Zack Polanski manages to make Greens less popular than ever as scandals slash support

Nigel Farage warns 'nowhere is safe' after illegal migrants land in his Clacton constituency

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has warned "nowhere is safe" after illegal migrants reportedly landed in his Clacton constituency.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Farage said: "It is outrageous that illegal migrants are landing in broad daylight in the Clacton constituency.

"Residents will be outraged and deeply worried.

“Whilst I congratulate the police and NCA for acting quickly, it is vital that these unidentified young males are detained, not free to roam the streets, and deported as soon as possible."

Read the full story here.

'Some room for movement on tax' - Andy Burnham outlines fiscal approach for his incoming premiership 

Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he could cut business rates for pubs and "prioritise the businesses that bring people together" in an interview with LBC.

He said he would largely stick to Sir Keir Starmer's 2024 manifesto, but shared there "is some room for movement on tax".

Mr Burnham said: "I believe there is a case for higher business rates on warehouses and the major developments we see on the outskirts of our cities, so we can cut business rates for pubs - I proposed a 20 per cent cut - and lift some high street businesses out of business rates altogether.

"I say some and not all because I think it’s important to prioritise and reward the businesses that bring social benefit and the businesses that bring people together - the bars, the restaurants, the coffee shops, the hairdressers - because the High Street really needs to get more of our attention."

Andy Burnham to axe Palantir from working with NHS 

Prime Minister in-waiting Andy Burnham is set to axe Palantir from working with the NHS.

He did not allow the US tech company any contracts during his nine-year premiership as Greater Manchester mayor and it is understood he will take the same approach in No10, reports the Telegraph.

The Makerfield MP is reviewing the Government's overall AI approach, with a source close to him said he believed "unfettered tech boosterism" was putting off voters.

Kemi Badenoch demands Labour to ‘get behind’ calls to deport grooming gang ringleader released from jail

Kemi Badenoch has demanded Labour “get behind” her call to deport a Rochdale grooming gang ringleader after he was released from jail today.

Shabir Ahmed, 73, is now free after serving 14 years for the rape and sexual abuse of young girls, but cannot currently be removed from the country.

Ahmed once held dual British-Pakistani citizenship, but was stripped of the former following his 2012 conviction.

He dodged deportation under provisions of the Immigration Act 1971, which protects arrivals in the UK prior to 1973 who have lived here for at least five years.

Read Marcus Donaldson's full story here.

Rachel Reeves does a shift at McDonald's 

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves donned a McDonald's staff uniform in East Finchley, London, today.

She served customers to mark the Great British Summer Savings VAT cuts coming into effect.

Lisa Nandy announces she will no longer be using Elon Musk's X

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced she will no longer be using the social media platform X.

In a statement on X, she wrote: "I've decided to leave this platform and my Department will too.

"A platform originally designed for free speech and expression now favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate.

"It isn't healthy for our democracy or our communities and I don’t want to support it."

She concluded she will still be using Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Scottish and UK Government face calls to compensate forced adoption victims

The Scottish and UK Government have been called to compensate the victims of forced adoption.

A lawyer representing some of the victims in Scotland said financial help and specialist support should be made available to the women who had to give up their children.

Patrick McGuire, a senior partner with Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, said: "It is to be welcomed that the Prime Minister is today apologising to victims of forced adoption in England and Wales following the example of the Scottish Government from three years ago.

"But fine words from both governments is no substitute for fast and effective action.

"We need to see proper help and support put in place for victims, along the lines of provisions that were put in place for those affected by infected blood.

"That means a proper scheme for medical and psychological support and a proper financial compensation scheme."

Keir Starmer to pass emergency legislation keeping pubs open on Monday for World Cup match

Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is understood to be passing through emergency legislation which will allow pubs to remain open until 5am on Monday due to England's World Cup match with Mexico which will start at 1am.

Sir Keir is currently exploring options for a one-off lifting of restrictions on pubs' closing times, reports the Sun.

Education Secretary to not dictate how schools or families manage children watching England's late-night World Cup match

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said "children can be in school" the next day after England's match against Mexico on Monday, which will start at 1am BST.

She said she would not be intervening in parents' bedtime routines, calling it "not a wise move for politicians" and concluded it was a matter for families to decide if children stay up for the late-night game.

The MP for Houghton and Sunderland South said: "It's a late game, but children can be in school the next day.

"I think some schools are looking at doing things like re-showing the game or re-showing some clips and in social times.

"I'm not going to seek to control what schools are doing here, but I know that parents will do this in a way that works best for their children. But, of course, getting at the school the next day is important."

Nigel Farage tells GB News illegal migrants landing in Clacton in broad daylight is 'outrageous'

Nigel Farage has told GB News that illegal migrants landing in Clacton this afternoon is "outrageous".

Speaking to GB News, Mr Farage said: "It is outrageous that illegal migrants are landing in broad daylight in the Clacton constituency.

"Residents will be outraged and deeply worried.

"Whilst I congratulate the police and NCA for acting quickly, it is vital that these unidentified young males are detained, not free to roam the streets, and deported as soon as possible."

READ IN FULL: National Crime Agency issues statement after migrants land in Nigel Farage's constituency

The National Crime Agency said: "On the morning of Wednesday, July 1, National Crime Agency officers were alerted by Essex Police to an incident in Holland-on-Sea, near Clacton, after a vessel was reportedly seen to drop a number of people off at the shoreline.

"Three men who were suspected of being at the scene to meet the party were arrested by Essex Police on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.

"A fourth man, the boat's pilot, was also subsequently arrested at sea by Border Force officers. The operation was supported by HM Coastguard.

"All four are now in custody being questioned by NCA investigators.

"Another six people who were on board the boat have been detained for immigration offences and will be dealt with by Immigration Enforcement.

"The investigation into the incident is being led by the NCA and is ongoing."

Keir Starmer's ex-Chief of Staff admits Labour 'failed to prepare for power'

Sir Keir Starmer former Chief of Staff has admitted that Labour "failed" to prepare for power in his first interview since quitting the top job.

"We didn't prepare enough for what kind of world we were going to. We are now in a very different era than when Labour was last in Government," he told the BBC.

"I think we didn't have enough conversations at the top of the party about what that meant, how to prepare for it, what that meant for the state."

Andy Burnham holds talks with Labour-affiliated union leaders

Andy Burnham is holding talks with Labour's 11 affiliated trade unions today.

The leadership hopeful is gearing up for his time in No10, with the Makerfield MP expected to replace Sir Keir Starmer in just a few weeks' time.

Keir Starmer DENIES millions of Britons Bank Holiday Monday as Prime Minister urges children to take 'disco nap'

Sir Keir Starmer has denied millions of Britons the chance to have a Bank Holiday Monday as the Prime Minister urged children to take a "disco nap" ahead of England's next match.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "It is up to parents to make their own decisions. We want everyone to enjoy the game but children should be at school on Monday."

The No10 spokesman added: "The Education minister Jacqui Smith put it very well she is having a disco nap on Sunday and then back at work next day...

"The Prime Minister is facing the same dilemma as everyone else on whether to stay up."

Keir Starmer heaps pressure on Shabana Mahmood to see 'what can be done' to deport Rochdale grooming gang ringleader

Sir Keir Starmer has heaped pressure onto his Home Secretary to see "what can be done" to deport the Rochdale grooming gang ringleader.

Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister was looking to Shabana Mahmood to remove the child sex offender, Shabir Ahmed, from Britain.

The 73-year-old walked free from prison today.

WATCH: Keir Starmer issues 'deep and profound' apology to victims of forced adoption scandal

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a "deep and profound" apology to the victims of the historic forced adoption scandal.

In a statement to MPs, Sir Keir told some of the victims attending in the public gallery: "We are deeply and profoundly sorry to the mothers who were told they were unfit, who were prevented from caring for the children.

"The shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours. And I say that on behalf of the whole country.

"I know that this apology will not be able to lift that completely. It will help a little, I hope, but it won't lift it completely.

"I hope that this statement, this apology, perhaps gives some of them the confidence to speak about what happened to them, because it will help in a small way."

WATCH HIS STATEMENT IN FULL HERE.

PICTURED: Victims of forced adoption scandal meet with Keir Starmer in Downing Street

Sir Keir Starmer met the victims of the forced adoption scandal in Downing Street before addressing MPs in Parliament to deliver his apology on behalf of the state.

Around 185,000 babies of unmarried mothers were adopted in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976 after British state, religious and health institutions coerced mothers into surrendering their children.

'The shame was never yours,' Keir Starmer tells victims of forced adoption scandal

Sir Keir Starmer has told victims of the forced adoption scandal the "shame was never yours".

He said that women were "made to feel ashamed" for having a baby out of wedlock.

The Prime Minister continued: "The shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours. And I say that on behalf of the whole country.

"I know that this apology will not be able to lift that completely. It will help a little, I hope, but it won't lift it completely.

"I hope that this statement, this apology, perhaps gives some of them the confidence to speak about what happened to them, because it will help in a small way."

Prime Minister condemns scandal afflicted on 185,000 as 'stain on our history'

The Prime Minister has condemned the scandal afflicted on around 185,000 as a "stain on our history".

He said: "Mothers, many young, vulnerable and without support, were coerced, bullied or misled into feeling that they had no choice but to have their children taken away from them. What a thing to do.

"These were not isolated or accidental acts. They were practices embedded within systems, across local authorities, across voluntary and faith based institutions, and in health and social care services, operated with power over people's lives.

"Yet they did so without compassion, without consent and without dignity or proper safeguards."

Keir Starmer apologises to forced adoption victims as he addresses MPs

Sir Keir Starmer has apologised to the victims of the forced adopted scandal in an address to Parliament this morning.

He said: "We are deeply and profoundly sorry to the mothers who were told they were unfit, who were prevented from caring for the children.

"They desperately wanted to help and to keep them, and who have carried this loss for decades, to those who were not given the information they needed to provide informed consent, who faced pressure or coercion, and who experienced practices that were unethical, to the sons and daughters, the children who are now adults who, through pressure and coercion within these systems, were taken from their families, denied their identity, their history, and sometimes their safety."

No10 admits it has no plan to plug £15billion defence black hole facing Andy Burnham

No10 has admitted that it has no plan to plug the £15billion black hole in Britain's defences facing Andy Burnham.

Upon possibly moving into Downing Street later this month, the Makerfield MP will have to weigh up whether he should make cuts across Whitehall - or burden Britons with higher taxes.

On Tuesday, outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised an extra £15billion for defence over the course of four years as part of his delayed Defence Investment Plan.

But it was later revealed the outgoing PM had lumbered his successor with a staggering £4.7billion in the public purse in his first October Budget.

Then, the Prime Minister's Office failed to explain where the remaining £10.3billion would be sourced on Wednesday, leaving the door open to where the money will be found.

The Tories have ripped into the state of the defence plan, which was branded as Sir Keir's last-ditch attempt to curate his lasting legacy in power.

The Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said the plan "completely unravelled barely a day after it was published", telling The Telegraph: "The increase in spending is far too little, the capability promised comes far too late, and now we learn that they don’t even know how to fund it.

"Keir Starmer is kicking the can down the road for his successor because he has failed to take the tough decisions needed to keep the country safe."

Labour MP demands law change as politicians calls for deportation of Pakistani grooming gang ringleader

A Labour MP has pleaded for the deportation of a Pakistani grooming gang ringleader after it was revealed Shabir Ahmed would be released today.

Jim McMahon, the MP for Oldham, which is where Ahmed lived, said that legislation should be amended to force foreign-born child rapists like Ahmed to be deported.

The child sex offender cannot be deported under current legislation as he acquired British citizenship while Pakistan was still a part of the Commonwealth.

As a result, he can resist deportation through a loophole in the Immigraiton Act 1971.

Mr McMahon said: "I don't believe that Pakistan want to protect this person more than they want the relationship with the UK to be strong.

"But in the end it is about them prioritising it, it is about them stepping up and it is about saying: I think Britain has a proud history of welcoming people, of being inclusive.

"But if people don’t play by the rules, if they abuse the trust of the British people, we have the right like every country to say enough is enough.And that is where we are with this case."

Andy Burnham will study defence plan 'very carefully' as ally sets out priority for MP as Prime Minister

Andy Burnham will study the defence plan "very carefully" as one of his allies has set out that the budget will be a "priority for him".

Labour MP David Baines said: "It's not uncommon for announcements we've made and then how it's going to be funded to be set out at a future budget or spending review.

"I'm sure Andy is going to be looking at it very carefully, and it's going to have to be a priority for him when he's hopefully in the job," he told Sky News.

Labour minister grilled on defence spending black hole as she tells GB News we are 'not at risk of attack'

Jacqui Smith has been grilled by GB News host Ellie Costello on the major spending black hole in Labour's defence spending.

Speaking to the People's Channel, the Skills Minister assured that the Government "will find the money" to plug the multi-billion pound gap in defence funding.

Pressed by Ellie on how it will be funded, Baroness Smith told GB News: "This is largely funded the Defence Investment Plan, and it builds on the fact that when we came into Government, there was £54billion a year being spent on defence. Now there's £80billion a year being spent.

"The plan brings us from 2.3 per cent of our GDP to 2.7 per cent, and then onwards in the next Parliament to meeting our responsibilities to spend three per cent of our GDP on defence."

WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE.

Shropshire residents up in arms as Labour oversees almost 100 asylum seekers moving into new-build homes

Shropshire residents have told GB News that they feel "vulnerable" and fear for their safety after it was revealed that almost 100 asylum seekers are to be moved into new-build homes in their community.

Speaking to presenter Alex Armstrong, several residents expressed their concerns for the "danger" the asylum seekers pose to the women and children in the community.

Some 83 asylum seekers are set to move into the 21 smart new-build homes in Stoke Heath, worth £250,000 each.

The remote rural estate in the West Midlands currently hosts a population of fewer than 500 people, leaving the community in fear for their safety.

WATCH HERE.

Skills minister advocates 'disco nap' ahead of next England game - '

Skills minister Jacqui Smith has advocated having a "disco nap" ahead of the next England game.

The national team will play against Mexico on Monday morning at 1am, but the late night has not put Baroness Smith off working the next day.

"A bit of under-eye make-up and it'll all be good," she told Sky News.

Angela Rayner warns Labour it risks handing Nigel Farage keys to No10 without radical change

Angela Rayner has warned Labour it is risking handing Nigel Farage the keys to No10 without committing to radical change.

Speaking at the Left-wing New Economics Foundation think tank, she said Labour spent too long "defending the status quo rather than challenging it" while in power.

The former Deputy Prime Minister said that keeping the status quo only proved that "the establishment can only do more of the same", leading to a surge in support for Mr Farage at the next election.

'The EU does what it likes!' Tory MP condemns 'Big Brother' cars which automatically slow down if driving above speed limit

A Conservative MP has condemned new "Big Brother" cars which automaticaly slow down if they are driving above the speed limit.

The European officials apparently like it as well. They're exploring plans that could see new cars automatically slow down if they exceed the speed limit, causing using satellite technology to monitor where vehicles are.

He told GB News: "Well, it does seem to me that obviously the European Union can do what it likes, but I'm a bit I'm a little bit worried about the closeness or the ever close relationship that some in our Government want to have with the European Union.

"How they could perhaps just adopt this as a way of controlling drivers in this country."

Keir Starmer to apologise to forced adoption survivors after private meeting in Downing Street

Sir Keir Starmer will apologise to survivors of the forced adoption scandal following a private meeting in Downing Street.

Some 185,000 babies of unmarried mothers across England and Wales were adopted between 1949 and 1976.

But the mothers, as well as the adults who were adopted as children, demanded an apology from Whitehall for the system.

In 2022, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) said "the Government bears ultimate responsibility for the pain and suffering caused by public institutions and state employees that railroaded mothers into unwanted adoptions".

Shabana Mahmood bans asylum seekers from being housed near schools and nurseries

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has introduced new rules banning asylum seekers from being housed in new-build homes or near schools and nurseries.

The measures were brought in following a backlash over plans to house more than 80 asylum seekers in £250,000 new-build properties on a housing estate in Stoke Heath, Shropshire.

However, the Stoke Heath scheme had already been approved before the new guidance came into force, allowing the plans to proceed.

The new-build estate in the rural Shropshire village has earmarked 21 homes for asylum-seeking families.