Politics LIVE: Andy Burnham calls on Left to unite against Reform as PM's rival laments absence of 'big figures'

Labour MP among three arrested for allegedly aiding Chinese intelligence released on bail

Three men, including the husband of a Scottish Labour MP, who were arrested on suspicion of spying for China have been released on bail, the Metropolitan Police said.

The arrests of the three men - aged 39, 43 and 68 - were carried out by counter-terrorism officers at addresses in London and Wales yesterday as they were accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

The husband of a Scottish Labour MP was one of three men facing questioning by police last night after being arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

Following the arrest of her spouse David Taylor, Joani Reid MP, who sits on the Home Affairs Select Committee, said she had “never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law”.

The policing operation came as Security Minister Dan Jarvis told MPs that Chinese officials in the UK and Beijing have been given a dressing down, adding that the investigation relates to “foreign interference targeting UK democracy”.

PAYING failed asylum seekers to leave is 'absolutely the right thing to do', says Home Office minister

Speaking on the migrant crisis with GB News breakfast this morning, Home Office minister Alex Norris MP, said those who's claims fail are being "removed at a record level".

He added: "We still have too big of a supported population, that means we have the issues that we have with hotels.

"That means we are seeking, for those who can work and have means, they should pay for their upkeep - just as my constituents do and as your viewers do.

"Similarly, we have people, a cohort of people, who failed their application and appeal and do not have prospect of settlement in this country but aren't leaving".

Mr Norris was questioned on Shabana Mahmood's planned trial to pay failed asylum seeker families up to £40,000 to leave the country swiftly, mimicking legislation in Denmark.

"We do offer financial inducements for people to leave" he added, claiming that essentially paying people to leave the country would save taxpayer money, as the average family put up in a hotel costs the taxpayer £158,000 - significantly more than the offer to leave.

The pilot hopes to save some £20 million, "easing the burden on the taxpayer and relieving strain from public services".

"It is absolutely the right thing to do".

Calls for OFFENSIVE action in Middle East as Kemi Badenoch's tirade on PM continues

Kemi Badenoch has said the UK should take offensive action against Iran after UK bases were attacked.

“We need to do what we can to stop the ability for these attacks to take place,” the Tory leader told BBC Radio 4.

“I think that we should look at what our allies in the region are saying. Even if we’re not talking about Iran, Cyprus feels that we have not been helpful.

"It is extraordinary that Bahrain and Kuwait in the UAE are publicly criticising us - they think that we’re abandoning them.”

“If your principle is, we will only wait until we are attacked rather than dealing with imminent threats properly, then we will be in a lot of trouble.”

Asked about concern over her enthusiasm for British involvement in the bombing of Iran, Mrs Badenoch said: “Being realistic is not gung ho. I don’t want a wider war.

“But sometimes the best way to de-escalate a situation is to try and finish it quickly, rather than let it drag out because you don’t want to get involved".

Not halting Visas until now was 'a mistake', Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat tells GB News Breakfast

Tom Tugendhat, Conservative MP for Tonbridge, spoke to GB News Breakfast this morning, commenting on the Middle East conflict, migrant crisis, and Chinese influence in Westminster.

Speaking on Sir Keir Starmer's response to the US and Iran conflict, he said: "I see absolutely no reason why we didn't have assets in the region, why we didn't have type-45 destroyers in the region, to protect our citizens and our allies.

"It's baffling to me, we knew this was coming for a number of weeks", he added, placing the MP among a sea of others who have criticised the Prime Minister's "lackluster" response.

Speaking on the Home Secretary's decision to halt study Visas of nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, he commented: "What Shabana Mahmood is doing on Visa changes is quite frankly something we should've done before".

He noted how these powers have lied with the Home Secretary for a number of years, and that it was a mistake for her predecessors to not initiate this move, amid concerns over study Visas being used to claim asylum.

Yesterday police arrested three individuals alleged of being involved with Chinese intelligence gathering, with close ties to Westminster.

Whilst avoiding discussing the active, ongoing case, Mr Tugendhat said: "It's a reminder that Britain itself should be more robust".

Defence Secretary heads to Cyprus as Government make moves in Middle East conflict

Defence Secretary John Healey is reportedly travelling to Cyprus amid the war between Iran and the US.

Mr Healey is expected to arrive on the Mediterranean island later today.

It comes as Britain’s base at RAF Akrotiri has been the target of drone attacks since the war began, prompting the deployment of HMS Dragon from Portsmouth to defend the region.

Ed Miliband 'spearheaded' Labour rebellion to US action in Iran after pushing 'pacifist' case

Ed Miliband is said to have spearheaded Labour's rebellion against US military action in Iran after reportedly pushing a “pacifist” case against Britain’s involvement.

Opposition to British participation in the conflict - including preventing the US from using RAF bases and the joint US-UK facility at Diego Garcia - was backed by Mr Miliband, Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper.

The Energy Secretary allegedly voiced strong objections to the impending US strikes during a National Security Council meeting on Friday, which had been called to discuss the potential impact of the conflict on Britain’s energy supply.

According to The Telegraph, he presented a "petulant, pacifist, legalistic, and very political" case against strikes on Iran and any UK involvement, relying on legal advice from Attorney General Lord Hermer.

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Reform takes the fight to Plaid Cymru to claim Wales

Reform UK says it would “put Wales and Welsh communities first” with changes to social housing and the scrapping of foreign aid spending if it wins May’s Senedd election.

The party, led by Nigel Farage, is expected to be one of the main contenders alongside Plaid Cymru in the Welsh parliamentary elections on May 7.

The party will launch its election manifesto in Newport, unveiling a suite of policies, including scrapping the default 20mph speed limit and ending Wales’ status as a Nation of Sanctuary.

Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas called the manifesto - which includes a promise to build an M4 relief road - a “blueprint for real change".

“These promises put Wales and Welsh communities first, and unlike the pledges put forward by other parties, these are deliverable,” he said.

“Armed with this blueprint, we have all the building blocks to end a generation of decline here in Wales".