Migration minister will NOT be sacked as both he and Shabana Mahmood receive scolding from PM

Wes Streeting weighs in on Home Office row after Keir Starmer rebukes Shabana Mahmood

Wes Streeting has weighed in on the ongoing Home Office row after Sir Keir Starmer gave Shabana Mahmood and Mike Tapp a telling-off.

Downing Street said the decision over whether Mr Tapp broke the Ministerial Code was a "matter for the Prime Minister" and the junior minister was "reminded of his obligations".

Mr Streeting said: "The one person this statement doesn't reflect badly on is the Home Secretary."

Mike Tapp apologises for 'any offence caused' following 'poorly-judged tweet' amid row with Shabana Mahmood

Mike Tapp has apologised for "any offence caused" following a "poorly-judged" post amid an ongoing row with Shabana Mahmood.

In a now-deleted post, the junior minister boasted that he would not be intimidated by his boss and that he has "seen out the Taliban and taken out terrorists".

The post was swiftly deleted.

Later this afternoon, Mr Tapp said: "Earlier today I wrote a poorly-judged tweet referencing previous experiences in my professional life.

"I realised very quickly that it could be misinterpreted and so I deleted it immediately.

"I apologise wholeheartedly for any offence I may have caused. I have a lot of respect for the Home Secretary and will continue working hard for our country."

Greens describe women as 'workers who menstruate' in new policy

The Greens described women as "workers who menstrate" in a new policy to hand them 36 extra paid leave days a year.

If Greens members approve the move, the proposal will become party policy, The Spectator revealed.

Andy Burnham set to become Prime Minister just a day after the World Cup final

Andy Burnham is set to take over from Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister just a day after the World Cup final.

The Makerfield MP is likely to become Labour leader on July 17, which gives him three days to move into No10, The Times reported.

Lib Dem MP left 'frustrated' at plans to house asylum seekers in small Bicester community: 'It's inappropriate!'

Callum Miller has declared that MoD Bicester is an "inappropriate site" for housing asylum seekers, following the announcement from the Labour Government to open three more sites.

Speaking to GB News, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock expressed his "frustration" with the Home Office for simply "moving asylum seekers from one site to another" and not tackling the problem.

The Government has confirmed plans to open three new sites for housing asylum seekers in Bicester, Suffolk and North Yorkshire.

They are also set to extend the housing of asylum seekers in the Crowborough and Wethersfield ex-military bases.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Former Reform UK Chairman says Nigel Farage 'needs a break'

The former Chairman of Reform UK Dr David Bull has said Nigel Farage "needs a break" from running Reform UK.

Dr Bull, who stepped down earlier this year, said the party is "way bigger" than just the Clacton MP.

He told Channel 5: "I've been there since the beginning with Richard Tice, for example. I'm very proud of what we've done, and what we're now doing is professionalising the party.

"The party is bigger than Nigel, the party is way bigger than Nigel."

Veteran Labour peer tells Andy Burnham to SACK Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary

A long-serving Labour peer has called on Andy Burnham to sack Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary if he becomes Prime Minister.

Alf Dubbs has told the Makerfield MP to reject Ms Mahmood's policies of "performative cruelty", saying her talents would be "would be better used elsewhere in the cabinet".

He told the Guardian: "I think her talents would be better used elsewhere in cabinet to allow the new PM free rein to put his own stamp on asylum and immigration policy.

"At a time when the party needs unity, I do not believe that Shabana Mahmood’s policies represent the right approach.

"This is Andy Burnham’s opportunity to correct some of the mistakes that the Starmer government made as regards asylum seekers and refugees."

Downing Street refuses to say if Keir Starmer agrees with Mike Tapp over ILR reforms

Downing Street has refused to say if Keir Starmer agrees with Mike Tapps' controversial article in The Times about reforms to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR.)

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman was asked whether Sir Keir Starmer agreed with the substance of Mr Tapp’s article, which suggested care workers should be exempt from plans to hike the period before migrants can claim settled status in the UK from five years to 10 years.

The spokesman told reporters: “We’ll always welcome those that come to this country and contribute to our national life, but the privilege of living here forever should be earned and not automatic.

"Between 2021 and 2024 this country experienced levels of migration that we had not historically seen over four decades. We must be honest about the scale and impact of hundreds of thousands of low-skilled migrants getting settled.

“The Government will double the route to settlement from five to 10 years.

"We carried out a consultation on how changes to settlement rules should be applied to people in the UK today who have not received settled status, and we are currently reviewing the 200,000 responses, and will outline our response in due course.”

Pressed again on whether Sir Keir agreed with the article, the spokesman described Mr Tapp’s words as indicative of ideas the Home Office was “exploring”, but insisted it represented only the the minister’s personal views.

Mike Tapp scolded after attempting to 'undermine' Shabana Mahmood: 'Aligned with the soft Left!'

Mike Tapp has been lambasted for his attempt to "undermine" Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and has been accused of "aligning with the soft Left".

Speaking to GB News, Chief Political Commentator at The Independent John Rentoul declared an unauthorised article on Ms Mahmood's immigration policy "out of character".

WATCH THE FULL CLIP HERE.

Labour MP objects to nearby RAF base being used to house asylum seekers

A Labour MP whose constituency falls near an RAF barracks earmarked for asylum seekers has said he will object to the plans.

Terry Jermy, the MP for South West Norfolk, said: "I am very concerned that RAF Barnham is being considered as a possible site to temporarily house asylum seekers and I strongly object to this site being used for this purpose.

"Whilst RAF Barnham is outside my constituency, I immediately made my concerns known to the Home Office Minister and asked the views of the wider community and other elected officials are taken on board.

"I am proud that our country is able to provide asylum in relevant circumstances and support people, including providing refuge to those who have put themselves in harm's way to help our troops.

"However, we must also consider the views of the local communities in the decision making process and insist these sites are located in appropriate places."

Minister says it is up to Keir Starmer on whether to sack Mike Tapp

Justice minister Jake Richards said it would be up to the Prime Minister whether to sack Mike Tapp.

He said: "The Prime Minister makes decisions as to whether the ministerial code or collective responsibility is broken. Mike is a friend of mine, he’s someone who served his country before coming into Parliament, he’s someone I have an enormous amount of respect for."

Mr Richards told Times Radio: "We’re clearly in an unusual moment in our politics, where the Prime Minister has resigned on Monday, just a few days ago, and it’s quite clear that his replacement will be taking over in the next few weeks.

"Now, that is unusual. We need to undertake that interregnum period with some calm, I think everyone needs to take a deep breath and ensure that we work collectively as a team for the interests of the country.

"I’m sure that’s what Mike will do… he’s someone who served his country before with great distinction, and I’m sure he’ll continue to do that as a minister and as Member of Parliament."

Nato chief says he will be 'tough but discreet' about defence spending in veiled warning to Labour

Nato chief Mark Rutte has said he will be "tough but discreet" in ensuring member states meet their defence spending commitments, amid a dispute in Britain over future military funding.

The alliance’s Secretary General made a veiled reference to the current row when he named-checked the UK in pointing out that when countries have to "really step up" their investment in their armed forces "of course there will be discussions".

Mr Rutte said making certain nations had a "credible path" to spending five per cent of economic output on defence by 2035 was one of the issues that would raised at a crucial Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, early next month.

The commitment is split into a 3.5 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) core defence spending commitment, and a 1.5 per cent GDP commitment to wider resilience spending.

Mike Tapp doubles down in immigration policy row - 'I won't be intimidated'

Migration minister Mike Tapp has said he “won’t be intimidated to drop my views” after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called on the Prime Minister to sack him for writing an article believed to be out of step with immigration policy.

The Dover and Deal MP said: "Morning all. It’s gone from ‘he broke the ministerial code' to 'he stole my idea'.

"I have put my views across on a policy I’ve been working on for months (I have the receipts) in an Op Ed in the times. Give it a read, and let’s continue to discuss.

"I won’t be intimidated to drop my views. Stay classy! Oh and I’m at a wedding in San Francisco, but happy to talk more when I’m back."

Senior economic advisor warns Andy Burnham against wealth taxes

Andy Burnham has been warned against introducing wealth taxes should be succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

Lord O’Neill, who has been tipped to join Mr Burnham's team if he becomes Prime Minister, said the taxes do not raise much money.

The Makerfield MP had been urged to bring in wealth taxes by backbench leftwing MPs, as well as Green Party leader Zack Polanski.

However, the peer told LBC: "I am very opposed to the general rule of wealth taxes. I think they are very easy to be gamed and avoided so I don’t think they are likely to raise a lot of revenue."

Asylum seekers in hotels falls to lowest level since records began

The number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels has fallen to its lowest level since data was first reported in 2022, according to Home Office figures published last month.

There were 20,885 people staying in such accommodation while they were awaiting a decision on their asylum claims at the end of March, down 35 per cent year-on-year from 32,326.

The total had climbed as high as 56,018 at the end of September 2023. The issue of people being housed in hotels came to the fore last year with protests outside some sites.

On Thursday, the Home Office said 20 more hotels have now been closed.

The Refugee Council’s Imran Hussain said: "Moving refugees from unsuitable hotels to unsuitable former military sites is storing up problems for the next prime minister by repeating policies that failed in the recent past. It would be wise to rethink this approach."

John Major says UK must rejoin the EU single market within the next five years

Sir John Major has said the UK must rejoin the single market within the next five years as he took aim at pro-Brexit campaigners.

The former Prime Minister told The Independent:"‘The aim within the next five years must be to rejoin the single market.

"But that will have a price. We are going to have to be absolutely honest with the British people. If we go back into the single market, we say 'here are the gains we proposed and here is the price that we will have to pay for it.'"

Senior Tory takes veiled swipe at Reform UK - 'We have a fully costed plan'

A Conservative frontbencher has taken a veiled swipe at Reform UK as he laid out the Tories' financial plans

When asked about how the party would implement tax cuts, Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers told GB News: "We've put forward a plan. Unlike a lot of the other guys, we have a fully costed plan.

"We've told you how we're going to save £47billion in terms of savings, half of that is going to pay down the national debt.

"We're doing it in a conservative way. In a responsible way. The primary way we're doing that is to get people back into work, the welfare bill is ballooning under this government."

Danny Kruger says Muslims, immigrants and transgender people have 'nothing to fear' if Reform wins next election

Reform UK MP Danny Kruger has said Muslims, immigrants and transgender people have nothing to fear from the "revolution" being prepared by Nigel Farage's party.

Mr Kruger, the MP for East Wiltshire, told the ARC conference in west London: "We are not fighting immigrants — we are fighting mass migration and the surrender of our borders, and the unasked-for transformation of our towns and cities.

“We are not fighting trans people but the doctrine of personal self-creation, a doctrine of power and the abuse of reality, whose principal victims are the people who believe in it.

"We are not fighting Muslims, but the version of Islam that recognises no allegiance to the King in parliament, that marches for Gaza but sees no sin in the subjection of women and the rape of children."

Mr Kruger, who is in charge of preparing Reform for government, denied his vision was about "Brexiteers, and populists, and Christian nationalists, who want to take us back into the dark past".

Labour seeking to house THOUSANDS of asylum seekers in three new ex-military sites - is your area one of them?

Labour is seeking to house thousands of asylum seekers in three new ex-military sites around Britain.

The fresh immigration reforms, introduced to Parliament next week, threaten to affect rural towns across the UK.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

RECAP: EU threatens British farmers with immediate ban under Labour's Brexit 'deal'

The EU is threatening to hammer British farmers as soon as Labour's Brexit reset "deal" comes into force.

If and when he becomes Prime Minister, Andy Burnham will be forced to endure Brussels bureaucrats looking to impose the bloc's food standards on Britain.

The EU is looking to immediately implement a ban on pesticides, which are legal in Britain but banned in the bloc, in an alignment on food standards.

British Government officials have proposed a "transition period" for British farmers to adjust back to the EU regulations.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.