Kemi Badenoch has torn into Sir Keir Starmer’s China visit during a lively Commons session.
The Conservative Party leader joked his controversial trip to Beijing was a "dream come true" because the Prime Minister "was virtually a communist most of his life."
Sir Keir’s statement in the Commons was met by jeers as he talked about discussions with Xi Jinping about "cyber issues" and "climate and nature."
The Leader of the Opposition pointed out China’s troubling habit of snooping on UK affairs. She said: "Of course, Britain should engage with China.
"Even though the Chancellor wasn’t allowed to go, even though they are an authoritarian state who seek to undermine our interests, even though they spy on us, sometimes within the walls of this building. Even though they fund regimes around the world hostile to our country, they are a fact of life, a global power and an economic reality.
"What we are criticising is his supine and short-term approach. His approach is to give everything away in the hope people will be nice to him in return. Before the Prime Minister even got on the plane, he had already shown he would do anything to demonstrate his good relationship with China, but China uses every interaction to improve its own position.
"The Prime Minister looked like he enjoyed his trip, in fact it looked like a dream come true for somebody who was virtually a communist for most of his life."
Sir Keir insisted his trip was a necessary step to thawing relations with Beijing, pointing out that he became the first British Prime Minister to do so in eight years.
Announcements made during the trip included a 30-day visa-free access to China for British citizens and the lifting of sanctions against some UK Parliament members.
The Prime Minister conceded many will want to see more if relations are to become normalised.
Esther McVey claims Northern Powerhouse Rail is effectively 'dead' in Commons attack
Esther McVey claimed the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project is effectively "dead" as she launched a scathing attack against Labour over the proposals.
The former Conservative minister accused the Government of maintaining a "charade" to placate northern mayors, particularly Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
She argues that continuing parliamentary procedures for the project gives false hope and causes unnecessary concern.
The MP for Tatton said: "Why is there any need to carry this over? To paraphrase Monty Python, this project is no more. It has ceased to be. It has expired and gone to meet its maker. It is a stiff, bereft of life.
"So why won’t everyone accept this project is dead, finito, finished?
"By continuing with this charade, this Government is giving false hope to those who want it to happen, just like it did with the Waspi women, and is causing needless anxiety to those of my constituency, who don’t want it to happen."
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Ms McVey "gave us some colourful descriptions of what she thinks this rail scheme is all about, but she couldn’t be more wrong."
She added: “We have worked closely with leaders in the north of England.
"We’ve got a sequenced, credible, phased investment plan for how we are going to improve those rail services so that people aren’t stood on platforms when they miss a train, worrying the next one is going to take an hour to arrive."
"We’ve been clear that we expect work to start in this Parliament on the Yorkshire package of improvements. We have also said that we expect work to start in the 2030s on the link between Manchester and Liverpool.
"She will recall that when you look at improvements, such as Crossrail in London, from the point at which it was granted consent back in 2007 to the line being open in 2022, I make that 15 years. You don’t build railways overnight."
Reform's 'flagship' council admits 'Doge' efforts failed to uncover major savings despite promises
Reform UK made the admission they found no savings on their 'flagship' council
| PAReform UK councillors running Kent County Council have acknowledged that their flagship efficiency review failed to uncover significant waste, undermining repeated claims by senior party figures that local authorities are riddled with mismanagement and excess spending.
The admission follows a nine-month review led by Reform councillors after the party took control of the authority, having pledged to expose widespread waste and inefficiency in council finances.
The findings represent an embarrassment for the party, whose national leadership has repeatedly argued that dramatic savings could be achieved through an overhaul of local government spending.
Your Party will NOT stand a candidate in Gorton & Denton by-election
Your Party has confirmed it will not be standing a candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, saying it would "unite to defeat the far-right."
A statement released by the party co-founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana said: "The single greatest threat to this country right now is a far-right Reform government.
"This danger is being actively facilitated by a failing Labour Government which is prioritising the interests of the rich and powerful over ordinary people struggling to make ends meet.
"After consultation with local members, we do not believe that a Your Party candidacy would serve our collective goals in a by-election.
"It is imperative that Reform is defeated in Gorton & Denton and the far-right tide is beaten back."
Peter Mandelson reported to police over files leaked to Jeffrey Epstein
Peter Mandelson quit the Labour Party on Sunday | GETTYLord Mandelson has been reported to the police over allegations he leaked Downing Street files to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Met Police has confirmed it will review "a number of reports" following the further release of documents relating to the paedophile financier.
Detectives said they have received a number of reports "relating to alleged misconduct" in public roles.
Zia Yusuf challenges Zack Polanski to head-to-head TV debate in explosive open letter
Zia Yusuf has challenged Zack Polanski to a head-to-head TV debate as Reform's Head of Policy threw down the gauntlet to the Green Party leader.
While Mr Yusuf congratulated Mr Polanski on his party's surge in the polls, he added: "There is a by-election in Manchester where there is a weight of expectation that you will challenge Reform at the ballot box.
"I will be there this coming Thursday, and I will even let you choose a moderator of your choice."
Mr Polanski responded to the challenge, saying he would prefer to debate with party leader, Nigel Farage.
He said: "As I keep saying, I would be more than happy to debate, leader to leader, with Nigel Farage.
"I'm starting to get the impression he might not be keen? Maybe you could be kind enough to pass this message on? Hugs, Zack."
Robert Jenrick says Peter Mandelson's appointment was 'a grotesque error of judgement'
Robert Jenrick speaking in the Commons
|PARLIAMENT.TV
Reform UK's Robert Jenrick slammed the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador was "always a grotesque error of judgement".
He says it is a "total disgrace" to discover that Mandelson "leaked confidential information to a convicted sex offender."
The Newark MP asked if Labour will bring forward legislation to "deal with this now".
In response, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said the Government will cooperate with any investigation that takes place, and stands ready to introduce legislation to update procedures in the House of Lords.
He added the Tories, Mr Jenrick's party at the time, did not object to Mandelson as US ambassador when he was appointed.
Keir Starmer's plan for asylum seekers is 'electoral suicide', writes Carol Malone
Commentator Carole Malone has unleashed a furious tirade against Sir Keir Starmer's plans to put asylum seekers in council houses.
Writing for GB News, she said: "Does Starmer not understand this scheme will go down like a lead balloon everywhere but particularly in those Red Wall constituencies which Labour desperately need to hand onto?
"He might as just as well just throw in the towel to Reform right now because it will take every seat in those areas where he decides to give new council houses to illegal immigrants. Or even legal ones.
"British people, and their needs, must come first. But the human rights lawyer Starmer and his Lord Chancellor, Lord Hermer, have never quite understood that."
Senior Labour MPs call for Lord Peter Mandelson to face criminal prosecution
Senior Labour MPs have called for Lord Mandelson to face criminal prosecution after he was alleged to have leaked sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein.
Documents released in the Epstein files apparently showed Lord Mandelson passing information to the paedophile financier while the peer was a cabinet minister in Gordon Brown’s government.
Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, told the Commons it was "not a matter of whether Peter Mandelson should be in the House of Lords, this is a matter of whether the police should be involved."
Labour former minister Justin Madders also called for an investigation into the potential misconduct in public office.
Labour minister says Lord Peter Mandelson lied to Government over Ambassador role
Assurances made by Lord Peter Mandelson before he was appointed ambassador to the US were untrue, the Government has said.
Responding to shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart, Mr Jones said: "The Prime Minister has been very clear that the declarations of interest that were put forward by Peter Mandelson were not wholly truthful.
"When it became clear from the release of information that had not been the case, the Prime Minister moved swiftly to remove Peter Mandelson as the ambassador to the United States."
He said further investigations were now taking place by the Cabinet Secretary into the exchange of information on the sale of RBS assets to JP Morgan.
He said: "Evidently now that more documents have become available to the public and to the Government, further investigations are now taking place."
Senior Conservative says Peter Mandelson's appointment as US Ambassador was a 'great embarrassment to this country'
A senior Conservative has said Peter Mandelson's appointment to Ambassador to the US caused "great embarrassment" to Britain.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said somebody from the Government needed to take responsibility over Lord Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US.
Mr Burghart said: "The crimes of Jeffrey Epstein were truly terrible. Paedophilia, sex trafficking, child prostitution, was an awful abuse of power, and it is of course a great embarrassment to our country that its most senior ambassador should have been caught up with a man like him.
"It’s clearer than ever that theirs was a relationship built not just on affection, but on the transfer of money from Epstein to Mandelson’s family, and the transfer of information from Mandelson to Epstein.
"In some cases this was apparently market sensitive information that Mandelson only received by dint of being a member of the Labour Government.
"The Government cannot hide from its responsibility in having made Mandelson its ambassador in the first place. This was a political appointment. It happened only because of political pressure."
He continued: "Something went very badly wrong with this appointment. It has caused very great embarrassment to this country, and it is time that someone took responsibility."
Labour frontbencher says Lord Peter Mandelson's conduct was 'unequivocally wrong'
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones told the Commons Lord Peter Mandelson's conduct with Epstein "unequivocally wrong".
Mr Jones said: "Department of Justice in the United States released around 3 million pages from the case files relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
"It is increasingly clear that his awful crimes involved and were facilitated by many, often powerful people, both by actively participating in the crimes but also by failing to hear those victims’ voices, by equating wealth with integrity, and by not using one’s privileged position to speak out.
Mr Jones told the Commons: "For the avoidance of doubt, this information was not known by the government until the release of documents by the Department of Justice on Friday. The nature of the documents also raised serious concerns about Peter Mandelson’s behaviour.
"Whilst Peter Mandelson must account for his actions and conduct, it is an understatement to say that his decision to continue a close relationship with a convicted paedophile, including discussing private government business, falls far below the standards expected of any minister.
"His behaviour was unequivocally wrong and an insult to the women and girls who suffered. No Government minister of any political party should have, nor ever should behave in this way."
Keir Starmer dodges question about removing Lord Peter Mandelson’s peerage
The Prime Minister dodged the question when asked whether he would support removing Lord Peter Mandelson’s peerage.
Sir Keir Starmer did not answer when asked by Sir Ed Davey, whether he would support the move during questions about his recent trip to China in the Commons on Monday.
The Lib Dem leader said: "Yet again, the Prime Minister had to spend time on a foreign trip responding to revelations about the vile paedophile and sex trafficker (Jeffrey) Epstein and his relationship with Lord Mandelson.
"The Prime Minister has rightly said that Mandelson should resign from the other place, but since he hasn’t, will he back a simple piece of legislation to strip him of his peerage, surely this House could pass it tomorrow."
Sir Keir did not say whether he would support introducing the legislation.
WATCH: Kemi Badenoch delivers brutal verdict on Sir Keir Starmer's Beijing visit
Keir Starmer says Kemi Badenoch 'sticks her head in the sand' over China
Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons today
|PA
Kemi Badenoch told the Commons: "The worst thing was the Prime Minister claiming a glorious triumph with the lifting of sanctions on four Conservative MPs, as if he’d done us a favour.
“Let me tell him, those MPs were sanctioned because they stood up to China. They stood up against human rights abuses. They stood up against the country spying on our MPs in a way that he wouldn’t dare.
"Those people don’t want to go to China. The Chinese know that. They know that they are giving him something that costs absolutely nothing. Why can’t the British Prime Minister see that?"
Sir Keir Starmer said in his reply that Mrs Badenoch’s policy was "to stick her head in the sand, unable to influence anything in a volatile world."
The Prime Minister told the Commons: "Her reply this afternoon seems to be that we should engage with China but not engage with China.
"Instead of leader-to-leader discussions where we raise all the opportunities and the difficult issues, each and every one of them, instead of those leader-to-leader meetings, [she thinks we] should get a bag of sand and put her head in it and influence absolutely nothing."
Kemi Badenoch accuses Keir Starmer of being a 'communist'
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of being a "communist" as she blasted his recent China trip.
She told The Commons. "The Prime Minister looked like he enjoyed his trip. In fact, it looked like a dream come true for a man who was virtually a communist most of his life.
"But apart from the Labubu doll in his suitcase, and I hope he’s checked it for bugs, he has come back with next to nothing."
Keir Starmer says ignoring China for eight years 'achieved nothing'
The Prime Minister told the Commons: "I also raised the fact that members of this House have been sanctioned by the Chinese authorities.
"In response, the Chinese have now made it clear that all such restrictions on parliamentarians no longer apply and I want to be clear, this was not the result of a trade.
"Yes, members will want to see more, I understand that, but that is precisely the point: ignoring China for eight years achieved nothing.
"This step is an early indication, not the sum total, of the kind of progress that this sort of engagement can achieve, through leader to leader, discussion on sensitive issues, to stand up for British interests."
Kemi Badenoch blasts Keir Starmer as 'utterly reprehensible'
Kemi Badenoch slammed Keir Starmer in the Commons
|PARLIAMENT.TV
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Keir Starmer of leading a Government that is "utterly reprehensible".
She added: "Of course Britain should engage with China. Even though the Chancellor wasn't allowed to go, even though they are an authoritarian state who seek to undermine our interest.
"It is not the Prime Minister engaging with China that we take issue with, what we are criticising is his supine and short sighted approach.
"I am sure the Prime Minister means well, but his negotiating tactic has always been to give everything away in the hope that people will be nice to him in return."
Keir Starmer says Britain is 'back at the top table at last'
The Prime Minister told the Commons: "This is Britain back at the top table at last, facing outwards.
"We are replacing incoherence and isolationism with pragmatic engagement. Replacing naïve posturing with the national interest.
"In dangerous times, we are using our full strength and reach on the global stage to deliver growth and security to the British people."
Keir Starmer says not engaging with China is 'dereliction of duty'
Sir Keir Starmer speaking in the Commons
|PARLIAMENT.TV
Sir Keir Starmer is on his feet in the Commons to discuss his Prime Ministerial visit to China.
The Prime Minister said not engaging with China is a "dereliction of duty".
There were some heckles from opposition benches during his speech.
Suspended Labour MP arrested over further sex abuse allegations
Dan Norris said he denies 'the serious allegations made against me'
| GETTYA man in his 60s has been further arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, voyeurism and upskirting, Avon and Somerset Police have said.
GB News understands the man is suspended Labour MP Dan Norris.
Norris, an independent MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, was suspended from the party in April.
He has not attended Parliament since his release on police bail nine months ago, and denies any allegations that have been made against him.
Norris said in a statement: "I vigorously and entirely deny the serious allegations made against me. They are untrue.
"I am challenging them through my legal representatives."
Crowdfunded Independent Rape Gang inquiry opens
The opening of public hearings of an Independent Rape Gang Inquiry have opened today.
The hearings will hear evidence from victims, campaigners, whistleblowers, experts and public figures.
The inquiry, which will span across two weeks, was established following a crowdfunding campaign launched in early 2025.
Foreign Office revoke Russian diplomat's accreditation after summoning ambassador
The accreditation of a Russian diplomat has been revoked, the Foreign Office said, following a similar action by Moscow.
In a statement, the Foreign Office (FCDO) said the Russian ambassador Andrey Kelin had been summoned following the “unprovoked and unjustified” decision to expel a British diplomat last month.
The statement from the FCDO added that it will not “stand for intimidation of British embassy staff”, as it accused Russia of seeking to “deter our support for Ukraine”.
An FCDO spokesman said: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified decision to expel a British diplomat last month and its baseless accusations against our staff.
“Summoning the Russian ambassador, a senior FCDO official made it clear that the UK will not stand for intimidation of British embassy staff and so we are taking reciprocal action today, revoking the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.
“It is deeply disappointing that Russia continually seeks to disrupt the work of the UK’s diplomatic missions and deter our support for Ukraine. Any further action taken by Russia will be considered an escalation and responded to accordingly.”
This latest move by the Foreign Office comes after Russia expelled a British diplomat from the country in the middle of last month after accusing him of acting as a spy.
Keir Starmer believes Lord Mandelson 'should not be member of House of Lords'
Sir Keir Starmer believes Peter Mandelson "should not be a member of the House of Lords" after further revelations linking the peer to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The former cabinet minister, who was sacked as US ambassador last year because of his past connections to Epstein, resigned his membership of the Labour Party on Sunday.
Downing Street now no longer believe he should be able to sit in Parliament, though the Prime Minister does not have the power to strip him of his peerage.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister believes that Peter Mandelson should not be a member of the House of Lords or use the title. However, the Prime Minister does not have the power to remove it."
Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour of 'covering up' Lord Mandelson 'scandal'
Kemi Badenoch has questioned how Lord Mandelson 'came to be appointed in the first place'
|PA
Kemi Badenoch has questioned how Lord Madelson "came to be appointed in the first place" as she accused Labour of "covering up" the "scandal".
The Conservative Party leader said "there are vetting procedures which would have stopped him from ever being appointed”.
She added: “It looks like Number 10 waved these away, and we’ve been pushing to get the files released.
“Labour have been covering this up.
“It is now time for us to look into that, and we will explore every possible avenue to make sure we understand how it was that the Prime Minister allowed himself and the Government to be embroiled in this scandal.”
'Enough is enough': Kemi Badenoch demands 'full Cabinet Office investigation' into whether Lord Mandelson received payments from Jeffrey Epstein
Kemi Badenoch has demanded a “full Cabinet Office investigation” into whether Lord Mandelson and his husband took money from Jeffrey Epstein while he was a minister.
Bank statements appear to show Lord Mandelson received £75,000 from Epstein, although the former ambassador to the US insists he had “no record and no recollection of receiving these sums and do not know if the documents are authentic”.
Conservative party leader Mrs Badenoch said: “Enough is enough. We need a full Cabinet Office investigation into how Mandelson and his husband took money from the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while he was a Labour minister, and why Mandelson was appointed ambassador in the first place.
“Keir Starmer told me that he had full confidence in Peter Mandelson before having to sack him as ambassador.
“The PM has consistently looked the other way when it comes to Mandelson’s past, even avoiding proper vetting.
“Just yesterday he let Mandelson resign his own Labour membership rather than acting.
“If Starmer lacks the backbone to order this investigation, then it will be all the more clear that he bears full responsibility for bringing Mandelson back into British public life despite knowing about the relationship with Epstein.”
Ed Davey calls for Lord Madelson to be stripped of peerage over Jeffrey Epstein links
Sir Ed Davey said 'it is time for the Government to take immediate action'
|PA
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Lord Mandelson should be stripped of his peerage over his links with Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Ed said: “It’s time now for the Government to take immediate action by bringing forward legislation to strip Peter Mandelson of his peerage.
"It is the very least they can do for the victims and survivors of his friend Jeffrey Epstein.
“If Mandelson has any shame left he will retire from the House of Lords today while this process gets under way.”
New General Election projection shows Reform UK landslide
The nowcast predicts Nigel Farage's party will win an almost 30 per cent share of the votes at a General Election
|ELECTION MAPS UK/X
A new General Election projection has predicted Reform UK will win by a landslide, with 345 seats.
Election Maps UK predicts Nigel Farage's party will win an almost 30 per cent share of the votes in a General Election, while Labour falls in second place with 19.8 per cent.
The nowcast projects the Lib Dems will come in third place with 77 seats, while the Tories fall behind the SNP, with 18.4 per cent of the votes.
SNP calls for full investigation into Lord Mandelson's role in Labour governments
Peter Mandelson quit the Labour Party yesterday
|PA
There must be a full investigation into Lord Peter Mandelson’s role in Labour governments, the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has said.
Mr Flynn has written to the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus saying an urgent inquiry is needed in light of revelations in the Epstein files.
The SNP have also question why the former US ambassador is still a member of the House of Lords.
In his letter to Sir Laurie, Mr Flynn said: “The current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, appointed Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States of America, prior to that he was appointed to the House of Lords and to the Cabinet by a previous Labour prime minister, Gordon Brown and prior to that he was a member of several British cabinets under Tony Blair.
“Given the serious allegations that are still emerging regarding the extent of the relationship, political influence, and financial hold the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein had over Lord Mandelson – there is an urgent need for a full and swift investigation into Peter Mandelson’s conduct in public life and importantly – particularly in terms of your own remit – how and why he was ever appointed to high office by these Labour Prime Ministers.”
The SNP MP said the “full and swift” inquiry must examine any contact between Lord Mandelson and Epstein.
Mr Flynn added: "“The only way to stop that slow drip, drip of allegations is to immediately launch a full and swift inquiry – into Mandelson himself and into how and why three Labour prime ministers repeatedly appointed him despite his relationship with Epstein."
Home Office says murder of Rhiannon Whyte by Sudanese asylum seeker was 'abhorrent crime' after victim's mother says PM has 'blood on his hands'
The Home Office has said the murder of 27-year-old Rhiannon Whyte by Sudanese asylum seeker Deng Chol Majek was an "abhorrent crime" after the victim's mother says the Prime Minister has "blood on his hands".
Ms Whyte was stabbed 23 times by Majek at Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall on October 20, 2024, after she finished a shift at the nearby Park Inn hotel, where he had been living.
The victim's mother, Siobhan Whyte, told GB News Sir Keir Starmer "needs to be held accountable", saying the PM has "blood on his hands" and the migrant crisis in Britain "needs to stop".
In a statement, a Home Office spokesman told the People's Channel: "The murder of Rhiannon Whyte was an abhorrent crime, and our thoughts are with her loved ones.
"This vile criminal is behind bars where he belongs, and he has rightly received the strictest punishment of a life sentence.
"We share the public’s anger about the broken asylum system and hotels, that is precisely why we are doing everything we can to keep dangerous offenders out of the country and close down hotels."
WATCH: Mother of murdered Rhiannon Whyte says Sir Keir Starmer 'needs to be held accountable'
WATCH: Sir Mel Stride says PM has questions to answer over appointment of Lord Mandelson: 'He has shown no backbone'
Lord Mandelson has 'questions to answer' over links to Jeffrey Epstein, minister says
Lord Mandelson has “questions to answer” over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, a government minister has said.
Education minister Olivia Bailey said she was “pleased” Lord Mandelson had resigned from the Labour Party.
“There were clearly questions that Peter Mandelson would need to answer. He’s taken this decision, it’s the right decision,” she told Times Radio.
But asked whether he should remain a member of the House of Lords she said: “The reality of the removal of a peerage is a complicated one. You have to have been, I believe, sent to jail for over 12 months or an Act of Parliament needs to be passed.
“But… Peter Mandelson has said that he does not intend he is, he is. He is not currently in the House of Lords and I do understand that he does not intend to return.”
Lord Mandelson is currently on a leave of absence from the Lords.
Sir Keir Starmer hints at comeback for Angela Rayner: 'I've always been clear she has a future role to play'
Sir Keir said he would 'like to have Angela [Rayner] back at the right point'
|PA
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has a “future role to play” in government.
Ms Rayner resigned in September after it emerged she did not pay enough stamp duty on an £800,000 flat in Hove.
Labour’s former deputy leader remains a popular figure within the party and Sir Keir said he wanted to bring her back to the front line “at the right point”.
Ms Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, is viewed as a potential successor to Sir Keir or, if she did not run herself, as someone whose support could have a significant influence on the outcome of any contest.
“I would like to have Angela back at the right point. I’ve always been clear she has a future role to play,” the Prime Minister told Times Radio.
“She played a huge part in the achievement that we got at the last election; getting elected, we’ve just passed the Employment Rights Act, which has got her fingerprints all over it.”