Keir Starmer hints UK ready to hit back at US as Donald Trump tariff row escalates

Peter Mandelson's arrest is 'defining moment' for Keir Starmer, says Kemi Badenoch 

Kemi Badenoch has said Peter Mandelson's arrest marks a "defining moment" for Sir Keir Starmer.

The former UK ambassador to the US was arrested today on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Tory party leader Mrs Badenoch said: "Mandelson's arrest is the defining moment of Keir Starmer's premiership. It wasn't long ago the PM looked me in the eye at PMQs and said he had 'full confidence' in Mandelson.

"Time to release the Mandelson files in full. We must know who knew what and when. No more delays."

Mandelson has not responded to previous requests for comment, but GB News understands that prior to his arrest, his position was that he has not acted criminally and did not act for personal gain.

Labour minister defends Keir Starmer over 'swift action' against Peter Mandelson 

Education minister Jacqui Smith has defended Sir Keir Starmer over "swift action" taken against Peter Mandelson.

The Prime Minister sacked Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the US last September.

Speaking after Mandelson's arrest this afternoon, Ms Smith told Sky News: "The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that he wants full transparency about the process of appointing Peter Mandelson as well as reviewing the way in which those appointments, particularly the vetting, happens.

"The Prime Minister took swift action against Peter Mandelson when the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein became clear and he is now making sure that the information and the messages around that are being release as effectively as possible whilst of course not prejudicing any investigations that are underway at the moment."

Mandelson was arrested today on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The 72-year-old has not responded to previous requests for comment, but GB News understands that prior to his arrest, his position was that he has not acted criminally and did not act for personal gain.

Peter Mandelson arrested as former minister pictured being escorted by police amid Epstein investigation

Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has been arrested as police have been pictured escorting him from his home.

The 72-year-old was seen being escorted by police this afternoon.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

"He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, February 23, and has been taken to a London police station for interview.

"This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

WATCH: Darren Jones tells MPs documents relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador could be released in 'early March' 

Labour minister under investigation as new scandal rocks Keir Starmer

A Labour minister is under investigation in yet another scandal to hit Sir Keir Starmer's party.

Cabinet Office minister and MP for Makerfield Josh Simons, who was running the think-tank Labour Together, allegedly paid for a probe into the background of critical journalists.

The Prime Minister has asked his independent adviser on ministerial standards, Laurie Magnus, to examine Mr Simons’s conduct.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Zack Polanski claims Britons have 'moved on' from migration

Zack Polanski has said Britons have "moved on" from immigration as he blasted Reform UK for "desperate posturing."

The Green Party leader was speaking as Nigel Farage's party announced "Polanski's Law", that would make aiding and abetting illegal entry into the UK a criminal offence, regardless of intent.

Mr Polanski said: "The public will see right through this desperate posturing from Reform.

"Voters across the country are beginning to realise that on the real issues facing people, spiralling bills, the daily struggle to meet ends meet, rising unemployment, Reform have nothing to offer.

"All they can do is desperately try to drag the conversation back to migration, but the public have moved on"

Martin Lewis apologises to Kemi Badenoch for 'gate crashing' student loan debate to attack Tory solution

Martin Lewis has apologised to Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch after "gate crashing" a television appearance this morning and slamming her plan to tackle student loan debt.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Ms Badenoch was discussing the Tories' proposal to cut the interest charged on Plan 2 student loans, which apply to most graduates who studied in England between 2012 and 2023.

The Conservative plan would cap interest at the rate of inflation (RPI), removing the current system where borrowers can be charged up to RPI plus three per cent, which often causes debts to grow even while repayments are being made.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Chris Philp calls decision not to section Valdo Calocane 'diabolical' 

Chris Philp has called the decision not to section Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane "diabolical".

The Shadow Home Secretary said: "Valdo Calocane was not sectioned following a violent psychotic attack because mental health workers had considered the 'over representation of young black men in custody.'

"He went on to kill three people. Decisions should NEVER be made on this basis."

Reform UK’s deportation command will not face same issues as Ice in US, says Zia Yusuf

Reform UK’s proposed agency to carry out mass deportations of migrants with no right to be in the country will not become like Donald Trump’s Ice programme in the US, its home affairs spokesman has said.

Zia Yusuf said it is "not true" that the party’s plans for a UK Deportation Command will face the same issues as US president Mr Trump’s body, which saw an immigration crackdown in Minnesota lead to mass detentions, protests and two deaths.

Under a Reform government, the party would set up the unit to "track down, detain and deport" people in the country illegally, aiming for up to 288,000 people each year.

Mr Yusuf said it was "very tempting" and "somewhat inevitable" for people to make the comparison between Reform’s model and the US.

However, he insisted the UK does not have the same problems with firearms and policing is "much more" done by consent.

Downing Street defends Chagos deal

Downing Street has defended the Chagos Islands deal as being in the interests of the US as well as Britain, after Donald Trump criticised the agreement and threw its future into doubt.

Asked about the US President’s remarks that Sir Keir Starmer should not “give away Diego Garcia”, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the Government "had to take action to protect our military advantage and stop our adversaries getting a foothold in such a strategically important part of the world."

He added: "Refusing to act could expose one of our most valuable military assets to China. So like any responsible Government would, we negotiated a deal to protect our interests.

"Let’s not forget, it was the last government that started these negotiations over two years ago.

"That’s why they held 11 rounds of talks that form the backbone of the deal that the Government has concluded. They made the key concession of offering to give up sovereignty, from which there was no coming back."

He continued: "Maintaining control of Diego Garcia is the entire basis for the agreement we have reached.

"It means we retain our control. It protects against legal challenges to its operation and locks out our adversaries from being able to compromise its operation.

"It is the only way to ensure that the base remains secure and operational for the long term. "

Keir Starmer left in 'weak' negotiating position, claims Nigel Farage

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is in a weak negotiating position with Donald Trump after blocking the US from using British military bases to strike Iran, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said.

The US President has threatened to impose 15 per cent global tariffs in the wake of his defeat in the US Supreme Court.

Mr Farage told broadcasters: "The Trump tariffs, as announced a couple of days ago, will hurt us, which just goes to show that the relationship between us and Trump really matters.

"He’s going to be there for several more years to come, and I’m not sure this Prime Minister now is in a very strong position with Donald Trump.

"I think telling the Americans that they can’t use bases on UK soil to attack the appalling Iranian regime now puts us in a very, very bad place.

"I would suggest on tariffs right now, we don’t have a negotiating position."

Britain's support for Ukraine remains 'stronger than ever' says Downing Street

Britain’s support for Ukraine is "stronger than ever", Downing Street has said ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "We’ve been consistent about Putin’s position in all of this.

"Russia is not winning this war. It will not win this war. Ukraine’s courage continues to defend our shared values.

"We mustn’t forget that Russia is the one stalling and backtracking while depraved attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks have plunged millions into freezing temperatures and darkness and starving families and children of the basic necessities.

"With tomorrow’s anniversary looming, our message to the Ukrainian people today is simple: Britain is with you, stronger than ever"

Zia Yusuf backs face covering ban after quitting party last year over 'Burka ban'

Zia Yusuf said he backs a ban on "all face coverings in public" when asked by a reporter if he supported a Burka ban.

Last year, Mr Yusuf briefly quit the party after he described a question to the Prime Minister about a ban on burkas as "dumb."

He told a press conference: "I personally support a ban on all face coverings in public… that’s actually a piece of legislation that has multiple bonuses to it because it’s going to aid integrations, it’s also going to help people feel safe."

William Hague says over 60s are the 'luckiest generation in history'

Lord William Hague has claimed Britons in their sixties are the "luckiest generation" in history as he called for more support for young people entering the jobs market.

The former Conservative leader and Chancellor at the University of Oxford said young people were "systematically losing out in the economy".

Lord Hague, who led the Tories from 1997 to 2001, told the Financial Times: "My generation [those in their sixties] . . . we are the luckiest generation that has ever lived, in multiple ways, but partly because we’ve lived through this period where all the house prices went up.

"We still got defined benefit pension schemes...and we [went to university] before student loans.

"There is going to have to be a national conversation about the economic position of young people, and that is going to have to take into account that my generation is on the whole, historically speaking, quite well off."

WATCH: Christopher Hope questions Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson

Australian Prime Minister writes to Keir Starmer saying he would back removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession

The Australian Prime Minister has written to Sir Keir Starmer to say his Government would back "any proposal" to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.

The former prince was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being accused of sharing sensitive information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.

In his statement to Prime Minister Sir Keir, Anthony Albanese said Andrew was facing "grave allegations" adding: "Australians take them seriously."

Reform UK confirms plans to scrap Equality Act

Suella Braverman has confirmed Reform UK will scrap the Equality Act, which she dubbed as "Orwellian".

Writing in The Telegraph, Reform's education spokeswoman said: "Our nation cannot cohere if our laws encourage our citizens to see one another through the prism of group identity.

"Nor can we flourish if merit becomes secondary to entitlement. The Great Britain in which I believe is one where everyone, regardless of race, religion, class or disability can reach as high as their effort, character and talent may take them.

"The task now is not to abandon equality, but to rescue it: to restore a culture focussed on personal responsibility, not victimhood; excellence, not mediocrity; and unity, not division."

WATCH: Nigel Farage claims 'nobody has done more to defeat the genuine intolerant, abhorrent, extreme far-right than me'

What are Reform's eight points announced today?

Reform UK's Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf has pledged that a Reform UK Government would:

• Deliver net negative immigration
• Apply visa bans on countries that refuse to take back their illegal migrants
• Leave the European Convention on Human Rights
• Extend Stop and Search
• Automatically list historic churches "preventing alterations affecting their historic character"
• Make aiding and abetting illegal entry into the UK a criminal offence, regardless of intent (dubbed 'Polanski's Law', named after the Green Party Leader, Zack Polanski)
• Proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Muslim Brotherhood
• Overhaul the Prevent programme so "where an individual is referred by three separate corroborating authorities, they will automatically and without exception be subject to a thorough physical search of their homes."

Bridget Phillipson says 'inclusion is a choice' as she lays out Send reforms

The Education Secretary said: "Inclusion is a choice.

"It is an educational choice, and it is also a political choice because we could duck this challenge, ignore the injustice of a postcode lottery in life chances putting off fixing the Send system yet again.

"The system works well for some at least.

"[But] that’s just not good enough. Our moment calls for courage because before us [there is a] once in a generation chance for change."

Zia Yusuf says there is a 'national security emergency' at Britain's borders

Reform UK’s Home Affairs Spokesman said: "Decades of Tory and Labour betrayal have broken Britain.

"There is a national security emergency at our borders, an epidemic of knife crime on our streets, public services collapsing under the weight of mass immigration and Islamist extremism being allowed to spread.

“Only Reform UK will do what is needed to fix our country. We will secure our borders, deport those here illegally, get the knives off our streets and make you feel safe."

Zia Yusuf says 'this country has given me every opportunity' as he lays out Reform's immigration plans

Reform's Home Affairs Spokesman told a press conference: "I'm the son of immigrants myself.

"My parents came here in the early 1980s, and when they did, they had to travel to where the work was. My mother frequently told me how welcoming the people of Britain had been to them.

"My childhood memories are punctuated with stories of the warmth and generosity shown to my parents. This country has given me every opportunity."

Labour outlines plans to expand rights for special education children pledging to 'end system that has traumatised too many families'

Labour has unveiled sweeping reforms to special educational needs provision, vowing to dismantle a system it says has caused widespread distress to families across England.

Over a million pupils with additional needs will gain new legally enforceable rights under the proposals, which introduce mandatory Individual Support Plans (ISP) for all children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

At present, over 70 per cent of schoolchildren requiring extra assistance have no legal entitlements whatsoever.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Nigel Farage says there is 'overwhelming support' for stopping the boats

Nigel Farage had said there is "overwhelming support" for stopping the boats as he blasted previous Labour and Conservative immigration plans.

The Reform UK leader said: "There is overwhelming support for stopping the boats.

"But what do we get? A failed Rwanda scheme, judges in Strasbourg stopping aeroplanes taking off.

"We've had every single Prime Minister since David Cameron saying clearly if you come into this country illegally you will be removed."

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson lays out Send change

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is delivering a speech on the vast reforms to the system that supports children with special educational needs and disabilities.

She said: "High standards and inclusion, it is not one or the other, its both.

"Standards are not high if some children are left to struggle alone

"I am for every child and that means change."

Keir Starmer says Send reforms offer 'a better education for every single child'

Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted the reforms to offer "a better education for every single child."

The Prime Minister said he was "very keen" on offering a broader curriculum “giving children the chance to do things they wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to do, including a broader curriculum that allows them to play music, to study art and drama, to be included in other things that allow them to build the confidence that they need."

He said Labour was recruiting 6,500 teachers and cracking down on children missing school.

The Prime Minister said: "We say we want better education. We say we want every child to have the best opportunity they can have. That cannot happen if they’re not even in school.

"You can’t have high standards if you don’t have inclusion, they’re two sides of the same coin, and therefore we have to reform special educational needs.

"This is the issue that’s come up at Prime Minister’s Questions more than any other, from all political parties in all parts of the country.

"That is really unusual, and that tells you something about the fact that the system does not work as it is."

Reform will deport every single illegal migrant in radical visa system shake-up, Zia Yusuf says

Every single illegal migrant faces deportation under a Reform UK government, Zia Yusuf has told GB News.

The party’s home affairs spokesman is set to unveil radical plans to overhaul Britain’s immigration system.

He told Ellie Costello and Cameron Walker on GB News Breakfast he is doing so with the ultimate aim of removing every illegal migrant from the country.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Nottingham attacks enquiry to begin today

The families of the Nottingham attacks victims have said the upcoming inquiry "represents a critical turning point in our pursuit of truth and justice."

Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, and attempted to kill three more people in Nottingham in June 2023.

An inquiry is set to begin today, with the families of the victims saying the probe is about "holding those who neglected their jobs to account."

Prosecutors, police and medical professionals are due to be scrutinised by the two-year public inquiry, which will be chaired by senior retired judge Deborah Taylor.

Labour minister says money for disabled students has been 'spent in the wrong place'

Labour's School Standards minister said money has been going "to the wrong place" as she prepared to announce reforms to children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

When asked at what point does spending on Send become fiscally unsustainable, Georgia Gould said: "The first thing to say is there is more need for support in the system.

"What they're not seeing is that early intervention and support.

"There is money going in but some of that money has been spent in the wrong places.

"We have seen private equity backed independent schools making excessive profits off the back of some of these vulnerable people. That is unacceptable."

Welsh First Minister: Reform UK offers 'anger not answers'

The First Minister of Wales has said Reform UK offers "anger not answers" as she blasted Nigel Farage's party.

Labour's Eluned Morgan was speaking as her party languishes in third place behind Nigel Farage's party and Plaid Cymru, who have been neck-and-neck in the Senedd polls.

She told The New Statesman: "I understand that people are frustrated. I understand that people want things fixed quicker but I don’t think Reform will offer answers. What they offer is anger", adding that handing over Wales to Nigel Farage’s party was "one hell of a risk."

The First Minister also blasted Plaid Cymru, saying Rhun ap Iorwerth's party was "ultimately interested in separating from the rest of the UK and I think that is extremely dangerous for our country."

WATCH: Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson speaks to GB News

Conservative Shadow Minister backs Reform's immigration plans

A Conservative Shadow Minister told GB News the Tories would back plans to freeze visa applications from some countries

Shadow Policy Renewal Minister Neil O’Brien told The People's Channel: "That's something we announced months ago. So this is something we would support as we announced it in the first place.

"Where countries won't take back foreign nationals who are visa overstayers or criminals, obviously we shouldn't be granting them new visas if they're not going to be helpful to us in any way."

Your Party leadership elections to close today

The leadership elections for Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's Your Party closes today.

Last month, it was reported in the New Statesman if Jeremy Corbyn’s slate wins, named "The Many", then he will be elected parliamentary leader, in a blow to Ms Sultana's Grassroots Left slate.

WATCH: Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza reacts to a government white paper that will increase SEND funding for schools by

Donald Trump hikes global tariffs to 15% as Labour promises to secure 'best possible deal' with White House

Senior Labour Government discussions are continuing in response to Donald Trump's declaration of 15 per cent tariffs on imports worldwide, with ministers seeking the most favourable outcome for British companies.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson conceded that firms face a period of doubt following the US President's announcement, but maintained that the UK anticipates its advantageous trading terms with America will remain intact.

This weekend, the Labour minister said: "We, through the work that the Prime Minister has been leading in engaging with the US Government and with President Trump, we would hope and expect that to continue, but these discussions are ongoing."

Our Money Reporter Patrick O'Donnell has taken a deep dive into the figures here.

Zia Yusuf says today's immigration announcement is 'the least that should be done'

Zia Yusuf told GB News: "This is the least that should be done and it is data driven.

"The Pakistani Government has consistently refused to take people back, they haven't even taken the most egregious and despicable of the grooming gang members.

"It's not just Pakistan there's a host of other countries we have announced today.

"What we are saying is if we are going to continue to issue visas, which is a privilege not a right, then the very least we should expect is those countries reciprocate by taking back the people who are in our country illegally."

Here's what's happening as MPs return to Westminster from recess

Good morning and happy Monday, here's what's happening today in Westminster and beyond.

MPs will be flooding back into the Commons today after an eventful half-term recess.

Labour is set to unveil its plans for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) later today.

We'll be joined by the School Standards Minister Georgia Gould later this morning on GB News Breakfast.

Overnight, Keir Starmer was accused of letting suspected child sex offenders off with a warning note while in charge of Crown Prosecution Service. Our reporter Oliver Partridge has the story here.

A GB News investigation has found that Labour pressing ahead with 2030 net zero targets across the Welsh public sector could cost more than £13billion. Keith Bays has the exclusive story here.

New polling has found has than half of Britons think Labour is too busy policing people's lives instead of tackling the cost-of-living crisis. Peter Stevens has the write up here.

As well as Mr Yusuf announcing Reform's deportation scheme, we'll be joined by Shadow Policy Renewal Minister Neil O’Brien.