Rupert Lowe 'open' to joining the Tories in private members club meeting with Robert Jenrick

Gordon Brown says delaying child poverty plan until Autumn budget is 'right call'

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said Labour is "right" to delay its plans to reform child poverty policy until the Autumn budget.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are coming under some criticism from backbench Labour MPs, as well as Liberal Democrats and Greens, who think the delay signals a lack of urgency on a critical issue.

Brown, who was Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010, wrote in The Guardian: "I know from my 10 years as chancellor that a public spending statement, which is not like a budget, where tax and spending announcements are made together, will not be able to undo the scale of the damage done to 4.5 million children now in poverty.

"Only a budget, when, for example, a gambling or a banking levy can be announced, neither of which would break a single election promise, can generate the £3bn that can take nearly half a million children out of poverty to meet the election promise 'to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels'"

Reform UK defends advert criticising Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader brands Nigel Farage a 'pathetic little man'

Nigel Farage has been branded a "pathetic little man" by Anas Sarwar as the Reform leader defended a controversial party advert about the Scottish Labour leader.

In the video, Farage accused Sarwar of introducing "sectarianism" into Scottish politics, with the video claiming the Labour leader wanted to "prioritise the Pakistani community."

Sarwar responded saying: "This is a blatant attempt from Nigel Farage to try and get poison into our politics in Scotland. I have fought against sectarianism all my adult life.

"Scotland is a welcoming, diverse country, something he probably finds pretty scary himself." He later branded Farage a "pathetic little man."

Mel Stride likens Nigel Farage to former Labour leader in scathing attack over two-child benefit cap

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride has launched a scathing attack on Nigel Farage, likening the Reform UK leader to Jeremy Corbyn.

Stride was speaking as Farage announced Reform would scrap the two-child benefit limit and back more generous tax breaks for married people.

Speaking this morning, Farage said: "We believe lifting the two-child cap is the right thing to do.

"Not because we support a benefits culture, but because we believe for lower-paid workers this actually makes having children just a little bit easier for them. It’s not a silver bullet, it doesn’t solve all of those problems. But it helps them."

Responding to this, Stride told The Spectator: "Farage has announced billions in unfunded commitments with fantasy ways to pay for them. It’s Corbynism in a different colour."

Robert Jenrick says Tories are 'right' to call for the two child cap to remain in place

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has said the Conservatives are "right" to campaign to keep the two child benefit cap, saying it is a matter of "fairness."

The Newark MP said: "The two-child benefit cap doesn’t refer to child benefit. That benefit is available to all parents for all their children. It refers to those on universal credit.

"They received thousands of pounds on top of their child benefit for their first two children. The cap stops them receiving even more for their third, fourth and fifth child and so on.

"Why? Because allowing families to have children that they can’t afford while prudent savers who do the right thing are forced to wait wasn’t right.

"The two-child benefits cap is in place as a matter of fairness."

Liberal Democrats says Reform is 'coming after people's pensions' in scathing attack

The Liberal Democrats have accused Reform of targeting people's pensions in a blistering attack on Nigel Farage.

Responding to news that Reform refused to commit to the triple lock, the party's Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper MP said: "Not only does he want to privatise the NHS, now Nigel Farage wants to come after people's pensions too.

"Kemi Badenoch will certainly be happy that she and Farage have found some common ground when she asks him for a pact.

"Liberal Democrats are proud to have introduced the triple lock, standing by those who have given so much to our society. Nigel Farage would rather abandon them."

Energy research consultancy says Labour set to miss 2030 offshore wind targets in blow to Ed Miliband

A new report by an energy research consultancy has suggested Labour is set to miss the 2030 offshore wind targets.

Analysis by BloombergNEF found the Energy Secretary’s plans for British offshore windfarm capacity to hit 43 gigawatts (GW) by the end of the decade is looking out of reach.

The consultancy predicted Miliband will fall 10GW short of his target, reports The Telegraph.

A spokesman for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We categorically reject these claims.

"We have a strong pipeline of projects to deliver 43GW-50GW offshore wind by 2030 and our mission-led approach ensures we can steer our way through global pressures and individual commercial decisions to reach our targets.

"Through our mission we will deliver an energy system that brings energy bills down for good and bolsters Britain’s energy security as part of our plan for change."

Nigel Farage challenges Keir Starmer to head-to-head debate

Nigel Farage has challenged Sir Keir Starmer to a one-on-one debate in a working men's club in the Red Wall.

Confirming reports that he would lay out such a challenge to the Prime Minister, Farage said: "He has challenged me to a head-to-head debate some time between now and the next election. The last time this happened to me was with Nick Clegg.

"I'm very happy, Prime Minister, to accept this invitation - but I don't want to wait four more years.

"I've got an idea... Why don't the Prime Minister and I go to a working men's club in the Red Wall, and members can sit there and ask us questions.

"That's my open invitation... Let's go to one of the former mining communities, somewhere Labour has held since the 1980s.

"Whether the Prime Minister will enjoy a few beers with the lads and do the Channel 4 racing in the afternoon, I'm not sure - but I'm very happy to do so."

Mike Tapp blows a fuse after watching Nigel Farage unveil major Reform UK plan

Labour MP Mike Tapp has raged at Nigel Farage, branding him a “rich bloke masquerading as a working class hero”.

The Dover MP spoke on GB News after the Reform leader unveiled a tranche of policies like scrapping the two-child benefit cap and reversing the winter fuel payment cuts

During a press conference in central London the Reform UK leader said his measures were “aimed at British families”.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Yvette Cooper to visit Liverpool following attacks

Yvette Cooper will visit Liverpool on Tuesday evening after dozens of people were injured at the Premier League victory parade on Monday.

The Home Secretary is expected to visit the cordon of the incident and meet with emergency personnel.

Cooper wrote last night on social media: "Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response to the truly shocking and horrendous scenes in Liverpool this evening.

"Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I’m being kept updated on developments."

Reform UK's income tax plans would cost up to £80BILLION, top think tank claims

Reform UK's plans to raise the tax-free allowance on income to £20,000 would cost the Treasury up to £80billion, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said.

Stuart Adam, a senior economist at the IFS, told the BBC that Nigel Farage's plans to restore the winter fuel allowance to pensioners and scrap the two child beenfit cap were "all still dwarfed by some of the big policies that were in the manifesto last year".

He added: "Today, Nigel Farage recommitted to increasing the income tax allowance to £20,000, which depending on details might cost £50-80billion, relative to other policies where we might be talking £1-3billion each.

"So the big story is still those very big tax cuts and how they would ultimately be paid for.”

He added that Farage's announcements this morning were much smaller than last year's "very radical" manifesto published by Reform UK for the General Election.

"As it stands, I don't think they have really set out how they would pay for such big giveaways," Adam said.

"Of course, they don't have to do that yet - we're not yet at a General Election.

"But at some point, if they're going to be a party of government, they would have to make those numbers add up."

Liberal Democrats brand Nigel Farage 'ludicrous Donald Trump boot-licker' in furious attack

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has responded to Nigel Farage's wide-ranging press conference this morning.

"Nigel Farage praised the disastrous Truss mini-Budget, and now he wants to repeat it with huge unfunded spending pledges and only vague promises of fantasy savings. It's Trussonomics on steroids," Davey fumed.

"We all remember far too well what that means: crashing the economy and sending interest rates soaring. It's even more ludicrous coming from a man who is licking the boots of Donald Trump as his trade war does such terrible damage to our economy.

"Just like the Conservative Party, Reform aren't a serious opposition to this government. Only the Liberal Democrats are championing the positive change our country needs."

'At least she's real!' Nigel Farage dishes out rare praise to ANGELA RAYNER - before slapping down her 'radical' economic plans

Nigel Farage has lauded Angela Rayner as a "real" person compared to Sir Keir Starmer - before slapping down the "radical" plans contained in her "secret memos" to Rachel Reeves.

Probed on whether she'd fare better against Reform at a General Election than Starmer, he said: "At least she's real... None of the rest are. At least she hasn't lied on her CV... She is who she is.

"Her ideas on tax, on saving, are even more radical than those of Rachel Reeves. She - in terms of economics - has proved to be way, way out on the left."

But Farage said the left is "a very busy space". Rayner would be "fighting the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Gaza independents", he added.

"Maybe she'll become the leader," Farage jabbed. "Will I be worried? Not at all."

Nigel Farage refuses to commit to keeping state pension triple lock - 'We're building out our policies!'

Nigel Farage has failed to commit to keeping the state pension triple lock in place if Reform wins the next General Election.

Probed on whether he would put his weight behind the policy, he said: "The triple lock for pensioners is not something we have addressed as yet.

"We will between now and the next election. We are, as you can see, building out our policy platform."

Nigel Farage: 'British people are TERRIFIED by the cost of having children'

Nigel Farage has warned that British people are "terrified" of the cost of having children as he laid out his goal to "try and make the family a more important element in British life".

Asked why he believed it was right to lift the two-child benefit cap, he said: "We subsidise low earners in lots of different ways already."

But there are "lots and lots of people - British people - who would like to have children" but are "terrified" by the cost, he said - and scrapping the cap would alleviate that.

'Yes, they're expensive... But we can pay for it!' Nigel Farage says he'll fund Child Benefit and WFP by scrapping net zero, asylum hotels and DEI

Nigel Farage has laid out how his Government would fund lifting the two-child benefit cap and scrapping cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment.

"If we win the next election we will scrap net zero," Farage said. "There will be no more asylum hotels or houses of multiple occupancy.

"We will scrap the DEI agenda which is costing the taxpayer up to £7billion a year," he vowed.

"Yes, I do accept that these proposals [are] expensive, but I genuinely believe that we can pay for it," he added.

'It's the right thing to do!' Nigel Farage vows to axe two-child benefit cap and Winter Fuel Payment cuts

Reform UK will lift the two-child benefit cap and scrap Labour cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment, Nigel Farage has confirmed.

He said it would be the "right thing to do", adding: "For lower-paid workers, this actually makes having children just a little bit easier."

Farage also confirmed that Reform would introduce a transferable tax allowance between married couples - which would make marriage a "little bit more important".

It would be the "right thing to do", he added.

Nigel Farage dishes out attacks on Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Jonathan Reynolds

Nigel Farage has dealt out a triple-pronged series of attacks on the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Business Secretary as he laid into their "low-grade Government".

Rachel Reeves was "hopelessly out of her depth", Farage said - and swiped at Jonathan Reynolds's CV claims.

"This is a very low-grade Government," he added.

On Sir Keir Starmer, Farage said: "This man doesn’t believe in anything... Now we see that lack of any real political thought with the daily veering off left and right with speeches and statements that he makes."

Starmer is "terrified" of Reform and that was why he was seeking to "ape" the party's policy, he added.

Nigel Farage: 'Don't judge us just yet... But we're on our way'

Nigel Farage has told Britons not to "judge us just yet" as his party's 10 councils get to work on reducing public spending and pulling down non-national or non-county flags across England.

"We are on our way", the Reform UK leader said.

And rolling out his new slogan, Farage added that the local elections represented the "second step in what is going to be the biggest political revolution this country has seen since the Labour Party overtook the Liberals over 100 years ago".

“If you vote Reform, you get Reform," he jabbed.

Zia Yusuf: 'What a difference a year makes'

Reform chairman Zia Yusuf has hailed his party's progress over the last year following the General Election last July and the local elections at the start of this month.

A year ago, Yusuf said, Reform UK was polling at around 10 per cent, boasted 30,000 members and no MPs.

Now, it is consistently polling at above 30 per cent, has five MPs, 700 councillorsm, and more than 235,000 members.

"What a difference a year makes," Yusuf added. "Make no mistake: this is the greatest political acceleration in British history, and we are just getting started."

'Vote Reform, get Reform' - Nigel Farage's new party slogan attacks Tories

Reform's conference is being held in front of a new party slogan: "Vote Reform, get Reform".

In the run-up to the local elections, Nigel Farage's party had faced a barrage of attacks from the Conservatives which declared "vote Reform, get Labour," and vice versa from Labour about the Tories.

But now, Sarah Pochin has hailed the new message, adding: "The Tories are finished, and we are coming for Labour. They know it, and they are rattled."

Reform UK conference underway as Sarah Pochin hails historic by-election success

The Reform UK conference has started, with new Runcorn & Helsby MP Sarah Pochin hailing her by-election success in the early hours of May 2.

Nigel Farage is expected to speak soon - and you can watch the event in full on the live stream above.

Keir Starmer pays tribute to emergency services as PM speaks out on Liverpool 'horror'

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken out on yesterday's "horror" in Liverpool in a fresh address this morning.

The Prime Minister said: "Scenes of joy turned to utter horror and devastation, and my thoughts and the thoughts of the whole country are with all of those that are affected, those injured, which of course includes children, their families, their friends, the whole community, Liverpool fans everywhere.

"Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool.

"I'd like to thank the first responders who did a fantastic job last night and continue to do so.

"There's now an ongoing investigation. I'm being kept updated, talking frequently to the mayor Steve Rotheram. But as I say, my thoughts and the thoughts of the whole country will be with everybody in Liverpool today."

Food price inflation rockets up in blow to working Britons - as Rachel Reeves takes the blame

Food price inflation has risen to to 2.8 per cent in May from 2.6 per cent last month, new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ have revealed.

It comes after Labour's National Insurance contributions and National Living Wage hikes - and as a result, Rachel Reeves has taken the blame.

The BRC's CEO, Helen Dickinson, said: "With retailers now absorbing the additional £5billion in costs from April's increased employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) and National Living Wage, it is no surprise that inflation is rearing its head once again.

"Later this year, retailers face another £2billion in costs from the new packaging tax, and there are further employment costs on the horizon from the implementation of the Employment Rights Bill."

Nigel Farage confirms landmark campaign speech to take place in just MINUTES

Nigel Farage has confirmed that his landmark campaign speech against Sir Keir Starmer will kick off at 11am.

You'll be able to follow his address live - and we'll bring you all the top lines from his speech as soon as they come in on this live blog.

Tories skewer Angela Rayner for 'playing fast and loose with national security' as internal emails over Chinese 'spy hub' embassy come to light

Labour has been accused of "playing fast and loose" with Britain's security over plans to erect a hulking Chinese embassy in the heart of London.

Government cyber experts have privately warned about security risks posed by the proposed "super-embassy", according to recently-revealed emails.

Innovate UK, the Government's specialists on cyber-physical infrastructure, raised concerns about the embassy planned for the former Royal Mint site near the Tower of London.

The warnings were initially withheld by ministers - but were later published following heavy pressure from the Tories...

But what did the opposition say?

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

WATCH: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson speaks to GB News Breakfast

Bridget Phillipson sets stage for major Labour U-turn as she reveals scrapping two-child benefit cap 'not off the table'

Bridget Phillipson has revealed that scrapping the two-child benefit cap is "not off the table" in the beginnings of a major U-turn for the Government.

Asked whether she would "scrap" the cap, the Education Secretary told the BBC: "We're certainly looking at it as part of the task force. As I say, nothing's off the table but this is not straightforward, the costs are high.

"When we came into Government we had to make some difficult decisions about how we got the economy back on a stable footing, because actually it's working people who lose out when you have that kind of instability that we saw under Liz Truss, when mortgage rates went up, rent went up as a result of all of the instability and the chaos."

Labour's child poverty strategy, which was due to be published in the spring, is now set to come out in the autumn so it can be aligned with the Chancellor's Budget.

And both Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are under mounting pressure to axe the cap - at a cost of around £3.5billion to taxpayers.

WATCH IN FULL: Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride speaks to GB News Breakfast

'MASSIVE mistake!' Tories fume as Labour's apprenticeship plans slash funding for high-level training

Shadow Education Minister Neil O'Brien has laid into Labour after it emerged that the party would be slashing funding for high-level apprenticeships under Bridget Phllipson's new plans today.

From January 2026, funding will be shifted away from masters-level or "level 7" apprenticeships to focus on training at lower levels - although support will be maintained for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices.

And O'Brien has now blasted: "Massive mistake - this will damage public services, blow an 11,000-nurse hole in the NHS workforce plan and make it impossible to get in to the professions for kids who don't go to university."

Bridget Phillipson lays out plans to create thousands of new apprenticeships - paid for by hiking foreign worker fees

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is laying out plans to create tens of thousands of apprenticeships and training opportunities across the country - nearly half of which will be paid for by hiking charges on employing foreign workers.

Ministers have promised a total of 120,000 new training opportunities for construction workers, engineers, healthcare staff and other trades in England before the next general election.

And as many as 45,000 training places will be funded by hiking the charge paid by employers for bringing in foreign workers by a third.

Phillipson said: "A skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward, and today we're backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive.

"When we invest in skills for young people, we invest in a shared, stronger economic future - creating opportunities as part of our plan for change.

"But everyone has a role to play in a thriving economy, and we're taking our responsibility seriously providing more routes into employment, it's now the responsibility of young people to take them."

The Education Secretary will be speaking to GB News Breakfast shortly - and we'll bring you all the top lines from her morning round as and when we get them.

David Lammy ventures to Arctic in Nato bid to thwart Russian 'shadow fleet'

David Lammy will head deep into the Arctic this week in a bid to explore Nato's measures in place to counter Russia's "shadow fleet".

The Foreign Secretary will be looking at how Vladimir Putin's vessels pose threats to cables and infrastructure on the seabed - as well as a UK-Iceland scheme which will try to use AI to "detect hostile state activity" in the Arctic.

"This is a region where Russia’s shadow fleet operates, threatening critical infrastructure like undersea cables to the UK and Europe, and helping fund Russia's aggressive activity," Lammy said.

"It's more important than ever that we work with our allies in the High North, like Norway and Iceland, to enhance our ability to patrol and protect these waters.

"That's why we have today announced new UK funding to work more closely with Iceland, using AI to bolster our ability to monitor and detect hostile state activity in the Arctic."

Tories hint at plans to quit ECHR as NINE European leaders attack Strasbourg bureaucrats

The Tories have hinted at plans to quit the European Convention on Human Rights after nine leaders from across the continent penned a furious joint letter to Strasbourgh.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has warned that countries will be forced to quit the Convention unless there was "radical and fundamental change".

It follows a raft of court rulings in which violent or sexual offenders have been barred from being deported under ECHR grounds, sparking fury from the nine leaders, including Polish and Italian prime ministers Donald Tusk and Giorgia Meloni.

"Unless there is fundamental and radical change, then countries wanting to control their borders will have to leave the ECHR," Philp said.

"The ECHR was never intended to facilitate and enable mass illegal immigration, or prevent the removal of foreign murderers and rapists back to their country of origin."

He added: "The public expects democratically elected leaders to be able to control our borders and decide who stays in this country. But the way the courts apply the ECHR makes that impossible."

Kemi Badenoch joins Keir Starmer and party leaders with message to Liverpool car ramming victims

Kemi Badenoch has issued a message to the victims of yesterday's car ramming attack in Liverpool, joining Sir Keir Starmer and other party leaders from across British politics.

"It is sickening to hear how many children are among the injured," she said.

"It doesn't matter if this is or isn't classed as a terrorist incident, it's still a heinous crime.

"Those who target joyful celebrations and our happiest moments, who care not for the welfare of little children are beneath contempt.

"A stark contrast to the people of Liverpool who responded with extraordinary compassion, offering lifts, shelter, food, and more. Liverpool stood firm, displaying kindness and decency in the face of horror."

Yesterday, the Prime Minister had vowed: "Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror.

"The city has a long and proud history of coming together through difficult times. Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool."

Nigel Farage said: "Horrified to see the scenes in Liverpool. My thoughts are with all of those affected and injured by this disturbing attack."

READ IN FULL: Ellie Reeves's fiery attack on Nigel Farage

"Nigel Farage, a private-educated stockbroker and career politician, has only ever cared about his own self-interest and personal ambition, never about what is good for working people in this country," Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves said.

"Farage wants to abolish the NHS, praised Liz Truss's disastrous mini-budget, opposed Labour's landmark employment reforms and said Jaguar Land Rover, a huge employer, deserves to go bust.

"His Reform manifesto included billions of pounds worth of unfunded spending pledges but did not commit to the triple lock. Farage must urgently clarify whether he will cut the state pension to pay for his reckless tax cuts.

"Keir Starmer's Labour Government is delivering real improvement to working people’s lives through our 'plan for change' that has seen NHS waiting lists fall, wages rising faster than prices, and four interest rate cuts in a year, turbocharged by a trio of trade deals that are good for jobs, bills and borders."