UK considering strikes on Houthis to stop Red Sea attacks, says Shapps

Britain is reportedly considering air strikes on Houthi rebels after the US Navy sank three boats that had been targeting a container ship in the Red Sea.

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End to VAT on period pants comes into force

Period pants will no longer be subject to VAT in shops after a campaign by retailers, women's groups and environmentalists.

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Starmer is the anti-charisma candidate, but his lack of profile hasn't harmed Labour's chances | Adam Boulton

When he is forced to pick his Labour heroes, Sir Keir Starmer reluctantly measures himself against Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson and Sir Tony Blair.

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Party leaders make political pitches to public in New Year messages

UK political leaders have delivered their New Year messages as they prepare for the battle ahead at the ballot box.

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'I'd rather the Tories lose!' Sunak wanted 'secret deal' with Cummings to defeat Labour

Rishi Sunak wanted to hatch a "secret deal" with Dominic Cummings to defeat Labour at the next general election, the ex-Vote Leave campaigner has claimed.

Cummings, 52, urged the Prime Minister to abandon his cautious economic approach, hold an emergency budget, settle the NHS strikes and double the threshold at which people pay the 40p rate of income tax to £100,000.

The former Brexit campaigner also advocated leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, The Sunday Times has claimed.

The ECHR has been identified as a significant legal barrier to Britain dealing with illegal Channel crossings and Cummings has publicly spoken about how he would look to run a referendum campaign on the matter.

Downing Street refused to reject Cummings' account but claimed no job offer was made.

A Number 10 source said: “It was a broad discussion about politics and campaigning, no job was offered.”

Sunak reportedly met Cummings in December last year in London and in July in North Yorkshire.

Cummings said: “He wanted a secret deal in which I delivered the election and he promised to take government seriously after the election.

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“But I’d rather the Tories lose than continue in office without prioritising what’s important and the voters.

“The post-2016 Tories are summed up by the fact that Sunak, like Johnson, would rather lose than take government seriously.

"Both thought their MPs agreed with them, and both were right.”

However, the supposed deal seemingly fell through over whether Sunak could commit to prioritising the "most critical things", including nuclear weapons infrastructure, pandemics, Ministry of Defence procurement, artificial intelligence (AI) and “broken core Government institutions”.

In a subsequent post on social media, Cummings added: "Don’t know why someone at No10 blabbed about this but… Brief statement on Times story about the PM asking me to smash Labour and win the election, what I asked for in return (e.g sorting out the horrorshow of our nuclear weapons infrastructure, pandemic defences), & why we couldn’t do a deal."

Cummings spectacularly fell out with Boris Johnson after losing a power struggle between the Vote Leave faction and allies of the former Prime Minister's wife Carrie Symonds in autumn 2020.

He claimed discussions were afoot to remove Johnson from Number 10 within days of the 2019 general election.

Johnson's relationship with Sunak, who served as his Chancellor during the pandemic, crumbled when the now-Prime Minister led the Cabinet cabal which ultimately ousted him from power.

Sunak has since been accused by Johnson and his allies of being a "stooge" installed by Cummings.

The Prime Minister, who previously denied meeting with Cummings, reportedly decided against the "secret" deal as MPs and the media will go "crazy".

Since the two meetings, Cummings has lamented Sunak and his allies on social media.

The hardened political campaigner, who was a key figure in the last Conservative election victory, took aim at a number of figures associated with the "old Tory establishment", including the Prime Minister's political secretary James Forsyth and Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron.

Sunak's apparent decision to snub Cummings' request on Whitehall reform comes as a new opinion poll conducted for GB News revealed Labour is on course to win the next election in a landslide, with Sir Keir Starmer's party holding a 22-point lead over the Tories.

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'Self-centred and uncaring' Sadiq Khan slammed for 'taking cash from the poorest' with 'unfair' Ulez

Sadiq Khan has been accused of "taking cash from the poorest" with his expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone.

Conservative Mayoral Candidate Susan Hall accused Khan of being "self-centred" and "uncaring", claiming he is "more concerned with taking cash from the poorest than with saving Ukrainian lives".

In an opinion piece for GB News, she said: "Sadiq Khan's refusal to send scrapped ULEZ vehicles to Ukraine is a glaring example of just how out of touch he is with London’s values. It's a decision that screams of a Mayor more concerned taking cash from the poorest than with saving Ukrainian lives. And once again, it shows just how self-centred and uncaring he can be.”

She added: "Here we have a situation where vehicles set to be dumped on a scrap heap could be donated to help in Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion.

"Sadiq Khan said no, and now that he has been caught out, he is hiding behind the flimsiest of legal excuses.

"Thousands of cars have now been unnecessarily destroyed because of his failure."

She added: “Now he is blaming government regulations over the certificate of destruction, a document you are required to provide TfL to prove your vehicle has been destroyed in exchange for the scrappage scheme money.

"Once again, it is a dodgy legal argument that simply doesn’t stack up. And to the extent that it is an issue, it could have been quickly solved months ago if Sadiq Khan had bothered to raise it with officials.

“The truth is Sadiq Khan was so obsessed with making as much money off his unfair Ulez expansion as possible, he did not bother to see the bigger picture.

"When he was caught, he resorted to his usual tactic of blaming the government for his own failures. He is lacking not just in empathy, but imagination.

“And it is more than just this missed opportunity. London is being let down by a Mayor who seems more interested in becoming a celebrity than in helping others.

"We see it every single day, from his weak leadership on crime to his failures on housebuilding.”

Responding to Hall's article, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: "As experts such as former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace have made clear, we need action from ministers for plans to progress.

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"Sadiq is calling on the Government to temporarily alter the national regulations for the Certificate of Destruction, which is required as proof that a vehicle has been permanently scrapped, to enable the export of suitable vehicles to the Ukraine via a registered charity or national scheme.

"Officials are now working with ministers to overcome these legal hurdles and enable Londoners to receive money for taking suitable polluting vehicles off London's streets while helping the people of Ukraine."

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Liz Truss's 'shameless' resignation gongs snuck out by Downing Street at exact same time New Year Honours confirmed

Downing Street has shamelessly published Liz Truss's resignation honours list at the same time as the New Years' honours, in what appears to be an attempt to divert attention away from the controversial awards.

The decision to allow the former Prime Minister the traditional privilege of handing out the honours attracted criticism, as she was in office for just 49 days.

There were calls for Rishi Sunak to block the move given the short-lived nature of her premiership.

The long-delayed list was published by the Government this evening at the same time as a number of separate New Year Honours.

Truss recommended Tory donor Sir Jon Moynihan, her deputy chief of staff in Number 10 Ruth Porter and former chief executive of the Vote Leave Brexit campaign Matthew Elliott for peerages.

Sir John donated £20,000 to Truss’s leadership campaign in 2021.

Novelist Shirley Ida Conran, who is also on the list, donated £5,000 to the former PM.

Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke was recommended for a knighthood for his political service as Minister of State for Defence Procurement.

Meanwhile fellow MP Jacqueline Doyle-Price has been recommended for a damehood following her service as Minister of State for Industry.

Speaking on publication of the honours list, Truss said: "I am delighted these champions for the conservative causes of freedom, limited government and a proud and sovereign Britain have been suitably honoured."

But Labour branded the list a "slap in the face to working people" while the Liberal Democrats have dubbed it a "shameless move".

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow cabinet office minister, said: “This list is proof positive of Rishi Sunak’s weakness and a slap in the face to working people who are paying the price of the Tories crashing the economy.

“Honours should be for those committed to public service, not rewards for Tory failure. Rather than apologise for crashing the economy and driving up mortgages rates, costing families thousands, Rishi Sunak has nodded through these tarnished gongs because he is too weak to lead a Tory Party completely out of touch with working people.”

While Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “This shameless move to reward Liz Truss’s car crash cronies is matched only by Sunak’s weakness in failing to block it.

“Truss handing out gongs after blowing a hole in the public finances and leaving families reeling from spiralling mortgage costs calls this whole honours system into disrepute.

“The honours system should celebrate hardworking people who have achieved great things; sullying this celebration shows just how out of touch this Conservative Government really is.”

The Government's New Years' Honours list saw England goalkeeper Mary Earps, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis and Game of Thrones actor Emilia Clarke are among the stars of sport, stage and screen recognised in the New Year Honours list, while the Archbishop of Canterbury leads those rewarded for their work on the King’s coronation.

Singer Dame Shirley Bassey, who has sold more than 135 million records, is made Companion of Honour for her services to music, becoming the 64th living member of the order which can only have 65 members at any one time.

Director and producer Sir Ridley Scott, whose works include Gladiator, Alien and Napoleon, is made a Knight Grand Cross, upgrading his previous knighthood, while author Jilly Cooper becomes a dame.

Other notable names in the list include England cricketer Stuart Broad, who is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) following his retirement; singer Leona Lewis, who becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE); and author Kate Mosse, who is also made a CBE.

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Liz Truss resignation honours revealed as Kwarteng and cabinet miss out

Kwasi Kwarteng, Therese Coffey and the rest of Liz Truss's cabinet have missed out on getting gongs or places in the House of Lords as part of her resignation honours list.

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Rishi Sunak's New Year nightmare as new data highlights scale of crisis for Tories

Labour is on course for a thumping victory at the General Election, a major new poll indicates today.

As speculation mounts that Rishi Sunak will call a May vote, the People Polling* for GB News poll has Keir Starmer’s party holding a 22 point lead over the Tories.

Labour is on 45 percent, the Tories are on 23 percent, and Reform is polling at 10 percent. If such a result was repeated at a General Election, it would be enough for a Labour majority.

The blow to Rishi Sunak comes as the poll also reveals that 54 percent - more than a half of the country - feel worse off now compared to a year ago.

And two thirds of the country say “it’s time for a change in Westminster”.

Commenting, politics expert Professor Matthew Goodwin from People Polling, told GB News: “This is further evidence, after a disastrous year in the polls for Rishi Sunak, that the Conservatives are failing to turn the tide.

"Worryingly for Rishi Sunak, it’s not just that the Labour share of the vote which remains strong but a significant share of his own voters are now defecting to the Reform party. Reform is now on 10 per cent of the national vote, drawing more than one in five disillusioned 2019 Tories.

“If Keir Starmer goes into the next general election asking voters the Ronald Reagan question –‘are you better off than you were four years ago?’—then much of the country, including more than four in ten of the people who voted for Boris Johnson in 2019, will say 'no'. This is yet another sign the Tories are heading for a heavy defeat.

“Asking people if it’s time for a change in Westminster has been an unusually powerful predictor of what will happen at the next election, and these numbers once again point to widespread hunger for a change of government at the looming election.

"Large majorities of voters think it’s time for a change in Westminster and if the current polling numbers don’t change then they are sure to get exactly what they want.”

The poll also laid bare what issues voters want the Government to focus on in 2024.

The most popular priorities among voters is tackling the cost-of-living crisis, followed by improving the NHS, and stopping the small boats.

Goodwin continued: “These findings underline the critical importance of the cost-of-living crisis to determining what happens at the next election.

"But that’s not quite where the story ends.

"For 2019 Conservative Party voters, their overriding priority is stopping the small boats followed by tackling the cost of living crisis while for Labour voters the overriding priority is tackling the cost of living crisis followed by improving the NHS.

"This is further evidence that if Rishi Sunak fails to stop the boats and if the looming Rwanda vote does not go his way, then his days in Number 10 are surely numbered.”

Meanwhile the poll also revealed which political titan voters must long to see back in power.

Margaret Thatcher was the most popular choice when voters were asked which former prime minister they would like to bring back and put in Number 10 Downing Street today. The Iron Lady was followed by Winston Churchill and then Tony Blair.

Goodwin added: “The British people are clearly in the mood for a conviction politician who is unafraid to shake up the consensus to get Britain working. But where is today’s Thatcher? Look at the leadership ratings of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer and you’d be hard pressed to find one.

"While Thatcher is even more popular among Conservative voters, Tony Blair holds a narrow lead over Gordon Brown among Labour voters, once again perhaps underlining that voters today are dreaming of the days when they had strong, conviction politicians who went on to fundamentally transform the country around them.”

PeoplePolling surveyed 1,987 Britons on December 28, 2023.

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'Crap parents' behind struggling children, MP claims

A Conservative MP has claimed that most children who struggle in his town are the "products of crap parents".

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Tony Blair aides wanted asylum holding camp on Scottish island

Tony Blair's government considered setting up a holding camp on the Isle of Mull to drive down the number of asylum seekers entering the UK, according to newly released official papers.

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MPs call for law to punish people going to football matches without tickets

MPs are calling for a specific law to punish people who enter football stadia without tickets.

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More than 85,000 appointments hit by latest NHS strikes

NHS strikes disrupted more than 85,000 appointments last week, according to newly released figures.

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Jacques Delors, architect of modern EU, dies aged 98

Former European Commission President Jacques Delor has died aged 98, his daughter says.

Known as the "architect of the EU", Delors helped design the single market allowing the free movement of people, goods and services between member states.

The French politician also pushed for the creation of the Euro.

He served as head of the European Commission from 1985 to 1995.

Delors' daughter Martine Aubry said he died in his sleep on Wednesday morning in his home in Paris.

Michel Barnier paid tribute to Delors, describing him as a "source of inspiration" in both French and EU politics.

He said the politician was a "humanist at the service of cooperation and solidarity between Europeans."

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was an “inexhaustible architect of our Europe” and a fighter for human justice.

He said: "His commitment, his ideals and his righteousness will always inspire us.

"I salute his work and his memory and share the pain of his loved ones."

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Delors' mission to bring Europe closer together was strongly opposed by Margret Thatcher at the time.

It led to several disagreements between London and Brussels.

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Tories hint at extra support for first-time buyers to woo young voters at next election

The Tories could promise to cut the upfront cost of a home for first time buyers to win over younger voters at the next election, it has been suggested.

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Brexit promise broken by Sunak as return of imperial measurements scrapped

The Government stopped short of a post-Brexit overhaul of the measurement system, despite Boris Johnson planning to change the rules.

The former Prime Minister said the UK would look at changing its measurement system as part of a wider overhaul of retained EU rules.

But Sunak has decided against pursuing the change.

This came after nearly 99 per cent of people responding to a consultation said they would prefer to stick with the metric system.

EU rules meant imperial measurements - such as pounds and ounces - could only be displayed alongside metric measurements, and they could not be more prominent.

When the proposals were first made by Boris Johnson, critics denounced it as "nostalgia".

Labour MP Angela Eagle claimed ministers were "attempting to weaponise nostalgia for a time few can remember and even fewer wish to return to".

Conservative backbencher Alicia Kearns agreed, saying: "Not one constituent, ever, has asked for this.”

However, the Government has said it will proceed with changes to the sale of still and sparling wine, allowing wine to be sold in pints from the new year.

The Department for Business and Trade said the new 568ml size bottle will be sold alongside 200ml and 500ml measures already available for still and sparkling wine.

Still wine is currently not available for sale in 200ml quantities and sparkling wine cannot be sold in 500ml amounts.

Pint bottles of Champagne were sold in the UK before the country joined the European Common Market. They were on shelves until 1973.

Their production was stopped as they did not comply with EU weights and measures rules.

The Department for Business and Trade said as many as 900 vineyards - producing around 12.2 million bottles of still or sparkling wine a year - are set to benefit from the new post-Brexit "freedoms".

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The reforms come as part of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023.

Kevin Hollinrake, Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business, said: “Innovation, freedom and choice – that’s what today’s announcement gives to producers and consumers alike.

“Our exit from the EU was all about moments just like this, where we can seize new opportunities and provide a real boost to our great British wineries and further growing the economy.”

WineGB chief executive Nicola Bates said: “We welcome the chance to be able to harmonise still and sparkling bottle sizes and we are happy to raise a glass to the greater choice.”

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Pints of wine to be stocked on British shelves in post-Brexit law change

'Pints' of wine will be stocked on British shelves for the first time, the Government has announced.

The Department for Business and Trade said the new 568ml size bottle will be sold alongside 200ml and 500ml measures already available for still and sparkling wine.

Still wine is currently not available for sale in 200ml quantities and sparkling wine cannot be sold in 500ml amounts.

Pint bottles of Champagne were sold in the UK before the country joined the European Common Market.

They were on shelves until 1973.

Their production was stopped as they did not comply with EU weights and measures rules.

The Department for Business and Trade said as many as 900 vineyards - producing around 12.2 million bottles of still or sparkling wine a year - are set to benefit from the new post-Brexit "freedoms".

The reforms come as part of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023.

Kevin Hollinrake, Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business, said: “Innovation, freedom and choice – that’s what today’s announcement gives to producers and consumers alike.

“Our exit from the EU was all about moments just like this, where we can seize new opportunities and provide a real boost to our great British wineries and further growing the economy.”

WineGB chief executive Nicola Bates said: “We welcome the chance to be able to harmonise still and sparkling bottle sizes and we are happy to raise a glass to the greater choice.”

But the Government stopped short of a post-Brexit overhaul of the measurement system.

This came after nearly 99 per cent of people responding to a consultation said they would prefer to stick with the metric system.

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When the proposals were first made by Boris Johnson, critics denounced it as "nostalgia".

Labour MP Angela Eagle claimed ministers were "attempting to weaponise nostalgia for a time few can remember and even fewer wish to return to".

Conservative backbencher Alicia Kearns agreed, saying: "Not one constituent, ever, has asked for this.”

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Rishi Sunak poised to SCRAP Inheritance Tax as part of three huge tax changes for Britons

Rishi Sunak is looking at scrapping inheritance tax and making two major changes to income tax in just a matter of weeks as part of a pre-election handout to boost the Conservative Party's position in the polls.

Number 10 is said to be discussing introducing the cuts in three months time.

Sources told the Telegraph the PM has demanded a "gear change" on tax, after making inflation his main priority, over cutting the tax burden.

In addition to axeing inheritance tax, the Treasury is also considering increasing the threshold at which people start paying the 40 per cent rate of income tax and reducing the basic 20 per cent rate.

Inheritance tax is paid on estates worth over £325,000.

Earlier this year, figures from the Institute of Fiscal Studies showed that Inheritance Tax will raise £15 billion per year by 2032.

Analysis of the latest HMRC figures showed fewer than four per cent of estates paid inheritance tax between 2020 and 2021.

The number is expected to rise to more than seven per cent across the next ten years, as a result of the growth in wealth of older adults.

Inheritance tax is paid on estates worth over £325,000.

The IFS report said this year, the cost of abolishing Inheritance Tax would be £7 billion, but this would rise to £15 billion per year by 2032.

The report warned: "The 90 per cent or so of estates not paying inheritance tax would not be directly affected by such a reform."

Earlier this year, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps this week described inheritance tax as "deeply unfair" and "punitive".

He said: "I think it’s a question, for many people, of aspiration, and people know that there’s something deeply unfair about being taxed all their lives and then being taxed in death as well."

When cuts to inheritance tax were floated in September, ahead of the Autumn Statement, Labour criticised the plans.

Shadow Treasury Chief Secretary Darren Jones said: "A year ago, Liz Truss trashed the economy with unfunded tax cuts. Now Rishi Sunak is doing what Liz Truss wants.

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"Abolishing inheritance tax – which 96 per cent of people never pay – is an unfunded tax cut of £7.2bn per year.

"The biggest threat to the economy is the Conservative Party."

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Sir Keir Starmer draws up his OWN Rwanda plan alternative in bid to tackle soaring migration

The Labour Party is said to be drawing up its own alternative to the Rwanda migration plan, as part of an attempt to neautralise attacks from the Conservative Party ahead of a general election.

Sir Keir Starmer has faced criticism from the Tories claiming he is soft on migration.

But sources told the Times the Labour leader is considering detailed plans for offshore processing schemes, which would see asylum seekers have their claims processed overseas.

However, he is said to have ruled out introducing Rwanda-style deportations.

Three tests must be met in order to secure the party's seal of approval, shadow ministers and party officials working on the plans have warned.

They have warned it must be cost-effective and credible enough to deter migrants from crossing the channel.

It also must clear the legal hurdles which have left the Government's Rwanda scheme beleaguered by issues.

The main difference between Labour's plan and the current proposals put forward by the Tories is that any refugees who are granted asylum status in the offshore processing centres would be returned to the UK.

A senior Labour source told the Times: "We've always looked at the small boats issue as a problem that needs to be solved, and we've always been open to a range of possible solutions."

They added: "The Tories like to compare Rwanda to the schemes tht other European countries are considering, but this is a false comparison because other European governments are looking at options around offshore processing, whereas the Rwanda scheme is about sending asylum seekers to another country permanently".

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Sunak's Government introduced new emergency legislation this month in an attempt to address the Supreme Court's issues with the plan.

While the Bill passed its second reading with a majority of 44 - by 313 votes to 269 - a significant number of MPs abstained due to concerns over the legislation.

The Safety of Rwanda Bill looks to address concerns expressed in last month's Supreme Court ruling by declaring Rwanda is a safe country to send asylum seekers to.

It also stops flights being grounded for legal reasons by allowing ministers to disapply sections of the Human Rights Act.

The right wing of the party wants the legislation to go further to stop obstacles arising.

However, Home Secretary James Cleverly has suggested the legislation already "pushed at the edge of the envelope" on international law.

Rwanda also told Sunak it will withdraw from the treaty if the UK were to breach its "international obligations".

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Reform UK to pose major unexpected threat at general election as pollster flags key strength 'to watch'

Reform UK could pose a bigger threat than initially expected at this year's upcoming election, pollster Sir John Curtice has warned.

He said it would be a "mistake" to see the party as only appealing to those concerned about migration, warning that they are likely to be a challenge to both the Conservative and Labour parties.

Curtice said: "I think it's a mistake to think of Reform as just picking up people who are concerned about immigration.

"Reform is also picking up the people who aren't happy about the health service, who are unhappy about the economy, who are also thinking that Brexit has not been implemented properly.

“It's acting as a vehicle for protests for 2019 Tory voters who couldn't contemplate voting even for a Keir Starmer Labour Party, let alone Jeremy Corbyn.

"So they are potentially competition to both Labour and the Tories, picking up Tory votes that might perhaps otherwise go to Labour, but that's something to watch.

"They're now at a record high and they are virtually all Leave voters.

"It's a very, very distinct constituency."

Reform has confirmed that it will stand a candidate to challenge the Conservative Party in every single seat.

But speakinng to the Daily Express about Reform's appeal to voters, Curtice claimed that immigration is "irrelevant".

He said: "I’ve actually been through all the polls so far this month. As many 2019 Tory voters are now defecting to Reform as they are defecting to Labour, perhaps partly to do with immigration.

"Hitherto I've been able to say immigration is irrelevant, the Government's just pushing that button, and that this is not related to whether or not they're losing support.

"There are some signs that maybe that's no longer true, and that's to the Government’s disadvantage because so many people think immigration has gone up.

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"If what they've managed to do is to raise the profile of immigration in voters’ minds, it is to the Government's disadvantage.

"I’m not sure about that, I'd want to see more evidence but there is some evidence that suggests maybe Reform are picking some of these folks up."

Just last week, Rishi Sunak confirmed that he will call an election in 2024.

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Labour 'new shops bonus' aims to tackle American candy stores on UK high streets

Labour has vowed to tackle rogue American candy stores - and has urged the government to help restore the British high street.

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Will London’s Ulez expansion be scrapped in 2024? We can only all hope - analysis by Howard Cox

There can’t ever have been a more despised scheme in modern road user political history, than the putting into practice of the odious Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez). This senseless venture came into effect on April 8, 2019, and was expanded even further on October 25, 2021, to cover the area bounded by central London’s ring roads, the North and South Circulars.

And on August 29, Sadiq Khan unilaterally, ignoring two out of three in a public consultation against it, added this needless purely money-grabbing project right across Greater London. It now covers an area of 607 square miles containing a population of over nine million people.

Greater London's 9,000 miles of roads are critical to the UK economy because 80 per cent of journeys in the capital take place on the roads. No doubt the millions of extra wallets in this expanded territory were too good to be true, for a financially bungling Mayor to ignore. He needs the extra dosh to pay off his self-generated £14billion of debt.

Let’s be clear though. All drivers want outstanding air quality and the cleanest of environments, but not by hitting the lowest income drivers and small businesses, hardest. These deep-seated honest sentiments from hard-working taxpayers, who have no choice but to use their vehicles, continue to be ignored by myopic green supporters of an emotional Greta Thunberg and an ego-driven arrogant Sadiq Khan.

The falsehoods, that both virtue signallers sermonise to their easy-to-fool cult followers, ignore scientific facts. They rely on sinister indoctrinations to implement their punitive mantras and policies.

Fact! The use of the internal combustion engine here in the UK is not destroying the planet or killing thousands of people. And for the record out of the top 110 cities in the world, our capital city is the 14th cleanest in terms of air quality (source IQAir.com). And to put this into true perspective Rome is 88th, Munich 72nd, Madrid 64th and Paris 49th.

Under the current Government, air quality on most measures has continued to improve, dramatically so. In 2022, for example, the average number of hours when Particulate Matter (PM2.5) concentrations was 'high' at roadside monitoring sites was five, compared with nine in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 and 28 in 2012. And the air quality in London continues to improve, but not because of Ulez.

And in TfL’s underground rail network, polluted air averages at least 2,000 percent worse than at roadside levels. Worryingly passengers and staff are being put at risk, because of little, if any, preventative measures in place to reduce the contamination of the air we breathe in the Tube.

It sticks in my craw, how Sir Keir Starmer allows the current Mayor of London to remain as a member of the Labour Party. The likely next Prime Minister has allowed Sadiq Khan to use lie after lie to implement policies that are hurting the very people Labour purports to represent.

Khan was found to have lied about Ulez on several occasions: For example, he misled the public about the “benefits” of Ulez in radio and newspaper advertisements, a draft report leaked to The Sunday Telegraph. The Advertising Standards Authority found two of his adverts were “misleading” because they “did not clarify” claims NO2 levels had “reduced by nearly half” as a result of Ulez and were based on “estimates or modelled scenarios” and not “actual figures”.

He claims that 4,000 people die each year from poor air quality. The science however clearly states that there is insufficient evidence to establish a causal link between exposure to air pollution and mortality. There is only one death certificate in the last decade in London that records a sad death due to air pollution.

Khan claims the original Ulez zone covering central London has reduced nitrogen dioxide pollution by 29 per cent. The Imperial College report that has received £800,000 worth of funding from taxpayers via the Mayor, reviewed the methodology of Khan’s data. These well-financed academics say Ulez had reduced nitrogen dioxide by a mere three per cent and had a negligible effect on particulate pollution. They concluded 'Ulez on its own is not an effective strategy in the sense that the marginal causal effects were small'. Don’t forget TfL had already shown that expanding Ulez to Greater London would make a negligible difference to air quality.

There are so many other examples that show Sadiq Khan is not fit for office and how disturbingly, the Tory opposition has allowed this dictator to get away with destroying the economic and social fabric of our proud Capital city for nearly eight years. Shamefully, it was Noel Willcox, a small businessman that got a court of law to prove existing LEZ and Ulez signs are unlawful. The Conservatives in City Hall talk a good game but have done nothing to prevent the damage caused by the Labour Mayor. A few visits to a Judge could have made the difference.

The existing Ulez has a massive negative impact on the London economy too. According to the Cebr, the total Ulez scheme cost to London’s GDP is circa £807million per year. Moreover, these calculations only estimate the direct effects. The commercial and economic cost to London of Ulez is more than dire, it is catastrophic. How has the Treasury let this happen?

The Next Mayor of London, which many hope is yours truly, will have to balance billions of debts with pragmatic policies that will get London prosperous, safer, and moving again. A tall order of tasks that frankly I, as Reform UK’s candidate, will not shy away from. But all Londoners must have the courage to vote for real change and not succumb to more of the same by voting for Labour or Tory in London. That is the risk, being scared to vote for real change that will benefit all Londoners, not just the privileged elite.

Howard Cox - Reform UK’s London Mayoral Candidate and Founder of FairFuelUK.

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European Union blasted for 'undermining sense of nationhood' as migration spirals

The EU has been criticised for "undermining" a sense of "nationhood" within its member nations.

Former MEP Ben Habib said that spiralling migration in the EU could lead to the end of the union, as a result of countries reimposing border checks.

As many as 11 EU countries have rebelled against EU policies on border checks in the face of growing concerns about illegal migration.

Former MEP Ben Habib said the new checks might signal the end of EU freedom of movement, adding: "the realisation that it is deeply damaging will also spell the end of the EU".

Countries including France, Slovakia, Sweden and Germany have re-instated border restrictions including identity vetting, passport checks, police interviews, static checkpoints and vehicle inspections.

Such restrictions on movement were abandoned many years ago as part of the Schengen Treaty.

Speaking to GB News about the new border controls, former MEP Ben Habib said: "The removal of borders in Europe with the creation of the Schengen zone was daft.

"The EU sought to remove countries’ borders to undermine the sense of nationhood across Europe and enhance its own relative importance and control.

"What it created was, amongst other things, a massive security risk.

"Western nations and their borders exist generally as a result of a social construct which took hundreds of years to settle. Their removal exposed these countries.

Recently, the Schengen zone has reminded us how important it is to have borders.

"330,000 illegal migrants entered the EU last year. Once in Europe, because of the Schengen zone, they could travel wherever they liked.

"It is because of the Schengen zone that it is so difficult to monitor movement and people smugglers."

He added: "Thank goodness a handful of countries, including France, have reinstated border checks. There is now hope illegal migration might be checked.

"There is now also hope that the idiocy of ever closer union under the jackboot of Brussels will be seen for the threat it poses to European nations and our security.

"Freedom of movement is a fundamental pillar of the EU. With any luck, the realisation that it is deeply damaging will also spell the end of the EU."

Earlier this year, Italy escalated its internal border checks with neighbouring Slovenia as part of an attempt to reduce the "increased threat of violence within the EU", which the country believes has escalated since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

Italy said the changes were necessary as a result of the growing risk of terrorists arriving due to "constant migratory pressure from land and sea".

In the wake of Italy's border checks, Slovenia did the same with its borders with Hungary and Croatia, claiming it faces the same issues as Italy.

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Slovenia also claimed to be facing "threats to public order and internal security".

Meanwhile, Sweden has warned it is conducting checks at all its border points to combat terrorism.

Andrej Plenkovic, the prime minister of Croatia, backed the move by other European countries.

He said: "The EU is surrounded by a series of very big crises... bigger than any time in the past 30 years. bb

"We have Putin's aggression against Ukraine, Hamas's attack on Israel, all this in the context of intensified flows of illegal migration."

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Things may be bad, but there are reasons to be cheerful in 2024 | Adam Boulton

If you think this has been a pretty tough year, you are not alone.

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Christmas offers 'promise of a brighter future', Sunak says - as party leaders deliver messages

Rishi Sunak has urged people to focus on "the promise of a brighter future" - as party leaders delivered their Christmas messages.

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Home secretary apologises after joking about spiking his wife's drink

James Cleverly has apologised after joking about putting a date rape drug in his wife's drink in comments made at a Downing Street reception within hours of the Home Office announcing plans to crack down on spiking.

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Tory right criticise Sunak's 'weakness' over family visa salary threshold 'delay'

Rishi Sunak is under fire from his own MPs after rowing back on plans to lift the salary threshold for a family visa – with some Tories accusing him of “weakness”.

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Biden accused of wasting US energy potential as '3 million barrels wasted every day'

Joe Biden has been blamed for wasting "3 million barrels of oil every day" as a US economist blasts the federal government.

Expert Casey B. Mulligan suggests at the beginning of the Biden administration oil production "went backwards."

Speaking to GB News, he said: "Before the pandemic we jumped into the leading country in the world, believe it or not, we had really had dramatic change in the industry, a lot of discoveries.

"Not just finding new resources but figuring out how to get them out of the ground into the consumers hands cheaply.

"We were progressing very strong and that everyone expected that progress to continue.

"But then beginning in the Biden administration, we actually went backward with with our production and we really failed to go forward.

"I believe only last month or maybe two months ago, we were able to even get even where we were four years ago and we really were marching ahead at such a fast pace, we should be way ahead of that.

"So by our estimates, we're missing maybe 3,000,000 barrels every day, 365 days a year because of that lack of production.

"And we think that has a lot to do with there's a lot of regulations coming out of the federal government. There's also even the federal government acknowledges this.

He added: "The ESG movement, which the government has definitely greased the wheels for, meaning making it hard for investors to invest in promising energy companies and in companies have trouble financing their new research, their new production plans.

"And then there's a serious concern that taxes on businesses are going to go up.

"And that's a very big deal for oil companies."

A report by Mulligan and Stephen Moore revealed that Biden's "anti-American" policy is set to cost the country roughly $100 billion a year for as long as the Democratic president's policies continue.

An investigation has revealed that Biden’s new anti-energy policies, “Environmental, Social and Governance” (ESG) and rising business tax rates means US oil production has fallen 1-5 million daily barrels short of previous trends.

The experts suggest that in comparison, President Trump’s regulatory and tax policies would have allowed US oil and gas industries to produce more, at lower cost per barrel and cubic foot of gas.

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UFO watchers claim to have spotted mysterious floating orb above Joe Biden's Air Force 1

Airplane enthusiasts claim to have seen a UFO hovering above Joe Biden's Air Force 1 as the President traveled to Tinseltown for a campaign fundraiser.

Footage shows a floating object above the plane in Los Angeles during Biden's December 10.

Multiple witnesses spotted the white or silver object over LAX airport.

People have disputed what the object appears to be with some claiming it was a balloon while others suggest it could have been a UFO.

Social media users discussed the object online as some argued it resemblance to "metallic orb" UFOs.

Airplane enthusiasts Joshua and Peter Solorzano were filming at LAX airport on Sunday December 10, hoping to catch Air Force 1.

The duo caught a glimpse of two F-35 fighter jets in the sky enforcing a Temporary Flight Restriction for the Commander-in-Chief.

While livestreaming the event on YouTube, a white object appears on the screen at 10.18am.

Three minutes later, the object appeared again in the top right of the camera view.

It appears for a third time at 11.08am directly over cameraman Joshua Solorzano.

During the live stream, Joshua can be heard saying: "It’s directly above us. It is moving, it’s not a star. I’m telling you they’re flying in from the ocean. Very strange right now."

Another witness, screenwriter Chris Cullari, saw what appeared to be the same object at around 12.30pm that day, while he was walking through Culver City to catch a train.

"I didn’t see it move. I watched it for about 15 minutes to see if it zipped off or anything and it just floated," he told the Daily Mail.

"It just looked like a distant white orb. The fact that it was stationary drew my attention.

"And the fact that there was an LAPD helicopter circling drew my attention. But from where I was, I couldn't tell if the chopper was circling because of the object or something on the ground."

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Sunak says family visa salary threshold will rise in 2025 following anger from Tory MPs

Rishi Sunak has said the higher threshold for a family visa will rise in 2025 after he came under fire from Tory MPs for rowing back on plans to introduce it next spring.

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Home Office rows back on plans to hike family visa salary threshold

The Home Office has rowed back on plans to increase the salary threshold for Britons wishing to bring a family member to the UK following a backlash.

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Braverman savages Sunak's new sentencing plans with demands for automatic jail for worst offenders

Suella Braverman has warned that new sentencing guidelines by Rishi Sunak will put public safety at risk.

The former home secretary has now called for automatic jail terms for prolific offenders.

The former home secretary said plans to let offenders facing jail terms of less than 12 months serve their punishment in the community were “misguided”.

She added the plans failed to tackle prolific offenders who were responsible for a disproportionate number of crimes, yet who often escaped justice.

Writing in The Telegraph, she said: "The Sentencing Bill aims to ease pressure on the prison estate, but in my opinion will put public safety at risk, place an undue burden on the police and probation service, and potentially lead to an increase in crime.

"In particular, clause 6 of the Bill effectively bans short sentences, that is sentences under 12 months. The Bill, as a whole, also misses the opportunity to bolster penalties for repeat offenders. This is misguided for several reasons.

"Firstly, most crimes are committed by a relatively small proportion of offenders. They wreak havoc and blight communities. As a recent Policy Exchange report found, citing Ministry of Justice data, “prolific offenders” made up more than half of all convictions between 2000 and 2021 despite representing only nine per cent of the nearly six million people convicted of committing a criminal offence.

"Their impact on communities is hugely disproportionate to their number but for 52.7 per cent of convictions they were not sentenced to a term of imprisonment at all. We need to toughen up the law to deal with these career criminals."

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Braverman has now proposed criminals who have hit 45 crimes should face a mandatory two-year custodial sentence each time they are convicted of a further serious offence.

A “five strikes and out” amendment has also been tabled by the former home secretary would require immediate jail sentences to be the starting point for any criminal who committed a fifth successive offence.

She added: “Jail time must be used to deter would-be criminals and public safety must come first."

The Bill, announced by Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, in October, brings with it a legal presumption that offenders on facing sentences of under 12 months will have them suspended.

Instead, they will be made to do unpaid community work as their "punishment".

Offenders will be fitted with electronic, GPS, alcohol or drug tags and placed under curfews of up to 20 hours a day at weekends.

Anyone who breaches their suspended sentence would then return to court where they would then have to serve their full term in prison.

Braverman also said that short term sentences were imperative in dissuading criminals to reoffend.

She said: "Secondly, short sentences are an important deterrent against criminality. Without the stint of a few months in prison, many of these criminals will no doubt go on to reoffend. The deterrence of custody will be removed entirely, the incentive to desist from criminality will evaporate and victims will be failed."

An MoJ impact assessment report shows that an average of 3,700 low-level criminals will be spared jail time due to the new plans.

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Colorado attorney who helped oust Trump opens door for Biden scrutiny: ‘NO ONE is exempt’

A Colorado attorney who argued in favour of a ruling removing Donald Trump from the state’s ballot has suggested Biden is open for scrutiny.

Speaking on GB News, Eric Olson was asked by Patrick Christys about the US President’s perceived cognitive issues.

The GB News presenter asked whether the court will examine whether the US President is fit for office given his apparent mental decline.

Olson said there is a “mechanism” in place for people unfit for office to be removed, should it ever be needed.

He added there is no political bias in the constitution and while Trump has suffered from its guidelines on this occasion, it could be a Democrat in the future.

“Our constitution applies to everyone”, he said.

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“There is a mechanism for people to remove a sitting president if they are incapable of doing their job.

“That mechanism applies to Democrats and Republicans alike. There is no party that can exempt itself from that Constitution.”

Olson added that the ruling sets an “important legal precedent” for anybody standing for office.

“No one is above the law”, he told Christys.

“Our constitution applies to all of us. That is what makes our country great.

“If Joe Biden engaged in an insurrection, absolutely he should never hold office again.”

Tuesday’s decision has been placed on hold pending appeal until next month.

The ruling only applies in Colorado, but similar attempts to boot Trump off the ballot in New Hampshire, Minnesota and Michigan have failed.

The court ruled 4-3 that Trump was not an eligible candidate because he had engaged in an insurrection over the US Capitol riot nearly three years ago.

Trump remains able to run in other states while his campaign have labelled the decision “completely flawed”.

The justices wrote in their ruling: "We do not reach these conclusions lightly. We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us.

"We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favour, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach."

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‘I was SICKENED!’ Sadiq Khan blasted by Howard Cox as London Mayor scuppers plan to let Ukraine benefit from Ulez

Sadiq Khan deeming a scheme to send non-Ulez compliant was to Ukraine is “sickening”, Reform Party London Mayoral candidate Howard Cox has claimed.

The London Mayor was facing calls to allow polluting 4x4s to be donated to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

While a spokesman for Khan said the mayor “utterly appalled” by Russia’s actions, exporting vehicles to Ukraine is “not possible within the currently limits of the GLA [Greater London Authority] Act.

Speaking on GB News, Cox told Martin Daubney that Khan is guilty of nit-picking as his office scuppered the plan.

“It is time up for Sadiq Khan”, he said.

“Whether it’s the Conservatives winning or Reform UK, that man has got to go.

“Most of these vehicles just don’t meet the targets that Khan has put in dishonestly.

“As far as I’m concerned, what a great idea. Very creative.

“I think every single one of those vehicles should be filled with medical supplies and driven over to Ukraine to help.

“But that man used a stupid little legal detail to say ‘it’s not going to benefit London issues’, it sickens me.

“My emails are overflowing with people saying, ‘for God’s sake, get rid of that man’.”

Khan’s spokesman said in a statement: “The mayor is utterly appalled by Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine and the capital stands in solidarity with the millions of Ukrainians affected by this awful war.

“The mayor’s team have been in contact with their counterparts in Kyiv since the start of the war and the mayor remains determined to help in any way he can.

“Unfortunately, altering the Ulez scheme for the purpose of exporting vehicles to Ukraine is not possible within the current limits of the GLA [Greater London Authority] Act.

“However, Sadiq has asked his officials to work directly with Mayor Klitschko’s team to see how we can help promote this initiative from Ukrainian charities and the GLA also continues to work with its functional bodies and will support them in any vehicle donations that they can make through national donation schemes.

“The GLA will also continue to monitor opportunities which may arise through such schemes.”

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, is said to have written to Khan in September and suggest the vehicles be donated, adding the act could have “live-saving” values.

According to the Telegraph, Khan responded this week to say the plan does not meet the “legal threshold” that requires the scheme to benefit Londoners from an “economic, social and environmental perspective”.

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'Desperate' Sunak slapped down by statistics watchdog for wrongly claiming debt is falling

Rishi Sunak has been chastised by the UK's statistics watchdog for claiming to have reduced public debt - despite not having done so.

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WATCH: Michael Fabricant hits out at airlines for 'jumping on the woke bandwagon' over Rwanda refusal

Sir Michael Fabricant, Conservative MP has slammed airlines for "jumping on the woke bandwagon" and refusing to join the Rwanda deal.

Airlines have reportedly refused to sign any contracts with the Home Office to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda, amid concerns they could face reputational damage if the deportation plan gets off the ground.

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Biden branded 'reckless' after 'draining' US oil reserve amid BP shipment suspension in Red Sea

Joe Biden has left the US "vulnerable" after "draining" America’s strategic petroleum reserve, a US economist has warned.

Shipping delay concerns are growing after BP paused operations through the Red Sea following a series of attacks by rebels.

The British oil giant said the suspension comes amid a “deteriorating security situation” with tensions in the Middle East.

Following the announcement of the shipping interlude, Heritage Foundation economist, Dr. E. J. Antoni described the Biden administration as "reckless" which as a result has "left the US and her allies more vulnerable to events like this".

Speaking to GB News, he said: "This is just one example of why the Biden administration’s draining of America’s strategic petroleum reserve was so reckless – it has left the U.S. and her allies more vulnerable to events like this.

"The current economic slowdown around the world has also temporarily dampened oil demand, which provides a small amount of breathing room as well, limiting the upward pressure on prices.

"However, reflecting once more on the long-term trajectory of the industry, many Western countries are committing energy suicide by transitioning to unreliable and inefficient “green” energy while abandoning domestic oil and gas, the bulwarks of their economic power.

"Coupled with future oil production cuts from OPEC+, this points to a slow but steady increase in energy prices for a long time to come, making $100 oil not just plausible, but likely in the years to come."

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Discussing the potential surge of oil prices, the public finance economist, said a rise to $100 a barrel of oil is "likely in the years to come".

"There’s no indication that oil will rise over $100 in the near term. There are sufficient global stockpiles to ride out temporary disruptions," he said.

"But that’s not to say a prolonged closure of the Red Sea won’t have a considerable impact. Eventually, both private and public reserves will run dry."

Antoni added: "Coupled with future oil production cuts from OPEC+, this points to a slow but steady increase in energy prices for a long time to come, making $100 oil not just plausible, but likely in the years to come."

On Monday, Houthis militants in Yemen attacked two commercial ships with naval drones – the MSC Clara, which is a Panama-flagged vessel and the Norwegian-owned Swan Atlantic.

Attacks have been carried out by Houthi rebels in protest over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

On Saturday, the Royal Navy shot down a suspected attack drone in the Red Sea which was thought to be planning to target merchant shipping.

It is the first time in decades that the Royal Navy has shot down an aerial target in anger.

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Taxpayer facing up to £2m redundancies bill after Greensill collapse

The taxpayer could be on the hook for the £2m paid out to Greensill employees after the finance company went into administration.

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Senior Tories pile pressure on PM to back immediate Gaza ceasefire

Rishi Sunak is under pressure to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after 10 senior Conservative MPs accused Israel of carrying out the "brutalisation of the civilian Palestinian population" - which they argue risks fuelling more extremism in the region.

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Higher taxes and cuts to services likely next year, councils warn, after govt funding revealed

Councils in England have warned they could be forced to reduce services and implement tax rises for the upcoming financial year as they criticised the level of funding provided by central government.

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Eddie Izzard's bid to be Labour's Brighton MP fails

Eddie Izzard has failed in her latest bid to represent the Labour Party as an MP at the next general election.

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MP fears family in Gaza 'won't survive' one week before Christmas

An MP who has family members she says are trapped in a church in Gaza is worried they will not survive until Christmas.

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The Week...before Christmas recess

Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists, Sky News's Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard, guide us through their predictions of how British politics will play out over the next seven days.  

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Tony Blair breaks silence on plot to return to frontline politics after Labour victory

Sir Tony Blair has broken his silence on claims he could one day return to frontline politics.

For years now rumours have been growing that the former Prime Minister could one day announce his intentions to once again take on a job in Government.

Following Labour's catastrophic 2019 election defeat there were even suggestions he could start his own new political party.

And more recently, following David Cameron's surprise appointment as Foreign Secretary, there have been claims that Sir Keir Starmer could one day put Blair in the House of Lords to do the same thing.

"Rishi bringing back Cameron has shown there is a path to Blair coming back as Foreign Secretary," a source told The Sun.

"I wouldn’t bet against it."

However, a spokeswoman for Blair has ruled out the 70-year-old making a return.

Asked about whether he would be interested in a Cabinet role under Starmer, she said: "It’s not something he would consider.

"He is happy doing work with his Institute, which takes up the vast majority of his time, and informs the debate on the right policy solutions for the country."

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change takes an international view, working around the world on social issues.

It's website claims it helps to "turn bold ideas into reality".

"We help governments and leaders get things done," it claims.

"We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three."

Starmer himself has previously said he would not want Blair in his Cabinet.

He said last month that he wanted to do it “my way, with my team” rather than “running backwards in history to hug someone”.

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Sadiq Khan is crippling London's history and he doesnt seem to care, says Susan Hall

Take a trip across London, and the iconic black cabs are a common sight. They’re not just a way to get around; the black cab symbolises our city's historic character and resilience. But, under Mayor Sadiq Khans' watch, our cabbies have not been treated right – they’ve been entangled in red tape, locked out of city hall, and left to navigate through the labyrinth of traffic gridlock.

The mayor's ill-fated fascination with ridding London of cars hasn’t helped this with so-called 'Low Traffic Neighborhoods' (LTNs) being rolled out left, right and centre. For Sadiq, LTNs are just another weapon to be used in his war on London’s motorists, another tool in his kit as he tries to impose his vision of a carless city on unwilling Londoners.

It won’t be how I do things if Londoners vote me into office in May.

London cabbies deserve a mayor that is on their side because time and time again it is cabbies who stand up for Londoners. I’ve witnessed firsthand the struggles this trade faces every week. I am inundated with stories from cabbies of ludicrous road schemes, passengers hit by Sadiq's unfair Ulez expansion, and Londoners worried about Sadiq's plot to bring in universal road user charging should he keep the top job next May.

Last week, I wondered about how the introduction of ‘pay-per-mile’ would change the cab trade.

If the Mayor sneaks in road user charging by the back door, are we facing a future where cabbies have two meters above the dash? One for their fare, and the other for Sadiqs?

But it isn’t just these charges that are pounding this trade. Congestion on the streets is hardly helping, either. We all know traffic is hardly a new gripe in the city, but it just seems to be getting worse. There was news last week that Transport for London bus drivers are considering strike action because of the gridlock caused by LTNs.

Whilst it’s hitting everyone, cabbies are left to pay the price with fewer jobs coming in when the streets they navigate daily are choked with gridlock, often exacerbated by the very LTNs purportedly designed to bring this congestion down. I get it; drivers and passengers will be frustrated with a high-minded policy like this that doesn’t seem to work in practice. Cabbies are rightly wound up with the consequences of policies that were meant to enhance, not impede, the flow of traffic.

Sadiq, however, just doesn’t seem to care.

And I can’t say I’m shocked – he seems to be asleep at the wheel these days.

I’d make sure local councils across London had the power to sort this out, to get rid of bothersome LTNs quickly if they needed to. Locals would get a say too. Why? Because local communities must have a say in policies that directly impact their day-to-day life. Let’s make the process simpler and make it easier for councils to remove or adjust these schemes where there is local support. London's cabbies deserve roads free from unnecessary problems, allowing them to provide the top-tier seamless service we all know and love.

We need a reset in how the cab trade works with city hall – and that starts with getting Sadiq out, and me in. A mayor that wants to work with the cabbies, not see them off the streets. Policies that impact the cabbies need to be made with them in mind. It's time to shift away from a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach and embrace a strategy that reflects the needs of our city.

The struggles faced by our cabbies under Sadiq Khan's heavy-handed anti-car administration are proof of a broader problem – a lack of understanding and support for the backbone of our city's transport network. I believe in championing policies that prioritise the interests of Londoners and those who contribute significantly to our city's life. Cabbies are not just drivers; they are the heartbeat of London's streets, and its high time they stopped getting nobbled by this Mayor.

If I’m voted in next May, as your Mayor, I will work tirelessly to cut the red tape and bring down the traffic gridlock that plagues our cabbies. By giving local councils a hand up, scrapping the unfair Ulez expansion, and getting cabbies around the table, I will put my foot on the gas for an era where our iconic black cabs can navigate London's streets smoothly and efficiently, ensuring reliable and convenient service for all Londoners. Together, let's back our cabbies and keep London moving.

Susan Hall is the Conservative Party candidate for the London Mayoralty.

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'Sustainable ceasefire': Cameron calls for lasting peace piling more pressure on Israel's leader

David Cameron has called for a "sustainable ceasefire" in the escalating Gaza conflict - adding to growing global pressure on Israel.

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Drink spiking laws to be modernised, Home Office says

Plans to modernise spiking laws will be set out in the coming days.

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Rishi Sunak warns 'enemies' want to use migration as a 'weapon'

Changes to global refugee rules could be needed to tackle illegal migration, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said, as he warned of the threat of migrants to “overwhelm” European countries.

At a gathering of Italian conservatives and right-wingers in Rome, Sunak offered a stark warning about illegal migration and the need for radical solutions to tackle the issue.

Sunak said “enemies” want to use migration as a “weapon”, “deliberately driving people to our shores to try to destabilise our society”.

“If we do not tackle this problem, the numbers will only grow. It will overwhelm our countries and our capacity to help those who actually need our help the most.

Watch his comments above

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'Concern for Biden' Democratic Muslims turn away from US President at refusal to call for ceasefire

Joe Biden’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict could see him alienating a hefty portion of his core vote, a political commentator has claimed.

The US President has stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, something that has outraged many on the left.

One particular voting base that is likely to be disappointed with Biden’s stance is Democrat Muslims, Lauren Wright from Princeton University has claimed.

Wright added that Biden may opt to hold the line as the number of Jewish voters greatly outweighs Muslim voters.

“Biden has been pushed very consistently by the far-left, progressive wing of the Democrats to call for a ceasefire”, she said.

“He has been critical of Israel, increasingly so lately, but he has not caved to these policy demands.

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“That is the crux of the issue for these Muslim voters.”

She told Jacob Rees-Mogg that the voting block is a “consistent” supporter of the Democrat party, and also have a high turnout rate.

“There are about 1.5 million registered Muslim American voters”, she said.

“Their turnout rate is very high, about 70 per cent in 2020. They are pretty consistent supporters of the Democrat Party.

“However, it depends what you’re comparing it to. Jewish American voters, who Biden also really needs to keep on his side, are about six times the size of the Muslim voting block.

“He has this very delicate coalition of groups who have completely opposing views on the Israel-Hamas war, and he needs to please both of them.”

Despite the tricky situation Biden is faced with, Wright does not believe Muslim voters will turn to a Republican Party that is likely to be fronted by Donald Trump as its presidential candidate at the 2024 election.

She told GB News: “They have said very clearly that they are not willing to abandon ship and support Donald Trump.

“Really, it’s a toothless threat. It’s a policy demand, it’s understandable. Any group who wants to hear their demands made will say ‘we’re going to stay home next year’, but they have not said they will switch parties.

“That is different from Jewish American voters who have been trending more conservative in recent years.

“Republicans happen to be much closer to the Jewish viewpoint on the war. To just put an exclamation point on that, the Israel-Hamas war is a top issue for Jewish voters.

“97 per cent of them say in surveys that they are playing very close attention.”

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Sadiq Khan BLOCKS plans to send cars scrapped under Ulez to Ukraine front line - 'It's absurd!'

Sadiq Khan has refused to send cars destined for the scrapheap under Ulez to Ukraine, where they are needed on the front line.

The Mayor of London blocked plans to send vehicles - typically 4x4s and pick-up trucks - to the war zone.

Motorists can claim a one-off payment of £2,000 to scrap their car which does not comply with Ulez regulations.

Those non-compliant vehicles which includes diesel cars registered before September 2015 and petrol cars registered before January 2006, must pay a daily charge of £12.50.

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv wrote to Khan in September following the launch of the scrappage scheme asking if some of the vehicles could be donated to Ukraine.

He said the move would have “enormous potential” and be used in a “variety of life-saving and transport roles”.

However, Khan responded to the request stating that he could not comply because it did not meet the “legal threshold” that requires the Ulez scrappage scheme to benefit Londoners from an “economic, social and environmental perspective”.

The Conservative candidate for mayor of London, Susan Hall has criticised Khan's decision.

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"Sadiq Khan’s refusal to send scrapped Ulez cars to Ukraine, citing a legal quirk, is absurd," she told the Telegraph.

"Londoners who choose to scrap their cars should have the freedom to decide for themselves if they want their car sent to support Ukraine.

"Standing with Ukraine against tyrants like Putin is not only a moral imperative but also in the best interest of all Londoners and the global community."

Richard Lofthouse, who works with Car for Ukraine, a volunteer initiative which delivers 4x4s and trucks to the front line, said Khan had shown a “lack of political courage”.

He said: "Presumably it’s no bad thing and no ‘disbenefit’ for Londoners to actually show solidarity with another free state fighting tyranny.

"Rather than only line the greedy pockets of private scrapyard merchants who are receiving thousands of perfectly good cars as the result of the scrappage scheme subsidy."

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, volunteers from organisations such as Car for Ukraine have been driving donated 4x4s and larger vehicles to the war zone for soldiers on the front line.

Gareth Johnson, the MP for Dartford who introduced a private members’ Bill to overturn the Ulez expansion, added: "I am gobsmacked. The vast majority of Londoners would want to see vehicles that can help the people of Ukraine in their difficult time. This is bureaucracy gone mad and it’s an astonishing decision by Sadiq Khan."

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