George Bunn
Guest Reporter
Angela Rayner has indicated she will ban new council homes from being sold under the Right to Buy scheme, despite buying her own property in 2007.
The Deputy Prime Minister told the BBC the government would put restrictions on new social homes in England "so that we aren’t losing that stock."
The scheme, first launched by Margaret Thatcher in 1980, allowed tenants living in council houses to buy them, often at a significant discount.
While it was initially popular for increasing rates of home ownership among working-class people, it has proved controversial more recently and has been blamed for exacerbating homelessness and causing a housing crisis.
Rayner told the BBC that she doesn’t want those newly built properties “leaving the system" adding: "We’ll be putting restrictions on them so that we aren’t losing those homes… we’re not losing that stock."
Ministers will launch a consultation on the issue later this year.
FOLLOW ALONG WITH ALL THE UPDATES THROUGH THE DAY BELOW
A US analyst has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Foreign Secretary David Lammy over past comments about President-elect Donald Trump.
Director of The Heritage Foundation's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom Nile Gardiner said Trump would see the Prime Minister as a "novice" when it comes to negotiating and a "woke lefty."
Lammy posted on social media in 2017: "Yes, if Trump comes to the UK I will be out protesting on the streets. He is a racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser."
One year later, the Tottenham MP wrote: "Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath...he is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long."
Now, Gardiner has claimed that firing Lammy from the cabinet would be the start of fixing the relationship between Starmer and Trump, however, he conceded that it may be politically difficult.
He told MailOnline: "The smartest thing would be to sack David Lammy and apologise for the intervention by Labour staffers. But I'm in no doubt that it will be practically impossible for Sir Keir to work with the Trump Presidency."
Earlier this year, Lammy defended calling Trump "a neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath", saying all politicians had something to say about him "back in the day." He also said he had met Trump’s Vice-President JD Vance and that the two men had “common ground".
Lammy said: "We’re both from poor backgrounds, both suffered from addiction issues in our family which we’ve written about... both of us [are] Christians. And now I’ve met [Vance] on a few occasions, and we have been able to find common ground and get on."
Party leaders have expressed their anger after Donald Trump declared victory in the US presidential election.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it was "a dark, dark day for people around the globe".
He added: "The world’s largest economy and most powerful military will be led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue. Fixing the UK’s broken relationship with the EU is even more urgent than before - we must strengthen trade and defence cooperation across Europe to help protect ourselves from the damage Trump will do."
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: "A convicted criminal, a fascist who does not respect the rule of law is once again set to become leader of the most powerful country in the world.
"For a man who denies the reality of climate change, has no respect for the truth and engineered the overturning of women’s right to choose, for him to have so much power feels frightening.
"His relentless attacks on migrants, his racism, his misogyny, his homophobia, it leaves many in our communities feeling threatened this morning.
"So on this dark day, I want to say that we stand in solidarity with all those who dreaded this moment and must now live with its consequences, including those in Gaza and in Ukraine."
Sir John Nott, the defence secretary during the Falklands War, has died aged 92.
The senior Conservative twice offered his resignation to Margaret Thatcher after the Argentinian invasion of the South Atlantic islands in 1982 but she refused to accept it, instead keeping him in place for the operation.
His daughter, the writer Sasha Swire, the wife of Tory peer Lord Swire, said: “RIP my beloved father, John Nott, protector, politician, farmer, me. Sir John also had two sons – composer Julian, who wrote the Peppa Pig theme music, and William who worked in the oil industry.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “John Nott was an inspiring defence secretary and politician who stood up, alongside Margaret Thatcher, to aggression.His resolute determination to free British sovereign territory from tyranny is as important today as it was during the Falklands conflict.
"My condolences go to his family and loved ones at this sad time."
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride has said that Labour need to "build bridges" with the US after David Lammy's tweets about President-elect Donald Trump.
Speaking to GB News, Stride said: "I think those remarks were very unfortunate. And clearly it's incumbent on the government to build those bridges with Donald Trump and his new administration.
"I think Kemi Badenoch yesterday in Prime Minister's Questions, was absolutely right to press the Prime Minister on ensuring that those remarks are effectively withdrawn because I think they're extremely unhelpful."
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has said comments made by Labour Cabinet ministers about Donald Trump will not “interfere” in the “important alliance” between the UK and US.
He told Sky News: "I think a lot of things that have been said over the years, but not just here in the UK, including in the US. If you look at what Vice President Elect JD Vance said about President Trump, he mused whether this was going to be another Richard Nixon or America’s Hitler, and it’s not held him back from being the running mate.
"Elon Musk as well, advised Trump to walk off into the sunset a couple of years ago, and he’s become President Trump’s biggest, biggest backer in business. So I think a number of things have been said over the years, but the truth is, the alliance between Britain and the United States is long and deep and enduring."
He added: "I don’t think any of these things will interfere in what is such an important alliance for the world, based on defence, security, shared values, shared history. It’s all more important than all of those things, and that is the footing we begin on, and that’s the footing that we’ll continue on."
The UK Government has said nearly £1.4billion will be spent on dozens of local growth projects in Scotland over the next 10 years. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has written to all 32 local authorities to confirm the greenlit projects.
Murray announced £160million each for investment zones in Glasgow and the North East, £26million each for the Cromarty and Forth freeports, and £26million for the Fair Isle Ferry in Shetland.
Nearly £39million will be allocated for the Amids (Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland) South transport project in Renfrewshire while £15million will be spent on the regeneration of Drumchapel town centre in Glasgow, and £18million will be spent on the Elgin city masterplan.
Ten areas will receive £20million each as part of the long-term plan for towns programme.
Find Out More...
The Deputy Prime Minister told the BBC the government would put restrictions on new social homes in England "so that we aren’t losing that stock."
The scheme, first launched by Margaret Thatcher in 1980, allowed tenants living in council houses to buy them, often at a significant discount.
While it was initially popular for increasing rates of home ownership among working-class people, it has proved controversial more recently and has been blamed for exacerbating homelessness and causing a housing crisis.
Rayner told the BBC that she doesn’t want those newly built properties “leaving the system" adding: "We’ll be putting restrictions on them so that we aren’t losing those homes… we’re not losing that stock."
Ministers will launch a consultation on the issue later this year.
FOLLOW ALONG WITH ALL THE UPDATES THROUGH THE DAY BELOW
Keir Starmer told to SACK David Lammy amid fears it is 'impossible' to work with Trump
A US analyst has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Foreign Secretary David Lammy over past comments about President-elect Donald Trump.
Director of The Heritage Foundation's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom Nile Gardiner said Trump would see the Prime Minister as a "novice" when it comes to negotiating and a "woke lefty."
Lammy posted on social media in 2017: "Yes, if Trump comes to the UK I will be out protesting on the streets. He is a racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser."
One year later, the Tottenham MP wrote: "Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath...he is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long."
Now, Gardiner has claimed that firing Lammy from the cabinet would be the start of fixing the relationship between Starmer and Trump, however, he conceded that it may be politically difficult.
He told MailOnline: "The smartest thing would be to sack David Lammy and apologise for the intervention by Labour staffers. But I'm in no doubt that it will be practically impossible for Sir Keir to work with the Trump Presidency."
Earlier this year, Lammy defended calling Trump "a neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath", saying all politicians had something to say about him "back in the day." He also said he had met Trump’s Vice-President JD Vance and that the two men had “common ground".
Lammy said: "We’re both from poor backgrounds, both suffered from addiction issues in our family which we’ve written about... both of us [are] Christians. And now I’ve met [Vance] on a few occasions, and we have been able to find common ground and get on."
Liberal Democrats and Greens express outrage at 'dangerous, destructive' Trump victory
Party leaders have expressed their anger after Donald Trump declared victory in the US presidential election.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it was "a dark, dark day for people around the globe".
He added: "The world’s largest economy and most powerful military will be led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue. Fixing the UK’s broken relationship with the EU is even more urgent than before - we must strengthen trade and defence cooperation across Europe to help protect ourselves from the damage Trump will do."
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: "A convicted criminal, a fascist who does not respect the rule of law is once again set to become leader of the most powerful country in the world.
"For a man who denies the reality of climate change, has no respect for the truth and engineered the overturning of women’s right to choose, for him to have so much power feels frightening.
"His relentless attacks on migrants, his racism, his misogyny, his homophobia, it leaves many in our communities feeling threatened this morning.
"So on this dark day, I want to say that we stand in solidarity with all those who dreaded this moment and must now live with its consequences, including those in Gaza and in Ukraine."
Falklands War defence secretary dies aged 92
Sir John Nott, the defence secretary during the Falklands War, has died aged 92.
The senior Conservative twice offered his resignation to Margaret Thatcher after the Argentinian invasion of the South Atlantic islands in 1982 but she refused to accept it, instead keeping him in place for the operation.
His daughter, the writer Sasha Swire, the wife of Tory peer Lord Swire, said: “RIP my beloved father, John Nott, protector, politician, farmer, me. Sir John also had two sons – composer Julian, who wrote the Peppa Pig theme music, and William who worked in the oil industry.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “John Nott was an inspiring defence secretary and politician who stood up, alongside Margaret Thatcher, to aggression.His resolute determination to free British sovereign territory from tyranny is as important today as it was during the Falklands conflict.
"My condolences go to his family and loved ones at this sad time."
Mel Stride says Labour government are in a 'difficult position already' with Trump’s administration and should 'build bridges'
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride has said that Labour need to "build bridges" with the US after David Lammy's tweets about President-elect Donald Trump.
Speaking to GB News, Stride said: "I think those remarks were very unfortunate. And clearly it's incumbent on the government to build those bridges with Donald Trump and his new administration.
"I think Kemi Badenoch yesterday in Prime Minister's Questions, was absolutely right to press the Prime Minister on ensuring that those remarks are effectively withdrawn because I think they're extremely unhelpful."
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Labour comments about Donald Trump will not 'interfere' in the 'important alliance' between the UK and US, says McFadden
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has said comments made by Labour Cabinet ministers about Donald Trump will not “interfere” in the “important alliance” between the UK and US.
He told Sky News: "I think a lot of things that have been said over the years, but not just here in the UK, including in the US. If you look at what Vice President Elect JD Vance said about President Trump, he mused whether this was going to be another Richard Nixon or America’s Hitler, and it’s not held him back from being the running mate.
"Elon Musk as well, advised Trump to walk off into the sunset a couple of years ago, and he’s become President Trump’s biggest, biggest backer in business. So I think a number of things have been said over the years, but the truth is, the alliance between Britain and the United States is long and deep and enduring."
He added: "I don’t think any of these things will interfere in what is such an important alliance for the world, based on defence, security, shared values, shared history. It’s all more important than all of those things, and that is the footing we begin on, and that’s the footing that we’ll continue on."
UK Government confirms nearly £1.4bn for local projects in Scotland
The UK Government has said nearly £1.4billion will be spent on dozens of local growth projects in Scotland over the next 10 years. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has written to all 32 local authorities to confirm the greenlit projects.
Murray announced £160million each for investment zones in Glasgow and the North East, £26million each for the Cromarty and Forth freeports, and £26million for the Fair Isle Ferry in Shetland.
Nearly £39million will be allocated for the Amids (Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland) South transport project in Renfrewshire while £15million will be spent on the regeneration of Drumchapel town centre in Glasgow, and £18million will be spent on the Elgin city masterplan.
Ten areas will receive £20million each as part of the long-term plan for towns programme.
Find Out More...