The Department for Work and Pensions is “exploring” publishing a nationality breakdown of benefits claimants after a long-running push by Reform UK.
The party’s Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe said that his “continued hounding” of the Government for “transparency and honesty” looks to have made a positive breakthrough after he received a ministerial response today.
Writing on social media, Lowe said he had been told: “The department is exploring the feasibility of developing suitable official statistics related to the immigration status of non-UK/Irish Universal Credit customers.”
He added: “I’ve been pushing the DWP to provide a nationality breakdown of those claiming benefits. It seems like they are considering it.
“This is positive, but let’s see what happens.
“I will continue to hound the Government for more transparency and more honesty.
“We are making progress. The British people deserve to know the truth.”
Farmers protests ‘definitely’ going ahead after ‘tough talks’ with Environment Secretary
Farmers protesting changes to inheritance tax should be “peaceful” and “passionate,” the head of the National Farmers’ Union said, confirming the demonstrations would “definitely” go ahead after “tough” talks with the Environment Secretary.
Tom Bradshaw said that around 1,800 members preparing to hold a mass lobby of MPs on Tuesday to fight the Government’s plans, stating that it would leave an “indelible mark” in their campaign.
Meanwhile, a demonstration is expected to take place in Whitehall. It is estimated between 10,000 and 40,000 people could show up.
Bradshaw met Environment Secretary Steve Reed on Monday amid sustained outrage among farmers about measures announced in the budget to impose inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1 million.
He said that while there had been a “level of understanding” the protests planned for Tuesday are “definitely going ahead”.
“It was a valuable meeting. It was a great opportunity to really spell out in black and white why their evidence is wrong, why it has to come forwards in consultation, and what the extreme human pressure is that this policy has created.
“We have to have these conversations, but we’re really concerned that at the moment, there doesn’t seem to be any action. There doesn’t seem to be any understanding from the Treasury of what they’re doing.”
He added: “The whole focus was on this abhorrent policy that’s been put in place. We think it’s a very ill considered policy. I don’t believe that they intended the human consequences that there are within the policy they’ve put forwards.
“I don’t think they understand that family farms that are producing this country’s food are right in the eye of this storm.”
Politician among those facing possible prosecution for ‘gamblegate’ election betting scandal
A politician and a close protection guard are among five people who could face prosecution over bets placed on the date of the General Election.
Earlier this year, the Gambling Commission opened an investigation into claims that insiders placed bets on the exact date of the election .
One source told Sk yNews that at least three – and potentially up to five – people could face prosecution.
Dubbed ‘gamblegate’ by many leading commentators, the scandal dogged the Tory party through much of its campaign.
The Gambling Commission have said in a statement: “We clearly appreciate the level of public interest there is in this ongoing investigation but to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation and to ensure a fair and just outcome, we are unable to comment further at this time, including the name of any person who may be under suspicion, or the total number of suspects.”
Matt Goodwin outlines how Britain can STOP small boats crisis in three-point plan
Matt Goodwin spoke to GBN Originals GB NEWS
Labour can put an end to the small boats crisis by carrying out a simple three-point plan, according to political commentator Matt Goodwin.
The number of illegal immigrants streaming into the country continues to ramp up – with countries like France and Germany “laughing” at Britain’s inability to deal with the crisis, according to Goodwin.
Since 2018, more than 147,000 people have arrived in Britain via small boats.
CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY HERE:
Richard Tice issues stark warning to Labour as farmers plan to protest in ‘big numbers’
Richard Tice warned Labour that farmers will protest in “big numbers”GB News
Reform UK’s Richard Tice has issued a stark warning to Labour ahead of tomorrow’s major farmer protest in London, claiming the party is “ideologically just wrong and resentful of farmers”.
Speaking to GB News, Tice criticised Labour’s handling of recent tax changes affecting the rural community.
He said: “Labour is ideologically just wrong and resentful of farmers.
“They’ve got this badly wrong. Everybody knows that. But if you’re in a hole just stop digging. There’s an expression in business, the first loss is the best loss. If you got it wrong, just say we’ve got the number wrong, we’ve got the threshold wrong.”
CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY HERE
Pictured: Starmer meets Xi
Sir Keir Starmer meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Brazil
PA
Downing Street scrambles to defend Reeves amid CV ‘deception’ row – ‘She exposed a £22bn black hole!’
The Chancellor had fielded accusations of being ‘economical with the truth’ after she removed claims of being a Bank of Scotland economist from her LinkedIn profile
PA
Downing Street has defended Rachel Reeves in the wake of a “deception” row over her CV history.
The Chancellor had fielded accusations of being “economical with the truth” after she removed claims of being a Bank of Scotland economist from her LinkedIn profile after Guido Fawkes revealed she actually held a support job working on admin, planning and IT.
She also claimed in a magazine interview that she had “spent a decade” at the Bank of England – when her Linkedin described it as a six-year period between 2000 and 2006.
In response, a No10 spokesman said: “With regard to the Chancellor, the Prime Minister is very clear that the Chancellor has restored financial stability.
“This is someone who on coming into office looked under the bonnet and exposed a £22bn black hole in the public finances, and has been straight with the public about what is necessary to balance the books and restore financial stability in the face of that.”
When asked whether the PM thought Reeves had been clear with the public on her work history, the No10 spokesman added: “He is very clear that this is a Chancellor that has been straight with the public about the state of the public finances and what is necessary to restore financial stability. That is most important.”
Starmer pushes for ‘surprise-free’ relationship with China at head-to-head in Brazil
Sir Keir Starmer has pushed for a “consistent, durable and respectful” relationship with China following head-to-head talks with Xi Jinping in Brazil.
After meeting the Chinese premier on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Starmer said: “We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful – and as we have agreed, avoid surprises where possible.
“A strong UK China relationship is important for both of our countries and for the broader international community.
“The UK will be a predictable, consistent, sovereign actor committed to the rule of law.”
ICYMI: Labour prepares emergency plans to keep food on supermarket shelves if farmers strike
Ministers have been forced to start preparing contingency plans to keep supermarket shelves stocked with food
PA
Ministers have been forced to start preparing contingency plans to keep supermarket shelves stocked with food in case farmers follow through with their protest threats over inheritance tax.
Tens of thousands of farmers are set to descend on the capital tomorrow – having already gathered at Labour’s Welsh conference on Saturday – over Rachel Reeves’s inheritance tax raids on family farms.
Farming leaders have distanced themselves from strikes which would lead to food shortages – but have warned that emotions are running high over Labour’s “betrayal” of the countryside.
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner has called for calm – claiming the “vast majority” of farmers “will be fine” despite the tax hikes, and has criticised “extraordinary” claims about the numbers of farms potentially affected, the BBC reports.
While Transport Secretary Louise Haigh told Sky News that “the choices that we set out in the budget are fair and proportionate” – though she acknowledged “the difficult situation that many are in”.
National Farmers’ Union chief Tom Bradshaw has warned that hitting supermarkets “is not an NFU tactic” in the face of ministers’ worries.
He said: We do not support emptying supermarket shelves. But I do completely understand the strength of feeling that there is amongst farmers.
“They feel helpless today and they’re trying to think of what they can do to try and demonstrate what this means to them.
“We have a Government saying food security is a critical part of national security, yet they’ve ripped the rug out from that very industry, which is going to invest in food security for the future.”
Starmer branded ‘incompetent’ by Sikh groups in furious letter after festival snub
Hundreds of Sikh groups have laid into Sir Keir Starmer for his apparent failure to mark a religious festival.
The Sikh Federation has written to the Prime Minister for failing to wish more than one million British Sikhs a “Happy Gurpurb” on November 15 – an oversight described by the federation’s lead executive as “indefensible”.
The letter, seen by The Telegraph, accuses the PM of taking British Sikhs for granted in a “show of incompetence” from No10.
It reads: “When you were the leader of the Opposition you put out excellent Gurpurb messages, but [this] oversight will be seen by many in the Sikh community that our community is being taken totally for granted now you are in power.”
A Labour spokesman acknowledged the oversight, but said: “The Labour Party was pleased to send its best wishes to the Sikh community on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary this week through its multiple social media accounts.
“Labour is proud to have 11 Sikh MPs following this year’s election. The British Sikh community is an important contributor to fixing the foundations of our country and delivering change. Together, we will rebuild Britain.”
‘Reverse farm tax now, or we’ll do it in 2029!’ Reform UK’s vow ahead of mass protest in London
Pictured: Tractors descend on Westminster earlier in 2024
PA
Reform UK’s Rupert Lowe has told Rachel Reeves to “reverse her cruel assault on British family farms” ahead of a mass farmers’ protest in London tomorrow.
Writing on social media this morning, the Great Yarmouth MP said the inheritance tax raid had been “drawn up by people who have NO understanding of agriculture” – and warned that if Labour didn’t reverse it imminently, Reform would after the next election.
He said: “There are three farming MPs in Parliament, I am one of them…
“Trust me when I say this – Labour does NOT understanding farming. It would be laughable if they were not running the damn country.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if a majority of Labour MPs believe that potatoes grow on trees. These are urban people who think that a farm is a family day out, an opportunity to feed the sheep and ride the tractor. Clueless. On farming, and so much else.
“I will be standing alongside thousands of other British farmers tomorrow. We must make our voices heard.
“Reeves must reverse her cruel assault on British family farms. Either she does it now, or we’ll do it in 2029.”
Donald Trump will ‘never accept being beaten by Putin’ says Johnson – in French
Donald Trump ‘would never accept being beaten by Putin’, Boris Johnson has said
FRANCE INTER
Donald Trump “would never accept being beaten by Putin”, Boris Johnson has said in a landmark French-language interview.
Speaking to France Inter in the wake of the US’s approval of long-range missiles to Ukraine, the ex-Prime Minister said Trump “may not be as bad as you fear” in the face of critics who claim he would force Ukraine to accept an uneasy peace with Russia.
During his election campaign, Trump had said he would end the war in just one day – hence the fears of an uneasy peace – but Johnson brushed this aside as “just rhetoric”.
Trump would not start his second term in the White House with a “capitulation, a humiliation for the United States, for Nato, and for himself by giving Putin the possibility of defeating Ukraine”, Johnson added.
But giving Ukraine the right to strike Russia has come “18 months too late”, the former PM warned.
France and Britain are still yet to confirm whether they will sanction their own long-range missiles for use against Russia – but the pressure is piling up…
Jenrick furious as ‘monster’ paedophile asylum seeker allowed to STAY in Britain
Robert Jenrick has called for the immediate deportation of a failed asylum seeker paedophile who has been allowed to remain in Britain under ECHR rules.
The man in his 50s, originally from central Africa, was set to be automatically deported following his conviction for sex attacks on three young family members including his stepdaughter.
Despite a judge ruling he “continues to pose a risk,” his removal from the UK was blocked under European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) provisions protecting family life.
And staunch ECHR opponent Jenrick has reacted with fury to the tribunal’s ruling.
Writing on social media, the Shadow Justice Secretary said: “This monster should be deported immediately. A failed asylum seeker and convicted paedophile gets to stay in the UK so as not to hurt his ‘family life’. This madness needs to end.”
READ THE FULL STORY ON THE MIGRANT ALLOWED TO STAY IN BRITAIN HERE
ANOTHER Labour minister turns on assisted dying as controversial Bill left in jeopardy
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said she will vote against the controversial assisted dying Bill
PA
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said she will vote against the controversial assisted dying Bill – joining a wave of cross-party support against the move.
Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s Bill has already seen opposition from Wes Streeting, Nigel Farage, Angela Rayner and Ed Davey – and now, Phillipson has joined the charge against it.
The Health Secretary has said the NHS wouldn’t be able to cope with offering the controversial measure, while several have raised religious objections and warnings of a “slippery slope” – prompting ire from Leadbeater herself, who has told MPs to “pull back”.
She told LBC: “It’s really important that the views of people are heard, but equally that the Government maintains that position of neutrality.
“Let’s let the debate play out but let’s not let the politicians detract from the issues,” she added.
Starmer set for sit-down with China’s Xi Jinping just weeks after Lammy’s red-faced ‘genocide’ U-Turn
Sir Keir Starmer will be meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Brazil
PA/REUTERS
Sir Keir Starmer will be meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Brazil this week in a bid to mend strained relations with the world’s second-largest economy.
The PM is expected to be discussing Ukraine, climate change and economic growth – but the sit-down comes in the face of his own party’s previous comments on China’s “genocide” of Uyghur Muslims.
Back in 2021, Starmer had vowed to “ensure Britain never turns a blind eye to genocide” and condemned the “persecution” of the group in the country’s Xinjiang province.
While last year, David Lammy had said a then-future Labour Government would pursue legal routes to declare that China is committing genocide against the Uyghurs.
Then, after having been elected, a British Government source told the Guardian that “genocide is a determination for competent international courts to decide”.
This week, Downing Street says Starmer will “be firm on the need to have honest conversations on areas of disagreement”, and that engagement would be “rooted at all times in the UK’s national interests”.
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