The Tories have blasted the "catastrophically inept" Labour Party after the accidental release of the Epping migrant sex attacker, Hadush Kebatu.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the situation as "disgraceful" that Kebatu was able to escape and go undetected.
Mr Philp said: "It is disgraceful that a dangerous convicted paedophile who attacked a 14-year-old girl has been allowed to vanish. This despicable man is an illegal immigrant who should have been deported immediately he arrived.
"This is breathtaking incompetence by David Lammy and Shabana Mahmood. They have put our children at further risk by letting this dangerous illegal immigrant out onto our streets. They are responsible for anything he may do.
"This should never have happened in the first place. Illegal immigrants ought to be deported within a week - but the Labour Government is too weak to do that.
"Only the Conservative Party have a serious plan to deliver stronger borders. Our Borders Plan is ready. Leave the ECHR, remove all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival, end the merry-go-round of appeals. But Keir Starmer doesn't have the backbone to do this.
"Whether it's a migrant who had been removed breaking back into the UK, the collapse of the rape gang enquiry, new China spying revelations, record illegal entries, and now this - it's been another litany of failure from the Home Office and Home Secretary this week."
Kebatu remains on the run having boarded a London-bound train at 12:41pm, some 16 minutes after the prison service alerted Essex Police.
Nigel Farage: 'Britain is broken'
Nigel Farage is one of many MPs reacting to the news of an Epping hotel migrant who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl being accidentally released from jail.
The Reform UK leader said: "The Epping hotel migrant sex attacker has been accidentally freed rather than deported.
"He is now walking the streets of Essex. Britain is broken."
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stated: "It is disgraceful that a dangerous convicted paedophile who attacked a 14-year-old girl has been allowed to vanish. This despicable man is an illegal immigrant who should have been deported immediately he arrived.
"This is breathtaking incompetence by David Lammy and Shabana Mahmood. They have put our children at further risk by letting this dangerous illegal immigrant out onto our streets. They are responsible for anything he may do."
Mr Lammy said he is "appalled" at the wrongful release of the migrant, saying he "must be deported for his crimes, not on our streets".
WATCH: Reform councillor reacts to 'massive loss and devastation' for Labour in Caerphilly by-election
A Reform UK councillor has called for GB News's Senedd ban to be lifted following Reform's success in the Caerphilly by-election.
Speaking to GB News, Swansea Councillor Francesca O'Brien declared "we need you back" as she hailed GB News's coverage of the vote.
WATCH THE INTERVIEW WITH MISS O'BRIEN ABOVE AND READ THE FULL STORY HERE
'We are choking off funding for Russia's war machine' - Sir Keir Starmer
Referring to the latest sanction on Russia, Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and its allies are "choking off funding for Russia's war machine".
He said: "We are determined to push on with the progress on Russia's sovereign access."
Mr Starmer announced that the UK will continue to support Ukrainian air defences and keep up military pressure on Mr Putin.
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK for its support and praised the tougher sanctions on Moscow, describing it as a "big step" forward.
He said: "The fewer assaults [Putin] can carry out on the front line, the faster he will agree to diplomacy.
"There must be no option for Russia except to end the war."
Prime Minister accuses Vladimir Putin of being the only person who doesn't want the war to end in Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has accused Vladimir Putin of being "the only person who does not want to stop this war".
He said: "You (Volodymyr Zelensky) have said for months that you're ready for a ceasefire and you're ready to meet (Vladimir) Putin.
"Yet, he continues to stall and play for time. Putin is the only person who does not want to stop this war."
Sir Keir Starmer takes to the stage following the 'coalition of the willing' summit
Sir Keir Starmer has taken to the stage alongside Volodymyr Zelensky
|GB NEWS
Sir Keir Starmer has taken to the stage as he addresses the press following the "coalition of the willing" summit.
The Prime Minister started by reinforcing the UK's support for Ukraine, saying he is "determined to ratchet up pressure on Putin".
Sir Keir said the UK "stands with" Ukraine, "stronger than ever, united".
Sir Keir Starmer set to speak with statements from the 'coalition of the willing' summit
Sir Keir Starmer is set to speak with other leaders from the "coalition of the willing".
Mr Starmer will be joined by Volodymyr Zelensky, Nato chief Mark Rutte, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof.
Sir Keir Starmer calls for allies to 'finish the job' on Russian assets as he deems Vladimir Putin's demands to end the war 'ludicrous'
Sir Keir Starmer said Russia's demands are 'ludicrous'
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Speaking at the "coalition of the willing", Sir Keir Starmer said Vladimir Putin's demands are "ludicrous" and taking any land from Ukraine is "a non-starter".
He called for allies to "finish the job" on Russian assets to unlock further funding for Ukraine while continuing to work on security guarantees.
He said: "I'm really pleased to say that we've got a group now of more than 30 nations who have been unwavering in our support for Ukraine and a just and lasting peace.
"I would say that today we are more united in that than ever before. United as a group of countries in the coalition of the willing, united with President Trump in our calls to end the bloodshed."
Sir Keir said he wanted "to use today to agree a clear agenda for what we need to do to push Putin to the table".
He added: "The UK is ready to move in tandem with the EU to drive this forward as fast as possible, to get those funds flowing to Ukraine.
"Finally, we must keep working on our security guarantees… including the multinational force for Ukraine that would be ready to uphold a future ceasefire."
Ukip moves protest to west London following police restrictions
A United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip) demonstration will not take place in central London after police banned protesters from gathering in Tower Hamlets due to safety concerns for the majority Muslim population in the area.
The group will now gather outside the London Oratory, a Catholic church in Kensington, before a march towards Marble Arch.
A counter-protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and a number of local groups, is still due to go ahead in east London.
Police have banned SUTR from protesting in an area where the Ukip march will take place.
Kemi Badenoch speaks to GB News following an asylum seeker being found guilty of murdering a hotel worker with a screwdriver
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has spoken to GB News about an asylum seeker being found guilty of murdering a hotel worker with a screwdriver.
She said: "I can't believe that such a horrible thing would happen to the mother of a young child. I've got three kids myself. My youngest is six years old. Losing a mum at that age is absolutely horrific.
"We have to get people who are criminals who do not belong here out of our country. We have to stop the boats. Everything else feeds off that. And stopping the boats requires a proper deterrent."
She told the People's Channel that the Rwanda plan, scrapped by Labour after it won the 2024 General Election, would have served as a deterrent.
Mrs Badenoch claimed that Labour had no plan, highlighting Keir Starmer's "one in, one out" policy.
Since the deal came into effect in early August, more than 10,000 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel, with just 42 having returned to France.
She added: "I've said that we have to leave the ECHR now. That is Conservative Party policy. We tried everything and the legal activists kept interrupting, kept stopping the flights going on.
"So we will leave the ECHR. That is the first of many steps which we're going to need in order to control our borders."
Dutch and Danish Prime Ministers meet Sir Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer greets Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof
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Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof has been greeted by Sir Keir Starmer outside the Foreign Office, as well as Denmark's Mette Frederiksen, as Sir Keir welcomed a flurry of guests.
Nato Chief Mark Rutte was also met by the Prime Minister, with the trio sitting down with Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the coalition of the willing summit later.
They will hold their meeting before dialling into the virtual summit.
WATCH: Plaid Cymru leader snubs GB News' Christopher Hope
This is the moment GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope was repeatedly brushed off by Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle during a post-election exchange in Wales.
Mr Hope attempted to ask the newly elected politician about his win, the party’s performance, and whether Labour supporters may have voted tactically against Reform UK.
But the conversation quickly turned frosty as Mr Whittle’s team tried to move him on, with one aide saying they were “in a rush”.
President Zelensky says Russian aggression is pushing Ukraine to 'humanitarian disaster' in meeting with Keir Starmer
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK for its support and said Vladimir Putin was pushing Ukraine towards “humanitarian disaster”.
At the top of a bilateral meeting with Sir Keir Starmer, the Ukrainian president said: “Yes, I agree with you and know that Putin doesn’t show that he wants to stop the war.”
He said Russian aggression was “pushing us with such humanitarian disaster” with attacks targeting infrastructure including Ukraine’s energy sector.
“We’re thankful to you that we are not alone in this situation – from the very beginning of war but especially now, it’s very important,” Mr Zelensky said.
PM says 'huge steps' taken to support Ukraine as he describes UK as Kyiv's 'closest supporter and ally'
Sir Keir Starmer described the UK as Kyiv's 'closest supporter and ally'
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Sir Keir Starmer said "huge steps forward" had been taken this week to support Ukraine but there was "further we can do" on long-range capability as he described the UK as Kyiv’s "closest supporter and ally".
At the start of a bilateral meeting with the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, the Prime Minister said: “Volodymyr, it’s really good to be able to welcome you here in Downing Street again for a really important meeting between the two of us, bilaterally, but also for the coalition of the willing.”
He added: “Through seeing His Majesty, through our meeting and through the coalition of the willing, we reaffirm again our support for you and Ukraine and our absolute commitment to meeting the challenge of Russian aggression.
“And whilst you have signalled the path for a way forward and shown that willingness of courage and determination, what we see from Putin is an absolute unwillingness to engage, in fact, the opposite, which is the continued attacks increasingly on civilians and on children and sadly I have to offer you my condolences again, as I did the last time we met and the time before, for those terrible losses.
“I do think that this week we can really bear down on Russian oil and gas. Huge steps forward this week already."
Sir Keir added: “We stand, as we’ve always stood, as your closest supporter and ally.”
Sir Keir Starmer and President Zelensky greet each other with a hug outside No10
The two leaders smiled and greeted each other with a hug followed by a handshake
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Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky greeted each other with a hug as the Ukrainian president arrived at No10 this afternoon.
President Zelenskyy earlier today received a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle as part of his visit to the UK.
After arriving at the castle’s quadrangle on Friday morning, the Ukrainian leader shook hands with King Charles III and was given a royal salute – the first ceremonial welcome the leader has received in Britain.
The Prime Minister is hosting leaders including President Zelensky in London for talks on how to increase pressure on Moscow and boost Ukraine’s defences.
'Labour is finished in Wales,' says Reform
A Reform UK Wales spokesman said: "The Labour Party is finished in Wales, and the Conservative Party has gone the way of the dodo.
"This is a historic realignment in Welsh politics.
"Next year, the choice before the Welsh people will be between open borders madness with Plaid Cymru, or common sense with Reform.
"We are fighting to win the next election, to enter Welsh Government, and to ensure that our left-behind communities will be left behind no longer."
Caerphilly by-election winner says 'the world is watching wales' following victory
Speaking in Caerphilly after Plaid Cymru’s by-election victory, winning candidate Lindsay Whittle said "the world is watching Wales".
He said: "Yesterday the people of Caerphilly created their own history and we put Caerphilly on the map firmly.
"I have received messages of goodwill, not only from all corners of Wales, but from Scotland, France, Australia, and Spain and Canada.
"And that is a mark of how important yesterday was to Wales and the world, because now I believe the world is watching Wales and watching an emerging nation start to control our lives again."
Grooming gangs inquiry to be delayed for months as key figure quits
The national grooming gangs inquiry faces month-long delays as the front-runner to be its chairman quit.
Both candidates to head the inquiry have pulled out this week.
Jim Gamble, a former police officer and the lead candidate, and Annie Hudson, a former director of children’s services for Lambeth council, stepped down after some survivors criticised their professional backgrounds.
Despite both candidates having had careers tackling child abuse, campaigners and survivors have argued that the police and social workers were responsible for letting down victims and believe someone with a legal background should lead the inquiry.
WATCH: Reform's David Bull says Caerphilly by-election was two-horse race: 'The turquoise tidal wave continues'
ANALYSIS: Nigel Farage's biggest electoral fear REVEALED as Reform's path to power narrows
As votes piled up in the once-safe Labour seat of Caerphilly, it was clear the contest was a two-horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.
Lindsay Whittle and Llyr Powell were the beneficiaries of, as Eluned Morgan admits, “difficult headwinds nationally”.
Welsh Labour will no doubt look to point the blame at Sir Keir Starmer. From the winter fuel fiasco to small boat crisis, the Prime Minister has seen his support fragment to the left and right.
And this isn’t anything new. Most by-elections end up becoming somewhat of a referendum on the party in power. Corby in 2012, Eastleigh in 1994 and even Orpington in 1962 spring to mind.
WATCH: Tory Deputy Chairman says Caerphilly by-election result was a 'resounding hit' on Labour
Minister admits Labour has 'very tough fight' in the Senedd elections after Plaid Cymru by-election defeat
Plaid Cymru's Lindsay Whittle won the election with 15,961 votes
| PAA minister said Labour has a "very tough fight" on its hands in the Senedd elections next May after its defeat by Plaid Cymru at the Caerphilly by-election
"I certainly accept, and the First Minister – Eluned Morgan – has accepted, that we have a very tough fight on our hands for next May," Cabinet Office minister and Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds told Times Radio.
He said Labour’s loss was "disappointing" and pointed to a "fractured political landscape" in the UK.
"We will listen to the thousands of conversations that we had in Caerphilly about speeding up the pace of change," Mr Thomas-Symonds added.
Polling expert says Caerphilly by-election shows Labour in 'severe trouble'
Polling expert Sir John Curtice said the result of the Caerphilly by-election showed Labour was in "severe trouble" in Wales after Plaid Cymru won the Senedd seat.
"It does suggest that Plaid are now well placed to provide Wales with its next first minister," he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
"Reform will be disappointed at coming second with 36 per cent but I don’t think we should run away with the idea that this, in any way, suggests that Nigel Farage’s bubble is burst."
Sir John said Reform UK’s result is "pretty consistent" with how Mr Farage’s party has been polling generally.
'There is nowhere we can see that we can't win', Plaid Cymru leader says after 'historic' win
Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, has said there is "nowhere" his party can see that it "can't win" following its Caerphilly by-election success.
He said: "I think most people were expecting a closer result than that, it wasn’t close at all.
"Plaid Cymru came through with a thumping win, it is historic.
"When you look at the journey of Welsh politics and the story of Wales, there is nowhere now we can see that we can’t win, and we have to now take this momentum forward to the Senedd election in May next year."
WATCH: Christopher Hope looks at Labour's result in the Caerphilly by-election
Appearing on GB News Breakfast today - follow live
Big names from Reform UK, Labour and the Conservatives will all be joining GB News Breakfast today following this morning's by-election.
The People's Channel is set to grill Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers and Reform chairman Dr David Bull throughout the morning.
You'll be able to follow the trio's interviews live on GB News - and we'll bring you all the top lines on this live blog.
AS IT HAPPENED: Labour ousted in Caerphilly by-election as 107-year grip on 'safe' seat is smashed
Labour was ousted overnight in Caerphilly
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Labour has been ousted in the Caerphilly by-election in a blowout to Plaid Cymru.
Lindsay Whittle of the Welsh nationalist party took home 15,961 votes, beating second-placed Reform UK's 12,113.
Labour slumped to just 3,713 votes - a backslide of a staggering 34.9 per cent compared to the 2021 Senedd election.
Turnout came to 50.43 per cent, with a total of 33,736 ballot papers being included in the count - an increase on 2021’s 44.31 per cent.
In Westminster, the Valleys town has voted Labour since 1918 - every election since the seat existed.
In Cardiff Bay, it had done the same since devolution in 1999.
But in 2025, the party’s century-long winning streak came to an end under Sir Keir Starmer’s watch.