swatted away a petition signed by more than 2.7 million Britons demanding yet another General Election.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch goaded the Prime Minister with calls to "resign" and mentioned the petition.

Responding in the House of Commons, Starmer said: “Isn’t it the case that the employment rights Bill shows that it is not only the ginger nut that is causing him problems?”

Badenoch berates Starmer as business confidence 'crashed' after Budget

The Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch has told Sir Keir Starmer than business confidence has "crashed" after Rachel Reeves unveiled her maiden Budget in late October.

Hitting back at Badenoch, the Prime Minister said: “We are fixing the foundations, we have got record investment into this country.”

Starmer also pointed out that Badenoch's Tories had criticised the increase to National Insurance contributions for employers but stopped short of demanding its reversal.

ICYMI: Reform blasts Labour for 'witch hunt defection probe' as Anderson warns - 'We're coming for you!'

Lee Anderson has fired back against Labour after Ellie Reeves wrote to the parliament's standards watchdog to ask for an investigation into the Ashfield MP's defection to Reforn UK.

Reeves voiced concern about Anderson potentially being offered a lump sum of money to join the populist party.

She said: "Economic enticement should have no place at all in UK politics – it undermines democratic norms, undermines national security and ultimately undermines the principle of having faith that elected politicians act in the interests of their constituents. I look forward to your response."

Despite previously claiming money was offered, Anderson later described the suggestion as "ridicukous", stressing: "I'm not a mercenary".

Responding to Reeves letter, Anderson told GB News: "Ellie Reeves needs to concentrate on her sister's dodgy looking CV rather than start a witch hunt on upstanding MPs like myself.

"Labour must be rattled and so they should be. We're coming for them at every ballot box in the country."

Anderson's warning about Reform UK targeting Labour heartlands comes after Nigel Farage switched the populist party's focus to Wales ahead of the Senedd Elections in 2026.

'There'll be hell to pay!' Trump ally sends warning to Starmer over 'bulls**t' Netanyahu arrest warrant

A leading Donald Trump ally has sent Sir Keir Starmer a major warning after the International Criminal Court issued a "bulls**t" arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Kevin Roberts, who leads the influential Heritage Foundation think tank, told GB News last night that any attempt to arrest Netanyahu would result in fury from the incoming Trump administration.

He said: "There will be hell to pay for any international leader buying into this bulls**t."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

ICYMI: 'Galling!' Starmer branded 'deeply hypocritical' as Labour bigwigs continue helicopter travel

Sir Keir Starmer has been labelled "deeply hypocritical" after it was revealed that Labour Ministers will keep travelling by helicopter despite the Prime Minister branding Rishi Sunak "out of touch" for doing so.

During the 2024 General Election campaign, Starmer regularly took swipes at Rishi Sunak over using taxpayer-funded choppers to travel the country and the Prime Minister cancelled a £40million contract after entering No10.

However, Starmer will continue to allow senior Ministers and officials to travel by helicopter.

Responding to queries from ex-Paymaster General John Glen, Defence Minister Maria Eagle said: "An alternative framework for VIP air transport and military command support air transport is being considered.

"The review will explore means of delivery and consider cost-effectiveness while ensuring the important military command function can be met appropriately."

She added: "No. Routine helicopter transport will be sourced through the Ministerial Transport Office, not from Military helicopters."

Shadow Paymaster General Richard Holden told The Daily Mail: "This is deeply hypocritical given how much time Labour spent in opposition complaining about this.

"It is all the more galling after Labour hiked up Air Passenger Duty for everyone else at the Budget."

Ex-DUP MP warns Starmer could 'stab Reeves in the back' over inheritance tax raid on farmers

'Do not underestimate how ruthless Starmer has to be, and if this means stabbing Rachel Reeves in the back, he will do it. This will be Number 10 vs Number 11. The Treasury went too far!'

Ian Paisley Junior questions if Keir Starmer will U-turn the farmer inheritance tax raid. pic.twitter.com/2M3pOdfKOL

— GB News (@GBNEWS) November 27, 2024

Ex-DUP MP Iain Paisley Jr has warned Sir Keir Starmer could "stab Rachel Reeves in the back" over the Chancellor's decision to raid farmers' pockets.

Speaking on GB News this morning, Paisley said: "Do not underestimate how ruthless Starmer has to be, and if this means stabbing Rachel Reeves in the back, he will do it.

"This will be No10 vs No11. The Treasury went too far!"

Labour confirms plans to overhaul UK electric vehicle mandate as minister admits targets 'not working'

The UK's electric vehicle plans are not working as intended, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds admitted at an annual meeting on Tuesday night.

Speaking to car manufacturers at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) annual dinner, Reynolds said he was "profoundly concerned" about how the Zero Emissions Mandate meant to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicles were operating.

The announcement coincided with car maker Vauxhall revealing plans to shut its Luton van-making plant, putting 1,100 jobs at risk, citing the UK's stringent zero-emission vehicle mandate as a key factor.

Reynolds told the SMMT he would launch a fast-track consultation on changes to the zero-emission vehicle mandate, promising clarity within weeks.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Winter Fuel Payment axe leaves vulnerable pensioners TERRIFIED of heating their homes

Pensioners have said they will be forced to choose between having hot meals and heating their homes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the winter fuel allowance would be limited, a new survey has revealed.

The impact on vulnerable elderly people is stark, with more than half saying they would need to reduce their heating use at home.

More than three-quarters of pensioners spent their winter fuel payments on essential energy costs last year, according to Age UK, as the Government moves to restrict the vital support to only those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Three ex-Tory PMs oppose Assisted Dying Bill

Former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Liz Truss have all voiced opposition to the Assisted Dying Bill.

Baroness May, who opposed similar legislation in 2015, is expected to vote against the bill when it reaches the House of Lords.

Truss also told The Telegraph: “It is wrong in principle: organs of the state like the NHS and the judicial system should be protecting lives, not ending them.

“No doubt, as we have seen in Canada, vulnerable people would be put under appalling pressure to end their lives early.

"The law would be ripe for being exploited by the unscrupulous. MPs should vote this terrible Bill down and instead focus on improving health services.”

The Telegraph also claimed that Johnson is not prepared to support the proposed legislation as it currently stands.