Johnson to apologise but say he got big calls right at COVID inquiry

Boris Johnson is set to apologise for mistakes the government made during the pandemic, but insist he got the big calls right, when he gives evidence to the COVID inquiry. 

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What has the government agreed with the new Rwanda deportation treaty?

The UK and Rwandan governments have agreed a new treaty in a bid to get deportation flights of asylum seekers off the ground.

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Sunak stuck between rock and hard place as Tories battle over migration policy

Back in January 2022, Rishi Sunak made a promise to the British people and his party that he would stop small boat crossings.

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Brussels aiming for Brexit revenge as EU threatens to BLOCK UK energy amid row over fishing rights

Brussels could be aiming to take revenge against Britain after Brexit as the EU has threatened to block the UK’s access to energy markets should fishing communities on the continent find themselves at risk.

Come 2026, the UK will have a chance to renegotiate the fisheries agreement with the EU with the possibility of limiting the access of EU fishing vessels to British waters.

Banning EU vessels from operating within British sovereign waters is not currently planned by the British Government, but the EU has drawn up contingency plans should a hard red line be introduced.

According to an official report on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), there are no further quota reductions for EU fishermen but MEPs have nonetheless begged for “reciprocal access to waters and fisheries resources” to be maintained after the 30 June, 2026, deadline.

WATCH HERE: UK fishing quota set to rise

Suggesting that fishing could be weaponised, the report reads: “Should the UK decide to limit the access of EU fishing vessels to British waters at the end of the adjustment period, the EU would be able to take measures to protect its interests.

“In accordance with the TCA itself, these measures include the re-establishment of tariffs or quotas on the UK’s fish imports and the suspension of other parts of the TCA should there be a risk of serious economic or social difficulties for the EU’s fishing communities.

“In this regard, the EU should consider linking other specific parts of the TCA, such as the UK’s access to the European electricity market, as well as other relevant sectors under the TCA, with the EU’s access to British waters and fisheries resources.”

Hitting back against the report, Sir John Redwood told Sunak to “ignore the threats” and instead focus on building Britain’s energy security.

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“This shows the EU continues to want to bully us,” the Tory MP for Wokingham told Express.co.uk.

“The Government should ignore these threats and get on with rebuilding our fishing industry.

“It also needs to ensure self-sufficiency in electricity.”

Lia Nici, Conservative MP for Great Grimsby, claimed that the EU’s threat shows the value of Britain’s quotas.

“This is yet another ridiculous action by the EU to try to threaten the UK with silly suggestions like this,” she also told the Express.

“By 30 June 2026, the UK will have taken back full control of all its sovereign fishing waters and fish quotas.

“It will be free to decide who can fish for all of our fish species in its waters, just as the EU and other sovereign nations can with their own quotas, which happens annually.

“Is the EU seriously considering limiting electricity supplies to the UK if it doesn’t get its own way?

“That clearly proves how valuable our fishing quotas must be! Let’s hope we don’t have a Labour Government by 2026, or they will give it all away.”

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‘Older than Moses!’ Biden’s ‘cognitive ability’ questioned as US President faces mauling in the polls

Joe Biden is facing a mauling from his own voter base as questions continue to ramp up over his cognitive ability, Greg Swenson has claimed.

The Republicans Overseas chairman says the US President ‘acts like he’s 101-years-old’, something which is prompting Democrat voters to switch off.

According to Swenson, this trend is being evidenced in the polls and the Democrats “can’t run away” from his struggles in galvanising his base.

“He’s older than Moses”, he said.

“He’s only 81, but he acts like he’s 101. It’s not the age, it’s the cognitive issues that are giving him challenges.

“I don’t think the Democrats can run away from that. 66 per cent of Democrats don’t want him to run again.”

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Despite Biden’s struggles, polls suggest there is also dwindling enthusiasm for his likely opponent at next year’s election, Donald Trump.

Probed over how the American public have been dealt with such a hand, Swenson said it is evidence of “one of the flaws” with the country’s political system.

“The primary process is a year, maybe year and a half long. It enables the fringes of the parties to elect their nominees”, he told GB News.

“In the old days, prior to 1972 it was the party elders, much more similar perhaps to the system here where the main participants in the process in both political parties met at the conventions and haggled over who would be the best nominee.

“Now it’s left up to the voters and there’s some flaws with that, beware of the tyranny of the majority.”

It comes after Democrat and Republican hopefuls Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis faced off in a lively debate.

While the pair appear unlikely to succeed in their quest to be win the party nominations, they gave Americans an insight into what the future could hold.

Newsom used the opportunity to lash out at DeSantis, saying he would prefer a 100-year-old Joe Biden over Ron DeSantis “at any age”.

He also denied running a “shadow campaign” for the presidency.

DeSantis also used his time in the spotlight to brand Biden a “danger” to the US.

Asked if Biden was experiencing cognitive decline, he said: “Yes he’s in decline, he’s a danger to the country.

“Gavin Newsom agrees with that, that’s why he’s running a shadow campaign.”

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Starmer's economic plan risks him looking more Cameron tribute act than heir to Blair | Beth Rigby

For years we've all been hearing from Sir Keir Starmer about how our public services are on their knees and things need to change. 

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'Where do we put them!?' Immigration is raging out of control and changing Britain forever - Richard Tice issues stark warning

Richard Tice has issued a dire warning about the future of Britain if immigration continues to rage out of control.

Speaking to GB News Community Editor Michael Heaver in Westminster, the Reform UK leader reflected on the Brexit Party standing down at the last General Election: "Back in '19, we did the right thing for the country.

"We stepped aside in all of the Conservative-held seats and we ensured that Brexit limped over the line."

But Richard went on: "Since then, they've done two things. They've completely failed to take advantage of huge Brexit opportunities.

"They haven't cut taxes, they haven't cut daft EU regulations and they have been like a nanny state. So we've got basically now zero growth, that's been confirmed in the last week by the OBR forecast. So that's the first thing.

"Then the second thing is they have deliberately gone against their solemn pledge to reduce immigration numbers. That's the number one concern of Conservative 2019 voters.

"Last year the numbers were not 606,000 net, but were actually 20% higher, 745,000. That's the net number.

"The gross number arriving was actually essentially equivalent to a city the size of Birmingham, some one and a quarter million people. That was last year, this year exactly the same.

"Again, even though we've been told last it was exceptional. 'Don't worry, we'll get it back on under control'. Nonsense.

"Then my expectation is that 2024, the net numbers will be the same again because it's too difficult and too humiliating for the government and the civil servants to to change the criteria.

"So this is really serious. You just have to think about where do you put three cities the size of Birmingham in the United Kingdom in three years?"

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Conservative MPs 'increasingly concerned' about rise of Reform UK

Speaking to GB News Community Editor Michael Heaver in Westminster, Olivia revealed how when it comes to Tory MPs and a rise in support for Reform UK: "I think there definitely is concern and I think over the last couple of months it's the first time we've we've really witnessed that that concern.

"The message that Conservative MPs are sending back to their constituents at the moment is a vote for Reform is a vote to get Keir Starmer into government."

Olivia then said that the message from Conservative MPs is clear: "Their argument - and electorally they they have a point really - is that because we have this first past the post system, even if Reform numbers keep going up, even if the number of people wanting to vote for Reform increases and increases, it'll be very difficult for them to win actual seats in Westminster.

"And the Conservative opinion is all that will end up happening is the Conservative vote will be split and Labour will win in those seats.

"So that is the message that Conservative MPs seem to be giving their constituents out at the moment.

"Meanwhile, Reform is also aware that first past the post is going to cause them some some problems."

Olivia then went on to give her assessment as to the aims of Reform UK: "So my reading of the situation is that Reform isn't that hopeful for for this General Election in terms of winning seats, but it wants to get that base going in preparation for a for a General Election in eight, ten years time."

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Tory u-turns show 'they haven't got stomach' to uphold spirit of Brexit vote

Speaking to GB News Community Editor Michael Heaver in Westminster, Fox revealed: "One of those Bills where we were trying to get round the Protocol that the Conservative Party put in place.

"I fought like hell for that Bill. I can't remember which one it was because it could have been a number when you hear the outcome of it."

Explaining how events played out in the House of Lords. Fox - a non-affiliated peer - then explained: "I fought. I defended the Conservative Government, which is a rarity, but I defended their Bill because it was about making sure that Brexit was able to be enacted.

"I did it. And then you know, you are kind of really very unpopular for doing that in the Lords.

"Then the Conservative frontbench wander in the following week and say, 'oh, we've decided to drop this Bill now. Michael Gove said a word with a few people in Brussels, and it's all going to be resolved without this Bill'.

"They've done that lots of times. So people like myself and Kate Hoey get furious that as we say, they march us up to the top of the hill and then march us down again.

"So you can be doing your best to uphold the spirit of what we voted for in 2016. I can assure you it's become ever more evident, not that I needed that much convincing, that the Tories haven't got the stomach for it. And that Boris Johnson's Tories as much as anyone else."

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Sunak's reshuffle reboot has backfired - and boosted Reform UK

So, the verdict is very much in. The imaginary so-called 'centre-ground' - the Conservatives mimicking much the same outlook as Labour - has led to a notable decline in Conservative support.

Not only that, but the Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, Lord Cameron triple-act seems to have boosted a rival party as well.

It still find it utterly bewildering that the Conservatives have chosen to go down this path. The message from the 2019 election from voters seems to be a distant memory for the Tories.

A clear instruction to maximise Brexit opportunities, seize the mantle of post-Brexit independence and reduce migration has been completely disregarded.

And the return of Remainer-in-Chief, the now Lord Cameron, as Foreign Secretary is an emphatic snub to the Brexit-backing majority.

Voters aren't daft. They can see what is going on, this absurd shift the Government has chosen to take without consulting voters.

YouGov's latest research once again demonstrates the catastrophic effect this shift in Conservative direction has had.

Labour, as has been standard for a while now, possess a bumper national poll lead. They are sitting on 45%.

The Tories meanwhile have declined to 22% with YouGov, perilously close to dipping below 20% for General Election support.

And at the same time Reform UK hit 10% support in YouGov's polling, now the third party ahead of the Liberal Democrats on 9%.

When you boil this down further though, you can see the damning, decisive verdict that Brexit voters and Tory supporters have delivered.

Just 55% of those who voted for the Conservative in 2019 are currently intending to stick with the party. Now a fifth (20%) of those who voted Tory last time round are now backing Reform, higher than the number of switchers to Labour (15%).

Leavers meanwhile are split three ways: only 39% still intend to vote Conservative, with 25% now backing Labour and 23% supporting the Reform Party.

This will horrify Conservative MPs who will fear a wipeout. Richard Tice is still pledging that he will not be standing down candidates - in fact he's arguing the Tories should be standing down against Reform.

If the Conservative Government had actually cut migration, slashed taxes, strengthened our borders and seized Brexit competitive advantage, Tory MPs may have had a compelling argument as to why voters should continue to back them.

Instead they've binned Boris Johnson and opted for Lord Cameron as Foreign Secretary. What sort of message is that to Brexit voters?

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Rishi Sunak set to give Rwanda another £15 MILLION as he attempts to save asylum plan

Rishi Sunak will give Rwanda another £15million in a bid to curb Channel crossing migrants, a report has claimed.

The Prime Minister will cough up the extra cash in an attempt to pay for extra personnel to improve and expand the Rwandan asylum processing system.

Britain previously handed the East African country £140million and figures in Government have reportedly discussed bringing forward payments.

A new accord is nearly complete, Whitehall sources have suggested to The Times.

WATCH NOW: Rishi Sunak addresses his plan to 'stop the boats' 

Home Secretary James Cleverly is expected to fly to Rwanda on Monday or Tuesday.

The move comes amid plans to put forward new legislation by Thursday.

Sunak is also poised to table emergency legislative measures designed to address the criticisms made by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court last month declared the Rwanda policy was unlawful.

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Ministers will now publish an “evidence pack” to show that asylum seekers will not face maltreatment or deportation to their country of origin once they have been moved from the UK to Rwanda.

Sunak is reportedly hoping the legislation will pass through the Commons and Lords by the middle of February.

However, the latest move will likely reignite speculation about the Prime Minister calling an election by spring.

Labour yesterday claimed a flurry of Channel crossings this weekend would probably bring this year’s total level with the figures recorded in 2021.

The 2021 total was 28,526 and there have been 28,453 so far this year.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Rishi Sunak claimed he would stop the small boats this year, but instead this weekend’s figures are set to make it the second highest year of crossings on record.

“The Tory asylum chaos is continuing and he has broken another promise he made to the British people.”

The UK has paid £120 million plus an additional £20 million for setup costs to Rwanda.

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'Take a look at Labour again': Sir Keir Starmer tries to woo Tory voters

Sir Keir Starmer has launched an impassioned pitch to woo Conservative voters - urging those who feel abandoned by their party "to take a look at Labour again".

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A PM in waiting? Why Sunak is getting uptight about Starmer | Adam Boulton

The Greek prime minister's party got the call that Rishi Sunak was cancelling his meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis when they were on the way to talks with Sir Keir Starmer in parliament.

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Brussels is still DESPERATE to control Brexit Britain, says Michael Heaver

It is fair to say that some in Brussels were delusional enough that believe that they could stop Brexit.

They were whipped up by fanatical Labour, Lib Dem and Green Party politicians who blindly insisted that the public wanted to remain in the EU, despite the historic 2016 referendum vote.

So when British voters - repeatedly - backed Brexit at election after election eventually forcing through the UK's eventual EU exit, it came as something of a shock to many in the Belgian capital.

After all, we've seen what has happened in the past when voters in countries within the EU's orbit vote to reject the EU agenda: They are made to vote again until they give the 'right' answer.

So the UK's exit in itself was a blow to the EU establishment, who also feared that the UK would gain competitive advantage.

It was bizarre to see those running the EU's Brexit deal negotiations insist there were no benefits for an independent UK - yet you'll have noticed it was Brussels frequently demanding a so-called 'level playing field' - not the British side.

Sadly our Government has clearly not been aggressive enough in seeking that competitive advantage when it comes to regulation, taxation or indeed reducing levels of migration as countries within the EU can't do, stuck as they are with open borders.

Given the national polls are currently sitting where they are, it is increasingly clear that Eurocrats are licking their lips at the prospect of Sir Keir Starmer leading a Labour government after the next election.

After all, Sir Keir was at the hardcore end of the Remainer spectrum, campaigning ferociously to stop Brexit.

Since then he has played down any prospect whatsoever of the UK diverging from EU rules and regulations.

Indeed, Labour instead seem fixated on a whole series of fresh deals with the European Union. They will all have the same goal: To push the UK closer to Brussels once again.

This has clearly emboldened senior EU figures. Unelected Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week spoke of Brexit as a 'problem' to be fixed and and supposedly of a direction of travel that would see Britain once again under the EU's control.

Beyond that though, there has been further interference behind-the-scenes. It has been blatantly obvious for a while now that our Government has little hope of actually stopping the boats without leaving the ECHR.

Brexit voters know it, Conservative voters know it. Suella Braverman, the now former Home Secretary, has spoken publicly of this being necessary.

We have now heard again that EU diplomats have warned the UK against ditching the ECHR, a blatant example of foreign figures within the European Union still trying to influence and control the UK long after the decisive referendum result.

Clearly encouraged by the Conservative Government's feeble post-Brexit delivery, coupled with Labour's lead in the polls, those that run the EU remain obsessed - and desperate - for the UK be ruled over by Brussels.

Perhaps when EU leaders now openly talk of expanding the bloc by 2030, they are also eyeing up the UK - and their cash cow returning.

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'Our world is on a dangerous tragectory - without serious intervention our world will be at war again', says Tobias Ellwood

Henry Kissinger once said ‘If you don't know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere.’ Perhaps that crudely sums up the difference between China and the West today. For Beijing is on a mission. 2049 will mark 100 years since that Communist victory in China’s civil war and a mission began - to make China great again. Yes, Chairman Mau had this idea long before Donald Trump.

To understand why the world’s newest superpower has come to reject Western standards, despite gaining a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, firstly there’s the obvious. Modern democracies demand transparency, accountability and of course free and fair elections. None of which are regular in China and President Xi has no intention of changing this.

Secondly, China is all too aware that its recent gargantuan economic rise might have come a century earlier had it not been for Western interference not seriously impeding its advance. By early 1800’s the mighty Qing Dynasty was on a cultural artistic and economic roll - responsible for a full third of the world's GDP.

But the opium trade changed all this. Attempts to control imports led to wars with Britain, France, Russia, and Japan resulting in unfair peace treaties (including ceding Hong Kong to the UK) and significantly diminishing China's sovereignty and global standing and internal division that would last for decades.

WATCH: Bev and Andrew discuss China's attendance at COP28

And finally, that permanent seat at the UN was initially granted by the West to the losing side of China’s civil war in 1949 (who had done a runner to Taiwan). A decision not rectified until 1971.

How different the world looks today. Perhaps, punch-drunk after the fall of the Berlin Wall in defeating (Soviet) Communism, the West was too presumptuous, too complacent. With the Cold War finally over, our ever-connected world had landed a model of democratic global governance we could all agree on. As Russia (at that juncture) had finally seen the light why would China not come on board?

That was certainly the collective Western view including Prime Minister David Cameron’s when he shared a pint in the Plough Pub, Buckinghamshire with President Xi back in 2015. It took China’s cover-up of the COVID outbreak for the world to seriously appreciate that China's intention of embracing capitalism and democratic reform as well as equal access to Chinese markets were a complete bluff.

Instead, China wielded its colossal, economic, technological and military heft to exploit the weakness of our dated global order. It is, arguably, only the only nation today with a clear long-term grand strategy. One intent on pioneering global influence by luring other like-minded nations into its One Belt One Road programmes. The scale of which casts a long shadow over the new Global South.

Today domestic and global distractions hide the obvious. Our world is on a dangerous trajectory as the West’s threshold and indeed appetite for managing regional flashpoints is tested ever more frequently.

Beijing’s alternative global order vision involves divorcing trade from human rights, supporting leaders unfettered by free and fair elections and on entrenching surveillance technology which enhances state control over every aspect of life. No doubt this is what attracted Putin to pivot East instead of looking West and has helped Iran (thanks to massive oil deals) ensure Western sanctions did not sink the regime.

China’s quest is to be perceived as a peace-loving giant, championing the neglected parts of the world against Western dominance, quietly emphasising economic advancement and poverty alleviation over civil liberties and human rights. With over two thirds of the world subject to authoritarianism this will find an audience.

Look up. Our fragile global landscape is already splintering into competing spheres of influence. As the cyclical nature of history illustrates; agreed ‘global norms’ rarely last beyond a couple of generations. Enough time for the horrors of war to sadly be forgotten and for a challenger to emerge wanting to re-write those rules. Without a serious intervention our world will be at war again. Yes, World War Three – but not like One or Two. A world with many wars, conflicts and disputes much of which will take place in the grey zone or through proxies.

The question of "What should we do?" looms large. But similar to the 1930’s we lack the bandwidth to look three or four chess moves ahead. Moreover, in this era of global interdependence, economic and technological ties with China cannot be simply severed as some are calling for.

We require a grand strategy to upgrade our dated global order with modernised international institutions to hold errant nations to account. The difference between the last cold war and today’s is China’s reliance on international trade. This should be a starting point. Together, the G7 and EU represents over half the world’s GDP. That offers serious leverage in re-invigorating trade standards that support rather than by-pass our universal values. All sides need an off- ramp if war is to be averted. The goal should be to foster a global environment where cooperation and competition can coexist. China is not going away. And importantly, our differences are with Beijing and not the Chinese people.

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We cannot deny this will be China’s century. The path forward is neither blind engagement nor complete decoupling. It requires a strategic approach that balances realpolitik with principled diplomacy. By harnessing smart power, the international community can navigate these turbulent waters, avoiding a descent into conflict and fostering a more stable, multipolar world order. The return of David Cameron, this time free from the Commons daily demands, provides Britain with an opportunity to continue levering the same soft power that has seen us lead Europe in supporting Ukraine and host summits on COP, AI, food security and most recently trade.

Kissinger recently remarked on China/ Western relations “Both sides have convinced themselves that the other represents a strategic danger,” he says. “We are on the path to great-power confrontation”. There is more statecraft be done.

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Boris Johnson to admit he 'unquestionably made mistakes' at COVID inquiry - report

Boris Johnson will reportedly tell the COVID inquiry that he "unquestionably made mistakes" during the pandemic, but his decisions helped save tens of thousands of lives.

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Newsom mocks DeSantis as he claims 'he'd rather have Biden until 100' than suffer Florida governor 'at any age'

California Gov Gavin Newsom mocked Florida's governor - who is running in the 2024 Republican primary election - as he claimed he would "take Joe Biden at 100" over Ron DeSantis "at any age."

Newsom shared his support for president Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' reelection campaign on Thursday night.

During the governors' debate, the Democrat hit back at DeSantis, 45, who said that 81-year-old Biden was "in decline" and therefore a "danger" to the country.

Newsom said: "I would take Joe Biden at 100 versus Ron DeSantis any day of the week at any age."

At the beginning of the debate, Newsom took aim at DeSantis by announcing that neither participant onstage that evening would be their party's presidential nominee.

He said: "There are profound differences tonight and I look forward to engaging.

"But there's one thing, in closing, that we have in common is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024."

The California governor also slammed DeSantis when he made an error while pronouncing Harris' first name.

"Shame on you, it's Ka-mala Harris, Ron, it's Ka-mala Harris. Madame vice president to you," Newsom said.

DeSantis snapped back as he pressed on whether he held ambitions for higher office.

"You will not admit it. Admit that you're running," DeSantis told Newsom, adding that Newsom knows Biden is in decline which is "why he's running a shadow campaign."

Newsom responded: "I don't know how many times I can say it."

"Just making this stuff up about a shadow campaign. It's not even optional."

"He's doing fantastically," he said of Biden.

"I appreciate and respect the work the president's doing and the vice president, the Biden-Harris campaign and team, so absolutely unequivocally look forward to continuing to support their effort. President Biden will be reelected and President Trump will be rejected."

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Rishi Sunak reveals himself as Christmas enthusiast who plays festive songs from mid-November

Rishi Sunak has revealed how he starts to play his favourite Christmas songs in the middle of November to get him in the festive spirit.

The Prime Minister kickstarted festive celebrations in Downing Street on Thursday when he switched on the lights on the 20-foot-tall Christmas tree in the street next door to the famous front door.

Sunak told reporters on a flight to the Cop28 climate summit that he started to play Christmas music two weeks ago and likes to play festive songs when he is signing thousands of Christmas cards for MPs and supporters.

He said: "I am a massive fan of Christmas music. Someone outed me on that when I was Chancellor because they accidentally walked in on me singing Michael Buble in advance of some interview.

WATCH HERE: Rishi Sunak speaking at Cop28 climate conference

"So I had the Christmas music on about two weeks ago, and everyone shouted at me, and then I've done it in private. Now it's public, now I can do that in public.

"Come on! We did the Christmas market in Downing Street today! It's fine, it's all very good.

"I put the Christmas music on and I just sit there and sign away, and I've been doing that for about 10 days already."

Sunak said he had so far signed "thousands" of Christmas cards and was grateful that his Christian name was so short as it made them faster to sign.

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He added: "I called my mum last year when I did it and I said, 'Thank God you named me a name that only has five letters in it.' If it was a 10-letter thing this would probably have taken twice as long."

Sunak revealed the Pogues' song Fairytale of New York was one of his favourite Christmas songs. The band's lead singer Shane MacGowan died on Friday.

Sunak said: "Lots of Christmas music, including his, over the past. It's on every Christmas playlist, is that song, so a great loss, a great loss."

MacGowan died aged 65, just days after his wife marked their five-year anniversary.

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