Labour peer slammed after claiming protesting farmers 'didn’t look very poor' in 'new tractors'

Ex-Tory MP was 'wrong' not to declare £4.47m loan from major donor

A former Tory MP was "wrong" to not declare millions of pounds worth of loans from a major right-wing donor, the Commons sleaze watchdog has found.

Andrew Bridgen should have informed parliament about the £4.47m interest-free loan from Jeremy Hosking.

Hosking, a backer of the Reclaim Party, offered the loan to support Bridgen with private legal fees relating to his family's potato business.

The loans were made between 2020 and 2023, with the first payment registered 1,135 days late.

Bridgen argued that the loans did not relate to political matters and therefore did not need to be declared.

But the committee found that the funding "met the test for being a registrable interest" and should have been disclosed.

The report noted that Bridgen repeatedly declared other donations from Hosking, suggesting he "was not attempting to conceal his connection".

After losing the Tory whip for comparing the Covid jab to the Holocaust, Bridgen joined Laurence Fox's Reclaim Party.

The committee concluded that although the sum involved was "substantial", the breach was "inadvertent".

REVEALED: Keir Starmer's EU reset torpedoed as majority back hard Brexit pledge ahead of crunch talks with EU

Just days before Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘Great Reset Summit’ with the EU, his supposed plans to submit to the bloc’s fishing demands have been staunchly opposed in a new poll, Facts4EU and GB News can reveal.

Starmer's Government is allegedly planning to grant European boats greater access to UK waters, a move that experts have warned will be “selling the industry down the river” if a new post-Brexit deal fails to deliver benefits for British fisheries.

A major trade agreement with the EU is close to being finalised that would boost Britain's defence industry as part of the bloc’s €150billion (£127billion) defence fund in exchange for concessions on fishing rights.

GBN MEMBERS CAN CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY HERE

Sir Keir Starmer dealt fresh blow as Labour grandee blasts party over immigration - ‘Under threat!’

Sir Keir Starmer has been dealt a fresh blow as another Labour grandee has lambasted the party over immigration.

Yesterday, former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair hit out at governments for trailing behind on the climate change agenda.

Now, ex-education secretary Alan Johnson has piggybacked onto Blair's criticism and issued a stark warning that Britain's top-notch higher education institutions could now endure Labour's wrath as the party advances its immigration crackdown.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Solar panels ‘to become mandatory for new homes by 2027’

Almost all new homes in England will be fitted with solar panels during construction within two years under plans being drawn up by the Government.

Downing Street said the panels should be installed on as many new properties as possible amid speculation that ministers will make them a mandatory requirement on new builds by 2027.

The policy is estimated to add between £3,000 and £4,000 to the cost of construction, but will then save owners more than £1,000 on their annual energy bills, according to the Times.

Asked on Thursday whether housebuilders would be legally required to fit the panels, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “Of course we want to see solar panels on as many new homes as possible.

“The Future Homes Standard, which will be published in the coming months, will include measures to drive this, we’re working on the detail of that and will provide an update on that in due course.

“But it’s good news for householders who want lower energy bills.”

Dogs pose outside polling stations as owners urge voters to do ‘civic duty’

Dogs have been photographed posing outside polling stations, as their owners encouraged people to do their “civic duty” and vote in the various elections happening across the country.

The hashtag #dogsatpollingstations was used frequently on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday, as a total of 1,641 council seats were up for grabs across 23 local authorities.

EXPOSED: As PM vows to cut 'flabby' state, NHS seeking 'diversity' hire on 80k to make staff 'comply' with DEI

With Starmer cutting thousands of jobs by abolishing NHS England and his much vaunted app cutting down waiting times, the NHS is hiring for the role of an equalities manager on a whopping £70k.

The job is being advertised for a role within South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Bethlem Royal Hospital in Bromley and Lambeth Hospital.

According to the NHS website, the job would be a mix of of home and office working, with the office work based at the trust's headquarters in Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill.

GBN MEMBERS CAN CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY HERE

EU punishes British taxpayers for €150bn defence deal as Emmanuel Macron plunders fishing waters

The European Union plans to punish British taxpayers by slapping them with a tough fee if UK officials want to have a say in a €150billion defence deal, ministers have been told.

As European leaders gather in London for a summit on May 19, the latest defence and security agreement - seen as making Britons 'pay to play' - is expected to take centre stage.

It will follow a humiliating blow to Sir Keir Starmer's negotiating skills after he allowed French President Emmanuel Macron better fishing rights for Europe in UK waters.

The British fishing community has recently voiced concerns that the PM would be in for another Brexit betrayal by using the fishermen as a "bargaining chip to be tossed overboard" to win favour with the bloc to boost negotiations in other policy areas.

Originally, the deal was that Starmer would hand over access to British waters for at least three years, British businesses - such as BAE Systems - will be allowed to bid and sign contracts for arms projects from Security Action For Europe (Safe) EU weapons fund.

But now it has been revealed that increased Parisian pressure has meant that the agreement will not grant an automatic right to bid on contracts for British companies.

"It will involve a ‘pay to play’ component and other terms and conditions," a European diplomat told The Times.

"Some countries want the UK in the game and others, the French are not enthusiastic."

Caravan created as make-shift polling station for Cambridgeshire voters

Voters in Cambridgeshire are due to vote in a less conventional setting this year.

Shunning the traditional church or town hall, a caravan has set up shop on Whitehall Gardens for locals to cast their vote.

Unite union turns on Ed Miliband as Labour's biggest union backer launches attack on net zero plans

Labour's biggest union backer has attacked the Government's net zero drive, warning it risks becoming a "political millstone" around the party's neck.

Unite the Union warned Labour cannot expect workers to support their net zero plan unless they can provide the jobs to back it up.

The criticism comes after former prime minister Tony Blair sparked controversy by claiming net zero strategies aimed at limiting fossil fuels are "doomed to fail".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Mayoral candidate heads to poll with pooch

Reform UK mayoral candidate Luke Campbell has cast his vote, bringing his dog, Lexi, along for the jaunt to the polling station in Hull.

Britain basks in toasty temperatures in what could be the hottest local election day EVER

Britain is set to bask in toasty temperatures in what could be the hottest local election day ever.

The Met Office has forecast that parts of the country could warm up to highs of 30 degrees today as voters cast their ballot.

PICTURED: Voting in full swing across nation

Voting underway in first parliamentary by-election since General Election

Voting is underway in the first parliamentary by-election since Labour's landslide win in the General Election last July.

One resident was pictured on her way to cast her vote in the Runcorn & Helsby constituency on Thursday morning.

The seat was up for grabs after ex MP Mike Amesbury resigned.

Kemi Badenoch urges voters to back Tories 

Kemi Badenoch has taken to X to urge her followers to vote Conservative.

She wrote: "Polls are now open!

"Vote Conservative to protect the local services you rely on.

"Polls are open until 10pm. Don't forget your photo ID!"

Civil servants 'mislay' THOUSANDS of phones and laptops in just 12 months

Civil servants have lost or "mislaid" more than 3,000 official phones and laptops in the past 10 months.

The shocking figure equates to around losing 10 devices each day, The Telegraph calculated, fuelling concerns over potential security breaches.

The Ministry of Justice lost close to 1,000 devices, followed by the Ministry of Defence and then the Home Office.

Furry friend joins voter as owner heads to the polls

RECAP: Areas with councillor seats up for grabs

Millions of voters head to the polls today to determine the fate of 23 local authorities, six mayoralties and the first parliamentary by-election since Labour won the last General Election.

Those casting their ballots today are:

• Lancashire
• Derbyshire
• Staffordshire
• Leicestershire
• Shropshire
• Warwickshire
• Worcestershire
• Gloucestershire
• Devon
• Cornwall
• Wiltshire
• Oxfordshire
• Buckinghamshire
• Hertfordshire
• Kent
• West Northamptonshire
• North Northamptonshire
• Cambridgeshire
• Lincolnshire
• Nottinghamshire
• Doncaster
• County Durham
• Northumberland

More than 11,000 small boat migrants have now crossed the Channel since the start of this year

More than 11,000 small boat migrants have now crossed the Channel since the start of the year.

The latest grim milestone comes just three days after the numbers crossing in 2025 passed 10,000.

It follows the arrival of another 300 migrants on Wednesday, who made the illegal journey from France.

More than 1,300 have crossed the Channel since Sunday.

Ed Davey takes to social media to tell voters to back Lib Dems

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has told voters to head to polls to back the Liberal Democrats.

Taking to X, he wrote: "If you've got elections today, vote Liberal Democrat.

"Vote for local champions who'll listen, stand up for your community, and get things done."

Local Elections 2025: What ID do I need to bring?

Here's a quick run through of what those heading to the polls need to make sure they have before they can cast their vote today.

All registered voters with a valid form of photo ID are eligible to vote.

More than 20 forms of ID are accepted, including:

• Passports
• Driving licences
• Older or Disabled Person's bus passes
• Oyster 60+ cards
• Armed Forces Veteran Cards (from May 1)

Nigel Farage tells voters to back Reform UK at the polls today

Keir Starmer urges Britons to vote Labour as polls open across swathes of England

EXCLUSIVE: Keir Starmer sparks fears of Brexit betrayal as deadline on EU deal looms: 'Do NOT sell us out'

Sir Keir Starmer has sparked fears of yet another Brexit betrayal as MSPs quiver at the possibility that the PM could buckle to EU pressure over British waters, Facts4EU and GB News can reveal.

While the deadline for UK-EU fisheries edges ever closer, the Scottish Parliament has erupted in a fiery debate as politicians demand that Labour will not capitulate to the economic bloc at an upcoming summit in May.

Earlier today, Holyrood politicians urged the SNP to axe support for the EU Common Fishes Policy in a bid to block Starmer from flirting with the possibility of selling out the British fishing community in a desperate attempt to win favour with his European colleagues.

READ THE FULL GB NEWS EXCLUSIVE HERE

Local Elections 2025: Polls are open

Voters across England are heading to the polls today as swathes of the nation begin to elect hundreds of councillors and six mayors.

A grand total of 1,641 councillors are due to be elected today across 23 local authorities in England in a huge test for each major political party since last year's General Election.

A parliamentary by-election is also being held in the constituency of Runcorn & Helsby after ex MP Mike Amesbury resigned.

The majority of the local seats up for grabs today were last election back in May 2021 when the Tories received a spike in popularity under Boris Johnson's leadership.

As a result, the Conservative Party is defending control over 19 of the 23 local authorities today.