Politics LIVE: 'They're in blind panic!' Nigel Farage takes credit for Winter Fuel Payment U-turn in fiery swipe at Labour

WATCH: GB News' Adam Cherry asks Nigel Farage to expand on his plans to reopen blast furnaces in a bid to make Britain 'more self-sufficient'

Back in Westminster... Downing Street repeats 'Liz Truss' line in bitter attack on Reform

Downing Street has said that its policy of raising the threshold for winter fuel payments was different from Reform UK's policy of bringing them back in full.

Hitting out at Nigel Farage's party today, the Prime Minister's press secretary said: "We set out the policy detail now to ensure the change can be delivered ahead of winter and give pensioners certainty.

"Everything this Government does is fully funded.

"Reform has floated tens of billions of pounds of unfunded tax cuts, they've suggested slashing Government spending to 35 per cent of GDP, which is equivalent to scrapping the entire NHS, defence, policing and criminal justice budgets combined.

"Their fantasy economics would see the exact same consequence as working people suffered under Liz Truss and the Conservatives, and is why this Government has totally rejected that approach and put fiscal responsibility at the forefront of every decision that we take."

'Figures will emerge' - Nigel Farage issues ANOTHER election tease after Reform boss pressed on party's First Minister pick

Nigel Farage has vowed that "figures will emerge" in the coming months in the race to become Reform UK's First Ministerial candidate in Wales.

The Reform chief said that while his party was "rapidly" building in Wales, it was not yet at the point of having a "lead member".

"Figures will emerge over the course of the next few months who through merit will no doubt be in a position where they can qualify to be our lead member," he said.

"We are not at that point of evolution just yet."

Nigel Farage teases MORE defections as Reform chief hints 'you might be in for a surprise'

Nigel Farage has teased a further "one or two" defections to his party over the next few months.

"There are one or two people I am talking to so you might be in for a surprise," Farage hinted.

"There are some names in Welsh politics that I have been talking to, I can assure you," he added.

In the past, onlookers have pointed to hardliner former Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies as a future Reformer.

Davies has, in the past, ruled out a switch - but Farage said in May he was a "very interesting politician" and invited him for a "chat over a cup of tea".

Nigel Farage confirms plans to 'reindustrialise Wales'

​Reform UK's "ambition is to reindustrialise Wales" to fuel Britain's growing demand for steel, Nigel Farage has confirmed.

A Reform-run Senedd would bring back the blast furnaces at Port Talbot and would let Welsh coal mines reopen to provide the fuel, he said.

"I am not standing here and - no doubt some will lampoon this, I am not saying let's open up all the pits," he said.

"What I am saying is there is coal, specific types of coal, for certain uses that we still need in this country," Farage said. "We should produce [it] ourselves rather than importing it."

'Our aim is very simple... Our aim is to WIN!' Nigel Farage lays down gauntlet to 'failing' Welsh Labour in major campaign push

Nigel Farage has laid down the gauntlet to the "failing" Welsh Labour as he confirmed his campaign push for the 2026 Senedd elections.

"Our aim is very simple. Our aim is to win. Our aim is to win a majority. And our aim as a party is to govern in Wales," he said.

"And I believe that it is achievable."

Farage also predicted that Plaid Cymru would only do well in its "heartlands", while the Tories are "dying" and "pretty close to an extinction event".

Labour "really are failing in Wales", he added.

"I believe we can win - and I believe, actually, if we get this right, we will win next May."

'Humiliating!' Kemi Badenoch joins Winter Fuel Payment pile-on as Nigel Farage takes credit

Kemi Badenoch has waded into a pile-on against Labour's Winter Fuel Payment U-turn this afternoon - despite Nigel Farage taking credit for the move.

"Humiliating," the Tory leader said. "Conservatives repeatedly warned the Prime Minister to reverse his callous decision to withdraw winter fuel payments, and every time he arrogantly dismissed me.

"Pensioners were forced to choose between heating and eating last winter. Starmer should apologise to them."

Nigel Farage confirms Zia Yusuf replacement to be announced tomorrow

Nigel Farage has confirmed that Zia Yusuf's replacement as Reform UK chairman will be announced at 11am tomorrow at a venue in central London.

It comes after Yusuf announced he would return to Reform UK in a new role just 48 hours after he resigned as party chairman.

In a shock U-turn, the 38-year-old announced he would be making a comeback to Nigel Farage's party, saying he had received a large number of messages from people begging him to reconsider.

'A new dawn for Wales is just months away' - Nigel Farage kicks off Port Talbot address with bullish message

Nigel Farage has vowed that a "new dawn for Wales is just months away" ahead of his Port Talbot speech.

Farage will soon call to reopen the Port Talbot steelworks in a major campaign pitch to Welsh voters ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections.

The Reform UK leader is in South Wales, where he laying out his plans to bring traditional steelmaking back to British shores.

Having already put his party's weight behind saving British Steel in Scunthorpe earlier this year, Farage will again back domestic industry in a drive to end Labour's 123 years of electoral success in Wales.

He "will tap into the hearts and minds of a deeply patriotic nation that feels betrayed and forgotten about by Labour", a party source said.

"We are the main challenger to Labour in Wales. A vote for the Conservatives is a vote for Labour," they added.

Port Talbot was the largest steelmaking plant in the UK until its two blast furnaces were controversially shut down in September 2024.

In their stead, the Government has backed plans for a £1.25billion electric arc furnace at the Indian firm Tata's steelworks, with a switch-on date set for 2027 as part of a push towards greener production.

Labour insists the two steelworks are in different situations.

And while Farage is set to acknowledge that the task of bringing industry back to Wales will neither be quick nor easy, he will also push for a return to coal mining as part of Reform's "long-term ambition to reopen Port Talbot steel".

BREAKING: Labour CONFIRMS Winter Fuel Payment U-turn - Rachel Reeves reveals which nine million pensioners will receive allowance

Millions of pensioners are set to receive help with their heating bills this winter after Labour confirmed its U-turn on the Winter Fuel Payment.

Everyone over the state pension age in England and Wales with an income of £35,000 or less a year will now receive the payment.

The Chancellor has confirmed that around nine million pensioners will benefit under the new rules - over three quarters of all pensioners in England and Wales.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Nigel Farage to make address from Port Talbot - follow live

Nigel Farage will be making his address from Port Talbot in a few minutes' time.

You'll be able to follow his speech at the live stream above - and we'll bring you the top lines in our live blog as they come in.

Labour confirms over £1BILLION paid to Horizon IT scandal subpostmasters

More than £1billion has been paid out to subpostmasters wronged by the Horizon IT scandal, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has said.

The department said the ten-figure sum had been paid out to more than 7,300 subpostmasters across all Horizon-related redress schemes.

It includes £559million paid out to 6,337 claimants from the Horizon shortfall scheme, £167million to 488 people who joined Sir Alan Bates in taking the Post Office to court as part of group litigation, £245million to 463 subpostmasters who had their convictions quashed by legislation, and £68million to those who have had their convictions quashed in the courts.

Tories line up to skewer Keir Starmer over 'London-centric' AI claims

A pair of outspoken Tory MPs have launched a string of attacks against Sir Keir Starmer after he claimed that "being a London MP" meant he "understands first-hand" the importance of AI.

"I'm a London MP and that means I understand, first-hand, how important it is," the Prime Minister said as he laid out his TechFirst scheme.

That has since prompted the ire of Ben Obese-Jecty and Neil O'Brien - the former said: "Keir Starmer seems to think anybody, any MP, outside of London doesn't understand the importance of tech because you only get 'first-hand' experience in London. Perhaps he may want to address that?"

O'Brien then jabbed: "Apparently we, the turnip-munching hordes outside the M25, have never heard of AI, and are probably watching this on Ceefax."

WATCH IN FULL: Keir Starmer lays out Labour's AI plans - and Technology Minister Chris Bryant speaks to GB News Breakfast

Nigel Farage to outline plans to SCRAP Welsh Labour's ultra-woke immigration scheme

Nigel Farage is expected to unveil a major migrant housing crackdown as he campaigns in Port Talbot today.

The Reform UK chief is expected to reveal plans to scrap Wales's "nation of sanctuary" status - a scheme which helps asylum seekers gain access to "good quality accommodation" ahead of Welsh nationals.

Farage will be addressing crowds at around midday - and we'll bring you the top lines from his speech as they come in.

'The Beeb has lost the plot!' Furious Alastair Campbell in MELTDOWN over Zia Yusuf's BBC interview

Alastair Campbell has launched into a social media tirade against the BBC after the broadcaster gave an interview to Reform UK's Zia Yusuf.

As the ex-chairman gave an interview to the broadcaster's Today programme, the former Labour spin doctor blasted: "The Reform takeover of the BBC continues apace. Sorry but this is now becoming embarrassing."

He followed that up with: "Can't wait for the BBC interviews with officials from SNP, Plaid, Green and Lib Dem that nobody had ever heard of until the BBC decided to make them famous by giving them platforms to talk about personality spats and how tired they get doing their jobs."

Campbell then added: "Oh, how exciting. [Presenter] Nick Robinson promising listeners more 8.10am interviews in the future with Zia Yusuf... the Beeb has lost the plot."

Keir Starmer to lay out plans to create 'jobs for the future' in AI drive

Sir Keir Starmer will shortly be addressing an audience in London to lay out plans to teach secondary school pupils how to use artificial intelligence.

The plans, part of a drive to put the technological power "into the hands of the next generation", will see one million students given access to learning resources under a £187million "TechFirst" scheme.

The TechFirst programme will be split into four strands:

• TechYouth, the £24million "flagship" arm of the scheme, aimed at giving students across every secondary school in the UK the chance to gain new AI skills training over three years;
• TechGrad, backed by £96.8million in funding and designed to support 1,000 domestic students a year with undergraduate scholarships in areas such as AI and computer science;
• TechExpert. a £48.4million scheme aiming to give up to £10,000 in additional funding to 500 domestic PhD students carrying out research in tech;
• TechLocal, an £18million drive to offer seed funding to small businesses developing new tech products and adopting AI.

Starmer said ahead of his speech: "Every child deserves the chance to succeed in life - not just the privileged few. We're giving one million school students the opportunity to learn and develop their skills in tech and AI.

"Investing in the future of our young people and breaking down barriers to opportunities."

WATCH IN FULL: Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake speaks to GB News Breakfast

Richard Tice hails London 'clean-up crew' after Tom Harwood and others 'do what Sadiq Khan't'

Richard Tice has praised an amateur "clean-up crew" including GB News star Tom Harwood who took matters into their own hands to scrub off graffiti on Sadiq Khan's London Underground over the weekend.

Harwood, alongside activists from Looking for Growth dressed in "doing what Sadiq Khan't" hi-vis jackets, were seen cleaning the graffiti off the inside of a Bakerloo Line tube train.

And now, the Reform UK deputy leader has said: "Fantastic new plan by great people Please help them by sending in your examples of unacceptable behaviour graffiti!"

READ THE FULL STORY ON TOM HARWOOD TAKING MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS HERE

Nato boss blasts 'wishful thinking' as alliance set to demand Britain hikes defence spending by BILLIONS

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte will lay into "wishful thinking" in a fiery speech today as he looks to convince Sir Keir Starmer to hike defence spending by billions of pounds.

The Prime Minister has committed to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence from April 2027, with a goal of increasing that to 3 per cent over the next Parliament, a timetable which could stretch to 2034.

But Rutte has called on members of the bloc spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence as part of a strengthened investment plan for the alliance.

"Wishful thinking will not keep us safe", the former Dutch PM will say in a call for Nato to become a "stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance".

"The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence. The fact is, we must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defence plans in full. The fact is, danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends."

Labour minister admits Rachel Reeves's 'difficult' spending review will leave departments 'stretched'

A Labour minister has admitted that Rachel Reeves's looming spending review will leave departments "stretched" and be "difficult" amid reports that the Chancellor is in a stand-off with Yvette Cooper's Home Office over funding.

Technology Minister Chris Bryant said: "That period of austerity where I think previous governments simply cut all public service budgets just because they believed that was what you had to do is over.

"But, secondly, we are investing, but it's not just about spending money, you have to get return, and that means we have to have change and we have to have a plan for change in every single one of our public services."

He also talked up Labour's defence and health funding to Times Radio - but added: "There are going to be other parts of the budget that are going to be much more stretched and be difficult."

His words come as Cooper is holding out for a funding settlement from the Treasury. She is the last minister to be doing so.

The Home Secretary's allies warn that Labour's crime targets and its push to hire 13,000 new neighborhood police officers are at risk without a serious cash injection.

Reeves is said to be promising a real-terms increase in police funding to try and secure Cooper's sign-off.

But The Times reports that said funding will only come through cuts to other areas of the Home Office's day-to-day budget.

Bryant will be appearing on GB News Breakfast at around 9am - we'll bring you all the top lines from his interview on this live blog.

British Steel could be 'left in limbo' as Chinese owners push for £1BILLION tax-funded payout

Jingye, the Chinese owners of British Steel, is locked in a stand-off with the UK Government over a £1billion compensation claim which could leave Britain's only "virgin" steelmaker in limbo for the rest of the year.

The firm was booted out of the Scunthorpe works by the Government in April following the passage of an emergency Bill.

The Chinese company still holds shares in British Steel - and is demanding a staggering compensation fee to write off its investment over the past five years.

Sources told The Times Jingye's total investment in British Steel ran "into the billions".

And in a further blow to the works, Donald Trump could soon move to levy 50 per cent tariffs on British Steel because its owners are Chinese.

Those could come as soon as "on or after July 9", if it is determined that the UK has not complied with the transatlantic Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) signed at the start of May.

The EPD says Britain "will work to promptly meet US requirements on the security of the supply chains of steel and aluminium products intended for export to the United States and on the nature of ownership of relevant production facilities".

It is understood that in the case of British Steel, this specifically relates to concerns within the Trump administration that the company could be used as a backdoor to dump Chinese exports on the US.

RECAP: As Nigel Farage lays down the gauntlet in Wales... How the Reform UK leader challenged Keir Starmer to head-to-head working men's club debate

With Nigel Farage heading to Wales today in a bid to break decades of Labour dominance next year, GB News is looking back at a similar campaign in the Red Wall just days ago.

In late May, the Reform chief challenged Sir Keir Starmer to a one-on-one debate in a working men's club in the English industrial heartland.

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."

READ THE FULL STORY ON NIGEL FARAGE VS KEIR STARMER HERE