MPs left in silence as Keir Starmer praises Donald Trump for Gaza peace deal

UK joined by more than 16 countries on reforming ECHR to make deportations easier

British politicians have won the support of more than 16 countries to reform the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) in a bid for governments across the continent to tackle illegal migration.

The ECHR has been blamed for stalling thousands of asylum deportation cases, with more than 16 countries understood to have thrown support behind Britain's move to change the way courts interpret the treaty.

Governments in Europe want greater freedom to deport migrants, even if a move is claimed to impact their right to a family life.

The proposals will likely require amendments to the ECHR so that individual countries have more power to regulate their borders.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Suella Braverman says she is 'ashamed to be British'

Suella Braverman has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer after the Prime Minister appeared to be snubbed by Donald Trump during the Gaza Summit in Egypt.

Reacting on GB News, Mrs Braverman said the moment was "an embarrassment for all of us".

The incident unfolded as the US President invited world leaders onto the stage following the signing of a historic Gaza peace deal.

Videos showed Mr Trump asking: "Where is the UK?"

READ THE FULL STORY HERE AND WATCH MRS BRAVERMAN'S INTERVIEW ABOVE

Highlights from the morning rounds today

In case you missed them, Steve Reed, the Housing Secretary and the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Alex Burghart spoke to GB News this morning.

Mr Reed denied claims from the People's Channel host Eamonn Holmes that the Government's housing targets were "unrealistic".

The Housing Secretary said the 1.5 million homes Labour plans to build are a "stretching target" but is confident the Government can achieve it.

Mr Burghart told GB News that the Gaza ceasefire is "how good things start".

He said: "We've got to have hope. I think what you saw yesterday was a huge international desire for peace.

"Let's just hope that the fighting is ended. We're very, very pleased that the Israeli hostages appear to be coming home finally after their terrible ordeal.

"We're pleased that the shooting has stopped, and we're pleased that aid is going to be going into Gaza. So look, there is a very, very long road to travel, but this is how good things start."

WATCH MR REED SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE'S CHANNEL ABOVE AND VIEW MR BURGHART'S DISCUSSION HERE

Ed Miliband 'confident we can persuade people' to back renewable energy

The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is "confident we can persuade people" to back renewable energy.

Speaking at the Energy UK conference, he said: "To listen to some people talk, I won't name names, you would think there was a free pass to just carry on using unlimited gas in an unlimited way from existing stations for the next few decades, but that isn't the case.

"We could decide to stop building renewables and just rely on a whole new fleet of gas-fired power stations, but we need to be candid about this; that would involve the costs of building and not just operating these plants.

"Now, of course, people are entitled to advocate for more fossil fuels and less or even no more renewables as part of this mix. But here is the reality: They would leave us more exposed because we don't control the price.

"They are more expensive to build and operate. They would leave us losing out in the global race for the jobs, investment and industries of the future. And they would drive a coach and horses through our efforts to tackle the climate crisis. That is why we believe clean power is the right choice for the country.

"I am really confident that we can persuade people that the road we have chosen is the right one, and that's for a number of reasons, because the country wants a positive vision and hope for the future."

Ed Miliband called a 'dictator' over his push for net zero

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has been branded a "dictator" over his push for net zero.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said in a statement: "Families across Lincolnshire and the rest of the country have seen their energy bills go through the roof as a result of our exposure to volatile gas prices.

"Solar is one of the cheapest and quickest power sources we can build, it is crucial in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower - giving us energy security, good jobs and growth across the country."

However, Tory MP in Lincolnshire, Sir Edward Leigh, criticised the move, calling Mr Miliband "a dictator industrialising the Lincolnshire countryside and ruining food production".

He wrote on X: "He has approved the Tillbridge Solar Project without any local planning input or consent, all subsidised by green taxes. Labour has no understanding of the countryside."

Sir Ed Davey calls on energy sector 'to take on the lies' of Reform UK and the Tories

Sir Ed Davey has called on the energy sector "to take on the lies" of Reform UK and the Tories, who claim that net zero and clean power policies will cost UK billpayers more money.

The Liberal Democrats leader said: "They pretend bills are high because we're investing too much in renewable power. And they pretend that if we stop that investment, they will suddenly fall - simple, beguiling, terribly, terribly wrong.

"When you understand how important renewable energy is to our economy - how only renewable energy can deliver permanently low prices and energy security - we have to be honest with ourselves: we haven't done a good enough job at countering their myths.

"So now the cross-party consensus on investing in renewables has been shattered, and we have long said that climate sceptics have their heads buried in the sand.

"But if we, the people in this room, the energy industry as a whole, and all those who want to cut energy bills permanently, if we don't take on the lies of Farage and Badenoch now, it will be us who have our heads in the sand."

UK inflation to rise to highest in G7, IMF warns

The UK is set to face the steepest price rises among G7 nations over the next two years, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The Washington-based organisation projects UK inflation will hit 3.4 per cent in 2025, the highest rate of any major advanced economy.

It marks an upward revision from the IMF's July forecast of 3.2 per cent and signals growing price pressures.

The following year offers little relief, with inflation expected to ease only to 2.5 per cent in 2026, up from a previous estimate of 2.3 per cent.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Media 'absolutely' needs to be allowed into Gaza - Sir Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons that the media "absolutely" needs to be allowed into Gaza.

Responding to a question from SNP Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, the Prime Minister said: "Can I agree with him that aid is the immediate issue.

"I agree the media absolutely needs to be allowed in to document what has to be seen, and on a two-state solution, of course, there has to be accountability."

Claire Coutinho defends Tories' push backs on net zero

Claire Coutinho has defended the Conservative Party's resistance to net zero policies when speaking to an audience of energy industry leaders.

She said: "I know that people argue that politicians saying the things that I'm saying are undermining certainty, and that certainty is what business needs.

"But sticking at decisions that make people poorer and our energy more expensive will not be sustainable in the long run because the electorate won't accept it.

"So that certainty which people talk about is a thing of the imagination because it does not have democratic consent.

"Nobody has made the case to the public that their energy costs should be higher, and their bills should be higher because that's the best goal for decarbonisation."

PM welcomes Edward Leigh's comments, saying Palestinians have 'God-given right' to their own state 

Conservative Father of the House Edward Leigh told the House of Commons he wanted to see Parliament united in saying it was "completely committed to creating a Palestinian state in the West Bank".

He said it is the "God-given right" of Palestinians.

Mr Leigh's comments were welcomed by Sir Keir Starmer, noting it sounded "like the old Tory party I used to know".

Liberal Democrats leader asks PM for more details on UK's involvement in getting aid into Gaza

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey asked Sir Keir Starmer for more information about what Britain is doing to ensure more aid is getting into Gaza.

He called on the dead bodies of the hostages to be returned to Israel.

It saw Sir Keir thank Sir Ed for his response, before adding that there was a need for more trucks to enter the strip.

He agreed with Sir Ed that the hostages' bodies must return to Israel as he pointed towards media finally being allowed into Gaza and how that will show the "full horror" of what happened over the past two years.

​Sir Keir Starmer hits back at Tory leader for ignoring Gaza humanitarian crisis

The Prime Minister responded to Kemi Badenoch's criticism.

Sir Keir Starmer said he was "surprised and saddened" about her attacks on Britain's involvement in helping the process and how she failed to mention the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

He added that she also failed to include the number of people killed and that Israel had denied aid into the strip.

Sir Keir spoke on how Ms Badenoch's comments "shows yet again just how far her party has slid from a serious states person approach to diplomacy".

Kemi Badenoch accuses Prime Minister of straining UK's relationship with Israel

The Tory leader has criticised Sir Keir Starmer, saying it saddened her that the Prime Minister did not appear to "show that the UK was at the heart of any of these efforts".

"It is quite clear that UK relations with Israel have been strained by the actions of this government," Kemi Badenoch added.

Ms Badenoch said that the Prime Minister had made "wrong decisions time and time again", including restoring funding to UN aid agency, Unwra, which Israel has claimed has links to Hamas.

She spoke on how her party had not forgotten its organisation had "members (who) assisted in the kidnapping of these hostages".

The Tory leader also criticised Britain recognising a Palestinian state.

Keir Starmer confirms Britain is providing £20million of additional humanitarian support for Gazans

The Prime Minister has told the House of Commons that while the "killing and destruction has now stopped" the UK is calling for more aid to enter Gaza.

"Aid is now entering Gaza," Sir Keir Starmer said.

"We urgently need to see more aid and faster, all restrictions must now be lifted.

"While the signing yesterday was historic, what matters now is implementation and getting help in as quickly as possible."

Sir Keir said the Government "is providing £20million in additional humanitarian support" to get necessary products into Gaza.

Prime Minister says UK 'worked behind the scenes for months'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK has "worked behind the scenes for month" in helping secure a deal between Israel and Hamas.

He paid tribute to Donald Trump for leading efforts alongside Arab nations and Turkey in securing the deal.

Sir Keir said he was "proud" of Britain's efforts and how the UK recognised the state of Palestine.

Sir Keir Starmer: 'Surviving hostages are freed'

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is finally saying "words I have longed to say in this house for a very long time".

"The surviving hostages are free, the bombardment of Gaza has stopped, and desperately needed aid is starting to enter," he said.

The Prime Minister added it was off the backing of the peace deal led by US President Donald Trump.

Sir Keir Starmer condemns 'Islamist extremism' after killing of two Jewish men outside Synagogue

The Prime Minister has condemned the "vile, antisemitic terror attack" which killed two Jewish men outside a synagogue in Manchester.

"Mr Speaker, antisemitism is not a new hatred here in Britain," Sir Keir said.

"Jews have had to deal with the shameful reality that their buildings, their way of life, their children, need extra protection.

"We must also be crystal clear that while this was an attack on Jews because they were Jews."

Sir Keir spoke on the "Islamist extremism" behind the man's attack which he said was a "threat to every citizen in this country".

"An attack on British values, British security and the British decency that holds our communities together," he added.

"Moreover, Mr Speaker, we can see clearly that antisemitism is on the rise in Britain once again, so we will scale up the protection we provide for Jewish people.

"We will set out new measures to prevent hatred, abuse the democratic right to protest - we will stop at nothing to root out antisemitism.

"And Mr Speaker, the same applies to the arson attack on the Peacehaven mosque, an attack on British Muslims is also an attack on us all."

Sir Keir said he also condemned the "despicable crime and the poison of anti-Muslim hatred".

"We will fight against hate in all its forms," he said.

Ed Davey pays tribute to Menzies Campbell

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said Menzies Campbell, who had also served as leader of the party, was "genuinely a grandee from the first day (he) was elected".

"But his calmness, reasonableness and intense decency (hide a) most a radical politician," he said.

"A man who never forgot his roots growing up in the Glasgow tenement and he was driven by deep commitment to social justice, a man who said he was his role and the role of the Liberal Democrats to rattle the cage of British politics."

Mr Davey said he remembered "how difficult the decision" it was for the party to oppose the Iraq war.

"It felt like we were going not just against the Government, but taking on the full might of the British state and the United States," he said.

"Menzies tackled it with his typically steady forensic, lawyerly approach, and gave us both the confidence and resolve to speak up strongly for what we believed.

"He made our position firmly rooted in respect for international law, and because it was a time when the world was in turmoil following those horrific terrorist attacks of September 11th, Menzies provided principled leadership with his trademark combination of morality, courage and wisdom."

Tory leader speaks on encounter with the 'very earnest' Menzies Campbell

Kemi Badenoch said she "had the pleasure" of speaking to Menzies Campbell "backstage" before questions in the House of Commons.

"He was very courteous, very curious and very earnest," she said.

"We all know how well-respected he was across the his house."

Ms Badenoch said he had made efforts to work with parties, "especially on international matters".

"He was a man with a clear sense of right and wrong," she added.

Sir Keir Starmer pays tribute to the 'flying Scotsman' Menzies Campbell

The Prime Minister has joined fellow party leaders and MPs as they pay tribute to former British politician, Menzies Campbell, who died last month.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke on Mr Campbell's storied athletics career and his "commitment to Scotland".

"From fishing ... to flying, as well as becoming Chancellor of St Andrew's University," he said.

"It was a full life well-lived ... we are all enriched by his sense of duty and commitment to this country."

Nigel Farage speaks after Fayaz Khan is jailed for five years

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he will be “very thoughtful” when Fayaz Khan is freed from prison after the Afghan migrant was sentenced to five years behind bars.

Asked if he was “shaken” by the outburst Khan shouted at Mr Farage after he was sentenced, he said: “Well, in 18 months time, when he’s out free and there’s no order, there’s no restraining order on him, I’ll be very thoughtful again.”

Speaking outside Southwark Crown Court, Mr Farage said “I suppose we call that a win”, after the man who threatened to kill him was sentenced, but claimed that he could be out on the streets in 18 months.

“It was about the maximum sentence that could possibly be given, five years, given the scale of the offence. And I thank Justice Steyn. I thank the judge for saying what she said," Mr Farage added.

"But the fact is that in 18 months time this violent criminal, somebody with 17 convictions in Sweden, in 18 months time he will be in this country, living in a house of multiple occupancy or a hotel, free to walk the streets whilst his asylum claim is judged.”

Britain joined by more than 15 countries on reforming ECHR to make deportations easier

British politicians have won the support of more than 16 countries to reform the European Convention of Human Rights in a bid for Governments across the continent to tackle illegal migration.

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) has been blamed for stalling thousands of asylum deportation cases with more than 16 countries understood to have thrown support behind Britain's move to change the way courts interpret the treaty.

Governments in Europe want greater freedom to deport migrants even if a move if claimed to impact on their right to a family life.

READ FULL STORY HERE.

Top Tories urge Chief Prosecutor to resume China spy trial 

Senior Conservative MPs have called on the Chief prosecutor to resume the trial of two alleged spies for China if Labour declares the country is a threat to national security.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has joined Alex Burghart in urging Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, to revive the case if the Government produces the necessary evidence.

The Tories are putting pressure on Labour after Security Minister Dan Jarvis blamed Jonathan Powell's deputy for the collapse of the case.

The case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry fell apart after the Crown Prosecution Service said the Government had refused to provide crucial evidence - proving that China was a national security threat.

Both men have denied any wrongdoing.

Pictured: Nigel Farage arrives at Southwark 

No conference poll boost for either Tories or Labour

The Tories have failed to see any boost in the polls after its conference, despite Kemi Badenoch's promise to abolish stamp duty.

YouGov's poll for The Times, after the end of the party conference season, saw the Tories stuck on 17 per cent - the exact position they had been in since early summer.

Labour failed to see any jump from its own conference despite Sir Keir Starmer's attack on Nigel Farage.

The party is still polling at 20 per cent, the lowest since the General Election.

New Greens leader Zack Polanksi's party recorded its highest ever poll rating of 13 per cent.

Reform UK remains unchanged on 27 per cent from last week, however, it is down two points from earlier this month.

Housing Secretary blames Tory Government for slow housing targets trend

Steve Reed has blamed the previous Tory Government for a slow trend of houses being built in the UK and time is needed to see the changes come in to effect.

The Housing Secretary said "it does take more than a year before you start to see the change" with housing applications going through the system.

"But we're already seeing the number of starts going up by 29 per cent in the last year," he said.

"It needs to go up faster than that, and that's the reason I'm bringing forward in the House of Lords behind me this week, new changes to the legislation that will stop councils unreasonably blocking homes that could have been going ahead."

Mr Reed also said it would stop applications in court from being "timed out".

Labour 'changing' the rules allowing councils to block homes being built, Housing Secretary says

The Housing Secretary has told GB News that Labour "needs to get councils taking the right decision" and blocking homes that should be constructed from being built.

"We're changing the rules, we're going to have more powers to stop councils from taking that kind of decision," Steve Reed MP said.

"Residents should have a say over what can and can't be built in their local area.

"But we can't have councils just blocking the homes that then closes down the dream of home ownership for millions of our fellow citizens in this country."

Steve Reed MP declares housing targets are 'not unachievable'

The Housing Secretary has rejected claims that housing targets, set by the Government, are unachievable.

"Well they're not unachievable ... we've got a housing crisis in this country," Steve Reed MP told GB News.

"We've seen a number of people sleeping rough ... double over the last 10 years."

Mr Reed said there were families stuck in temporary accommodation where families were "stuck in there for a year with kids sharing a bed, the parents sleeping on a sofa in a single room".

Mr Reed said the "planning system" was blocking homes being built.

"It's too slow, it's too cumbersome," he added.

The Housing Secretary pointed to one example, Rochford Council, which had blocked 600 homes from going ahead and a court case ensued with construction eventually taking place.

Smacking shouldn't be banned, Alex Burghart MP says

While parents smacking their kids is banned in Wales and Scotland, Alex Burghart MP said he "personally" does not believe it should be prohibited in England.

"I think that parents shouldn't feel that they're at risk of prosecution if they smack their children," he said.

"You know, of course we're all against children being beaten, I've come across some horrible cases of child abuse in my time."

Mr Burghart said a "mild, corrective smack is not something I'm opposed to at all".

Tories are 'against' proposals for new Chinese embassy 

Alex Burghart MP told GB News the Tories are "against" a new Chinese embassy next to Tower Bridge.

"We're against these proposals," he said.

"The fact of the matter is ... there had been several independent reports that have said this would compromise not just national security but the security of the financial city."

Mr Burghart said those that do business in London and trade in London should be assured that their information is safe in the city and that the proposals posed a potential threat to the economy.

Alex Burghart claims Government didn't provide Crown with evidence for China spy trial

The Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has said he doesn't buy the Government's excuse for the derailment of the China spy trial.

Alex Burghart MP said: "The truth is the Crown Prosecution Service asked the Government to provide certain information so that it could proceed with a trial".

"The Government didn't do that," he said.

"We are still desperately trying to find out why that was."

Mr Burghart said the Government hadn't provided "good answers" and it looked like a "cock up and a cover-up".

"These two men who have been arrested for spying, against MPs, spying in the Houses of Parliament ... they have not been able to be brought to trial because the Government hasn't co-operated," he said.

Mr Burghart said it was "totally unacceptable" and the Government has to "come clean".

Top Tory MP says US is 'incredible force for good' after Gaza peace deal

Alex Burghart MP has told GB News that the US can be "an incredible force for good" when it "puts its mind to it" after securing a peace deal between Israel and Hamas.

However, the Tory MP said the situation in Ukraine was "different".

"I'm not convinced that Vladimir Putin wants peace," he said.

"I think that he will keep fighting until he thinks he can't gain anymore territory.

"If the Americans are going to give Mr Zelensky the force to prevent that happening, then we might start to see things ... move very quickly."

Home Secretary declares Pro-Palestine protesters don't want peace in Middle East

The Home Secretary has accused some pro-Palestinian protesters of not wanting peace in the Middle East.

Shabana Mahmood said the decision by campaigners to continue their protests after Donald Trump's declaration that the "war is over" in Israel yesterday.

She previously branded some pro-Palestine protesters as "fundamentally un-British in nature" after one said they "don't give a f*** about the Jewish community right now."

Ms Mahmood confirmed that the Government was considering new powers to ban demonstrations outright.

READ FULL STORY

Britain warned of China posing 'highly sophisticated' cyber threat

Britain's cyber agency has warned of China posing a "highly sophisticated and capable" cyber threat, revealing a 50 per cent jump in significant attacks in the country by criminals and hostile states.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has found the threat posted by Chinese cyber spies.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure over the collapse of a trial against two British men accused of espionage on behalf of China.

The Crown Prosecution Service claimed the case was derailed due to the Government not delivering evidence to show China had been a threat to Britain's national security at the time of the alleged offences between 2021 and 2023.