First phase of XL bully safeguards to come into force in Scotland in February

The first phase of the Scottish government's safeguards on XL bully dogs will come into force on 23 February subject to parliamentary approval.

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Biden 'could join Taylor Swift on tour' as he desperately vies for her support in bid to help sway voters

Joe Biden's campaign is said to be considering making the President join Taylor Swift on tour in a bid to increase his sway with voters.

The campaign is reported to have discussed the idea sending the POTUS to join the pop star on her tour in order to win over "Swifties".

This is one of many ideas by Biden's team to recruit Swift as an influencer for his re-election run, in order to boost his ailing poll ratings.

They believe the pop star could restore his support among young voters and wants her to endorse him on social media.

According to the New York Times, those applying for a job on the Biden campaign have been asked not to submit any more ideas on how to win an endorsement from Swift, as the team has already received too many suggestions.

One of those suggestions has even been having the POTUS join the 'Eras' tour.

The President's campaign team believe the support from the mega star will prove to be crucial in galvanising younger voters.

Swift's 'Eras' tour has caused pandemonium throughout America and is constantly a hot topic amongst media coverage and pop culture, due to her relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce.

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In addition, she was named Time's Person of the Year last year, as well as Billboard Magazine's Greater Pop Star.

The 34-year-old has over 279million followers on Instagram and has shown that in the past she has the power to influence her supporters on political matters.

Her call to fans to register to vote last September resulted in more than 35,000 sign ups.

In 2020 she endorsed Biden and Kamala Harris, while in 2018 she supported Democratic candidates in congressional elections in Tennessee.

She is believed to be a Democrat, having publicly supported abortion and LGBTQ rights.

A poll by Suffolk University found that Trump is leading Biden among voters under the age of 35, with 37 per cent to 33 per cent.

That demographic in 2020 had firmly been in the Biden column.

Polls also show that voters in the 18-29 age bracket are less likely to turn out in the upcoming election, in stark contrast to four years ago which had a record youth turnout.

from GB News https://ift.tt/cXH2gYv

Our rapidly exploding population means an absolutely astounding cultural change in our country, says Nigel Farage

I have been saying for some years, not many have listened obviously, that our rapidly exploding population is the biggest single political and social issue this country faces.

It's pretty obvious: When more people come into the country every year than we build houses for, there's going to be a problem.

When we don't build more roads, but the population rises, we're going to have a problem.

When there are nearly eight million people waiting for appointments with the NHS to have procedures, again, with an exploding population.

We haven't got the GPs and the hospitals to catch up.

When Tony Blair came to power the British population was 58 million people. It is now 68 million people and 85% of that rise is directly down to immigration.

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I've been banging this drum for years and years. But today, the Office of National Statistics have put out some predictions that I think might just wake everybody up.

They tell us that the population will hit 70 million in the middle of 2026. That's against the previous estimate just a few years ago saying we wouldn't reach that number until 2035.

But they also say that between now and 2036, the British population will increase by another 6.6 million people and that 6.1 million of that is directly down to immigration.

Laughably the Home Office this afternoon have put out a statement saying we're about to see a dramatic and drastic cut in net migration into Britain.

But these are the people that have overseen this just totally extraordinary growth.

But there's another figure in these statistics that really jumps out at me. I accept that it's a prediction, but remember, all of the previous predictions by the Office of National Statistics have proved to be underestimates.

They say that between 2021 and 2036, 13.7 million people moved to the UK long-term.

And many of those that leave are people from established British families who've been in for generations, perhaps in some cases, centuries, that are going off to retire, work or live in other parts of the world.

It's the issue that no one wants to talk about. But it means an absolutely astounding cultural change in our country.

Many millions of people who've already come and millions more that will come with whom we have, historically and culturally, literally, nothing in common and I believe the implications of that, for our society are very, very serious.

I think many in Parliament and in government know it, but nobody actually dares to admit it.

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Britain hurtling towards 'elected dictatorship' as Lord Ken Clarke issues fiery attack on Sunak's Rwanda bill

Lord Ken Clarke has said that Britain is "moving towards an elected dictatorship" as he launched a scathing attack on Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill.

Lord Clarke was speaking during a debate on the controversial legislation, which would involve flying failed asylum seekers to the East African country.

The former minister who served in the cabinet of Sir John Major is now a crossbench peer and has been an outspoken critic of Brexit.

Lord Clarke, 83, was speaking about the sovereignty of Parliament as the Rwanda Bill makes its way through the House of Lords.

He said: "As time goes by in my career, I always fear echoes of the warnings that Quintin Hailsham used to give us all about the risks of moving towards an elected dictatorship in this country.

"The sovereignty of Parliament has its limits, which are the limits of the rule of law, the separation of powers and what ought to be the constitutional limits on any branch of government in a liberal democratic society such as ours."

Addressing what he saw as problems with the new law, Lord Clarke said: "The way this should be resolved is for the Government to say that the facts have changed.

"We are not hearing or testing arguments. I am meant to cast a vote as to whether Rwanda is safe, and I have received an email, the text of the Government’s treaty and the Explanatory Notes."

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Lord Clarke also questioned the safety of Rwanda, given its history as a dictatorship.

He said: "I do not have the expertise on Rwanda that the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Durham has just demonstrated. I have never been there.

"I know that it has been a one-man dictatorship for more than 20 years, that we sometimes give refugee status here to people fleeing persecution in Rwanda and, indeed, that it has a rather dodgy record—not as bad as some African countries—on human rights in various respects."

Referring to the decision by the Supreme Court that the proposals as they stand represent a breach of international law, he added: "I am not surprised by the judgment."

Lord Clarke was not the only senior figure to criticise the legislation in the House of Lords.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, leader of the Church of England said Britain would be undermining its standing in the world if it enacts the plan to send some asylum-seekers on what he called a one-way trip to Rwanda.

He said that “a pick-and-choose approach to international law undermines our global standing...we can, as a nation, do better than this bill."

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‘Michelle Obama would take some beating!’ Shaun Bailey says Biden’s time is done

Political commentator Shaun Bailey believes Michelle Obama would "take some beating" were she to step forward as a potential presidential candidate.

It comes amid increasing scrutiny for Joe Biden, who continues to face questions about his age.

While Biden has levelled similar complaints towards his likely opponent for the presidency, Donald Trump, he has been unable to escape criticism.

According to Bailey, Biden's tenure as president is approaching its end.

from GB News https://ift.tt/3x1r4sR

Sir Tony Lloyd's family urges 'divisive' politicians to stay away from by-election after MP's death

The family of Sir Tony Lloyd have urged "divisive" politicians to stay away from the contest to replace the Labour MP following his death from leukaemia earlier this month.

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Labour MP has whip suspended after Gaza comment in Holocaust Memorial Day post

Labour MP Kate Osamor has had the Labour whip suspended while she is investigated for saying Gaza should be remembered as a genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day.

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Sunak's allies believe Tories likely to lose two upcoming by-elections

Allies of Rishi Sunak say they believe the Tories are likely to lose both by-elections in two weeks time, as they continue to face down plotters trying to bring down the prime minister.

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Conservatives don't deserve to win election, says former Tory heath secretary

FORMER Conservative Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell has said that the Tories don’t deserve to be re-elected because theGovernment has “simply failed” over the past 14 years.

Dorrell, who served in John Major’s cabinet, told GB News: “The issue is what the Conservatives have done in their 14 years in power and the lack of any clear view about how to re-build many of the things that have gone wrong with this country during the period that they've been responsible.

“The public services, the National Health Service, the education service, the police service, the Prison Service, our relationship with our major trading partners on the continent of Europe, that is the legacy of a group of people who have simply failed.

“And the reason they won't be re-elected is that they don't deserve, in my view, to be re-elected.”

In a discussion with Pip Tomson, he said: “It's true that the pandemic made life more difficult in the health service, which I followed closely, and in many other respects.

“But the way the Government handled the pandemic we now see, as the public inquiry reveals, what was going on…a Government that simply wasn't doing the job as effectively as we're entitled to, expect as voters and taxpayers to see senior people behave when they're responsible for the lives of people who rely on those services.”

He added: “No Prime Minister calls an election which they know they're going to lose. I think the truth is that the election campaign has already started. The only thing left to be decided is the date of the end of it.

“That'll be as late as Rishi Sunak will set that, as late as he can to give himself as much chance as he can to recover the position of the Conservatives.”

WATCH ABOVE.

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Sadiq Khan's attempt to shift the blame is getting tiring - and now the Mayor is running out of time, says Susan Hall

It’s been eight painful years since Sadiq Khan took over at City Hall. Eight long years that he’s been responsible for the Metropolitan Police. And what do we have to show for it?

Londoners have watched as crime has skyrocketed on his watch, violent crime, and knife violence especially. So, it was galling this week to see Labour trotting out lines they didn’t even seem entirely convinced of, attempting to talk tough on crime, whilst their own Mayor achieves nothing.

It was reported here on GB News that crime rates across the city have soared, and Khan has opted to blame others (again) rather than act himself.

For so many years he has tried to talk tough but failed to be tough. It wasn’t that long ago that he blamed violent phone robberies on people having ‘attractive phones’. I mean, really!

And this week murders in our city tragically topped one thousand – what was Khan doing? Talking about Brexit. I could hardly believe it. The gall of the man, to rabbit on about Remain, when the city he is meant to be running is falling apart in front of our eyes.

Our great city is a tragic example of what happens when you have a man at the top who has checked out of the job he is meant to be doing. Whilst we grapple with the consequences of escalating violence, Sadiq Khan seeks to shift the blame, and it’s getting wearisome.

Instead of shouldering responsibility for the escalating violence that is spilling out into the streets every day, he insists on pointing the figure of blame at everyone but himself. Why? Because he knows he’s out of answers, and he knows he is running out of time.

Londoners are tired of a mayor whose hollow promises and unwillingness to confront the reality of his failures are having a direct negative impact on everyone’s safety. The phrase "tough on crime" has become a hollow slogan when uttered by our mayor. An echo that rings hollow when faced with grim facts – over one thousand people have been murdered in our city since he took control.

It’s a reminder of Khan’s abject failure to deliver on the very promises that propelled him to office.

Londoners deserve a mayor who not only talks tough but is tough. A mayor that translates those words into action, that invests in and backs our police, and gives them the political support to get knives off our streets, break up the gangs, and sort this out.

When I ran Harrow, a London borough in the north of our city, we saw crime drop and became one of the safest boroughs in London, where people had trust and confidence in our local police. Why? Because I stepped up. Community Champions, a scheme I rolled out borough-wide, stepped in and worked with our communities to address their worries at the street level.

When I entered the London Assembly, I watched in horror as Sadiq tore the police apart. He shut down police stations. He forced our police into a ‘basic command unit’ structure, removing local policing and replacing it with a centralised structure that placed multiple boroughs under the same unit.

I have argued that this was the wrong approach, time and time again. As Mayor, it is an argument I will win. It’s a fight we will win. We will take the fight to the gangs of criminal thugs that plague our city, and smash them apart.

Sadiq Khan’s eight years in office have been marked by a legacy of broken promises and skyrocketing crime rates, leaving us grappling with the consequences of his inaction and incompetence.

The time has come for a change. A decisive move that places the police on the front foot, ending the posturing that has been personified by this mayor and gets stuff done.

I will be more stick than carrot – a leader who is unafraid to implement direct measures to ensure the safety of Londoners. We need a return to a well-executed stop-and-search policy, because swift and targeted interventions are essential to getting knives off our streets.

I will strike the right balance between civil liberties and public safety, and bring an end to Khan’s lenient ‘hands-off’ approach. Londoners need a mayor who is unafraid to make tough decisions, someone who understands that the safety of our communities should not be sacrificed at the altar of political correctness.

Tough times call for tough measures, and it's high time we prioritise the security of our neighbourhoods over the mayor's rhetoric.

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A lack of meaningful action has consistently undermined Sadiq Khan's rhetoric on crime. We deserve a mayor who can transform words into deeds and will roll up their sleeves and work tirelessly to address the root causes of crime in our city.

It is time to demand real results.

In calling for tougher action, it is crucial to remember that the objective is not punitive but preventive – to create an environment where crime is deterred, communities are safer, and residents can go about their lives without fear.

It's about sending a clear message to criminals: we will no longer tolerate your actions, you will fear the police, and the public shall no longer fear you.

The choice is clear: London deserves a mayor who delivers, not one who just talks tough.

I will be that Mayor.

from GB News https://ift.tt/9ofg4Hr

Are we in for one of the 'dirtiest' election campaigns ever? | Adam Boulton

There was general agreement at the Institute for Government's Annual conference last week that it would be a good thing for Britain if this year's election campaign is not "dirty".

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/DIfPKiU

'Need for new leadership' at Post Office as chairman ousted, business secretary says

The business secretary has said she "felt there was a need for new leadership" at the Post Office as it was announced its chairman is being forced out of the role.

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/UK1Ef6C

WATCH: Joe Biden has VERY tough time reading from giant teleprompter

Joe Biden has gone viral yet again as he bumbled through his speech in Wisconsin.

The 81-year-old visited the Badger State to discuss infrastructure investment in the Rust Belt.

FULL STORY HERE.

from GB News https://ift.tt/oMzDxdF

Biden gaffe goes viral after President's awkward, inaudible bumbling of words

Joe Biden has gone viral yet again as he bumbled through his speech in Wisconsin.

The 81-year-old visited the Badger State to discuss infrastructure investment in the Rust Belt.

Wisconsin could prove decisive in the upcoming US Presidential Election, with voters siding with the victorious candidate in every ballot held since 2008.

However, Biden’s pitch included a blunderous moment when the 46th President spoke about breweries.

The White House’s own statement claimed Biden said: “And, by the way, it used to make the beer brewed here — (laughs) — it is used to make the brewed beer here in this refine — oh, Earth Rider, thanks for the Great Lakes. I wondered why (inaudible) — (laughter).”

A number of social media users were confused with what bumbling Biden was trying to say.

“He made noise for nine seconds and I only heard ‘Great Lakes’,” Biden said.

Another wrote: “The President is so far gone, reading is now a concern.

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“But he’s supposed to be able to tackle the complex issues of our country. Yeah, sure.”

A third asked: “Do they have a laugh track for his speeches?

“No way anyone understood that enough to think it was funny.”

Biden’s visit to Wisconsin has been regarded as part of the 46th President’s second White House bid.

He slammed his predecessor Donald Trump over his economic record.

Biden said: “My predecessor, he chose a different course: Trickle-down economics, cut taxes for the very wealthy and big corporations, increasing the deficit significantly. That’s exactly what happened.”

The 46th President confirmed $1billion in funding for the decrepit Blatnik Bridge connecting Wisconsin to Minnesota.

Wisconsin, which narrowly backed Biden by 20,682 ballots in 2020, is on a knife-edge as both men look to forge a path to the White House.

A recent Emerson opinion poll put Biden and Trump tied on 45 per cent.

However, a separate survey conducted by Bloomberg handed Trump a four-point lead.

Trump has had a mixed week after winning his second Republican Party primary contest in New Hampshire.

The 77-year-old stormed out of a Manhattan courtroom earlier today after EJ Caroll’s lawyer started her closing statement in the author’s civil lawsuit for sexual assault and defamation.

from GB News https://ift.tt/6RIPoTJ

Humza Yousaf admits 'winging it' as Scotland's health secretary during COVID

Messages have emerged of Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf admitting to "winging it" during his role as health secretary at the height of the COVID pandemic.

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/ogHPpwX