Greens and Liberal Democrats voice opposition to Digital ID cards - 'Fundamentally at odds with British values and civil liberties'

The Greens have said proposals to bring in digital ID cards are "fundamentally at odds with British values".

Former leader and Brighton Pavilion MP Sian Berry said: "After being used in WW2 compulsory ID cards were abolished in 1952 because of the widespread sentiment that they are fundamentally at odds with British values and civil liberties.

"That was true then, and it's true now."

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat science and tech spokesperson Victoria Collins, said: "[We] cannot support a mandatory digital ID where people are forced to turn over their private data just to go about their daily lives.

"People shouldn't be turned into criminals just because they can't have a digital ID, or choose not to."

Sir Keir Starmer will 'lead from the front' as he brands Conservative Party 'basically dead'

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will "lead from the front" into the next general election while branding the Conservative Party “basically dead".

The Prime Minister urged "reasonable,tolerant, decent" voters to reject the "politics of grievance" promoted by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

He said he was "proud" of what ministers had achieved since their landslide general election victory last summer and refused to "get drawn into" reports of plots against him.

Jeremy Corbyn comes out against digital ID cards - 'Affront to civil liberties'

Jeremy Corbyn has come out against digital ID cards, saying the idea "must be resisted."

The Your Party co-leader said: "I firmly oppose the government’s plans for compulsory digital ID cards.

"This is an affront to our civil liberties, and will make the lives of minorities even more difficult and dangerous. It is excessive state interference, and must be resisted."

Conservative MP slams Boris over migration comments - 'Betrayal of Brexit'

A Conservative MP said he is "dumbfounded" by comments made by his former leader, Boris Johnson about his party's record on migration.

Windsor MP Jack Ranking told The Express: "The gigantic increase in non-European immigration caused by Boris' policies was a betrayal of Brexit, a betrayal of voters, and has caused immense economic and cultural harm.

"This issue is the number one reason for the cratering of trust in my party and, more importantly, is pulling deeply at the social contract in our country.

"The Boriswave must be undone: [Indefinite Leave to Remain] needs immediate reform."

Every UK adult will need digital ID under Keir Starmer's plan to tackle illegal migration

Every UK adult will need a newly-issued digital identity card as part of plans to curb Channel crossings, Sir Keir Starmer is expected to confirm.

The Prime Minister is preparing to announce his support for the scheme in a keynote speech tomorrow.

The card, which is reportedly called a "Brit Card", is expected to be able to verify an individual’s right to live and work in the UK.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

WATCH: Manchester locals back 'beacon of the North' Andy Burnham for PM

Manchester locals have backed Andy Burnham to take on Keir Starmer and become Prime Minister, declaring him a "beacon of the North".

Speaking to GB News, residents threw their support behind the Greater Manchester Mayor stating he's "got to be better than Starmer".

Addressing calls for him to mount a leadership challenge, Mr Burnham admitted Labour MPs have been "getting in touch".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Major union refuses to back either candidate for Labour deputy leadership 

Unite has confirmed it will not nominate either Bridget Phillipson or Lucy Powell in Labour’s deputy leadership election.

General ecretary Sharon Graham said: "Britain needs change, not more of the same. Workers are leaving labour in droves and tinkering will not stem the tide. Unfortunately, this election does not offer the alternative that Britain needs.

"For everyday people, it is irrelevant. Labour must deliver real change.

"We need huge investment into our crumbling infrastructure and our public services, a pay rise for British workers and end to the private profiteering that helps drive inflation."

Rachel Reeves maintains support for Prime Minister amid Andy Burnham row

Rachel Reeves has said she still supports the Prime Minister despite recent comments about Andy Burnham.

The Chancellor told Sky News: "We have seen this film a few times before. When Keir ran for the leadership, people said that Labour couldn’t come back from the catastrophic defeat at the 2019 election, then people said he couldn’t overturn that huge Conservative majority.

"He won a landslide victory just over a year ago, and Keir and the whole government are focusing on the change that the country voted for,

"In the same way that this government are delivering change, I know that Andy is focused on delivering change in Greater Manchester."

Top Keir Starmer staff member resigns from position 

Keir Starmer’s Director of Communications, Steph Driver, has resigned from her position.

She was appointed to the role in March earlier this year.

It is the latest in a growing list of top staff members abandoning the Prime Minister.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Nigel Farage branded 'threat to UK national security' by Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson has slammed Nigel Farage as a threat to national security, claiming he had "serious concerns" about Reform UK's approach to the economy and to national security.

"My concerns, and they are serious concerns, are about the approach to the economy of the Reform Party and the approach to our national security," the former Prime Minister told Harry Cole Saves the West.

"I think both of those will be severely tested in the years ahead, and people want serious answers, and I think that the answers are going to be Conservative answers."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Two more migrants deported to France under 'one in, one out' deal

Two more people have been removed to France under the UK Government’s “one in, one out” deal, bringing the total to six so far.

An Afghan and a Somali were sent back to the continent on Thursday morning, it is understood.

Others deported last week were from Iran, Afghanistan, Eritrea and India.

The deal with France means people who arrive in the UK by small boat can be detained and returned across the Channel, in exchange for an equivalent number of people who applied and were approved through a safe and legal route.

WATCH: Housing Secretary Steve Reed talks to GB News  

Education Secretary gets backing from second union to become Labour's deputy leader

Bridget Phillipson has received the backing of a second union to become Labour's deputy leader.

Unison described the Education Secretary as a “strong, persuasive and passionate” voice at the top of the party.

The decision was taken by the union’s Labour Link committee, made up of representatives from across the country who are also members of the party.

Linda Hobson, chairwoman of Unison’s Labour Link committee, said: “The Labour Party was fortunate to have two such strong candidates standing for deputy leader.

“Bridget will be a strong, persuasive and passionate voice at the top of the party to help steer the change that people voted for.

“She has a clear understanding of unions and will be a powerful voice for Unison members working across public services.”

GMB Union backs Bridget Phillipson to become Labour deputy leader

GMB Union, one of the country's biggest trade unions, has backed Bridget Phillipson’s bid to become the deputy leader of the Labour Party.

Gary Smith, GMB general secretary, said in a statement: “We are pleased to nominate Bridget Phillipson for Labour deputy leader.

“We’re proud that she’s been a GMB member for 20 years.

“GMB represents more than 100,000 school support staff.

“Labour’s pledge to reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body is vital in delivering a fairer playing field of wages and qualifications for people who have been undervalued for far too long.

“We look forward to Bridget delivering on Labour’s promise.”

Ms Phillipson said it was "humbling" to receive backing from her union.

Rachel Reeves urged to hike gambling taxes to fund axing two-child benefit cap

Rachel Reeves is under growing pressure to raise taxes on gambling firms to cover the cost of lifting the two-child benefit cap.

More than 100 Labour MPs have signed a letter to the Chancellor as she prepares for the autumn Budget, urging her to scrap the limit long blamed for keeping children in poverty.

This could be paid for with a “targeted levy on harmful online gambling products”, which would “support the government’s manifesto pledge to reduce gambling-related harm and enable vital action to alleviate child poverty”, the MPs wrote.

They argued that the UK’s effective tax rate on remote gambling “is significantly lower than in many comparable jurisdictions”.

The two-child benefit cap, widely unpopular among Labour members, remains in place more than a year after Labour took office, making it a key issue at the party conference starting in Liverpool on Sunday.

The issue has also been central to the contest to succeed Angela Rayner as deputy leader, with both candidates Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell suggesting the limit should be abolished.

Crown Court backlog hits record high, new figures show

New figures released today show the Crown Court backlog has hit a record high.

The statistics from the Ministry of Justice show the number of open Crown Court cases reached a series peak of 78,329 at the end of June, up two per cent from 76,957 at the end of March, when the backlog passed 75,000 for the first time.

It is also up 10 per cent from 70,893 a year earlier, the figures show.

Some 19,164 cases had been open for at least a year at the end of June, up 17 per cent from 16,378 a year earlier and the highest since current data began.

Open caseload refers to the number of outstanding cases.

Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, said: "We inherited a justice system that has let down victims time and time again, and this Government is determined to right that wrong.

“Today’s statistics show the Crown Court backlog has hit a new record high and it lays bare the unacceptable wait victims face.

“That’s why since we came to power we have invested a record amount into our courts so we can deliver swifter justice for victims.

"However, money alone cannot turn the tide on the rising backlog which is why we asked Sir Brian Leveson to propose bold and ambitious reform, to put our justice system back on sustainable ground.”

UK bosses make surprise call for income tax hike as Rachel Reeves told to 'stop fiddling while Britain burns' 

Rachel Reeves has been urged to "stop fiddling while the UK burns" and increase income tax to fix the public finances.

The Institute of Directors has made an extraordinary appeal for higher income taxes, abandoning its traditional position of championing reduced taxation.

This volte-face from the organisation, which represents nearly 20,000 members from major corporations to smaller enterprises, reflects growing alarm about Britain's economic trajectory.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Nigel Farage and Richard Tice demand 'urgent debate' in Parliament after Bank of England meeting

Nigel Farage has demanded an urgent debate in Parliament following a meeting with Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey.

The Reform UK leader wrote to X: "Richard Tice and I met with the Governor of the Bank of England.

"He welcomed discussion on QE (quantitive easing) which causes multi-billion taxpayer losses.

"We are demanding an urgent debate in Parliament."

Zia Yusuf blasts 'worst Prime Minister in our history' Boris Johnson: 'He would do well to disappear from public life'

Reform UK's head of policy, Zia Yusuf, has branded Boris Johnson the "worst Prime Minister" in Britain's history.

He told GB News: "Boris threw open our borders, shipped in millions of unskilled migrants and brought Britain to its knees by his obsession with net zero.

"He was the worst Prime Minister in our history and would do well to disappear from public life."

Nigel Farage says Bank of England 'turning their back' on cryptocurrency: 'It's madness!'

Nigel Farage has said Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, is standing in the way of Britain becoming a global crypto leader.

The Reform UK leader is meeting with Governor Bailey alongside party deputy leader, Andrew Tice, this morning.

When asked if Governor Bailey is standing in the way of Britain becoming a global crypto leader, he said: "Yes. I mean the whole of the city for centuries has existed, has moved forward with innovation, seeing new products, being at the front of the line.

"And here we are with a massive global development in cryptocurrencies, digital assets, stablecoins, and it seems to me the Bank are turning their back on it completely. It's madness."

Reform UK bags another by-election win 

Reform UK has seen victory in another by-election this week.

A by-election was held in the Thetford Castle ward in Norfolk yesterday.

It followed the resignation of a Labour councillor last month.

The seat was secured by Reform UK candidate Grahame Middleton, who bagged 47.3 per cent of the votes.

Labour meanwhile took home 26.7 per cent of votes, while Conservative fell in third place with 15.1 per cent.

Nigel Farage and Richard Tice visit Bank of England

Nigel Farage and Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice are visiting the Bank of England this morning.

"Just arrived at the Bank of England with Richard Tice to meet Andrew Bailey," Mr Farage posted to X.

Cabinet minister dismisses suggestions Andy Burnham could mount challenge for Labour leadership

A Cabinet minister has dismissed suggestions Andy Burnham could mount a challenge for the Labour leadership as “tittle-tattle”.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed told Times Radio: “I’ve seen this movie before. When we were in opposition, we used to hear similar things about Keir Starmer.

"That was before he picked this party up off the floor and led us into a record-breaking general election victory.

“Now our job is to get on and change the country.”

He added: “Change is what people voted for, change is what we’re going to deliver, and I’m not going to be diverted by tittle-tattle in the papers.”