David Lammy FAILS to answer 'basic question' on Iran as Tories label Keir Starmer 'out of the loop'

WATCH: Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirms British national injured following missile strikes in Israel

As many as 1,000 British nationals ask to be evacuated from Israel, David Lammy reveals

As many as 1,000 British nationals have asked to be evacuated from Israel, David Lammy has told the Commons.

Probed on how many British nationals may need to be repatriated by shadow counterpart Priti Patel, Lammy said: "There are just over 4,000 British nationals that have registered their interests following our appeal last week, and we would estimate that somewhere between 15-25 per cent of them indicate [they would] take up the offer of British assistance to leave.

"As she knows, the airspace has been closed and so that offer up until this point was about getting them to the border, but I'm very pleased that that flight has landed and taken off. We hope to work with the Israeli government on further flights in the area."

Lammy earlier confirmed that 63 British nationals had been evacuated from Israel by the Royal Air Force.

David Lammy issues direct message to Iran as he warns of 'serious risk to British interests' in the Middle East

David Lammy has issued a direct message to Iran as he warned MPs of the "serious risk" to British interests in the Middle East.

"My message for Tehran was clear: Take the offer, dial this thing down, and negotiate with the United States seriously and immediately," he told MPs.

"The alternative is an even more destructive and far-reaching conflict, which could have unpredictable consequences.

"The situation presents serious risk to British interests in the region, having moved in additional assets on a precautionary basis, force protection is at its highest levels. Be in no doubt, we are prepared to defend our personnel, our assets and those of our allies and partners.

"We are closely monitoring how energy markets are responding to the conflict, and we have been extremely clear with the Iranians, any action to blockade the Strait of Hormuz would be a monumental act of economic self-harm, making a diplomatic solution even harder."

Iran can NEVER have a nuclear weapon, Lammy says in harshest attack on Tehran so far

David Lammy told MPs that Britain "has long had concerns about Iran's nuclear programme" as he warned that it can "never have a nuclear weapon" - a threat that the US took action to "alleviate".

"This is a perilous moment in the Middle East," he said.

The Foreign Secretary also told the Commons that Iran was enriching uranium up to 60 per cent, and said the country lacks "any civilian justification for this level of nuclear activity".

David Lammy making statement to Commons on Iran - follow live

Foreign Secretary David Lammy is making a statement to the Commons on the situation in Iran.

So far, Lammy has confirmed that a British national has been injured in Israel during Iran's missile attacks.

He has also told MPs how the RAF has evacuated 63 British nationals from Israel to Cyprus, with more flights on the way.

We'll bring you more lines from his statement as they come in on this live blog.

'We're not Reform, and we'll never be Reform!' Kemi Badenoch rips into Nigel Farage's policy plans as she claims Tories 'are the adults in the room'

Kemi Badenoch has vowed that her Tory Party is "not Reform and will never be Reform" as she attacked Nigel Farage's non-dom policy announcement this morning.

Badenoch insisted the Conservatives are "the adults in the room" while their rivals offer "unworkable policies" to the British public.

"Reform is a party that tells people whatever it is they want to hear to get elected," she spat.

"That is how we got ourselves into the mess we are in now. We said we were going to do things and then we didn't deliver them, because we had not thought about how we would do so and what the consequences would be, immigration being a classic example, where it was just something we'd work out later.

"Labour has done the same thing, which is why they are floundering now. They didn't have a plan."

She added: "That is what is creating so much of the apathy and distrust the public has with politicians, and then we have another party that doesn't have the history or the baggage that the two main parties have, that's doing the same thing. The cycle is being repeated.

"We have to break the cycle, because unlike before, we do not have a cushion. We do not have any money. Look at the deficit, you look at the debt, you look at the situation that the country is in.

"And you look at the things they are promising... unworkable policies."

She continued: "Somebody has to be the adult in the room. We are the adults in the room, and sometimes it's not popular to be the adults in the room.

"Sometimes, you know, people only want to hear about how we're going to have candy and sweets. That's not what we're going to do. We're going to have a plan to fix so many of these things."

'This is URGENT!' Rupert Lowe demands Lucy Connolly petition debate as landmark poll crosses 150K mark

Rupert Lowe has demanded an urgent debate on a surging petition to force Labour to "review the possible penalties for non-violent offences arising from social media posts" in the wake of Lucy Connolly's jailing last year.

The poll has now reached more than 150,000 signatures, mere days after crossing what Lowe called an "incredible" milestone of 100,000.

Now, the former Reform MP has demanded action.

"158,544 signatures on the Lucy Connolly-related petition over the weekend - I have contacted the relevant authorities in Parliament to get this debate organised as quickly as possible.

"For obvious reasons, this is urgent... I will keep you all updated with my progress," he said.

Rachel Reeves slams Nigel Farage's non-dom plans - 'It is a tax cut for foreign billionaires'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has slammed Reform UK's non-dom plans, calling them a "tax cut for foreign billionaires".

Reeves said: "Either taxes on ordinary working people would have to go up to compensate for the lack of revenues or Reform would have to cut public services, including the NHS.

"So this is a tax cut by Nigel Farage and the Reform party for foreign-born billionaires.

"Labour's priority is easing the pressure on ordinary working families and investing in public services, including the NHS."

David Lammy calls for Middle East to find 'diplomatic solution'

David Lammy has called for the Middle East to find a "diplomatic solution" and seek "regional stability" following talks with US officials.

His comments came after a call between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump after the US launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.

Following a discussion with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lammy said: "Important discussion with Secretary Rubio this evening on the situation in the Middle East.

"We will continue to work with our allies to protect our people, secure regional stability and drive forward a diplomatic solution."

A 'diplomatic off-ramp' is the only option for Iran, says Defence Minister

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has warned a "diplomatic off-ramp" is the only route for Iran following US strikes on the country's nuclear facilities.

Pollard told GB News: "The UK and the US share the same long-term ambition, and that is an Iran without nuclear weapons, without their ability to threaten their allies in the region and to threaten regional war.

"That is the shared long-term ambition that we have."

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Reform UK secures landmark London defection as new councillor reveals 'I can no longer defend 14 years of Tory failure'

A Conservative councillor has announced she is defecting to Reform UK "to fight for real change".

Councillor Laila Cunningham said she "can no longer defend 14 years of failure" and defected to Reform to "lower taxes, controlled borders, and put Britain first".

Part of Cunningham's message read: "Like others who have supported the party for many years, I feel that it's not so much a case of me leaving the party, but that the party has left me.

"The Conservative Party used to be a party that stood for sound public finances, low tax, controlled immigration, and law and order. On these, and almost every other big issue facing Britain - including women's rights, net zero, and DEI - the Conservative Party has let the country down.

"I will now represent Reform UK on Westminster City Council. Not only is Reform a party I feel strongly aligned to, but I also believe it is a party that can provide the leadership to save Britain."

Wes Streeting confirms national maternity care investigation

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed there will be an "investigation" into maternity care.

Making the announcement to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Streeting said there will be a "rapid national investigation".

The Health Secretary apologised to the families of babies that died or had poor care in the city.

Streeting recognised the failures at locations like Leeds and Nottingham and confirmed up to 10 most at risk units will be investigated by Christmas.

Nigel Farage announces non-dom status plans

Nigel Farage has spoken about Reform UK's plans for non-dom status, introducing the Britannia Card.

The Reform UK leader said those with non-dom status have halved from 150,000 to around "60,000 to 70,000", which is "catastrophic" for the country.

Speaking in Westminster, Farage said: "The last figures that we have show 10,800 wealthy people left the country. Some of them are non-doms, some of them British too... it is becoming a very rapid exodus."

"Our tax take is falling, and many people are leaving. We want as a party to have as many entrepreneurs, risk-takers, job-creators, as many people paying lots of tax and investing large sums of money... we want as many people like them to be in our country."

Farage added that a senior tax advisor believes "big global businessmen and women will buy it anyway to give themselves an option".

Zia Yusuf locks horns with Labour MP over Nigel Farage's 'Robin Hood' non-dom status plans

Zia Yusuf has defended Reform UK's non-dom status plans, after a Labour MP stated it will increase borrowing by £4.5billlion every year.

Labour MP Dan Tomlinson said on X: "Reform borrowing splurge alert! Need to see detail, but looks like a £4.5billion increase in borrowing every year is what is really being proposed by Nigel Truss here."

Yusuf responded, calling Tomlinson's claims "wrong", adding it would "increase tax revenue".

The head of DOGE at Reform said: "Treasury is briefing against your Chancellor trying to get her to U-turn on her non-dom policy, causing the wealthy to flee at 10x the speed the OBR forecast.

"Your Government's spending review just jacked up borrowing by £130 billion(!)"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet with Keir Starmer

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with Sir Keir Starmer in the UK today to discuss Ukraine's defence and apply additional pressure on Russia.

Zelensky posted on X: "We will be negotiating new and powerful steps to increase pressure on Russia for this war and to put an end to the strikes."

Starmer and Zelensky last met in the UK in March, following the heated exchange between Donald Trump and the Ukrainian President, when Trump accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three".

The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 352 drones and 16 missiles overnight, with "the main direction of the attack was the city of Kyiv".

Kemi Badenoch calls Labour's plans to introduce new equality law 'ideological dross'

Kemi Badenoch has dismissed Labour's plans to introduce a new equality law, describing the decision as "ideological dross".

The Conservative leader said Labour's plans will "paralyse public services and hand more power to unacceptable quangos".

Her comments follow the Government's decision to force public authorities to give "due regard" to disparities in income and socio-economic status when making decisions, effective from next year.

The measure, part of the 2010 Equality Act, was not enacted while the Tories were in power, with Badenoch saying it was "obviously misguided".

A Government spokesman said the duty is "part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity".

Badenoch is set to appear today at a Policy Exchange event, alongside Lord Moore of Etchingham.

Palestine Action to be proscribed as a terror group in the UK

Palestine Action is set to be proscribed as a terror group in the UK after protesters invaded an RAF base and damaged two aircraft.

On Friday, two activists breached RAF Brize Norton's "lax" defences by vaulting over a 6ft wooden fence and exposing a major flaw in Britain's national security.

Two Voyager aircraft were damaged and sprayed with red paint in an incident Sir Keir Starmer has described as "disgraceful".

The People's Channel understands the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, is preparing a written statement to put before Parliament, branding the pro-Palestine group as a terrorist organisation, if MPs pass her statement.

Defence Secretary John Healey has ordered an investigation into the incident.

Healey said: "The vandalism of RAF planes is totally unacceptable.

"I am really disturbed that this happened and have ordered an investigation and a review of wider security at our bases."