Labour minister finally clarifies 'women and children' migrant 'lie' - but BLAMES Reform UK

Darren Jones's 'women and children' clarification instantly slapped down by Rupert Lowe

Shortly after Darren Jones clarified his remarks, ex-Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe blasted: "We all heard what you said.

"The vast majority of those crossing on small boats are men. Not women. Not children. Young men, from alien cultures.

"We should not make them feel welcome - no hotels, no benefits, no luxuries. Let's just deport them. All of them."

RECAP: How did the Darren Jones 'migrant lie' row begin?

Treasury Minister Darren Jones claimed that most small boat migrants are "children, babies and women".

On Thursday, Jones had said that "the majority of the people in these boats" are women and children - and Downing Street refused to correct him on Friday.

However, Home Office data reveals that almost three quarters of illegal migrants are adult men.

Yvette Cooper's department says 70 per cent of illegal arrivals since 2018 have been "adult males aged 18 and over".

Labour MP Mike Tapp went on to confirm to GB News that the majority of those crossing the Channel are young men.

"You'll have to ask Darren" about his comments, he said.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman refused to comment on Jones's remarks, adding: "We have been clear that our focus is on tackling these vile gangs who deal in human misery."

Police DROP probe into ex-Labour hardliners Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell - as deposed party leader rages at being 'picked on'

Police have stopped investigating disgraced ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and now-independent MP John McDonnell.

McDonnell told the Commons this afternoon: "You may be aware that [Corbyn] and I were called for interview by the Metropolitan Police following our participation in a demonstration in January calling for peace and justice for the Palestinian people and an end to the genocide in Gaza.

"It was alleged that we failed to follow police restrictions on the protest. This is untrue, and at all times we followed police instructions.

"We can now report that the police have dropped the case against us and there will be no charges."

Corbyn then added: "If there are elements in the police and possibly in the Crown Prosecution Service who want MPs to be held to a different standard of account than the general public, that removes us from the normality of law in this country... And I think that would be a very, very bad step indeed."

He later added: "We have to all - all of us - have the right to take part in public protest about human rights abuse, about war, about peace, about anything else. That is what democracy is about.

"And I saw this whole effort as being a means to try and silence the democratic rights of everybody in our society by picking on us two as MPs, and I'm grateful for the decision that's been made today."

Keir Starmer speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

A Downing Street spokesman has confirmed Sir Keir Starmer has spoken with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

No10 said: "The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, this afternoon following last night's events.

"The Prime Minister was clear that Israel has a right to self-defence and set out the UK's grave concerns about Iran's nuclear programme.

"He reiterated the need for de-escalation and a diplomatic resolution, in the interests of stability in the region."

Foreign Office estimates sanctions on Russia have cost Vladimir Putin £331BILLION

Documents released by the Foreign Office estimate the financial impact of international sanctions on Russia from February 2022 to February 2025 has cost the state $450billion (£331billion).

It states the sanctions include $148billion (£108billion) in lost oil tax revenues, mainly due to the widening discount between Urals and Brent crude oil.

The estimate includes $286billion (£210billion) in immobilised Central Bank of Russia foreign currency reserves held in EU and G7 institutions.

Keir Starmer hopes Donald Trump's state visit will go ahead this year

Sir Keir Starmer said Donald Trump's second state visit to the UK will go ahead, but he could not guarantee if it will happen this year.

Starmer told Bloomberg: "He'll be coming in, obviously, the palace will organise the dates, but President Trump will be coming for his state visit."

The Prime Minister handed Trump an invitation letter from the King at the White House in February and emphasised he hoped the visit would take place this year.

He noted: "I don't want to take over the job of the palace. It's their job to set out exactly the dates of the invitation.

"But I'm really pleased that we will be able to showcase the close relationship we have between the UK and the US. That's historically a close relationship.

"This will be a historic second visit for President Trump, and we're all looking forward to welcoming him here."

GB News sources estimate more than 1,000 small boat migrants crossed the channel today

GB News sources anticipate that more than 1,000 small boat migrants will have crossed the Channel illegally today.

Yesterday, 52 small boat migrants made their way to the UK, with an additional 400 the day before.

More than 15,000 small boat migrants have crossed the English Channel so far this year.

The crossings come after 1,195 migrants made the journey on June 3 in 19 small boats.

Badenoch claims defections are a 'good thing' as people leaving 'don't believe in conservatism'

Kemi Badenoch has said that people defecting from her party is a "good thing" as they "don't believe in conservatism".

Nigel Farage's Reform UK have taken several councillors from the Tories in Scotland in recent months, but Badenoch insisted she does not have any issue with people leaving the party.

She said: "Reform are not a centre-right party. This is a party that's talking about nationalising oil and gas.

"This is a party that wants to increase benefits at a time when the benefits bill is so high. So if Nigel Farage is taking out of the Conservative Party the people who are not Conservatives, then I'm quite fine with that.

"One of the things that we need to do is make sure that people see an authentic Conservative Party, we don't want people who want nationalisation and more benefits."

Downing Street responds to Israel-Iran conflict

Following the incidents in the Middle East overnight, a Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister spoke to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz.

"The leaders discussed the long-held grave concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, and called on all sides to refrain from further escalation that could further destabilise the region.

"The leaders reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defence, and agreed that a diplomatic resolution, rather than military action, was the way forward.

"They looked forward to speaking again soon."

Landmark grooming gangs review to see light of day NEXT WEEK - reports

Baroness Casey's landmark review into Britain's rape gangs scandal is set to be released next week, political blog Guido Fawkes reports.

Labour broke its pledge to publish the review in May, with Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips apologising and claiming Casey had requested a "short extension".

It is now finally set to be released next Wednesday - though that was pushed back from Tuesday.

The Home Office details how the National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse has four aims:

• Build a national picture of what is known about current group-based child sexual exploitation, to identify local and national trends, to assess the quality of data available and review police understanding of this crime.
• Review data linked to group-based CSE in other relevant partner agencies (this could include, for example, criminal justice agencies, local authority services, and multi-agency partnerships).
• Provide an assessment of what is known about the demographics of grooming gangs and their victims, including ethnicity.
• Conduct a review into the cultural and societal drivers for this type of offending and the motivations and characteristics of grooming gang offending, to provide an evidence-base for prevention, early intervention and disruption.

Kemi Badenoch: Labour 'confused about whose side we're on' by not supporting Israel

Kemi Badenoch has raised fears that Labour is "confused about whose side we're on" by refusing to support Israel against Iran.

"I don't know why the Government has chosen not to be supportive," she said.

"There will be security details that I’m not familiar with, but we have supported them before in defending themselves against strikes from Iran.

"But let's just remember that Iran tried to carry out a terrorist attack on UK soil.

"This is not an area where we should be confused about whose side we're on, and we can't just assume that warm words are going to stop Iran from doing something that will destroy our way of life."

'Apologise!' Kemi Badenoch urges Darren Jones to say sorry as Tory leader warns of trust issues at heart of Government

Kemi Badenoch has joined her MPs' fury at Darren Jones after his "women and children" migrant claims, urging the Treasury Minister to apologise immediately.

"We want to see the government telling the truth. He said something that was not true, and he should apologise," the Tory leader said.

"We're not going to have any trust in the Government or in politicians if people can't believe what it is that they are saying or what it is that they're hearing.

"Darren Jones should absolutely retract his remarks and apologise."

Reform UK and Tories launch pile-on over 'liar' Darren Jones as migrant row explodes

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Tory MP Nick Timothy have launched a double-header attack on Darren Jones following his claims that most migrants are women and children.

"Labour's Darren Jones claims the majority of illegal migrants crossings at Dover are 'children, babies and women'. This is simply not true. Another clueless Labour minister," Farage spat.

Timothy then blasted: "This is who Labour are. Liars. And of course, it starts and ends with their leader."

'Three quarters of asylum seekers are young men' figure could be even HIGHER - read GB News' damning report on migrants 'lying about their age'

Thousands of people are lying about their age to try and gain asylum in Britain, a GB News investigation can reveal.

A Freedom of Information request filed by the People's Channel last September revealed a pattern in asylum application data between 2019 and mid-2024 which has been identified by analysts as a "really significant statistical spike, which just does not look natural".

Ex-British diplomat and chairman of Migration Watch UK Alp Mehmet labelled the figures evidence of a "scam" in which people "pretend to be much younger than they are" because the UK is more accepting of people who claim to be unaccompanied minors.

While the Adam Smith Institute's Sam Bidwell told GB News that organisations which help foreign nationals come to the UK - both legally and illegally - will be advised that "if you are 17 or 16, you're more likely to be accepted than if you're 18, 19, or 20".

READ THE FULL STORY ON 'ASYLUM LIARS' HERE

Kemi Badenoch: 'Labour is KILLING oil and gas'

Kemi Badenoch has said that Labour is "killing the oil and gas industry" as the Tory leader issued a dire warning over Israel and Iran.

"The strikes overnight in the Middle East remind us of how vital it is that we can rely on our own energy security, our own natural resources," she said.

But Labour, by extending the windfall tax on the sector, is "killing the oil and gas industry", she said.

A Badenoch-led Tory Government would "scrap the ban on new licences" altogether, she added.

Kemi Badenoch attacks 'independence-obsessed' SNP in fiery Scotland speech - as her party falls to fourth

Kemi Badenoch has used her Scottish speech to turn her fire on the "independence-obsessed" SNP.

The Tory leader blasted: "Last year marked 10 years since the independence referendum, but the SNP remains obsessed with breaking up our country.

"That’s what they've been focused on... They are wasting millions on independence propaganda, publishing papers with nonsense claims about Nato, the EU and nuclear weapons."

Russell Findlay, however, "stands out at Holyrood because he's not part of the cosy left-wing consensus of the SNP and Labour", she added.

But between her party and the "cosy left-wing consensus" sits a surging Reform UK, which overtook the Tories in Scotland in February this year.

An aggregrate of opinion polls reveals that Nigel Farage's Reform sits around four percentage points clear of the Conservatives - and is the fastest-rising party in the country.

Kemi Badenoch speaking in Scotland - follow live

Tory chief Kemi Badenoch is speaking at the Scottish Conservative Conference in Edinburgh this morning.

GB News readers can follow her address live on GBN 2 HERE - and we'll bring you all the top lines from her speech as they come in.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay, introducing Badenoch, said both she and him were "realistic" about the challenges they face, but also "optimistic" the Tories can win back public trust.

"In our time working together, I've been impressed by Kemi's intellect, her determination and her resolve," he said.

Reform UK hails triple-header council by-election victories

Reform UK has hailed a treble of council by-election wins overnight in Nottinghamshire and Leeds.

In Mansfield North, a two-councillor ward, Gaynor Mann and David Smith surged past Labour with a near 60 per cent vote share.

While in Leeds, Ryan Taylor turfed out a local independent party, winning the seat with a 36.8 per cent vote share - with Labour slumping to just 11 per cent in fourth place.

"Congratulations," a spokesman for Nigel Farage's party said. "If you vote Reform, you get Reform."

Assisted suicide debate kills off chances of Israel-Iran statement to MPs 

There is no statement planned today in the House of Commons on Israel-Iran, unless there is a new development, due to MPs debating Kim Leadbeater's assisted suicide Bill, sources have told GB News.

A statement is, however, expected on Monday.

'Shamefully weak... but predictable!' Suella Braverman issues scathing put-down to Keir Starmer's Israel response

Suella Braverman, the former Home Secretary and current parliamentary chairwoman of Conservative Friends of Israel, has issued a scathing response to the Prime Minister's statement on the chaos in the Middle East.

"A shamefully weak but predictable response," Braverman blasted.

"Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East standing up for freedom against the tyrannical Iranian mullahs and their brutal regime. Israel has my full support."

Jeremy Corbyn wades into Israel-Iran conflict in furious pro-Gaza tirade - 'We're all human beings!'

Disgraced ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has issued a statement this morning following Israel and Iran's overnight exchange of fire.

It reads: "The world could have stopped the genocide in Gaza. Instead, governments - including our own - allowed Israel to act with total impunity.

"Israel's reckless strikes on Iran are the product of that impunity. They represent a shameful failure of global leadership. And they are a threat to the safety of humankind across the world.

"Our Government needs to wake up, end its complicity in Israeli war crimes and defend international law.

"That is how we bring about urgent de-escalation, end the genocide and stop the world from being dragged into a catastrophic, nuclear war.

"We are all human beings on one planet. Surely that is enough to try and bring about a world of peace."

Private schools' bid to overturn Labour's VAT raid THROWN OUT in 'disappointing decision' at High Court

A group of private schools, pupils and their parents have lost a High Court challenge over Labour's VAT raid on school fees.

Legal action had been brought forward by several private schools, children who attend them, and their parents, against the Treasury, claiming the policy of applying VAT to fees is discriminatory and incompatible with human rights law.

This includes children and families at faith schools, and families who have sent their children with special educational needs to private school.

Sophie Kemp, head of public law at Kingsley Napley, representing the claimants, said: "This is a disappointing decision for the claimants, who are carefully considering the court's judgment.

"It was important to challenge VAT on school fees, which both the government and the court recognised had a discriminatory impact on children at religious schools as well as significant impact on children with SEN.

"The court felt that it was not able to interfere because of the leeway it must give to Parliament. Unfortunately, this doesn't help the claimants, who must now weigh their options."

Assisted suicide debate underway as MPs making amendments to highly controversial Bill

No-one should be obliged to take part in the assisted dying process, MPs have agreed, after an opt-out was formally added to Kim Leadbeater's controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Lawmakers formally amend the Bill today after originally debating and backing the opt-out on May 16.

Leadbeater's new clause 10 sets out that "no person is under any duty" to participate in the process - including medical practitioners and pharmacists.

Meanwhile, doctors who back out of the assisted dying process, or who are away, will have to give notice of their decision and ministers would be able to lay regulations setting out how patients can find a replacement after MPs approved clause 11.

And doctors who deny their patient an assisted death would have to produce a report setting out their decision and file it with a GP and the "Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner".

They must do this if the patient does not have "capacity" to decide to end their own life, does not have a "clear, settled and informed wish to end their own life", or is being coerced.

Labour minister fails to clarify whether Britain was told of Israeli missile strikes

Industry Minister Sarah Jones has failed to clarify whether Britain was told in advance of Israel's strikes against Iran last night.

Reports indicate the UK was not told, unlike Germany and the US.

Jones, pressed on the issue by ITV, said: "This is a very concerning and dangerous situation of course, and this Government supports de-escalation and that's what we'll be trying to achieve.

"Of course I can't talk on air about what we did or didn't know but we will be using all the powers that we have with our allies to urge all sides to show restraint."

Britain MUST be ready to defend itself, Kemi Badenoch says

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: "Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

"Our immediate focus must be on stabilisation - working with allies to prevent further escalation.

"But let's be clear-eyed about the reality. The world is becoming more dangerous, and Britain must be ready to defend itself."

WATCH IN FULL: Shadow Paymaster General Richard Holden speaks to GB News Breakfast

Priti Patel: 'The world is an increasingly dangerous place'

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel says: "We are watching closely developments in the Middle East and urge all sides to work towards a de-escalation of tensions.

"The world is an increasingly dangerous place with significant threats to our national interests, security and defence.

"We must use our influence and diplomacy to work closely with all of our allies in the region and beyond to resolve conflicts, and deliver peace and stability in the Middle East."

David Lammy's US trip CANCELLED after Middle East chaos

David Lammy has cancelled a planned trip to the US on Friday for talks with his counterpart Marco Rubio over Russia following tonight's chaos in the Middle East.

Britain will NOT protect Israel from Iranian drone barrage - reports

Britain will not be moving to protect Israel from a barrage of Iranian drones following last night's strikes, The Times reports.

UK defence sources have told the newspaper there are no plans to help defend the Jewish state as Iran hits back following last night's strikes.

But at the same time, staunch British ally Jordan has been intercepting Tehran's missiles and drones which entered its own airspace on Friday morning.

This is a developing story - and we'll bring you all the key UK developments on this live blog as we get them...

Liz Truss thanks Israel for devastating overnight attacks on Iran

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss has thanked Israel for its devastating series of overnight strikes against Iran.

The strikes, which have taken out IRGC chief Hossein Salami and neutralised a string of Iranian nuclear targets, have seen Keir Starmer call for calm and the US distance itself from its close ally Israel.

But Truss, responding to a late-night address by Benjamin Netanyahu, issued a three-word message of support to the Jewish state: "Thank you Israel."

Richard Tice turns up heat on Conservative-Reform 'Doge' war - 'Cover-up scandal!'

Richard Tice has turned up the heat on an escalating feud between Reform UK and the Conservatives over the former's "Doge" efficiency unit.

Yesterday, the Tories wrote to the information watchdog demanding an investigation into the Reform waste-cutting drive - sparking accusations that they were covering up the "corruption and waste of their now-deposed local government regimes".

Now, Tice has rammed home the "cover-up" accusations.

He said: "Tory cover-up scandal... We won huge landslides to Doge these former Tory councils, to identify massive wasteful spending and incompetence.

"Looks like Tories trying to hide up the evidence and bury any transparency. Not a great look."

Keir Starmer and David Lammy issue statements as chaos breaks out in the Middle East

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have both issued statements following a night of chaos in the Middle East.

Israeli strikes have killed the head of the Iranian military - while hundreds of drones are heading from Iran to Israel right now.

David Lammy said he was "concerned" to learn of Israeli strikes, writing this morning: "Stability in the Middle East is vital for global security.

"I'm concerned to see reports of strikes overnight. Further escalation is a serious threat to peace and stability in the region and in no one's interest.

"This is a dangerous moment and I urge all parties to show restraint."

While Sir Keir Starmer said: "The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region.

"Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy."