Robert Jenrick has opened the door to a deal with Reform UK to shut asylum hotels.
The Shadow Lord Chancellor took to X where he wrote: "What a result for the people of Epping. What now? More peaceful protests. More injunctions. If any council wants legal help, get in touch.
"Starmer will only respond to pressure."
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In a video alongside the message, the Tory MP said that every patriotic council should follow Epping's lead, specifically mentioning Reform UK.
He added: "Let's create a new movement, Lawyers for borders"
"The last Conservative Government failed and I've been honest about that."
Mr Jenrick later added: "But now we have to work together, because our country's in a mess. We need to put as much pressure as possible on Keir Starmer to change the law."
He called for the deportation of every illegal migrant who's here and to close all the hotels.
The Labour Party has pledged to close all the hotels used to house asylum seekers and to end the use of hotels for this purpose by 2029.
Labour MSP arrested and suspended by party over indecent images
A Scottish Labour politician has been taken into custody and removed from his party position following allegations of possessing indecent images.
Colin Smyth, who represents South Scotland in the Scottish Parliament, has been suspended after party officials learned about an ongoing criminal investigation.
The 52-year-old politician was detained and formally accused of possessing unlawful images.
The Labour Party suspended the MP, immediately withdrawing parliamentary privileges from the MSP, while investigations continue.
WATCH: Ethnic minorities slam 'CRAZY' council for ripping down England flags: 'Britain gave me everything!'
Local residents from ethnic minority backgrounds told Chris Philp they are proud of the Union Jack and the Saint George’s Cross, saying councils are wrong to take them down.
One person said Britain had given him “so much opportunity” and questioned how anyone could not be proud of the national flag.
Another pointed out the “double standards” in Tower Hamlets, claiming the Council left Palestine flags up for weeks but removed Union flags within 24 hour
Many insisted the national flag should remain flying as a symbol of pride and unity.
Keir Starmer threatened with Labour council revolt over Epping migrant hotel ruling
Keir Starmer is under threat of a Labour council revolt after the Epping migrant hotel ruling this week.
On Tuesday, Epping council, which is run by the conservatives, won a temporary High Court injunction to remove migrants from the Bell Hotel, which has become a focus for anti-immigration protests in recent weeks.
Wirral and Tamworth, both run by Labour, have now said they are considering taking legal action.
Anti-asylum seeker protests were sparked in Wirral after plans emerged to use a hotel for male asylum seekers instead of families.
Labour MP blames Tories for spike in migrants in his constituency
Crawley MP Peter Lamb has told GB News that the 972 migrants spike in his constituency is the Tories' fault due to the Afghan data breach.
He said: "The growth migrants in local hotels since the General Election stems from the Ministry of Defence's decision to resume using the Aurora Hotel, in the wake of the Conservatives' data breach, for relocating Afghans who supported the British Armed Forces and Foreign Office in Afghanistan.
"While I believe in the principal behind the relocation scheme, I made it clear to the responsible minister that I opposed the renewed use of the hotel due to my experiences as a council leader, where the lack of move-on support by the Home Office for those granted Leave-to-Remain created a host of unnecessary problems for local authorities.
"Despite this, the decision went ahead without any attempt on their part to inform the local council or police.
"The High Court ruling must serve as a wake-up call for civil servants that cooperation with local authorities isn't optional and that if they want the support they require to meet their legal duties, they have to actively engage with councils to deal with the challenges they are creating."
Reform MP Sarah Pochin accuses the Government of using the North West as a migrant 'dumping ground'
Sarah Pochin accused the Government of using the North West as a migrant "dumping ground".
Mrs Pochin shared with GB News how her constituency of Runcorn and Helsby, and across the North West, is housing a disproportionate number of asylum seekers.
The Reform MP said that according to Home Office figures, 20,400 asylum seekers are currently housed in the North West of England.
MAPPED: Change in number of migrants supported in each local community
| GB NEWS
'Not a problem solved, a problem moved' Sarah Pochin reveals grim reality of migrant hotel closure
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin has warned that the recent court decision to close the migrant hotel in Epping is “not a problem solved.”
Speaking on the ruling affecting Essex’s Bell Hotel, she predicted Government appeals and pointed to a troubling pattern she noticed in her own constituency.
She warned that dispersing migrants into houses of multiple occupancy makes them harder for authorities to monitor while creating greater disruption for local communities.
Speaking to Martin Daubney on GB News, the Reform UK MP said: "I absolutely do expect that the Government will appeal. It's excellent news for today, but I also think it's a case of watch this space."
REVEALED: From highest per cent increase in asylum seekers to lowest since Sir Keir Starmer became PM to end-March 2025
| STAND FOR OUR SOVEREIGNITY
REVEALED: Local authorities with the highest per cent increase in migrant groups
| STAND FOR OUR SOVEREIGNITY
Britons ‘raising the flag’ are promoting national pride, say organisers as St George's flags removed from another council area
An organiser behind a recent trend of England and Union flags being raised across the country has told GB that it is being done to restore "civic pride" in Britain.
Flag-raising teams have been spotted in towns and cities across the country.
But not all areas have approved the surge in patriotic flags, with local authorities such as Tower Hamlets and Birmingham tearing down the flags.
Joseph Moulton, an organiser with Flag Force UK, told GB News that the group wanted to make a "positive impact" rather than just "complaining on social media".
Mr Moulton spoke exclusively to GB News as flags were brought down in York.
Reform UK faces eight pivotal tests in 24 hours as Nigel Farage gears up for battle following shock resignation
Reform UK and Labour are set to clash in eight key regions over the next few days, with the Tories looking to hold onto wards despite a plummeting popularity.
It comes after a Reform UK councillor resigned after just two months in Bentley.
Rival Labour candidate Matt Jones started an online petition, accusing Reform UK of wasting taxpayers' money - beginning a fierce row.
SNP branded 'shamless' in bid to drop oath of allegiance to King Charles
Swinney had promised a "modern, diverse, dynamic Scotland" in his leadership bid | PAA politician has been branded "shameless" for launching a bid to drop the oath of allegiance to King Charles in the Scottish Parliament.
Kevin Stewart, the Scottish National Party MSP for Aberdeen Central, launched a motion following Grenada's decision to drop the oath from their national Parliament.
Grenada is one of 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, where His Majesty King Charles III reigns as Head of State.
Commuters being 'taken for a ride' as train fares could surge by 5.8 per cent
Commuters are being 'taken for a ride' as the Liberal Democrats hit out at reports rail fares could surge by 5.8 per cent.
New figures released today show that regulated rail fares are set to rise 5.8 per cent in 2026-27 if they follow inflation.
Wimbledon MP and the party's transport spokesman Paul Kohler said: "This is nothing short of ludicrous. Commuters are simply being taken for a ride.
"We simply cannot allow the current rate of inflation to set rail fares while services get worse.
"To increase rail fares at all in the midst of a cost of living crisis would be nothing other than a slap in the face to ordinary people.
"The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to scrap the 2026-27 rail fare rise and get more people onto the trains. Raising fares is a false economy that will only drive down passengers and revenue in the long run."
READ IN FULL: Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp calls on Yvette Cooper to call an emergency Cabinet meeting
The letter from Mr Philp in full
|CHRIS PHILP
Former Labour councillor defects to Reform UK - 'I want more grown up authentic politics'
A former Scottish Labour councillor has defected to Reform UK in a blow to Anas Sarwar
Julie MacDougall, who represents Burntisland, Kinghorn, and Western Kirkcaldy on Fife Council, has joined Nigel Farage's party.
She told The Courier: "After thoughtful consultation I am delighted to join Reform UK to become part of a team who want to deliver real change for our communities.
"I want more grown up, authentic politics and an opportunity to work together to offer better. I look forward to this exciting new chapter and I remain fully committed to serving the people of Fife."
WATCH: Labour issued stark warning after Epping's 'significant' migrant hotel victory as Mark White provides analysis
Epping's "significant" High Court victory over the migrant-housing Bell Hotel will "open the floodgates" for other local councils, GB News's Home and Security Editor Mark White has claimed.
Speaking to GB News, Mark warned the Labour Government that the win could trigger a "raft of new appeals" regarding other migrant hotels across the country.
Discussing Epping's court victory on GB News, council leader Chris Whitbread urged other local authorities to "look at their own planning rules" and take action.
Council tax bills could rise by £380 for rural Britons under 'spiteful' Angela Rayner proposal
Households in England's rural communities will see their council tax bills increase by between £376 and £380 over the next four years as a result of funding changes proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
The County Councils Network has calculated that families living in band D properties in countryside areas will pay £2,756 annually by 2029, compared to £2,380 currently.
These reforms aim to redirect resources from rural areas to more deprived urban neighbourhoods through a new local Government finance formula.
WATCH: Former Tory Minister says the Government needs a 'wake up call' following Epping hotel verdict
Nearly half of Labour supporters back a left wing-alliance between Your Party and Greens
Jeremy Corbyn officially launched Your Party last month
| PANew polling has suggested nearly half of Labour voters would abandon Sir Keir Starmer's party for an alliance between Jeremy Corbyn's new hard-left party and the Greens.
According to Ipsos, around a third of Labour 2024 voters would now vote for Your Party, which is co-led by Mr Corbyn and Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana.
Around 20 per cent of voters consider themselves very or fairly likely to back Your Party, a figure which rises to 33 per cent among voters aged 16-34.
Director of politics at Ipsos Keiran Pedley told The New Statesman: "These figures show that a new left-wing party led by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana has the potential to shake up British politics.
"A significant number of younger people are at least prepared to consider voting for it and a majority of those aged under 35 say they would consider voting for some kind of alliance between the new party and the Greens.
"Clear policies around change, the NHS, poverty and wealth taxes could be popular."
Robert Jenrick's response to Reform UK attack in full as he takes aim at Zia Yusuf
The Shadow Justice Secretary said: "I see Reform's former Chairman, Zia Yusuf, has unfortunately pushed another two lies about me. One of which he's already had to delete.
"The first is a video from November 1, 2022. The interview that Zia selectively clipped was about the Manston holding centre, where illegal migrants are processed when they first arrive.
"I was eight days into the job of Migration Minister. Manston's capacity was 1,600, but it then had 4,000 people there. There had just been a fire bombing of the processing centre which had thrown the system into chaos. Order was collapsing. I was reassuring people this wasn't going to happen.
"That the state had somewhere, regrettably hotels, for these migrants to go temporarily. The idea I was 'bragging' about opening hotels, or that I thought they were a good thing, is clearly absurd. A complete lie.
"On the October 27, 2022, two days into the job, I said in Parliament: "It is disgraceful that this country is spending hundreds of millions of pounds on accommodating people in hotels."
"On November 7, 2022, I said: 'It is essential that we exit the hotels altogether.' The whole Manston episode sickened me.
"The second lie, now deleted, was doctored footage. Zia said it showed me 'proudly' announcing more migrant hotels. It doesn't. In the full clip, I'm clearly talking about putting illegal migrants on disused military sites.
"A policy Nigel Farage backed a few weeks ago. What's the truth? Before I was Immigration Minister, I was against mass and illegal migration, but I’ll freely admit I didn’t realise just how broken our border and migration system was.
"From the moment I became Immigration Minister, the gravity of this crisis hit me. Terrorists coming here on small boats. Billions being wasted. Horrific illegal migrant crime. Hotels blighting towns. Unlike others, I visited the communities affected and saw the harm up close.
"I could see the breakdown of the British state was doing immense damage. It angered me and it motivated me to do absolutely everything to fix the problem.
"Suella Braverman and I spent that year fighting tooth and nail for the changes we needed on both legal and illegal migration. We set in train the closing of 100 hotels, made possible by the fact small boats fell by over a third, the only time they’ve fallen, before or since.
"But we knew that wasn't even close to enough. We needed a fundamental change in policy and law. When it became clear such changes weren't going to happen, I resigned and campaigned for them from the backbenches. I tabled the amendments to the Rwanda Bill to make it effective, which the Government rejected.
"Ultimately, I rebelled and voted against a Bill that I knew wouldn't work. Only 10 other MPs out of 650 joined me. And from that day until today, I have kept fighting for what's needed.
"The immediate detention and deportation of all those coming illegally. The removal of all those here illegally. And of all foreign criminals. A proper halt to mass migration through a legally binding cap. Including no visa renewal for those here but not contributing.
"The truth is: the country's in a mess. It's far from the border that's broken. We need real change across the board, and we need it now. False and petty attacks do not meet the moment."
WATCH: Shadow Secretary to the Treasury James Wild MP reacts to news that inflation in the UK has hit 3.8 per cent
Interactive map reveals how many migrants have entered on Keir Starmer's watch - find out the number in YOUR area
Two interactive maps reveal the scale of migration into Britain with more than 90 per cent of councils “gaining asylum seekers” since Sir Keir Starmer swept to power last year.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has dubbed the bombshell findings a “national scandal”, declaring Labour had "opened our borders and accelerated the invasion of our country".
Iraq illegal migrant return deal agreed as Labour hails 'stronger relationships'
In the backdrop of last night's bombshell Epping ruling, the Government has agreed a new deal with Iraq to return illegal migrants as part of wider moves to limit small boat crossings.
The deal, signed by Home Office minister Dan Jarvis, will set up a formal process to return Iraqis who have arrived in the UK with no right to stay in the country.
Mr Jarvis signed the agreement during a visit to the UK by Iraq’s deputy foreign minister Faud Hussein.
The Home Office said the accord would allow the "swift" return of illegal migrants.
Jarvis, the MP for Barnsley North, said: "By working together on security, development and migration challenges, we are building stronger relationships that benefit both our countries whilst tackling shared challenges like organised crime and irregular migration."
WATCH: Labour minister Torsten Bell reacts to Epping ruling
More councils considering action over migrant hotels - is yours one of them?
Councils across the UK are gearing up to take legal action to remove asylum seekers from hotels in their areas.
All 10 councils controlled by Reform UK will "do everything in their power to follow Epping's lead", according to party leader Nigel Farage. Tory led Broxbourne Borough Council also said it is considering taking similar action.
It comes after the Conservative MP for the Hertfordshire town, Lewis Cocking, admitted that failures from previous Tory Governments led to a huge asylum hotel blunder.
Responding to a CCHQ advert which listed the perks given to asylum seekers, Mr Cocking said: "This makes us look silly as we gave them all this too, which is why we are in the mess we are in today.
"Completely unacceptable, they should be put in detention centres and deported."
The ten Reform UK councils are:
- Derbyshire County Council
- Doncaster Council
- Durham Council
- Kent Council
- Lancashire Council
- Lincolnshire Council
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Nottinghamshire Council
- Staffordshire Council
- West Northamptonshire Council
Richard Tice says migrant protests were result of 'people’s genuine frustration'
Richard Tice said people in his Skegness constituency were 'grateful' for intervention
| PAReform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has said migrant protests were a "reflection of people’s genuine frustration."
Tice, who is the MP for Boston and Skegness, said: "On multiple occasions, I’ve asked the Home Secretary in the House of Commons when will this smash the gangs strategy work, when will the boats stop coming and we never get the answer.
"The protests we’re seeing currently are a reflection of people’s genuine frustration.
"The reality is that in Skegness there’s been one hotel and its use has been much less than it once was and I think people are grateful for that.
"There are many other areas that have got a much worse problem than we have. I’ve also highlighted with the police and local council my concerns about the illegality of immigration coming from Bulgaria and Romania into Boston."
What is the 'deportation petition' demanding?
A petition signed by more than 145,000 Britons is demanding the closure of migrant hotels and the deportation of those who had been housed there.
The petition's description states: "The Labour Party pledged to end asylum hotels if it won power. Labour is now in power.
"It has transpired that the migrant hotels may stay open for at least the next four years.
"We want to see the migrant hotels shut down now and all illegal migrants housed in them deported immediately."
More than 32,000 illegal migrants have been placed in 210 migrant hotels, the latest Home Office data has shown.
However, the figure is down compared to a peak under the previous Tory Government.
Responding to the petition, the Government said: "We are working as fast as possible to close asylum hotels and increase the removal of people with no right to be in the UK, but we inherited an asylum system in chaos, and we cannot fix it overnight."