James Saunders
Guest Reporter
Sir Keir Starmer has been ripped into by senior Tories for pushing to increase the number of permanent UN Security Council members to 10.
Attorney General Lord Hermer has said the UK will try to enshrine permanent representation for Africa, India, Brazil, Japan and Germany - which would join the current five: the USA, the UK, France, Russia and China.
Speaking at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, Lord Hermer said the UK wanted to "ensure that those with seats at the top table truly represent the global community" - but the idea has been lambasted as a "disaster for the free world".
Ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said opening the door to more permanent members would mark a "dramatic weakening" in British foreign policy in the wake of the surrender of the Chagos Islands just weeks ago.
He also warned that letting in heavyweights like Brazil and India would only play into Russia and China's hands - China invests in and trades with Brazil to the tune of billions of pounds, while India and Russia are increasingly aligned on defence and security.
Duncan Smith said: "China and Russia would be the net beneficiaries as they are hugely allied with the wider list of countries.
"With the exception of Germany, that would be a disaster for the free world. It is utterly naive and dangerous."
Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps joined in, saying: "First they surrendered the Chagos Islands in the British Indian Overseas Territory, and now they want to dilute Britain's influence at the United Nations.
"When Sir Keir Starmer told us he'd bring change, he failed to mention it would involve shrinking Britain's global responsibilities!"
Despite Shapps's attacks, James Cleverly had pushed for similar proposals in his time as Foreign Secretary - where he called for reform of the UN Security Council, and even wanted the same countries around the table.
That wasn't lost on Labour, who hit back at the comments in a cutting swipe at Shapps.
A source close to Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "That was a Government that Grant Shapps served in and he supported that policy.
"His comments are a bit absurd. They should have raised their objections to UK Government policy... When they were in Government!"
But senior Reform figures also slammed the idea, with Richard Tice saying: "Starmergeddon strikes again. Now he wants to reduce British influence on UN Security Council! After Chagos... This man is a danger to British interests."
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Tories wage war on the CHURCH OF ENGLAND as MP looks to oust bishops from the Lords
Numerous Conservative MPs have hit out at bishops in Parliament in a growing religious row over Labour's Hereditary Peers Bill.
Yesterday, Tory MP Gavin Williamson, with the support of the National Secular Society (NSS), announced he would be tabling an amendment to the Bill to abolish the Lords Spiritual - the 26 bishops in the House of Lords - in a drive for a "fairer and more reflective chamber".
The group's chief executive Stephen Evans said the bishops' bench in the Lords "is a hangover from the Middle Ages when - like the hereditary peers - they were feudal landholders", and urged the Government to reconsider its Bill.
Williamson was lambasted by the Rev Marcus Walker, Rector of the City of London's St Bartholomew the Great - who called the MP "awful".
Fellow Tory Andrew Murrison has joined in the row, writing on social media: "Bishops in parliament - they rarely turn up, represent a UK minority and make us look like a theocracy.
"As an Anglican, I'd rather they went back to their dioceses, focused on the cure of souls and stopped being dog-collared politicians. Be gone!"
Jeremy Hunt prods Reeves's 'economic inheritance' claim as inflation tumbles
Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has taken a dig at Rachel Reeves's claims over Labour's gloomy economic inheritance in light of today's surprise drop in inflation.
His Cabinet counterpart had, throughout the campaign cycle ahead of the General Election, attacked the Conservatives for apparently leaving Britain with the worst set of economic circumstances since World War Two.
But thanks to tumbling air travel and fuel costs, the CPI rate of inflation has taken a dive - leading Hunt to poke fun at Reeves's complaints.
"Worst economic inheritance since WWII? Of course," he wrote.
REMINDER: PMQs kick off at noon today - follow live
Prime Minister's Questions will be kicking off at midday today - with Sir Keir Starmer likely to be pressed on "Swiftgate", national insurance and a looming litany of tax rises to the tune of £40billion.
A reminder that you can follow PMQs live on GB News - and here, on the Politics LIVE blog.
CPI rate falls below 2% for first time in three years
Inflation in the UK has fallen below the Bank of England's desired two per cent target for the first time in three years, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
The consumer price index (CPI) rate eased to 1.7 percent for the 12 months to September 2024 in a boon for Britain's economy following the cost of living crisis.
The drop comes below the forecasts of economists who were pricing in inflation coming in at around 1.9 per cent for September.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
ICYMI: 'Illegal immigrant' who 'threatened' Farage arrives in UK and demands meeting with Reform UK leader
An "illegal immigrant" who appeared to "threaten" Nigel Farage has arrived in the UK and urged the Reform UK leader to meet him after the pair became embroiled in a social media spat.
TikToker Mada Pasa, who documented his journey across Europe on the social media platform, released the video after Farage claimed he made a "threat on my life".
Pasa, who is believed to originate from Afghanistan, posted more than 60 videos about his journey across the continent.
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