Keir Starmer backtracks AGAIN as PM stands by 'basic argument' of island of strangers migration speech

Kemi Badenoch says Tory defectors 'were never Conservatives to begin with'

Kemi Badenoch has claimed that high profile ex-Tories who have joined Reform UK were "never really Conservatives to begin with."

Former party chairman and ex MP for Rossendale and Darwen Sir Jake Berry said his former Conservative colleagues had "lost their way" as he revealed the move to Nigel Farage's party.

Badenoch said: "These are former MPs who do not like the direction the party is going, because we are becoming more Conservative.

Comparing her platform and Reform UK’s, Badenoch said: "I have said that we’ve got to bring the welfare budget down, Nigel Farage is talking about more and more welfare.

"I have said that we need to live within our means, Nigel Farage wants to spend billions on nationalisation.

"So if there are people who call themselves Conservatives, who like that policy platform, my view is that they were never Conservatives to begin with.

"We need to be the authentic, centre-right Conservative Party, and if people don’t like personal responsibility, living within our means, strong borders and making sure that we don’t bankrupt ourselves on net zero, then we don’t mind if they go to Nigel Farage’s party."

Green Party co-leader dismisses threat from Jeremy Corbyn

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay has dismissed a threat to the party from Jeremy Corbyn, describing the project as "an idea" that might go nowhere.

The MP for Waveney Valley told Politico: "It’s very hard to build a new party from scratch, and the Green Party has got a well-established infrastructure, which we’ve built up over a long period of time.

Ramsay, who is running to lead the party on a joint ticket with Herefordshire North MP Ellie Chowns, said: "Come behind the Green Party, because we’re the ones challenging Labour."

Zack Polanski, who is running in the Greens’ leadership race against Ramsay and Chowns, suggested he was more open to working with Corbyn.

He wrote on social media: "Anyone who wants to take on the Tories, Reform and this failing Labour government is a friend of mine."

However, Polanski issued a warning, saying the party does not have "time for steering groups and management meetings and governance processes of new parties, the Green Party exists and is growing."

WATCH: Martin Daubney hilariously mocks 'bromance' between Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron: 'Brings a tear to my eye'

Zia Yusuf claims Jeremy Corbyn comeback is a 'gift for Farage'

Reform UK's head of Doge UK Zia Yusuf said the return of Jeremy Corbyn is a disaster for the Green Party and a "gift" for Nigel Farage.

It comes after ousted Labour MP for Coventry South Zarah Sultana announced she would co-lead a new party with the former Labour leader.

Yusuf said: "Keir Starmer has flip-flopped all over the place.

"He doesn’t really stand for anything. One cannot reasonably argue that Jeremy Corbyn does not believe in the things that he’s saying, and in the modern age of politics, I don’t think that has ever been more important."

While he said Corbyn becoming Prime Minister would be "horrendous" for Britain, Yusuf admitted: "The man does have fans. He’s a formidable politician, far more formidable than Keir Starmer"

Meanwhile, More in Common’s polling found the Green Party would likely see the biggest losses, with 26 percent of their current voters saying they would vote for Sultana and Corbyn’s new party.

Yusuf said: "Most people in this country couldn’t name who the party leader of the Green Party is, with all due respect to them, but most people can obviously name Jeremy Corbyn."

Reform and Lib Dems victorious in overnight by-elections

There were victories for Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats across the board in a set of key by-elections.

Nigel Farage's party got their first seat on Rotherham Borough Council with Tony Harrison winning 1,160 votes in the Keppel ward, with an Independent candidate placing second and Labour third.

Meanwhile, Reform's Andrew McCallum won the Ranskill by-election on Bassetlaw District Council in Nottinghamshire, taking the seat off Labour.

There was also positive news for Sir Ed Davey's party as the Lib Dems won the Bookham East & Eastwick Park by-election on Mole Valley Council and the Woking South by-election on Surrey Council.

Angela Rayner says she will 'not be pushed around' by Unions over membership row

Angela Rayner has said she will not be "pushed around" by the Unite trade union after it voted to suspend her membership.

The Deputy Prime Minister was suspended over her role in the Birmingham bin strike row, despite sources close to Rayner saying she had already resigned membership of Unite some months ago.

Now, a Labour source told The Guardian: "Angela’s not interested in silly stunts, she’s interested in changing workers’ lives.

"Unite rejected a deal in Birmingham and their demands would have undermined equal pay, discriminating against female workers. Angela won’t be pushed around, and she quit Unite some months ago.

"Angela’s been fighting for equal pay for decades as a trade unionist, and as a home-care worker has experienced what it was like to be paid less as a working-class woman for the same work."

Stephen Pound says Zarah Sultana makes his 'blood boil'

Former Labour shadow minister Stephen Pound has launched a scathing attack on Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana, saying she makes his "blood boil."

Sultana last week announced that she plans to co-lead a new party with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Responding to this, Pound, who served as Labour MP for Ealing North from 1997 to 2019, said she has treated "her voters with contempt."

Writing exclusively for GB News Members, Pound said: "Sultana has stripped herself of every shred of loyalty, and her bare-faced arrogance leaves you breathless.

"She has decided that although she owes everything to the Labour Party, she is better than it and has chosen to bite the hand that once so generously fed her."

READ POUND'S FULL ANALYSIS HERE.

Kemi Badenoch hits out at Macron blaming increased migrant crossings on Brexit

Kemi Badenoch has hit out at Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion that Brexit is the cause for a rise in the number of small boats crossing the English Channel.

The Conservative leader, a supporter of the leave campaign in the 2016 referendum, also said it was time for "people to stop blaming Brexit".

On Thursday, the French President said the British people had been "sold a lie" that leaving the EU would "make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration."

When asked if she agreed with Macron, she replied: "No, I don’t agree with him, because Italy has seen a significant increase, France has seen a significant increase in illegal migration, even the US has seen a significant increase in illegal migration.

"Brexit didn’t impact any of those countries. It’s time for people to stop blaming Brexit for problems and actually start coming up with solutions for the new problems that are affecting our country. That’s what Government is there for."

WATCH: Sarah Pochin unleashes FURY as father jailed for tweet 'CRUSHED' by the system

Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin has revealed that one of her constituents has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for posting on Facebook, describing the case as evidence of "two-tier justice" in Britain.

The MP for Runcorn & Helsby drew parallels with other recent cases, suggesting the harsh sentence demonstrated politically motivated prosecution of social media posts.

The man was arrested on a Saturday after posting two messages on Facebook. One post stated "we need to protest, nothing more" at a hotel which houses asylum seekers.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Rupert Lowe cleared of wrongdoing in parliamentary probe

Daniel Greenberg, Parliament’s standards commissioner, has cleared Rupert Lowe of any wrongoing.

Greenberg said: “Following a complaint from a member of the public that Rupert Lowe MP had failed to register donations made to a crowdfunder organised by him in connection with his parliamentary activities, I opened a formal inquiry on July 10, 2025.

“My inquiry sought to confirm whether these donations qualified as registrable interests and whether Lowe had failed to register them within the 28-day window set by the House.

“During the inquiry, Lowe provided evidence that a number of donations made to the crowdfunder did cross the threshold for registration but that they were not accepted until June 23, 2025.

“As such, the 28-day window set by the House for the registration of those interests has not passed and no breach of the rules has occurred.”

Rupert Lowe denies any wrongdoing in parliamentary probe

Rupert Lowe has denied any wrongdoing amid an ongoing investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner into funds raised by his Rape Gang Inquiry.

"All required registrations have been made, or will be made, in accordance with the rules of the House, including as to timing," he said.

"The rules require registration of donations within 28 days of receipt. The donations were received on June 23 by the Rape Gang Inquiry.

"I have not breached that requirement, as I have demonstrated to the Commissioner."

Clive Lewis and Rupert Lowe placed under parliamentary investigation

Labour firebrand Clive Lewis and former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe have been placed under investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner.

Lewis's relates to a fundraiser for the "late registration" of an interest, while Lowe's is over failing to register money raised in donations to fund his independent Rape Gang Inquiry.

The ex-Reform MP has raised £600,000 through a Crowdfunder to support a national inquiry into grooming gangs across the UK.

So far, Lowe has not declared any of the money on his MPs' register.

A statement from his Rape Gang Inquiry says: "All appropriate checks have been made for Rupert's parliamentary declaration."

Kemi Badenoch: 'Keir Starmer's migrant deal is NOT a proper plan'

Kemi Badenoch has warned that Sir Keir Starmer's migrant returns agreement is "not a proper plan" as she warned that mayors across France oppose the deal.

"We've had returns agreements before, but that's not what's going to create a deterrent. That's not going to bring the overall numbers of immigration down, and quite frankly, we don't know that this plan is going to work," she said.

"The mayors in France, the mayor of Calais for instance, they've criticised the deal. We don't know whether the EU is even going to allow it.

"So right now, it is not a proper plan, and this is what always worries us: that whenever Labour negotiates, Britain loses."

Unite: 'Angela Rayner's still an active member!'

Unite has hit back at briefings that Angela Rayner resigned her union membership before she was suspended today.

"Our membership system shows her as an active member," a Unite spokesman said. "She also took £10,000 from us for re-election."

'Sources close to Angela Rayner' claim Deputy PM resigned Unite membership before suspension

Angela Rayner resigned her Unite membership before her suspension today, sources close to the Deputy Prime Minister have claimed.

The union "overwhelmingly" voted to axe Rayner's membership for backing the "rogue" Birmingham Council over a months-long bin strike in the Second City.

Its general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The disgraceful actions of the Government and a so-called Labour council is essentially fire and rehire and makes a joke of the Employment Relations Act promises.

"People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour Government on, and coming up with the answer: 'Not workers.'"

Angela Rayner's union membership SUSPENDED as it votes to 're-examine relationship with Labour'

Delegates from Unite have "overwhelmingly" voted to suspend Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's membership for backing the "rogue" Birmingham Council over a months-long bin strike in the Second City.

The trade union has also voted to re-examine its relationship with the Labour Party after an emergency motion at its conference.

Unite condemned both Birmingham's Labour council and the Labour Government "for attacking the bin workers" - and the Deputy PM has been booted out...

READ THE FULL STORY ON ANGELA RAYNER HERE

RECAP: Keir Starmer's migrant return deal hits EU roadblock as Brussels could deem agreement ILLEGAL

Sir Keir Starmer's "one-in, one-out" migrant returns deal could be scuppered by EU bureaucrats before it gets off the ground.

Starmer and Emmanuel Macron said the deal, which would see Channel migrants turned back and swapped for "legitimate asylum seekers" from France, would come into force in just weeks.

But the agreement requires the "legal verification" of both the European Commission and EU states, several of which have already lodged objections.

The Home Office is bracing for court challenges like those which derailed the Tories' attempts to kickstart the Rwanda scheme.

These will likely include claims based on international human rights and refugee laws, but officials said they would quickly be able to establish a legal precedent that would speed through appeals.

Yvette Cooper's department also suggested it was confident the claims would fail because France has also signed the ECHR.

Addressing the nation yesterday evening, Macron said: "This agreement will be signed once the legal verifications are carried out, including those of the European Union, and for it to be implemented thereafter as rapidly as possible."

The French premier also jabbed that Britain had been "sold a lie" that leaving the EU would help reduce illegal migration.

But ardent Brexiteer and Reform UK deputy leader said in response: "Utter nonsense from arrogant Macron who cannot get over Brexit... He is no friend of Britain."

The backdoor Islamophobia plot to silence you just lost its first battle - now comes the war

"Secretive" plans for a new definition of Islamophobia have been foiled in what critics are hailing as a triumph for free speech - but the honeymoon period could soon be over.

The warning comes a day after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner expanded and extended a public consultation over the proposals, which critics say would amount to a blasphemy law "by the back door".

FSU Director Lord Toby Young had said that key groups who might have challenged the definition's impact on free speech and offered alternative views were effectively frozen out of the consultation process.

But now, the door might just have reopened...

GBN MEMBERS CAN READ THE FULL STORY HERE

EXCLUSIVE: New Islamophobia definition will NOT lead to blasphemy law 'by back door', review chairman claims

A Government review to draw up a definition of Islamophobia will not lead to Brtain being subjected to a blasphemy law "by the back door", the chairman of the review has insisted.

Angela Rayner set up a five-person working group, chaired by Tory ex-Attorney General Dominic Grieve to introduce a formal definition of Islamophobia to combat "anti-Muslim hatred".

In opposition, Labour said it would adopt a controversial definition of the word, drawn up in 2018 by an All-Party Parliamentary Group, which critics say is so widely-drawn that it would act as a de facto blasphemy law and stifle valid criticism of Islam.

And now, Grieve has spoken to GB News - his first interview since being appointed in February...

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Robert Jenrick turns screw on Home Secretary after she fails to confirm whether migrants will be deported

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has turned up the heat on the Home Secretary after she failed to confirm that just 50 migrants in a week would be deported under Labour's returns plan.

"Starmer is trying to con the British public that he cares about securing our borders," Jenrick spat.

"Unless his scheme involves deporting all arrivals it will clearly fail.

"Yet his Home Secretary can't even say 50 migrants a week will be deported."

Diane Abbott brands migrant returns deal 'unlikely to work' as she demands MORE 'asylum seekers'

Labour firebrand Diane Abbott has claimed that Sir Keir Starmer's migrant returns deal will be "unlikely to work" as she pushed for even more "asylum seekers" to arrive in Britain.

"This is unlikely to work," Abbott fumed. "It also has injustice built in.

"If you have a valid asylum claim you should be allowed to come, independent of anyone leaving. That is the law."

WATCH IN FULL: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper speaks to GB News Breakfast

Rachel Reeves's social media posts come back to bite her as growth falters under Labour

Kemi Badenoch has poured scorn on a three-year-old social media post from Rachel Reeves after this morning's GDP growth was revealed to have fallen.

On May 12, 2022, Reeves crowed: "GDP figures see dramatic drop to -0.1 per cent in March.

"This adds to the worries families already face from the cost of living crisis. If the PM and Cabinet come back from their away day in Staffordshire today with anything less than an Emergency Budget, they will have failed."

With the PM and Cabinet heading on an away day today, and growth falling by 0.1 per cent, Badenoch prodded: "This you, Rachel Reeves?" as she reposted her tweet.

British exports to America bounce back after Starmer-Trump trade deal

British exports to the US returned to growth in May, official figures show, after the two countries agreed a trade deal that softened the blow of President Donald Trump's tariff hikes.

Goods exports rose by £300million during the month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

That followed a steep drop in April when exports declined by £2billion - the largest monthly decrease since records began in 1997.

The deal saw tariff rates lowered on UK car exports to the US and dropped on UK steel, aluminium and goods within the aerospace sector such as engines and aircraft parts.

All other goods, however, will be subject to a 10 per cent blanket tariff as part of Trump's "liberation day" levies in April.

WATCH IN FULL: Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp speaks to GB News Breakfast

Yvette Cooper claims Brussels WILL back Britain's migrant returns scheme

Yvette Cooper has claimed that Brussels will back Britain's migrant returns scheme following reports it could be scuppered by EU bureaucrats before it gets off the ground.

"We have been talking to the EU commissioners. We've also been talking to other European interior ministers and governments throughout this process," she said.

"The French Interior Minister and I have been speaking about this to develop this since October of last year, and the EU commissioners have been very supportive.

"So that is why we have designed this in a way to work, not just for the UK and France, but in order to fit with all their concerns as well."

Asked whether she was confident it would be signed off by the EU, she told LBC: "Because we've done that work all the way through, we do expect the EU Commission to continue to be supportive."

Zia Yusuf issues scathing swipe at Labour's priorities as GDP slumps and migrant crossings surge

Reform UK's Zia Yusuf has lashed out at Labour's "priorities" following two days of damning headlines for the Chancellor and the Channel.

He said: "UK GDP declined 0.1 per cent in May after a 0.3 per cent decline in April. Illegal boat crossings at all time highs.

"Labour said growth and stopping the boats were priorities. Imagine how the non-priorities are going."

Keir Starmer: 'We're smashing the gangs'

The Prime Minister has hailed his migrant returns deal with France this morning in a brief message hailing how he is "smashing the gangs".

"By resetting our relationships across Europe, my Government has made new levels of co-operation possible," he said.

"For the first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France - smashing the business model of people-smuggling gangs."

Mel Stride heaps pressure on Labour as Rachel Reeves 'creates ticking tax time bomb'

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said following this morning's GDP figures: "Thanks to Labour's reckless choices the economy actually shrank in May.

"This will pile even further pressure for tax rises in the autumn.

"Labour's costly U-turns, on winter fuel and welfare, have created a ticking tax time bomb."

Yvette Cooper and Chris Philp to speak to GB News - follow live

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and her shadow counterpart Chris Philp will be speaking to GB News Breakfast over the next hour.

You can watch GB News live HERE - and we'll bring you their grillings at the hands of Christopher Hope and Dawn Neesom on this live blog as soon as they come in.

GDP growth FALLS by 0.1% as Rachel Reeves admits: 'I'm disappointed'

GDP growth slipped by 0.1 per cent in May 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in a fresh blow to Rachel Reeves's much-hailed growth plans.

The Chancellor, following the news, admitted she was "disappointed" as she vowed she was "determined to kickstart economic growth".

"Getting more money in people's pockets is my number one mission," she said.

"While today's figures are disappointing, I am determined to kickstart economic growth and deliver on that promise.

"There's more to do, that's why in the spending review we boosted investment and jobs, through better city region transport and record funding for affordable homes, as well as backing major projects like Sizewell C."

READ THE FULL STORY ON GDP GROWTH HERE

Reform UK hails quadruple by-election success as Tories trounced nationwide

Reform UK has hailed a quadruple by-election success after Nigel Farage's party secured four more councillors across the country last night.

Reform surged to victory in Bassetlaw, Hartlepool, Tewkesbury and Rotherham overnight - with Zia Yusuf offering his congratulations this morning.

The Conservatives failed to win a single seat - and as a result, one Reform UK source told The Spectator: "The Tory vote is collapsing all over the country.

"Agent Kemi needs to keep up her great work for Wales and Scotland."

Keir Starmer convenes Cabinet for emergency 'away day' at Chequers to address chaotic first year in power

Sir Keir Starmer and his Cabinet are heading on an "away day" to Chequers in a bid to revitalise Labour's governance after a year in power.

With a migrant returns deal having finally been agreed, but the Government battling sluggish growth, dire polling and rebellious backbenchers, ministers will be locked in emergency talks from lunchtime in a bid to turn the ship around.

Attendees are set to arrive at around midday before a meal, then meetings of both regular - i.e., with civil servants - and political Cabinet.