Yvette Cooper has failed to guarantee that illegal migrants will definitely be returned to France in September.
Although the Home Secretary told the Commons that the first returns are “expected” this month, Ms Cooper today was cautious not to confirm that deportations would go ahead during September.
As part of a returns agreement with France, the UK will send back migrants to France who crossed the Channel, in exchange for those who apply and are approved to come to the UK.
Asked whether she could guarantee the returns would begin in the coming weeks, the Home Secretary insisted the UK would “continue to work” with France.
Again, pressed for a guarantee, she told Sky News: “We expect the first returns to take place this month.
“But I’ve always said from the very beginning on this, it’s a pilot scheme and it needs to build up over time.”
Her comments come nearly a month after she previously refused to confirm migrant deportations back to France following the ratification of the scheme.
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Labour pass on congratulations to new Green Party leader - but make stance on Nato clear
Reacting to news of the Green Party's new leader, Labour Party Chair, Ellie Reeves MP, said: "Congratulations to Zack Polanski on his election as Green Party Leader.
"We are living through serious times and the public rightly expect responsible and measured responses from all political leaders.
"Zack Polanski must level with the British people as to whether he stands by his recent failure to support continued Nato membership, and what it means for his Party's stance on Putin's appalling illegal war in Ukraine.
"The Labour Government's commitment to Nato membership is unshakeable and always will be.”
'Last leaf has fallen from Green Party's withering tree' - Tories
Following the announcement of the Green Party's new leadership, Conservative Chairman Kevin Hollinrake MP, said: "The last leaf has fallen from the Greens’ withering tree.
"A party once rooted in care for the countryside has been captured by hard-left activists more obsessed with campus culture wars than farmers in Herefordshire.
“From Solihull to Derbyshire councillors are walking away because only the Conservatives are serious about backing family farms, stopping good farmland being smothered by solar panels and protecting the countryside with local communities.
“While the Greens indulge in extreme left-wing fantasies and failed socialist economics, only the Conservatives are committed to real stewardship of nature, energy security through nuclear power and safeguarding the fields and villages that make Britain home.”
New co-deputy leaders of Green Party announced
The Green Party has announced Rachel Millward and Mothin Ali as its new co-deputy leaders.
Mr Ali was previously a member of the Labour Party but left to join Green in 2020.
Following the announcement, Ms Millward said: "I am just so excited to get going, to see this party grow and to grow well.
"I'm exciting to bring more training to membership, to help support local parties, to help raise the funds to get us ready to win and to win big across England and Wales.
"Now is the time to unite against division and hate, to defend nature and to fill our community with hope - lets do this."
Shadow Home Secretary to put urgent question to Yvette Cooper on rape gangs inquiry
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp is to put an urgent question to Yvette Cooper.
Mr Philp will ask the Home Secretary if she will make a statement on the national statutory inquiry into rape gangs.
It comes amid criticism that, almost three months after the announcement, there is little information about the progress of the inquiry being launched.
Green Party announces new leader
Zack Polanski has been elected as the new leader of the Green Party
|PA
Zack Polanski has been elected as the new leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, following a vote by members.
Following the announcement, Mr Polanski pledged to grow the party, which has seen a record number of members.
In his victory speech he said: "Thank you to every single person who voted for me. I promise to work every single day to deliver environmental social, racial and economic justice.
"And to those of you who didn't vote for me, this is a democracy, we don't have to agree on everything, we just have to have common cause and I give the same commitment to you, I will work every single day to grow this party, so thank you very much."
'Green Party is antidote to Reform' - CEO
CEO Harriet Lamb has said the Green Party is the "antidote to Reform".
Speaking at a press conference this morning, she said: "We are a home to all those people across the country holding their head in their hands as the Labour party lets them down again and again and again.
"In reaction, a new Green wave is swooping the country as people turn to us, looking for us for that hope and change they so desperately need."
Ms Lamb added that the party has seen a record number of members, with figures currently at 68,500.
Tory leader says Keir Starmer is 'shifting deckchairs on the Titanic' following Cabinet re-shuffle
Kemi Badenoch has accused the Prime Minister of “shifting the deckchairs on the Titanic” following the shake-up of his Downing Street operation.
The Conservative leader told reporters in Scotland: “I think that the reshuffle, or mini-reshuffle, he had yesterday is just shifting the deckchairs on the Titanic.
“Unemployment has risen every single month since Labour came into office, we know that Labour are coming back for even more tax rises after a disastrous budget.
“I don’t know what this says about his confidence in the Chancellor, but the fact that he’s taken his chief secretary of the Treasury and put him into No10 does not inspire me with confidence because he’s one of the people who’s been making the mess.
"I don’t think it’s going to make any difference.”
Minister to get power to veto changes to sentencing guidlines after 'two tier' row
A Cabinet minister will be given the power to veto any changes to sentencing guidelines proposed by an independent body following a row over claims of “two-tier” justice.
Under new rules announced today, the independent Council, which is made up of some of the most senior legal figures in England and Wales, will be unable to issue any changes without ministerial oversight.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she wanted to “right the democratic deficit that has been uncovered” by introducing a requirement for any new rules to be approved by her.
It comes after ministers intervened to block updated Sentencing Council guidance which would have meant judges should consider the background of offenders from certain minority groups when deciding on a punishment.
Both the Justice Secretary and the Lady Chief Justice, who is the head of the judiciary, will need to give the green light in order for any new directive to be finalised.
The Government insisted the new powers do not interfere with the independence of judges but seek to ensure a “democratic lock” and block the Council from “setting policy” without the involvement of Parliament.
The changes will be brought in as part of the Sentencing Bill, introduced in the House of Commons today.
WATCH: Olivia Utley gives her take on yesterday's reshuffle
Green Party to announce new leadership with 'eco socialist' Zack Polanski favourite to win
The Green Party is set to announce its new leadership today, with self described "eco-socialist" Zack Polanski the bookies' favourite to win.
Mr Polanski, the party's current deputy leader, has gone up against two of the party's four MPs, Ellie Chowns and Adrian Ramsay, who are running on a joint ticket.
One Green insider told Politico: "Ellie/Adrian’s campaign has been really, really poor and Zack has done well. If you look at the endorsements and the scraps of polling, it all points one way for me."
The results will be announced at a party press conference at 11am today.
Prime Minister celebrates 63rd birthday - and holds first Cabinet meeting since shake-up
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will celebrate his 63rd birthday today - and hold his first Cabinet meeting since a major shake-up
|GETTY
Sir Keir Starmer will celebrate his 63rd birthday today.
And it is set to be a birthday to remember, as the Prime Minister will hold his first Cabinet meeting since a major shake-up of his Downing Street operation as he seeks to reset his Government after a challenging summer.
He will chair discussions with Chancellor Rachel Reeves, his deputy Angela Rayner and other senior figures after making a string of new appointments.
Ministers have returned from recess to brimming in-trays after a summer dominated by speculation about tax rises, criticism of the small boats crisis and floundering poll ratings for Labour.
As part of Monday’s reset, Ms Reeves’ former number two in the Treasury, Darren Jones, has become the Prime Minister’s chief secretary and James Murray will replace him as Treasury chief secretary.
Former Treasury official Dan York Smith has been appointed Mr Starmer's principal private secretary and ex-Bank of England deputy governor Baroness Minouche Shafik his chief economic adviser.
Yvette Cooper's plans to reform asylum system 'just more waffle and words' - Reform deputy leader
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said the Home Secretary’s plans to reform the asylum system will “make no difference whatsoever”.
Yvette Cooper yesterday announced a tightening of rules for asylum seekers looking to bring family members to the UK and revealed that illegal migrants could be deported in a matter of weeks in reforms to Britain's process.
Mr Tice told Sky News: “Her measures announced yesterday is just more waffle and words. It’ll make no difference whatsoever.”
Asked about Reform’s deportation proposals, the MP for Boston and Skegness said: “We’re saying the first phase of deportations should be focusing on men primarily.
“There’s many men of young age, in their 20s, and that’s where we would start and go through the process.
“We’ve said, ‘look, it’s going to take a parliamentary term to remove some 600,000 people’. But anybody who is here illegally should not expect to be allowed to stay here forever.”
Home Secretary refuses to guarantee that first migrants will be sent back to France this month in 'one in, one out' deal
Yvette Cooper was pressed to guarantee when the first returns to France would be made but refused to give an exact date
|GETTY
Yvette Cooper has failed to guarantee that migrants will definitely be sent back across the Channel this month as part of Britain's "one in, one out" deal with France.
The Home Secretary told the Commons on Monday that the first returns under the deal were expected later this month.
Asked by Sky News for a more exact date in September when this would take place, Ms Cooper replied: “It will be later this month.”
Questioned whether she could guarantee returns would begin amid reports the French government may falter on the deal, the Home Secretary insisted the UK would “continue to work” with France.
Pressed for a guarantee, she replied: “We expect the first returns to take place this month. But I’ve always said from the very beginning on this, it’s a pilot scheme and it needs to build up over time.”
UK borrowing costs close to 27-year high as Rachel Reeves' Budget to be 'defining moment' for Britain
Britain's long-term cost of borrowing is close to to reaching its highest level in 27 years, placing further pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of her Autumn Budget later this year.
Yesterday (September 1), the interest rate attached to the UK's 30-year debt jumped as high as 5.646 per cent, which comes just under the 27-year high of 5.649 per cent seen during trading on April.
Analysts note this risks removing any potential fiscal headroom needed by the Chancellor in her upcoming statement, which is expected to be announced to Parliament in late October-early November.
Labour MP claims 'degenerative native men are biggest threat to women' in Britain
'Degenerate native men are the biggest threat to women,' Cat Eccles said | HOUSE OF COMMONSA Labour MP has claimed that "degenerate native men" are the "biggest threat to women" - after a series of reports came to light revealing the scale of crimes committed by foreigners in Britain.
Cat Eccles, the MP for Stourbridge, had made the claim after accusing Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of lying about the Epping High Court ruling.
"Lies, lies and more damn lies. How is he allowed to spread this nonsense?" she blasted.