Politics LIVE: Keir Starmer confronts his top team in Cabinet amid bitter Labour civil war and Budget leaks

WATCH: Michelle Dewberry warns Britons over Labour’s 'appalling' Digital ID plan: ‘It doesn’t sit well with me at all’

Michelle Dewberry has blasted Labour’s plans for a mandatory Digital ID system, warning viewers that the policy is “appalling” and was never put to the British public at the ballot box.

Speaking on GB News, the host said the proposal "doesn’t sit well with me at all," accusing the Government of pushing ahead with a major change to citizens’ freedoms without any democratic mandate.

The proposed Digital IDs announced by Sir Keir earlier this year, to be introduced by 2029, would be mandatory for anyone working in the UK as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal working and therefore curb illegal migration.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Controversial Northern Ireland Troubles Bill passes in Commons 

A controversial legislation investigating Troubles-related killings has passed its second reading in the Commons.

Under the bill, a new statutory advisory group will also be established to ensure victims and survivors of the Troubles, including from a service background, are heard by the Commission.

The Home Office revealed there are at least 77 people in England, almost half of which were members of the armed forces, whose deaths during the Troubles remain unsolved.

The unsolved attacks include the 1974 IRA bombing of a coach on the M62, the assassinations in 1979 and 1990 of MPs Airey Neave and Ian Gow, the 1993 IRA bombing of the shopping district of Warrington in which two children, Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball, were killed and IRA bombings in Guildford (1974), Birmingham (1974) and Manchester (1996).

All UK police investigations into Troubles-related killings were shut down in May last year under the previous government’s Legacy Act, and a new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was established.

The new Troubles Bill, agreed as part of a framework with the Irish Government, will put in place a reformed Legacy Commission with enhanced powers.

Tributes paid after after 'outstanding' former MP dies

Tributes have been paid to former Labour MP Mark Fisher, who has died after a short illness.

Mr Fisher represented Stoke-on-Trent Central from 1983 to 2010, and was Minister for Arts under Tony Blair, before being sacked over his lack of enthusiasm for "Cool Britannia."

Former Europe Minister Denis MacShane described him as an "utterly lovely man", while colleague and fellow former Labour MP Joan Walley said she was sorry to hear of the loss of an "oustanding constituency MP".

Labour FAILS to save 'cornerstone' energy plant with hundreds of jobs still at risk

The Labour Government has confirmed that hundreds of jobs at energy giant ExxonMobil remain at risk after the company revealed plans to shut down its Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran.

Chris McDonald MP, Minister for Industry, made an emergency statement this evening and confirmed the Government would not be providing more funding to keep the site open and viable.

Mr McDonald asserted he was speaking speaking to union Unite and ExxonMobil to ensure support for workers affected by the closure of the site.

Under the previously announced plans, the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran would close in February, in a move placing around 200 jobs at risk.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Downing Street says it remains 'consistent' over China

Downing Street said its approach to China remained "consistent" following an MI5 warning about espionage threats to Parliament.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "Our approach to China is consistent.

"We will co-operate where we can and challenge where we must, and that means tackling the threats posed by China, but also pursuing and maximising the opportunities it poses."

The spokesman would not be drawn on whether the Government had raised the alert with Beijing, but added: "We remain in dialogue with China across a number of issues and a range of different levels."

WATCH: Labour facing 'Brexit-style split' as rebels risk losing HALF their seats to Reform, pollster says

Labour could be heading for a "Brexit-style split" as rebel MPs opposing the party’s asylum overhaul risk losing nearly half their seats to Reform UK, according to top pollster Martin Baxter.

Speaking to GB News, the Electoral Calculus founder warned that immigration is now "right up there with the economy" as voters top concern, meaning the Government must act.

But he said a significant number of Labour MPs opposing Shabana Mahmood’s plans are out of step with their local electorates.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

British-born children to immigrant parents could be deported under Shabana Mahmood crackdown

A Labour minister has suggested children born in Britain to immigrant parents could be deported as part of the Government's asylum reforms.

Communities and Housing Secretary Steve Reed refused to rule out whether UK-born children with families who have been refused asylum would be removed.

Under the proposed asylum reforms, families with rejected claims could receive cash incentives to return to their home country - as long as it is safe to do so, according to The Telegraph.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

EXCLUSIVE: More than a dozen migrants allowed to REMAIN in UK despite cheating on citizenship test

More than a dozen migrants who attempted to cheat UK citizenship tests are still in Britain, GB News understands.

In May this year, fraudster Josephine Maurice sat Life in the UK Tests for 14 migrant test candidates seeking to obtain indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

The People's Channel now understands that despite seven of the 14 being refused nationality or permanent residence, none have yet been removed from the UK.

GB News Reporter Isabelle Parkin has the exclusive scoop here.

Reform UK challenges Rachel Reeves to make foreign nationals 'bear the brunt' of £25bn black hole

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for foreign nationals to "bear the brunt" of Rachel Reeves's £25billion "black hole".

Mr Farage is unveiling plains to prohibit EU citizens from claiming benefits in Britain, slashing foreign aid spending by 70 per cent and doubling NHS surcharge costs.

Europeans will be handed a three-month notice period before their payments end entirely and if Brussels refuses, a trade war could follow.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Chinese embassy blasts accusations of espionage as 'pure fabrication'

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the UK said accusations of espionage were "pure fabrication" and accused Britain of a "self-staged charade."

The spokesman said: "These claims by the UK side are pure fabrication and malicious slander.

"We strongly condemn such despicable moves of the UK side and have lodged stern representations with them.

"We urge the UK side to immediately stop this self-staged charade of false accusations and self-aggrandisement, and stop going further down the wrong path of undermining China-UK relations."

Green Party reaches highest ever polling level as Labour continues to slump

Zack Polanski's Green Party is polling at its highest ever level as left-wing voters abandon Labour.

The latest polling, carried out by YouGov on Sunday and Monday, puts the Greens in third place on 17 per cent of the vote, the party’s highest ever score.

Reform retains a clear lead on 27 per cent, followed by Labour on 19 per cent, the Tories on 17 per cent, and the Lib Dems on 13 per cent.

Shortly before the polling was released, the party claimed the number of young Greens had risen to 40,000, making it the "largest youth and student movement in UK politics."

In a statement on social media on Tuesday, Mr Polanski described the surge in the Greens’ young members as “absolutely phenomenal."

He continued: "For anyone feeling deep despair, I get it. There is hope, though. And Green Party membership is continuing to rise every single day. That's thousands and thousands of people coming together to demand change & to make hope normal again."

Shabana Mahmood says Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson can 'sod off'

Shabana Mahmood has said Nigel Farage to "sod off" after the Reform UK leader accused the Home Secretary of copying his policies on curbing illegal migration.

She told Sky News: "I am not interested in anything he has to say. He’s making mischief, so I’m not going to let him live rent-free in my head. Just because he said something doesn’t mean to say that I have to respond to it.

"The Reform Party currently has a policy to rip up indefinite leave to remain for those who have been long-term settled in our country. That is immoral. It’s deeply shameful, and it is the wrong policy."

When asked about Tommy Robinson's proclaimed support for her plans, she said: "That individual, he can sod off too."

WATCH: Nigel Farage takes swipe at 'Oxbridge careerists' in the Labour Party amid row over asylum shake-up

Labour Party chair responds to Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch's pre-Budget speeches

Anna Turley MP has slammed both Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch, saying "their plans don't add up and would be a disaster for Britain".

It comes after the Tories and Reform UK held pre-Budget press conferences on Tuesday.

"Reform and the Tories can argue all they like about who will return us to austerity faster - the fact is their plans don’t add up and would be a disaster for Britain," the Labour Party chair said.

"Nigel Farage is happy to trigger a trade war with Europe, hammering shoppers at the checkouts with higher prices and undoing the work the Labour Government has done to drive prices down through three landmark international trade deals.

"Kemi Badenoch's plan to bring forward £47billion of cuts would mean money drained out of your local hospital, your child's school, and your local police. Families who are still bearing the brunt of Liz Truss' mortgage-smashing mini-Budget can't afford to pay the price for more of the same old Tory mistakes.

"Labour's Budget will take the fair choices to deliver strong foundations for our economy and secure our country’s future, with no return to austerity and no borrowing beyond our means."

Reform UK joke about Kemi Badenoch's press conference

Kemi Badenoch’s press conference right now. pic.twitter.com/5KIYHNp1RE

— Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) November 18, 2025

Shadow Chancellor says Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer lack 'backbone to act'

Mel Stride has told the press conference that the "Budget is about choices".

"Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer have shown when it comes to controlling the benefits bill, they lack either the inclination or the backbone to act," the Shadow Chancellor said.

"In the summer, Labour made a panicked and unfunded U-turn on their welfare changes, which as Kemi has set out left a £5billion black hole in our public finances.

"Let’s be clear, even if those savings had been delivered, they would still have seen the benefits bill continuing to skyrocket. But incredibly, the Government have now effectively ruled out making any further attempts at savings."

​Kemi Badenoch pledges Tory Government will bring back two-child benefit cap

Kemi Badenoch said the Tories will be the only party that would maintain the two-child benefit cap.

She told the press conference that the "Conservatives believe in the fairness of the two-child benefit cap".

"Every single other party in politics - the Lib Dems, the Greens, and even Reform want to scrap it," Ms Badenoch said.

"Right now, Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf are holding a press conference on how they would save money.

“In reality they want to increase benefits by scrapping the cap, they just don’t get it, none of these parties do. The Conservative Party are the only party in this country committed to living within our means.”

Reform UK Head of Policy accused Labour of "treachery"

Zia Yusuf has accused Labour of "treachery", saying the party was "making the conscious and deliberate decision to continue funding extortionate amounts to foreign nationals".

"To the detriment of British citizens," he added.

"And I don't know what to call that.

"Frankly, my view is treachery. I think it's appalling."

Reform UK's Head of Policy said the British people "are sick and tired of it".

Nigel Farage calls plans to take asylum seekers' items like jewellery is a 'gimmick'

When asked by GB News whether Shabana Mahmood's asylum plans will stop the boats, Nigel Farage said it was "encouraging" in "rhetorical terms".

However, he said he did not believe it will work.

The Reform UK leader said that the proposal, including taking jewellery off people was a "gimmick".

Mr Farage said that in Denmark, where it has been tried, only 17 people had their items removed.

Rachel Reeves will give 'nonsense' Budget story, Kemi Badenoch says

Kemi Badenoch has said she expects the Chancellor to tell a "nonsense" story in next week's Budget.

"Next week Rachel Reeves is going to tell you a story," she said.

"In this story she will be painted as the heroic victim.

"The wicked Tories and the black hole they're somehow creating in the public finances, long after they left office."

Ms Badenoch also pointed out how she expects Ms Reeves to reference Donald Trump's tariffs and Brexit.

"And inflation, which despite her best efforts, keeps rising because of things other people are doing," she added.

"This story is nonsense."

Kemi Badenoch says Labour is making a 'rush of announcements to appease' backbenchers

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is speaking at her party's pre-budget news conference, taking a swipe at Sir Keir Starmer.

"Last week we had the farce of the Prime Minister accidentally firing the starting gun on the race to replace him, shooting himself in both feet in the process," she said.

"So now, instead of trying to make savings in the Budget, we are seeing a rush of announcements to appease Labour backbenchers and try to sure-up his position.

"Just a few months ago, Rachel Reeves was saying she couldn’t afford to scrap the two-child benefit cap. Now it looks like it is becoming her latest U-turn. So far from bringing down her welfare bill, she is going to add another £3.5billion to it.”

She added: “We need to call this out for what it is - Labour are raising taxes to pay for Keir Starmer’s weakness on welfare. All this Government is delivering is higher taxes and out-of-control spending and nobody voted for this. The British public don’t want higher welfare spending, they want people in work providing for themselves.”

Nigel Farage says Rachel Reeves is 'hopelessly out of her depth'

Nigel Farage has taken aim at Rachel Reeves.

The Reform UK leader said: "We have a Chancellor hopelessly out of her depth".

"Out of her depth to a level that frankly is embarrassing," he added.

"It was Lee Anderson that called her Rachel from accounts during PMQs sometime ago."

Nigel Farage: 'Markets are increasingly nervous'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is delivering his party's budget plan and declared that the "markets are increasingly nervous".

He then took a swipe at Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, saying he "thinks that doesn't matter".

"But actually ... the markets are increasingly powerful as Liz Truss's Government found to their cost," Mr Farage added.

Housing Secretary wants to get 'building going' in the UK

Steve Reed MP has told GB News that it was time to get "building going in this country".

"We've got train stations with very little development around them within the vicinity of towns or cities where jobs are available," he said.

"Why would we not want to build homes there?"

The Housing Secretary said communities can be built there and it is a way to fix the housing crisis.

Labour intends on reducing number of illegal immigrants crossing the border, Steve Reed says

Steve Reed MP said Labour intends on reducing the number of small boat crossings next year.

"I think (everybody) got fed up with the previous Government putting out targets for how they're going to reduce the number of illegal immigration, they put out those targets and they failed," he said.

Mr Reed said Labour was not going to make the same mistake.

"We're going to put in place the measures, we are going to make sure those measures have an impact," he said.

By removing incentives, Mr Reed said that would help reduce the number of people crossing.

Steve Reed declares 'I'm on the side of the British public'

The Housing Secretary has told GB News that all Labour MPs were elected "on a manifesto that committed to securing our borders" and he was "on the side of the British public".

"It's a very important issue for the British public, and it's something this Government is determined to deliver change on," Steve Reed said.

He added that it was time to end this "vile trade in human trafficking".

Mr Reed said it was to also "stop the risk of a loss to life".

Conservatives will support Labour's bid to strengthen borders, Helen Whately says

Helen Whately declared the Conservatives will "support thing that are in the national interest".

"We think it is in the national interest to have stronger borders," she added.

"We will support them to make progress on controlling immigration and making progress in stopping the boats."

Ms Whately said it will be important given "lots of Labour backbenchers won't support this".

"Yes we will support them ... but I don't think they will go far enough," she said.

Helen Whately welcomes Labour's asylum plans, but declares Labour is not going far enough

The Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions told GB News that it has taken Labour "over a year to recognise" there was a problem with illegal migration.

"They've done nothing about it," Helen Whately said.

"In fact it's got worse under them in Government."

Ms Whately acknowledged that the Government was "listening" and she welcomed "any steps they are taking to tighten up and stop the boats and control immigration".

She added that she believes Labour is "still not going far enough" and that Shabana Mahmood will find it difficult to fulfil the plans.

Labour's 'trojan horse' could bring 'even more people into the country', Zia Yusuf says

Zia Yusuf told GB News that amongst all the "fireworks and distraction" with Labour's asylum reforms, there was a "trojan horse".

"What was also there was a new safe and legal routes program with an unspecified cap," Reform UK's Head of Policy said.

"So Labour also trojan horsing a new asylum program to bring even more people into the country and there even unwilling to put a cap on it."

When asked if Reform UK was concerned that if Labour's plans actually worked the party would lose popularity in Britain, Mr Yusuf said "we'd be delighted".

"We actually want to see improvement in this situation," he said.

However, Mr Yusuf said that the only reason Shabana Mahmood has "come out guns blazing in terms of rhetoric is because Reform has made this such a big issue".

Zia Yusuf jokes Shabana Mahmood should defect to Reform UK if she 'really wants to stop the boats'

Reform UK's Head of Policy referenced a "tongue in cheek" comment made by Nigel Farage, saying if Shabana Mahmood "really wants to stop the boats" she should put in an application to defect to the party.

It comes after Zia Yusuf spoke on Labour's plans for asylum reforms.

Mr Yusuf said backbench MPs within the Labour party had already come out in opposition to the reforms as well as a portion who had called "their own Home Secretary racist".

Zia Yusuf slams Labour's asylum plans, saying 'rhetoric does not change the laws'

Reform UK's Head of Policy Zia Yusuf has told GB News that all Shabana Mahmood has "at the moment is rhetoric" as he answered a question about Labour's planned asylum reforms.

"Rhetoric does not change the laws," he said.

"Rhetoric will not prevent judges from frustrating deportations of even foreign nationals who have committed the most heinous crimes such as murder."

Mr Yusuf said that the reforms are "not going to see the light of day" and the legislation will not get passed.

"We haven't yet seen a bill," he said.

"We've already had I think 17 ... backbench Labour MPs publicly come out and condemn the proposals."

Poll: Do you approve of the Home Secretary’s tougher asylum reforms?

On Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood outlined some of Labour's strongest-ever proposals to solve Britain's crisis-ridden asylum system.

Her plans include:

• Cutting the time refugees are initially granted to stay in the UK from five years to 30 months - which can only be extended if it is not safe for them to return;
• Refugees will have to spend 20 years in Britain before being allowed to apply for settled status, up from five years;
• There will be no automatic right to family reunion for refugees under core protection;
• "Asylum seekers" will no longer have their housing and weekly allowances guaranteed - and those who can work or have valuable assets will have to contribute to their costs in the UK;
• Families with children may also be subject to enforced returns under measures to remove those with no right to be in the UK.

Kemi Badenoch: Rachel Reeves will drop a 'stealth tax bombshell' on millions in Budget

As well as Reform UK, the Chancellor is fending off attacks from the Conservatives this morning.

Kemi Badenoch will today warn that Rachel Reeves is set to drop a "stealth tax bombshell" on millions of Britons at her "nightmare before Christmas" Budget in eight days' time.

The Tory boss will use a press conference today to launch a fierce attack on the Chancellor's anticipated Budget measures - with some analysts predicting an extension to the existing freeze on tax thresholds.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

As Reform UK plots raid on Britain's ballooning aid budget... Yvette Cooper demands Gaza SPLURGE

Shortly after Reform UK's plans to slash foreign aid and make foreigners "bear the brunt" of the "black hole" were made public, Yvette Cooper demanded that Gaza be "flooded" with tax-funded donations, food and more.

Ms Cooper has called for a major increase in aid for the strip of land after the UK backed a UN Security Council resolution to implement Donald Trump's peace plan there.

She said the resolution "emphasises the importance of increased humanitarian aid that is still desperately needed in Gaza".

"We must now have urgent action to open all the crossings, lift restrictions and flood Gaza with aid. And we must keep up progress for a two-state solution with peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians side by side," she said.

Keir Starmer: 'I WILL lead Labour into next General Election'

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed he will lead Labour into the next General Election - despite last week's alleged leadership challenges and his plummeting personal approval ratings.

The embattled Prime Minister told The Mirror on Monday that "every minute that's not spent talking about and dealing with the cost of living is a minute wasted of the political work of this Government".

He added: "That's my response to last week. I remain utterly focused on what matters to me most, which is bearing down on the cost of living and making people feel better off.

"I'm very conscious of the fact that people want to get on in life, they want to progress, they want more money in their pocket to do the things that matter to them."

RECAP: Shabana Mahmood refuses to say whether her asylum overhaul will slash number of illegal migrants making way into Britain

Shabana Mahmood refused to say that her new asylum crackdown would cause a drop in numbers of illegal migrants entering Britain as she faced a grilling from GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope.

Pressed repeatedly on whether her sweeping asylum reforms would cut small boat crossings, the Home Secretary declined to make any firm commitment, but insisted she “wants to see them fall”.

Ms Mahmood said: “I want to implement these reforms as quickly as possible… judge me on delivery. I want to get those boat crossings down, but I’m not going to set arbitrary targets.”

Chopper told her GB News viewers will be “frustrated” by her refusal to say the numbers will drop, saying she could only “hope they will".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE