BBC chairman issues direct message to licence fee payers after myriad of failings

Nigel Farage slams Rachel Reeves over uncertainty as her budget looms closer

Nigel Farage makes joke about Nathan Gill furore 

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has made light of the furore surrounding the party’s one-time Wales leader, Nathan Gill, alongside s robust condemnation of his actions.

Earlier this month, Mr Gill was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison for taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament.

Speaking at a Wales Needs Reform rally in Llandudno, Mr Farage addressed the situation by explaining: “He (Mr Gill) was a longtime UKIP MEP and for the Brexit Party and briefly in 2021, albeit very briefly, we leader of Reform in Wales”

“The fact that he has taken money, taken bribes, to ask questions from a Russian influencer is, of course, an absolute and total disgrace,” the Reform leader stressed.

“We disown his actions, we disown what he has done in every single way because and I’m not afraid to stand up and say that, because it is the truth... Being honest is the right approach,” he added.

However, he invited the audience to consider another way of looking at the case, beginning: “But just think about this, we found somebody who was in the European Parliment from previous parties who was corrupt.”

“That in itself, in British politics, is not exactly unique,” he said, a grin beginning to peel across his face.

Mr Farage’s comments drew mirth from the room as he then moved to list off several corruption complaints made against Labour ministers.

Rachel Reeves sets out ‘priorities’ ahead of looming budget 

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out her “priorities” to Labour MPs tonight as her upcoming budget looms.

“The Budget on Wednesday will be about three priorities: cutting the cost of living, cutting NHS waiting lists and cutting the cost of debt,” she told the Parliamentary Labour Party.

“On Wednesday, this will be a fair Budget.

“It will be a Budget that delivers strong foundations, secures our future and delivers on our promise of change, she explained.

BBC non-executive director insists ‘I have impartiality through my bones’

BBC non-executive director Sir Robbie Gibb has told MPs he is “hugely impartial” while attending the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

After a long career at the BBC, Mr Gibb worked as the government director of communications under Theresa May.

He took up his current role at the corporation in 2021, leading to some accusations of political partisanship on his part.

“I'm hugely impartial,” he stressed to MPs.

"I have friends across the political divide. I have impartiality through my bones,” Sir Robbie added.

BBC Chairman suggests there was a ‘plausible case’ for the editing of Trump’s speech

BBC Chairman Dr Samir Shah has said there was a “plausible case” for the editing of a speech from President Trump by the corporation’s Panorama programme.

The edit was highlighted as problematic in Michael Prescott’s leaked memo, sparking a major row between the BBC and the US administration and intense scrutiny over bias within the broadcaster.

When questioned on the decision by MPs, Dr Shah said: “In the January meeting that (Mr Prescott’s) report came out, I then invited the news division to give me a formal response to it.”

“That response took place in May and there was a differing set of opinions around it.

“There was a plausible case (that) this edit... There was a case for, as it were, the edit. This was discussed and debated and there was a difference of opinion across the board.

“Looking back, it would have been better for us to pursue it then.

“We should have pursued it to the end and got to the bottom of it and not wait for it to become public discourse,” he added.

BBC Chairman Dr Samir Shah's message to license fee payers

BBC leaked memo author reveals ‘one worry’ he retains about the corporation 

Michael Prescott has told MPs he retains “one worry” about the BBC as it continues to grapple with claims of bias.

The most recent row was sparked by a memo, authored by Mr Prescott, critical of the BBC’s editing of a President Trump speech which had been leaked to the press.

Reflecting on what lessons the corporation may have learned, the former advisor said: "The one worry I still have is, will the BBC do that?"

"Treating every issue there as if it is a systemic problem until they can prove that it's not,” he explained.

BBC is not ‘institutionally’ arrogant, argues Michael Prescott 

Michael Prescott has argued the BBC is not ‘institutionally’ arrogant when quizzed on trust in the organisation by MPs, which he called a “big subject”.

Referring to the corporation’s response to the acute scrutiny over bias, he said the public expects the BBC "to be honest, accurate, impartial, fair”. "It is most of the time, it needs to do a better job when it's caught out not being so,” he added.

However, the former BBC advisor stressed that the response did not suggest the broadcaster was "institutionally" arrogant.

Mr Prescott told MPs that the organisation was required to be seen to defend its staff and keep morale up, even if this sometimes goes wrong.

Michael Prescott says Trump's reputation was not tarnished by Panorama edit 

Despite admitting the Panorama edit was misleading, former BBC advisor Michael Prescott said it did not tarnish the US leader's reputation.

When pressed by MPs on the issue of harming President Trump's image, Mr Prescott said the edit had "probably not" done so.

Regarding his personal thoughts on the US leader, he said: “I’m supposing I should probably restrain myself, given there is a potential legal action."

“All I can say is, I can’t think of anything I agree with Donald Trump on," he added with a smile.

Mr Prescott has initially flagged the edit as problematic in a leaked memo which sparked the current scrutiny on the BBC.

Former BBC advisor admits Panorama edit of President Trump’s speech was misleading 

Former BBC advisor Michael Prescott has said the editing of President Donald Trump’s 2021 speech by the BBC’s Panorama programme was misleading.

When asked by MPs if the clip, which reordered words spoken by the US leader, was misleading, he responded: “Yes, in a word.”

Mr Prescott explained that the edit, which he flagged in his leaked memo about bias at the BBC, was a "very stark example" of the "sort of things that had gone wrong and were not being addressed".

Michael Prescott tells MPs he is a ‘centrist dad’ when questioned on bias 

Former BBC advisor Michael Prescott has told MPs he is a “centrist dad” when questioned by MPs over his own biases.

Mr Prescott was speaking while appearing before a Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which is seeking to investigate editorial partiality claims at the BBC, which were sparked by a leaked memo he had authored.

The former adviser to the BBC editorial guidelines and standards committee said: “It’s always a tough job, isn’t it? Spotting your own biases.

“I mean, you know, when you read about these centrist dads, I think I’m a centrist dad. That would probably cover it.”

Mr Prescott also told the lawmakers he did not know how his memo had been leaked to the press.

Leaked memo author admits Tim Davie had 'blind spot on editorial failings 

Outgoing BBC Director-General Tim Davie has been described as having a “blind spot” on editorial failings.

Michael Prescott, who authored the leaked memo raising concerns over the editing of a President Donald Trump speech, issued the verdict while speaking to MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

The former BBC adviser said he hoped that his concerns about Tim Davie’s “blindspot” on editorial failings would be “sorted out quietly”.

“I took no pleasure in those people feeling compelled to leave their job,” he told the committee.Regarding Tim Davie, he said: “Firstly I always liked the guy.

“Secondly... he seemed to me to be doing a first rate job across 80 or 90 per cent of the portfolio. It was just he had this blind spot on editorial failings.

“I think it’s a bit of tragedy he’s gone, I thought he was a supreme talent, but he had this blind spot.

“I was hoping it might be sorted out quietly,” Mr Pescott told MPs.

BBC leaked memo author tells MPs that 'incipient problems' were not 'tackled properly' at the corporation

Former BBC advisor Michael Prescott has said he witnessed “incipient problems” at the corporation.

Mr Prescott was appearing before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to answer questions over the row, sparked by the memo, which led to the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness.

The former advisor told MPs he witnessed these issues, some of which were raised in his letter, issues “not being tackled properly” within the BBC.

“We were finding the odd problem here, the odd problem there. And the crucial thing was, when I say odd problem here and there, every single thing we spotted, as per my memo, seemed to me to have systemic causes," Mr Prescott explained.

“The root of my disagreement and slight concern even today is that the BBC was not – and I hope they will change – treating these as having systemic causes.

“There’s real work that needs to be done at the BBC," the former advisor said.

Mr Prescott was appearing before 11 MPs making up the committee, who are hoping to extract further information over the bruising row.

Asking the questions are seven Labour MPs alongside two each from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Top Tories take aim at Kevin Hollinrake over Reform jibe

A group of top Tories have taken aim at Kevin Hollinrake after the Conservative Party chairman appeared to compare a limited edition Reform UK football shirt to Adolf Hitler's "Golden Party Badge".

Ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman became the first sitting MP to publicly condemn Mr Hollinrake.

"I expect this from Labour, not the Conservatives," the Fareham & Waterlooville MP said.

"Let’s raise the level of debate: criticise the policies, even challenge the people or their actions.

"But comparing Reform and their supporters to Nazis is wrong, irresponsible and highly counter-productive. Kevin does not speak for me."

Tory peer Lord Mackinlay, who defeated Nigel Farage to win the Kent seat of Thanet South in 2015, also urged Mr Hollinrake against making such comparisons.

"We are, and should be, friends because the real enemy sits to the left of us," Lord Mackinlay said.

Meanwhile, Annunziata Rees-Mogg, who defected from the Brexit Party back to the Tories in 2019, warned "playground attacks" risked pushing disaffected Conservatives towards Reform UK.

"I have got friends who are Conservative Party members who have been pretty close when thinking should I stay or should I go and this has tipped them over the edge," Ms Rees-Mogg told GB News.

However, a Tory Party spokesman dismissed criticism and instead blasted Reform UK over Russia.

“Reform are more interested in tweets than the shame of their leader in Wales being jailed for 10 years for being Putin’s stooge, or their plan to scrap the two-child benefit cap costing taxpayers more and more," a Conservative Party spokesman said.

"Reform need to get off social media and explain why they’re so cozy with Russia and want more welfare.”

PM: We're making progress on Ukraine but there's more work to do

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed there is more work to do to secure peace in Ukraine.

Speaking after negotiators gathered in Geneva yesterday, the Prime Minister said. "We are making progress, and that is a good thing.

“Everybody is absolutely focused on what we need to get out of this, and that is a just and lasting peace.

“Both of those words matter. It’s got to be just, and obviously matters for Ukraine have to be determined by Ukraine, but it’s also got to be lasting, and it’s got to endure.

“So that’s the focus. There’s more work to do.”

Andrew Griffith takes aim at Peter Kyle following CBI speech

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: “With business confidence at record lows, unemployment up and wealth creators fleeing the country, this was a delusional speech with no new substance other than the promise of 26 consultations to force businesses themselves to try to fix Kyle’s deeply flawed, red-tape-heavy Unemployment Bill.

“Only the Conservatives have a leader with a backbone and the strong team needed to cut welfare, reduce tax and make Britain the best place to do business.”

'Zero credibility!' Labour blasts Kemi Badenoch over CBI speech

A Labour spokesman said: “Kemi Badenoch has zero credibility when it comes to supporting businesses. As Business and Trade Secretary, the Tory leader hammered firms.

“In Government, the Tories crashed the economy, interest rates rocketed, and growth flatlined. This piled misery onto businesses and workers. It’s beyond the pale that Badenoch is now trying to airbrush this abject Tory failure from history.

“This Labour Government is pro-business and pro-worker. Our Plan for Change has seen three historic trade deals secured, the conditions created for interest rates to fall, and new support for high-intensive industries with their energy bills – to lower costs for business.

"And we’re driving productivity and growth through our modern industrial strategy and small business plan, which we’ve created in partnership with business.”

Keir Starmer welcomes 'significant progress' following crunch Ukraine talks

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed "significant" progress made towards securing peace in Ukraine after negotiators met in Geneva yesterday.

"The Prime Minister obviously welcomes the significant progress made at yesterday's meetings between the US and Ukraine in Geneva," an official No10 spokesman said.

The spokesman added that "there are some outstanding issues" which will be discussed in "coming days and weeks".

Labour Minister admits Rachel Reeves's tax raid is driving wealthy Britons to leave UK

Business Secretary Peter Kyle has admitted Rachel Reeves's tax changes have driven wealthy Britons to leave the UK.

A record number of Britons emigrated in the year Labour was elected amid growing fears over Ms Reeves’s tax plans, official figures revealed last week.

More than 250,000 British nationals quit the UK in the year ending December 2024, more than three times the previous estimate of just 77,000.

In a surprising admission ahead of his keynote CBI speech, Mr Kyle said: “I’m not going to duck the fact that we have put up taxes, and we’ve closed some of the loopholes for non-doms."

"Some people are going to leave because they are here because of how the old non-dom system worked.”

He added: “I am worried whenever somebody feels they have to leave the UK in order to succeed.

"We’ve gone through a period where thousands of doctors have left the country.

“What I don’t want to do as a country is focus just on the billionaires because there’s other people that have needed to leave.

“There are people starting businesses that have gone to America in their droves because they haven’t had the funding to succeed – that’s something that we’re fundamentally stopping the need for by re-capitalising the markets.”

Kemi Badenoch pushes Rachel Reeves to make huge Budget U-turn after blasting 'anti-growth' Labour

Rachel Reeves should use her Budget to announce a major U-turn, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has said.

Speaking to business leaders at the CBI in London, Mrs Badenoch said: "If Rachel Reeves is serious about growth, if the Government really cares about the future of British business, there is one easy, cost-free decision that they can take.

"And that is to scrap the Employment Rights Bill. This bill does not raise a single pound in revenue, it does not help a single unemployed person into work, it does not add a single unit of productivity.

"It is a pure political project. Killing it would be a sign to the world that Britain still understands what makes an economy grow. If the Chancellor had any sense, and any regard for business, she would use the Budget to say that 'we got this one wrong' and then she would drop it."

Suella Braverman breaks ranks to blast Tory MP for Nazi jibe about Reform UK

Ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman has broken ranks with her Conservative colleagues to blast Kevin Hollinrake over his decision to liken a new Reform UK football shirt to Adolf Hitler's "Golden Party Badge".

She said: "I expect this from Labour, not the Conservatives.

"Let’s raise the level of debate: criticise the policies, even challenge the people or their actions.

"But comparing Reform and their supporters to Nazis is wrong, irresponsible and highly counter-productive. Kevin does not speak for me."

'Growth is our priority!' Peter Kyle tells business leaders 'reason for optimism' ahead of Budget tax raid

Business Secretary Peter Kyle has attempted to reassure business bosses today during his keynote speech at the CBI.

Mr Kyle said that Sir Keir Starmer's Government remains committed to growth as one of its key priorities.

Mr Kyle said: "My priority in this job is to break down the barriers to business growth, to create the right conditions for you to do what you do best. Creating wealth and opportunity.

"I want us to turn the corner on the low, slow, uneven growth Britain has experienced for almost two decades."

After praising the business community, Mr Kyle highlighted some "reasons for optimism", including trade agreements with the US and India.

Hinting at what to expect in Wednesday's Budget, Mr Kyle added: "This week's Budget will take the fair and necessary choices to embed that further.

"We will not repeat the mistakes of previous governments by losing control of public spending and uncontrolled borrowing.

"We will cut the national debt by sticking to our tough spending plans and clamping down on government waste and inefficiency, and we will push ahead relentlessly with the biggest drive for growth in a generation.

"Economic growth is built on the bedrock of stability in the budget.

"The chancellor will take the tough decisions necessary to keep inflation down, protect families and businesses from rising costs to safeguard the public services and keep debt under control for the long term."

'Last acts of desperation!' Zia Yusuf lashes out at Kevin Hollinrake over Nazi-Reform jibe

Reform UK's policy chief Zia Yusuf has lashed out at Kevin Hollinrake just hours after the top Tory appeared to liken Nigel Farage's party to the Nazis.

In a social media post, Mr Hollinrake compared Reform UK's limited edition football shirt to Adolf Hitler's "Golden Party Badge".

Speaking to GB News, Mr Yusuf said: "These are the last acts of desperation."

Mr Yusuf went on to warn that the comments had "dangerous consequences" for the UK's political discourse.

Tories double down on Reform Nazi jibe with Vladimir Putin attack

The Tories have doubled down on Kevin Hollinrake's decision to compare Reform UK's limited edition football jersey to the Nazi Party's "Golden Party Badge".

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Reform are more interested in tweets than the shame of their leader in Wales being jailed for 10 years for being Putin’s stooge, or their plan to scrap the two-child benefit cap costing taxpayers more and more.

"Reform need to get off social media and explain why they’re so cozy with Russia and want more welfare.”

Ministers’ criminal records can stay secret, watchdog declares

The Government’s information watchdog has decided that the public is not entitled to know whether ministers have criminal convictions.

In a decision released on November 12, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) dismissed an appeal by The Times, which had sought to compel the Cabinet Office to reveal how many ministers had disclosed past criminal convictions before taking up their posts.

Officials declined to confirm or deny whether such records exist, and the regulator concluded that ministers’ privacy outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

RECAP: Nigel Farage demands answers after Tory chairman compares Reform UK to Nazi Party

Nigel Farage has demanded answers after Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake compared Reform UK to the Nazi Party.

Mr Farage had shared an image of a black and gold Reform badge to promote a "collector's edition" party football shirt.

But in response, Mr Hollinrake shared an image of the "Golden Party Badge", awarded to the first 100,000 people who joined Adolf Hitler's Nazis.

The Tory chairman then proceeded to delete the image, before soon re-sharing a link to the Wikipedia page about the badge.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Top Tory swerves GB News grilling on Kevin Hollinrake's Reform UK Nazi jibe

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith has swerved a grilling on Kevin Hollinrake's decision to compare Reform UK to the Nazis.

Mr Hollinrake, who serves as Conservative Party Chairman, appeared to suggest a special edition Reform UK football shirt was comparable to Adolf Hitler's "Golden Party Badge".

However, Mr Griffith claimed he was unaware of Mr Hollinrake's social media post and stopped short of

"Goodness me," Mr Griffith told GB News. "I haven't seen the thing you're talking about, it was a tweet or something.

"I was doing the media last night talking about this devastating Employment Rights Bill and I've been doing the same this morning."

He added: "Forgive me, but I am sure that it isn't quite as you say."

Peter Kyle: Kemi Badenoch is trying to scare people over 'anti-growth' warning

Kemi Badenoch is trying to scare people by warning against Labour's Employment Rights Bill, Business Secretary Peter Kyle has claimed.

Speaking to GB News this morning, Mr Kyle said: "What Kemi Badenoch is doing is what she always does, and that is she's just trying to scare people.

"The fact is, when the legislation passes, because the Conservatives are blocking it in the House of Lords, we will then move to a period of intense consultation with business over those exact issues."

The Business Secretary also revealed the Government would have 26 different consultations over the legislation, adding that Labour remains both pro-business and pro-worker.

However, Mrs Badenoch is today expected to blast the Employment Rights Bill.

“If the Chancellor had any sense, and any regard for business, she would use the Budget to say, ‘we got this one wrong’ and drop it," the Tory leader is expected to say.

“It would be the cheapest pro-growth measure in the Red Book.

“If she does not, then I will make you this promise.

“At the first opportunity, a Conservative government under my leadership will repeal every job destroying, anti-business, anti-growth measure in this Bill.”

Rachel Reeves 'to spend £15bn on BENEFITS in major Budget splurge' - with working Britons to foot the bill

Rachel Reeves is set to unveil £15billion of benefits spending at Wednesday's Budget - funded by a tax raid on "working people".

The Chancellor opened the door to scrapping the two-child benefit cap last week, with reports she would commit to this emerging over the weekend.

She is set to frame the move - estimated to cost taxpayers £3billion per year - as a way to lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.

Ms Reeves is then set to boost payouts for "working-age benefits" like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and child benefits up in line with inflation, or 3.8 per cent, from April.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

EXPLAINED: What will happen when Labour scraps the two-child benefit cap?

Rachel Reeves is expected to announce the end of the two-child benefit cap in a bid to stave off fears from the left of the Labour Party.

Abolishing the cap, which was introduced by the Tories in 2017, would enable parents to claim child tax credits or universal credit for more than two children.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies believes abolishing the cap could take 630,000 children out of absolute poverty, with other estimates standing at 250,000.

Scrapping the two-child benefit cap would also cost £3billion, putting further pressure on Britain's ballooning benefits bill.