56 h. ago UK politics live: Net migration to UK plummets by more than 400,000 in a year

Difference between the number of people moving to the UK and leaving the country has fallen to the lowest level since the pandemic

Politics

56 h. ago UK politics live: Chemical castration considered for sex offenders as review reveals prison capacity crisis

An independent review has recommended that prisoners be released for good behaviour and shorter sentences of less than 12 months to be scrapped

Events

3 d. ago Starmer says he wants ‘more pensioners’ to get winter fuel payments in policy U

The prime minister told PMQs that as the economy improves he would loosen the eligibility rulesYouGov has published more details of its polling on the electorate’s relationship with Labour, as covered in the Sky News report mentioned earlier. (See 10.06am.)It shows that Reform UK supporters are most likely to think that Labour is trying hard to appeal to them – but least likely to say they would respond positively. Only 4% of Reform UK supporters say they would consider voting Labour, the poll says.I ask her if there will be any changes as demanded by MPs She says while “we want to make sure we address all of people’s concerns, but stressed: “whatever the fiscal position that the government faces, I think the system as a whole needs to change.” Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago PMQs live: Starmer says he wants ‘more pensioners’ to get winter fuel payments in major U

The prime minister says as the economy improves he would look again at thresholds YouGov has published more details of its polling on the electorate’s relationship with Labour, as covered in the Sky News report mentioned earlier. (See 10.06am.)It shows that Reform UK supporters are most likely to think that Labour is trying hard to appeal to them – but least likely to say they would respond positively. Only 4% of Reform UK supporters say they would consider voting Labour, the poll says.I ask her if there will be any changes as demanded by MPs She says while “we want to make sure we address all of people’s concerns, but stressed: “whatever the fiscal position that the government faces, I think the system as a whole needs to change.” Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Rayner ‘urged Reeves’ to raise taxes on wealthy pensioners in secret memo

The chancellor has been adamant she will not turn to tax rises to fund the government’s policies

Economics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Reeves defends ‘necessary’ winter fuel payment cuts amid speculation over U

Senior government figures are in talks about whether to U-turn on the chancellor’s winter fuel cuts within weeks

Politics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Starmer vows EU deal will end ‘huge’ passport queues and Farage misses Brexit reset debate

Sir Keir Starmer pledged that his trade deal with the EU would ‘cut the price of the weekly shop’ and provide stability for the fishing industry

Politics

4 d. ago UK politics live: Starmer vows EU deal will end ‘huge’ passport queues in defence of ‘win

Sir Keir Starmer pledged that his trade deal with the EU would ‘cut the price of the weekly shop’ and provide stability for the fishing industry

Politics

5 d. ago UK politics live: Starmer says Britain is ‘back on world stage’ as details of UK

UK holidaymakers will be able to use e-gates at European airports, pet passports will be introduced for cats and dogs and businesses can sell burgers and sausages into the EU

Politics

5 d. ago UK politics live: EU demands for fishing rights ‘hold up’ Starmer’s post

UK’s lead negotiator says overnight talks going ‘down to the wire’ hours before Starmer set to unveil deal at London summit

Politics

6 d. ago UK politics live: Starmer urged to be ‘bold’ in Brexit reset talks ahead of crunch meeting

Starmer has insisted he wishes to avoid ‘megaphone diplomacy’ by eschewing a running commentary on negotiations

Politics

9 d. ago Starmer trip labelled an ‘embarrassment’ as Albania rules out asylum seeker deal

Tories question point of PM’s visit to Albania as his counterpart rejects establishment of ‘return hubs’UK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has been accused of overseeing a diplomatic “embarrassment” after arriving in Albania to promote a policy of establishing “return hubs” for refused asylum seekers only for his counterpart to rule it out.The prime minister confirmed that refused asylum seekers could be sent to facilities abroad, which would function as detention centres, once they had exhausted all avenues of appeal against rejection of their application to stay in the UK. Continue reading...

Economics

9 d. ago UK asking other countries to host ‘return hubs’ for refused asylum seekers, Starmer confirms – UK politics live

PM on trip to announce increased cooperation against people smugglers alongside Albania’s prime minister, Edi RamaAll Commons Speakers, at least for the past 30 years, have complained about the government making major announcements to the media first, and not to parliament first. But rarely have any of them sounded quite as furious about this as Lindsay Hoyle, who this morning delivered an extended reprimand to the government about this at the start of an urgent question.The UQ was about plans to limit the use of prison recall – something announced by the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, at a press conference yesterday, while the Commons was still sitting. After pointing this out, and reminding MPs that details of the immigration white paper were given to the media extensively, long before the ministerial statement about it was delivered in the Commons on Monday, Hoyle went on to imply that, as well as regularly breaking the ministerial code, ministers were also guilty of hypocri...

Politics

1 week ago Farage says Starmer ‘learning a great deal from Reform’ as PM defends immigration speech – UK politics live

Reform leader asks PM to declare a national emergency at the bordersHere is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs, which starts at noon.In March Reform UK reported Rupert Lowe (at the time one of their five MPs) to the police, claiming he had threatened the party chair, Zia Yusuf, with violence. Reform UK announced the news shortly after Lowe gave a newspaper interview criticising Nigel Farage, the party leader,Following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence in relation to an allegation of threats, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought against a sitting MP.Having considered a number of witness statements, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.If Farage were ever to control the vast power of the British state, I believe he would not hesitate to do to his adversaries what they have tried to do to me. With real power, I fear he would wield that immense responsibility to crush dissent - ...

Politics

1 week ago PMQs live: Starmer defends immigration speech as Farage claims Labour ‘learning from Reform’

Reform leader asks PM to declare a national emergency at the bordersHere is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs, which starts at noon.In March Reform UK reported Rupert Lowe (at the time one of their five MPs) to the police, claiming he had threatened the party chair, Zia Yusuf, with violence. Reform UK announced the news shortly after Lowe gave a newspaper interview criticising Nigel Farage, the party leader,Following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence in relation to an allegation of threats, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought against a sitting MP.Having considered a number of witness statements, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.If Farage were ever to control the vast power of the British state, I believe he would not hesitate to do to his adversaries what they have tried to do to me. With real power, I fear he would wield that immense responsibility to crush dissent - ...

Politics

1 week ago PMQs LIVE: Keir Starmer faces MPs after man arrested over fire at his London home

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will field questions from Kemi Badenoch, who has been on the attack over the Government's immigration plans and its trade deals with the US and India

Events

1 week ago UK politics live: Starmer to face Badenoch at PMQs after No10 denies immigration speech echoes Enoch Powell

PM has faced backlash for the language he used in the speech setting out plans to crack down on legal migration

Politics

1 week ago UK politics live: Starmer ‘island of strangers’ row way overblown, senior minister claims

PM has faced backlash for the language he used in the speech setting out plans to crack down on legal migration

Politics

1 week ago UK politics live: Starmer accused of ‘hostile environment on steroids’ in immigration clampdown

PM has faced backlash for the language he used in the speech setting out plans to crack down on legal migration

Politics

1 week ago Keir Starmer home fire LIVE: Police investigating blaze at Prime Minister's home

Police are investigating after a fire broke out at Keir Starmer’s home in north London in the early hours of this morning, with emergency services rushing to the scene

Politics