Labour threatens Greens with 'urgent' ultimatum after Zack Polanski's 'antisemitic' policy
Labour has threatened the Green Party with an "urgent" ultimatum after Zack Polanski's "antisemitic" policy.
During Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Andy Burnham accused the Greens' of being antisemitic after it passed the "Zionism is racism" policy at its Autumn Conference earlier this month.
At the same time, the Prime Minister also ruled out power-sharing arrangements with the Greens despite three councils - Sheffield, Lewes and Warwick - being in coalition with Mr Polanski's party.
And, in more than 10 other areas, Labour runs the authority alongside the left wing party as part of a wider coalition.
Now, Mr Burnham's local parties have been instructed to pen a "clear and unambiguous statement" to their Green counterparts to state that they reject the "Zionism is racism" policy.
The Greens have been handed a seven-day deadline to respond. If the conditions are not met, local power-sharing arrangements will end.
Bridget Phillipson, Labour's Chair, said: "Where local Labour Parties currently have an arrangement with the Greens in local government, we expect their Green counterparts to make clear that they reject this position and to call on their national leadership to reconsider the policy.
"This isn’t an issue of party politics; it’s about doing what is right and upholding the values anyone holding public office should share."
Andy Burnham pushes for deal to hand EU judges powers over Britain as part of new migration pact
Andy Burnham is planning to push for a deal to hand power over Britain to EU judges as part of a new migration pact.
The move would be considered a major blow to the 2016 Brexit vote as Boris Johnson made "taking back control" a cornerstone of the Leave campaign.
The subsequent Brexit deal was proof that sovereignty was being restored to Westminster, dragging power back to British judges.
Previously, Mr Burnham blamed leaving the bloc for the rise in small boat crossings. After weeks of soft-launching his bid to rejoin the EU, Mr Burnham is now eyeing up an agreement with Strasbourg whereby the UK can access databases of asylum seekers and criminals.
But, in exchange, EU officials said that the UK must buckle to oversight from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) - as well as cough up an extra fee to do so, The Telegraph revealed.
Alex Burghart, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: "Labour’s EU Reset treats a closer relationship with Brussels as a panacea, while ignoring the very real trade-offs it would bring for farmers, fishermen and taxpayers.
"If access to EU databases means handing over taxpayers’ money and accepting ECJ oversight, Labour must explain the price. You cannot put a price on sovereignty," he told The Telegraph.
A Government spokesman said: "We are building an ambitious, close relationship with the EU that will secure our borders, bolster collective security, and keep our citizens safe."
Kemi Badenoch pays tribute to murdered MP Sir David Amess on fifth anniversary
Kemi Badenoch has paid tribute to the murdered MP, Sir David Amess, on the fifth anniversary of his death.
She said: "For nearly 40 years, Sir David Amess devoted his life to public service.
"Five years ago, while doing his job, meeting the people he represented, he was murdered by an Islamist terrorist. I remember David as a committed colleague who cared deeply about his constituents.
"Today, my thoughts are with David’s family as we remember his life and service."
John Healey issues bleak Budget warning as Chancellor vows he is in 'lockstep' with PM
John Healey has issued a bleak warning ahead of the Budget as the Chancellor vows he is in "lockstep" with the Prime Minister.
Speaking to the BBC from the IMF meeting in Bangkok, Mr Healey was grilled on whether Britons should brace for a "tough" Budget in a fortnight.
He said: "Well, it’s a tough time. People can people can see the global economic conflicts, they know the pressure it’s putting on them, they understand it’s putting pressure on the Government.
The Chancellor added: "People recognise these times that are tough for everyone, and what they do expect of a Government is to manage with the budgets we’ve got, deliver the public services they need, and that’s the challenge for Government.
"Our departments have the spending, and the Prime Minister and I being in lockstep about this.
"Where we want to do things, we have to make sure that we can pay for them within the budgets that we’ve got and control spending, and that’s part of the discipline.
"That’s part of the discipline that the IMF here in Bangkok this week has endorsed that they see in Britain, and perhaps want to see more from other countries too."
Shabana Mahmood pays tribute to Sir David Amess five years after MP was murdered
Shabana Mahmood has paid tribute to Sir David Amess five years after the MP was murdered during a constituency surgery.
The Home Secretary said: "Five years on, we remember Sir David Amess, a dedicated parliamentarian who served his constituents with kindness and determination.
"Today, my thoughts are with his family, friends and all who came to know him. His murder struck at the heart of our democracy.
"We owe it to him and others we have lost to protect those who dedicate themselves to public service. We will not allow hatred and violence to deter those who step forward to serve."
SNP's Deputy First Minister calls on Andy Burnham to trigger snap election in bid to break up UK
The SNP's Deputy First Minister has called on Andy Burnham to trigger a snap election in a bid to break up the Union.
As polling stands, the nationalist party would hold the "balance of power" if a vote was held now, Jenny Gilruth said.
She explained: "We would welcome an early election.
"The polling, of course, suggests that the SNP would hold the balance of power in a hung parliament and really strong support for the SNP across the country allowing us to regain a number of seats.
"We welcome the polling around about support for independence and, of course, we would welcome an early general election to solidify that support."
"Support for independence, support for the SNP remains strong and, of course, we will use that strength to build the case for independence and the launch of the campaign at conference is really part of that message," she added.
More seven-year-olds in Britain are on disability benefits compared to 50-year-olds
More seven-year-olds in Britain are on disability benefits compared to 50-year-olds, it has emerged. Official figures exposed that a staggering total of 69,799 seven-year-olds are receiving welfare support.
Meanwhile, just 66,670 50-year-olds are receiving the same sort of welfare backing from the Government.
The ballooning benefits bill is already bludgeoning the British taxpayer, costing the national economy an eye-watering £333billion a year.
Helen Whately, the Shadow Works and Pensions Secretary, cautioned Labour of a "pipeline to a lifetime on benefits".
REVEALED: All four times Labour sought to undermine Brexit as Rejoiners push to overturn the will of the people
Andy Burnham's latest intervention in the UK's relationship with the European Union has sparked fierce backlash from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch at PMQs yesterday.
But it was not the first time Labour has attempted to undermine the public's decision to leave the Brussels bloc.
GB News analysis has revealed the four times Labour has tried to override Brexit since the public vote a decade ago.
Labour accused of 'concealing worrying trends in key sectors' as John Healey welcomes latest figures
Labour has been accused of "concealing worrying trends" in favour of "headline figures" as John Healey welcomed this morning's latest figures from the economy.
Andrew Griffith, the Shadow Chancellor, said: "These headline figures conceal worrying trends in key sectors as we approach a crucial Budget.
"Construction has now shrunk for four months in a row, with private housebuilding falling fastest. Labour promised to get Britain building, but they are failing.
"The upcoming Budget must cut taxes, reduce red tape and back business, or more of the economy will follow construction into reverse."
John Healey hails 0.1% growth as he looks towards 'fresh hope for the future'
John Healey has hailed 0.1 per cent of growth with the Budget just a fortnight away.
Chancellor John Healey said: "Despite conflicts in the Middle East and Europe hitting people across the world, today’s figures offer more proof of Britain’s resilience in the face of these global shocks.
"This week the IMF have upgraded UK growth for 2026 and said that our fiscal discipline stands out with the lowest deficit in the G7 forecast by 2029.
"Today, I’m discussing with international finance ministers what we can do to limit the impact of global events on the UK.
"My Budget will build on this approach to drive good growth in every postcode, provide some breathing space for today, and offer fresh hope for the future."
UK economy grows just 0.1% ahead of Budget
Britain's economy lost momentum in August, adding to the Chancellor's challenges ahead of the Budget.
Growth slowed to just 0.1 per cent, as experts warned that further tax rises could put the fragile recovery at risk. The increase was down from 0.4 per cent in July, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
However, strong factory production helped the economy avoid the 0.1 per cent decline economists had expected.
The ONS also revised June's growth figure upwards from 0.3 per cent to 0.4 per cent. Across the three months to August, gross domestic product (GDP), which measures economic output, increased by 0.7 per cent.
Britain gives Ukraine £17million to fund critical repairs to the Chernobyl power plant after Russia drone attack
Britain will fund critical repairs to the Chernobyl power plant hit by a Russian drone attack as Andy Burnham looks to bolster support for Ukraine.
The UK will provide £17million to help restore its protective shelter and ventilation, damaged in last year's attack, amid concerns that corrosion could create longer-term environmental and safety risks.
Chancellor John Healey said Labour's commitment to the Ukrainian people was "unshakeable", while Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain will "stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and will do so until they prevail".
The UK’s funding pledge is part of a wider international programme coordinated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, working alongside the Ukrainian government and G7 donors.
Shabana Mahmood threatens to impose Trump-style sanctions on Eritrea in visa row
Shabana Mahmood has threatened to block Eritrean visas in a row over the east African country's migrant return rate.
The Home Secretary has said she would bring in restrictions on Asmara unless it takes back its criminals and illegal migrants, most of whom arrive on small boats.
Eritrean VIPs and diplomats have already been stripped of their fast-track visa access to the UK after the Eritrean government reneged on an agreement to take back migrants refused asylum or convicted of crimes in the UK.
Now, Ms Mahmood has gone one step further, saying she would block visas for all Eritreans if the country refused to accept the return of its nationals with no right to be in the UK.
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