Reform UK has pledged to prosecute lawyers who help illegal migrants make false claims about being homosexual.
Nigel Farage's party plans to make facilitating false asylum claims a "strict liability" criminal offence, meaning prosecutors would not have to show intent, with a potential two-year prison sentence.
The policy would bring the practice in line with the current legislation in place for lawyers and legal firms that fail to prevent bribery and tax evasion.
“If you were a corrupt accountant and you got your client to avoid paying tax that they legally should be paying, well, it’s very simple, that accountant can be open to criminal charge," Mr Farage told The Telegraph.
"The same should happen to this industry that has now sprung up amongst our legal profession, the illegal immigration industry.
"If you’re a lawyer giving illegal information like this to somebody, not only could that person pose a threat to women and girls or even national security, but you, as a lawyer, should yourself be subject to prosecution."
It comes after a BBC investigation exposed law firms and advisers charging thousands of pounds to help asylum seekers pretend to be gay so they could make a successful claim to stay in the UK.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has promised lawyers would "face the full force of the law" for assisting with false claims.
She said: "Anyone abusing protections for people fleeing persecution over gender or sexual orientation is beyond contempt."
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Iconic hotel closes doors to asylum seekers as Labour MP hails end of Blackpool's 'migration scandal'
An iconic Blackpool hotel has closed its doors to asylum seekers as part of Labour's push to house small boat migrants at alternative accommodation sites, GB News can exclusively reveal.
The Metropole Hotel, a Lancashire landmark that first opened in 1785, was repurposed to house hundreds of asylum seekers in 2021.
Local MP Chris Webb today confirmed the hotel will start welcoming tourists again, with a July deadline set for asylum seekers to leave.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Webb said that those currently housed at the Metropole Hotel will have a managed transition into more "appropriate asylum accommodation."
Transport Secretary’s car damaged by 'moon crater' pothole in latest blow to Britain’s crumbling roads
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was left stranded after her car was wrecked by what she described as a "moon crater" pothole in Oxfordshire.
The Cabinet minister’s green Mini Cooper was left undriveable after hitting the crater on the B4437 near Burford late at night, as she returned from a Labour fundraising event last month.
Images showed the damaged vehicle being loaded onto an AA recovery truck following the incident.
Ms Alexander later joked the pothole was comparable to one spotted in space, telling The Sun: "I thought that the astronauts on Artemis II might have seen a similar-size crater when they were slingshotting around the Moon last week."
Rachel Reeves announces plans to cut electricity bills for manufacturing firms
Rachel Reeves is heading to Washington for IMF talks
|REUTERS
Rachel Reeves has expanded plans to cut electricity bills for thousands of UK manufacturing firms as she continues talks in Washington focused on the economic fallout from the Iran conflict.
The Chancellor, who is in Washington for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings, said the plan will help UK businesses compete and create jobs despite the uncertain economic backdrop.
During her trip, she has stepped up criticism of US-Israeli military action in Iran, saying war was a "mistake" and has not made the world a safer place.
Her comments came as she was due to meet US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who has referred to the impact of the war as "short-term volatility for long-term gain" which he said would prevent Tehran developing a nuclear weapon.
Ms Reeves also cautioned against knee-jerk responses to the cost-of-living crisis triggered by the war in a joint statement with international counterparts at the IMF.
In a bid to help businesses hit by rising costs, a plan announced last summer to cut electricity bills by up to 25 per cent for more than 7,000 UK businesses will be expanded to cover 10,000 firms.
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will cut costs by up to £40 per megawatt-hour from 2027 by exempting businesses from certain extra charges that currently support green energy and back-up power supply systems.
An additional one-off payment in 2027 will be given to an extra 3,000 businesses, including companies in the automotive, aerospace, steel and pharmaceuticals sectors.
The Government said it will also cover the support firms would have received if the BICS had been in place from this month. The scheme is expected to be worth up to £600million per year from next April.
SNP on course for majority in Scotland amid mounting calls for second independence referendum
The Scottish National Party is on course to sweep Scotland according to a new poll, as calls for a second independence referendum grow.
John Swinney’s party is projected to win 67 seats in the Scottish Parliament, a survey by The Telegraph has found.
The result is one the First Minister said would give him a mandate to negotiate with Westminster on a second vote.
The poll also points to a two-way battle for second place between Labour and Reform UK, with the Conservatives trailing in fourth.
Business Secretary says supplies of carbon dioxide are 'not a concern' for the UK
Peter Kyle on GB News this morning
|GB NEWS
Business Secretary Peter Kyle says Labour has "un-mothballed" a company to assist with the British production of CO2, as he said supplies are "not a concern" for the UK.
Mr Kyle told GB News: "What you saw released, there was a leak of contingency plans that we have been making since the very beginning of this conflict.
"Now, if we go back to six months ago, when I was appointed to this job with business and trade, I decided to mothball a company in the north east of England that nobody had ever heard of because it produced as its byproduct, CO2.
"Then in the first few days after the conflict began in the Middle East, back in the beginning of March, I un-mothballed it and it resumed production.
"I can reassure people that as of this week, that facility is up to full production. We are producing CO2 to the degree where we can supply more than 50 per cent of Britain's need."
Reform says at least £135millon has been spent on asylum legal aid
Reform UK has claimed at least £135million of taxpayer money has been spent on asylum legal aid between 2018 and 2023.
It follows the BBC investigation that focused on migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh whose student, work or tourist visas had expired and then sought to claim asylum.
When asked about the report on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "Any attempt to misuse protections designed for people fleeing genuine persecution because of their sexuality is deplorable.
"Those trying to defraud the British people to enter or remain in the UK will have their asylum claim cancelled, support cut off and find themselves on a one-way flight out of Britain.
"Where unethical and illegal practices are identified and evidence exists, the team will refer legal practitioners to the relevant regulatory body or to the police.
"The asylum system is built on robust safeguards so every claim is rigorous and fairly assessed, abuse is actively uncovered and these procedures are continually reviewed to shut down misuse."
Senior Cabinet minister says Labour's economic plan is 'the right one'
Chief Secretary to the Treasury has said Labour's plan is the "right one" as he reacted to the latest Office for National Statistics figures suggesting the economy has grown by 0.5 per cent.
James Murray said: “Growth only happens when the economy is on solid ground. That’s why in a changing world our plan to restore stability, boost investment and deliver reform is the right one to build a more stronger more resilient Britain.
"At the IMF meetings in Washington, the Chancellor has set out how we will go further and faster to boost Britain’s competitiveness and build a stronger, more resilient economy, keeping costs down for families and businesses and taking back control of our energy costs as today we cut bills by up to 25 per cent for 10,000 British businesses."
Here's what's happening in Westminster today
Good morning and welcome to the Politics Live blog. Here's what's happening today in Westminister and beyond...
Rachel Reeves is in Washington today for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings, as the Chancellor has stepped up criticism of US-Israeli military action in Iran, saying war was a "mistake" and has not made the world a safer place.
We've just been joined by Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who explained the "leak of contingency plans", as he addressed reports that CO2 supplies could fall to just 18 per cent of current levels, triggering major disruption across the food industry.
Also, the latest Office for National Statistics figures have just dropped revealing the UK economy grew by 0.5 per cent in February. Our personal finance correspondent Temi Laleye has the full write up here.
Closer to home, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the SNP of being "completely obsessed with tearing our country apart".
John Swinney's party, which is launching their manifesto later today, hitting back saying the "Tories have absolutely nothing to offer the people of Scotland."
Sir Keir Starmer will summon social media bosses to Downing Street as the Prime Minister weighs up new restrictions to protect children. Our reporter Peter Stevens has the full story here.
We'll be joined by Reform's Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf later this morning as well as his Liberal Democrat counterpart Max Wilkinson.