Protection of Britain's borders 'neither effective nor efficient', report by sacked inspector says

Border protections at UK airports are neither "effective nor efficient" as ePassport gates are sometimes left unmanned, according to one of several delayed reports by sacked chief inspector David Neal.

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'Will Sunak get tough on immigration? I don't believe any of it' claims Nigel Farage as foreign arrivals SURGE

Earlier today the Home Office published their migration statistics for last year.

Before I go into the numbers, suffice to say they are simply enormous, I want to think for a moment about the politics of this.

The Conservatives were elected to power in 2010 promising to reduce net migration to tens of thousands.

They failed, but they made the same promise again in the 2015 manifesto.

They're going to reduce net migration to tens of thousands and they failed and then blame it down.

In the 2017 manifesto, they promised they would reduce net migration to 10s of thousands.

And in 2019 they said they would take back control of immigration with hints that numbers would come down.

So we're in the 14th year of a Conservative government and by any marker, whether it's legal migration or illegal migration, they have failed.

It's one of the reasons they're in so much trouble with their 2019 voters, especially those who've made the journey through UKIP and from the Labour Party to the Conservatives.

Because for them, Brexit was about borders more than anything else.

Don't worry, it's all OK. There's a new plan. Rishi's going to get tough.

Oh yes. Skilled workers to earn at least £38,000 a year, up from £26,000 a year. There'll be a ban on foreign workers in homes, bringing in family members, etc.

A review of the graduate route for immigrants will be launched and they're promising us now that this time, if we re-elect them, numbers will come down significantly.

So let me ask you, do you believe Rishi Sunak?

I don't believe a word of it and to be honest with you, I don't think they ever believed a word of it.

I think they're too far in hoc to big employers in this country who want as much cheap labour as possible. That's my view.

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'We are not far-right lunatics - it's a perfectly legitimate point of view' GB News guest hits out over Anderson 'hate speech' complaint

Harry Miller has claimed that "it's a perfectly legitimate point of view" after it has been revealed that The Metropolitan Police is assessing a report of "hate speech" made against Lee Anderson.

Last week Anderson claimed that Islamists had "got control" in London and that Khan - who sets policy for the Metropolitan Police - had "given away our capital city to his mates".

The Ashfield MP was then suspended from the Conservative Party after he refused to apologise for the remarks.

Miller, who won a freedom of expression case against the police after he was accused of sending transphobic tweets, told Martin Daubney on GB News: "The comments cannot and the must not [be recorded as a hate crime].

"This is the reason that I went to the High Court and the Court of Appeal. In order to clarify for the police in particular that they cannot start criminalising or investigating people because they express a political point of view.

"The problem that we have is that the police have got a political bent and it is in their interest to seek out hate."

"The police do not like right-wingers. The police equate the right-wing with hate, yesterday I had the misfortune of being on a hate crime champions training day where I was subjected to propaganda from 'hope not hate.'

"If you remember Martin both you and I appear in the last 'hope not hate' report as being far-right lunatics. This is the kind of nonsense that the police are sucking up too and repeating."

Miller explained: "The police have no business whatsoever for investigating an MP for expressing a perfectly legitimate point of view."

Last week London Mayor Khan criticised Anderson, saying his remarks were "Islamophobic, racist and anti-Islam".

Responding, Khan said: "These comments from a senior Conservative are Islamophobic, are anti-Muslim and are racist.

"We've seen over the last two days confirmation that over the last few months there's been an increase in anti Muslim cases by more than 330 per cent.

"These comments pour fuel on the fire of anti Muslim hatred and I'm afraid the deafening silence from Rishi Sunak and from the cabinet is them condoning this racism."

"And I'm afraid it confirms to many people across the country that there's a hierarchy when it comes to racism."

Following his suspension Anderson said: "Following a call with the Chief Whip, I understand the difficult position that I have put both he and the Prime Minister in with regard to my comments.

"I fully accept that they had no option but to suspend the whip in these circumstances.

"However, I will continue to support the Government's efforts to call out extremism in all its forms - be that anti-semitism or islamophobia."

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Westminster needs a 'serious glow up!': Call for MPs to work from home sparks heated row

Harriet Harman has sparked a fiery debate on GB News, after suggesting that MPs should be allowed to "return to working from home" amid ongoing security fears.

The Labour MP suggested the idea in an interview with Andrew Marr, as concerns about politician security has been heightened.

WATCH ABOVE.

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US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to step down in November at age of 82 as 'father time remains undefeated'

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has announced he will step down from his leadership role.

Speaking on the Senate floor, the 82-year-old said he was "no longer the young man."

Experts say the announcement will leave a power vacuum atop the party he has piloted for nearly 17 years, more than any other party leader in the chamber's history.

The Kentucky lawmaker played a key role in helping former President Donald Trump cement a 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court.

However, despite this, McConnell has had personal opposition to Trump at times particularly the former President's conduct ahead of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

McConnell also clashed with the former President surrounding his continued vocal support for trying to pass aid to Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion over the opposition of hardline Republican opponents.

Speaking in the chamber today, McConnell said: "I turned 82 last week. The end of my contributions are closer than I prefer. Father Time remains undefeated. I'm no longer the young man sitting in the back hoping colleagues remember my name. It's time for the next generation of leadership."

Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, with McConnell now serving as minority leader after previously holding the post of majority leader. McConnell said he will not run for Senate Republican leader in November's party elections, meaning he will end his time as leader when a new Congress convenes in January.

McConnell's departure from the leadership will remove a central character in negotiations with Democrats and the White House on spending deals to keep the federal government funded and avert a shutdown.

His steady command of his caucus stood in contrast to relatively newly minted Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, who has struggled to lead his thin majority.

Now with Republicans having to elect a new party leader, conservative pressure to hang tough against a moderate spending deal with Democrats could weigh more heavily on the budget negotiations and the leadership election.

McConnell announced his plans on the Senate floor the morning after Trump won the Michigan Republican primary, continuing his sweep toward the party's nomination. A former high-ranking Senate Republican aide said: "I think the Trump chapter reopening is his cue to exit stage left."

More to come...

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Ministers 'pandering to far right' by not calling out Islamophobia, says ex-government adviser

Ministers are "pandering to the far right" by not calling Lee Anderson's remarks Islamophobic, a former government adviser on the issue has told Sky News.

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Ex-Tory MP Scott Benton suspended from Commons triggering potential by-election headache for Sunak

Former Conservative MP Scott Benton has been suspended from the House of Commons for 35 days over his role in a lobbying scandal.

The Blackpool South MP is in excess of the 10-day threshold that triggers a recall petition and could lead to a by-election.

MPs approved the suspension of Benton on Tuesday evening without the need for a vote - known as going through on the nod.

Benton lost the Tory whip removed last April after suggesting to undercover reporters at The Times that he would be willing to break lobbying rules for money.

He appealed against both the finding and the suspension, where parliament's Standards Committee found that he had committed a "very serious breach".

However, in a report published last week, an independent panel upheld the committee’s original decision, saying there had been “no procedural flaw” in the review.

In 2019, Benton won a majority of 3,690 in a seat that had voted Labour since 1997.

If a vote is triggered, the seat will likely swing back to Keir Starmer's party, in another embarrassing defeat for the Prime Minister who suffered a double by-election blow earlier this month.

A by-election will occur if 10 per cent of his constituents sign the petition.

It would take the number of by-elections held under Sunak's time as prime minister to 11.

More to follow...

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Comments like Lee Anderson's 'despairingly racist', says civil rights leader

Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton has labelled comments such as those by MP Lee Anderson made about Sadiq Khan as "despairingly racist".

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Everton points saga 'proves Premier League can't regulate football'

The mayor of Greater Manchester has said the Premier League's treatment of Everton FC has proved "it can't properly regulate football".

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'Words matter' - Lee Anderson, heightened tension and MPs' safety

The former Tory deputy chair, Lee Anderson, has refused to apologise for comments that saw him suspended from the party.

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The Week... Politics gets even more toxic

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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Joe Biden gaffe as President mixes up China and Russia in speech

Joe Biden was caught making another public blunder when he accidentally mixed up China and Russia.

The US President was giving a speech at the Annual National Governors’ Association when he slipped up as he recalled an anecdote from his time as Vice President to Barack Obama.

Addressing the elected representatives in the room, Biden said that Obama had warned him of the need to get close to Xi because he would one day be in charge of Russia.

"He wanted me to get to know Xi Jinping," the President recalled.

"It was clear he was going to be the head of Russia... uuuh China... and we were having problems with Russia at the time and other countries as well."

The gaffe comes after Biden has made a number of similar errors, repeatedly confusing world leaders while giving speeches.

Earlier this month he confused Emmanuel Macron, the current French president, with François Mitterrand, who led France from 1981 to 1995 and died in 1996.

Just days later he then twice mixed up Angela Merkel with late German leader Helmut Kohl.

In February he has also accidentally referred to Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as the "president of Mexico".

The latest mistake will do little to quell concerns of Democrats who are said to be considering whether to replace Biden as their candidate for the 2024 Presidential election.

Biden's mental fitness has been questioned following the release of a Department of Justice report which claimed that the president has "diminished faculties" and a "poor memory".

The report, authored by Special Counsel Robert Hur, who spoke with the President regarding classified documents, described the 81-year-old as a "well-meaning, elderly man."

In his Annual National Governors’ Association speech, Biden also repeated his debunked claim that he had travelled 17,000 miles with Xi Jinping.

He stated: "What he [Obama] said was get to know him [Jinping], he is going to be there.

"He [Obama] couldn't because he was the President, so I travelled 17,000 miles with him throughout the country, in our country and in China as well.

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"We were in the Tibet plateau and he turned to me and said: Can you define America for me? And I looked at him and suggested that I can in one word: Possibilities…"

Biden has repeated his story about travelling with Xi on multiple occasions, despite the White House admitting the claim is "inaccurate".

Saying that the 1,700 miles figure was untrue, a White House official said: "This was a reference to the total travel back and forth — both internally in the US and China, and as well as internationally — for meetings they held together.

"Some travel was in parallel, some was separately to joint destinations."

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MPs set to debate Gaza ceasefire again after Commons chaos

MPs are set to hold another debate on a ceasefire in Gaza after the SNP said it would take up the Speaker's offer following last week's chaotic scenes in parliament.

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Hunt under ‘pressure’ to slash inheritance tax as households dragged into paying 40% charge

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is under “pressure” to introduce a cut to inheritance tax (IHT) in next month’s Spring Budget.

Experts are urging the Government to reverse its decision to freeze the levy’s allowance until April 2028 due to the impact of fiscal drag.

This is the term used to describe when households end up paying more to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) due to inflation and wages rising but tax thresholds remaining the same.

IHT receipts for April 2023 to January 2024 came to £6.3billion, which is £0.4billion higher than the same period last year, according to Government figures.

Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.

Based on these statistics, more families in the UK are finding themselves falling foul of the controversial tax.

Inheritance tax is charged on the estates of those who have passed away, which includes their money, possessions and property.

It is usually levied at 40 per cent on estates which are worth more than the £325,000 threshold, however if the deceased leaves 10 per cent or more to charity this amount is slashed to 36 per cent and there are ways people may be able to increase their threshold.

Around one in 25 families in the UK, the equivalent of four per cent, are estimated to have to pay inheritance tax.

Due to house prices rising while allowances remain frozen, households are being dragged into paying IHT on estates.

Earlier this week, HMRC reported total tax bills for April 2023 to January 2024 came to a staggering £695.1billion.

This is £33.6billion higher than the same period in 2022 and early 2023 which experts believe could be an incentive for Mr Hunt to introduce tax cuts.

Edward Grant, the director of Tax and Technical Services at St. James's Place, suggested an inheritance tax cut could be on the cards.

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He said: “Income tax self-assessment receipts are £0.9billion lower than the same period last year.

“However, monthly income tax, NICs and CGT receipts continue to show year on year tax rises, giving the Chancellor potential headroom for future tax cuts in the Spring Budget March 6, 2024.

“In the long term, we continue to see the impact on receipts from the freezing of IHT thresholds at 2020 /21 levels.

“This continues to keep the pressure on for the Chancellor looking for votes to cut IHT.”

Last month, the Government cut the rate of National Insurance contributions from 12 per cent to 10 per cent with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak floating further tax cuts later in the year.

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Starmer accuses 'weak' Sunak of harbouring 'extremists' in his party

Sir Keir Starmer has accused the prime minister of harbouring extremists in his party after a senior Tory MP was suspended for "Islamophobic" comments.

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The Prime Minister In Waiting - but who really is Keir Starmer? | Adam Boulton

Sir Keir Starmer is a Prime Minister In Waiting.

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Democrat donors alarmed of Biden's mental capacity as he uses 'cheat sheets' at private fundraisers

Democrat donors have expressed concern after it was reported he was relying on cheat sheets to talk about his own policies at private fundraisers.

The 81-year-old, who has been known to use notecards, is allegedly turning to written prompts at closed-door meetings with donors.

Biden's fundraisers tend to follow the same pattern, with the President delivering introductory remarks with reporters, but not news cameras, present in the room.

There is often a teleprompter being used, but there was none at the President’s fundraiser in San Francisco on Wednesday, where when speaking off-the-cuff Biden called Vladimir Putin a "crazy SOB."

Reporters are then led out of the room with the rest of the event continuing in private. Democrat donors at Biden’s fundraisers are usually allowed to ask the president a couple of questions that had been pre-screened by aides.

However, Axiom reports that it is during these staged Q&A sessions that Biden reportedly turns to his notes prepared by staffers.

Some donors were said to have come away from fundraisers alarmed that Biden appears to cling to written notes to speak on matters of policy he should be intimately familiar with.

But other donors have spoken out in favour of the President, saying he remained sharp on topics such as immigration.

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A donor who attended a recent fundraiser in Manhattan Fred Hochberg said: "He’s always been an extemporaneous speaker, and he spoke off-the-cuff.

"Not scripted at all. I asked him about immigration and the border, and he talked about what’s going on."

The President does have a history of having to rely on crib sheets. In April last year, a photo of a notecard in his hands during a press conference revealed that he had advance knowledge of a question from a reporter.

In June 2022, the president was caught holding a cheat sheet that gave him a series of extremely detailed instructions: "YOU enter the Roosevelt Room and say hello to participants. YOU take YOUR seat."

Biden has come under fire in recent months for his mental capabilities as he seeks re-election later this year.

A new poll from Quinnipiac University showed that 67 per cent of registered voters said that the octogenarian president is too old to serve another term.

This is compared to 57 per cent who said the same of the 77-year-old Donald Trump, Biden's most likley candidate.

President Biden has hit back at these concerns, saying: "I know what the hell I’m doing!"

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Leading critic of controversial Welsh farming proposals 'receives death threats'

A farmer who has been campaigning against controversial Welsh government funding proposals for his industry says he has received death threats.

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Prince Harry and Joe Biden warned 'the stakes are very high' as court showdown looms

Prince Harry and Joe Biden have been warned "the stakes are very high" as a court showdown looms.

On Friday, the Duke of Sussex is set to have his day in court over whether he lied on his immigration papers so he could live in the US.

The Heritage Foundation intends to force his papers to become public, to find out whether or not the duke lied about his previous drug use.

The issue arose after Prince Harry, 39, admitted in his memoir Spare that he had taken drugs, leading to questions over why he was allowed to get a visa.

Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, has questioned why Joe Biden's administration supported the duke from keeping his papers hidden from public view.

Gardiner said: "The stakes are very high for Prince Harry. If the judge rules that the Department of Homeland Security must release Prince Harry's immigration records, they will be released to the general public.

"We at the Heritage Foundation have sued the Department of Homeland Security for the release of those records because they have refused to operate in a transparent fashion.

"We want to establish whether or not Prince Harry lied on his immigration application with regard to his drug use.

"If Harry has nothing to hide, he should welcome the release of those records."

Gardiner claims that the American people "have a right to know" about the duke's past.

In Spare, Prince Harry wrote of using marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms, which was released in January 2023.

He continued to tell The Express: "I think the American people really intensely dislike the idea that someone should be treated differently because of their social status, or some kind of nobility, or belonging to some kind of elite.

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"I think that Prince Harry in many ways represents a ruling elite that expects to be treated differently.

"The American people want to see the law apply equally to everybody."

Prince Harry and his American wife, Meghan Markle, moved to the US in the summer of 2020.

They are raising their two children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, in Montecito.

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Joe Biden's family dog found to have bitten Secret Service agents 24 times

President Joe Biden's family dog is said to have bitten members of the Secret Service in at least 24 incidents, new records show.

The German shepherd, named Commander, appeared to become a serious workplace issue for White House staff in the months before he was removed, the internal documents claim.

According to the records, Secret Service personnel changed their habits to avoid being injured by the dog.

"The recent dog bites have challenged us to adjust our operational tactics when Commander is present – please give lots of room," an unnamed assistant special agent in charge of the United States Secret Services’ (USSS) Presidential Protective Division wrote.

In June 2023, an email warned agents they "must be creative to ensure our own personal safety".

Incidents were said to have taken place inside and outside of the White House residence, but also at Biden family homes in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, at Camp David, and in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

A source has said the Biden family feels "awful" and left "heartbroken" over the spate of attacks.

"They’ve been heartbroken over this. They’ve apologized to those who have been bitten, taken flowers to some," the source told CNN.

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"They feel awful. Commander was over-protective, and even though they tried and tried to work on it, they had to let him go live with other members of their family."

Commander was introduced to the family as a puppy in December 2021.

However, incidents began in October 2022 and spanned a whole year before he was removed in October last year.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for USSS called on his media team to begin "crafting potential public responses" for questions about the incidents starting in July 2023.

One of the more severe incidents occurred on July 29, 2023, where Commander caused "a severe deep open wound" after a special agent from the presidential protective division’s counter surveillance unit was bitten.

Another documented incident also involved President Biden on October 2, 2022, when an agent was bitten on the forearm.

Elizabeth Alexander, First Lady Jill Biden’s communications director said: "The president and first lady care deeply about the safety of those who work at the White House and those who protect them every day.

"Despite additional dog training, leashing, working with veterinarians, and consulting with animal behaviorists, the White House environment simply proved too much for Commander. Since the fall, he has lived with other family members."

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‘Absolute joke!’ Civil servants berated for demanding a four-day week for same pay

Civil servants have been slammed as an "absolute joke" after the Public and Commercial Services demanded a four-day working week.

The union has also called for its workers to receive 35 days of holiday and still be on the same wage.

According to The Telegraph, the PCS would like to see the four-day working week implemented across the Civil Service.

The move sparked outrage from Conservative MPs with the MP from Buckingham claiming that the move is an "absolute joke."

Greg Smith said: "This is an absurd demand. In what other world can you go to your boss and say I want to work a day less a week, but I want to stay on the same money?

"You'd be laughed out of town for that absolute joke. Especially when you remember who pays for the civil service. We do, taxpayers up and down the land who will be raising an eyebrow at this demand.

"I fear it is what would come should people go to the ballot box and elect a Labour Government next time around. Because we know Labour does whatever the unions say.

"We know the unions are the real bosses of Labour members of Parliament and demands like this will become commonplace.

"This is 200,000 civil servants across 213 Government departments and agencies, a significant tranche. This is just a solution.

"We've long heard the socialist dream of the four-day week. It's been banded about for years and years that it could become reality.

"It could, although here in some parts of the civil service, four days a week might be aspirational rather than limiting. The country does have big challenges.

"As we've come out of Covid, as we're facing war on our continent there are conflicts all around the world. We need civil servants to be doing their job.

"We need them to have rocket boosters underneath them to deliver the services domestically and the things that we need them to be doing with the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defense daily.

"A four-day week just just doesn't cut it."

The PCS also demanded an "inflation-proofed" pay increase "plus pay restoration", and a living wage of £15 per hour.

What’s more, the letter also demanded a London wage uplift of at least £5,000 per year, and a minimum of 35 annual leave days for staff.

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'Very concerning': PM speaks out on Commons chaos

The Speaker changing the "usual ways in which parliament works" was "very concerning", according to the prime minister - who did not say whether he accepted Sir Lindsay Hoyle's apology.

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Argentina lashes out at UK 'provocation' over Falklands: 'We won't stand for it!'

Argentina has lashed out at Lord David Cameron over the Foreign Secretary’s visit to the Falkland Islands.

The former Prime Minister touched down in Port Stanley on Monday ahead of a wider tour covering Paraguay, Brazil and New York.

He used the visit to pay his respects to all those British personnel who served in the 74-day conflict.

The war claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentine personnel.

However, Lord Cameron’s visit sparked a furious response from an Argentinian Governor.

Gustavo Melella said: “We will not stand for it. The presence of David Cameron on our Malvinas Islands constitutes a new British provocation and seeks to diminish our legitimate sovereignty claims over our territories and maintain colonialism in the 21st century.”

Lord Cameron’s visit saw the Foreign Secretary meet leaders of the Falkland Islands Government and a range of community groups.

During his visit, Cameron said: “The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion.

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“The Falkland Islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built.

“The islands are a thriving economy, where as well as farming and fishing, there is a priority given to conservation and sustainability.”

Britain has been forced to counter several recent attacks from Buenos Aires over the Falklands.

Firebrand Libertarian Javier Milei, who won a resounding victory in Argentina’s recent election, said sovereignty over the Falklands was “non-negotiable”.

He added: “We have to make every effort to recover the islands through diplomatic channels.”

Argentina claims sovereignty of the Falklands by suggesting it was territory inherited following independence in 1816.

However, the British claim dates back to 1690 when they made the first recorded landing on the islands.

Despite Buenos Aires' unwavering commitment to taking the Falklands, a referendum held in 2013 revealed more than 99 per cent of residents want to remain part of the UK.

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How Speaker broke convention to incur wrath of Tories and SNP

There was chaos in the Commons this afternoon before the debate on a Gaza ceasefire even got under way.

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Sunak has still to win over key group as sector plunges into crisis - analysis by Katherine Forster

‘I’ve got your back’.

That’s what Rishi Sunak told farmers in Birmingham today.

Prime Ministers don’t usually grace the National Farmers’ Union’s annual conference. But Rishi Sunak moved Cabinet to Monday so he could be there today. The last PM to address them was Gordon Brown way back in 2008.

There’s an election coming, and the Tories are worried about not just the Red Wall, but losing seats in usually safe Conservative seats in the country. They currently hold 96 of the most rural seats in England, but a recent poll by Survation and the Country Land & Business Association suggests they could be left with just 43 after the next election. Labour could take 51.

Little wonder then that the Prime Minister took the time to woo the rural vote.

Thanking his audience for feeding us, he said ‘We don’t celebrate you enough.’ He burnished his country credentials as a Yorkshire MP, saying he’d pledged to champion agriculture right from the start. He talked of walking the fields of the Dales, visiting farms, even milking a cow.

The warm words were backed with pledges to maintain the farming budget for England at £2.4billion a year, with the largest ever grants - some £427million in the next financial year.

£220million is earmarked for technology and innovation, including robotics to help harvest crops. Worker shortages have been a problem since Brexit, with the supply of cheap EU labour drying up; automation could be transformative.

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Sunak pledged to slash red tape too, so that farmers can diversify with farm shops, sporting facilities and such like.

Millions watched Jeremy Clarkson’s battles to open a farm shop and then a restaurant in his wildly successful series ‘Clarkson’s Farm’.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put food security back in the spotlight, Sunak said, pledging ‘never to take food security for granted’, and introducing a new Food Security Index. He acknowledged too the challenges coming from climate change.

The stranglehold of supermarkets squeezing down what they pay suppliers is a massive issue. Dairy farmers, for instance, are often producing milk at a loss. So Sunak committed to ensuring farmers get a fair price for their food, with legislation coming in the dairy sector initially, followed by the pig sector and others.

It all went down well enough in the hall. In contrast to last year, when the then Environment Secretary Therese Coffey was booed.

But the NFU President Minette Batters and farmers asking questions from the floor stressed that farming is in crisis. Soaring prices for fuel and fertiliser, climate change, supermarket power, Brexit barriers and trade deals are all taking their toll.

The warm words and thanks are one thing. But really changing the lot of farmers in the UK is quite another.

Will these measures be enough to make a substantial difference, and persuade farmers to stick with the Tories rather than roll the dice for change and a Labour government?

We’ll find out later this year.

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British farmers slam Europe protests after Sunak intervention - 'not what we do in UK'

British farmers have slammed the Europe protests after and claimed that this is "not what we do in the UK."

Farmers from Spain, Italy and Belgium have been protesting recently, worried that EU’s Green Deal plan will place limits on the use of chemicals and on greenhouse gas emissions will result in a reduction in production and income.

Speaking to farmers in the UK today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the Government's plans to boost the UK's food security.

Sunak made a bid to win farmers' trust, telling them that he believed food security "was a vital part of our national security".

Speaking to GB News one farmer said: "The grants will be good for us, we'll look at them at getting new machines in and try and make life a bit easier with them.

"But the PM never really committed to a lot of stuff. The general public never really got to hear from farmers speaking about what we're going through and how it's difficult for us. So I think it's good and there's been some protests in Wales recently.

A different farmer said: "We're very fortunate in the UK that we have the public behind us. It's just everybody else that we haven't got.

"All the people that make the decisions. Now, I don't think protests are something that we need to do in the UK just yet.

"I am up for a quiet protest. I've looked at some of the things online and it's just gone a little bit too far in my eyes.

"You know, there's criminal damage and stuff like that, you've got to have that element of respect."

Another person said: "The PM obviously had some announcements about further funding for farming.

"The £2,000 for the management fee, which was good, but it didn't answer some of the questions sufficiently.

"Things like storage of water and flooding we need more things like that."

Sunak said £220million will be put into new food-productivity schemes, farm technology and automation to "reduce reliance on overseas workers" during the next financial year.

He also announced the Farm to Fork food-security summit held last year will become an annual event.

He also told delegates that "we don't celebrate you enough and so on behalf of the nation I just wanted to say thank you," before saying: "I've got your back".

Regulations are due to be laid in Parliament on Wednesday to ensure reasonable contracts for the dairy sector, similar rules for the pig and egg sector will follow.

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Home Office fires chief inspector of borders and immigration

The Home Office has fired the chief inspector of borders and immigration after he "lost the confidence" of the home secretary.

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As schools issued with mobile phone guidance - many worry laws not keeping up with modern life

A statistic that may bewilder anyone older than around 35 - by age 12, 97% of pupils have a mobile phone.

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'Not taking your fair share!' Humza Yousaf slapped down by Cleverly after figures expose SNP's appalling record on housing asylum seekers

James Cleverly has slapped down the SNP, claiming Scotland doesn't take its "fair share" of asylum seekers, despite the SNP's claim that it is more welcoming to migrants.

In a letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf, the Home Secretary said: "This issue extends right across Great Britain and it is essential each part of the country plays its part.

"Providing safe and appropriate accommodation to those that claim asylum will help you deliver that aim and so I look forward to your support in going further in Scotland.

"Therefore, I am writing to ask for your support in rapidly increasing the asylum accommodation estate in Scotland.

"Reaching parity between our nations on the number of asylum seekers per capita is the only way to deliver fair and equitable asylum accommodation."

Data published last year showed Scotland was housing 5,086 asylum seekers out of a UK total of 112,294.

That amounts to just 4.5 per cent of the total. Scotland makes up 8.1 per cent of the UK population.

The Scottish Government said: "The Home Office is responsible for provision of asylum accommodation, including hotels procured as contingency initial asylum accommodation.

"The UK Government needs to respect the important role of local authorities in asylum dispersal and should provide more financial support for them as it presses ahead with plans to close asylum hotels.

"We have received the Home Secretary's letter and will respond in due course."

The SNP has been fiercely critical of the Government's plan to send migrants to Rwanda.

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Writing on X after MPs voted to approve the Safety of Rwanda Bill, Yousaf said: "Westminster values are not Scotland’s values."

He added: "The most disgraceful piece of legislation in modern UK political history passes its 2nd reading.

"We need a humane asylum system and to create legal routes for those seeking sanctuary. The SNP will continue to oppose this legislation."

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Ministers urge police to make 'robust' use of powers over safety fears

Ministers have urged police forces to use "robust" measures to tackle protesters who "intimidate and harass" MPs over their stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

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Badenoch hits back at former Post Office boss in Horizon compensation row

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has hit out at the former Post Office chairman after he alleged he was told to "stall" spending on compensation for Horizon scandal victims ahead of the next general election.

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EU cracks as Olaf Scholz 'categorically against' Ursula von der Leyen becoming Nato chief as her 'tough' stance on Putin would be a 'disadvantage'

Olaf Scholz blocked Ursula von der Leyen from becoming the new Nato chief because her “tough” stance on Putin would be a “disadvantage”, German media has reported.

The German chancellor, reportedly told Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, that he was against von der Leyen becoming the new head of the military alliance because she is highly critical or Russia.

Citing diplomats in Brussels, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported that “Scholz was categorically against von der Leyen becoming Nato head”.

Von der Leyen is being considered as a potential successor to Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of Nato who is due to step down in October.

Another contender is Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime Minister. His chances of seizing the position have grown since Scholz denounced von der Leyen, German media has reported.

Ben Wallace, the former UK defence secretary is also being considered for the role.

Von der Leyen was the German defence minister from 2013 to 2019, during which she was frequently criticised for depending on the use of outside consultants.

In April 2023, Britain was reported by The Sun to be considering vetoing the President of the European Commission for the role, citing her performance as German defence minister under Angela Merkel.

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Last month, tension between Scholz and von der Leyen rose when the EU criticised Germany for pledging €7billion (£6billion) in security assistance and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Scholz announced the support on January 16, after urging other EU countries to boost their military supplies to Ukraine.

However, Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, slammed Scholz for not backing Brussels.

“Today we see that Germany is trying to go solo, it hasn't fooled anyone, and in particular it is trying to stop supporting the European Peace Facility,” Breton told reporters in Paris.

The European Peace Facility is an off-budget mechanism aimed at funding the costs of the EU’s offshore military operations, as well as funding aid to allies such as Ukraine.

In December, Germany laid out a proposal which would allow member countries to discount bilateral military aid given to Ukraine from their contribution to the EPF.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the EPF has provided €4.5billion (£3.8billion) worth of weapons to Kyiv.

It also drilled 34,000 Ukrainian troops are part of an EU training mission.

Berlin officials believe that countries with larger defence industries such as France or Spain should be spending money on creating new weapons, rather than using their existing military stocks, which the EPF then reimburses.

“For Ukraine it is decisive that military aid reaches it without delay," a German diplomat in Brussels told Politico.

“The EPF is useful but can be blocked by a single Member State as has happened time and again in the past. Bilateral support is direct and quick and should be considered as an at least equivalent contribution.”

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Tories think they've spotted a Labour weakness - and are scouring for opportunities

The Conservative campaign is seeking Labour candidates' comments about Israel and Gaza following the suspension of two MP-hopefuls last week after their comments about the Middle East. 

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Sunak's by-election agony, Starmer's Rochdale headache, and why we could have a May election? | Adam Boulton

This week's two by-elections had something for everyone - except Rishi Sunak's Conservatives.

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Alexei Navalny: What we know about the death of Putin's critic

The death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has sparked a series of questions and accusations, including over how he died and, crucially, who, if anyone, is responsible.

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Ukrainians offered 18-month visa extension to stay in UK

Ukrainians who sought sanctuary in the UK after Russia's invasion will be granted an 18-month visa under a new extension scheme.

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Scottish Labour calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Scottish Labour has unanimously backed an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with MSPs calling for "unequivocal" support and putting pressure on the rest of the party.

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Trump supporters accuse Democrats of trying to 'BANKRUPT' him with latest 'witch hunt' in 'corrupt court'

Supporters of Donald Trump have accused Democrats of trying to "bankrupt" the former President after a New York court ordered him to pay $354.9million for overstating his net worth to lenders.

Reacting to the ruling by Justice Arthur Engoron, Trump's lawyer Alina Habba issued a statement describing it as “manifest injustice" and the "culmination of a multi-year, politically fuelled witch hunt" against him.

"This is not just about Donald Trump - if this decision stands, it will serve as a signal to every single American that New York is no longer open for business."

Former San Francisco prosecutor Kimberly Guilfoyle criticised the size of the penalty in a case where she claimed "there’s no victims and no one lost money".

"The only fraud here is inside the New York AG’s office and inside a corrupt court."

Justice Engoron, who decided the case without a jury, also banned Trump from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years.

Trump has also been banned from applying for loans from any financial institution in New York for three years.

It's a move which many believe puts his real estate empire at risk.

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene called the ruling "outrageous!" and said: "These people belong in jail for the abuse of power they are wielding against President Trump and his family."

Meanwhile, former New York legislator Ben Geller, described the ruling as "disgusting" and said: "This will be thrown out in appeal."

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Trump’s adult sons, Don Jr. and Eric, were also defendants in the case. They were each ordered to pay $4million.

Don Jr reacted by saying: "We've reached the point where your political beliefs combined with what venue your case is heard are the primary determinants of the outcome; not the facts of the case!"

Eric and Don Jr.'s lawyer Clifford Robert called the decision a "gross injustice".

Although lawyers for the Trump organisation say he will appeal, Trump could be required to deposit his portion of the full judgment plus interest pending the outcome.

Republican Senator for Ohio J.D. Vance said: "American courts have become corrupt weapons of the Democratic Party.

"Yes, Trump will win on appeal. But a lot of money and time will be wasted in the meantime. This is disgraceful."

Estimates of Trump’s wealth differ; Forbes values his net worth at $2.6billion and in an April deposition, Trump stated he possessed about $400million in cash.

Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James who brought the case against Trump described the ruling as "a massive victory".

"We won our case against Donald Trump for engaging in years of incredible financial fraud to enrich himself.

"Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, and his former executives must pay over $450million in disgorgement and interest."

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Former US senior defence official says Biden 'thinking of 1930s Europe' after Navalny's death

A top former US diplomat in Russia has warned that President Biden is thinking of 1930s Europe following the death of opposition diplomat Alexei Navalny.

It comes as the President held a press conference where he said that there was "no doubt that the death of Nalvany was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did."

Now, former US Senior Defense Official and Attache to Russia Peter Zwack has spoken to GB News about President Biden's reaction to the news from Russia.

He said that there were multiple factors in the press conference but added that Navalny "did not have to die."

Speaking in reaction to today's speech, he told GB News: "President Biden, I think he's a historian. He's been around a long time. He worries that aspects of history, while they don't necessarily repeat themselves, they provide a guide post.

"I think he's thinking of feelings of the late 1930s in Europe. I think there's feelings of 1913 in Europe. There are feelings also of where did the bump, the positiveness come after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR.

"We have a lot going on. The fact is we have multiple issues going on regarding national security and our alliances in Russia. The death of Alexi Navaly did not have to happen.

"First of all, the fact that it happened in a Russian prison near the arctic where he was by all accounts, unjustly imprisoned is just confirms the nature of the Putin regime and what we are all dealing with as we see manifested in Ukraine."

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He added: "This is a key issue for President Biden in the United States and in the UK and the rest of Nato. Biden is pulling together threads that we're hearing from the Munich security conference that's going on."

When asked whether Biden's comments that Navalny's death was "Shocking but not surprising" would be shared with other world leaders, Zwack said: "I think realistically everybody thought Navalny's days were numbered. It was more an issue of how and when.

"They were never going to let him out as long as he could be an electoral threat.

"He was either going to rot away in prison or he was going to die. The question was was it natural causes up in the Arctic circle or was accelerated. Nobody knows but you know what, it doesn't matter."

He added: "The regime is still responsible. A prisoner in their custody who is of high interest died. And they never had a great justification for his initial imprisonment.

"He was destined to perish in prison as long as the Putin regime was in place. Maybe it should be seen as a wake up call. It's shaking countries."

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Trump ordered to pay $354m and banned from running businesses for three years in New York fraud case

Donald Trump must pay $354.9 million in penalties for fraudulently overstating his net worth to dupe lenders.

A New York judge ruled on Friday handing the former US President the fine in another legal setback in a civil case that imperils his real estate empire.

Justice Arthur Engoron also banned Trump from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years.

The lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James accused Trump and his family businesses of overstating his net worth by as much $3.6billion a year over a decade to fool bankers into giving him better loan terms.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and called the case a political vendetta by James, an elected Democrat. Trump is expected to appeal Friday's ruling by Engoron.

Engoron wrote: "Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological...Instead, they adopt a 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' posture that the evidence belies."

The civil fraud case could deal a major blow to Trump's real estate empire he leads the race for the Republican nomination to challenge President Joe Biden in the upcoming US election.

Engoron had previously ruled in September that Trump had engaged in fraud and ordered his business empire be partially dissolved. The ruling came after a contentious three-month trial in Manhattan.

During his testimony, Trump conceded that some of his property values were inaccurate but insisted banks were obligated to do their own due diligence.

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Trump, 77, is currently under indictment in four criminal cases, including one in New York related to hush money payments he made to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

The judge overseeing that case on Thursday set a March 25 trial date over the objections of Trump's lawyers, who sought to delay it due to Trump's crowded legal and political schedule.

Trump has also been charged in Florida for his handling of classified documents upon leaving office and in Washington and in Georgia for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. He has pleaded not guilty in all four cases.

In the New York case, Trump and his adult sons, Don Jr. and Eric, were defendants in the case. Don Jr. and Eric Trump were each ordered by the judge to pay $4million.

Trump's lawyer Alina Habba said in a statement that the New York ruling was a "manifest injustice" and "culmination of a multi-year, politically fueled witch hunt" against him.

She said: "This is not just about Donald Trump - if this decision stands, it will serve as a signal to every single American that New York is no longer open for business."

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Sir Keir Starmer paid nearly £100,000 in tax last year, documents show

Sir Keir Starmer paid £99,431 in tax last year, according to a summary released by the Labour Party.

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Melania Trump 'quiet' as she makes first public appearance since mother's death

Melania Trump seemed “quiet” as she made her first public appearance since her mother died last month.

She appeared at The Trumpettes, a ball held in Donald Trump’s honour at their Mar-a-Lago resort this weekend, with her husband by her side.

The pair dressed in matching black attire as they waved to crowds, before heading into the resort to celebrate.

One guest described Melina as being “quiet but in very good spirits”.

They continued: “What I noticed in particular was that although everyone was waiting for Trump to make his grand entrance, when he walked in and waved at everyone, he made sure to turn to her and acknowledge that she was there!

“After he made his way to the podium, she was there standing by the stage the whole time, smiling. She waved and said hello to everyone that was close enough to reach out to her. She was all smiles. There was a look of great sense of peace on her face,” gala guest Delia Hickman told the Daily Mail.

Last month, Melina’s mother Amalija Knavs passed away at the age of 78.

The former First Lady announced with “deep sadness” the death of her mother on social media, who she described as a “strong woman” who was “devoted” to her family.

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Melania had been absent from all of Trump's campaign appearances and his media interviews since he left office.

She has also not appeared at his various court appearances, including those related to his civil fraud trial in New York.

However, she did choose to appear as a guest speaker for a naturalisation ceremony in Washington DC last December, which many have found a peculiar choice.

She spoke about her challenges in becoming a US citizen.

The ceremony was at the National Archives, the US agency that her husband has been accused of withholding documents from.

Adding to the irony, Melania spoke of the significance of America’s “democratic process” without reference to her husband’s trial.

Last year, posters featuring Melania captioned “missing” were circulated in Iowa.

In December, Laurence Leamer, author of a book about Trump’s base in Mar-a-Lago said that the former First Lady is rarely seen outside the confines of the estate.

He said: “Nobody knows where she is. It’s like a mystery. It’s certainly talked about.”

Before she became first lady, Melania was frequently sighted by Mar-a-Lago members, however, according to Leamer, that is no longer the case.

“She rarely exits Mar-a-Lago. It’s a strange, isolated life they have in that place,” he told the The Daily Telegraph.

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