George Bunn
Guest Reporter
Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out more tax raid as Labour's support continues to slump in the opinion polls.
The Prime Minister warned that "unforeseen" circumstances mean that he cannot rule out increasing levies.
Starmer told the BBC it is not his "plan" to impose more tax rises but pointed to Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine war as examples of unexpected global events that would force him to change course.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference at the end of November that she would not be "coming back with more borrowing or more taxes."
However, Starmer refused to repeat this pledge on November 27 when he was asked to do so by Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the opposition, at Prime Minister’s Questions.
After being pushed on the issue yet again, Starmer said: "What I can’t do is say to you there are no circumstances unforeseen in the future that wouldn’t lead to any changes at all.
"Because if you just look at Covid and the Ukraine situation, everybody knows there are things that we can’t see now.
"But I can tell you our intention was to do the tough stuff in that Budget and not to keep coming back... it’s tough but fair, but at least we know now with certainty and we can plan."
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Tory donor Lord Rami Ranger has been stripped of his CBE after being accused of harassing a journalist and making a series of derogatory comments on social media.
Lord Ranger, 76, was among six honour holders included in today's London Gazette update.
The London Gazette's notice confirmed that King Charles III had directed that the businessman's Commander of the Order of the British Empire would be "cancelled and annulled".
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
MPs have clashed over whether the EU has acted like a "sovereign grabber" through the Windsor Framework.
Labour MP Andrew Lewin questioned whether words like "colonisation" are part of "the message we want to send" to Brussels, after TUV MP Jim Allister claimed Northern Ireland had become a “colony” of the EU after “the foundations of this United Kingdom have been disturbed and dislodged by these arrangements."
The MP for North Antrim told the Commons: “What is a colony? It is a territory governed by someone else’s laws from a foreign jurisdiction.
"When you’ve 300 areas of law, including customs, including the very definition of what is Northern Ireland’s territory in trading terms, which are governed by foreign EU laws, then you’ve created the situation where Northern Ireland in that context is a veritable colony."
Lewin, the MP for Welwyn Hatfield, intervened and said: "I believe that the European Union is our ally, 27 democracies, and I have to say I’m concerned by some of the language I’m hearing – he talks of colonisation, he talks of surrender.
"And I would just gently ask whether that is the message that we want to send to our 27 allies and friends in the European Union?"
Sir Keir Starmer has met with political leaders from both sides of the Irish border, in a break with tradition.
He is only the third Prime Minister to attend a meeting of the British-Irish Council in Edinburgh in 17 years.
It is attended by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste Simon Harris and Micheál Martin just a week after a general election which has most likley set up another Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition government.
Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers, Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly are also there, as well as the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, John Swinney and Eluned Morgan.
Mel Stride has slammed Labour, accusing Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves of dropping a promise to "grow the economy."
The Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: "Keir Starmer has already raised taxes to historic levels. Now he claims he wants to give business certainty but he can’t answer a very basic question - will he or won’t he raise more taxes.
"We can see clearly the impact of his and Rachel Reeves’ first budget already - yesterday the Bank of England reported that the majority of businesses planned to put up prices and reduce jobs while the CBI is cutting growth projections.
"It’s no wonder he’s been forced to drop his commitment to grow the economy."
Keir Starmer’s decision to set specific NHS and housing targets while not putting a figure on net migration is justified, according to a Labour minister.
The PM set out his ‘Plan for Change’ in a speech yesterday but his decision to omit immigration as a key talking point has drawn criticism.
Instead, Starmer opted to focus on six key issues which he urged the public to judge his administration on.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Fiona Bruce has clashed with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as the pair went head to head on the last night's episode of Question Time.
They were joined by No 10 spin doctor to Tony Blair Alastair Campbell, Education Minister Jacqui Smith and Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake.
When asked about border control, Farage said: "The last Labour Government deported people who came here illegally in their tens of thousands."
Bruce then pointed at him with her pen as she interrupted him. She quizzed him saying: "Are you going to respond?" He snapped back saying: "I'm going to, I'm going to!"
He continued: "The point is, if people come legally and they work - that's fine. If people come because they genuinely are refugees, we've always opened our doors than anybody in the world historically to that."
The Prime Minister has said wants to see living standards rise "straight away" as he attempts to sell his "plan for change."
Sir Keir Starmer made improving living standards a key target as he outlined the “next phase” of his Government on Thursday, saying he wanted to see real household disposable income rise across the country by the next election.
But in an interview with the BBC, Starmer said he wanted to see improvements sooner than that, denying that things would get worse before they got better.
He said: "I want people to feel better off straight away – feel better off in the sense of more money in their pocket, feel better off because they’ve got a secure job that they know is guaranteed to give them the money they need."
Top Labour MP Matthew Pennycook has denied claims that yesterday's speech by Sir Keir Starmer was a "reset", adding that the Prime Minister has taken "decisive first steps".
The Housing Minister told GB News: "It's not a reset. We were very clear during the General Election campaign, we had a number of missions we wanted to achieve and we have taken a number of very decisive first steps to deliver on those missions.
"What we set out yesterday was a number of specific milestones from which the Government can judge us. These are tangible milestones people can track and hold us to."
Labour MP Neil Coyle is being replaced on a Commons select committee and will take up a newly created role with the party.
It comes as the MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark was suspended last year for bullying a colleague and abusing a journalist.
At present those concerns have not been put in writing and have not triggered any formal complaints process. Coyle strongly denies any link between his latest outburst and his departure from the committee, reports Politico.
The UK is facing years of soaring energy bills as Britain becomes increasingly reliant on imported oil - despite a staggering 25 billion barrels remaining untapped in the North Sea.
Alarming data obtained by GB News shows that, in the last quarter alone, Britain has imported 20 million tonnes of oil, sending energy costs soaring for people across the country.
The surge in imports comes as Labour has attacked Britain’s own oil industry, increasing ‘punitive’ taxes on North Sea operators and banning new exploration.
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, said: “Ed Miliband wants to shut down the North Sea by banning new licenses and taxing industry into oblivion.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
The chairman of Reform UK's Hertsmere branch Darren Selkus has explained why he sent out a letter discussing the possibility of a by-election in the Hertfordshire constituency.
Selkus claimed he heard rumours about ex-Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden stepping down as the local MP to make way for former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
He told GB News: "Reform UK Hertsmere was already gearing up for the County Council elections, so pivoting to prepare for a potential parliamentary by-election wasn’t a big leap."
Selkus added: "But what’s the worst that could happen? A bit of extra campaigning that helps our County Council candidates? Either way, Reform UK Hertsmere is ready for whatever comes next."
Find Out More...
The Prime Minister warned that "unforeseen" circumstances mean that he cannot rule out increasing levies.
Starmer told the BBC it is not his "plan" to impose more tax rises but pointed to Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine war as examples of unexpected global events that would force him to change course.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference at the end of November that she would not be "coming back with more borrowing or more taxes."
However, Starmer refused to repeat this pledge on November 27 when he was asked to do so by Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the opposition, at Prime Minister’s Questions.
After being pushed on the issue yet again, Starmer said: "What I can’t do is say to you there are no circumstances unforeseen in the future that wouldn’t lead to any changes at all.
"Because if you just look at Covid and the Ukraine situation, everybody knows there are things that we can’t see now.
"But I can tell you our intention was to do the tough stuff in that Budget and not to keep coming back... it’s tough but fair, but at least we know now with certainty and we can plan."
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Tory peer stripped of honour as rare action taken
Tory donor Lord Rami Ranger has been stripped of his CBE after being accused of harassing a journalist and making a series of derogatory comments on social media.
Lord Ranger, 76, was among six honour holders included in today's London Gazette update.
The London Gazette's notice confirmed that King Charles III had directed that the businessman's Commander of the Order of the British Empire would be "cancelled and annulled".
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
MPs clash over ‘sovereign grabber’ Northern Ireland claim in fresh EU 'colonisation' debate
MPs have clashed over whether the EU has acted like a "sovereign grabber" through the Windsor Framework.
Labour MP Andrew Lewin questioned whether words like "colonisation" are part of "the message we want to send" to Brussels, after TUV MP Jim Allister claimed Northern Ireland had become a “colony” of the EU after “the foundations of this United Kingdom have been disturbed and dislodged by these arrangements."
The MP for North Antrim told the Commons: “What is a colony? It is a territory governed by someone else’s laws from a foreign jurisdiction.
"When you’ve 300 areas of law, including customs, including the very definition of what is Northern Ireland’s territory in trading terms, which are governed by foreign EU laws, then you’ve created the situation where Northern Ireland in that context is a veritable colony."
Lewin, the MP for Welwyn Hatfield, intervened and said: "I believe that the European Union is our ally, 27 democracies, and I have to say I’m concerned by some of the language I’m hearing – he talks of colonisation, he talks of surrender.
"And I would just gently ask whether that is the message that we want to send to our 27 allies and friends in the European Union?"
Starmer becomes third Prime Minister to attend meeting of the British-Irish Council in just under two decades
Sir Keir Starmer has met with political leaders from both sides of the Irish border, in a break with tradition.
He is only the third Prime Minister to attend a meeting of the British-Irish Council in Edinburgh in 17 years.
It is attended by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste Simon Harris and Micheál Martin just a week after a general election which has most likley set up another Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition government.
Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers, Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly are also there, as well as the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, John Swinney and Eluned Morgan.
Stride lashes out at Starmer and Reeves over potential tax rises
Mel Stride has slammed Labour, accusing Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves of dropping a promise to "grow the economy."
The Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: "Keir Starmer has already raised taxes to historic levels. Now he claims he wants to give business certainty but he can’t answer a very basic question - will he or won’t he raise more taxes.
"We can see clearly the impact of his and Rachel Reeves’ first budget already - yesterday the Bank of England reported that the majority of businesses planned to put up prices and reduce jobs while the CBI is cutting growth projections.
"It’s no wonder he’s been forced to drop his commitment to grow the economy."
Minister insists Starmer’s housing targets ‘not arbitrary’, but putting a number on net migration would be
Keir Starmer’s decision to set specific NHS and housing targets while not putting a figure on net migration is justified, according to a Labour minister.
The PM set out his ‘Plan for Change’ in a speech yesterday but his decision to omit immigration as a key talking point has drawn criticism.
Instead, Starmer opted to focus on six key issues which he urged the public to judge his administration on.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
'Are you going to respond?!' Fiona Bruce clashes with Nigel Farage in tense migration row showdown
Fiona Bruce has clashed with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as the pair went head to head on the last night's episode of Question Time.
They were joined by No 10 spin doctor to Tony Blair Alastair Campbell, Education Minister Jacqui Smith and Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake.
When asked about border control, Farage said: "The last Labour Government deported people who came here illegally in their tens of thousands."
Bruce then pointed at him with her pen as she interrupted him. She quizzed him saying: "Are you going to respond?" He snapped back saying: "I'm going to, I'm going to!"
He continued: "The point is, if people come legally and they work - that's fine. If people come because they genuinely are refugees, we've always opened our doors than anybody in the world historically to that."
Starmer defends 'milestone missions' as PM pledges to drive living standards up 'straight away'
The Prime Minister has said wants to see living standards rise "straight away" as he attempts to sell his "plan for change."
Sir Keir Starmer made improving living standards a key target as he outlined the “next phase” of his Government on Thursday, saying he wanted to see real household disposable income rise across the country by the next election.
But in an interview with the BBC, Starmer said he wanted to see improvements sooner than that, denying that things would get worse before they got better.
He said: "I want people to feel better off straight away – feel better off in the sense of more money in their pocket, feel better off because they’ve got a secure job that they know is guaranteed to give them the money they need."
Starmer is taking 'decisive first steps' but 'not resetting' premiership, top Labour MP tells GB News
'We had to make some very tough decisions.'
Matthew Pennycook addresses Labour and Keir Starmer's poor polling amongst Britons.
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Top Labour MP Matthew Pennycook has denied claims that yesterday's speech by Sir Keir Starmer was a "reset", adding that the Prime Minister has taken "decisive first steps".
The Housing Minister told GB News: "It's not a reset. We were very clear during the General Election campaign, we had a number of missions we wanted to achieve and we have taken a number of very decisive first steps to deliver on those missions.
"What we set out yesterday was a number of specific milestones from which the Government can judge us. These are tangible milestones people can track and hold us to."
Labour MP leaves committee amid fresh concerns over his conduct
Labour MP Neil Coyle is being replaced on a Commons select committee and will take up a newly created role with the party.
It comes as the MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark was suspended last year for bullying a colleague and abusing a journalist.
At present those concerns have not been put in writing and have not triggered any formal complaints process. Coyle strongly denies any link between his latest outburst and his departure from the committee, reports Politico.
Britons told to brace for higher energy bills as oil imports SOAR despite Labour's 'Net Zero madness'
The UK is facing years of soaring energy bills as Britain becomes increasingly reliant on imported oil - despite a staggering 25 billion barrels remaining untapped in the North Sea.
Alarming data obtained by GB News shows that, in the last quarter alone, Britain has imported 20 million tonnes of oil, sending energy costs soaring for people across the country.
The surge in imports comes as Labour has attacked Britain’s own oil industry, increasing ‘punitive’ taxes on North Sea operators and banning new exploration.
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, said: “Ed Miliband wants to shut down the North Sea by banning new licenses and taxing industry into oblivion.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
'What's the worst that could happen?!' Local Reform chairman explains 'by-election letter'
The chairman of Reform UK's Hertsmere branch Darren Selkus has explained why he sent out a letter discussing the possibility of a by-election in the Hertfordshire constituency.
Selkus claimed he heard rumours about ex-Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden stepping down as the local MP to make way for former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
He told GB News: "Reform UK Hertsmere was already gearing up for the County Council elections, so pivoting to prepare for a potential parliamentary by-election wasn’t a big leap."
Selkus added: "But what’s the worst that could happen? A bit of extra campaigning that helps our County Council candidates? Either way, Reform UK Hertsmere is ready for whatever comes next."
Find Out More...