Remainers rejoice as Britons support rejoining EU in bombshell poll

Jonathan Reynolds risks law ban over CV scandal

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been warned he risks being barred from practising law amid claims he lied on his CV.

The Telegraph has confirmed that several concerns raised about Reynolds’s claims were investigated “no further” because the incidents in question took place more than two years ago.

However, if those “time-barred” matters were ever substantiated, they could be held against him if he tried to qualify as a solicitor in future.

Nigel Farage faces 'Doge fightback' as 'work-shy' council staff send trade union membership surging

Nigel Farage has been warned he faces a fightback from council staff over Reform UK's proposals to clamp down on DEI training and cut waste with its new Doge unit.

Unison, the UK's largest trade union, claimed its membership jumped by 200 per cent in local authorities won by Reform UK at last month's Local Elections.

The data, which has been obtained by Sky News, shows huge increases in Durham, Kent, and Lincolnshire.

Ahead of the surge in union membership, Farage had told council staff who supported DEI and working from home to find new jobs.

Speaking after emerging victorious in County Durham, the Reform UK leader said: "I would advise anybody who's working for Durham county council on climate change initiatives or diversity, equity and inclusion or … things that you go on working from home, I think you all better really be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly."

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson also warned that council staff working from home tended to be less productive, adding: "The very least they can do is turn up for work."

Christina McAnea, Unison's general secretary, said: "Membership has surged in areas where Reform did well in the local elections.

"Unions exist to ensure no one can play fast and loose with the law. Any staff working for councils now controlled by Reform, and who aren't already a Unison member, should sign up so they can be protected too.

"A party that has voted consistently against modest measures to improve working conditions and threatened to sack council workers at the earliest opportunity is not one working people are likely to trust."

She added: "Reform has been keen to shout about its tax and benefits giveaways, but there's precious little on which cherished public services will be sacrificed to pay for them."

Angela Rayner ally pulled into rape gangs row

An ally of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner led a council that opted against referring to the Pakistani heritage of rape gang perpetrators, it has emerged.

Jim McMahon, who served as leader of Oldham Council, oversaw a child sexual exploitation taskforce's efforts to investigate one of Britain's darkest scandals.

The service had expressed concern about “community tensions” and said the “proactive confirmation of ethnicity could provide ammunition for far-right groups that might attempt to focus additional attention on Oldham regarding this issue”.

A Labour spokesman said McMahon was “explicit and vocal” about the fact that the abuse involved predominantly Pakistani men, “long before many others”.

He added: “To suggest this was in any way downplayed defies the evidence.”

Keir Starmer urges Donald Trump to keep 'cool head' as US President signs off bombing Iran

Sir Keir Starmer has called for "cool heads" after Donald Trump signed off bombing Iran.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman yet again called on all parties to prioritise "de-escalation" in the Middle East.

“The continuation of the current situation is in no one’s interest. We want to see cool heads and a return to diplomacy because that is the best route forward,” the spokesman said.

The comments come just hours after Trump approved plans for an attack on Iran.

However, the President is believed to be waiting to see if a deal can be reached to end its nuclear weapons programme.

'Two-tier' sentencing guidelines SCRAPPED as Labour pushes through common-sense law

The sentencing guidelines at the centre of a fierce "two-tier justice" row have finally been scrapped after an emergency Act of Parliament was given Royal Assent.

The Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-Sentence Reports) Act bans guidelines on pre-sentence reports which reference personal characteristics like race or ethnicity coming into effect after concerns were raised that minorities would receive differential treatment before the law.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "Equality before the law is the backbone of public confidence in our justice system and today's change to the law ensure fairness for all in our courts.

"I am grateful to the Council and its officials for their constructive work on this... I will continue to ensure no one is treated differently just because of their skin colour or religion under the law."

Mahmood had met with the Sentencing Council for emergency talks after the guidelines came to light - which her shadow counterpart Robert Jenrick had branded "completely outrageous and ludicrous" and evidence of "bias against straight white men".

The guioelines had recommended that pre-sentence reports be produced for offenders from specific ethnic, cultural and religious minorities and for transgender individuals, women and young offenders.

But the council had thrown out her proposal - forcing her to issue a statement threatening that "all options are on the table, and I will legislate if necessary".

Robert Jenrick tells GB News Britons must brace for MORE two-tier justice as 'half job' sentencing rules passed

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has told GB News that Britons must now brace for more "two-tier justice under two-tier Keir" following the scrapping of highly controversial sentencing guidelines.

"This piece of legislation is a half job," he said. "It won't stop more two-tier sentencing guidelines."

"And it won't stop crazy plans by the Sentencing Council to allow hundreds of immigration offenders a year to avoid automatic deportation.

"Expect more two-tier justice under Two-Tier Keir."

RECAP: Infamous 'two-tier' sentencing guidelines based on David Lammy report - 'Labour's fingerprints are all over this!'

The "two-tier" sentencing guidelines axed by Labour today were based on a report written by David Lammy.

The Sentencing Council, finally overruled by the Justice Secretary today, said its new guidance was influenced by several pieces of research - including a 2017 review by Lammy, according to The Times.

The future Foreign Secretary found "widespread" racial discrimination in the criminal justice system, and put forward changes to improve outcomes for "black, Asian and minority ethnic" offenders.

In his review, Lammy called for more scrutiny of sentencing decisions - and said judges must be equipped with more information about offenders' backgrounds.

The Tottenham MP also urged for more use of pre-sentence reports, which are compiled by the Probation Service to give judges extra information about offenders' character and circumstances.

The PSRs, Lammy wrote, were "vital" because of "the gap between the difference in backgrounds, both in social class and ethnicity, between the magistrates, judges and many of those offenders who come before them"...

READ THE FULL STORY ON DAVID LAMMY'S ROLE IN THE SENTENCING GUIDELINES HERE

Labour pledges £9BILLION every year to fix Britain's crumbling infrastructure

At least £9 billion every year will be spent on improving public services as part of Labour's 10-year infrastructure strategy, Treasury Minister Darren Jones has confirmed.

Jones said £6billion of this would be spent on hospitals, £3billion on schools and colleges, and £600 million on prisons and courts.

He told MPs: "We're taking steps to address the soaring maintenance backlog in our public estates, now estimated at over £49billion.

"I am today announcing a new maintenance fund to provide at least £9billion per year over the next decade to improve our public services and save money for the taxpayer.

"This includes at least £6bllion per year to maintain and repair our hospitals so our loved ones can get the best possible treatment when they need it, £600million per year for our courts and prisons, so that justice can be served, and almost £3billion for our schools and colleges per year by 2035, so that every young person gets the best start in life."

Across the next decade, some £725billion will be spent on infrastructure, Jones also said.

Labour confirms date for hotly-contested welfare Bill debate

Labour's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill will be debated on July 1, Lucy Powell has said.

The Commons Leader confirmed the Bill will have its second reading at the start of next month.

The party's looming welfare reforms have already drawn the ire of legions of Labour left MPs, sparking fears its working majority could be wiped out.

Labour enjoys a working majority of 165, meaning 83 Labour MPs would have to rebel for its welfare plans to crumble.

RECAP: Reform UK outlines 'day one' assault on net zero as Richard Tice tells oil firms: 'Get ready for Prime Minister Farage'

Back in May, Reform UK outlined a bombastic "day one" assault on net zero as it eyes up drilling the North Sea for oil and gas.

Nigel Farage's party is promising to slash taxes and regulation on fossil fuel firms, with Richard Tice carrying out a series of meetings with energy bosses in a bid to win them over.

Thanks to its polling, Tice has been able to sell the idea of a Reform administration to industry chiefs - and has told them to "get their licence applications ready for Reform to fast-track when it comes into government".

"I'm urging them not to give up," Tice told the Financial Times. "There's about to be a sea change in less than four years.

"I want these firms to know they are working with a shadow government that is willing to tick the box as soon as we get in."

The party's deputy leader also pointed to two ways to ensure Britons can make the most of a "drill, baby, drill" outlook to oil and gas.

The first would be forcing firms to give the Government a stake in exchange for granting licences, and the second would be "investing hard equity" - potentially by offering cash up-front to drill in riskier, untapped locations, in exchange for a larger stake.

"We can completely move away from the windfall tax idea because taxpayers will be getting a slug of the profits," he said.

"We will be accused of picking winners, and yes I am picking winners. Oil and gas companies have been huge winners for decades."

Reform UK skewers Ed Miliband as Labour U-turns to drill North Sea oil

Richard Tice has accused Ed Miliband of carrying out a "desperate publicity stunt" by opening up the North Sea to drilling - after previously branding two major oil fields off the UK coast "climate vandalism".

The Reform UK deputy leader blasted: "Just like their decision to reinstate Winter Fuel Payments, launch a grooming gang inquiry, and finally move to end asylum hotels, Labour's sudden support for North Sea drilling is nothing more than a desperate publicity stunt.

"They're not acting out of conviction - they're acting out of fear. Fear of losing votes to Reform UK, as more and more voters grow disillusioned with Labour’s weak leadership and repeated abandonment of their campaign promises.

"Only Reform will truly scrap net zero, prioritise oil drilling, and invest in nuclear modular reactors.

"We are the party that will reduce energy bills, slash waste, and make work pay again."

READ THE FULL STORY ON 'LABOUR'S LATEST U-TURN' HERE

Michael Gove CONFIRMS grooming gangs 'cover-up' attempt by Whitehall officials

Tory peer Lord Gove has confirmed that Whitehall officials attempted to cover up grooming gangs as far back as 2011.

Speaking to GB News, Gove has backed Dominic Cummings's claims that he rejected advice from Department for Education officials who suggested blocking journalists from publishing reports of abuse in Rotherham.

"Dominic's account is, broadly, absolutely correct," Gove revealed. "Andrew Norfolk, the very brave and sadly deceased reporter at The Times who was responsible more than anyone for initially uncovering the the grooming gang scandal, had been investigating Rotherham."

"It was the case that he wanted to publish details that related to one particularly tragic case. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council at the time didn't want the full details revealed."

The council "approached the Government and the Department for Education, where I was Secretary of State at the time, and asked us to join them in a legal case in order to prevent The Times publishing" the story, Gove said...

READ THE FULL STORY ON THE GROOMING GANGS COVER-UP ATTEMPT HERE

'A collapsing regime!' Top Tory delivers damning verdict on Labour's 'utterly fake' call to reform ECHR

A Tory frontbencher has delivered a damning verdict on Labour's "fake" call to reform the ECHR after Shabana Mahmood told the European Council it "must evolve" in a speech in Strasbourg yesterday.

Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, warned Brussels bigwigs that the convention "has too often been used in ways that frustrate deportation, even where there are serious concerns about credibility, fairness, and risk to the public".

But now, Shadow Education Minister Neil O'Brien has warned that such reforms "will never happen".

"As the Channel situation 'deteriorates', as Starmer admits, panicking Labour ministers have started babbling about ECHR 'reform'," he said.

"It will never happen... [It is] strategic eyewash for fools & utterly fake. The only real bit is Mahmood saying 'the UK is resolutely committed to the ECHR'.

"As [writer] Ed West notes, all collapsing regimes start promising the crowd 'reform' way, way too late in the day."

Priti Patel: 'Labour can't hide behind legal advice at a time of crisis'

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has warned Labour against "hiding behind legal advice at a time of crisis" as the fallout over Lord Hermer's "concerns" on Iran continues.

"I don't think we can hide behind legal advice at a time of crisis and national security when we have to work alongside our biggest ally in the world, the United States, when they look to us for potentially... setting out operational activities through our own military bases," she told Times Radio.

Patel had earlier confirmed the Conservatives will support Labour if the Government decides to pursue military action against Iran - and said the Opposition would not call for it to be put to a vote in Parliament.

'This is Labour's Suez!' Tory peer piles pressure on Keir Starmer as Chagos 'surrender' rears its head again

Tory peer Lord Kempsell has torn into Sir Keir Starmer's Chagos Islands "surrender" deal in light of the islands' newfound importance to the Iran-Israel conflict.

Kempsell, an outspoken critic of the handover, blasted: "So just weeks after Starmer and Lammy signed away UK sovereignty over Chagos, the Iran crisis means our closest ally now may need B2 stealth bombers from Diego Garcia.

"Starmer's deal, cheered by hostile states, means he must give notice to Mauritius. This is Labour's Suez."

Labour minister admits PM 'will do EVERYTHING according to international law' amid Lord Hermer row

A Labour minister has admitted that Sir Keir Starmer "will do everything in accord with international law" amid reports the Attorney General could deem British involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict illegal.

Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh hailed the PM as a "lawyer and a human rights lawyer... who can be that cool, calm head" in the crisis.

She told Times Radio: "Legal advice is for the Prime Minister, and I think that's where it will stay and you can understand why I won't comment on that.

"But what I will say is that we have a Prime Minister who is a lawyer and a human rights lawyer, he will obviously do everything that is in accord with international law.

"No-one wants an escalation. No-one wants this to erupt into a major conflict in the region that is hugely destabilising for every country involved and for us, globally.

"The most important role that the Prime Minister can play, and is playing, is to be that cool, calm head, to urge all partners around the negotiating table and to find a diplomatic route out of this."

Keir Starmer risks clash with Lord Hermer over Iran as Attorney General warns British involvement could be ILLEGAL

Sir Keir Starmer is risking a confrontation with his Attorney General Lord Hermer over potential British involvement in the Iran-Israel crisis.

Yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister convened an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss a potential US response to the conflict - but Hermer is now said to have warned him that stepping in could be "illegal".

An official who has seen the AG's legal advice told The Spectator how Hermer "has concerns about the UK playing any role in this except for defending our allies".

Donald Trump is mulling over using American B2 Spirit bombers and "bunker-busting" bombs to destroy Iran's Fordo nuclear site - which would be launched from the Chagos Islands.

As a result of Labour's deal with Mauritius over the joint UK-US base on the islands, Trump would have to ask Britain's permission to strike from the base.

Rupert Lowe calls for 'deportation Nato' as damning report exposes how Pakistan REFUSES to take back grooming gang ringleaders

Ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe has proposed a "deportation Nato" after GB News revealed that Pakistan is refusing to take back grooming gang ringleaders from Britain.

"I'm reading this morning how the Pakistani Government is refusing to take back two Rochdale child rapists," he said. "This shouldn’t be a negotiation - there is no need to negotiate with the Pakistanis.

"If they don't comply? £133million in foreign aid, gone. Send them a bill for previous years too. Tax remittances. 25 per cent sounds fair. In 2021, there was £2.94billion sent to Pakistan. Tax it. Enforce tariffs on Pakistani goods. We have a trade deficit with the Pakistanis. Use it. Suspend visas. Use it as leverage - be cold and calculating."

"I like the idea of doing it all alongside like-minded nations. A 'deportation Nato'. I'm sure the Americans would join the effort, with plenty of others.

"Do it swiftly, brutally, and as one. The Pakistanis would fold by lunchtime. We don't need to negotiate. We hold all the cards. Use them."