Reform UK conference LIVE: Nigel Farage promises to stop the boats 'within two weeks of winning' general election

The King approves Keir Starmer's major Cabinet reshuffle 

Downing Street has confirmed that the King has approved a number of appointments as part of Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet reshuffle.

It includes David Lammy as Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary along with his role as Deputy Prime Minister.

Darren Jones as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He will remain Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister

Yvette Cooper as Foreign Secretary and Shabana Mahmood taking her role as Home Secretary.

Steve Reed taking over as the Housing Minister as Pat McFadden assumes the role of Work and Pensions Secretary.

Peter Kyle has been appointed as Business and Trade Secretary while Liz Kendall has moved to Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary.

The Environment Secretary role has been given to Emma Reynolds as Douglas Alexander has been made Scottish Secretary.

Jonathan Reynolds has been made Treasury Secretary and Sir Alan Campbell has been made the Leader of the House of Commons.

It results in Angela Rayner, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray leaving the Government.

Protestors dragged out of Reform UK conference

At least three protestors have been carried out of the Reform UK conference with Nigel Farage heard yelling "boring, boring".

Mr Farage's speech was interrupted by protestors in Birmingham who were physically taken out by security.

The protestors were seen yelling from different sections of the crowd with Mr Farage saying "I don't know what took them so long".

Further reshuffling in Keir Starmer's Cabinet

Pat McFadden has replaced Liz Kendall as Work and Pensions Secretary with his Department also incorporating the skills brief, which currently sits in Education.

Ms Kendall is set to become Tech Secretary as Peter Kyle replaces Jonathan Reynolds as Business Secretary.

Lisa Nandy will stay in the position of Culture Secretary and John Healey will remain as Defence Secretary.

Steve Reed expected to replace Angela Rayner as Housing Secretary

Streatham and Croydon North MP Steve Reed is set to be appointed Housing Secretary after Angela Rayner resigned from the position today.

The MP was previously in the role of Environment Secretary.

David Lammy arrives at Downing Street

After being announced as Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy has been spotted walking up to Downing Street.

He has since switched roles from Foreign Secretary to the Deputy position and Justice Secretary.

David Lammy appoited Deputy Prime Minister

David Lammy has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary after Angela Rayner resigned from the position.

Ms Rayner also resigned from her position as Housing Secretary and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party after admitting she underpaid £40,000 in tax after buying a flat in Hove.

It has prompted Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reshuffle his cabinet with Yvette Cooper switching to Foreign Secretary and Shabana Mahmood taking her position as Home Secretary.

Ian Murray confirms sacking as Scottish Secretary

Ian Murray said he was "hugely disappointed" after confirming he had been sacked as Scottish Secretary.

Mr Murray said it was a "privilege" and the "honour of my life" to serve under Keir Starmer and that he did not want to leave Government.

"I am hugely disappointed to be leaving Government, with so much done and so much more to do," he said.

"But I now look forward to spending a little more time with my wife and two beautiful girls, while continuing to serve the wonderful people of Edinburgh South."

Mr Murray said the Prime Minister would have his "full support" from the backbenches.

PM 'very sad' over Angela Rayner's resignation

The Prime Minister has shared his disappointment in Angela Rayner's "decision to resign from the Government".

In a three-page handwritten letter from Keir Starmer to the former Deputy Prime Minister, he wrote that he was "very sad that your time ... has ended in this way".

"As you know we acted in accordance with the strengthened system relating to ministerial conduct that we put in place on coming into Government," he said.

"You were right to refer yourself to the Independent Adviser ... and right to act on his conclusions."

Lucy Powell departure follows outrage over grooming gang 'dog whistle' comment

Lucy Powell's departure as Commons leader follows outrage after she suggested outrage over grooming gangs was a "dog whistle.

Appearing on the BBC with Reform supporter Tim Montgomerie, he raised a Channel 4 documentary "about rape gangs."

Ms Powell, the MP for Manchester Central replied: "Oh, we want to blow that little trumpet now, do we? Yeah, OK, let’s get that dog whistle out."

The following week, she told MPs: "Can I actually thank him for raising with me what I said in an episode of Any Questions last week, so I can be absolutely clear with the House today, especially to the victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and grooming gangs, that I am very sorry for those remarks."

REVEALED: Lib Dems clinch by-election victory as Reform UK narrowly falls short

The Liberal Democrats saw success as they held off a Reform UK surge to win a key by-election.

Nigel Farage's party faced a fresh battle in the polls this week against Sir Ed Davey's party during a by-election in Stopsley, a leafy suburb in the north-east of Luton, Bedfordshire.

READ THE FULL ANALYSIS FROM GB NEWS HERE.

Lucy Powell and Ian Murray OUT as Head of the Commons and Scottish Secretary

Lucy Powell has been sacked as Leader of the House of Commons.

Ms Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, had served in the role since Labour's General Election victory.

Meanwhile, Ian Murray, the MP for Edinburgh South is leaving his role as Scottish Secretary.

Diane Abbott offers support for Angela Rayner as reshuffle underway

Heading back to Westminster now, and GB News understands a major Cabinet reshuffle is underway, with Rachel Reeves understood to be keeping her job as Chancellor.

Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott has expressed her support for Angela Rayner, calling her an 'authentic' part of the party's movement.

The veteran MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said: "There are very many issues on which Angela Rayner and I disagree.

"But she is at least an authentic part of the Labour movement. That cannot be said of many Right-wingers who are now delighted by her departure."

WATCH: Nigel Farage says 'We will stop the boats within two weeks of being in Government'

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage says his party will stop the boats within two weeks of winning the general election.

A buoyant Mr Farage told Reform members at the Birmingham party conference that Britain is "in the most dangerous place it’s been in my life."

He spoke about the threats unfettered mass migration poses and how his party wants to clamp down on it.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Nigel Farage confirms Zia Yusuf will be Reform UK's new 'Head of Policy'

Nigel Farage has announced Zia Yusuf will be the new Head of Policy and that Reform will have its own department for preparing for government.

The Reform leader praised the spread of the St George Cross and Union Flag across lamp posts as he announced the Muslim Brotherhood would be proscribed in a Reform UK Government.

He added: "We will start producing our own oil and gas. We will end the full subsidies for renewable energy which has been going on your bills for years yet no one told you"

Nadine Dorries says the Conservative Party 'does not deserve your loyalty'

The former Tory Cabinet minister said: "The Conservative Party do not deserve your loyalty. Support Reform, do the right thing.

"Frankly, any party which removes two election-winning prime ministers, replaces them with dud after dud, just does not deserve your support.

"Nigel has got the answers."

Nigel Farage delivers verdict on Angela Rayner's resignation before welcoming Tory defector

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has delivered his verdict on Angela Rayner's resignation as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary.

Mr Farage brought his keynote speech three hours forward to deliver his snap reaction to Ms Rayner's resignation.

Addressing Reform UK supporters at the NEC in Birmingham, Mr Farage said: "The reason I have moved this speaking time forward is because this Government is deep in crisis."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Nigel Farage says there is a 'big rift' in Labour

Nigel Farage warned of a “big rift” in Labour and told Reform UK’s party conference that he thinks a general election could take place in 2027.

The Clacton MP said: "We’re used to hearing stories of splits in the Conservative Party. We’re about to witness a big rift in the Labour Party, too,.

"Before long, there’ll be Labour MPs that reckon they’ve got a better chance on the Jeremy Corbyn sectarian ticket...they’ve got a better chance of being re-elected under that ticket, under Corbyn, than they do under Sir Keir.”

He added: "I think there is every chance now of a general election happening in 2027."

Nigel Farage says he hates 'sectarian politics' as he takes aim at Jeremy Corbyn

Nigel Farage has slammed "sectarian politics" as he suggested Labour MP would desert the party and join Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party.

He added that the party needed to be ready for a General Election in 2027.

Nigel Farage says Labour 'are not fit to govern' as he launches conference speech

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said Labour are "not fit to govern" as he opened his party's national conference speech.

He said: "Not only have they fallen into deep unpopularity in just a year of winning the general election but it’s become clear to all of us that it is a Cabinet full of wholly unqualified people to run our country.

"They are not fit to govern."

Watch Christopher Hope’s snap reaction as Deputy PM steps down over tax scandal - 'Disaster for Labour'

Watch as GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope explains the ramifications for the Government after it was announced that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will resign.

'Big' Cabinet reshuffle expected later today

A Downing Street spokesman has confirmed a reshuffle will be happening later today.

The Telegraph reports Chancellor Rachel Reeves will stay in her position.

However, The Times reports it will be a "big" reshuffle.

WATCH: Nigel Farage provides his reaction to Angela Rayner's resignation

Angela Rayner resigns.

The splits in Labour are coming. pic.twitter.com/EnEo728qZ2

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) September 5, 2025

Mel Stride says 'no one is above the law' in scathing attack on Angela Rayner

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said it was "utterly extraordinary" that Angela Rayner held on to her job.

He said: "It took far too long to get to this point. Rayner tried to hang on to her job, and Labour did everything they could to protect her, even as serious questions mounted.

"It’s utterly extraordinary that while working families and businesses are being hammered by Labour's tax hikes, Angela Rayner failed to pay the right amount of stamp duty, by tens of thousands of pounds.

"No one is above the law. No government minister should be setting the rules when they fail to keep them themselves."

Angela Rayner QUITS roles as Deputy PM and Housing Secretary following stamp duty scandal

Angela Rayner has quit the Government following outrage over the stamp duty scandal.

The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne had been under fire about whether she broke ministerial standards rules over her tax affairs.

Ms Rayner has now resigned from her roles as Deputy Prime Minister, Housing Secretary and Deputy Labour leader.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Another Labour minister set to QUIT in latest blow to Keir Starmer amid Angela Rayner scandal

Investment minister Baroness Poppy Gustafsson is set to leave the Government, it is understood.

A formal announcement is likely to be made later today, according to Sky News.

Baroness Gustafsson's departure comes less than a year into her role, in which she was appointed in October last year.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Richard Tice hints at U-turn on Reform's £90bn tax cut pledge due to 'nightmare' UK finances

Reform UK appears to be retreating from its bold promise to deliver £90billion in tax reductions, with deputy leader Richard Tice suggesting the party must reconsider its financial commitments.

Ahead of this weekend's Reform party conference, Tice indicated that the pledges made in their July 2024 manifesto were no longer suitable for future electoral contests.

The admission marks a significant shift for the party, which had positioned itself as champions of tax reform during last year's general election campaign.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

WATCH: Chopper breaks down significance behind Preston Manning appearance at Reform UK conference

GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope has told People’s Channel viewers that the former Reform Party of Canada leader Preston Manning is set to attend the Birmingham event.

Explaining the significance of Mr Manning’s appearance, Chopper described him as “almost the godfather” of Reform UK.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Labour defends meeting Israeli President amid outrage from backbenchers 

A minister has defended the prospect of UK Government figures meeting Israeli president Isaac Herzog on his visit to Britain next week amid criticism from within Labour ranks.

Douglas Alexander said the UK must engage with Israeli as well as Palestinian authorities as part of its diplomatic push to end the Gaza war.

The visit of an Israeli leader, at a time when the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is dire and Israel presses ahead with a major military offensive, has sparked outrage among some MPs.

He told Sky News: "I’m genuinely not sure in terms of what the schedule is.

"But I’d make a pretty basic point, first of all, diplomacy involves meeting people with whom you disagree and the British Government has very strong views in terms of the present conduct of the government of Israel.

"It is right that we are engaging with politicians from across the region, because the suffering is incalculable and it needs to stop."

GB News exclusively reveals special guest of Reform UK's conference

GB News can now reveal that Preston Manning is Nigel Farage's surprise guest speaker at the party's conference in Birmingham today.

Mr Manning founded the Reform Party of Canada in 1989 and all but wiped out the Progressive Conservatives at the 1993 general election.

Manning is seen by the party as the Godfather of Reform UK, who upended the Canadian political system on a ticket of slashing taxes and immigration, and overhaul of the senate.

Top Tory piles pressure on Kemi Badenoch by backing Robert Jenrick's call for net emigration

Matt Vickers has piled the pressure on Kemi Badenoch over immigration by backing Robert Jenrick’s calls for net emigration.

The Conservative Party Deputy Chairman has supported calls from Mr Jenrick and Suella Braverman to commit to a decade of “net emigration”, which would mean fewer people come to the UK than leave.

The policy would represent a radical shift in policy for the Tories who are battling to grasp the initiative from an insurgent Reform UK.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

WATCH: Tom Harwood gives GB News viewers sneak peak at Reform UK conference

Ellie Chowns announced as Green Party leader in Westminster 

Herefordshire North MP Ellie Chowns has been announced as the new Green Party leader in the Commons, saying she was "honoured" to accept the role.

Mrs Chowns was chosen unanimously by her fellow MPs after her unsuccessful campaign to lead the party overall in the leadership contest won by Zack Polanski.

She said: "I look forward to continuing to work with all my colleagues in Parliament and with the Green Party leadership team to build the fairer, greener future we need!"

Zia Yusuf says Reform UK is attracting people from 'across the political spectrum' as he welcomes Nadine Dorries

Zia Yusuf has told GB News Reform UK is attracting people from "across the political spectrum" as he welcomed former Tory Minister Nadine Dorries to the party.

The party's chair of Doge UK said: "Go and listen to what she's said...she said the Tory party is dead.

"We're glad to welcome her and we've gathered lots of support from people who didn't even vote at the last election.

"Reform is attracting people from across the political spectrum who feel fed up."

Senior Tory MP says party won't be 'distracted' by Nadine Dorries announcement

Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party Matt Vickers said his party "won't be distracted" by the announcement that former Tory minister Nadine Dorries was joining Reform UK.

Mr Vickers told GB News that Ms Dorries was a "friend" of his and "I'm not going to go after her, I wish her well."

He added: "The Conservative Party can't be dead, this country needs the Conservative Party."

Vickers, the MP for Stockton West, also said a merger with Reform UK was "off the cards."

Labour MPs urge Keir Starmer to cancel meeting with Israeli President

​Labour MPs have called on the Prime Minister to cancel a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Herzog is expected in the UK on Wednesday and Thursday, the first time a senior Israeli leader has been in Britain since Spring.

Labour MP for Rotherham Sarah Champion said: "The UK’s recognised the ‘real risk’ of genocide perpetuated by Israel, so unless this meeting is about peace, what message are we sending?"

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: "I am appalled at the decision to allow this representative of a government that is systematically killing Palestinian children on a daily basis to visit our country."

Liberal Democrats’ foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said Starmer should "seize this chance to state unequivocally to president Herzog that there must be an end to the suffering in Gaza through an immediate ceasefire."

What are Labour insiders saying about Angela Rayner?

As pressure ramps up on Angela Rayner, various insiders have given an insight into the state of play for the Deputy Prime Minister.

One ally of Rayner told Politico she will "probably ride through it" adding that "she’s the only one who speaks to the country."

However, they made it clear a deputy leadership race would be incredibly damaging for the party, warning: "We do not need any contest right now, that is the last thing we need."

Another Labour source told The i Rayner could be given a bespoke role of “party champion" to avoid her having to serve as deputy leader from the backbenches.

But the BBC heard from one previously supportive MP that the Deputy Prime Minister must go if it turns out she’s been “bulls***ing all along."

WATCH: Mel Stride takes aim at 'fiscally irresponsible' Reform UK

The Conservatives will never merge with Reform UK as the party would take the country "into a very dark place", Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride has said.

Sir Mel also refused to rule out resigning from the Tories if its leader agreed to merge with Nigel Farage's party.

The Shadow Chancellor also launched a personal attack on Farage saying that he could not build a team to run the country and his party was a "one man band".

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF CHOPPER'S POLITICAL PODCAST HERE.

Five biggest scandals that have rocked Labour since sweeping to power as Angela Rayner on the brink

With Angela Rayner's political future hanging by a thread, GB News has taken stock of the myriad scandals which have marred the Government since taking office last year.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave the Deputy Prime Minister their "full confidence" - while Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said Ms Rayner had “sought to be transparent" in the scandal.

Amid the fallout, Downing Street has refused to say when Sir Keir was first made aware of key details that led his deputy to refer herself for an ethics investigation.

The latest tax row follows a series of high-profile scandals. As the Government desperately tries to contain the fallout, the People's Channel looks back at a torrid first term...

READ THE FULL GBN MEMBERSHIP STORY HERE

'Prepare for 2027 General Election,' Nigel Farage to tell Reform UK conference

Nigel Farage will tell Reform UK members today to prepare for the collapse of the Labour Government in fewer than two years' time.

A senior party insider said: "The fracture of the Left is coming... If Nigel is right about that, the Government will fall in 2027."

Privately, Mr Farage puts this possibility at between 30 and 40 per cent - and one insider said he will spell this out at the party's conference in Birmingham...

READ THE FULL STORY FROM POLITICAL EDITOR CHRISTOPHER HOPE HERE

Reform UK 'becoming mainstream' as it rakes in support across Britain, breakthrough new poll reveals

Reform UK's base is becoming increasingly mainstream as the party attracts new support, polls ahead of today's conference show.

New data from More In Common revealed that there was a narrowed gender gap, a more even distribution of support across age groups than Labour or the Conservatives has, and that many Reform supporters were broadly in line with average views on social issues.

Luke Tryl, the polling firm's director, said: "What jumps out from this research is how difficult it now is to pigeonhole Reform voters; as their support base has grown, their voters look more and more like the average Briton.

"That brings with it challenges too; can Reform balance the more radical demands of its most engaged online supporters with its more cautious recent converts?

"Can Reform maintain its disillusioned broad church with a focus on immigration, or does a coalition split right and left on key economic policy questions prove ultimately too unstable?"

Some 86 per cent of Reform backers would support a reduction in net migration, compared with 58 per cent of the wider public.

Since the last General Election, the poll found that the gender gap has narrowed from around 1.4 men for every woman voting Reform in 2024 - to roughly 1.2 men now.

In Westminster... Angela Rayner braces for SACK after Keir Starmer confirms: 'It's my decision'

Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he is prepared to sack Angela Rayner if a standards investigation finds she broke the ministerial code over an underpayment of property taxes on her flat.

Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister's independent adviser on ministerial standards, is expected to publish the report on Ms Rayner's conduct on Friday.

Sir Keir said he would "act" on Sir Laurie's findings if he concludes the Deputy PM breached the code, vowing: "We need to establish the facts and come to a conclusion.

"Obviously, I will look very carefully at whatever report he puts in front of me... and then of course I will act."

READ THE FULL STORY ON THE DEPUTY PM HERE

What to expect from Reform UK's conference - follow live with GB News

From midday, a slate of speakers will address the 2025 Reform UK conference from the stage at the NEC in Birmingham.

We'll be bringing you live coverage on this blog - and you can watch GB News on the live stream to above to follow the event as it happens.

The main stage schedule includes:

• 12pm: Reform UK chairman Dr David Bull;
• 12.30pm: Dame Andrea Jenkyns;
• 12.40pm: "Young Reform councillors" panel, hosted by Alex Armstrong with Darren Grimes, Charlotte Hill, and Annie May O'Neill;
• 2pm: Lee Anderson MP;
• 2.20pm: Laura Anne Jones MS;
• 2.30pm: Graham Simpson MSP;
• 2.40pm: "Cleaning up our councils" panel, hosted by Jaymey McIvor with Stephen Atkinson, Linden Kemkaran, George Finch, and Ian Cooper;
• 3pm: Zia Yusuf, head of Doge for Reform UK;
• 3.15pm: "Women for Reform" panel, hosted by Allison Pearson with Sienna Churcher, Laila Cunningham, and Laura Anne Jones MS;
• 4.10pm: Nigel Farage MP.