Three Tories on defection watch as MPs ‘tempted’ by Nigel Farage

Ex-Labour minister urges Rachel Reeves to explore wealth tax

A former Labour minister has proposed that the Treasury should explore the idea of a wealth tax - emphasising the need for a more long-term strategy from the Government.

Anneliese Dodds highlighted the significance of considering the findings from the Wealth Tax Commission, which examined the feasibility and potential benefits of introducing such a tax in the UK.

The Commission’s 2020 report recommended a one-off wealth tax targeting millionaire couples, suggesting that a 1 per cent annual levy over five years could generate £260 billion.

Other senior Labour figures, including ex-party leader Lord Neil Kinnock and Wales’s First Minister, Baroness Eluned Morgan, have also voiced support for the idea.

Donald Trump issues warning to Keir Starmer over US companies' free speech

Donald Trump's administration has issued a warning to Sir Keir Starmer not to censor American tech companies amid criticism of Britain's online safety law.

The UK Government introduced its long-awaited Online Safety Act at the end of last week, adding strict age verification barriers to thousands of popular websites, forums, and social media services.

American officials have said they are monitoring developments in Britain with "great interest and concern".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Shadow home secretary says Channel crossings are 'now a national emergency'

Chris Philp has blasted the Labour Government over the surge of migrant crossings as arrivals skyrocket to more than 25,000 this year.

On Wednesday alone, 898 individuals were detected making the crossing.

This brings the total number of arrivals since January 1 to 25,436.

Reacting to the figures, Philp said: “Almost 900 people crossed the Channel yesterday, meaning 25,000 people, mainly young men, have crossed the Channel this year. 2025 is the worst year on record so far and the Labour Government are doing nothing to stop the crossings. This is now a national emergency.”

He also claimed that the UK’s deal with France “will not even make a dent”.

PM says he 'particularly' listens to hostages after Palestine backlash

Sir Keir Starmer has said that he “particularly” listens to hostages after a British-Israeli woman who was held captive by Hamas criticised his pledge to recognise a Palestinian state.

The Prime Minister said there is a “need to do everything we can to alleviate the human catastrophe in Gaza” after Emily Damari accused him of “moral failure” over the move.

Damari said that Sir Keir is “not standing on the right side of history” and that she was “deeply saddened” by the decision.

Speaking to ITV West Country while on a visit to Swindon on Thursday, the Prime Minister said: “I particularly listen to the hostages, Emily Damari, who I have spoken to, – I’ve met her mother a number of times, and they’ve been through the most awful, awful experience for Emily and for her mother.

“And that’s why I’ve been absolutely clear and steadfast that we must have the remaining hostages released. That’s been our position throughout and I absolutely understand the unimaginable horror that Emily went through.

“Alongside that, we do need to do everything we can to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where we are seeing the children and babies starving for want of aid which could be delivered."

Nigel Farage calls for 'tech answer' to protecting children online in opposition to online safety law

Nigel Farage has called for a “tech answer” to protecting children online - but admits that neither he or the Government have the solution.

The Reform UK leader was this week accused by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle of being on the side of “people like Jimmy Savile” over the party’s pledge to scrap the Online Safety Act.

During a phone-in on LBC this morning, the Clacton MP took questions about his opposition to the law including from George Nicolaou, who described it as a “matter of life and death” for some families.

Farage replied: “If age verification of itself was able to prevent incidents and tragedies like this, I would, George, 100 per cent support it.

“But the problem is it doesn’t, because of the VPN route.”

VPNs or virtual private networks can enable internet users to circumvent the new rules, by masking a user’s digital identity.

“There has to be a tech answer around this, Farage added.

“I don’t know what it is, certainly the Government doesn’t know what it is, but there has to be a tech answer of some kind, and we need to try and find it.”

Transport Secretary says 'no evidence of malign activity' over air traffic control glitch 

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said there is "no evidence of malign activity" after an air traffic control glitch led to more than 150 UK flights being cancelled.

The Swindon South MP met with the CEO of air traffic control system provider, Nats, this morning over yesterday's technical fault.

"I have spoken with Nats CEO Martin Rolfe who provided further detail on yesterday’s technical fault, the Transport Secretary wrote to X.

"This was an isolated event and there is no evidence of malign activity."

She added in a separate post: "I know that any disruption is frustrating for passengers.

"Flights are now resumed and I am grateful to airlines who are working hard to get people to where they need to be.

"I will continue to receive regular updates. Passengers should check with airlines before travelling."

Former home secretary praises 'peaceful' protest against asylum seeker housing plan

Former home secretary Suella Braverman has praised protesters for peacefully demonstrating against plans to house asylum seekers in flats above a town centre shop.

More than 1,000 people are estimated to have attended the protest in Waterlooville, Hampshire, on Wednesday, July 30, against the proposal to house 35 people at the property in London Road.

Posting to X, Braverman, who is the Conservative MP for Fareham and Waterlooville, said: “Very proud of the people of Waterlooville tonight.

"To the thousands of local people who peacefully protested, you speak for millions.

“Zero offences, arrests and no disorder. You’re not far-right. You just love our country and are willing to stand up for it. Thank you.

“To the Home Office and Havant Borough Council, we say: no. Thank you to the police for keeping everyone safe.”

Son of free Israeli hostage 'disappointed' by Government's decision over Palestine statehood 

The son of a freed Israeli hostage abducted by Hamas has said he is “very disappointed” by the Government’s decision to potentially recognise a Palestinian state.

Ada Sagi was taken from her home on October 7, 2023, and held by Hamas for more 53 days.

Her son Noam Sagi, who grew up on the kibbutz where Ada Sagi was seized, told the BBC’s Today programme: “I’m very disappointed, like so many people – I think by stating where we want to end up, it’s not where we’re at.

“I think we need to be very accurate with where we’re starting and where we want to end up, and I think [Sir Keir Starmer] missed the whole point of how to best get there.”

'You don't get the change you want overnight': Minister insists measures being taken to crackdown on small boat crossings

Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports, Gareth Thomas, has insisted measures are being taken to crackdown on small boat migrants after almost 900 attempted to cross the Channel yesterday.

Speaking to GB News this morning, the Harrow MP said: "I hope people watching this will recognise that we inherited a very significant problem and I hope they will recognise that we are taking a series of measures to beginning to address that problem and I hope they recognise they will recognise that you don't get the change you want overnight.

"We have to both crack down on the gangs and address the action on the beaches where the small boats are setting off from, we have to give our police and authorities additional powers which we are doing through legislation that is going through Parliament as well.

"And we have to give the people who are tempted to get onto those small boats the routes to getting there if they are genuine asylum applicants, to get them properly processed."

He added: "I appreciate it is frustrating, we feel deeply frustrated at what was left for us to sort out, but measures are being taken."

Reform voters prefer Jeremy Corbyn over Keir Starmer, new polling shows

​Reform voters have been shown to prefer Jeremy Corbyn to Sir Keir Starmer in four key metrics, according to a new survey.

The poll of some 2,000 Reform UK voters suggests the 76-year-old former Labour leader is more authentic, hardworking, intelligent and honest than the Prime Minister.

Despite Corbyn leading the charge on a hard-left ticket, 65 per cent of Reform voters say Corbyn is more authentic than Starmer, with just 35 per cent saying the opposite.

Reform voters only voted Starmer ahead in one area - on the world stage - where 56 per cent backed the Prime Minister, compared to 44 per cent who backed Corbyn.

Rachel Reeves told tax rises in autumn will force retail prices up

Rachel Reeves has been told that raising taxes in the autumn Budget will trigger a surge in shop prices.

In a survey of Britain’s biggest retailers by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), some 85 per cent had raised prices in response to measures brought in since Labour came to power in 2024.

BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson warned the Chancellor that a fresh round of tax increases would force retailers to push up prices further.

“Retail was squarely in the firing line of the last budget, with the industry hit by £7billion in new costs and taxes,” the leader of the BRC, which represents more than 9,000 stores that employ 300,000 workers, said.

“Retailers have done everything they can to shield their customers from higher costs, but given their slim margins and the rising cost of employing staff, price rises were inevitable.”

Minister refuses to rule out sacking Nats chief over traffic control chaos

A minister has refused to rule out sacking Nats chief executive Martin Rolfe after a failure affecting the air traffic management system.

Asked whether Rolfe will be "fired", Gareth Thomas told Times Radio: "Well, I think the first thing is to find out what went wrong, and that’s why the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is going to be summoning the chief executive."

The business minister earlier said he was "extremely concerned" that passengers had their flights cancelled and their holidays delayed.

"I would encourage people to get in contact with their airline carrier and the airports if their flights are still being delayed," he said.

"We are summoning – the Transport Secretary (Heidi Alexander) is summoning – in today the chief executive of of Nats to help us get to the bottom of what went wrong yesterday.

"Clearly, an incident happened two years ago and measures were taken then.

"It looks like those measures weren’t enough but we need to get to the bottom of what exactly happened, and conversations will take place today."

'Its time to pay up': Government crackdown on late payments by businesses

Firms which persistently pay their suppliers late are set to face fines worth potentially millions of pounds as the Prime Minister warned that “it’s time to pay up”.

Sir Keir Starmer has said “too many hardworking people are being forced to spend precious hours chasing payments” in a process which he described as “exhausting”.

As part of a drive to support small businesses, the Government is set to unveil plans to give the small business commissioner bolstered powers to fine large companies which persistently pay their suppliers late.

The commissioner will also receive new powers to enforce a rule that customers must pay their supplier within 30 days of receiving a valid invoice, unless otherwise agreed, with spot checks to help identify breaches.

Upcoming legislation will also introduce maximum payment terms of 60 days, reducing to 45 days.

Britain's recognition of Palestine is a 'political judgement', says minister 

Britain's recognition of Palestine is a "political judgment", a minister has said in response to fears the plan to do so could break international law.

Asked whether recognising Palestine was compliant with international law, services minister Gareth Thomas told Times Radio: "Yes, we believe it is".

He added: "In the end, recognition of another state is a political judgment and over 140 countries have already recognised Palestine, and we’re determined to do so in September if Israel does not end the violence in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and agree to a lasting route towards a two-state solution, and to no annexation in the West Bank."