A new poll has suggested Reform UK voters are the most optimistic about their party’s abilities to make a positive difference to the UK.
The poll by YouGov suggested that 55 per cent of those who voted for Nigel Farage's party at the last election believe a Reform UK-led government would make a very positive difference to the UK, compared to just 22 per cent of Labour voters.
Green Party voters also tend to rate their party’s power to improve the country, with 49 per cent of those currently backing the party saying they believe a Green-led government would make a very positive difference.
These compare drastically to the three more traditional parties, with only 28 per cent of current Conservatives, 27 per cent of Lib Dems and 22 per cent of those currently intending to vote Labour saying a government led by their respective party would make a very positive difference to the UK.
By contrast, the voters of these parties tend to believe their choice of party could only make a fairly positive difference to the UK if in power.
The poll which was taken between May 8 and May 9 found that 63 per cent of current Labour voters, 58 per cent of Lib Dems and 52 per cent of Conservatives saying their respective parties would have a fairly positive difference to how the country is run.
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Nigel FarageGETTYNigel Farage has slammed Labour and the Conservatives after the release of today's net migration figures, calling it "disastrous."
It comes after the figures from the Office for National Statistics suggested people moving to the UK and leaving the country is estimated to have halved, in the biggest fall in net migration since the pandemic.
The figure stood at an estimated 431,000 in the year ending December 2024, down 49.9 per cent from 860,000 a year earlier.
Farage wrote on X: "Net migration of over 400,000 for Labour’s first year of government. Not as high as the great Tory betrayal, but still disastrous."
Teachers and school leaders in England will receive a four per cent pay rise from September, the Education Secretary has announced.
Bridget Phillipson said £615 million of additional funding will be provided to schools this financial year to help them with the costs of pay awards for staff.
In a written ministerial statement, Phillipson said: "This means school teachers will see an increase in their pay of almost 10 per cent since this Government took power and over 22 per cent over the last four years."
She added: "Schools will be expected to find approximately the first one per cent of pay awards through improved productivity and smarter spending to make every pound count.
Dame Priti Patel
PA
Dame Priti Patel has launched a scathing attack on today's Chagos ruling, saying Chagossians had been "betrayed" by Labour.
The shadow foreign secretary wrote on social media: "The High Court decision this afternoon will be very disappointing for Chagossians. They deserve great credit for the dignified way they have fought and campaigned for their rights.
"But this process has once again highlighted the shameful actions of Labour ministers. They have ignored them and are disgracefully forcing force through the surrender of the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands and handing over billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to Mauritius.
"Instead of coming to the House of Commons to explain themselves, both Keir Starmer and David Lammy are in hiding. Let’s be in no doubt, the Chagossians have been betrayed by Labour and their cowardly actions. Labour have broken promises made to protect their rights."
Former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has slammed the High court's decision to allow the Chagos deal to go ahead, calling it a "surrender."
The MP for Great Yarmouth said on social media: "The High Court has given the green light.
"The Chagos Islands surrender will go ahead. A total and utter humiliation for Britain."
Supporters outside the High Court in central London, during a hearing over a last-minute block on the Government from concluding its deal on the Chagos IslandsPAThe High Court has ruled the Chagos deal can go ahead after an emergency injunction was put into place.
The deal, which would see Britain give up sovereignty of the island territory to Mauritius and lease back a crucial military base there, was due to be signed this morning but was temporarily blocked by a High Court judge hours before.
The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservatives of "playing politics" over domestic abuse cases.
Eastbourne MP and the party's justice spokesman Josh Babarinde took to the Commons to ask how how victims of domestic abuse would be protected under Government reforms to overhaul the prisons system.
He said: "We would like to get clarity on the record that the new identifier would mean that the Government could be empowered to exclude domestic abusers from, for example, an SDS40 early release scheme, and that partners using Clare’s law would see offences flagged as domestic abuse in light of this.
"And something that must be said is that it is absolutely appalling that the shadow Justice Secretary (Robert Jenrick) has tried to play politics with domestic abuse.”
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood replied: "The new identifier will develop over time, and I am sure it will inform future policy decisions made by governments of all stripes, but it is an important start point, and we are very happy to accept the recommendation and we will move at pace so that we can make sure we deliver it."
Shabana Mahmood speaking in the commons earlier today
Parliament
Offenders could be tasked with filling potholes or cleaning rubbish under new proposals announced by the Justice Secretary.
Shabana Mahmood told the Commons: "I will shortly bring together business leaders to explore a model where offenders work for them with a salary paid not to the offender, but made for the good of victims.
"I will also work with local authorities to determine how unpaid work teams could give back to their communities, be that filling potholes or cleaning rubbish.”"
She added: "It is too easy to focus on how we punish offenders when we should talk more about victims. Everything I am announcing today is in pursuit of a justice system that serves victims. If our prisons collapse, it is victims who pay the price, and by cutting reoffending, we will have fewer victims in future."
Culture minister Sir Chris Bryant has sought to "bury" rumours that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will be abolished, saying it would be "absolute madness."
When pressed on recent reports that DCMS is in the firing line, Bryant branded these "daft rumours", adding: “Honestly, the department is not going to be abolished."
Lord Frost speaks at PopConPAFormer Chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost has not ruled out running for Reform UK at a future general election.
Frost said he was "not emotionally committed to the Conservatives" adding "let’s see how that plays out."
He told The Telegraph: "I’m waiting. What I want is a last chance really for a party on the Right that can deliver meaningful Right-wing, principled policies.
"I’m not emotionally committed to the Conservatives in the way that others are. I want the party that is going to do the job and get the job done, and let’s see how that plays out."
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has spoken to Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello about the insight his new book provides into his life as a carer.
Many of Davey’s loved ones have suffered with health issues, meaning he has taken on a caring role in many of their lives.
He reflects on how he became closer to his family as a result of him looking after them more.
Jenrick has reacted to the new figures
GB NewsRobert Jennrick has claimed reforms the Conservatives brought in are the reasons behind the fall in net migration.
Reacting to today's ONS figures, the Shadow Justice Secretary said: "The changes I secured as Immigration Minister have led to net migration almost halving. But it’s still far too high. The last Government weren’t willing to go further so I resigned.
"For all his talk, Starmer’s white paper was a white flag. We must end mass migration for good."
Net migration to the UK is estimated to have halved in a boost for Sir Keir Starmer.
The Office for National Statistics revealed this morning that net migration to the UK is estimated to have halved from 860,000 in the year ending December 2023 to 431,000 in the year ending December 2024.
The Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey hit out at the Tories over Robert Jenrick's reaction to the announcement the Chagos deal would be thwarted.
"I haven’t seen any of the details but clearly the Chagos negotiations have been going on for years now" he told GB News this morning.
"There were several rounds under the Conservatives who I think if they had been returned [to Government] a deal would have been concluded, despite what they say now."
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is considering mandatory chemical castration for the most serious sex offenders, according to government sources.
The minister’s department is planning to expand a pilot to 20 regions as part of a package of "radical" measures to free thousands of prisoners and ease prison overcrowding in England and Wales.
The report has urged ministers to build a comprehensive evidence base around the use of chemical suppression for sex offenders and examine the findings of similar programmes in Germany, Denmark and Poland.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has told GB News he is hopeful last-minute legal action brought against the Government’s Chagos deal will ultimately lead to it being scrapped.
Speaking on the People’s Channel, Jenrick expressed delight after it was revealed Justice Goose granted “interim relief” to two Chagossian women who had brought a case against the Foreign Office.
The Chagos Islands deal will not be signed off after an injunction was granted in the early hours of today by a High Court judge.
In the injunction granted at 2.25am, brought against the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Justice Goose granted "interim relief" to Bertrice Pompe, who had previously taken steps to bring legal action over the deal.
According to the order, the judge granted the injunction "upon consideration of the claimant’s application for interim relief made out of court hours" and "upon reading the defendants’ response."
Sir Keir Starmer has joined dozens of world leaders in signing a contract that grants the World Health Organization (WHO) the power to recommend lockdowns.
The WHO said it was a "victory for public health, science and multilateral action" and would "better protect the world from future pandemic threats."
However, sceptics said it would give the organisation too much control and influence, including by recommending specific policies like lockdowns and mask mandates.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves
UK Government borrowing rose by more than expected to £20.2 billion last month, mounting further pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to meet her fiscal rules.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing rose to its fourth-highest April figure on record after increasing £1 billion year-on-year.
The state borrowing figure reflects the difference between Government spending and its income, largely through tax receipts.
The latest figure showed that the Chancellor had to borrow more money than expected over the month, surpassing analyst predictions of £17.6 billion.
A Labour source pointed the finger of blame for the leak of a memo at allies close to Angela Rayner.
The memo in which she had Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, to raise taxes rather than reduce spending.
They told The Times: "She clearly wants to differentiate herself. Keir and Rachel have been joined at the hip, so Angela’s people must want to signal she’s fighting against No 10 and No 11, even if it’s internally.”
