Labour has confirmed a rapid timetable for its deputy leadership contest, with nominations for the role to close on Thursday.
Candidates for the next deputy leader must obtain the backing of 80 MPs by 5pm on September 11.
The winner will be announced on Saturday, October 25.
Candidates must also be nominated by at least five per cent of constituency Labour parties or at least three affiliated organisations.
Labour MP for Leeds East Richard Burgon has criticised the process, calling it "the mother of all stitch-ups".
He said: "I've been warning about attempts to fix the Deputy Leadership election - and what I've heard is now being proposed is the mother of all stitch-ups. Just a couple of days to secure MPs' nominations!
"This is a desperate move to keep Labour members' voices out of this race and to dodge serious discussion on what's gone wrong over the last year - from the positions on disability benefits cuts, on winter fuel payments, on Gaza and more.
"This outrageous timetable shows a leadership that's unwilling to listen and to learn the lessons needed if we're to rebuild support and stop Nigel Farage."
A heated exchange took place on GB News when presenter Martin Daubney challenged the idea that the next deputy leader of the Labour Party should be female, dismissing this notion as "identity politics".
"Why not just hire the best person? Is the Labour Party going to be so obsessed with identity politics again that they choose a token gesture instead of the right candidate?" Martin questioned Labour Councillor Sebastian Salek during the broadcast.
The GB News host further intensified his critique by claiming that Sir Keir Starmer "doesn't even know what a woman is," describing him as "a man who thinks a woman should have a penis," in reference to previous comments made by the Prime Minister, particularly a moment when he struggled to define what a woman is.
Martin emphasised that competence should take precedence over gender considerations, stating: "Give us the best people to run the country. We don't care what's in their trousers; we care what's between their ears."
Keir Starmer is said to have told Labour MPs in a private meeting that the government will “fight with everything we’ve got” to take on Nigel Farage, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch, according to The Guardian.
The meeting is still ongoing, with a more detailed update expected later.
Mr Starmer also commended Angela Rayner for her work on the employment rights bill.
Sir Keir Starmer has arrived at a meeting with Labour MPs.
The Prime Minister will address the Parliamentary Labour Party for the first time since he reshuffled his Cabinet.
READ THE FULL STORY BEHIND SIR KEIR'S MEETING THIS EVENING HERE
Labour MP Stella Creasy warned that the "seriousness of the term terrorism risks losing its meaning" after 890 people were arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action.
Ms Creasy said: "The case for acting on the group itself was and is strong. We've seen a pattern of violence at their events, and they have not disassociated themselves from that violence.
"This is just not sustainable for our police and our criminal justice system. There is a difference between people protesting using violence and people protesting the use of proscription.
"If we don't get the response right, if we continue to arrest those in the second category, the seriousness of the term terrorism risks losing its meaning, becoming diluted rather than strengthened. Proscription was supposed to be about stopping those inciting direct harm and violence.
"Going after somebody with a poster, testing the boundaries of liberty, many of whom are clear they don't support Palestine Action, but feel strongly about Palestinian rights and free speech, confuses rather than clarifies the Government's intentions."
Downing Street has called for the RMT union and Transport for London to get back to the negotiation table
PA
Downing Street has called on the RMT union and Transport for London to return to the negotiating table to end the Tube strike.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "I think Londoners will rightly be fed up with the disruption from Tube strikes this morning - as parents try and drop their kids off at school, get to hospital appointments, get to work - and RMT and TfL need to get back around the table, work together to resolve this dispute in the interests of passengers.
"We've always said in introducing our reforms that we want to, unlike the previous Government, have a more constructive relationship with the unions and also a more secure workforce is good for the economy, it's good for productivity.
"But we want to see RMT and TfL get back around the table when it comes to these strikes, work together in good faith to resolve this situation in the interests of passengers."
A Tory source said: "Perhaps the Trades Union Congress should worry more about their members and the fact that under this brilliant union-backed Labour Government, the British people have fewer job opportunities than childish insults."
Sir Keir Starmer will meet Mahmoud Abbas as the Government continues its steps towards recognising a Palestinian state.
The meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority comes in the midst of Monday's terror attack in Jerusalem, when Palestinian attackers killed six people and wounded 12, according to Israeli officials.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was "horrified by the terrorist attack in Jerusalem".
In a statement after the attack, Mr Abbas' office said they "condemn any targeting of Palestinian and Israeli civilians".
He arrived in London on Sunday night for a three-day visit and plans to use his talks with Mr Starmer to push for an end to "the aggression, destruction and starvation being inflicted upon the Palestinian people".
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she would not be running for the role
PACulture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said she will not be running as Labour Deputy Leader.
The MP for Wigan told The Guardian that she was fully focused on her role as Culture Secretary.
Nigel Farage is convinced that Reform UK's plan to tackle the small boats crisis can stop Channel crossings within two weeks of receiving Royal Assent.
The Reform UK leader clarified his commitment after initially misspeaking during his keynote speech at the NEC last Friday.
In a sit-down interview with GB News, the Clacton MP confirmed that Reform UK is sticking to a two-week timeframe, but insisted its starting point is once the legislation receives Royal Assent.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said there must be 'no watering down' of Angela Rayner's landmark Workers' Rights bill as he appeared to open the door to working with dissatisfied unions.
He said: "The Green Party stands in solidarity with the TUC in saying there must be no watering down of Workers’ Rights, which are at the heart of economic, social and racial justice.
"Keir Starmer’s Labour have cut benefits, failed to invest properly in public services and refused to back a wealth tax.
"There will be no backsliding on your rights at work, on investing in public services and on fairer taxes from the Green Party.
"Workers can be sure to feel at home with us."
Reform UK MP for Runcorn and Helsby Sarah Pochin said Lucy Connolly is "not a hero" but instead a "victim."
Mrs Connolly was released from jail last month after being handed what is believed to be the longest prison sentence for a single social media post.
The childminder was imprisoned after pleading guilty to publishing written material that incited racial hatred.
Pochin, who won the Cheshire by-election by just six votes, told Talk: "I don’t think she’s a hero. I think what’s happened is it’s an example of two-tier justice.
"It’s an example, in my view, of where the judiciary has been overtaken by the political establishment and I feel very strongly that politics and the judiciary should be kept separate."
Angela Rayner left the Government last week
PAAngela Rayner's family home was overvalued by more than £150,000 after what has been described as an "error" by lawyers.
The Ashton-under-Lyne property was increased from £487,500 to £650,000 in April last year, documents seen by the Telegraph indicated.
Ms Rayner sold her stake in the property to a trust, which was set up for her disabled son for £162,500, months later.
The timetable for Labour's deputy leadership contest to replace Angela Rayner has been confirmed.
There will be a Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) hustings for candidates on Wednesday with nominations closing at 5pm on Thursday.
Prospective candidates will need to get 80 MP nominations to get to next round.
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, has unleashed a scathing rant at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for "selling out" working people.
Speaking at the annual conference, he said: "There is a world of difference between what Nigel says, and what Nigel does.
"There is a world of difference between what Nigel says, and what Nigel does."
The Prime Minister is not expected to publicly announce his choice to be his Labour Party Deputy.
Labour sources suggested Sir Keir Starmer has not endorsed candidates and that is not expected to change in this contest.
The UK could suspend visas from countries that do not "play ball" and agree to returns deals for migrants, Shabana Mahmood has said.
The new Home Secretary made the comment as she met counterparts from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance for talks on international efforts to tackle smuggling gangs.
Shabana Mahmood announced she is not standing
PAHome Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced she will not be running for deputy leader of the Labour Party.
Ms Mahmood told Sky News: "I'm the Home Secretary.
"That that is my job, and my top priority is securing our borders. I will not be running for deputy leader of the Labour Party."
According to the party rules, each nominee must be a sitting Labour MP, and must be supported by 20 per cent of their fellow members.
This currently equates to 80 Labour MPs.
General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress Paul Nowak has accused Nigel Farage of "selling out" working people.
He told the annual conference: "There is a world of difference between what Nigel says, and what Nigel does.here is a world of difference between what Nigel says, and what Nigel does.
"Every single Reform MP, including Farage, voted against outlawing fire and rehire. Against banning zero hours contracts. And against day one rights for millions of workers.
"So here’s my challenge to Nigel Farage. Say you stand up for working people? Then ignore your wealthy backers and vote for the Employment Rights Bill.
"Say you stand up for British industry? Then stop supporting Donald Trump and his destructive tariffs."
"Nigel Farage, it's time to come clean about whose side you are really on. Because here's the truth: you’re not representing working people, you are selling them out."
Eamonn Holmes pressed Trades Union Congress chief Paul Nowak in a heated GB News interview today.
The GB News host did not hold back as he directly questioned the union leader: "Who would you like to see replacing Angela Rayner?"
Mr Nowak immediately pushed back against the inquiry, declaring: "Eamonn. You can't ask me a question like that."
Unions are urging the Government not to water down its flagship Bill on workers’ rights following ministerial changes in recent days, saying people expected Labour to deliver on the promises it made during the general election.
The Employment Rights Bill, which is in its final parliamentary stages, was championed by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and former employment rights minister Justin Madders.
Both have left the posts they were in as the legislation was taken through the Commons, which has raised concerns among some union leaders, with Unite Union threatening to disaffiliate with Sir Keir Starmer's party.
General Secretary Sharon Graham said: "Labour’s promise to ban fire and rehire is now a burnt-out shell.
"By amending the Employment Relations Bill to allow councils to use fire and rehire, has them given them the green light to push down workers’ pay to cut debt. Yet again workers pay the price.
"This along with the Government’s reshuffle, taking out all ministers who have worked with unions on the Bill, signals a move in the wrong direction.
"Workers will feel duped when they realise the Bill is a paper tiger.”
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned to brace for a showdown with Labour’s hard-left today as MPs plot to enter the race to replace Angela Rayner as the party’s deputy leader.
The Prime Minister, who has already appointed David Lammy and Steve Reed to fill Ms Rayner’s shoes as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, is now expected to face a challenge from the Labour left in what could be a major challenge to his premiership.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage issued Sir Keir a stark warning about the challenge on Friday, saying: "Splits in Labour are coming."
Ex-Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry is widely expected to throw her hat into the ring, having been sacked by Sir Keir immediately after the 2024 General Election.
Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has warned that her party's mission is "under threat" as she said Labour must "first rewrite the rules if we are to renew the country."
Ms Haigh, who was tipped as a potential new deputy party leader by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, wrote in the New Statesman: "We should be shouting from the rooftops about what we have achieved in just 14 months.
"Rising wages and major workplace reforms; Great British Energy; lower NHS waiting lists; record investment in infrastructure and national defence; breakfast clubs in every school.
"If we can do this much under today’s constraints, imagine what we could do with the real freedom to deliver.
"But one year on, our mission of renewal is under threat. Economic circumstances and excessive deference to independent institutions are frustrating the democratic demand for change."
Defence minister Luke Pollard has dismissed the claims by Sharon Graham
GB NEWS
Labour has said union chiefs have "nothing to worry about" over their landmark workers' rights bill.
It comes after Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham has warned her union may disaffiliate from Keir Starmer's party if it "doesn't start backing workers."
Speaking to GB News this morning, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said: "I don't think [Ms Graham] has anything to worry about
"I'm proud to be a Unite member and a trade union member. Our bill will upgrade rights and support sick pay and deal with the insecurity of sick pay.
"We want to show you can be pro-worker and pro-business at the same time. That's what this Government is.
"We're solid and committed to delivering the biggest upgrade to worker's rights in a generation."
Good Morning Britain viewers have demanded presenter Ed Balls be axed from the ITV programme following a 'weak' and 'biased' interview on Monday's show.
Mr Balls and co-host Susanna Reid spoke to Deputy Reform leader Richard Tice over claims made by a doctor at a party conference linking the Covid vaccine to King Charles' cancer.
While many disagreed with the claim, several were also quick to slam Mr Balls' heated approach to the interview.
Labour MP Jonathan Hinder says his party has "drifted" in recent years, and it must ensure it represents working class people.
In an exclusive interview with GB News, Mr Hinder, the MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, also admitted action on immigration was needed "very, very quickly".
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said Nigel Farage would 'dismantle political and democratic institutions" as he took aim at the Reform UK leader.
Mr Polanski said Reform were "on the far right, or at least far right-adjacent in terms of the causes and issues they’re willing to align with."
On a visit to the Reform leader's Clacton constituency, he told The Guardian: "Nigel Farage had that despicable press conference about immigration last week.
"Keir Starmer should have been front and centre condemning it as a Prime Minister of this country, but actually he was implicitly condoning it."
He continued: "As soon as people have had the first taste of things changing, they start to realise that politics and democracy can work.
"That’s probably one of the strongest differences between me and Farage. He’s highly critical of political and democratic institutions, and I think he would want to dismantle them entirely.
"I’m critical of them, but only because of the people running them and the vested interests."
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak appeared live on GB News this morning from the annual conference in Brighton
GB NEWS
The Trade Union Congress chair has demanded Keir Starmer to "show whose side they are on" as the union holds its annual conference.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak told GB News: "Even the PM said himself he understood people were frustrated and angry.
"That Manifesto last year had one word on the front, "Change" but I think for a lot of working class communities, it still feels like just a slogan.
"We're here asking the Government to show whose side they are on and deliver change they voted for."
James Cleverly has slammed today's Tube strikes in London as a sign of Sir Keir Starmer's "weakness".
The former Home Secretary said: "Labour are being pushed around by the unions.
"Starmer’s weakness nationally and Khan’s weakness in London are why these tube strikes are happening.
"They caved in to other union pay demands and in doing so encouraged these. These strikes will cost the UK economy £230million."
In his closing speech, Nigel Farage told Reform UK delegates: "Can we please exercise discipline and air our disagreements between each other and in private.
"And if we do that, we will succeed."
So as the dust settles from Reform UK's national conference, Assistant News Editor Jack Walters has taken a look at how how Mr Farage might be building his top team ahead of the next General Election.
Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South urged Your Party supporters for 'patience'
PA
Your Party co-leader Zarah Sultana has urged supporters to be "patient" as she said Labour is "dead."
The MP for Coventry South who quit Sir Keir Starmer's party after losing the whip for backing a move to scrap the two-child benefit cap, told a meeting of supporters she had no interest in building a "Labour party 2.0."
Ms Sultana, who co-founded the party with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Said: "I am just as desperate to get this going but it will take time to make sure democracy is at the heart of it."
When asked about a potential deal with the Green Party under leader Zack Polanski, she said: "Where we have interests that align, we will work with the Greens, but it has to be done in a democratic way and I’m sure that’s what Green members will want of their leadership as well."
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith has warned of Angela Rayner's "hard left bill" that gives "massive power to unions."
Speaking to GB News about Labour's employment bill, the MP for Arundel and South Downs told GB News: "We're asking the Government to follow through to what they say is all about growth and they're quite right to be concerned about growth.
"But you can't have a credible reset if you're still pursuing the same course it is simply not credible...this is a hard left bill that hands massive power to the trade union."
General Secretary of the TUC Paul Nowak has issued a warning to Keir Starmer
PALabour's union backers have called on Keir Starmer not to water down Angela Rayner's landmark workers' rights bill as the Trade Union Congress conference (TUC) continues today.
General Secretary of the TUC Paul Nowak said: "At every stage, we’ll be in the room making sure that the bill does what it intended to do: to give workers more rights.
"We’ll fight for that every single inch of the way."
On the other hand, trade body UKHospitality will write to all new ministers this week to demand changes, including to rules that will protect workers from "unfair" dismissal from day one, and the automatic right to demand regular hours.
UKHospitality chairman Kate Nicholls said: "Now is the time to press pause and review these measures, and to take pragmatic steps so the bill is proportionate and balanced and does not cause costs to business and jobs."
New Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle will visit Washington this week, before flying directly to China, in a major double-header first engagement in his role.
Mr Kyle will White House tech adviser Michael Kratsios and AI adviser Sriram Krishnan in his first major trip after Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Kyle will be in Washington for a day of meetings before flying directly to China.
He said: “My first visit to Washington as Business Secretary is key to strengthening our special relationship as we face global challenges together and building momentum on our tech partnership and trade deal ahead of the historic state visit.”
Newly-appointed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said the first migrant returns will begin "imminently" under a deal with France.
The announcement comes Home Office figures showed small boat crossings in the Channel have passed 30,000 this year.
Some 1,097 migrants crossed the Channel in 17 boats on Saturday, bringing the total in 2025 so far to 30,100, Home Office figures show.
And in a fiery opening attack on the crisis in her new role, Ms Mahmood said: "These small boats crossings are utterly unacceptable and the vile people smugglers behind them are wreaking havoc on our borders.
"Thanks to our deal with France, people crossing in small boats can now be detained and removed to France and I expect the first returns to take place imminently.
"Protecting the UK border is my priority as Home Secretary and I will explore all options to restore order to our immigration system."
