Sir Keir Starmer is facing a backlash from the Labour Left over his proposals for digital ID cards.
The Prime Minister has announced his backing for a "Brit card" to verify people’s right to live and work in the UK as part of efforts to stop illegal migrants working in the black economy.
But the proposals are prompting criticism from backbench MPs who are concerned about the impact on privacy and warn that it could become a "dystopian mess."
Clive Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, said: "This is what happens when you outsource your policy programme to the Tony Blair Institute, corporates and tech billionaires.
"Any trade unions, civil society organisations and campaign groups opposing this dystopian mess, count me in."
Nadia Whittome, the MP for Nottingham East, added: "If we’re going to reheat Blair-era policies, can we please focus on lifting children out of poverty? Instead of this divisive, authoritarian nonsense."
The proposals were also criticised by Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader.
The co-leader of Your Party said: "It is excessive state interference, and must be resisted."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned that such a system would grant the state unprecedented power to monitor and control citizens' daily activities.
"The benefits are clear. The state can control every single aspect of your life," Mr Farage said on GB News, outlining what he termed the "endless possibilities" of digital ID implementation.
The Clacton MP wrote on social media: "It will make no difference to illegal immigration, but it will be used to control and penalise the rest of us. The state should never have this much power."
Green MP for Brighton Pavilion Sian Berry added: "After being used in WW2 compulsory ID cards were abolished in 1952 because of the widespread sentiment that they are fundamentally at odds with British values and civil liberties.
"That was true then and it’s true now."
WATCH: Moment Martin Daubney explodes at Labour MP in digital ID row
Watch as GB News star Martin Daubney locks horns with Labour MP for Darlington Lola McEvoy, who appeared on the People’s Channel to make the case for digital IDs.
A million people have now signed a petition railing against the rollout of digital IDs, which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says will help curb illegal immigration.
Reform UK is riding a triple high but these advantages could fade over time, according to top pollster
A top pollster has warned that Reform UK's advantage in the polls could dip over time.
CEO of Electoral Calculus Martin Baxter, said the poll lead Nigel Farage's party currently enjoys may fade as time goes on.
John McDonnell has Labour whip reinstated
John McDonnell has had the whip reinstateed
|PA
Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has had the Labour Whip reinstated.
Mr McDonnell, the MP for Hayes and Harlington, had the whip removed after voting for a SNP motion to scrap the two-child benefit cap
The key ally of Jeremy Corbyn was one of seven MPs to have the whip withdrawn following the vote.
Apsana Begum, the MP for Poplar and Limehouse, has also had the whip reinstated.
Councillor fumes as Union Jack flag deemed ‘too divisive’ for local display
Independent councillor John Edwards expressed outrage after his proposal to permanently display the Union Jack at Memorial Park was rejected by Sandhurst Town Council.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Edwards declared the decision "absolutely shocking" and accused fellow councillors of labelling the national flag as "divisive" and "hateful".
The councillor claimed the rejection stemmed from decades of left-wing influence that has made patriotism synonymous with racism. "We have been conditioned by the left in the last 20 years to not talk about patriotism or pride because it's seen as a dirty word and racist," Mr Edwards stated.
Keir Starmer's right-hand man claims Nigel Farage 'hates Britain' in stinging attack against Reform UK
Darren Jones said the Digital ID plans would form the 'bedrock of the modern state'
| REUTERSSir Keir Starmer's right-hand man has accused Nigel Farage of "hating Britain" in a stinging attack against Reform UK.
Darren Jones, who became Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in this month's reshuffle, took aim at Reform UK just hours after a bombshell opinion poll put Mr Farage on course to win the next General Election.
Speaking at the Global Progress Action conference, Mr Jones said: "The populist right do want to tear everything down. They don't want the institutions that we have.
"I don't really understand why Reform hate Britain so much - they hate the BBC, they hate the NHS, they hate the Government."
Tributes pour in to Menzies 'Ming' Campbell - 'A true Liberal giant'
Tributes have poured in to former Liberal Democrat leader Menzies 'Ming' Campbell who died this morning at the age of 84.
Party leader Sir Ed Davey said: "With a parliamentary career spanning five decades, Ming Campbell was a dedicated public servant, a tireless champion for Fife, St Andrews and the UK, and a true Liberal giant.
“He was the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on foreign affairs when the world changed on 9/11, and his principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom. He spoke up for what was right, even when it was hard.
Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: "Growing up in the East Neuk, Ming Campbell was my local MP and was held in respect and affection across the political divide.
"Getting to know him as an adult, I learned why. Always courteous, dignified, principled & hard working, smart and talented too. A real class act."
Scottish First Minister John Swinney wrote on social media: "I am very sorry to hear of the death of Ming Campbell.
"He was a formidable, and courteous political leader who served the people of NE Fife with devotion. He was a strong voice for establishing a Scottish Parliament."
Ex-Reform leader in Wales pleads guilty to eight bribery charges
Nathan Gill was the former leader of Reform UK in Wales
| PAThe former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty to eight bribery charges while an elected member of the European Parliament.
The eight counts of bribery occurred between December 6 2018, and July 18 2019.
Nathan Gill denied one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery during his hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Zack Polanski says Keir Starmer's approach to immigration is 'bulls***'
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said Labour's approach to immigration is "bulls***" as he took aim at the Prime Minister.
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer commented that progressive politicians are "squeamish" about talking about illegal migration, and left wing parties had "shied away from people’s concerns."
Mr Polanski said: "Keir Starmer today said this country has been too ‘squeamish’ about talking about immigration. Let’s call that for what it is: bulls***.
"The truth is, politicians have talked about little else for decades and almost always in the most toxic, dehumanising way possible.
"These comments are lapped up and regurgitated on a near-daily basis as talking points without any real balance. That phrase 'stop the boats' is all we hear. Well, today I am saying 'stop the bulls***'.
"It’s time to be honest. It’s what we deserve. Immigration is not the crisis. The NHS is not crumbling because of tiny numbers of desperate people clinging on to small boats.
"The crisis is a political class too cowardly to tackle the actual huge issues of poverty, housing, and low pay. Too eager to distract us by pointing the finger at people who come here to contribute to our communities and our economy."
Ed Davey blasts Digital IDs as 'gimmick' as he pledges to fight 'tooth and nail' against policy
Sir Ed Davey said the Liberal Democrats will campaign against the policy
|POOL
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has slammed Labour's proposals to introduce digital ID cards as he confirmed his party would fight "tooth and nail" against the plans.
Sir Ed said: "Keir Starmer seems determined to lead a Government of gimmicks - that just adds to our tax bills and bureaucracy, whilst doing next to nothing to tackle channel crossings.
"Imagine if the Government devoted this much money and focus on getting GP waiting times down, or fixing social care, instead of pursuing the Labour Party’s decades long obsession with ID cards and more state control.
"It is nonsensical and the Liberal Democrats will fight against it tooth and nail - just as we successfully did against Tony Blair’s ID cards."
Nigel Farage rages over massive UK population growth
The UK is estimated to have recorded a population growth of more than 750,000 in the year to June 2024.
This is the second-largest annual increase since the late 1940s, and England saw a faster increase rate than the rest of the UK.
Net international migration, which is the difference between people moving into the country and leaving, accounted for 98 per cent of the UK's overall population growth, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Net migration stood at 738,718, and was the most significant contributing factor to the overall population growth.
Nigel Farage furiously took to X, where he wrote: "Labour are continuing the Boriswave and our lives are all getting poorer as a result.
"Only Reform will finally control our borders."
Keir Starmer accused of 'declaring civil war' on Britons as Digital ID rollout sparks outrage: 'It's all about control!'
Britons have expressed their outrage at Sir Keir Starmer's plans for mandatory Digital ID cards, warning it will "split Britain" rather than renewing it.
Speaking to GB News, Londoners in Notting Hill told National Reporter Will Godley that the Prime Minister's move has "declared civil war" on Britain.
One Londoner told GB News: "I think, to be honest, if people are going to come across the Channel and take that effort to go on those dinghies, they're going to come across anyway."
Another stated: "To be honest, this idea, I feel like it's just tracking, and it's something that a lot of people aren't going to be happy about.
"I don't think it's the right thing, I don't think it's going to help too much. I think it's going to cause more problems, if anything."
WATCH: Christopher Hope speaks to John McTernan following Keir Starmers Digital ID announcement
GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope speaks to John McTernan following Keir Starmers Digital ID announcement.
WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVE
'No evidence' Morgan McSweeney was involved in any 'potential offences' during £700k donations scandal probe
"No evidence" has been found that Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff was involved in "any potential offences" over the £700,000 undeclared donations scandal, the Electoral Commission has said.
The watchdog also said it will not reopen the investigation into the donations made to Labour Together when it was led by Morgan McSweeney.
The Electoral Commission previously slapped the group with a fine in 2021 due to its handling of donations.
Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell dies aged 84
Lord Menzies Campbell served as Lib Dem leader from 2006 to 2007 | GETTYLord Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, has died at the age of 84.
The party confirmed the news of his death on Friday morning.
"The thoughts of everyone in our party are with his family at this time," the Scottish Liberal Democrats said.
Lord Campbell, who led the party from 2006 to 2007, died in London following a period of respite care.
Reform UK say Keir Starmer is just continuing the Tory legacy
In response to the Prime Minister’s speech, Reform said the public was "waking up to the fact Starmer is just continuing the Tory legacy of high taxes and mass immigration".
A party spokesman said: "For decades the British people have been betrayed by both Labour and the Conservatives.
"People have voted election after election for lower taxes and controlled immigration, instead both parties have done the opposite.
"The public are now waking up to the fact Starmer is just continuing the Tory legacy of high taxes and mass immigration. Britain needs Reform."
'Open fight' between Labour and Reform at the next election, says Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer has said the next election will be an “open fight” between Labour and Reform UK.
The Prime Minister said: "We’re going to face a very different election next time to any of the elections we fought in the United Kingdom for a very, very long time.
"That’s why… I want this to be out as an open fight between Labour and Reform, and I’ll be majoring on this in my conference speech next week."
He said many centre-right parties in Europe have "withered on the vine" and the same is happening in the UK.
Sir Keir said: "The choice before the electorate here of the next election is not going to be the traditional Labour versus Conservative."
The Prime Minister added: "And so the battle of our times is between patriotic national renewal in the way I’ve described under a Labour government which is capable of expressing who and what we are as a country accurately and in a way where people feel they’re valued and they belong and that we can actually move forward together, versus something which is turning into a toxic divide.
"That march that we had here two weeks ago in London, in Whitehall – that sent shivers through the spines of many of our communities well away from London, not just those in the immediate vicinity.
"So there’s a battle for the soul of this country now as to what sort of country do we want to be.
"Because that toxic divide, that decline with Reform is built on a sense of grievance, grievance politics, identifying something real for sure, but relying on the problem existing in order for their politics to persist."
Digital ID rollout officially announced despite public backlash
Digital ID rollout has officially been announced despite significant public backlash
|X
The digital ID rollout has officially been announced, despite significant public backlash.
The policy aims to make sure Britain's "borders are more secure"; however, online opposition has gathered significant momentum since it was first unveiled.
An online petition titled "Do not introduce Digital ID cards" has gained over 820,000 signatures.
After 100,000 signatures, petitions are considered for debate in Parliament.
WATCH IN FULL: Keir Starmer announces digital ID cards for all British adults
WATCH IN FULL: Keir Starmer announces digital ID cards for all British adults
Left-wing politicians have been 'squeamish' about illegal immigration, say Keir Starmer
Progressive politicians have been “squeamish” about saying things that are "clearly true", the Prime Minister has said.
He told the Global Progress Action Summit in London that "every nation needs to have control over its borders."
Keir Starmer said that progressives needed "to look ourselves in the mirror and recognise where we allow our parties to shy away from people’s concerns and let the politics of purity patronise people".
Turning to illegal immigration, he said: "For too many years, it’s been too easy for people to come here, slip into the shadow economy and remain here illegally because, frankly, we have been squeamish about saying things that are clearly true."
He added: "It’s not compassionate left-wing politics to rely on labour that exploits foreign workers and undercuts fair wages.
"But the simple fact is that every nation needs to have control over its borders. We do need to know who is in our country."
Keir Starmer slams 'Unite the Kingdom' rally as he denies 'violent struggle' is coming to Britain
Sir Keir Starmer has slammed the 'Unite the Kingdom' rally, which occured in London, as he criticised the "poisonous belief" that there is a "violent struggle" for the nation coming.
He said the belief that there was "a coming struggle, a defining struggle, a violent struggle for the nation, for all of our nations" was "on full display" in London just under two weeks ago.
"You don’t have to be a great historian to know where that kind of poison ends up, and you could just feel it in a language that is naked in its attempt to intimidate."
He said it was not "careless or accidental” but part of a strategy to "draw a dividing line between elites and the people".
Centre-left politics is not 'dying out', says Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer told the Global Progress Action summit "we are in an era of huge challenge" amid suggestions that centre-left politics is "dying out".
In a keynote speech, the Prime Minister said: "This is a gathering of people bound by a common cause.
"The patriotic renewal of our nations that is underpinned by the values of dignity and respect, equality and fairness, and the belief that social democratic means are the best way to pursue that goal.
"But it’s also a room that puts aid to a story we often hear in the press these days, that somehow our politics is dying out.
"And yes, we are in an era of huge challenge, but we can take heart when we look around the world, in fact we only need to look around this room."
He cited other leaders including Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, adding: "I’d say centre-left parties are having quite a year so far."
Keir Starmer has begun talking at the Global Progress Action summit in London
The Prime Minister has begun speaking
|PA
The Prime Minister has begun speaking.
He is expected to announce plans for free digital IDs, set out aims to tackle illegal immigration and speak on the Ukraine conflict.
GB News will bring you the latest coverage.
Keir Starmers leadership praised by Mark Carney: 'I want to salute your leadership'
Mark Carney gave Sir Keir Starmer a strong show of support, telling him: "I want to salute your leadership” as the two premiers exchanged gifts of Canadian and English rugby shirts.
The Canadian prime minister highlighted security co-operation between the UK and Canada before adding: "But I also want to salute your leadership, Keir. In Ukraine, in the coalition of the willing, in the Middle East, more broadly in this next phase of multilaterals."
He joked the Women’s Rugby World Cup final would be a "great match" on which they would have to "agree to disagree" as the pair met for bilateral talks on the sides of the Global Progress Action summit.
Sir Keir then presented Mr Carney with Red Roses rugby shirt while his Canadian counterpart presented him with a signed Canadian women’s rugby shirt.
Keir Starmer hails 'strength of our personal relationship' during meeting with Mark Carney
Sir Keir Starmer hailed the "strength of our personal relationship" as he welcomed Mark Carney to a bilateral meeting on the sides of the Global Progress Action summit in London.
The Prime Minister joked the only "issue we’re going to disagree on" was the Women’s Rugby World Cup final between England and Canada on Saturday.
He said: "Welcome to London, this is now your second inward bilateral."
Sir Keir said along with bilateral talks between the two leaders in Canada ahead of the G7 summit earlier this year, this "shows strength of the relationship between our two countries, but also the strength of our personal relationship".
Sir Keir congratulated his Canadian counterpart for hosting the G7 where he said “we really made some progress on issues of such importance.”
He thanked Mr Carney for "the way we’ve been able to work together" on Ukraine and the Middle East.
He added: “On all of that we’re very close, very strong. There’s only one issue we’re going to disagree on and that’s a certain game of rugby tomorrow."
WATCH: Keir Starmer meets with Mark Carney
The Prime Minister has met with Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, in the margins of the Global Progress Action Summit in central London.
Reform UK hits 250,000 members as Nigel Farage sets his sights on Labour
Reform UK hits 250,000 members
|REFORM UK
Reform UK has hit 250,000 members as the party continues to gather support.
Dubbed as Britain's fastest growing political party, Nigel Farage has cemented its place as the second largest party in the UK.
The party now has more than double the members of the Conservative Party, which reportedly fell to around 123,000 in July.
Reform UK is only 60,000 members off surpassing Labour’s last reported figure of 309,000 to become the largest party in the country.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: "The growth of the party has been astonishing.
"It’s an incredibly exciting achievement and we will continue to grow rapidly from here.
"We’ve left the Conservatives in the dust. Now we’re coming for Labour."
Lisa Nandy clarifies the role of Labour's new Digital ID in Britain
Lisa Nandy clarifies the role of Labour's new Digital ID in Britain.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport told GB News that all adults must have a digital card, but it will not be required to be carried at all times.
She said: "All British adults will have a digital ID by the end of this parliament, but it's not like an ID card scheme where you would be required to carry that around and show it to access services.
"The only thing that we will require people to produce a digital ID for is to work in this country, which we think will have a significant impact in helping us, alongside other measures, to tackle illegal migration."
WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVE
Christopher Hope brands to backlash to Digital ID as 'extraordinary'
GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope has described the backlash to Digital ID cards as "extraordinary"
Speaking on the People's Channel, he said: "The scale of those numbers signing up for that petition, which is barely a day or two old, I think, is extraordinary."
WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVE
Digital ID petition continues to gain momentum as it reaches 600,000 signatures
A petition calling on Sir Keir Starmer not to proceed with plans to introduce digital ID for all British adults has surpassed 600,000 signatures.
The British public's fight back has gathered 100,000 signatures in roughly three hours.
The Prime Minister is now expected to unveil his proposal to introduce mandatory digital ID cards during a keynote speech today, sources have told GB News.
Kemi Badenoch 'strongly against' the idea of a mandatory Digital ID
Kemi Badenoch is strongly against the idea of a mandatory Digital ID, the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has told GB News.
Speaking on the position of her party leader, Helen Whately said: "She is strongly against mandatory digital ID, the requirement that people should have to have a Government, a state ID, because we just don't think that we should be that kind of society."
The Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent accused Keir Starmer of rushing the policy out to distract the public from his "failures".
She told the People's Channel: "This was an announcement rushed out at the last minute to try and distract from all the problems. It's just a smokescreen for the failures of [Keir Starmer] and his Government.
"For his failure to stop the boats, for his failure on the economy, for all the scandals from Angela Rayner, Peter Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney, and questions over his own donations to his leadership campaign.
"Keir Starmer is in so much trouble. People are so angry with him and his Government."
She added: "This is not going to be the answer to controlling immigration... Employers already are legally required to check an ID, and the problem of illegal working is when that ID isn't checked, for instance, and people are being paid in cash.
"So this completely won't solve the problem that Keir Starmer is trying to say it will solve. It's just a distraction from the complete failure of his Government."
Reform UK rejects Liz Truss defection tease as Nigel Farage vows to run tight ship
Reform UK has rejected the prospect of Liz Truss joining the party after she refused to rule it out on Sunday.
The ex-prime minister was asked whether she would join Nigel Farage's party at a fringe event at CPAC Australia, the country's largest gathering of the conservative right.
When GB News approached Reform for comment, a spokesperson said: "Liz Truss will not be joining Reform UK."
Speculation first swirled around the former PM's defection after her one-time party chairman, Sir Jake Berry, made the jump in July.
Nigel Farage predicts 'panic amongst Labour and Tory MPs' following bombshell poll
The Reform Party would be 15 seats short of the formal winning line of 326 if a General Election were held today, a new poll revealed
|YOUGOV/X
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has predicted that a new bombshell poll will spread "panic amongst Labour and Tory MPs".
All members of Parliament are currently on recess to attend their party conferences.
Labour's event will take place on Sunday, September 28, to October 1 in Liverpool, while the Conservatives will travel to Manchester on October 5 to 8.
Following a new poll that predicts the Reform Party would be 15 seats short of the formal winning line of 326 if a General Election were held today, Mr Farage wrote on social media: "This new poll will spread panic amongst Labour and Tory MPs as they head to their party conferences."
'No requirement' to carry Digital ID, says Government spokesman
There will be no requirement to carry Labour's new Digital ID, a Government spokesman has confirmed.
Sources have told GB News that the Prime Minister is set to announce the scheme in a keynote speech later today.
The spokesman said: "There will be no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it - but digital ID will be mandatory as a means of proving your Right to Work."
Every UK adult will need a newly-issued digital identity card as part of plans to curb Channel crossings.
Reform UK on brink of majority as Nigel Farage on course for PM, new poll suggest
Reform UK is on the brink of gaining enough support to form a majority
|YOUGOV/SKY
Reform UK is on the brink of gaining enough support to form a majority as Nigel Farage is on course to become the next Prime Minister of Britain, according to a fresh YouGov poll shared with Sky.
The projection, based on a 13,000 sample taken over the last three weeks, shows that the Reform would be 15 seats short of the formal winning line of 326 if a General Election were held today.
They are predicted to win 311 of the 650 seats, which is an increase of 55 seats from the last YouGov data in June.
However, despite being the largest party, this would still result in a hung parliament.
As Nigel Farage's party currently holds only five seats, the predicted gains of 306 additional MPs would be the largest increase in any election in British history.
Labour is predicted to win 144 seats, the Liberal Democrats 78 seats, the Conservatives 45 seats, the SNP 37 seats, and the Greens seven seats, with Plaid Cymru on six seats and left-wing challengers winning 3 seats.
Who's who at the Global Progress Action Summit?
Speakers at today's mass gathering of left-wing world leaders and lawmakers include:
- Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom;
- Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia;
- Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada;
- Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark.
Attendees at the event are set to include:
- Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand;
- Magdalena Andersson, former Prime Minister of Sweden;
- Pete Buttigieg, Democrat former US Transport Secretary;
- Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary;
- John Healey, Defence Secretary;
- Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister;
- David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister;
- Kristrun Frostadottir, Prime Minister of Iceland;
- JB Pritzker, 43rd Governor of Illinois;
- Rachel Reeves, Chancellor;
- Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader;
- Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain.
Digital ID petition smashes 500,000 signature mark as Britons fight back against Keir Starmer's plan
A petition calling on Sir Keir Starmer not to push ahead with plans to introduce digital ID for all British adults has surged past 500,000 signatures.
The petition - still awaiting a response from Sir Keir's Government - soared by tens of thousands of sign-ups every hour through the night as plans to introduce the ID system came to light.
The PM is now expected to unveil his proposal to introduce mandatory digital ID cards during a keynote speech tomorrow, sources have told GB News.
Mark White's Migration Monitor: Digital ID won't stop small boat surge - and fresh wave is coming in just hours
GB News' Home and Security Editor Mark White has warned that the PM's expected digital ID announcement today will not stop the boats.
Writing for GBN members, Mark predicts that 2,000 migrants are massing in northern France at this moment, following a pattern seen already this year.
"Instead of a regular summer drumbeat of two or three hundred small boat migrants, we're seeing a week or more of nothing, then a huge surge of a thousand or more in a single day," he says.
"This weekend is set to follow that pattern - and then some.
"We should be in for a few days of good weather, allowing for as many as 2,000 to make the crossing."
Danny Kruger reveals what he told Nigel Farage just before quitting Kemi Badenoch's Tories
New Reform MP Danny Kruger has revealed what he told Nigel Farage before jumping ship from Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives
|PA
New Reform MP Danny Kruger has revealed what he told Nigel Farage before jumping ship from Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking, Mr Kruger said he had approached Mr Farage, telling him: "You represent the best chance that the country has, but also those of us who have a Conservative disposition have."
He also revealed the "pain" of defecting from the Tories - which fell to fourth place in a national poll, at just 14 per cent, on Thursday.
"It was painful," the East Wiltshire MP said. "It is painful and it was very painful on the day I did it. It was not an enjoyable experience.
"I've got a lot of good friends who I know are hurt. And only a few have had a go at me and they weren't friends anyway.
"The people I care about are, I think, silently regretful and sorry."
David Lammy rages at Israel as he boasts of recognising Palestine at UN
David Lammy launched into an impassioned plea over Gaza at the United Nations overnight - in which he hailed Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state.
"What is happening in Gaza is indefensible, it is inhumane, it is utterly unjustifiable and it must end now," the Deputy Prime Minister vowed.
"The people of Palestine, whose state we proudly recognised this week, and the people of Israel deserve better. Better than the horrific acts by Hamas on October 7 that left children without their parents and parents without their children.
"Better than the torment of families waiting desperately for the return of their loved ones from the most barbaric captivity. Better than the fanatical rule by Hamas, a vile, pitiless terrorist organisation that must have no future in Gaza.
"Better than Israel's denial of life-saving humanitarian aid and the catastrophic famine that it has caused.
"As Israel escalates its military operations and displaces Palestinian families again and again and again, there can be no answer to these horrors but concerted diplomatic action to keep the hope of peace alive."
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