MPs vote to ban Palestine Action with legislation set to become law in just days

GB News political editor Christopher Hope admits he has 'never seen scenes like it' at PMQs with Rachel Reeves crying

GB News political editor Christopher Hope said he has "never seen anything like it" at Prime Ministers Question's (PMQs) today after an extraordinary emotional display from Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

A tear could be seen rolling down Reeves' cheek as she watched the Prime Minister face questions from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

Speaking to GB News, Hope said: "I've never seen anything like it, a prominent minister so visibly upset next to the Prime Minister during PMQs."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE AS TO WHY THE CHANCELLOR CRIED IN THE COMMONS TODAY

Starmer tells Reeves that she has his 'complete support'

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that he backs Rachel Reeves as Chancellor, stating she has his "complete support".

After failing to rule out her future today, the Prime Minister has made it clear that he is supporting Reeves, with them being described "as close politically".

Sky News understands that the Chancellor remains a key part of Labour's project, with one senior figure stating: "She is going absolutely nowhere".

Reeves was seen crying in the Commons today, with the Treasury saying her tears were caused by a personal matter.

'I say this loudly and proudly - We are all Palestine Action': Suspended Labour MP launches into tirade in Commons

Zarah Sultana, the Coventry South MP, launched a tirade in the Commons against so-called "Zionism" and the "Israeli lobby".

Sultana said in the Commons: "I oppose the blood-soaked hands of this Government trying to silence us.

"So I say this loudly and proudly on Wednesday, June 2, 2025, we are all Palestine Action," to which a voice replied: "No, we are not."

Sultana also accused Starmer, Reeves, Rayner and Cooper of "cowardice" for failing to "defend their actions" before the banning.

MPs who voted against banning of Palestine Action

A slim 26 MPs voted against the banning of Palestine Action, with an overwhelming majority of 359 in support.

These included 10 Labour MPs, including one teller, four Green Party MPs and six Liberal Democrats.

MPs who voted against the ban:

• Ayoub Khan, Independent
• Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour
• Sian Berry, Green
• Ellie Chowns, Green
• Carla Denyer, Green
• Adrian Ramsay, Green
• Shockat Adam, Independent
• Aspana Begum, Independent
• Jeremy Corbyn, Independent
• Adnan Hussain, Independent
• John McDonnell, Independent
• Zarah Sultana, Independent
• Diana Abbott, Labour
• Tahir Ali, Labour
• Richard Buron, Labour
• Ian Byrne, Labour
• Imran Hussain, Labour
• Kim Johnson, Labour
• Clive Lewis, Labour
• Grahame Morris, Labour
• Nadia Whittome, Labour
• Andrew George, Liberal Democrat
• Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat
• Tessa Munt, Liberal Democrat
• Manuela Perteghella, Liberal Democrat
• Dr Al Pinkerton, Liberal Democrat
• Luke Taylor, Liberal Democrat
• Colum Eastwood, Social Democratic and Labour Party

Hard-left MPs queue up with attempts to derail Security Minister in desperate bid to quash Palestine Action proscription

Several hard-left MPs voted against the Government proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer and suspended Labour MP Zarah Sultana both raised points of order after the vote, which saw over 14 times the number of MPs vote in favour of proscribing Palestine Action and two other groups than vote against.

Notable MPs who voted against the Government's ban include Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott and Nadia Whittome.

Ex-Tory MP joins Nigel Farage's Reform UK to head up social care policy

Anne Marie Morris, a former Conservative MP, has joined Reform UK, according to a statement from Nigel Farage’s party.

Previously representing Newton Abbot from 2010 to 2024, Morris will now lead Reform UK's social care policy.

She expressed her support for the party, stating that Reform provides "the vision and leadership" the country requires.

“I’m committed to helping bring that vision to life,” she said.

Value of pound slumps as doubts grow over Rachel Reeves' future

The pound and long-term Government bonds saw a sharp decline after Sir Keir Starmer withheld public support for Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Reeves appeared emotional in the House of Commons due to a “personal matter,” as both her role and the Government’s credibility came under pressure following a reversal on welfare policy.

The policy reversal is now expected to cost the Labour Government nearly £5 billion in anticipated savings, complicating efforts to balance public finances.

This triggered a negative reaction in financial markets, with the pound and gilts falling significantly during the Prime Minister’s address to Parliament.

On Wednesday, the pound dropped 1.14 per cent to 1.358 against the US dollar, after having reached a three-year high just a day earlier. Sterling also weakened 0.8 per cent against the euro, hitting its lowest level since April at 1.155.

Pat McFadden warns Britons of 'financial consequences' after Labour's 'contentious' benefits bill passes

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has indicated that tax increases could be necessary after the Government reversed course on disability benefit reforms.

Speaking to GB News, Pat McFadden acknowledged the financial impact of abandoning controversial changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

"There's definitely a financial consequence to the decision taken yesterday," he stated.

READ THE FULL STORY

PM deletes tweet which showed Rachel Reeves crying

Sir Keir Starmer has deleted a tweet which showed Rachel Reeves visibly upset during Prime Minister's Questions.

The Chancellor was seen wiping a tear during the Prime Minister's final response to Kemi Badenoch's at this week's lunchtime showdown.

Starmer shared the clipped up remarks on his official X account, adding: “Promises made. Promises delivered.”

He later deleted the post after receiving responses about why it had been uploaded when Reeves clearly looked upset.

Speaker declines to comment about 'altercation' with Rachel Reeves ahead of PMQs

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has declined to provide any comment on whether or not he had an "altercation" with Rachel Reeves ahead of today's Prime Minister's Questions.

A minister claimed that the Commons Speaker ended up apologising to the Chancellor.

However, a spokesman for the Speaker’s Office simply told GB News: “No comment.”

No10 insists Keir Starmer will 'plough on with busy agenda' after PMQs grilling saw Chancellor reduced to tears

Downing Street has said that Sir Keir Starmer will "plough on" with his "very busy agenda" when asked if the Prime Minister was planning for a course correction following yesterday’s welfare vote.

A No10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is fully focused on the job at hand.

“You’ve heard… the number of achievements this Government has secured in its first year in office. You can expect him to plough on with the very busy agenda.”

No11 rejects Rachel Reeves's resignation rumour after Chancellor appeared visibly upset at PMQs

Rachel Reeves has not resigned as Chancellor and was upset due to a "personal matter", No11 has confirmed.

A spokesman for Rachel Reeves said: “It’s a personal matter, which - as you would expect - we are not going to get into.

"The Chancellor will be working out of Downing Street this afternoon.”

'You left her humiliated!' Kemi Badenoch accuses Keir Starmer of using Chancellor as 'human shield' after heated PMQs

Ellie Reeves spotted holding Rachel Reeves's hand but ally insists Chancellor is 'totally fine' 

Labour Party chairwoman Ellie Reeves has been spotted holding her sister Rachel Reeves's hand after today's heated exchange at Prime Minister's Questions.

During PMQs, a tear was spotted rolling down the Chancellor's rather glum face.

However, a senior Minister has just told GB News that after Reeves is “totally fine”.

Ex-Tory Minister admits 'feeling very sorry' for Rachel Reeves as tear spotted rolling down Chancellor's face

Ex-Tory Minister Sir Simon Clarke has expressed his sympathy with Rachel Reeves after a tear was spotted rolling down the Chancellor's face during a heated exchange between Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions.

While Badenoch was grilling Starmer about his Chancellor's future, Reeves was spotted looking rather glum, prompting the Leader of the Opposition to describe the Prime Minister's right-hand woman of looking "absolutely miserable".

In a rather sympathetic social media post, Clarke shared his sympathies following his own experiences in Liz Truss's Cabinet.

He said: "Labour have mishandled things terribly - but this is desperate to see from Rachel Reeves and I genuinely feel very sorry for her at this stage.

"What I would gently say as we all reflect on this is that Liz and Kwasi also went through utter hell three years ago after their own mistakes. Too many delighted in that."

WATCH IN FULL: Kemi Badenoch mocks 'miserable-looking' Rachel Reeves as PM refuses to rule out sacking Chancellor

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out sacking Rachel Reeves shortly after a tear rolled down the Chancellor's face during a heated Prime Minister's Questions spat.

The Chancellor, who was looking rather glum while Starmer faced his weekly grilling, was mocked by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch for looking "absolutely miserable".

Following a humiliating climbdown over benefits plan, the Chancellor is left needing to find a way to plug a £5billion hole in otherwise anticipated public savings.

Badenoch went on the attack at Prime Minister's Questions, quizzing Starmer about whether Reeves will remain in place.

The Leader of the Opposition said: “She [the Chancellor] looks absolutely miserable. She looks absolutely miserable.

"Labour MPs are going on the record saying that the Chancellor is toast and the reality is that she is a human shield for his incompetence.

“In January he said that she would be in post until the next election. Will she really?”

Responding to Badenoch, the Prime Minister refused to categorically reaffirm his position on Reeves remaining in place until 2029.

Starmer instead opted to point out that Labour inherited a £22billion black hole from the previous Conservative Government.

He added: “She certainly won’t [directed at Badenoch]. I have to say I am always cheered up when she asks me questions or responds to a statement because she always makes a complete mess of it and shows just how unserious and irrelevant they are.”

In a put down to the Prime Minister's evasive answer, Badenoch replied: "How awful for the Chancellor that he couldn’t confirm that she will stay in place."

'He didn't answer my question!' Lib Dems join attack over PM's benefits bill U-turn

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has continued with attacks against Sir Keir Starmer's benefits bill U-turn.

Following Kemi Badenoch's fiery exchange with the Prime Minister, Davey said that the Prime Minister needs to bring down benefits costs but added that the Government's plan was "not a fair way to do it".

The Liberal Democrat leader said: "Yesterday, the government was asking this house to vote for a law that would mean someone with a condition like Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis would qualify for a personal independence payment (Pip) today, but someone diagnosed with the same condition with very same symptoms in a few months time would not.

"We all know that the cost of welfare needs to come down, but that was not a fair way to do it. Until he lost control yesterday, the Prime Minister was arguing for that approach. Has he changed his mind on this or not?"

However, the Prime Minister replied: "I thought that he and his party cared about things like that. It’s the right thing to do, and they voted against it.

"We rebalanced Universal Credit, long overdue. I think he believes that, but what did he do last night?

"He voted against it. We set out a pathway to reform, something he argues for every week, but what did he do when he had the chance? He voted against it."

Davey then quipped: "The House and his backbenches will not that he didn't answer my question."

Keir Starmer refuses to rule out tax hikes in autumn budget

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out hiking taxes in the autumn.

Responding to Kemi Badenoch's question, the Prime Minister said: "She knows that no prime minister or chancellor ever stands at the despatch box and writes budgets in the future. That isn’t what they did, and it isn’t what we do, and she knows it."

However, Badenoch had accused the Prime Minister of having "some brass neck", adding: "That bill will achieve nothing."

She also said: "Let me tell the house what’s going to happen: in November, the chancellor [Rachel Reeves] is going to put up our taxes to pay for his incompetence.

"We on this side of the house know that you can’t tax your way to growth, but people out there are frightened."

'He's too weak!' Kemi Badenoch grills PM after 'humiliating U-turn' on benefits bill

Kemi Badenoch continued her attack against Sir Keir Starmer over the Prime Minister's "humiliating U-turn" on his benefits bill last night.

Badenoch warned the Prime Minister that he cannot control his rebel MPs, with 49 Labour MPs still opting to ignore No10's concessions by voting against the Government.

The Leader of the Opposition said: "He said that he would take the difficult decisions - but isn't the reality that he is too weak to get anything done."

The Prime Minister responded by blaming the Conservatives for breaking the economy, NHS and welfare state.

Keir Starmer avoids Kemi Badenoch's demand for answers to Britain's benefits savings

Sir Keir Starmer has avoided Kemi Badenoch's question about whether the Prime Minister's revamped welfare bill will claw back any cash for the Treasury.

The Tory leader told the Prime Minister: “This is the first Primer Minister in history to propose a bill to save money who ended up with a bill that costs money.

“If the Bill doesn’t cut welfare spending, can the Prime Minister tell the House how many people it will get into work?”

Starmer, who failed to directly answer the question, instead said that the bill “will help people back into work”.

MPs cheer and jeer Keir Starmer ahead of PMQs showdown

Sir Keir Starmer has been welcomed to the House of Commons with an almighty set of cheers from his own MPs ahead of today's clash with Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions.

Despite facing a 49-strong rebellion last night, Labour MPs were keen to show their support for the Prime Minister.

However, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was forced to delay the start of PMQs by just a few seconds after opposition MPs responded with a chorus of jeers.

Hoyle quipped that he had never heard so many cheers for a Prime Minister from both sides of the House.

The Prime Minister added: “I think they were cheering more, quite right too.”

Keir Starmer faces PMQs grilling just hours after Labour rebels forced benefits bill capitulation

Sir Keir Starmer is bracing for a fiery Prime Minister's Question showdown with Kemi Badenoch just hours after Labour rebels forced an enormous climbdown over Britain's ballooning benefits bill.

The Prime Minister will return to the House of Commons to face questions from the Leader of the Opposition, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and another 14 MPs.

Badenoch is expected to grill Starmer over concerns about imminent tax rises this autumn, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies warning about levies increasing as a result of the Prime Minister's decision to water down his proposed benefits cuts.

The Prime Minister stumbled out of the No10 door this morning as he prepared to head to the Houses of Parliament for his showdown.

Ex-Tory MP defects to Reform UK as Nigel Farage's social care chief unveiled

Ex-Tory MP Anne Marie Morris has been unveiled as Reform UK's new social care chief in a major coup for Nigel Farage.

Morris, who served as the MP for Newton Abbot between 2010 and 2024, said: “The country is in a desperate position. I believe now it is Reform UK that offers the vision and leadership Britain so badly needs. I want to play my part in delivering that vision.”

Responding to the announcement, Reform UK chairman David Bull added: “We are delighted to welcome Anne Marie to Reform UK.

"She brings a wealth of experience with her and will be a crucial part in developing the party’s social care policy as we look to build our policy platform ahead of the next general election.

“Anne Marie is just one of many who realise that Reform UK is the only party that can stop this damaging Labour Government in its tracks."

WATCH NOW: Keir Starmer stumbles as PM prepares for Commons showdown after benefits bill capitulation

Diane Abbott brands IDF 'Jewish Defence Force' as Keir Starmer under pressure to remove whip from Labour veteraneditsharetrending_up

Labour veteran Diane Abbott has come under fire after claiming the "Jewish Defence Force" is murdering Palestinians in Gaza.

The ex-Shadow Home Secretary, who was suspended from Labour in April 2023 after writing that Jews could not be subject to racism 'all their lives', sparked yet another antisemitism row which has led to calls for Sir Keir Starmer to suspend her yet again.

In a now-deleted social media post, the ex-Shadow Home Secretary said: “Beyond horrific that the Jewish Defence Force is gunning down Palestinians as they queue for food #Gaza Genocide.”

Abbott, 71, who is Mother of the House of Commons, had been responding on Tuesday to a quote from journalist Chris Hedges from 2001.

Hedges had alleged that soldiers from the Israel Defence Forces "had enticed children like mice into a trap and murdered them for sport”.

However, Abbott seemingly opted to replace the word Israel with Jewish.

It is also not known if Abbott was aware that Hedges's report referred to an event from more than two decades ago.

A number of campaign groups have condemned Abbott for her comments, putting pressure on the Prime Minister to take decisive action.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

FULL LIST: The MPs preparing to grill Keir Starmer on his benefits U-turn

WATCH NOW: Pat McFadden comes out to bat for Sir Keir Starmer over the benefits bill vote

Angela Rayner played 'instrumental' role in seeing off rebellion

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner played an "instrumental" role in seeing off yesterday's backbench rebellion, The Telegraph has claimed.

Rayner held crunch talks with Labour MPs shortly before the benefits bill reached the House of Commons.

Sir Keir Starmer later buckled to more concessions, abandoning his previous crackdown on Personal Independence Payments.

WATCH NOW: Tory Shadow Minister issues Keir Starmer leadership warning after 49 Labour MPs rebel over Britain's ballooning benefits bill 

Keir Starmer faces ‘crunch’ leadership test as benefits chaos gives Labour MPs taste for rebellion

Sir Keir Starmer has been warned he faces a “crunch” second year in No10 after Labour rebels forced the Prime Minister to capitulate over his plans to slash Britain’s ballooning benefits bill.

Starmer, who last night won his Commons vote on his welfare bill, made 11th hour concessions to prevent his own MPs handing him a parliamentary defeat.

However, Labour rebels now sense an opportunity to force Starmer’s hand on other policies, including the so-called tractor tax and two-child benefit cap.

A mutinous mood within the parliamentary Labour Party leaves the Prime Minister, who had already U-turned on Winter Fuel Payments and grooming gangs, bracing for a nightmare second year.

A Labour MP described the next 12 months as a “crunch” year for the Prime Minister, adding: “I think this year is going to be bumpy, choppy.”

Speaking to Politico, the Labour veteran also warned: “There is now a new core of MPs who are going to be permanently or very often on the naughty step.”

Despite the difficult challenge ahead, a top pollster claimed that the Prime Minister could turn his fortunes around by focusing on delivering for the British people.

More in Common’s executive director Luke Tryl said: “Year two is the real test of: Come on, can you deliver?”

Katherine Forster: Keir Starmer's concessions embolden Labour rebels as MPs plot to put more pressure on PM 

The Government won this vote last night but it doesn’t feel like a victory because that bill was gutted. The £5billion that they were going to save has gone. In fact, it might ultimately cost them money. And the Prime Minister has spent weeks saying that it’s a moral necessity to reform welfare and the Treasury believe it’s an economic necessity, too. Now, it’s just incredible because the Prime Minister will be ‘celebrating’ a year in office on Saturday and here we are, multiple U-turns. There was one on Thursday night last week, they thought that would be enough, but then after 5.30pm yesterday, fearing that they could lose this vote, they had to give even more ground. There’s very little left of this bill and what it’s taught Labour MPs is that if enough of them band together - they can’t take the whip off 50 or 60 MPs - they can basically do what they like, without consequence.

'Financial consequences!' Labour Minister hints at autumn tax rises after benefits bill debacle

Senior Labour Minister Pat McFadden has hinted at tax rises this autumn after Sir Keir Starmer's benefits bill concessions appeared to wipe out an expected £5billion worth of savings.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told Times Radio: “This is a decision that will have financial consequences. The process of the last couple of weeks does have financial consequences.

“They will all be taken together with all the other moving parts that there are in the economy, in the fiscal picture at the Budget, and that will be set out at the time.

“But I’m not denying that when you set out on a plan that has a cost attached to it, and then you have to change that or take it forward in slower time, that is a decision with financial consequences.”

However, McFadden pledged that Starmer's Government will “stick to the tax promises we made in the manifesto”, ruling out any increase to National Insurance, income tax or VAT.

'Deeply concerning!' Ed Miliband speaks out after Heathrow fire revealed

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Following the North Hyde Substation fire which caused widespread disruption, the Government took rapid action to commission the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to investigate the incident.

“The report is deeply concerning, because known risks were not addressed by the National Grid Electricity Transmission, and Ofgem has now opened an official enforcement investigation to consider any possible licence breaches relating to the development and maintenance of its electricity system at North Hyde.

“There are wider lessons to be learned from this incident. My department, working across Government, will urgently consider the findings and recommendations set out by NESO and publish a response to the report in due course.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Labour's benefits bill to COST British taxpayers £100m after PIP U-turn

Sir Keir Starmer's decision to U-turn on major reform to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is set to cost the British economy £100million, wiping out any projected savings.

Earlier this evening, MPs voted 335 to 260 to pass the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which was drawn up to overhaul the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

However, this legislation was only voted through after Labour ministers agreed to scrap proposed tightening of the eligibility criteria for PIP.

Disability rights campaigners and backbench MPs urged the Government to reconsider after an impact assessment determined 150,000 people would be pulled into poverty if the changes were implemented.

With this reform now axed, analysts are sounding the alarm that the forecast savings estimated to come from the bill are now non-existent.

On X, Institute of Fiscal Studies' (IFS) associate director Tom Waters said: "What do the changes to the Universal Credit & PIP bill do?

"Tighten PIP eligibility - saves £2.6billion in 2029-30. Cut health element of Universal Credit - saves £1.7billion. Raise basic Universal Credit - costs £1.8billion.

"If the first goes, the bill costs £0.1billion [£100million] in 2029-30."

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RECAP: MPs vote for welfare bill after Keir Starmer's 11th hour concession