Danny Tommo will appear in court today charged with criminal damage after allegedly slashing a boat in the English Channel with one emergency worker aboard.

The 37-year-old, whose name is Daniel Thomas, was also charged on Thursday evening with failing to disclose the Pin to his phone to police, under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

He was remanded into custody and will appear at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Friday - via videolink.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the charges follow an allegation made to police that "damage had been caused to a boat in the Channel whilst an emergency responder was on board".

On Thursday evening, the Crown Prosecution Service's Chris Derrick said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Daniel Thomas following an investigation by Hampshire Constabulary into an incident on Tuesday September 22.

"Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

"We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial."

Around 400 people gathered outside a police station in Hampshire last night to demand Mr Thomas's release.

Peaceful protesters arrived outside the centre in Basingstoke shortly before 6.30pm, following calls on social media for supporters to assemble.

Many of the crowd, dressed in black, could be seen waving Union Jacks and chanting “free DT” in the streets.

At the protest, a column of around a dozen police officers was positioned between the demonstrators and the entrance to the police investigation centre.

The demonstration was peaceful, although six people were arrested during the evening, police siad.

As darkness fell in Basingstoke, protesters remained outside the police centre.

Some applauded drivers who sounded their horns as they passed, while police continued to monitor the gathering.

Mr Thomas, 37, known as Danny Tommo, had posted video footage on YouTube which appeared to show his arrest.

LATEST ON BRITAIN'S MIGRANT CRISIS:

• Illegal migrant dies in the Channel while trying to cross into Britain after scuffle erupts on boat
• More than 780 illegal migrants arrive in UK in Andy Burnham's worst day for Channel crossings
• Man jailed for two years after throwing bottle and swearing at police during Portsmouth protest

In the footage, an officer told him he was being detained on suspicion of criminal damage “recklessly endangering someone’s life”.

The arrest followed an incident in which the activist appeared to slash the side of a dinghy in the English Channel.

As the founder of Patriot Platform, Mr Thomas has led a wave of protests against Britain's migrant crisis this month in Dover, Portsmouth and Gosport.

Demonstrators have tried to make their voices heard over the sheer scale of illegal immigration to Britain under Labour.

Yesterday saw more than 700 migrants arrive in the UK via the Channel in a single day, the highest daily total recorded so far this year.

The Home Office recorded 781 arrivals in 10 boats, an average of about 78 people per vessel.

The provisional number of people who have crossed the Channel in small boats this year has now reached a staggering 18,565.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command after two boats reached British shores undetected within two days, and described the failure to intercept them as “not acceptable”.

But Education Secretary Lucy Powell claimed authorities simply could not possibly intercept every migrant boat.

The Basingstoke demonstration followed a separate protest in Gosport on Tuesday, when hundreds of anti-migration protesters gathered in fury at the prospect of a boatload of illegal migrants being brought ashore in Hampshire.

That vessel eventually arrived in Dover, Kent, at about 12.30am on Wednesday.

The 51 illegal arrivals on board had refused assistance from a French ship and remained at sea for about 33 hours.

Xi Jinping has been caught laughing as Donald Trump showed him Joe Biden’s Autopen portrait in the White House.

The Chinese leader was clearly amused by the display, which replaces a traditional portrait of the 46th president with the device used to replicate signatures.

Margo Martin, special Assistant and communications advisor to President Trump, shared the clip.

The pair were observing the Presidential Walk of Fame in the White House, which catalogues each US leader in an opulent gold frame.

However, Mr Biden’s portrait is notably replaced in a jibe about his health concerns while in office.

Mr Trump always joked that his predecessor had to use an Autopen to sign.

President Trump drew attention to the picture, tapping his counterpart's arm.

Upon seeing the autopen picture, both President Xi and his delegation erupted in laughter.

WATCH ABOVE

Downing Street advisers and some Labour MPs are privately pushing for an early general election next spring, despite the Prime Minister’s repeated insistence that he has no plans to go to the polls ahead of schedule.

Senior figures close to Andy Burnham are understood to believe that an election in spring could offer Labour its strongest opportunity to secure another parliamentary majority, although the idea remains contested within government.

One senior government source described the views on timing as a “diverse opinion across Government”, while warning that Labour would be “naive not to be contemplating all scenarios”.

The argument for an early contest centres partly on the restrictions imposed by Labour’s 2024 manifesto.

Supporters of an election believe its commitments on taxation, fiscal rules and Britain’s relationship with the European Union have constrained the Government’s room for manoeuvre.

A source told the Telegraph: “There are lots of things we can do within the red lines of the manifesto, but that is not the Prime Minister’s manifesto.

"I am sure there are lots of things Andy would want to include in a manifesto that he wouldn’t be able to do at the minute.”

A second source said some Downing Street advisers and Labour MPs were encouraged by the party’s current two-point lead over Reform UK in polling and wanted to consider whether that advantage could be translated into an electoral mandate.

However, supporters of an early election believe the conflict in the Middle East would need to have eased, energy costs would need to be falling, and the Government would need to demonstrate a series of popular policy achievements, before an election could be seriously contemplated.

A YouGov constituency-level poll published today suggested Labour would remain the largest party if an election were held immediately, but would fall 85 seats short of an overall majority.

The multilevel regression and post-stratification survey, first reported by The Times, projected Labour winning 241 seats, compared with 130 for the Conservatives and 123 for Reform.

While the Liberal Democrats were projected to take 71 seats and the SNP 40.

The findings raise the possibility of Labour needing support from other parties to remain in government, with sources close to SNP leader John Swinney claiming the party could demand a second independence referendum in return for supporting a minority Labour administration.

They said Mr Burnham would have to give Scots the “right to decide their own future” by transferring powers to Holyrood, allowing the Scottish Parliament to determine when a referendum should take place.

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• Andy Burnham handed £14.3bn plan to rewire England's 'failing' housing benefit system
• Nigel Farage accuses Labour of 'losing control' after minister admits not every boat can be stopped
• Kemi Badenoch doubles down on 'common sense' benefits crackdown in GB News grilling

Liberal Democrat sources also failed to rule out a confidence-and-supply arrangement or coalition, although they said the party would not be “distracted by hypotheticals”.

The Conservatives could also benefit politically from an election, by arguing that an improved result demonstrated they had overtaken Reform as the principal party on the Right.

The speculation comes shortly before Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, where Mr Burnham is expected to set out his “10-year plan” for government.

Despite the renewed discussion, the Prime Minister has repeatedly ruled out an early election.

Some allies also fear that losing Labour’s current majority would be interpreted as an electoral setback.

The conference will be followed by Mr Burnham’s first Budget on October 28, with tax rises expected.

During a visit to the United Nations this week, the Prime Minister said he remained “conscious of the extent to which Labour has raised revenue” in its previous two Budgets, while stressing the need to ensure the Government had got “the balance right” between taxation on income and wealth.

A No10 source sought to end speculation over an imminent election, telling The Telegraph: “One person in Downing Street makes the decision and he has ruled out an early election.”

A migrant has been captured on film abandoning a toddler in the water as he scrambled to climb onto an overcrowded dinghy bound for Britain.

Shocking video footage shows a man grabbing a youngster to his chest as he waded towards the black inflatable boat.

Hit with a heavy current, the migrant could be seen letting the child, wearing an orange life vest, bob away.

The youngster is then left floating in the water for several seconds, face up to the sky, until two members of the French lifeboat organisation, the SNSM, rescue the unattended child.

The migrant then hurled himself towards the overcrowded dinghy.

The harrowing footage was captured in the shallow shores of Berck beach, some 30 miles south of Boulogne on Monday.

It is not known whether the migrant, dressed in a hooded anorak and an orange lifejacket, is related to the child.

The video surfaced online on the same day it was revealed an illegal migrant died in the Channel, revealing the harrowing dangers of making the perilous crossing.

The man, who was pronounced dead, was trying to cross into Britain after a scuffle erupted on board a small boat.

Another man, a 29-year-old, who displayed symptoms of hypothermia, was also treated by emergency services.

The man was later taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer hospital but did not require extensive medical intervention, French authorities said.

And, yesterday, French police confirmed another man was discovered dead on Neufchatel-Hardelot beach in northern France.

BRITAIN'S BORDERS CRISIS - READ MORE:

• Around 400 protesters gather outside police station as Danny Tommo charged
• Illegal migrant dies in the Channel while trying to cross into Britain after scuffle erupts on boat
• Suella Braverman blasts 'undetected' small boat crossings as Gosport locals fear more arrivals

Between 2018 and 2025, some 162 people are known to have died attempting small boat crossings in the English Channel, the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford recorded.

The deadliest year on record was 2024, with estimates spanning from 69 to 84 deaths due to the overcrowded vessels unfit for travel.

Today, it was also revealed almost 800 small boat migrants made the perilous journey across the Channel - the highest number since Andy Burnham replaced Sir Keir Starmer.

As a result, the influx of arrivals by small boat this year now stands at 18,565, provisional figures from the Home Office reveal.

This morning, Lucy Powell was grilled by GB News over whether she could "reassure viewers" that small boat migrants who entered the UK illegally this week had been detained.

Ms Powell responded: "Look, the Home Secretary has rightly demanded answers to this, and she's ordered a quick and robust review of what happened here.

"Small boat crossings remain a challenge, but we have seen a significant fall this year in the number of people coming across on small boats, thanks to the range of measures that this Government has brought into effect."

"I'm not the Home Secretary, but you can be sure that all action is being taken and people are detained," she reiterated.

Andy Burnham has been handed a £14.3billion plan to rewire England's "failing" housing benefit system.

A new report by think tank Policy Exchange set out a sweeping set of reforms to axe lifelong social tenancies - while making savings and putting Britons at the top of the queue.

Current spending on housing benefits and housing via Universal Credit is estimated to fall around £37.2billion in 2025/26 and forecast to reach £43.5billion by 2030/31.

Meanwhile, English councils forked out £2.84billion on temporary accommodation in 2024/25, with net costs of £1.43billion after considering subsidies and household contribution.

Despite 1.34million households sitting on the waiting list, a mere 263,000 households received a new social letting across 2024 and 2025.

The think tank's proposed reforms have promised more than one million extra social housing opportunities for Britons over the next 10 years.

As part of that plan, people who "give back", such as those who work, train, care for others or volunteer, are prioritised amid the staggering list of 1.34million households awaiting housing.

Helen Whately MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has backed the proposed plan, urging Mr Burnham to adopt the overhaul.

"Social housing should be a safety net for families in difficult times and a springboard to help them get back on their feet," Ms Whately said.

"But our social housing provision is failing on both counts. There’s a shortage for families who desperately need it and no incentive for people to move on from state-subsidised accommodation.

"The potential for social housing to help people who need to move for work is totally overlooked."

She added the think tank's proposals are "bold", heaping praise on its "spot-on ambition to free up homes for those who desperately need them".

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• Benefits claimants to be banned from spending your money on alcohol under Tory plans

"At a time when taxpayers are being made to stump up for ever more welfare spending, a substantial policy paper which shows a different way to support people is welcome," she finished.

As part of the sweeping overhaul, the plans involve axing life-long social tenancies, and replacing the scheme with a new "Opportunity Route" to support tenants' getting back to work.

They also set out a new "Pay to Stay" system for higher-earners, with households earning more than the national average income paying a greater share of maximum rent.

And, finally, the report proposed cutting benefits for working-age tenants who choose not to work - despite being able to.

Those impacted would have their benefits cut by 20 per cent after two years, which would increase to 40 per cent after another two years.

Jean-André Prager, Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange, author of the report and former welfare adviser to three Prime Ministers, said: "Our welfare state should be able to distinguish between temporary hardship, enduring need and changing circumstances.

"Too often our systems treat circumstances at one point in someone’s life as though they will never change.

"For social housing, that means providing security for those who need it, while recognising that for others it should be a route towards work, mobility and greater independence rather than a home for life.

"For help with housing costs, it means support when it is needed, but greater responsibility over time for working-age claimants who can work.

"That is the argument at the heart of Fairer Housing Support: a strong safety net, but a more dynamic system built around need, contribution and changing circumstances.”

Around 400 people gathered outside a police station in Hampshire this evening to demand the release of anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas, who was arrested after an incident involving a small migrant boat in the English Channel.

The protesters arrived outside the centre in Basingstoke shortly before 6.30pm, following calls on social media for supporters to assemble.

The crowd was predominantly male, with some people carrying Union flags, while many were dressed in black. Chants of “free DT” could be heard as protesters gathered in the road outside the centre.

Daniel Thomas, 37, was charged this evening with criminal damage and failing to disclose the PIN to his phone, Hampshire police said, after he was filmed slashing a boat in the English Channel with a rescue crew member on board.

At the protest objecting to the activist being held in custody, some people wore hoods or face coverings and recorded the demonstration on their mobile phones.

A line of around a dozen police officers was positioned between the protesters and the entrance to the police investigation centre.

The demonstration remained peaceful, although six people were arrested during the evening, according to police.

As darkness fell in Basingstoke, protesters remained outside the police centre.

Some applauded drivers who sounded their horns as they passed, while police continued to monitor the gathering.

Thomas, 37, known as Danny Tommo, had posted video footage on YouTube which appeared to show his arrest.

In the footage, an officer tells him he is being detained on suspicion of criminal damage “recklessly endangering someone’s life”.

The arrest followed an incident in which the activist was filmed allegedly slashing the side of a dinghy in the English Channel while a member of a rescue crew was still on board.

LATEST MIGRANT CRISIS DEVELOPMENTS

• Illegal migrant dies in the Channel while trying to cross into Britain after scuffle erupts on boat
• More than 780 illegal migrants arrive in UK in Andy Burnham's worst day for Channel crossings
• Man jailed for two years after throwing bottle and swearing at police during Portsmouth protest

As the founder of Patriot Platform, Mr Thomas organised and led a wave of anti-migrant protests over the course of this month, in Dover, Portsmouth and - most recently - Gosport.

It comes amid rising tensions over the migrant crisis, with demonstrators attempting to convey the public sentiment around illegal immigration to Andy Burnham's Labour government.

A spokesman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: “A man has been arrested after a boat that had an emergency responder on board was damaged in the English Channel.”

Yesterday saw more than 700 migrants arrive in the UK via the Channel in a single day, the highest daily total recorded so far this year.

The Home Office recorded 781 arrivals in 10 boats, an average of about 78 people per vessel.

The provisional number of people who have crossed the Channel in small boats this year has now reached 18,565.

Despite the increase in recent arrivals, the figure remains 42 per cent lower than at the same point last year, and 26 per cent below the total recorded at this stage in 2024.

Ministers yesterday said government must “push further and harder” to stop the crossings.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command after two boats reached British shores undetected within two days, and described the failure to intercept them as “not acceptable”.

Meawhile, Education Secretary Lucy Powell stressed authorities could not possibly intercept every migrant boat.

The Basingstoke demonstration followed a separate protest in Gosport on Tuesday, when hundreds of anti-migrant protesters gathered after believing a boat carrying asylum seekers from France would be brought ashore there.

That vessel eventually arrived in Dover, Kent, at about 12.30am on Wednesday.

Reports said 51 migrants on board had refused assistance from a French ship and remained at sea for about 33 hours.

Around 400 people gathered outside a police station in Hampshire this evening to demand the release of anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas, who was arrested after an incident involving a small migrant boat in the English Channel.

The protesters arrived outside the centre in Basingstoke shortly before 6.30pm, following calls on social media for supporters to assemble.

The crowd was predominantly male, with some people carrying Union flags, while many were dressed in black.

Chants of “free DT” could be heard as protesters gathered in the road outside the centre.

Some people wore hoods or face coverings and recorded the demonstration on their mobile phones.

A line of around a dozen police officers was positioned between the protesters and the entrance to the police investigation centre.

The demonstration remained peaceful, although six people were arrested during the evening, according to police.

As darkness fell in Basingstoke, protesters remained outside the police centre.

Some applauded drivers who sounded their horns as they passed, while police continued to monitor the gathering.

Thomas, 37, known as Danny Tommo, had posted video footage on YouTube which appeared to show his arrest.

In the footage, an officer tells him he is being detained on suspicion of criminal damage “recklessly endangering someone’s life”.

The arrest followed an incident in which the activist was filmed allegedly slashing the side of a dinghy in the English Channel while a member of a rescue crew was still on board.

LATEST MIGRANT CRISIS DEVELOPMENTS

• Illegal migrant dies in the Channel while trying to cross into Britain after scuffle erupts on boat
• More than 780 illegal migrants arrive in UK in Andy Burnham's worst day for Channel crossings
• Man jailed for two years after throwing bottle and swearing at police during Portsmouth protest

As the founder of Patriot Platform, Mr Thomas organised and led a wave of anti-migrant protests over the course of this month, in Dover, Portsmouth and - most recently - Gosport.

It comes amid rising tensions over the migrant crisis, with demonstrators attempting to convey the public sentiment around illegal immigration to Andy Burnham's Labour government.

A spokesman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: “A man has been arrested after a boat that had an emergency responder on board was damaged in the English Channel.”

Yesterday saw more than 700 migrants arrive in the UK via the Channel in a single day, the highest daily total recorded so far this year.

The Home Office recorded 781 arrivals in 10 boats, an average of about 78 people per vessel.

The provisional number of people who have crossed the Channel in small boats this year has now reached 18,565.

Despite the increase in recent arrivals, the figure remains 42 per cent lower than at the same point last year, and 26 per cent below the total recorded at this stage in 2024.

Ministers yesterday said government must “push further and harder” to stop the crossings.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command after two boats reached British shores undetected within two days, and described the failure to intercept them as “not acceptable”.

Meawhile, Education Secretary Lucy Powell stressed authorities could not possibly intercept every migrant boat.

The Basingstoke demonstration followed a separate protest in Gosport on Tuesday, when hundreds of anti-migrant protesters gathered after believing a boat carrying asylum seekers from France would be brought ashore there.

That vessel eventually arrived in Dover, Kent, at about 12.30am on Wednesday.

Reports said 51 migrants on board had refused assistance from a French ship and remained at sea for about 33 hours.

Simon Jordan has accused Andy Burnham of “leveraging sport for political gain” as the Prime Minister seeks to overturn a ban on alcohol in football stands.

Speaking to GB News, the former Crystal Palace owner and broadcaster described the plans as “populist politics”.

Mr Burnham is seeking to overturn the ban, which covers the top five tiers of English football, from the Premier League down to the National League and was enacted to tackle football hooliganism.

“I don't think it is fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” the Prime Minister and keen Everton fan said in New York.

“I think that legislation dates to an era when football was very different and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.”

Reacting to the news, Mr Jordan said: “Whenever I look at what politicians do, I try to work out why they're doing it, what's behind it, what's the motivation, what's the end game?”

“This, to me, smacks of some of the nonsense that Corbyn trotted out 15 years ago when he talked about football clubs, when they changed hands, should automatically pass on 10 per cent to the supporters as a mechanism.

“This is just populist policies,” the entrepreneur said.

“I intensely dislike sports being used. As much as I understand that geopolitics involves sport, to some extent I dislike it being leveraged for gain and political capital.

“This feels like a politician seeking to gain currency with football fans, who are voters, without really thinking through the sentiments behind it.”

“I think it's nice for Andy to sit in the corporate seats at Everton with his wife and remark about how much he loves football,” Mr Jordan continued.

However, he said that the Prime Minister did not understand the nature of the game and why the ban was introduced.

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• Andy Burnham set to lift beer ban in football stands as he slams unfair 'singling out' of fans
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“There is tribalism I don't see in cricket and in other sports like rugby,” Mr Jordan said.

“I don't see many pitch invasions or tragedy chanting in those sorts of sports because it's a different dynamic, a different attitude.”

“These have to be factored in,” he insisted.

Mr Jordan also rejected arguments that allowing alcohol in football stands would simply replicate the experience at women's football matches, saying the two environments had “completely different” fan bases and attitudes.

On the possibility of allowing fans to drink during matches on a trial basis, Mr Jordan warned that once the policy was introduced, reversing it could prove difficult.

“Once you try something, it's very difficult to row back from it,” he said.

The entrepreneur also questioned whether the proposal would actually benefit football clubs financially, arguing that higher policing and security costs could offset increased beer sales.

“With an average attendance of 2,000 people over 23 games this season, you're going to have to sell an inordinate amount of beer, by the way, whilst also probably increasing your policing costs and your security costs, so it becomes a net zero gain.”

“What about the pubs that are trying to find their way through a very difficult climate?” he asked, arguing that government policies had already hit the hospitality sector.

“No, I'm not for it,” he said. “I think it's for what end? To what end?”

“We've seen football clean itself up. Why take the chance?”

Ant Middleton has accused Portsmouth City Council of being “completely out of touch” after councillors rejected a motion that would have barred the city from being used as a landing site for small boat migrants rescued in the English Channel.

Speaking to GB News, the former SAS officer questioned whether the authority was prioritising those who had broken into Britain over locals' concerns.

Tensions have boiled over across the south coast of England in the past weeks, with protestors assembling at sites where the RNLI deposited migrants before they could be processed and dispersed around the country.

Reform councillor George Madgwick had lodged the proposal, writing that the coastal city was “not a suitable disembarkation point” for rescued migrants and “must not be permitted to become one”.

However, councillors voted 24 to 13 to reject the motion yesterday.

Ahead of the vote, Mr Middleton had spoken in favour of the motion in an impassioned speech at the Portsmouth Guildhall.

“Whose side are they on and whose human rights do they stand up for? The human rights of illegal immigrants coming here on dinghies?” the former SAS man asked, reacting to the defeat on The People’s Channel.

“What about the human rights of our own people? What about the human rights of our own citizens? What about the human rights of our military?” he asked.

Mr Middleton accused the authorities of “facilitating and aiding” what he described as “undocumented illegal criminal activity” taking place “right in front of our eyes”.

The veteran also defended those protesting the landings, arguing that politicians had become disconnected from the reality on the “grassroots”.

“There's such a divide,” Mr Middleton despaired.

“The politicians and the current government live in a bubble. They have no affiliation with what happens at the grassroots, with the residents.”

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• More than 780 illegal migrants arrive in UK in Andy Burnham's worst day for Channel crossings
• Illegal migrant dies in the Channel while trying to cross into Britain after scuffle erupts on small boat
• Man jailed for two years after throwing bottle and swearing at police during anti-migrant Portsmouth protest

“They sit in their office blocks, and they type emails away, and they haven't got a clue what's going on.”

He said residents felt “let down” and “betrayed”, while accusing politicians of failing to explain why the situation was continuing.

“When there are no answers, no one can answer — why is this happening? Why are they allowing this to happen?

“There's zero leadership. There's zero accountability. And there's no one willing to roll up their sleeves and be there for the general public, our citizens, to stand up for them and have a voice for them.”

Turning to his former collegues in the armed forces, Mr Middleton highlighted Portsmouth's “proud” naval tradition.

“Our military are completely demoralised. They should be patrolling the waters.”

The veteran said he had taken an oath “to protect Queen and country” and the citizens within it.

“Now, the Navy and Portsmouth, being the flagship naval city, can do neither,” he said, adding: “They're not protecting their citizens, and they're certainly not protecting their country.”

Donald Trump hailed his relationship with Xi Jinping as he welcomed the Chinese President at the White House.

Speaking ahead of a private meeting, the US leader said Washington and Beijing had made “tremendous strides on the issues facing our two countries”.

"From the time of my first election in 2016, President XI and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people,” Mr Trump said.

He pledged that the US and China would work together to "promote peace and prosperity for decades and decades to come”.

The US leader said he would cooperate with his counterpart on “security, technology and super intelligence”.

“Our two countries do, really, the same thing - and we're very proud of it and the relationship,” Mr Trump said.

Speaking afterwards, President Xi said: “Our two countries can understand each other better and build up mutual trust.”

“We should co-operate with sincerity,” the Chinese leader stressed, adding that he and Mr Trump share “mutual respect” and are in regular contact.

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Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

The BBC's Nick Robinson was scolded by the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary this afternoon over criticism of a fresh Conservative pledge to restrict benefits claimants from splurging on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.

Kemi Badenoch earlier unveiled plans to cut payments to long-term unemployed people by around a third, with cash payments replaced by prepaid “back-to-work cards” blocked from spending on illicit items.

The Tory leader said the welfare system should act as a safety net rather than become a long-term alternative to employment, and argued that people who are able to work should be encouraged into jobs through “tough love”, particularly young people.

In an interview with Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately, Mr Robinson asked: "Isn't it patronising? To tell people how to spend their own money?"

In response, Ms Whately rebutted by arguing the money claimants have access to is in fact not their money, and said: "This is taxpayers' money."

She added: "This is a crucial thing. It's when a taxpayer, somebody who is hard working, struggling to make ends meet - probably at the moment having to scrimp and save to pay their own bills - going without luxury themselves.

"Then if they see somebody on welfare being able to live a life they can't afford to live themselves, that is not fair, this is taxpayers' money."

The minister addressed Mr Robinson's other critique of the system ignoring the consequence of addiction, and instead argued: "One of the worst things you can do for somebody with an addiction is keep giving them cash."

The plans would divide Universal Credit into a full-rate payment and a lower “subsistence allowance”.

Claimants would initially receive the full rate, with their entitlement later determined partly by their work history.

The Conservatives say the reforms could save around £504million annually, and affect about 1.2 million people, with tougher restrictions on sickness benefits, including changes affecting some lower-level mental-health claims.

"The best way to have earnings that they can spend how they like is by working", Ms Whately concluded.

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• Benefits claimants to be banned from spending your money on alcohol under Tory plans
• Kemi Badenoch doubles down on 'common sense' benefits crackdown in GB News grilling
• Kemi Badenoch's 'sticking plaster' welfare crackdown torn apart by Richard Tice: 'Drop in the ocean'

Labour also criticised the prepaid-card system as “unworkable”, arguing that the Conservatives failed to reform the welfare system during their time in government.

Meanwhile, Reform UK has also criticised the proposals, saying they do not go far enough to prevent abuse of the welfare system.

Mrs Badenoch has defended the measures as necessary to reduce welfare dependency and encourage employment.

The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that the UK’s benefits bill could reach £407 billion by 2030/31.

Responding to the Conservative party’s latest welfare plans, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers and businesses will welcome any serious plans to tackle Britain’s growing welfare and worklessness crisis.

“The people paying the bills expect basic principles of fairness from a welfare system, like the expectation of paying in to take out in times of need and claimants doing what they can to get back to work.

“Getting to grips with the welfare system is essential if we are to bring spending under control and get Britain back to work."

Ms Badenoch had earlier warned that Britain's benefits system had become a "lifestyle choice" for those unwilling to work.

She said: “If you can work, you should work. Helping people into work is not punishment. The best welfare is a well-paid job.

“So, we will be tough on those who exploit the system because the current system is unfair to workers, taxpayers and those who truly need support.

“Welfare must be a safety net for those who genuinely need it, not a lifestyle choice for those who can’t be bothered."

Asked how she would tackle those who inevitably would "find a way around" the ban, Mrs Badenoch told GB News that the policy is the "right thing to do".

The BBC's Nick Robinson was scolded by the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary this afternoon over criticism of a fresh Conservative pledge to restrict benefits claimants from splurging on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.

Kemi Badenoch earlier unveiled plans to cut payments to long-term unemployed people by around a third, with cash payments replaced by prepaid “back-to-work cards” blocked from spending on illicit items.

The Tory leader said the welfare system should act as a safety net rather than become a long-term alternative to employment, and argued that people who are able to work should be encouraged into jobs through “tough love”, particularly young people.

In an interview with Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately, Mr Robinson asked: "Isn't it patronising? To tell people how to spend their own money?"

In response, Ms Whately rebutted by arguing the money claimants have access to is in fact not their money, and said: "This is taxpayers' money."

She added: "This is a crucial thing. It's when a taxpayer, somebody who is hard working, struggling to make ends meet - probably at the moment having to scrimp and save to pay their own bills - going without luxury themselves.

"Then if they see somebody on welfare being able to live a life they can't afford to live themselves, that is not fair, this is taxpayers' money."

The minister addressed Mr Robinson's other critique of the system ignoring the consequence of addiction, and instead argued: "One of the worst things you can do for somebody with an addiction is keep giving them cash."

The plans would divide Universal Credit into a full-rate payment and a lower “subsistence allowance”.

Claimants would initially receive the full rate, with their entitlement later determined partly by their work history.

The Conservatives say the reforms could save around £504million annually, and affect about 1.2 million people, with tougher restrictions on sickness benefits, including changes affecting some lower-level mental-health claims.

"The best way to have earnings that they can spend how they like is by working", Ms Whately concluded.

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Labour also criticised the prepaid-card system as “unworkable”, arguing that the Conservatives failed to reform the welfare system during their time in government.

Meanwhile, Reform UK has also criticised the proposals, saying they do not go far enough to prevent abuse of the welfare system.

Mrs Badenoch has defended the measures as necessary to reduce welfare dependency and encourage employment.

The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that the UK’s benefits bill could reach £407 billion by 2030/31.

Responding to the Conservative party’s latest welfare plans, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers and businesses will welcome any serious plans to tackle Britain’s growing welfare and worklessness crisis.

“The people paying the bills expect basic principles of fairness from a welfare system, like the expectation of paying in to take out in times of need and claimants doing what they can to get back to work.

“Getting to grips with the welfare system is essential if we are to bring spending under control and get Britain back to work."

Ms Badenoch had earlier warned that Britain's benefits system had become a "lifestyle choice" for those unwilling to work.

She said: “If you can work, you should work. Helping people into work is not punishment. The best welfare is a well-paid job.

“So, we will be tough on those who exploit the system because the current system is unfair to workers, taxpayers and those who truly need support.

“Welfare must be a safety net for those who genuinely need it, not a lifestyle choice for those who can’t be bothered."

Asked how she would tackle those who inevitably would "find a way around" the ban, Mrs Badenoch told GB News that the policy is the "right thing to do".

Donald Trump has been forced to allow banned "fake news" media outlets back into the White House just minutes before a judge's deadline expires.

Last week, journalists across CNN, MS NOW and Politico were all banned from reporting from the White House grounds.

Mr Trump declared ⁠they "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION ⁠and LIES".

But, earlier today, the judge blocked the US President's ban on the three media brands, which had been imposed last week.

MORE TO FOLLOW...

A man has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to violent disorder after throwing a plastic bottle and swearing at police during an anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth earlier this month.

Del Somerville, 42, was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court this afternoon for his involvement in the demonstration on the Hampshire coast on September 6.

The protest, organised and led by Patriot Platform, saw attendees clash with police over the arrival of a vessel carrying migrants across the Channel.

MORE TO FOLLOW...

Donald Trump hailed his relationship with Xi Jinping as he welcomed the Chinese President at the White House.

Speaking ahead of a private meeting, the US leader said Washington and Beijing had made “tremendous strides on the issues facing our two countries”.

"From the time of my first election in 2016, President XI and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people,” Mr Trump said.

He pledged that the US and China would work together to "promote peace and prosperity for decades and decades to come”.

The US leader said he would cooperate with his counterpart on “security, technology and super intelligence”.

“Our two countries do, really, the same thing - and we're very proud of it and the relationship,” Mr Trump said.

Speaking afterwards, President Xi said: “Our two countries can understand each other better and build up mutual trust.”

“We should co-operate with sincerity,” the Chinese leader stressed, adding that he and Mr Trump share “mutual respect” and are in regular contact.

WATCH ABOVE

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An illegal migrant has died in the Channel while trying to cross into Britain after a scuffle erupted on board a small boat.

Around 70 people were on the beach at Camiers as French authorities descended on the scene.

They were called out over reports of a migrant vessel "in distress", with 30 on board the dinghy as another 40 waited to board.

Gendarmes found an adult male in the water who suffered cardiac arrest.

Another man, a 29-year-old, who displayed symptoms of hypothermia, was also treated by emergency services.

The man was taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer hospital but did not require extensive medical intervention, French authorities said.

MORE TO FOLLOW...

An illegal migrant has died in the Channel while trying to cross into Britain after a scuffle erupted on board a small boat.

Around 70 people were on the beach at Camiers as French authorities descended on the scene.

They were called out over reports of a migrant vessel "in distress".

MORE TO FOLLOW...

Suella Braverman has hit out at the "disgraceful" small boat crossings this week as she warned that Hampshire will see "even more" undetected illegal arrivals.

Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK Education Spokesman argued that there is a "clear answer" to solving the country's illegal migration crisis.

On Tuesday night, hundreds of anti-migrant protesters clashed with police in Gosport as fury broke out over an apparent "escort of invading migrants" from an incoming small boat.

Another illegal migrant crossing took place at Samphire Hoe near Dover on Tuesday, following an initial undetected arrival near Folkestone on Monday.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered Border Security Command to launch an urgent review following the incidents.

Speaking to GB News from Gosport alongside Reform councillor George Madgwick, Mrs Braverman stressed that she has been "arguing for years" that Britain needs to "leave the ECHR".

She said: "It's very clear what needs to be done to solve this crisis and stop the invasion, and it's clear what we've been calling for now for years - we need to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.

"I was the first Conservative minister to say publicly that we needed to leave the ECHR so that we had greater powers to deport and detain."

Highlighting Reform UK's policies on illegal migration, the Reform MP explained: "Reform's policies are very clear, we need to actually use the Royal Navy on the Channel so that we intercept these boats when the French are not helping us and return these boats to France.

"And then, of course, we've got the historic agreement secured just a few weeks ago between Nigel Farage, Jordan Bardella, very likely to be part of the next incoming French Government, which does set out an agreement for French British cooperation on the channel.

"Those are the three elements that you need. You need greater powers on the border to detain and deport. You need interception, a robust border security on the water, and then you need cooperation diplomatically."

Noting this week's undetected small boat arrivals, Mrs Braverman warned that more vessels will try and enter Britain's coastal border, including in Gosport.

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She cautioned: "They will try again, and when the first migrants arrived in Portsmouth a couple of weeks ago, I went down there and I came back to Parliament later that day, and I asked specifically the Home Office minister for a guarantee that if this were to happen again, under no circumstances would an immigration processing centre or accommodation centre be set up in Portsmouth or the Hampshire area.

"I categorically did not get that guarantee from the minister and therefore I'm very concerned and extremely suspicious about the Government's plans."

The Reform MP added: "I fully expect more migrants I'm afraid to be arriving on the southern Hampshire coast in future, probably escorted by Border Force or by RNLI or by the Coast Guard, and that will be under Government orders.

"That is a disgrace, that is not what local people want and it's not what they voted for."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered Border Security Command to launch an urgent review after a series of undetected illegal Channel crossings.

Ms Mahmood made clear that "even one" uncontrolled landing is "one too many".

In a statement, a Home Office spokesman told GB News: "We are making progress with the number of small boat crossings down on last year and June, July and August recording the lowest number of arrivals since 2020.

"But we must go further, which is why we've signed a payment by results deal with the French to put 40 per cent more boots on the ground on French beaches."

Rural Labour MPs have blasted Andy Burnham's cash deal for farmers as an "utter joke" as the Prime Minister braces for a backbench revolt.

Labour was left scrambling to help thousands of farmers who were left empty-handed after missing out on vital funding to help them manage their land on Tuesday.

The money was made available under a post-Brexit scheme but was hoovered up without farmers being warned in advance when applications would open.

In a group chat of Labour MPs, which was leaked to The Sun, a furious row broke out about the Government's handling.

Barrow & Furness MP Michelle Scrogham criticised the scheme’s rollout.

She said: “FFS this is basic organising and shouldn’t be run like sodding festival tickets.”

Cannock Chase MP Josh Newbury agreed that Tory backbencher Alicia Kearns had a “good point” after she accused Whitehall of failing to give farmers sufficient notice of when the scheme would open.

Scarborough & Whitby MP Alison Hume said she had received messages from farmers claiming that “Labour has sold us down the river”.

Meanwhile, Northumberland MP David Smith branded the rollout a “disaster”.

He added: “Disaster disaster disaster. Already getting emails about it. Utter joke, it looks like first come first served.”

The row is the latest flashpoint in Labour’s increasingly difficult relationship with the farming community.

Farmers have been angered by a series of policies since Labour came to power, most notably changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief announced in the 2024 Budget.

The changes, dubbed the “tractor tax” by critics, meant 100 per cent inheritance tax relief would eventually be restricted, prompting thousands of farmers to take to the streets in tractor protests across the country.

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Thousands gathered in London to protest against the plans in November 2024, with further tractor demonstrations following in the months afterwards.

Labour subsequently changed course on the inheritance tax proposals, announcing in December 2025 that the threshold for 100 per cent Agricultural and Business Property Relief would rise from £1million to £2.5million.

Couples can now pass on up to £5million of qualifying agricultural or business assets between them before the new inheritance tax rules apply, while qualifying assets above the threshold receive 50 per cent relief.

However, the latest row centres around the second application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which opened on Tuesday with £233million available to farmers and land managers in England.

The fund was intended to give farmers financial support in return for measures, including improving soil health, protecting waterways and creating space for wildlife.

However, the entire £233million budget was exhausted within hours of the window opening, leaving thousands of farmers unable to secure funding.

Labour managed to win 40 of Britain's most rural seats at the 2024 General Election, up from just three in 2019.

Despite Labour receiving a boost following the release of today's YouGov MRP poll, the mega survey suggested Mr Burnham would hold on to just 16 of its rural seats.

Reform UK would pick up 17 of Labour's rural seats, with the Tories registering seven gains.

Farming Minister Stephen Morgan said: “Farmers will receive almost a third of a billion pounds each year for three years under new SFI26 agreements.

"That’s nearly a billion pounds invested in resilient farming.

He added: “I know some farmers who wanted to join SFI26 will be deeply disappointed not to have secured an agreement during Window 2, particularly given the challenges the sector has faced this year.

“I have heard those concerns and am determined to work closely with farmers as we learn lessons from this year and shape SFI27, including exploring alternatives to a first-come, first-served application process.”

A tax which is currently being dodged by thousands of Britons could raise enough money for the Treasury to pay the salaries of every member in the British Army, a new analysis has revealed.

Missing tobacco taxes could generate £4.3billion - enough to pay all 74,000 soldiers in the British Army - with nearly £1billion to spare, but the UK’s soaring black market deprives the Treasury of these billions, the data suggests.

It comes as the British Army has been ordered to suspend large-scale training exercises to save just £30million.

The Kremlin has also warned it may attack British military targets because of UK support for Ukraine.

Former British Army Captain and bioweapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE slammed the Prime Minister for refusing to commit to funding Britain’s defences and called for a crackdown on black markets costing the Treasury billions, in order to increase defence spending.

He said: "Andy Burnham's refusal to commit to increasing defence spending to at least 3 per cent by 2030 means he's rolling the dice on Britain's security. We risk being seen as a soft target by Putin.

"The Swedes, the Norwegians, the Poles - even the Greeks - are already at 3 per cent, today. Failing to bring Britain up to that level is a gift to the Kremlin.

"What makes matters worse is the Government is leaving tax revenue - that could be spent on vital hardware and troops - uncollected. Illegal tobacco alone is costing the Treasury billions of pounds a year.

The expert added: "For the sake of our national security, we cannot afford to allow black markets across our economy to rob the Treasury's coffers and prevent us from investing in our defence."

Mike Neville, who served in the Royal Military Police in Northern Ireland before becoming a Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector, said: "Andy Burnham won't stump up the money to defend Britain from Putin, because he says social security can't come at the expense of national security.

"Well, if he used common sense and plugged our tobacco tax black hole, he would have billions to play with to ensure the British people are safe.

"Labour's sky-high tobacco duties just drive punters into the arms of criminals who don't pay a penny to the Treasury. It's utter madness.

"Burnham needs to get a grip, tackle the illicit tobacco black hole and fund our defences - or otherwise we'll be sitting ducks."

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The analysis, conducted by leading accountants KPMG, shows the £4.3billon sum could also pay for 796 Challenger II main battle tank upgrades, 119 Apache gunships, six Type 45 Destroyers, or 47 new F-35B Lightning stealth fighter jets for the RAF.

It could also fund 13,437 air-defence missiles, nearly three times the £1.6billion contract former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed last year to arm Ukraine with over 5,000 of them.

Meanwhile, the tobacco tax gap could rise further due to hikes by Labour next month.

Tobacco duty will see a one-off uplift of £2.20 per 100 cigarettes and 50g of tobacco, alongside the annual tobacco escalator uplift of RPI + 2 per cent.

As a result, a 50g pouch of rolling tobacco is expected to cost more than £52.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who served in the Scots Guards, launched a fresh attack on Labour’s tax policy.

He said: "If the Government keeps taxing and taxing people, they end up receiving lower revenues as people go onto the black market - and they lose their tax. This will end up as a tax own goal."

KPMG estimates one in three cigarettes in the UK are already illicit, an increase of 70 per cent in five years, with 7.3 billion illicit cigarettes consumed in the UK last year.

The decision to cut Army training exercises has caused concern in defence circles that the Prime Minister will fail to increase defence spending to three per cent of GDP.

Mr Burnham is under significant pressure from multiple sides to commit to the raise by 2030.

GB News has approached the Treasury for comment.

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Retirees rushed to take tax-free cash from their pensions last year, withdrawing £22.1billion in lump sums amid fears the Treasury would slash the allowance.

New figures from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) show tax-free withdrawals jumped by more than a fifth in the year to March 2026. That follows a 63 per cent surge the previous year, to £18.3billion.

Total pension withdrawals hit a record £91.2billion, up 22 per cent, even though the number of pension pots accessed for the first time rose by only seven per cent.

The period covers the run-up to Rachel Reeves's second Budget in November 2025, when there was intense speculation that the then-Chancellor would cut the 25 per cent tax-free entitlement, capped at £268,275.

In the end, the allowance was left untouched, but pension savings are set to become liable for inheritance tax (IHT) from next April.

Jemma Slingo, pensions and investment specialist at Fidelity International, said: "People worried the Treasury would cut the amount you could access tax free from a pension, prompting hasty decision-making.

"Taking tax-free cash just because you're scared the rules might change could hurt your retirement in the long-term, especially if you have no plan for how to use it.

"Money held inside a pension can grow free from UK income tax and capital gains tax. Once it is withdrawn, it loses that protection.

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"Savers who simply leave the proceeds sitting in a bank account also risk having their spending power eroded by inflation."

The data also shows that 64.5 per cent of people entering drawdown took a tax-free lump sum, up from 61.9 per cent the previous year.

IHT tax is also likely to be driving withdrawals. For deaths on or after April 6, 2027, most unused pension funds and death benefits will count towards a person's estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes for the first time.

The change became law when the Finance Act 2026 received Royal Assent in March. Estates above the £325,000 nil-rate band, plus up to £175,000 for a main residence, face a 40 per cent charge.

Where the saver dies aged 75 or over, beneficiaries may also pay income tax on what they draw from an inherited pension, meaning the combined bill could exceed 60 per cent.

Pensions left to a spouse or civil partner remain exempt. The reforms do not affect the right to take a tax-free lump sum.

The FCA figures show pots worth £250,000 or more made up 8.6 per cent of those accessed last year, up from 4.8 per cent two years ago.

The Fidelity director added: "Some wealthy retirees are keen to gift money from their pensions while they are still alive, in a bid to lower their family's eventual IHT bill."

Despite the sums involved, fewer than a third of savers (30.8 per cent) took regulated financial advice before accessing their pension for the first time.

The figures will increase pressure on Chancellor John Healey to rule out changes to pension tax before his first Budget next month.

Ms Slingo added: "Retirement planning is measured in decades, not Budget cycles. Confidence in retirement depends on people being able to plan for the long term, and constant fear of rule changes makes that much harder."

The Chair of Barnham Parish Council has declared their village is "not suitable" to house asylum seekers as locals protest plans to house more than 1,250 in their village.

Speaking to GB News, John Bauer argued that their village, which has a population of fewer than 600 people, has a "number of reasons" why it shouldn't be housing asylum seekers.

Following a "fact-finding mission" visit to the Oxfordshire village of Piddington, Barnham in Suffolk may become the second English community to hold a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK.

Having held a meeting on Tuesday, Mr Bauer told GB News Reporter Charlie Peters that he was "impressed" with the scale of Piddington's campaign against plans for asylum accommodation there.

He said: "We were going there on a fact-finding mission, and I've been following the progress of the Piddington campaign, so we wanted to go there to see exactly what they've done and what we could learn from it.

"Our two villages have so much in common, and we felt that we might well be able to get something useful from them.

"We're also impressed with the scale of the publicity they've been able to achieve, and obviously, the referendum is one of those things that certainly helped to elevate their profile."

Mr Bauer highlighted that although the community acknowledges that asylum seekers "need to go somewhere", he argued that the site at RAF Barnham is "not suitable" to house them.

He said: "People here are seeking asylum, and yes, they do need to go somewhere, but they need to go somewhere suitable. This isn't suitable.

"There's a whole number of reasons why Barnham should not be a site of housing asylum seekers. There's ecological reasons, we've got a site of special scientific interest. We have a special protection area and a special area of conservation.

"It's an area where the species, the Stone-curlew, is protected under international law. And if you have Stone-curlew in an area, there should be no development within a buffer zone of 1500m of a nesting site, and we have them all around this area."

The council chair made clear: "It's a very small village, we're less than 600 people, and if you put 1,250 asylum seekers there, all male, undocumented, there is natural concern over this within the village."

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Offering his view on the asylum accommodation, Mr Brown told GB News that the Government "does not understand the strain we are under" as a small English village.

He said: "I think people don't understand the strain the village has been under, and going to Piddington made me feel a lot better actually, because that was also a small village.

"A lot of people didn't know about it, and it's not only made national news, it's made international news. And I think if we can do something similar here, we actually can start building some momentum for everybody."

Echoing the concerns of local residents, Mr Brown said that housing double their population in the village is a "safety issue" for many living there.

He said: "I think this is really about a safety issue. We've got young children here, we've got elderly people, and obviously women here.

"This is a safe community, you go out in the evening, walk your dog, you don't feel I'm threatened. Suddenly 1,200 men turning up, I think naturally, you worry about people, and I think that's a natural instinct anyone would have."

A Home Office spokesman has previously said of asylum accommodation: "The Government is closing every asylum hotel, saving taxpayers over £1billion on asylum support since the election.

"We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, including former military sites which are designed to be self-contained to reduce impact on the local community."

Over 780 illegal migrants have arrived in the UK in a record-breaking day for English Channel crossings.

A total of 781 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the waterway.

The cumulative number of arrivals by small boats in 2026 now stands at 18,565, according to provisional figures from the Home Office.

This is down 42 per cent on the equivalent point last year, when the total stood at 32,188.

The latest figures showed boats arrived on Wednesday, which suggests an average of 78 people per boat.

More to follow...

Lucy Powell has refused to confirm whether the illegal migrants who entered the UK on 'undetected' small boats this week have all been detained.

Speaking to GB News, the Education Secretary was asked twice whether she can "guarantee" People's Channel viewers that the illegal migrants had been caught.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered Border Security Command to launch an urgent review after a series of undetected illegal Channel crossings.

Ms Mahmood made clear that "even one” uncontrolled landing is "one too many".

The latest illegal migrant crossing took place at Samphire Hoe between Dover and Folkestone on Tuesday, following an initial undetected arrival near Folkestone on Monday.

Discussing the crossings, Ms Powell was asked by GB News whether she can "reassure viewers" that "all of the migrants on those two small boats have now been detained, and there are none on the loose".

Ms Powell responded: "Look, the Home Secretary has rightly demanded answers to this, and she's ordered a quick and robust review of what happened here.

"Small boat crossings remain a challenge, but we have seen a significant fall this year in the number of people coming across on small boats, thanks to the range of measures that this Government has brought into effect."

Defending Labour's efforts to tackle illegal migration, she argued: "And it does require a huge range of measures to do that, from dealing with things at source, from tackling people coming here in the first place, from the pull factors, from having strong border security, from having the tough powers that we need to detain to deport people.

"All of these things which this Government has done over the last two years, are starting to bear fruit, with significant falls in the number of small boat crossings and a significant fall in the number of asylum hotels and accommodation around the country as well.

"But more needs to be done and we'll continue to do it."

Pushing Ms Powell a second time, GB News Political Correspondent Olivia Utley asked the Labour minister: "I'm not the Home Secretary, but you can be sure that all action is being taken and people are detained.

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"That is what happens, and people who have no right to be here are removed as well. We've seen a record number of removals of people being deported too, so we are absolutely on this."

Ms Powell made clear: "Of course, there has been a breach here in boats coming across that haven't been detected, and that's why the Home Secretary is taking swift action to find out what's gone wrong here and make sure it doesn't happen again."

In total, 21 people were detained on Tuesday after the arrival at Samphire Hoe, with five detained on Monday in Folkestone.

Before Monday, no small boat arrivals to the UK coast without an escort had been officially recorded since September 6 2025.

Last year’s undetected crossing was the only other incident recorded since the Home Office began keeping data in 2023.

Reacting to the small boat crossings, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told GB News that she would "resurrect the Rwanda plan" to ensure a "strong deterrent" is in place.

She said: "We need a deterrent so the people know that if they get here, they will be sent if not back to where they came from, sent to a place like Rwanda - even just talking about that plan dropped the numbers.

"Labour don't really want to stop the boats. Andy Burnham talked about dispersing people all around the country, and that's why Piddington has this problem."

Kemi Badenoch has told GB News that she now calls Reform UK leader Nigel Farage 'grumpy grandpa' following his latest attack on the Tories.

Speaking to GB News Breakfast, the Tory leader said: "I went to Piddington to talk about an immigration issue. I did interviews where I said this is not just an immigration issue, this is also a women's issue, because putting all those men into a village that's only got 130 women is dangerous.

"But in one tweet, I left out the word 'just', and when people pointed it out, I said, 'oh, actually, I forgot to say just'. Is that something for Nigel Farage to get out of bed for? I don't think so.

"But we call him Grumpy Grandpa in the office now, because he just comes out grumpy. He didn't need to attack that, but he wanted to because I think he has a lot of problems and he deals with that by attacking Conservatives.

"Maybe he should focus on attacking the Labour Party, they're the ones who are in Government and they're taking us backwards. We are just focused on sorting out our plans, showing people that we are about common sense and that we've got plans to fix this country. That's what I want them to see."

WATCH ABOVE.

Chancellor John Healey is considering accepting a reduced fiscal buffer in next month's Budget, a move that would allow the Government to scale back planned tax increases on October 28.

Discussions between the Treasury and Downing Street are under way about setting headroom below the £23.6billion level that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast in March.

Under former Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the Labour Government set strict fiscal rules to calm bond markets and reduce borrowing.

However, those close to the discussions claim ministers are considering easing their adherence to said rules, The Financial Times reports.

Under current fiscal rules, everyday Government expenditure needs to be matched by tax receipts by 2029-30. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) had projected that target would be met with £23.6billion to spare.

Gilt market participants have suggested the buffer could be trimmed to roughly £14billion without triggering a bond market sell-off.

During a visit to New York this week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged the political sensitivity of further revenue-raising measures.

He said: "We have had two Budgets in 2024 and 2025 and we have to be conscious of the extent to which we have raised revenue."

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The Prime Minister's remarks came as the Government grapples with a widening fiscal gap caused by the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict.

When pressed on whether Labour had found the right equilibrium between levies on income and wealth, Mr Burnham responded: "We have to make sure we get the balance right."

He declined to elaborate further on specific fiscal plans, adding: "These are matters for the Budget."

His comments suggest Downing Street is wary of imposing additional burdens on taxpayers for a third consecutive year.

James Carter, co-head of fixed income at W1M, told The FT: "A reduction in headroom would be uncomfortable given the Government's stated commitment to maintaining it.

"But the bigger question is whether investors believe the fiscal strategy behind it."

Britain's borrowing costs have surged dramatically amid a worldwide bond sell-off triggered by the conflict.

Gilt yields stood at just above 4.2 per cent before the war began but have climbed past 5.4 per cent this month, reaching their highest point since 2007.

British taxpayers could be forced to pay a bill 40 per cent higher for the UK's Channel security arrangement with France when it comes up for renewal, according to the chairman of a French parliamentary commission examining the beach patrol agreements.

Sebastien Huyghe, who heads the inquiry, warned that demands from Paris could surge to more than €1billion, roughly £860million, should thousands of migrants continue attempting the perilous crossing.

The caution comes just months after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood struck a new three-year deal worth £662million with President Emmanuel Macron in April.

Mr Huyghe doubted Downing Street would accept such escalating costs.

He said: "I am not sure the British would agree to increase funding by 40 per cent every three years simply because their country is attractive.

"There is a consensus within this committee that the current situation is unsatisfactory and cannot be allowed to continue for years to come."

His remarks suggest growing unease on the French side about a funding model that has already expanded significantly.

The April deal represents a substantial jump from the £479million agreement signed under the previous Conservative Government in 2023.

The commission's research revealed that approximately one third of all migrants entering the EU illegally ultimately set their sights on Britain.

That equates to around 60,000 of an estimated 170,000 last year.

He said: "We have learnt that 71 per cent of those who manage to cross the English Channel or the North Sea are subsequently granted refugee status, which is a huge figure.

"I understand why they are willing to take every risk."

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Mr Huyghe additionally called on the French Government to revisit the Le Touquet agreement.

The treaty, two decades old, allows both nations to conduct border checks before passengers leave their respective countries.

Over 82,000 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boat crossings since the Labour Party took power in 2024.

So far in 2026, about 17,480 people have reached the UK by small boat, a 46 per cent reduction from the same period last year.

Of that total, some 5,011 arrivals have occurred since Andy Burnham took office as Prime Minister.

The English Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

Labour claims its deal with the French prevented 185 small boat crossing events during the first three months of the deal being signed.

According to Home Office data, this intervention stopped roughly 61 per cent of identified small boat launch attempts on the French coast, directly preventing more than 4,300 individual crossing attempts from reaching British waters

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has doubled down on her plans to crack down on benefits payments in a fiery GB News grilling.

Speaking to Breakfast hosts Ellie Costello and Mark White, Mrs Badenoch argued that the policy is "common sense" and "tough love" for young Britons.

Mrs Badenoch has set out plans to block long-term jobless benefits claimants from spending their welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.

Britain's long-term unemployed could see their benefits slashed by a third under a Conservative Government.

Challenged on the policy, Mrs Badenoch was asked whether the move was "unfairly targeting young Britons" who are receiving benefits.

The Tory leader said: "Let's just remember what benefits are for - they are a safety net, not a lifestyle. There are currently 1.1 million people who are assessed as being able to work who are out of work, that's the cohort.

"And what we're saying is that after six months, we're going to be pushing you into a job. That's most important for young people because they're the ones who, if they start off on benefits early, they may never, ever get a job.

"They need to get that experience. So this is not punishment, this is tough love. It's a really, really important thing to remember that the best welfare is a good-paying job."

Pushing back on Mrs Badenoch, Mark argued: "But if you don't have businesses incentivised to be able to take young people because of being clobbered by all kinds of taxes, how on earth are you going to get them to take on these youngsters?"

The Tory leader agreed: "I 100 per cent agree with you. It's not Government that creates jobs, whatever Andy Burnham says, all he can do is make more politicians and more civil servants. What job creation requires is businesses free to do what it needs.

"That means lower taxes, that means scrapping regulations that are actually hammering business. We've said that Labour's Employment Rights Act, which is actually stopping people from hiring, is just going to be gutted. Most of the things in that act are actually harming job creation."

Mrs Badenoch stressed that she is doing "everything she can" to make sure there is work for Britons across the retail and hospitality sectors.

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• Kemi Badenoch's 'sticking plaster' welfare crackdown torn apart by Richard Tice: 'Drop in the ocean'
• Mega poll reveals Reform overtaken by Tories as PM faces 'rainbow coalition' path to No10
• Benefits claimants to be banned from spending your money on alcohol under Tory plans

She told GB News: "Just this week, I announced tax-free shopping for tourists. Lots of people said, why are you doing that? It's because if those people come here, they spend money that's not in our economy. And a lot of retailers are saying that they're not seeing the visitors.

"So we're doing everything we can. It's not just about benefits, it's also about making sure that there is work for people to go to. Retail and hospitality creates so many jobs, so we want to back that sector."

Quizzing Mrs Badenoch on the decision to block purchases of alcohol and cigarettes, the Tory leader was grilled on whether she is "infantilising" those on universal credit.

She said: "It's not their money, it's taxpayers' money, this is the thing that we keep forgetting. The state is not telling any of us how to spend the money we earn. But if people are being given taxpayers' money to survive, then we don't want them gambling with it.

"We know that alcoholism and being out of work actually correlates, so we want to get people into work. It's not just about the money. The money is important, but it is also about what kind of country we are.

"We are a nation of people who work hard, who get on in life. We're not a nation of people who just decide that they don't want to work."

Asked how she would tackle those who inevitably would "find a way around" the ban, Mrs Badenoch told GB News that the policy is the "right thing to do".

She concluded: "We know some people will do that, but we can't design policy in such a way that we don't do anything because the toughest people to reach won't abide by it.

"We believe that this is the right thing to do. It's common sense. I want people to see the Conservative Party bringing common sense back. It doesn't mean everything will be easy, it means we're going to have to make some difficult decisions. But it is not right that some people work so hard and get very little, and others are not working at all and are getting their lives paid for by the state when they can work."

A Reform-linked think tank is backing state pension means-testing as part of a "radical" proposal to shake up Britain's tax and benefits system.

The Centre for a Better Britain (CFABB) has published recommendations for future Governments targeting public spending, which would see £75billion in tax cuts for high earners.

According to the think tank, it is drawing on what it said was "the experience and expertise of senior figures from across financial services, business, economics and politics".

The organisation called for Bank of England senior leaders, including Governor Andrew Bailey, to have their remuneration tied to meeting the two per cent inflation target, with pay docked if the goal is missed.

Furthermore, the report described its vision as "a programme of radical reform to Britain's financial system and tax code, designed ultimately to raise productivity and living standards".

The CFABB argued that inheritance tax (IHT) and capital gains tax (CGT) should be scrapped entirely, contending that these levies drive people to shift their wealth overseas.

Stamp duty land tax and stamp duty on share transactions would likewise be eliminated under the proposals.

The think tank branded the current 25 per cent corporation tax rate "internationally uncompetitive" and recommended a phased reduction to 15 per cent over an eight-year period.

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Together, these measures would amount to approximately £75billion in tax cuts, a package that critics would note overwhelmingly favours those with the greatest assets and highest incomes.

However, the report acknowledged that significant reductions in public expenditure would be necessary to offset the fiscal impact, while notably failing to set out precisely where spending cuts would fall.

To replace the state pension, which Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) forecasts suggest will cost £146.1billion in 2025 to 2026, the CFABB proposed giving every newborn a £1,000 "lifetime investment account".

Individuals would then pay up to 15 per cent of their earnings into this personal retirement fund throughout their working lives. Under the plan, the existing state pension would be retained only as a means-tested safety net for the most disadvantaged.

The think tank also floated closing the public service pension scheme to newly recruited teachers and civil servants as a further cost-saving measure.

Despite the enormous fiscal implications of its proposals, the report conspicuously stopped short of detailing how the required spending reductions would be achieved in practice.

The CFABB formally came into being last year, having previously operated under the name Resolute 1850 before securing fresh funding and relaunching.

Since its launch, ith Nigel Farage’s party, but the report’s authors insisted that their work has not yet been reviewed by the party.

Danny Tommo has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life, according to a video he posted.

It comes just days after the 37-year-old right-wing activist, whose real name is Daniel Thomas, live-streamed footage of an interaction with a migrant dinghy in the English Channel.

After the incident, police launched an investigation, in which a migrant dinghy was allegedly cut open with a knife while a French coastguard official remained aboard the vessel.

The allegations against Mr Thomas have not yet been tested in court.

A new online video captured the moment authorities detained him.

Video uploaded to his YouTube channel shows unmarked police vehicles boxing in the car Mr Thomas was travelling in at a BP petrol station.

As officers closed in, Mr Thomas stepped out of the vehicle and made an emotional plea.

He can be heard saying in the footage: "Yep, okay, okay, if I can just speak to my kids, I'm trying to say goodbye to my kids."

One of the arresting officers responded: "At this moment in time, we have information to suggest that you have been involved in criminal damage."

A second officer was then heard saying "let's go, let's go" as Mr Thomas was handcuffed and led away from the scene.

The dinghy at the centre of the investigation had set off from a beach in Normandy carrying approximately 50 migrants.

Upon reaching the UK search and rescue zone, two RNLI lifeboats intercepted the vessel, and its passengers were moved onto a UK Border Force craft heading for Dover.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Police launch probe into Danny Tommo after activist seen slashing dinghy in English Channel
• Shabana Mahmood orders urgent review into undetected illegal Channel crossings
• Three illegal migrants arrested after woman 'gang-raped on dinghy' in international waters

Mr Thomas had been broadcasting live from a yellow speedboat to an audience of more than 15,000 viewers as the transfer took place.

Footage from the stream shows him approaching the emptied inflatable and producing a small blade before cutting into its rubber sides.

Although no migrants remained on the dinghy at that point, a French official from the coastguard vessel Abeille Liberté was reportedly still present on board.

Tommy Robinson responded to the detention by posting on X, claiming his ally had been arrested for "criminal damage" and "recklessly endangering someone's life."

Mr Robinson framed the incident as Mr Thomas "trying to stop the invasion of our country."

The precise circumstances surrounding the Channel confrontation and the accusations levelled at Mr Thomas have yet to be established before a court.

Police have so far declined to publicly confirm the arrest or release any additional information regarding their inquiry.

Mr Thomas, a close associate of Tommy Robinson, has in recent weeks helped organise anti-migrant protests along England's southern coastline, which drew hundreds of masked demonstrators.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said: "We are aware of a video circulating online relating to damage being caused to a boat in the English Channel on the afternoon of September 22, and we are conducting enquiries into the matter."

GB News has reached out to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary for confirmation of the arrest and any further updates.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Kemi Badenoch's newly announced benefits crackdown has received a scathing assessment from Richard Tice.

Speaking to GB News, the Deputy Leader of Reform UK declared the move a "modest Lib Dem-style sticking plaster" on an issue which "they created in the first place".

Under the new plans from the Tory leader, long-term jobless benefits claimants could be banned from spending their welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.

Mrs Badenoch says the changes would also see Universal Credit payments slashed for those who haven't made consistent contributions to the system, calling it currently "unfair to workers".

Offering his verdict of the plan, Mr Tice told GB News argued that the "gaping wound" that is the welfare system was something "the Tories created in the first place".

He said: "The truth is that this is a sort of modest Lib Dem-style sticking plaster to the gaping wound that the Tories created in the first place.

"Welfare soared under the previous Tory regime, and the idea that they're now the people who are going to stop this and solve this, it's ridiculous."

Mr Tice stressed that amid predictions that the benefits bill is set to balloon to a staggering £407billion by 2031, Mrs Badenoch's planned reforms are merely a "drop in the ocean".

He said: "Not only have they not actually released their costings, but these numbers are literally a drop in the ocean compared to the tens of billions from Reforms plans.

"Including, by the way, which the Tories will not do, are plans including not paying any welfare to overseas nationals, some £15billion a year.

"For the Tories, this is just sort of soggy Lib Dem stuff, the sort of thing you might have expected from Ed Davey earlier this week. It's ridiculous."

Pushing back on the deputy Reform leader, host Mark White argued that the measures announced by the Tories are "showing willing" to cut the welfare bill, unlike Labour.

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• Benefits claimants to be banned from spending your money on alcohol under Tory plans
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Mr Tice responded: "Well, they're showing showing a tiny toe, because they realise that we've led the way on this. That's the reality. But the problem is that many in their parliamentary Conservative Party, they just don't believe in this sort of crackdown.

"They believe in all this soggy, gooey stuff. The reality is work is a great thing, and if you can work, you should work and you must work. And they just won't do what's necessary to make a proper indent into the colossal and growing benefits bill."

The Reform deputy made clear: "People are sick and tired of all the talk, they want action. And the real action is when Reform says we're not going to pay benefits to overseas nationals because the clues in the name, work.

"We were told that we needed immigration for people to come to work to fill the jobs. Well, in which case, if you're not going to work, then why are you here? It's as simple as that. That's the really big number that needs to be gripped."

Taking aim at the type of benefits being awarded to Britons, Mr Tice argued that "mild anxiety" is not a reason to be paid benefits by the system.

He said: "Things like mild anxiety, many people get that. I'm sure occasionally when you start on your morning breakfast show, you have mild anxiety.

"The reality is we all have a bad Monday. That doesn't mean you can get up and and phone the doctor and claim that you need to go on benefits.

"It means, actually, that you've got to crack on and and get out. And the best way to cure anxiety is to get busy, get engaging with people, socialising with work colleagues and have that sense of satisfaction, and that's what Reform is all about."

Shabana Mahmood has told Border Security Command to launch a review after a series of undetected illegal Channel crossings.

The Home Secretary, said "even one” uncontrolled landing is "one too many". at Samphire Hoe, between Dover and Folkestone, on Tuesday, and near Folkestone on Monday.

She added it was "not acceptable" small boats were crossing without being detected.

GB News initially understood a third undetected crossing took place at around 9pm last night, however this has now been denied by the Home Office.

In total, 21 people were detained on Tuesday after the arrival at Samphire Hoe, with five detained on Monday. The Home Secretary described the situation as "not acceptable".

Thousands of migrants crossing the Channel are usually brought to shore by Border Security Command or RNLI boats.

Before Monday, no small boat arrivals to the UK coast without an escort had been officially recorded since September 6 2025. Uncontrolled landings are so rare that last year’s incident was the only other one recorded since the Home Office began keeping data in 2023.

This week's set of undetected crossings has raised concern among security and border experts.

Tony Smith, a former director general of Border Force, told The Telegraph: "To avoid our controls altogether does worry me as it poses a much greater security risk than the ones we are picking up in the Channel.

"It may be that they are criminals. They may be people previously deported from the UK. If they were picked up on a small boat as normal, they would likely be detained or prosecuted if they were returnees or wanted.

"It is definitely a different business model [from the people smuggling gangs] to the one we are used to."

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "It is a free for all, the Labour Government has no idea who is coming into the country. The only way to stop Channel crossings is to deport anyone who arrives illegally to their home country or a safe third country."

Some 17,784 migrants have arrived after crossing the Channel by boat so far this year, including 5,315 since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.

The total so far for 2026 is down 45 per cent on the same point last year.

Meanwhile, a man believed to be a migrant was found dead on a beach in northern France on Wednesday, French authorities have said.

Local outlets reported the man thought to be in his twenties was found hours after a small boat departed for the UK and while other migrants hoping to make the journey remained in the nearby dunes.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Labour argues migrant criminals' rights outweigh public interest amid claims of data 'cover-up'
• Hundreds of anti-migration protesters face police in Gosport amid fury over 'police escorts to invading men'
• Labour branded 'disgraceful' over plan to house 150 asylum seekers in heart of city already overrun with migrants

Last night, two women and a man were charged with assaulting an emergency worker following protests in Gosport as a small boat carrying migrants was rescued at sea.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said they had sent officers to the town on Tuesday to police a peaceful protest. As a result, six people were arrested.

Shannon Dodds, 32, of Gosport, has been charged with two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

Sally Pearson, 31, also from Gosport, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence.

Both have been remanded into custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Toby Matthews, 33, of Forton Road, Gosport, has been charged with common assault of an emergency worker. He has been bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on November 9.

A US federal judge has ordered Donald Trump to immediately restore White House press credentials for CNN, MS Now and Politico.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order today, finding that the three news organisations were "likely to succeed" in demonstrating that the White House had failed to exercise "adequate due process" when it stripped their journalists of access.

The District of Columbia court's ruling means reporters from all three outlets must be allowed back into the building while the legal challenge continues.

President Trump announced the ban on 18 September, taking to social media to declare that the three outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES".

Reporters from CNN, MS Now and Politico were then denied White House hard passes and refused entry to the building.

The networks also withheld television footage of the president's visit to New York in response to the restrictions.

On Monday, the three organisations launched a joint legal challenge, describing the ban as a "blatant violation" of their First Amendment right to press freedom.

Their lawsuit accused Donald Trump and senior officials of mounting a direct assault on media access.

Judge Kelly dismissed the administration's attempt to frame the ban as a national security measure, observing that President Trump himself had made no reference to such concerns when he first announced the restrictions.

The court found the argument lacked credible evidence, it said in its ruling: "The record lacks factual support for Defendants' contention that the revocation of Plaintiffs' hard passes will in fact protect national security or that national security will be endangered if the Court orders their passes reinstated while this litigation proceeds."

While stopping short of a definitive judgment, Mr Kelly indicated he would look to established First Amendment case law in reaching his final decision.

He questioned whether the administration had fulfilled its legal obligations before removing the outlets' credentials.

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• Donald Trump faces 'fake news' lawsuit after banning three broadcasters from White House
• Donald Trump bans three 'fake news' media outlets from White House and fires warning shot at BBC
• Donald Trump told Keir Starmer 'your policies are stupid' just months before ex-PM left No10

The White House has not yet responded to the ruling, though the president's legal team may opt to mount a further challenge.

Judge Kelly drew on established legal precedent in reaching his decision, citing two earlier cases, one of which reached the Supreme Court, that affirmed a journalist's right to a hearing before their press credentials could be withdrawn.

The temporary restraining order will remain in force for a fortnight, during which time the court will continue to examine the broader constitutional questions raised by the lawsuit.

Justice Department lawyers had argued in proceedings that the banned outlets had published false information posing a threat to national security.

The three organisations initially hit back, saying they were pursuing litigation "to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports".

In a joint statement, they added: "Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists' credentials because it objected to our reporting.

"Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference."

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

A violent drug dealer who fled prison while a second set of inmates were freed under Labour’s early release scheme is still at large more than 700 days after absconding from HMP Kirkham, GB News can exclusively reveal.

Elliot Riley, 33, who had been sentenced to spend eight years behind bars following a major drug-busting operation by Greater Manchester Police, was spotted climbing over a barbed-wire-topped fence at the category D prison live on GB News on October 22, 2024.

More than 1,100 inmates were released from prison on the same day, with prisoners who were banged up for five years or more being released after serving just 40 per cent of their sentences.

A Prison Service spokesman told GB News: "We are working with the police to recapture this individual, and we urge anyone with information to go to the police.

“Prisoners who abscond face strict punishments, including a return to a closed prison and being prevented from moving to open conditions for up to two years.”

The People’s Channel understands inmates only move into open jails after a careful risk assessment and will be returned to a closed category prison if there is evidence of an increased risk.

Staff at HMP Kirkham and officers from Lancashire Police launched an immediate investigation after Riley absconded.

However, a police source revealed the ongoing search will primarily revolve around circulating information across forces of interest to the suspect.

“They will simply be sharing information and doing some routine checks,” they said.

“But the truth of the matter is that I think he’s only going to get caught if he commits another crime or makes his whereabouts known by going public.”

Lancashire Police was unable to provide GB News with an update on Riley's whereabouts.

Riley, who was found guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs and possession of criminal possession, was sentenced in April 2024.

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He was sentenced following a drugs sting by Greater Manchester Police alongside 15 other men.

The group was responsible for the movement of at least 75 kilograms of high-purity cocaine, which had an estimated street value of £75million.

When officers attempted to arrest Riley, the 33-year-old attempted to flee their clutches in his underwear.

Riley, who is from Middleton in Greater Manchester, sustained several minor injuries, including small cuts on his hands, when he tried to destroy two mobile phones, which were later recovered by the police.

A dozen inmates escaped from prison in the 12 months to March 2025, with two still at large 30 days later.

Over the same period, 57 inmates had absconded from lower-category prisons, including Riley.

More than 260 inmates were also released in error in the 12 months to March 2025.

However, GB News can reveal that Riley remains unlawfully at large just one week before Labour is due to release a further 700 inmates on October 1.

A second tranche of 650 convicts will be free to walk the streets on October 13.

Prisons in England and Wales are running at 97 per cent capacity, with the latest Ministry of Justice figures showing the number of available spaces across the male prison estate at its lowest this year, with about 1,500 free spaces.

But Riley’s case has fuelled fresh claims that Labour’s early-release scheme is descending into chaos.

Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf added: "The early release scheme has been nothing short of catastrophic, and Labour’s latest changes have yet to even begin.

"If a criminal can escape prison and evade capture for 700 days, what confidence does that give victims and the British public that dangerous criminals released early will be properly monitored and managed?"

Andy Burnham has already been forced to U-turn on his initial early release plan after more than one million Britons signed a petition opposing the release of two of PC Andrew Harper's killers.

The 28-year-old Thames Valley Police officer was responding to a burglary in Berkshire in 2019 when he was dragged along a road by a vehicle as three teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft.

GB News also revealed that four rape gang leaders who were jailed for a combined total of 45 years were released under the scheme.

The Prime Minister later insisted he understood the "anguish" of victims and "listened to what they were saying".

Mr Burnham told MPs: "I came in and asked for changes to the early release scheme, and we excluded rape, grooming, and child sex offences."

But the Prime Minister has been warned that Labour's plan risks creating a "doom loop" where the criminal justice system goes from "crisis to crisis".

Claire Waxman, the victim's commissioner, said earlier this month: "I am still seeking assurance that the Government has a credible answer to how it will manage more offenders in the community while managing risk, protecting victims and ensuring agencies have the capacity to act quickly when warning signs emerge."

Reform UK would win fewer seats than both Labour and the Conservatives if a general election were held today, a bombshell mega poll has revealed.

A new large-scale seat-by-seat YouGov poll projects a hung parliament, with Labour emerging as the largest party on 241 seats, followed by the Conservatives on 130 and Reform on 123.

The Conservatives would improve on their 2024 result, while Reform’s projected total represents a huge fall from YouGov’s previous MRP last September, when Farage’s party was forecast to win 311 seats.

The poll suggests Reform’s support has been hit by the emergence of Restore Britain, the rival right-wing party led by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe, as well as splits in the right-of-centre vote.

Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, who left the Conservatives to join Reform, would both lose their seats back to their former party under the projection.

Even if Reform and the Conservatives agreed an electoral pact, the poll suggests they would still fall short of the seats needed to form a majority government.

Labour would also struggle to govern alone, with the party projected to lose 162 of the 403 seats it currently holds and requiring support from other parties to command a majority.

The Liberal Democrats are projected to win 71 seats, while the SNP would surge to 40 and Plaid Cymru to 15, with the Greens taking nine.

YouGov’s Patrick English said Britain’s fragmented political landscape was hitting the right harder, with competing parties splitting the vote in marginal constituencies and allowing Labour to retain seats it might otherwise lose.

The poll, based on 14,000 respondents surveyed between August 23 and September 18, provides a snapshot of the current political landscape rather than a forecast of the eventual election result.

FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…

A third migrant boat has reached Britain's waters undetected overnight, GB News believes, despite the Home Secretary's pledge to launch an urgent review into the new trend.

Shabana Mahmood told Border Security Command to launch the review after the illegal arrivals at Samphire Hoe, between Dover and Folkestone, on Tuesday, and near Folkestone on Monday.

In total, 21 people were detained on Tuesday after the arrival at Samphire Hoe, with five detained on Monday.

The Home Secretary described the situation as "not acceptable".

The thousands of migrants crossing the Channel are usually brought to shore by Border Security Command or RNLI boats.

Before Monday, no small boat arrivals to the UK coast without an escort had been officially recorded since September 6 2025.

Uncontrolled landings are so rare that last year’s incident was the only other one recorded since the Home Office began keeping data in 2023.

This week's trio of undetected crossings has raised concern among security and border experts.

Tony Smith, a former director general of Border Force, told The Telegraph: "To avoid our controls altogether does worry me as it poses a much greater security risk than the ones we are picking up in the Channel.

"It may be that they are criminals. They may be people previously deported from the UK. If they were picked up on a small boat as normal, they would likely be detained or prosecuted if they were returnees or wanted.

"It is definitely a different business model [from the people smuggling gangs] to the one we are used to."

More to follow...

A third migrant boat has reached Britain undetected overnight, GB News believes, despite the Home Secretary's pledge to launch an urgent review into the new trend.

Shabana Mahmood told Border Security Command to launch the review after the illegal arrivals at Samphire Hoe, between Dover and Folkestone, on Tuesday, and near Folkestone on Monday.

In total, 21 people were detained on Tuesday after the arrival at Samphire Hoe, with five detained on Monday.

More to follow...

Britain has hit back at Argentina after Javier Milei threatened the Falkland Islands yet again in a frothing UN rant.

The Argentinian President took to the lectern at the United Nations to declare sovereignty over the Falklands was a matter of "national cause".

He warned the world his country could "take matters into our own hands" if the multinational assembly did not take action.

When Argentina last attempted to invade the islands in 1982, it surrendered in just 74 days.

Now, in a statement issued by the UK's UN ambassador's office, Britain has reinforced its sovereignty over the islands and condemned the Argentines' "inappropriate" behaviour.

It said: "Argentina regularly refers to United Nations resolutions, and regional diplomatic statements, calling for sovereignty negotiations over the Falkland Islands.

"However, these do not modify or dilute the obligation of nations to respect the legally binding right of self-determination."

It added: "Argentina continues to deny that this fundamental human right applies to the people of the Falkland Islands, and actively seeks opportunities in international fora to assert its sovereignty claim.

"This behaviour is wholly incompatible with the principles established in the United Nations Charter and is not the behaviour we expect of a democracy."

In a 2013 referendum with 92 per cent turnout, 99.8 per cent of residents voted to maintain its current status as a British Overseas Territory.

Mr Milei has accused Britain of violating UN resolutions over development a Sea Lion, an offshore oil site set to be developed by an Israeli-British joint venture.

The Government said General Assembly Resolution 2065, which urged Britain and the Argentina to find a peaceful resolution over the Falkland Islands and UN Resolution 31/49 do not "prohibit economic development or displace the Islanders' right of self-determination".

"Ongoing efforts to obstruct and harass international companies involved in Falkland Islands hydrocarbons, and indeed other Falkland Island industries, are a wholly unacceptable attempt to exercise extra-territorial jurisdiction, and have no justification whatsoever in international law," the office of Dame Sarah MacIntosh, Britain's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, added.

The Conservatives and Reform UK also hit out at Mr Milei's furious outburst in New York - and both have urged Labour to step up.

Writing for GB News, former Home Secretary Priti Patel said his remarks were a "violation of our values", but blamed Labour's weakness for emboldening Mr Milei.

LATEST ON THE FALKLANDS:

• Argentinian veterans rally against Javier Milei despite his calls to take 'matters into own hands'
• Andy Burnham issues defiant Falklands message to Argentina ahead of UN general assembly address
• Ed Miliband to issue final ruling on oil drilling off Falklands after refusing to open up North Sea

She said: "Since Labour came to office two years ago, our standing in the world has fallen.

"They have seen how Keir Starmer capitulated to Mauritius over the surrender of the Chagos Islands and how Andy Burnham has abandoned Israel."

She added: "Instead of flying the Union Flag proudly, Labour ministers are travelling the world waving the white flag of surrender."

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said that now was the time to reinforce the islands.

He said: "We must strengthen the garrison on the Falklands to make it too costly for Argentina to even consider military intervention. Now is the time to act."

The islands were first landed on by English explorers more than a century before Argentina existed as an independent state.

They had no permanent population before the British arrived.

Argentina claimes that when it gained independence from Spain in the early 1800s, it automatically inherited the islands too.

It also claims the Royal Navy expelled the Argentine population of the islands in 1833. In fact, the civilians were allowed to stay.

Britain did order a military garrison to leave - though the soldiers had only been there for three months, during which time they had mutinied, murdered their commanding officer and terrorised the local community.

Benefits claimants will be banned from spending taxpayer cash on alcohol, gambling and cigarettes under plans unveiled by Kemi Badenoch.

Announcing the proposals, the Tory leader vowed to crack down on those who "exploit" Britain's generous benefits system.

Ms Badenoch's plans will see those who have been long-term unemployed have their benefits slashed by a third, with cash payments being swapped with “back-to-work cards”.

The pre-paid cards will block purchases on items such as scratch cards, cigarettes and alcohol.

Announcing the plans, the Tory leader warned that Britain's benefits system had become a "lifestyle choice" for those unwilling to work.

She said: “If you can work, you should work. Helping people into work is not punishment. The best welfare is a well-paid job.

“So, we will be tough on those who exploit the system because the current system is unfair to workers, taxpayers and those who truly need support.

“Welfare must be a safety net for those who genuinely need it, not a lifestyle choice for those who can’t be bothered.”

According to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), Britain's benefits bill is set to balloon to a staggering £407billion by 2030/31 - roughly 11 per cent of GDP.

However, Chancellor John Healey is set to swerve slashing welfare in next month's Budget, with working Britons readying up to be slapped with an even heavier tax burden.

The Tories have insisted their proposals would save around £504million per year, impacting around 1.2 million people on unemployment benefits.

Mrs Badenoch's plans will see Universal Credit split into the full-rate - currently handed to all claimants - and a "subsistence allowance”, which is just less than a third lower.

Those receiving the full rate will be allowed to receive the welfare payments in cash and will not be subject to the pre-paid cards.

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An unemployed person will be able to receive a a year of benefits at the full rate for every two years they have worked, while all fresh claimants will be handed the full allowance for the first six months before being assessed on how much they have contributed to the system.

The Tory reforms mirror food stamps used in the US - which block recipients from spending their welfare on booze, cigarettes or hot food.

Mrs Badenoch has also outlined plans to toughen up on those receiving sickness benefits, with “low-level” mental health claims to be blocked.

However, Labour has slammed proposals to ban unemployed Britons from spending their benefits on booze as "unworkable".

A spokesman for the party said: “The Conservatives had 14 years to fix our welfare system but they completely failed to make meaningful reforms.

“Now they are proposing an unworkable new card scheme, which does nothing to tackle the numbers of people their system left signed off and written off.”

Reform UK also attacked the plans, insisting they are not stringent enough and would pave the way to “let the permanently unemployed go on claiming forever”.

The party's Treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick, said: “The Tories left more people on long-term benefits and benefit fraud at record levels.

"Now they offer a spending card that won’t even put a dent in the coming £400billion bill."

He added: "It’s a sticking plaster on a wound they opened."

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Three men have been arrested on suspicion of gang-raping a woman aboard a migrant boat attempting to break into Europe last week.

The suspects - alleged 21, 25 and 30 - were taken into custody by Spanish police after a woman reported the attack after reaching the shores of Lanzarote.

The ordeal is said to have occurred on September 16 during a chaotic voyage which left over a dozen people dead.

After the woman reported the rape, a man who travelled on the vessel came forward to officers, saying he also witnessed the alleged attack take place.

The suspected gang rape came on the same day that 65 migrants had to be rescued from a rubber dinghy while making the crossing into Europe.

Three bodies were recovered from the water during the rescue operation, with the vessel's passengers believed to have been sub-Saharan Africans who had departed from northern Morocco.

After reaching Lanzarote, the rescued migrants claimed that a further 10 people may have drowned during the journey.

They also claimed to have ran out of water after spending around five days on the raft.

NGOs who tended to the migrants following their arrival in Spain said the number of those missing could be as high as 14.

It is believed that a number of migrants fell overboard after panic erupted when the Spanish coastguard boats approached the dinghy.

On Wednesday, a National Police spokesman said: "National Police officers in Arrecife have arrested three men aged 21, 25 and 30 as alleged perpetrators of a multiple sexual assault committed against a woman during the crossing of a small boat bound for Lanzarote.

"The incident took place on September 16 at sea, in what are believed to be international waters.

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"After the vessel arrived at the port of Arrecife, the victim informed rescue services that she had been sexually assaulted by several men during the crossing.

"Given her serious state of health, the necessary resources were activated to provide her with initial assistance and she subsequently received specialized care as a victim at police premises."

The Spanish force confirmed that officers from its Family and Women's Assistance Unit were spearheading the probe.

The spokesman continued: "A witness from the same vessel was located who stated that he had witnessed the incident.

"The three detainees have been remanded to prison following their appearance in court."

Spanish authorities have yet to reveal the nationalities of the men suspected of carrying out the alleged horror attack.

Just weeks ago, more than 80 people died after a canoe carrying migrants was found adrift at sea near the Canary Islands.

The small boat set off in early August with 128 occupants and was rescued on the morning of September 3 with only 45 survivors and five bodies remaining on board.

Survivors, who were brought on to land at the Arguineguín dock, told the Red Cross they left Gambia "with more than one hundred people".

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Andy Burnham is set to lift a ban on drinking alcohol in the stands at football matches in an attack on the "singling out" of fans.

The Prime Minister previously voiced his frustration over the ban, before he entered Downing Street, that fans of top-flight football clubs were barred from drinking within sight of the pitch.

He said: "I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination."

Under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985, drinking in view of the pitch is prohibited in England and Wales.

The rule applies across the top five tiers of English football, from the Premier League down to the National League.

The law was introduced to help tackle football hooliganism, also banning alcohol consumption on buses and trains transporting fans to matches.

Although a 2021 fan-led review of football governance recommended the legislation be re-examined, police chiefs at the time strongly opposed any relaxation of the rules.

Fans in other sports, along with supporters of lower-league football clubs, are not subject to the same restrictions.

Speaking to reporters while being at the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Burnham said it was "not fair" for football supporters to be treated differently.

He said: "I don't think it is fair for football fans to be singled out in that way and I made that point.

"I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.

"There are different ways it could be done. It could happen on a trial basis. But, I'm not going to back away from what has been a long held view of mine.

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"I don't see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently."

Mr Burnham had previously described the drinking ban as "wrong" earlier this year.

The lifelong Everton supporter said "I think we need to look at that" after noticing rugby league fans were permitted to drink while watching matches at his football club's home ground.

He made the comments after attending Hill Dickinson Stadium with friends, including Liverpool city region mayor Mr Steve Rotheram, to watch Leigh Leopards defeat Warrington Wolves.

Both men were pictured holding pints during the match.

Mr Burnham said: "I've only got one question, though, about this day today. How come these lads can do that in my seat here when we can't do that at an Everton home game?"

The comments have been welcomed by supporters' groups, though police have responded more cautiously.

Mr Tom Greatrex, chair of the Football Supporters Association, said: "The FSA has always argued that it's unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match — especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league."

"Many clubs are in favour as well. Women's Super League and ran a successful pilot, meaning fans can now drink in the stands at many grounds, while the European Football League has long supported a trial.

"We welcome the Prime Minister's comments and totally agree that legislation is outdated and deserves to be reviewed. We look forward to being part of that consultation."

However, the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), which advises and trains police forces across England and Wales, warned any change to the law would be "irresponsible".

A spokesman said: "The UKFPU would welcome a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss his views and explain the challenges these proposed changes would bring to policing and the safety of staff and fans at football games."

They added other sports "simply do not see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does", warning alcohol "often plays a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour".

"It would be incredibly rash to make fundamental changes without a full examination of the evidence and meaningful consultation with police practitioners who have the expertise in this area," they concluded.

In Scotland, alcohol has been banned from football grounds entirely, aside from corporate hospitality areas, since crowd trouble at the 1980 Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers.

Plans to lift the ban ahead of the EUFA Euro 2020 were also opposed by police at the time.

The dangers linked to alcohol and football violence were highlighted in 2012, when Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was assaulted on the pitch by an intoxicated Leeds United fan who had invaded the pitch.

The court heard the supporter had consumed several cans of lager and 0.75 litres of vodka before the match, followed by a further seven to 10 pints of cider.

He was jailed for 16 weeks and handed a six-year football banning order.

Sir Tony Blair has urged Labour to rejoin the European Union within a decade and overturn the votes of millions of Britons.

The former Prime Minister's think tank has said the UK needs a "new approach" to post-Brexit relations.

Sir Tony, who left office in 2007, said Andy Burnham's Government should enter a "structured formal relationship" where "everything is on the table", adding that Canada's invitation to become an associate member showed a "newfound flexibility" in relations between the EU and non-member states.

But the former Labour leader cautioned against a return to a straight membership of the single market and customs union, and warned against an "inching towards" Europe as a result of public opinion in a slight to Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.

Mr Burnham, meanwhile, declined to rule out committing to rejoining the EU in Labour's next manifesto, saying it was an issue "for another day".

The report argues Britain rejoining a "significantly reformed" EU could form a superpower that could challenge the US and China.

It reads: "Britain should play a leading role in shaping a more powerful Europe. The necessary reforms have already been identified – not least in Mario Draghi’s report on EU competitiveness – but implementing them remains the challenge.

"For Britain to be part of that effort, it must show political commitment to Europe. This can be achieved by setting a clear, public objective to rejoin the EU within a decade – subject to internal EU reform."

The think tank insists Britain should not rejoin the current EU, but instead urges Mr Burnham's Government to collaborate with the bloc to reform it.

Author of the report, TBI’s Director, Tone Langengen, said: "We are not saying Britain should rejoin without a referendum, and we do not argue that in our paper.

"Our position is clear – Britain shouldn't rejoin the EU as it is. We've set out a future ambition to rejoin that’s conditional on Britain and Europe both getting stronger first, then on the EU being reformed.

"Nor are we making an argument about the eurozone."

In a foreword to the report entitled "Beyond Leave and Remain: A Path to Rejoining a Reformed Europe", Sir Tony said: "The red lines which we drew in 2016 are not the same as 2026.

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"We need a new approach which makes sense of the world as it has changed in this decade, and which treats our future relationship in Europe not as a question about whether Britain 'reverses' Brexit but about whether we can secure a modern relationship with Europe which is in our national interest today."

He added: "There is no point in inching towards Europe as we feel what British public opinion might accommodate. We should be clear that we want back into a formal relationship with the EU. But it must be a Europe on a credible path to reform, a Europe of nation states, a Europe capable of being a genuine global power."

Sir Tony suggested the UK should continue to "co-operate with the EU where it is in our mutual interest to do so" while showing it is prepared to remain independent.

The report recommends London and Brussels work together on issues including AI, cyber-resilience, defence and energy.

Britain should be careful not to join a Europe which is "pursuing the wrong policies in areas like technology innovation" and unwilling to make "vital reforms" for Europe's future, the former Prime Minister added in his foreword.

Proposed EU-UK collaboration points include the development of the North Sea as a "strategic energy basin" and a rebuilding of Europe's nuclear ecosystem.

Tensions over the bloc's Made In Europe scheme have delayed a planned summit between the EU and UK, originally set to be held in July before the resignation of Sir Keir.

Mr Burnham met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the UN General Assembly.

The Prime Minister told reporters he made the argument the UK was "not your enemies here... we are not the problem".

The report added: "The politics that shaped the Brexit debate belong to a different strategic era. Today’s geopolitical reality demands a different approach: one focused not on institutional questions alone, but on how Europe builds the collective capability needed to compete and act strategically."

The European Union has been accused of hypocrisy after member states began pursuing plans for deportation centres outside the bloc, despite previously condemning Britain’s Rwanda scheme as "extreme".

The latest developments have been highlighted by the Facts4EU think-tank, working with Stand for Our Sovereignty and The Campaign for an Independent Britain, which argue that the EU is undergoing a major shift in its approach to migration.

The research claims European governments are increasingly considering policies resembling the approach adopted by the UK’s former Conservative government, which sought to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing.

Britain’s policy was fiercely criticised by European officials and campaigners, who raised concerns over its legality and treatment of asylum seekers.

Now, several European capitals are exploring the use of third countries to process or receive migrants whose asylum claims have failed.

A coalition involving Denmark, Germany, Austria, Greece and the Netherlands has emerged as a key force behind the proposals.

Known as the “Copenhagen Five”, the countries are seeking to establish operational third-country deportation centres outside European soil by the end of 2027.

Danish Immigration Minister Morten Bødskov said: “We have agreed on concrete steps towards a deal with a non-European Union country on return facilities.

“Our expectation is to be ready to send rejected asylum seekers to deportation centres located outside the European Union by the end of 2027.”

Rwanda and Uganda are reportedly among the countries being considered for potential arrangements.

The developments coincide with the implementation of the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which came into force on June 12.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also adopted tougher language on border enforcement.

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In her State of the Union speech, she said: “Europe's commitment to its values and fundamental rights remains, but there will be no compromise on border protection, as Europeans determine who enters the union and under what conditions, not smugglers and traffickers.”

Meanwhile, EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner said during the launch of the new system: “On 12 June we will not be cutting the ribbon. We will be launching the operational system.

“We are putting our European house in order. This creates the conditions for us to decide who can come to Europe, who can stay, and who must leave.”

However, the tougher approach has exposed deep divisions between EU member states.

Under the bloc’s mandatory “solidarity” system, countries that refuse to participate in the relocation of migrants from frontline states such as Greece and Italy can face a financial contribution of €20,000 (£17,200) per migrant.

Poland and Hungary have opposed the arrangements, while the Netherlands has sought an opt-out from EU migration rules, according to the Facts4EU analysis.

Former UK Secretary of State Lord Redwood said: “The EU is deeply divided on migration, with countries under democratic pressure over weak borders pressing for a Rwanda style solution.

“They want offshore processing of asylum claims and somewhere to deport illegals.

“If Brussels continues to block solutions or insist on complex rules that make them impractical, the populists will sweep to power in more countries.

"If Brussels hides behind their human rights laws, favouring the rights of migrants over the concerns of citizens, they will badly misjudge the mood in Europe.

"More populist governments will take control of their own borders in the absence of EU control.

“They will refuse to pay the fines Brussels is imposing if they do not take enough of the migrants the EU lets in.

"The UK voted for Brexit in part to take control of our borders. When will the government use the freedoms it has to do so?”

The proposed European system differs in legal and practical respects from Britain’s former Rwanda policy and EU institutions continue to insist that migration controls must comply with fundamental rights and European and international law.

The debate is nevertheless likely to intensify pressure on Brussels, as member states grapple with competing demands for stronger border controls, national sovereignty and common EU rules.

Andy Burnham is set to lift the beer ban in football stadiums as he has criticised unfair "singling out" of fans.

The Prime Minister previously voiced his frustration over the ban, before he entered Downing Street, that fans of top-flight football clubs were barred from drinking within sight of the pitch.

He said: "I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination."

Under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985, drinking in view of the pitch is prohibited in England and Wales.

The rule applies across the top five tiers of English football, from the Premier League down to the National League.

The law was introduced to help tackle football hooliganism, also banning alcohol consumption on buses and trains transporting fans to matches.

Although a 2021 fan-led review of football governance recommended the legislation be re-examined, police chiefs at the time strongly opposed any relaxation of the rules.

Fans in other sports, along with supporters of lower-league football clubs, are not subject to the same restrictions.

Speaking to reporters while being at the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Burnham said it was "not fair" for football supporters to be treated differently.

He said: "I don't think it is fair for football fans to be singled out in that way and I made that point.

"I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.

"There are different ways it could be done. It could happen on a trial basis. But, I'm not going to back away from what has been a long held view of mine.

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"I don't see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently."

Mr Burnham had previously described the drinking ban as "wrong" earlier this year.

The lifelong Everton supporter said "I think we need to look at that" after noticing rugby league fans were permitted to drink while watching matches at his football club's home ground.

He made the comments after attending Hill Dickinson Stadium with friends, including Liverpool city region mayor Mr Steve Rotheram, to watch Leigh Leopards defeat Warrington Wolves.

Both men were pictured holding pints during the match.

Mr Burnham said: "I've only got one question, though, about this day today. How come these lads can do that in my seat here when we can't do that at an Everton home game?"

The comments have been welcomed by supporters' groups, though police have responded more cautiously.

Mr Tom Greatrex, chair of the Football Supporters Association, said: "The FSA has always argued that it's unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match — especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league."

"Many clubs are in favour as well. Women's Super League and ran a successful pilot, meaning fans can now drink in the stands at many grounds, while the European Football League has long supported a trial.

"We welcome the Prime Minister's comments and totally agree that legislation is outdated and deserves to be reviewed. We look forward to being part of that consultation."

However, the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), which advises and trains police forces across England and Wales, warned any change to the law would be "irresponsible".

A spokesman said: "The UKFPU would welcome a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss his views and explain the challenges these proposed changes would bring to policing and the safety of staff and fans at football games."

They added other sports "simply do not see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does", warning alcohol "often plays a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour".

"It would be incredibly rash to make fundamental changes without a full examination of the evidence and meaningful consultation with police practitioners who have the expertise in this area," they concluded.

In Scotland, alcohol has been banned from football grounds entirely, aside from corporate hospitality areas, since crowd trouble at the 1980 Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers.

Plans to lift the ban ahead of the EUFA Euro 2020 were also opposed by police at the time.

The dangers linked to alcohol and football violence were highlighted in 2012, when Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was assaulted on the pitch by an intoxicated Leeds United fan who had invaded the pitch.

The court heard the supporter had consumed several cans of lager and 0.75 litres of vodka before the match, followed by a further seven to 10 pints of cider.

He was jailed for 16 weeks and handed a six-year football banning order.

I was in the room yesterday when Donald Trump and Andy Burnham finally met face-to-face.

As I suspected, on a personal level, these two men can easily build a rapport.

They are both natural political performers, both understand television and the importance of a good line and both have built their careers around speaking to people who feel that the political establishment has stopped listening to them.

They both pride themselves on being outside of the political ‘establishment’ having defied expectations imposed upon them by the worlds in which they grew up.

Neither is from a politically dynastic family and must have had many pinch-themselves moments during their rise to national leadership.

So the mood was friendly and warm in the small press conference, not least because they had already spoken behind-the-scenes for about an hour.

I asked the PM if he was more comfortable in Manchester or Manhattan in a nod to Starmer’s answer about preferring Davos to Westminster – a statement which cast him as a globalist rather than a patriot – and from which Starmer never really recovered.

Trump had spoken early in the morning – a brutally honest attack on globalism, mass migration, net-zero and trans-rights.

Even if you don’t agree with this administration on everything, you know exactly where they stand.

They never fail to exhibit absolute confidence in their plan for a stronger, richer, healthier America built on self-sufficiency and peace-through-strength.

So it is vital to look beyond the style of their chit-chat to the substance of their ambitions – for that is where the bromance starts to be doomed to failure.

Burnham was not on stage at UNGA until the end of the day; the auditorium was almost empty due to delegates dining and networking all across New York.

The symbolism was profound – is anybody listening to our formally great nation in 2026? And if not, why?

It didn’t seem to be an issue that troubled Andy Burnham who competently delivered a speech about positivity and a new age of Britain that he would develop over the next 10 years.

Some people will find it hard to accept that a PM voted in by 20,000 people in Makerfield has a mandate to govern for 10 more weeks, never mind 10 years but let’s put that to one side.

This speech was the clearest indication yet of Burnham’s vision. And I was struck by how deeply his political instincts are at odds with those of the man he had just spent time with.

His speech was a celebration of internationalism, multilateral institutions, climate action, deeper European cooperation and global regulation of emerging technology.

It ticked every single box for a WEF world in which you will “own nothing and be happy.”

By contrast, Trump's speech was a manifesto for national sovereignty, energy independence, American power and the right of individual nations to decide their own futures.

Nowhere was that contrast more striking than on the subject of Russia.

Earlier in the day, I asked Trump about the increasingly provocative rhetoric coming from Britain about Vladimir Putin and Russia.

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His answer was strikingly blunt: the rhetoric had become “too tough” and Britain needed to be “a little bit careful”.

Trump has consistently resisted the idea that a confrontation with Russia is inevitable and, in his UN speech, said he believed peace between Russia and Ukraine could come “more quickly than people understand”.

On the Russia–Ukraine war, Trump said: “We’re working very closely with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, and we will get that one done,” and referenced the “Russia, Russia, Russia hoax” as shorthand for what he regards as a hysterical or politically motivated narrative about Russia.

Then Burnham walked onto the UN stage and delivered a speech in which Russia was a central villain in his account of what is going wrong in Britain and the wider West.

He accused Moscow of an “industrial-scale assault” on Britain and its allies, describing Russian use of bots, fake websites and forged newspaper articles and alleging that the Kremlin spends £1.3billion interfering in British elections and is currently amplifying “far-right narratives”.

Presumably he has access to their accounts otherwise, where could such a figure possibly have come from?

Gob-smackingly, Burnham connected Russian disinformation campaigns to the social problems facing young Britons.

He argued that the one million young people who are not in employment, education or training are particularly vulnerable to Russian influence that exploits division, despair and disengagement.

Anybody who knows a disillusioned and unmotivated young person will tell you this is due to the Conservatives and Keir rather than the Kremlin!

It is due to an economy with no growth; hospitality businesses who can’t afford to employ youngsters; resentment about migrants who are handed easy options and an education system that has told every child they are special, when in fact, many just need to get a job and stop believing they are a victim.

Of course, Russia conducts information operations; that is a legitimate subject for governments to take seriously.

But are we really supposed to believe that Britain's political discontent and general malaise is due to Vladimir Putin? That sounded rather like a PM coercing us into seeing Putin as the ultimate adversary.

It begs the question as to why? To prepare us for war perhaps? Wars are excellent at resetting troubled economies; emboldening flailing governments and ushering in deeper levels of control over skittish populations tired of their leaders.

I have no evidence that such a plan is in process and I dearly hope that it is not.

But watching Trump play down the fearmongering over Russia whilst Burnham and EU leaders wring their hands about its apparent inevitability is concerning.

Trump said that he and Burnham had already discussed migration behind closed doors and then kindly conceded that it is a ‘global’ problem shared by many countries rather than his usual depiction of us as a basket-case with open borders.

In his UN speech, he said: “There is no human right to illegal immigration, but there is a right to remain a sovereign nation, and we want to remain a sovereign nation, and so should you.”

That sentence goes a long way towards explaining the philosophical difference between these two men.

Burnham's instinct is to look at the forces creating insecurity and ask how government and international institutions can manage them.

Trump's instinct is to begin with the sovereignty of the nation itself and ask what it needs to do to protect its citizens.

Burnham's instinct to defend the underdog is, in human terms, entirely understandable and is undoubtedly one of the qualities that has made him such an effective politician.

But there is a question that follows from that instinct which matters enormously when you are talking about the future of Britain: at what point does defending the underdog become a governing philosophy in which the state is constantly expected to intervene, regulate and redistribute, even when doing so may conflict with the interests of the country as a whole?

That difference was obvious on climate change.

Burnham told the UN that the climate crisis is now a “national security threat”, pointing to this summer's extreme heat, wildfires and flooding as evidence.

He presented the clean-energy transition as an opportunity for Britain to create jobs, attract investment and rebuild its industrial base.

He has repeatedly described what he calls radical environmentalism as a threat to energy production and economic growth.

In Trump's worldview, environmental restrictions are not simply another set of sensible safeguards; they can become a form of economic self-sabotage.

The disagreement over AI is even more revealing. Burnham wants international principles and standards; he told the UN that fundamental decisions about artificial intelligence are too important to be left to chance or to technology companies alone.

He wants elected governments to have the decisive say and intends to make AI governance a central issue of Britain's G20 presidency.

Trump detests this sort of international regulation and considers it a potential threat to American technological dominance.

He had earlier told the UN that the United States “totally rejects” a “globalist scheme” to control AI and argued that America should encourage the technology rather than rein it in.

He even suggested that the term “artificial intelligence” should be replaced by “superintelligence”, or “SI”, because he dislikes the implication that the intelligence is somehow fake.

And then there was Europe. Burnham went out of his way to promise deeper ties with the European Union.

Trump, in his own UN speech, barely engaged with the EU at all, speaking instead about Europe principally through the prism of Nato, security and the fact that the USA protects those countries.

Burnham sees Britain as an “honest broker”, able to work between America, Europe, China and emerging powers.

That is a familiar British diplomatic ambition, but it is a long way from Trump's instinctive suspicion of the globalised political establishment and his determination to put American sovereignty first.

This is why I suspect the relationship between Trump and Burnham will be fascinating to watch and is doomed to fail.

The personal chemistry is genuine; I have no reason to think otherwise.

But political relationships are ultimately tested not by whether two people enjoy dinner together, but by what happens when their world-view completely diverts.

The differences are already sitting there in black and white.

Trump wants nations to control their own borders. Burnham wants Britain to deepen its relationship with Europe.

Trump believes the warnings surrounding climate change have become part of a wider culture of exaggerated catastrophe.

Burnham calls climate change a national-security threat. Trump wants America to dominate AI and rejects global attempts to control it.

Burnham wants international rules and elected governments firmly in charge. Trump thinks the rhetoric around Russia has become too aggressive.

Burnham put Russian information warfare at the heart of his explanation of some of Britain's social and political problems.

It is difficult to imagine a more obvious collection of fault lines.

Both men believe they are speaking for ordinary people against an establishment that has failed them.

The difference is what they think that establishment should do about it.

Burnham believes in a bigger State, collective action, international institutions, regulation and protecting people from forces beyond their control.

Trump believes in sovereignty, national interest, economic power and giving countries the freedom to decide their own destiny.

They may laugh at similar jokes; they may discover that their personal stories and political instincts have more in common than the labels attached to them would suggest.

But after watching them both on the UN stage, I am convinced that the political differences will be much harder to bridge than the personal ones. In that arena, they have nothing in common.

Rhiannon Whyte's mother has described Labour’s response to her daughter’s brutal murder nearly two years ago as a “kick in the teeth”.

Siobhan Whyte spoke to GB News after receiving a letter from Prime Minister Andy Burnham following a meeting with Border Security and Asylum Minister Anna Turley.

Sudanese asylum seeker Deng Chol Majek murdered Rhiannon Whyte at the Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall in October 2024.

“I cannot comprehend the pain that Ms Whyte must still be feeling,” Mr Burnham wrote in the letter.

"It is unimaginable to lose someone so dear, especially your own child, under such horrific circumstances. I also share her anger. The lack of remorse shown by Rhiannon’s murderer is despicable.

The Prime Minister wrote that he hoped her meeting at the Home Office provided Ms Whyte with a “valuable opportunity for discussion”.

"I understand that the Minister really appreciated meeting Ms Whyte and talking about her family’s desire to create a positive legacy for Rhiannon."

Despite the meeting, Ms Whyte despaired that she felt like “we're banging our heads off the wall”.

“We came away from the Home Office hoping that maybe something would be done, and literally three days later, the illegal migrants were coming into Portsmouth and Dover.

“So it felt like a complete kick in the teeth for us all.”

Nevertheless, the mourning mother insisted she would not give up in seeking justice and a meeting with the Prime Minister.

“This is my child. And I will continue to fight for my child and Rihanna's child.

However, she added: “Do I think I'll ever meet him? I don't.”

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Reform UK has outlined a simple answer to the migrant 'trickery' on the south coast, after protests erupted in Gosport between anti-migration protesters and police "escorting invading migrants".

The protesters assembled outside a marina in the town ahead of the impending arrival of a mega dinghy packed with illegal migrants which had spent more than 33 hours at sea.

Around 60 migrants on the small boat were "determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom", French authorities said in a statement - and they turned down assistance from the French coastguard as they sailed to Britain.

Six demonstrators were arrested after "becoming hostile towards officers", the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said.

The protest followed similar demonstrations by balaclava-clad locals in both Dover and Portsmouth earlier this month, organised and led by Danny Tommo's Patriot Platform.

In response to the crisis, Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice described "shocking footage" of the conflict with police, and wrote on X: "The State is so terrified of the unpopularity of its policies it mobilises colossal police resources to help illegals invade our nation - while police waste time monitoring tweets

"The people are peacefully rebelling. Enough is enough."

Offering a solution to the issue, he continued: "The RNLI & Border Force are resorting to cat and mouse games and trickery to evade furious British people who don’t want more illegals invading our country.

"Simple answer: pick up and take back to France. Reform policy: Rescue and Return to France."

Following the Portsmouth protest on September 6, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage at the time wrote: "Today a boat launched from Baie de Seine, 170 miles from Calais, arriving on the beaches of Hampshire for the very first time.

"This is a joke. Only Reform will send the boats back."

When migrants disembarked, a massive motorcade drove through the streets to pick them up, which the leader of Reform UK in Hampshire, George Madgwick, described it as " larger than what the Prime Minister or King would get".

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Lines of protesters wearing black, some wearing face coverings, faced off against a police cordon after first gathering at around 6.30pm.

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman, shared a video of the motorcade, describing it as "insane".

He said: "Burnham is sending another police escort to take them to their taxpayer funded hotel. Just like they did in Portsmouth. Is there any country in history that gave police escorts to invading men?

"A country that treats invaders like Kings? While crushing dissent from its own people?"

Beyond the six arrested for unruly behaviour at the protest, police have also opened a probe into Danny Tommo, after he shared a video of himself slashing a dinghy in the English Channel.

Amid the rising tensions around border security, the activist had been live-streaming his attempt the puncture the boat - with nobody aboard - before it drifted away.

A few seconds later, a French rescuer stepped onto the dinghy from his own larger boat.

As Danny Tommo, or Daniel Thomas, drew closer, he then successfully slashed one side of the inflatable dinghy.

Earlier on Tuesday, Defence Minister Luke Pollard insisted Britain's borders were secure after a migrant boat arrived on Kent's coast undetected - the Government was only made aware of the illegal arrival when GB News alerted authorities.

"Our borders are secure, but we want to make them stronger," Mr Pollard said, adding that the Home Office was now probing what happened.

A Government spokesman said: "The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival."

Nigel Farage has warned Andy Burnham is setting up a new "Ministry of Truth" which will crack down on free speech in Britain.

The Reform UK leader released a short video blasting the Prime Minister following Mr Burnham's announcement at the United Nations.

Mr Burnham revealed the UK will “detect, attribute and disrupt these kinds of hostile state information attacks”.

The Prime Minister added: “Russian agencies have used every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people’s fears.

"They’ve used bots and fake websites. Falsified newspaper articles.

"Forged the branding of 28 British organisations – including universities and the BBC. They’ve amplified far-right narratives.”

Responding to the Prime Minister, Mr Farage said: "So, Andy Burnham's latest ruse is to launch a National Centre for Information Defence to stop disinformation.

"Now, of course, they're using the excuse that Russia wants to interfere with elections.

"Be in no doubt, there are bots online, they come from Russia, come from India, and elsewhere, that do try to influence our thinking, and that's not a good piece of news.

"But, you know what will happen with this Government. Already, he's said it's to stop far-right tropes, etc.

"This will be like George Orwell's Ministry of Truth, and this will be used to clamp down on free speech."

The Ministry of Truth is a fictional department in Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four that controls information by rewriting historical records and producing propaganda.

Mr Farage added: "The one lesson I'm learning, as time goes on, whether it's funding of parties, whether it's cancelling elections, is never ever trust this authoritarian Government."

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Mr Burnham directly singled out Russian interference across Europe, warning Moscow spends around £1.3 billion a year manipulating information.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting attempted to play down concerns about free speech while speaking to GB News this morning.

He said: "We're not interested in policing domestic political dissent," Mr Streeting said.

However, a veteran Labour MP Graham Stringer appeared to break ranks with Mr Burnham.

"It's a very sketchy proposal so far," the Blackley & Middleton South MP told GB News.

Deputy Tory leader Alex Burghart also said: "We have to be quite careful before we say, right, the Government is now going to tell us what's information and misinformation.

"I want to know that Conservative views are not going to be caught in this dragnet, so let's see the detail on this before we start celebrating."

Despite the free speech concerns, the Intelligence and Security Committee's report in 2020 revealed the UK remains vulnerable to Kremlin-backed interference.

Russian disinformation campaigns have included a series of conflicting narratives over the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.

Moscow-linked sources blamed Britain and Ukraine, with some even suggesting the Skripals had been poisoned elsewhere.

UK officials have also exposed Russian-linked networks using fake websites, cloned media outlets, bot accounts and fabricated material.

The investigation found Russia was hoping to influence British audiences and undermine the UK's support for Ukraine

A Chagossian campaigner has said she has “more faith” in Donald Trump than Andy Burnham to protect the Chagos Islands from being handed to Mauritius.

Vanessa Kalu, the Chagossian lead at the Friends of the British Overseas Territories, spoke after a tense first meeting between the Prime Minister and the US President.

As the two sat down following a bilateral meeting in New York, Mr Trump condemned the deal as “ridiculous”.

"I don't support it… Most of them say they have ownership. Somebody has ownership that never showed up before, after decades and centuries. I think it's ridiculous."

After the meeting, Mr Burnham appeared to blame his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, for the issue.

"I inherited this situation, and we need a resolution. It's critical to safeguard the future of the base," he said.

The Prime Minister then insisted that Britain would “work hard” to find a solution to the row.

Despite this, Ms Kalu maintained her doubts about the UK’s desire to scrap the deal and instead put her faith in Mr Trump.

“This is really strange that I have more faith in the President of the United States, Donald Trump, than our Prime Minister.”

“They can't stand up for the British people. At the moment, only the US President is standing up for the British people. He has the United Kingdom in his heart.

The Chagossian questioned: “Why doesn't our Prime Minister have that in his heart?

“He needs to be clearly saying, 'This is our homeland. I stand with the people, the Chagossians, who are British citizens.

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“We need to save our homeland from other people who created a situation to be able to take our homeland away.”

Ms Kalu also criticised the Government for relying on United Nations decisions to justify the proposed agreement, arguing that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination had called for ratification to be suspended pending consultation with Chagossians.

She stressed that the determination was that “self-determination for the people of the British solution is a must”.

“So the Prime Minister is hiding behind the UN to justify this deal.

“The UN said to suspend it. So I'm still concerned why the government hasn't suspended it.”

Issuing a direct message to the Prime Minister, Ms Kalu demanded a definitive response to President Trump’s disavowal and the UN ruling.

“This deal is clearly dead. So come clean and say: ‘This Chagos deal is dead.’”

The Chagos Islands, in the Indian Ocean, are home to a joint UK-US airbase, but talks have been ongoing since the last Conservative government handed sovereignty to Mauritius.

Labour is arguing the rights of foreign criminals outweigh the public interest in releasing detailed crime-by-nationality figures, court documents obtained by GB News have revealed.

The Ministry of Justice is appealing an Information Commissioner decision over a Freedom of Information request by Centre for Migration Control director Robert Bates for conviction figures from 2018 to 2024, broken down by nationality and detailed offence type.

The request covers offences including violence, sexual offences, drugs, weapons, theft and robbery, with Mr Bates proposing that figures below five be suppressed to reduce the risk of individuals being identified.

In his formal response to the Government's appeal, Bates quotes the MoJ as arguing that "the interests and fundamental rights and freedoms of the affected data subjects outweigh the legitimate interests in disclosure of the requested information".

The Government's case, as recorded and challenged in Mr Bates's response, centres on two principal arguments: that producing the figures would exceed Freedom of Information cost limits, and that releasing sufficiently detailed statistics could breach offenders' data-protection rights.

On privacy, the MoJ argues that individual offenders could potentially be identified by combining nationality and offence statistics with information already available through court proceedings, press reports and other disclosures - a so-called "mosaic effect".

Mr Bates attacks that position as "paradoxical and perverse", arguing that criminals' identities and convictions are already routinely placed in the public domain through the principle of open justice.

He also rejects the Government's concerns about cumulative disclosures, arguing that the requested statistics concern populations of thousands and pointing to his proposal that figures below five should be suppressed.

Mr Bates's response also records the MoJ as estimating that producing the requested information would require around 88 hours of work - well above the statutory cost ceiling relied upon by the department.

But Mr Bates disputes that calculation and accuses the department of presenting materially different accounts of the work required during the Information Commissioner's investigation and its subsequent Tribunal appeal.

In a stinging submission, he tells the Tribunal: "Either the MoJ misled the IC or it is now misleading the Tribunal."

The allegation is made by Mr Bates and has not been determined by the Tribunal.

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Bates is also seeking to have the MoJ's fresh cost evidence excluded, arguing that the department should not be allowed to repair an inadequate case at the appeal stage.

The row comes amid wider controversy over the availability of official statistics allowing the public to examine offending by nationality or immigration status.

The Government has expanded separate statistics on foreign national offenders in the immigration system this year.

Home Office releases now provide figures for particular groups of foreign national offenders, including separate breakdowns by nationality, broad offence group and sentence length.

Official figures for the year ending June 2026 show that 8,507 foreign national offenders left immigration detention.

Of those, 1,960 were Albanian, 1,058 Romanian and 743 Polish.

The figures also show 2,849 had drug offences, 1,132 had violence-against-the-person offences excluding homicide and 1,112 had theft offences.

But those figures relate to specific groups of foreign national offenders within the immigration system and do not provide the comprehensive conviction-by-nationality and detailed offence breakdown sought by Mr Bates.

Mr Bates argues that the missing detail is central to the public interest in disclosure.

His response says the legitimate interest extends beyond simply understanding broad criminal-justice trends to informing public debate about patterns of offending and "the level of risk the public are exposed to".

He described the legitimate interest in disclosure as "overwhelming", while arguing that the potential harm to the individuals concerned is "exceptionally low".

The First-tier Tribunal has yet to determine the Government's appeal.

A Government spokesperson said: “This Government has prioritised the deportation of foreign national offenders with nearly 12,000 removed since July 2024 – up 41 per cent - and has changed the law so foreign prisoners can be deported earlier than ever before.

“Deported FNOs are already banned from ever returning to the UK, and early next year we will start deporting them immediately after sentencing.”

GB News also understands that the Ministry of Justice rejects the allegations of a "cover-up".

The Kremlin has accused Andy Burnham of stirring up anti-Russian sentiment after the Prime Minister accused Moscow of spreading lies and disinformation.

Mr Burnham, who met with Donald Trump last night, announced Labour would set up a new National Centre for Information Defence.

The Prime Minister directly singled out Russian interference across Europe, warning Moscow spends around £1.3 billion a year manipulating information.

He said: "They've amplified far-right narratives, and we have evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 General Election."

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blasted Mr Burnham for his approach.

Mr Peskov, who has served as the Russian President's spokesman since 2000, said: "Well, the British Prime Minister said nothing new.

"That is the first point. The second is that stoking anti-Russian sentiment and fostering an atmosphere of total Russophobia is what Britain is doing.

"And now, presumably in unison with Britain, the Germans, the French and a number of other European states are doing the same thing."

He added: "From our point of view, this is an utterly short-sighted policy.

"It in no way brings us any closer to any steps that might, in the long term, lead to a reduction in tensions and de-escalation on the European continent.”

However, Mr Burnham also faced fury from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and deputy Tory leader Alex Burghart amid fears of a free speech crackdown.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting defended the announcement and tried to reassure Britons that the unit would not look to at domestic political debates.

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"We're not interested in policing domestic political dissent," Mr Streeting said.

But veteran Labour MP Graham Stringer appeared to break rank with Mr Burnham.

He told GB News: "It's a very sketchy proposal so far."

Despite free speech concerns, Mr Burnham's UN speech centred on the threat posed by Russia.

A report released by the Intelligence and Security Committee in 2020 found the UK was a "top Western intelligence target" for the Kremlin, only behind Nato and US.

The report also warned Britain was "clearly a target" for disinformation campaigns around its elections.

However, the issue was described as a "hot potato", with no one organisation taking a lead to tackle it.

Social media companies were told they "hold the key" but were accused of "failing to play their part".

Russian disinformation campaigns have included a series of conflicting narratives over the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.

Moscow-linked sources blamed Britain and Ukraine, with some even suggesting the Skripals had been poisoned elsewhere.

UK officials have also exposed Russian-linked networks using fake websites, cloned media outlets, bot accounts and fabricated material.

The investigation found Russia was hoping to influence British audiences and undermine the UK's support for Ukraine

The mother of Rhiannon Whyte has slammed Andy Burnham after the Prime Minister wrote to reject a request for a meeting with the bereaved mother.

Siobhan Whyte described the Prime Minister's response to a letter by Labour MP for Warwick & Leamington Matt Western as "half a***d".

Rhiannon was murdered by Sudanese asylum seeker Deng Chol Majek at the Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall in October 2024.

Majek is said to have tracked Ms Whyte to the station after she finished a shift at the nearby Park Inn Hotel, where he had been living, before inflicting 19 wounds to her head, including a fatal brain stem injury.

In a letter addressed to Mr Western, the Prime Minister described the murder of Rhiannon as "an awful tragedy".

Mr Burnham said: "I cannot comprehend the pain that Ms Whyte must still be feeling.

"It is unimaginable to lose someone so dear, especially your own child, under such horrific circumstances. I also share her anger. The lack of remorse shown by Rhiannon’s murderer is despicable.

"I appreciate Ms Whyte’s keenness to get the answers she so deserves as well as the reassurance that something like this will not happen again."

The Prime Minister continued: "I understand that she recently met with the Home Office Minister for Border Security and Asylum, the Rt Hon Anna Turley MP, which I hope provided a valuable opportunity for discussion.

"I understand that the Minister really appreciated meeting Ms Whyte and talking about her family’s desire to create a positive legacy for Rhiannon."

In response, Siobhan took to social media, saying: "23 months today, Rhiannon, you took your last breath, and yet Burnham sends his half a***d condolences two days ago, yet still won't meet with us, a family!

"I won't give up ever, I promise. Love and miss you so, so much."

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CCTV played at Majek’s trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court showed he disappeared from view on to a deserted platform for 90 seconds at around 11.18pm to attack Ms Whyte, 27, whose son was aged five at the time.

She died in hospital three days later after being found injured in a shelter on the platform by the driver and guard of a train which pulled in about five minutes after the attack.

Jurors deliberated for two hours and five minutes before unanimously convicting Majek of murder and possessing a screwdriver as an offensive weapon.

Majek is said to have lied to the court about his age, claiming to be 19 despite a date of birth.

He was recorded as 27 by authorities during a failed asylum claim in Germany.

The trial heard Majek had been reported to security at the hotel after "spookily" staring at three female staff members for prolonged periods.

No motive for the killing was given at the trial, but Majek had brushed past Ms Whyte earlier in the evening as he left the hotel to smoke.

After inflicting fatal injuries on Ms Whyte, Majek walked to the Caldmore Green area of Walsall to buy beer and was recorded on CCTV seemingly wiping blood from his trousers.

He returned to the hotel at 12.13am, changed his bloodstained flip-flops for trainers, and was seen dancing with other residents in the car park, within sight of emergency vehicles called to the station.

Siobhan is campaigning for Rhiannon's Law,, which would bring in stronger checks and electronic tagging of asylum seekers awaiting processing.

She told LBC a minister said to her it was against migrants' human rights to keep them detained in barracks.

She added: "I was disgusted because where's our human rights?"

"Where were Rhiannon's human rights that she wasn't able to come home that night?"

Veteran Labour MP Graham Stringer has torn into Andy Burnham's "sketchy" plans for a new information unit to target "disinformation" about the UK.

Speaking to GB News, the Labour MP argued that the potential implication on Britons is "very worrying indeed".

The Labour Government has denied that the new unit, set up to fight disinformation, will be a threat to free speech in this country.

Mr Burnham announced plans for the National Centre for Information Defence at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

He said: "Russian agencies have used every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people's fears.

"I am announcing today that we are developing a new AI defence partnership with the United States to protect our critical national infrastructure."

Defending the move, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting assured that the Government is "not interested in policing domestic political dissent".

Reacting to the plans, Mr Stringer told GB News that he "doesn't quite understand how it's going to work".

However, Mr Stringer said: "It's a very sketchy proposal so far. What worries me, together with Lisa Nandy's statements that they're consulting on putting trusted broadcasters to the top of the list of different news feeds, which puts other organisations right down the list. It's like obliterating them.

"That worries me because, well, the BBC is a wonderful organisation in many ways, but I don't trust it on the European Union, I don't trust it on global warming, it's clearly been shown to be biased in those areas.

"And to put that at the top of other organisations that might have a different view is really state censorship, so I think there's not much sense to it."

Acknowledging the threats to the UK from Russia, Iran and China, Mr Stringer warned that the potential censorship on Britons is "very worrying".

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He said: "If what the Prime Minister was announcing is part of that same family of ideas that somehow the state can decide what you can see, then it's very worrying indeed.

"That isn't to deny, of course, that there is a problem with Russia and Iran and China and probably North Korea trying to affect what is happening in this country by putting out disinformation.

"But it might be that the the solution to that is nearly as bad as the problem it needs thinking through. We need to understand exactly what the Prime Minister is saying."

Noting the "far-right narratives" Mr Burnham hopes to target with the information unit, Mr Stringer argued that the far-left activists are "just as worrying".

He told GB News: "It's a very contentious area, and while I am opposed to the far-right, I'm also opposed to the far-left. I don't know why the Government and the Labour Party, for that matter, are just saying we're worried about the far-right.

"If you go onto the streets of London and Manchester at different times, the people who would describe themselves as on the left were effectively calling for genocide against Jews with the pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

"I'm as worried about those people as I am about people who see themselves as the natural inheritors of Adolf Hitler's policies, so I'm against both.

"Why we only target one? I don't understand, and it's another worrying feature of it."

US President Donald Trump told Sir Keir Starmer "your policies are stupid" behind closed doors, a former White House aide has revealed.

The President laid into the former Prime Minister just months before Sir Keir left Downing Street.

Just days before Sir Keir announced his departure, President Trump said: "I wish him well!" as he said the Prime Minister "failed badly" on immigration and energy policy.

Speaking to Fox News, ex-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described how President Trump issued a scathing attack on the then-Prime Minister behind closed doors.

She said: "I sat in on a lunch with the president and Starmer and we're sitting around the table, and we're all enjoying lunch.

"We were in this beautiful place. And the President just starts ripping into him for his policies.

"He's like, 'Your policies here are so stupid. You need to close your borders.' ’You need to deport these people you have in your country. I know your country, I know your people, they hate what you're doing.'"

Ms Leavitt made it clear President Trump takes a similar blunt approach with other world leaders.

She added: "What he says to the media publicly is exactly what he's saying behind the scenes privately, too.

"In fact, much of what he says privately at some point is going to become public when he speaks to the press, because he's just candid, and he's honest.

"What he says with these foreign leaders behind the scenes is exactly what he tells the media five minutes later when he does a press conference. There's no games."

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The relationship between Sir Keir and President Trump fluctuated during the former Labour leader's tenure in Downing Street.

Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy and close ally, said the two had become "an unlikely duo", telling Politico last year: "They both share a view about how to work together."

He added: "The President is very open to listening to Starmer’s views, irrespective of political ideology."

However, speaking after yesterday's UN General Assembly, President Trump asserted his relationship with the UK is "more up" with Andy Burnham in comparison to his predecessor.

Ms Leavitt went on to discuss the often "tense" interactions President Trump has with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, saying he often is far more "straightforward" in these conversations.

Speaking about a summit with Xi in South Korea, the former White House insider said: "The President was very honest about the fentanyl coming into the country and the precursors to the fentanyl that were manufactured in China.

"He brought that up as a sticking point and said, ‘You have to do something about that' and sure enough, a couple weeks later, I think it was [FBI Director] Kash Patel who announced that those precursors would no longer be sent here.

"So, [President Trump] demanded results on behalf of our country, and he made sure that they were delivered upon."

GB News has obtained exclusive footage of a small boat in Dover, suspected to have carried "at least 20" illegal migrants across the Channel.

New footage captured on Tuesday shows the dinghy being towed away by an orange tugboat close to the shoreline in Samphire Hoe.

Sources have informed the People's Channel there "may have been at least 20 migrants on the boat" and they "may have been detained".

In the footage, a small group of people is also seen gathered on the beach near where the small boat is being towed away.

It is yet to be confirmed whether the group of people contains law enforcement officers, immigration enforcement, witnesses to the landing, or whether the illegal migrants themselves are being detained on the beach.

The suspected crossing follows another undetected arrival on the Kent coast near Folkestone on Monday, which was alerted to a GB News producer by a local skipper, who witnessed the arrival.

The small boat, containing up to 10 illegal migrants, arrived on shore at The Warren before the passengers attempted to run off into the town.

The GB News producer persuaded some of the illegal migrants to stay put, as he alerted the authorities to the situation.

Following the incident, GB News has been informed that five of those onboard the dinghy have since been detained by police and Border Force.

Offering his analysis of the footage, GB News Home and Security Editor Mark White said the incident is the "second undetected arrival in a row", just around the corner from Dover Harbour.

He said: "I suspect that there's probably not been that many undetected crossings, just simply for the fact that if boats were coming and landing on beaches all the time, there are people in these communities, they would soon see it and we would know about it.

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"Just as we were told about this crossing yesterday, and we heard obviously about the other one near Folkestone on Monday. But it's not to say that this might not become a thing."

The exclusive footage also comes after another small boat, containing around 60 illegal migrants, was headed for Gosport on Tuesday evening.

Hundreds of locals descended on the marina to protest against the arrival, as fury broke out over a suspected police escort for "invading migrants".

French authorities said those on board refused their assistance and were "determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom".

Speaking to GB News following the protests in Gosport, Reform UK councillor Paul Carter said the crossings are "not unacceptable".

He said: "A couple of weeks ago was a big wake-up call for the town. And last night, no one really knew what was happening. I think a lot of people are really worried.

"This is the home of the Royal Navy, and just on the marina is a housing estate where hundreds of people live. To have that boat land right on their doorstep, it's just not acceptable."

A Government spokesman has previously said of this week's undetected crossings: "The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival."

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is understood to be considering major reform to the tax system, which could give a "meaningful boost" to the finances of millions.

Reports are circulating that ministers are weighing up a £3,000 increase to the income tax personal allowance, which would represent the first uplift to the threshold in half a decade.

The proposal under review would shift the point at which workers begin paying income tax from £12,570 to £15,570.

Mr Burnham and Chancellor John Healey are examining a plan put forward by Ecotricity founder and Labour donor Dale Vince.

Said proposal would fund the measure through higher capital gains tax (CGT) rates and by scrapping interest payments the government currently makes on Bank of England reserves.

Mr Vince, who owns the green energy company Ecotricity, argued that the change would deliver a tangible financial lift to millions of taxpayers, with lower earners standing to gain the most.

The entrepreneur shared: "If Labour wants to get the economy moving, it should put money into the pockets of people who will spend it.

"Raising the personal allowance to £15,570 would give millions of people a meaningful boost, with the biggest benefit going to those on the lowest incomes."

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"We can pay for it by making the tax system fairer - starting with capital gains and the billions we currently hand to banks in interest."

The Treasury declined to engage directly with the proposal, stating that tax decisions are for the Chancellor to announce at fiscal events rather than responding to "rumour, speculation or proposals".

Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, noted that tax speculation was intensifying in the run-up to the Budget, with the latest public finances data revealing that Burnham and Healey face a delicate balancing act.

She said: "That is prompting fresh speculation about a potential increase in capital gains tax, particularly if reported plans to raise the personal income-tax allowance from £12,570 become a reality.

She observed that any move to reduce income tax bills would require the government to identify alternative revenue streams, with CGT increasingly discussed as a likely target.

For investors, the prospect of an increased CGT burden could discourage the sale of assets, with some opting to hold rather than crystallise gains at a higher rate.

Ms Streeter pointed to alternatives, however, including tax-efficient venture capital schemes such as SEIS and EIS, which provide relief across income tax, inheritance tax and capital gains tax.

She cautioned that investors ought not to allow Budget speculation to drive their broader strategy, though suggested that a portfolio review might help experienced investors determine whether they are fully utilising available tax shelters.

A Gosport councillor has hit out at the "unacceptable" small boat crossings along Britain's coastline following mass protest in the town on Tuesday.

Speaking to GB News, Reform UK councillor Paul Carter expressed concern for small boats arriving "on the doorstep" of locals after reports of a mega-dinghy headed towards the marina.

On Tuesday night, hundreds of anti-migrant protesters clashed with police in Gosport as fury broke out over an apparent "escort of invading migrants" from an incoming small boat.

Demonstrators assembled outside Haslar Marina in the town ahead of the impending arrival of the mega-dinghy packed with illegal migrants, which had spent more than 33 hours at sea.

Six demonstrators were arrested for "becoming hostile towards officers" following the protest, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed.

French authorities said in a statement that the estimated 60 migrants on the small boat were "determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom".

Reacting to the incident, Mr Carter stressed that the majority of the community who came out to protest were "calm" about the situation.

He said: "I think towards the end of the whole situation last night, it sort of fizzled out. I think there was a bit of agitation by about six people who were arrested last night for various situations.

"But actually, the majority of our local community are quite calm. Hundreds of people came out in their droves to say, no, we do not want this boat landing here in Gosport."

Echoing the concerns of locals, the councillor made clear that many are "worried" about small boats of illegal migrants "landing on their doorstep".

He told GB News: "There are definitely fears here. A couple of weeks ago was a big, a big wake-up call for the town. If you think about this last night, no one really knew what was happening, a lot of misinformation was out there to the local community.

"I think a lot of people are really worried, especially around here where we are on our peninsula. This is the home of the Royal Navy, and as you can see behind us, a housing estate where hundreds of people live.

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• Hundreds of Britons launch protests in Gosport amid fury over 'police escorts to invading men'
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"To have that boat land right on their doorstep, it's just not acceptable."

Mr Carter also revealed that a meeting organised by Reform UK for Tuesday night to discuss the small boats crisis had to be cancelled due to the protest.

He said: "We at Reform UK here in Gosport put a motion to the council to make sure that we have a really clear communication back to the Home Office and back to the local resilience forces.

"We want to make sure that we have the right information going out to our residents and at the moment, we're not having that."

Mr Carter continued: "Our council, most frustratingly, last night found out more information from people live streaming on social media about the situation, and that's just not acceptable.

"We need to be in a position where we can really tell our community what is happening and what the truth is."

In a statement, a Government spokesman said: "The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival."

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the UK is projected to slow next year despite a better-than-expected 2026, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).

Expected economic expansion for 2026 has jumped to 1.1 per cent, up from a previous estimate of 0.9 per cent issued in June, thanks to "solid" domestic demand during the second quarter.

Yet the upgraded figure still falls short of the 1.4 per cent growth recorded last year, and the outlook for 2027 poses a setback for Prime Minister Andy Burnham's growth agenda.

The Paris-based organisation now anticipates the pace of expansion will dip to just one per cent next year, down from the 1.1 per cent it had forecast in its June assessment.

A broader global slowdown, elevated energy costs and a "higher policy rate" weighing on European activity were cited as factors likely to constrain momentum heading into next year.

On inflation, consumer prices are projected to rise 3.1 per cent this year, well below the 3.6 per cent the OECD previously anticipated, though still the second-fastest rate among G7 nations.

Energy costs fell back during the summer months when a US-Iran ceasefire held, but surged again after that agreement fell apart in July.

Last month, inflation climbed to a five-month high of 3.1 per cent and the Bank of England warned last week that it expects the rate to reach 3.75 per cent by December before peaking at roughly four per cent in early 2027.

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As a result, the OECD now forecasts inflation of 2.6 per cent in 2027, up from 2.4 per cent just three months ago.

The prolonged conflict in the Middle East remains the principal driver of near-term price pressures, with energy costs swinging sharply higher since the collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire in July.

The OECD noted that these rising energy prices are expected to fuel further inflation in the short term before gradually subsiding next year.

Domestically, the stronger-than-expected 2026 performance was underpinned by robust household spending, with the organisation highlighting that consumers are likely to "be supported by newly announced government support measures", including the scrapping of VAT on household energy bills from October.

The global picture painted by the OECD was one of resilience despite the war in Iran, with the body concluding that growth had held up across "many countries" throughout 2026.

Treasury minister Emma Reynolds said: "Despite unprecedented pressures and conflict in both the Middle East and in Europe, the UK economy is showing strong resilience.

"We will face these challenges together and we are already giving families space to breathe. We had the fastest growth in the G7 in the first half of the year and we are starting the big, long-term changes needed to create good jobs and growth in every postcode."

The organisation also projected that G20 inflation will reach approximately 3.6 per cent next year, running half a percentage point above its earlier forecast.

Alex Burghart has urged the Prime Minister to "park and forget" his Chagos surrender deal after facing a fresh swipe from US President Donald Trump.

Speaking to GB News, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party hit out at the "stupid" deal, arguing that Mr Trump "doesn't want it to be done".

Meeting for the first time at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, the Prime Minister appeared visibly uncomfortable as Mr Trump branded the Chagos deal "terrible".

He said: "It's a terrible deal, I don't support it.

"Most of them say they have ownership. Somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries. I think it's ridiculous."

Reacting to the criticism on GB News, Mr Burghart said that he hopes the Government now has an "understanding" that the Chagos deal is "dead".

He said: "I hope that one of the things that came out of that meeting with President Trump yesterday was a kind of background understanding with the Labour Party that this is dead, and they're just now trying to save face, or 'we'll try and find another way of doing it'.

"No, the President doesn't want it done, and he doesn't want it done for a reason. It's because it's a stupid idea."

The Tory deputy urged the Prime Minister to "forget" the deal and focus on increasing the UK's defence spending.

He argued: "This is the moment to just park it and forget about it, and if the Conservatives were in charge right now, that's what we'll be doing.

"And if Kemi was Prime Minister right now, we would be ready to spend three per cent of GDP on defence at the end of this parliament, which is what we need given everything that's happening in Eastern Europe at the moment."

Mr Burghart accused the Labour Government of "dragging its heels" on defence spending despite running the country amid "the biggest war in Europe since 1945".

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He told GB News: "We have a plan to get to 3.5 per cent by the end of the next parliament, but instead, the Labour Party, even though we've got the biggest war in Europe since 1945, is dragging its heels to the point they were supposed to tell us how this was going to happen last summer.

"And then now, they now say they're not going to tell us until next summer. It's like they don't read the news. It's just terrifying."

Asked how he felt the meeting between Mr Burnham and Mr Trump went overall, Mr Burghart admitted that it "wasn't a disaster" for the Prime Minister.

He said: "It wasn't a disaster. It could have been a disaster, but it wasn't a disaster.

"And I say, what I take some hope from is that the President said, we've got this terrible Chagos thing going on, and the Prime Minister said he'll look at it again, and Andy Burnham said yes. So if that came out of it, I'm all in favour of that."

Asked for his verdict on Andy Burnham's plans for a new information defence centre, Mr Burghart made clear that he must "see the detail" before "celebrating" the move.

He said: "We've really got to see the details on this one don't we, because we know that there are Russian agents online and Iranian agents online and that they do spread misinformation, that they do basically try and encourage British people to argue with each other, and that's a real thing.

"But we have to be quite careful before we say, right, the Government is now going to tell us what's information and misinformation. I want to know that Conservative views are not going to be caught in this dragnet, so let's see the detail on this before we start celebrating."

Wes Streeting has assured that the Prime Minister's new "information centre" will not be "weaponised" to target the free speech of Britons.

Speaking to GB News, the Defence Secretary made clear that he has a "responsibility to defend the freedom and democracy" of this country.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans for a new "National Centre for Information Defence" to fight "disinformation" about the UK.

Taking aim at "Russian agencies", the Prime Minister declared that the UK has "tiptoed around this for too long".

He said: "Russian agencies have used every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people's fear," he said.

"They've used bots and fake websites. Falsified newspaper articles. Forged the branding of 28 British organisations – including universities and the BBC. They've amplified far-right narratives, and we have evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 General Election."

Challenging the Prime Minister's newly announced plans, GB News host Alex Armstrong asked Mr Streeting: "There's a lot of concern in the media today and indeed amongst our viewers that this could be weaponised to target British citizens who simply disagree with your Government.

"Can you promise today that that will not be the case?"

Mr Streeting responded: "Yes I can. Look, one of the great things about Britain and one of the things that I have a responsibility to defend is the freedom and democracy that we all enjoy.

"And that includes the freedom to disagree, the freedom for people to challenge their Government, to challenge Government policy, to criticise robustly what we are doing, and then to have the opportunity to choose a different Government."

The Defence Secretary argued that Russia is just "one of a number of threats to our democracy".

He explained: "It is a stark contrast to the position that our friends, the Russian people endure and the political system that they suffer under, and Russia is just one of a number of malign state and non-state actors that seek to threaten and disrupt our democracy, including through misinformation and disinformation.

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"That's what this new national centre is set up to help us to attribute and to defend against and rebut. We're not interested in policing domestic political dissent."

Mr Streeting made clear that debate and holding the Government to account is "part and parcel" of living in a democracy.

He told GB News: "That's one of the things that is great about living in a democracy, and it's one of the reasons why, as a politician, over many years now, I have always been prepared to debate with political opponents and also to do interviews with newspapers or broadcasters, even where they're critical of the position of the Government of the day. That is part and parcel of living in a democracy."

Turning to the Prime Minister's meeting with US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly, Mr Streeting was pressed on whether the UK's Chagos deal is now "dead in the water" after being branded "terrible" by Mr Trump.

Mr Streeting responded: "It's absolutely right that we can't go ahead without President Trump's approval.

"Because at the heart of what we're trying to achieve here with these negotiations is the long term stability and security of one of the most sensitive national security assets that the United Kingdom has and the capability it provides to the UK, the US and to our collective security.

"And that's why these negotiations are important, why it's important we have US support and why, given what President Trump has said, not for the first time yesterday.

"We have to work through US concerns with the Americans, with the Mauritian Government and get to a place that everyone can live with."

Nigel Farage lobbied "high-level" members of the White House on the Chagos deal ahead of Andy Burnham's first meeting with Donald Trump, a Reform UK insider has said.

Mr Farage, who offered to provide Mr Burnham his advice before he jetted off to New York, had conversations with Washington figures over the past week.

The Reform UK source revealed Mr Farage was hoping the issue would be discussed in Mr Burnham's meeting with Mr Trump.

They told The Telegraph that the US President's rejection of the deal had proved Mr Farage's work had "paid off".

In a blistering assessment of the "terrible" Chagos handover deal, Mr Trump told reporters last night: "Most of them say they have ownership.

"Somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries. I think it's ridiculous."

He added: "It's strategically very important. Very important.

"We had to send our B2 bombers when we bombed the Iran nuclear [sites], we had to send the B2 bombers back home to Missouri, as opposed to flying for a short period of time.

"They had to fly for a long period of time. It's amazing how strategic it is, and I think the Prime Minister is going to be looking at it."

After Mr Trump spoke out against the deal, the Prime Minister confirmed the handover agreement was under review.

Mr Farage had urged Mr Burnham to go into his first meeting with Mr Trump by taking a tough stance on the Chagos Islands.

"My advice would be simple", the Reform UK leader told GB News on Monday.

"Start off by saying that we're not going to give away the Chagos Islands to a Chinese influence, Mauritius.

"Get the meeting off to a good start, and then you can start to talk tough about the Falklands and other things."

He added: "If Andy Burnham walks in there and says 'we're going to continue giving China massive influence over this', well, there are two things really.

"One is the Diego Garcia base, the second, of course, is the Chagossian people. But I think frankly, he needs to say that's not going to go ahead."

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Wes Streeting insists Britons won't be targeted for free speech despite 'Orwellian' fears over new information unit

A new unit being set up to tackle Russian information warfare will not be used for “policing domestic political dissent”, the Defence Secretary has said.

Wes Streeting was asked on GB News whether the national centre for information defence “could be weaponised to target British citizens who simply disagree” with the Government.

Mr Streeting replied: “One of the great things about Britain, and one of the things that I have a responsibility to defend, is the freedom and democracy that we all enjoy.

“And that includes the freedom to disagree, the freedom for people to challenge their government, to challenge government policy, to criticise robustly what we are doing and then to have the opportunity to choose a different government.

“That is a stark contrast to the position that our friends the Russian people endure under the political system that they suffer under.

“Russia is just one of a number of malign state and non-state actors that seek to threaten and disrupt our democracy, including through misinformation and disinformation.”

Mr Streeting added: “We’re not interested in policing domestic political dissent.”

Donald Trump brands Chagos surrender 'terrible deal' to PM's face in withering assessment

Donald Trump has told Andy Burnham the Chagos Islands deal is "terrible" in the latest withering assessment of the giveaway from the US.

Speaking at a press conference following a bilateral meeting, the President confirmed outright he did not back the "surrender" – to Mr Burnham's face.

"I don't support it," he said.

"Most of them say they have ownership. Somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries. I think it's ridiculous."

He added: "It's strategically very important. Very important. We had to send our B2 bombers when we bombed the Iran nuclear [sites], we had to send the B2 bombers back home to Missouri, as opposed to flying for a short period of time.

"They had to fly for a long period of time. It's amazing how strategic it is, and I think the Prime Minister is going to be looking at it."

Mr Burnham, speaking to reporters after the sit-down, appeared to blame Sir Keir Starmer for the issue.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Andy Burnham has been urged to avert a looming diesel fuel "disaster" after Donald Trump threatened a total export ban on the fuel at the UN.

Speaking alongside Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Trump said he and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had been "examining" a ban on diesel leaving the States.

Mr Bessent said the US was deciding between a full or partial export ban - with a decision set to be made "fast".

But Reform's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick has now sounded the alarm in Britain.

"The US supplies one sixth of diesel consumed in the UK, so this move could threaten our economic security," he said last night.

Mr Jenrick may have underegged the figures - with the US thought to account for about 31 per cent, or nearly a third, of UK imports.

The Reform MP added: "Meanwhile, Labour oversaw the shutdown of domestic refineries at Grangemouth and Lindsey last year, due to high operating costs.

"As a former MI6 director warned recently, Britain's energy policy is a threat to national security.

"And tax on diesel is due to rise again in January, as Rachel Reeves's postponed five per cent duty hike - which Reform would cancel - returns to bite motorists.

"Will Andy Burnham avert this disaster? TikTok videos don’t fill up the car, the tractor or the generator."

Elizabeth de Jong, the chief executive of trade group Fuel Industry UK said: "We are currently having to import about 55 per cent of our road diesel, meaning a growing dependence on overseas supply.

"Global events such as the conflict in the Middle East demonstrate the vital role that UK refineries play and why they are crucial to our economy."

Though when asked whether he had sympathy with countries like the UK suffering from high prices because of the Iran war, Donald Trump said: "I think as soon as the war is over, the numbers are going to come way down, pricing generally, because oil is the big thing.

"When oil goes up - and we had to do that because we have to stop them, and I think we feel very united on that, we can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.

"And people understand that in the United States, and they’re paying more than - less than Biden, by the way, less than the Biden administration and yet he did nothing about the threat of nuclear terror."

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The export ban threat came just days after the RAC warned the average price for the fuel would likely hit a record within days.

The RAC said that with diesel prices just 4p off the record of 199.09p set on June 25, 2022, a new all-time high looks set to be hit soon.

Simon Williams, the firm's head of policy, said the new price high looks "increasingly likely".

“Diesel has risen nearly 12p (11.72p) this month, with 5p being added in the last week alone”, he said.

“The average price of petrol has now topped 172p (172.02p) having gone up more than 10p so far in September and 3.6p in the last week. The last time it was this high was August 17, 2022.”

The cost to fill an average-sized family car with diesel now costs £107.43, or £29 more than on February 28.

Filling an average petrol-powered car now costs £94.61, or £21.55 more than at the end of February when the war in Iran began.

It comes amid wider volatility, with global energy prices set to push inflation higher by the end of the year, according to the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee.

The rate of Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rose to 3.1 per cent last month, largely driven by the aforementioned hike in petrol and diesel prices.

Williams added: “This means the average household which buys fuel twice a month is having to find an £43 extra for petrol and £58 for diesel compared to the start of the conflict.”

Nigel Farage lobbied "high-level" members of the White House on the Chagos deal ahead of Andy Burnham's first meeting with Donald Trump, a Reform UK insider has said.

Mr Farage, who offered to provide Mr Burnham his advice before he jetted off to New York, had conversations with Washington figures over the past week.

The Reform UK source revealed Mr Farage was hoping the issue would be discussed in Mr Burnham's meeting with Mr Trump.

They told The Telegraph that the US President's rejection of the deal had proved Mr Farage's work had "paid off".

In a blistering assessment of the "terrible" Chagos handover deal, Mr Trump told reporters last night: "Most of them say they have ownership.

"Somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries. I think it's ridiculous."

He added: "It's strategically very important. Very important.

"We had to send our B2 bombers when we bombed the Iran nuclear [sites], we had to send the B2 bombers back home to Missouri, as opposed to flying for a short period of time.

"They had to fly for a long period of time. It's amazing how strategic it is, and I think the Prime Minister is going to be looking at it."

After Mr Trump spoke out against the deal, the Prime Minister confirmed the handover agreement was under review.

Mr Farage had urged Mr Burnham to go into his first meeting with Mr Trump by taking a tough stance on the Chagos Islands.

"My advice would be simple", the Reform UK leader told GB News on Monday.

"Start off by saying that we're not going to give away the Chagos Islands to a Chinese influence, Mauritius.

"Get the meeting off to a good start, and then you can start to talk tough about the Falklands and other things."

He added: "If Andy Burnham walks in there and says 'we're going to continue giving China massive influence over this', well, there are two things really.

"One is the Diego Garcia base, the second, of course, is the Chagossian people. But I think frankly, he needs to say that's not going to go ahead."

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Andy Burnham has accused Russia of "amplifying far-right narratives" in a hawkish address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

The Prime Minister also blasted the Kremlin for running "corrosive narratives" about Britain in a direct challenge to Vladimir Putin.

"Russian agencies have used every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people's fears," he said.

"They've amplified far right narratives, and we have evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 General Election."

"The Kremlin spends around £1.3billion each year on manipulating information," Mr Burnham continued. "We're talking about an insidious campaign that reaches into people's homes and twists what they feel about their own country and community, creating a narrative of decline, stoking division and sowing despair."

As he laid the groundwork to set up the so-called "National Centre for Information Defence", Mr Burnham turned his fire on Russia's "escalatory rhetoric" and insisted Britain did not seek any kind of confrontation with Moscow.

Within the last few days, multiple European leaders have sounded the alarm over "hybrid warfare" waged by the Kremlin - while Nato pilots have been forced to respond to drone incursions over the Baltic states.

"We will keep investing in our defence, meeting our Nato commitments and strengthening European capabilities," he said.

"We will be relentless in building up our hard power and deterrence, but we will not play Russia's game of trading escalatory rhetoric."

Donald Trump did not immediately respond to his speech - though told GB News on Tuesday Mr Burnham would have to be a "little bit careful" with his words on Russia, accusing Sir Keir Starmer of being "too tough" on Mr Putin.

Later in his address, Mr Burnham branded Russia a "bully" against the Ukrainian "underdog" as he reflected on his visit to Kyiv in August.

He warned that Britain would not let Mr Putin's forces attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure this winter, with temperatures set to plunge below -20C in the eastern European nation.

And he praised the passage of the Graham Bill in the US, which Mr Trump signed last week.

The Act, named for late Ukraine hawk Lindsay Graham, allows the US to unleash sweeping sanctions against Russia.

It will make a "huge difference" in the effort to raise the cost of Mr Putin's "senseless and illegal war", Mr Burnham said.

He continued: "We will support Ukraine to repair and protect the heat and power plants that Kyiv will depend upon this winter.

"It is right that we provide that support, but we should call Russia out this time and every time. Everyone in this room knows that strikes on civilian infrastructure are explicitly forbidden by international law.

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"Yet we stand here in the UN announcing funding to mitigate the effects of these war crimes, which we reliably expect to be perpetrated yet again by a permanent member of the Security Council.

"It must end.

"Russia could choose a different course tomorrow, accept a ceasefire, come to the negotiating table. I urge them to do so. But until then, we will stand with Ukraine stronger than ever for as long as it takes."

The crux of Mr Burnham's speech was Britain's role in AI safety, telling world leaders he wanted the UK to act as an "honest broker" to draw up "a single set of global principles and standards" for the development of frontier AI.

He pitched the UK as a uniquely-placed nation to unite the world's powers in AI regulation following warnings of a "10 per cent chance" it could wipe out humanity within a decade.

"We are America’s closest ally," Mr Burnham said.

"We have deep ties with our friends in the EU and will deepen them further. We work with China and emerging powers like India and Brazil.

"We sit on the Security Council. In the Commonwealth. In the CPTPP. In a divided world, we have the ability to bring people together - and we will."

Mr Burnham said the UK would work towards agreeing "a single set of global principles and standards to ensure the transparency and access we need to increase our preparedness - and to ensure that AI development is safe".

The Prime Minister had been criticised for not signing up to an initiative aimed at drawing up global rules led by countries including Norway and Finland.

But he said the UK's plan during its presidency of the G20 would "bring together welcome initiatives from others - like that proposed by Norway this week".

Police have opened a probe into Danny Tommo after he shared a video of himself slashing a dinghy in the English Channel.

The activist had been live-streaming his attempt the puncture the boat - with nobody aboard - before it drifted away.

A few seconds later, a French rescuer stepped onto the dinghy from his own larger boat.

As Danny Tommo, or Daniel Thomas, drew closer, he then successfully slashed one side of the inflatable dinghy.

"You're on English territory. This is England, this is not France any more," he said to the rescue worker.

He then repeatedly urged the rescuer to step off onto a French vessel which had pulled up next to the dinghy.

"Get off the boat, you've got time to get off the boat," he shouted multiple times before sailing off.

He said he was heading towards Gosport - and that the migrants originally aboard the boat were being taken elsewhere.

They arrived in Dover early on Wednesday morning, far from protests which had broken out over their huge police escort that had been planned in the Hampshire town.

Police have now said they are "aware" of the video, and confirmed they were investigating.

"We are aware of a video circulating online relating to damage being caused to a boat in the English Channel on the afternoon of September 22, and we are conducting enquiries into the matter," Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said.

George Madgwick, Reform UK's leader in Hampshire, said he thought Mr Thomas would be "in real trouble after slashing that boat".

"He acted emotionally in a volatile situation and has handed the rope to the Government that they’ve been waiting to hang him with."

Just days ago, the Home Secretary threatened to use the "full force of the law" against the 37-year-old.

Speaking to The Guardian, Shabana Mahmood branded him a "far-right and outright racist” and threatened to use of the powers of the state against him should his group act criminally near migrant housing in places like Piddington.

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He has threatened legal action in response, saying she "used one of the most powerful offices in the country to brand me a racist in front of the nation".

The activist has consistently denied that he is racist.

Mr Madgwick added last night: "Many will applaud what he did. Many will disagree. But he has handed an open goal to the very people (Government) who've been looking to take a shot against him."

Activist group Stand Up To Racism condemned the video in the Channel as "disgusting", and claimed he was "going wild with a knife".

It later claimed the Gosport protest was "instigated by Danny Tommo as an attempt to stir up a pogrom against those rescued from a small boat crossing".

In full, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary's statement reads: "Police and partner agencies, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Border Security Command, worked closely in response to reports of a small boat crossing the English Channel on Tuesday September 22.

"Members of the public who were closely following the activity of the vessel turned out in Gosport and Portsmouth to protest.

"To help facilitate peaceful protest, ensure the safety of the local community and support partners in the event of any emergency at sea, we deployed officers to Gosport and Portsmouth.

"Following news that the vessel would be docking elsewhere in the country, police were met with a group of people who remained in Gosport, some of whom became hostile towards officers.

"As a result, six people were arrested for offences including careless driving, assaulting an emergency worker and aggravated trespass.

"They remain in custody at this time and our enquiries into these incidents continue.

"We are also aware of a video circulating online relating to damage being caused to a boat in the English Channel on the afternoon of September 22, and we are conducting enquiries into the matter."

Andy Burnham has announced plans for a new "National Centre for Information Defence" to fight so-called "disinformation" about the UK.

The Prime Minister, addressing the United Nations, announced the centre to improve "community cohesion" and prevent a "distorted and untrue narrative about Britain".

He has ordered security chiefs to set up the quango, which will detect, attribute and disrupt "hostile information attacks" and "deepfakes" which hurt British interests.

It is initially being led out of the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, with the new centre working alongside intelligence agencies, Government departments, the police and social media firms.

He told the UN there was no "national security without a strong, cohesive society".

"That’s the starting point for everything we hold dear and everything we want to achieve," he added.

"But the fact is that it has been under attack."

Mr Burnham then accused Russia of engaging in a "industrial-scale assault by hostile actors on the information environment".

He added that Vladimir Putin's men had used "every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people's fears".

"They’ve used bots and fake websites," the Prime Minister said. "Falsified newspaper articles and forged the branding of 28 British organisations – including universities and the BBC.

"They’ve amplified far right narratives. And we have evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 General Election."

Russia has previously been accused of using illicitly-acquired documents about UK-US trade talks to try to influence the 2019 vote.

Mr Burnham also claimed Moscow tried to "stoke tensions and unrest in the wake of horrific events", describing the actions as "repulsive".

ANDY BURNHAM AT THE UNITED NATIONS - READ MORE:

• Donald Trump brands Chagos surrender 'terrible deal' to PM's face in withering assessment
• WATCH: Andy Burnham grilled by GB News on British 'patriotism' after first meeting with Donald Trump
• PM to tell world leaders: Forget the past 10 years for Britain, the next decade will be different

Mr Burnham used his UN speech to place Britain as a world leader in new AI regulations.

But further Labour crackdowns on the internet and calls for restrictions on AI - which Mr Trump called "super intelligence" at his UN address earlier today - could put the two countries increasingly at odds.

Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher, told GB News the speech was "exactly the kind of messaging that the Trump administration absolutely hates".

"Andy Burnham's speech was talk of control and censorship. Exactly the kind of messaging that the Trump administration absolutely hates," he said.

"I think this very chilling, Orwellian-style message with regard to AI is going to lead to a great deal of conflict with the Trump White House.

"In fact, Trump has already spoken out against these kinds of regulations, which will be used, of course, to control freedom of speech."

Mr Trump's White House hauled high-ranking British officials into the US embassy in London for a grilling over the Government internet crackdown just last week.

US officials raised concerns widespread social media bans for under-16s, the Online Safety Act, and plans to promote "trusted and accurate" news outlets, including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.

Just hours before Mr Burnham's own speech, the President said the US would "only encourage super intelligence", adding that the US had no intention to "rein it in".

"The United States leads the world in super intelligence, and we’ll continue to do so safely and responsibly," Mr Trump added.

Donald Trump has told GB News Sir Keir Starmer was "too tough on Russia" in a fiery swipe at the former Prime Minister.

The President, speaking at a bilateral meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN General Assembly, addressed fears from European leaders of a direct conflict with Russia.

"I think you'll be OK," Mr Trump said. "But I will say the rhetoric from your last Prime Minister was too tough.

"He has to be a little bit careful."

Sir Keir as Prime Minister positioned himself as a strong ally of Ukraine on the global stage, receiving honours from France and Kyiv for his work to assemble the "Coalition of the Willing".

GB News then asked Mr Trump about Andy Burnham and his stance on Russia.

"I haven't heard the rhetoric too much," Mr Trump said before Mr Burnham's hawkish address to the UN General Assembly. "But I think he's going to be good."

Looking towards the Ukrainian President, he added: "I will say he's on your side very much.

"And it's a very interesting thing that you say. I've seen that dialogue. And that dialogue is too nasty."

Mr Burnahm would later use his address to attack Moscow's "information warfare" against Britain as he condemed Vladimir Putin's Kremlin.

But Russia's more traditional warfare has also not let up.

Moscow and Kyiv have traded devastating ballistic missile strikes through the year - only taking a small pause as US envoys visited both countries.

Mr Zelensky told reporters in New York he failed to get assurances from Washington to allow Patriot Interceptor missiles, used to defend against ballistic missile strikes, to be produced in Ukraine.

MORE AT THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

• Donald Trump brands Chagos surrender 'terrible deal' to PM's face in withering assessment
• WATCH: Andy Burnham grilled by GB News on British 'patriotism' after first meeting with Donald Trump
• Andy Burnham issues defiant Falklands message to Argentina ahead of UN general assembly address

He has repeatedly urged Washington to allow Ukraine to manufacture the defence system in-house.

"When you speak with the leader about sensitive topics, they can say yes or they can say no," Mr Zelensky said.

"[It is a] good step that nobody said no... but I didn’t get the very concrete answer."

Mr Zelensky also said Ukraine was "ready" to end the war, but accused Russia of not being interested in negotiations.

He said: "God bless that the American side will find a way to bring them to any kind of negotiations."

The Ukrainian President suggested he was "ready for [an] energy ceasefire" after the US President pressed him to halt strikes on oil refineries.

Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian infrastructure, including warehouses and crucial energy infrastructure.

Mr Trump has previously told GB News that, of the "eight wars" he has ended, four were supposed to be "much more difficult" to end than the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Hundreds of anti-migration protesters faced off against police in Gosport last night as fury broke out over police "escorting invading migrants".

Six demonstrators were arrested after "becoming hostile towards officers", the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said.

The protesters assembled outside a marina in the town ahead of the impending arrival of a mega-dinghy packed with illegal migrants which had spent more than 33 hours at sea.

Around 60 migrants on the small boat were "determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom", French authorities said in a statement - and they turned down assistance from the French coastguard as they sailed to Britain.

Police then closed down the Haslar Marina in Gosport and began establishing a presence to "facilitate any peaceful protest".

The migrants aboard the small boat were instead taken to Dover "by water", according to local MP Dame Caroline Dinenage.

As a result, the massive motorcade intended to pick up the small boat migrants drove down the streets empty.

The leader of Reform UK in Hampshire, George Madgwick, described it as "a larger motorcade than what the Prime Minister or King would get".

Lines of protesters wearing black, some wearing face coverings, faced off against a police cordon after first gathering at around 6.30pm.

One protester, who travelled from Brighton, told the Southampton Daily Echo it was a "question of national identity".

"Everywhere you go the immigrants have more than we have," he said, adding that all who had assembled were "true patriots".

Protesters were heard yelling "shame on you" and "send them back". Some were also accused of chanting "let them drown".

The majority of protesters left at around 8.30pm after it became clear the migrants would not be offloaded in Gosport.

Hampshire Police said in its statement: "Following news that the vessel would be docking elsewhere in the country, police were met with a group of people who remained in Gosport, some of whom became hostile towards officers.

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"As a result, six people were arrested for offences including careless driving, assaulting an emergency worker and aggravated trespass.

"They remain in custody at this time and our enquiries into these incidents continue.

"We are also aware of a video circulating online relating to damage being caused to a boat in the English Channel on the afternoon of September 22, and we are conducting inquiries into the matter.

Anti-migration activist Danny Tommo, shared a YouTube livestream of the boat from the Channel earlier on Tuesday.

Back in Gosport, Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman, shared a video of the motorcade, describing it as "insane".

He said: "Burnham is sending ANOTHER police escort to take them to their taxpayer funded hotel.

"Just like they did in Portsmouth. Is there any country in history that gave police escorts to invading men?

"A country that treats invaders like Kings? While crushing dissent from its own people?"

Earlier on Tuesday, Defence Minister Luke Pollard insisted Britain's borders were secure after a migrant boat arrived on Kent's coast undetected - the Government was only made aware of the illegal arrival when GB News alerted authorities.

"Our borders are secure, but we want to make them stronger," Mr Pollard said, adding that the Home Office was now probing what happened.

A Government spokesman said: "The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival."

MPs are rallying around the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and supporting its remit ahead of Chancellor John Healey's Budget statement on October 28.

A cross-party group in Parliament has warned that politicians must not use Britain's fiscal watchdog as a scapegoat for tough spending choices driven by constrained public finances.

In a new report published ahead of the Chancellor's next month, the Commons Treasury Committee mounted a robust defence of the OBR's independence.

The cross-party committee dismissed what it described as "siren calls" for wholesale reform of the economic forecaster.

In their report, MPs argue that such political pressure typically stems from a wish to unlock greater spending headroom.

Furthermore, the group cautioned that this impulse amounts to a "poor substitute" for developing a coherent economic strategy.

Dame Meg Hillier, the Labour MP who chairs the committee, pushed back firmly against those who portray the OBR as exercising undue influence over the Treasury.

She said: "Certain policymakers and commentators like to characterise the OBR as a wielder of dark powers with a stranglehold on Treasury ministers and officials. It's simply not true."

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The watchdog's forecasts only loom so large because Governments choose to operate with wafer-thin fiscal buffers, she argued.

The peer added: "That is a feature of decision-making by Chancellors, not overreach by the OBR. Now is the time to preserve the independent voice within our economic debate, not attempt to undermine it."

However, Dame Meg acknowledged that there was value in examining the longer-term trajectory of both government policy and the wider economy.

To that end, the committee proposed that the OBR produce a new 10-year forecast alongside the two five-year projections it currently publishes each year with the Budget and spring statement.

Professor Douglas Elmendorf, who formerly led the US Congressional Budget Office, backed the idea, arguing it would give governments the opportunity to show where investments might deliver returns over a longer horizon.

Crucially, the extended forecast would not alter how the Government's fiscal rules are judged, which would continue to rely on the existing five-year outlook.

The committee also called on the Government to allocate parliamentary time for MPs to debate the OBR's Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report, a document that includes projections stretching 50 years into the future.

Andy Burnham will face six crunch tests in this week's upcoming local council by-elections.

The Prime Minister will be under pressure as Labour is tipped to lose the Queen's Park ward in Brighton and Hove after their own councillor resigned after leadership allegedly blocked her from raising urgent child safeguarding and single-sex service concerns.

Her exit triggered the eighth council by-election in Brighton since May 2023, exposing deep internal friction within the local Labour administration regarding transgender policies and women's rights.

The Greens pose a significant challenge as Mr Burnham continues to face the threat of a divided left.

Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden (Tunbridge Wells)

Residents of the Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden ward head to the polls tomorrow in a Tunbridge Wells Borough Council by-election, prompted by locally based independent party councillor Nancy Warne stepping down.

Four candidates are fighting for the South Eastern ward.

Nicholas Lees stands for the Conservatives, while David Somers represents Reform UK.

Max Lawson Chesters is the Green Party's nominee, and Harry James Wormington contests the seat for the Liberal Democrats.

The Conservatives go into the contest as clear frontrunners, having captured 46 per cent of the vote when the ward's other seat was decided at the May 2026 local elections.

Reform UK came in second, with a 25 per cent share.

Queen's Park (Brighton and Hove)

Residents of Queen's Park in Brighton and Hove head to the polls on Thursday in a by-election for a seat on the city council.

The contest was prompted by the departure of Labour's Milla Gauge, who resigned from her position as councillor over cross-sex hormones for children as young as 11.

She accused the council leadership of stonewalling her when she attempted to raise residents' concerns about the council's trans policies.

It will be the third time voters in this two-member ward have been called to a by-election since the full council elections held in May 2023.

Five candidates are contesting the seat.

Rudi Dikty-Daudiyan for the Liberal Democrats, Labour's Steve Gladwin, Reform UK's John Shepherd, Conservative Stefan Sönke Speckesser, and Mark Strong representing the Green Party.

Though Labour previously held the seat, the Greens pose a significant challenge.

They captured the ward's other seat in a September 2025 by-election, polling 1,133 votes to Labour's 729.

Their momentum in the city was further underlined by a commanding 49 per cent vote share in the Goldsmid ward by-election last June.

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Blockley (Cotswold)

Voters in the Blockley ward head to the polls this Thursday in a by-election for Cotswold District Council.

The contest follows Green Party Councillor Clare Turner's resignation from the seat, which she held for over three years, citing new professional commitments.

Five candidates are competing for the vacancy.

Tom Bradley for the Conservatives, the Green Party's Bob Eastoe, Reform UK's Matt Fincham, Labour's Josh Littler-Jennings, and Danny Loveridge representing the Liberal Democrats.

The Greens secured the seat with a commanding 56 per cent share at the May 2023 elections, but the Conservatives have been tipped as likely to win it back.

The Tories previously held the ward in both 2015 and 2019.

The broader Cotswold District Council remains under Liberal Democrat control, with the party occupying 22 of the authority's 34 seats.

Thursday's result will determine whether the Greens can hold on against the Tories.

New Bradwell (Milton Keynes)

Voters in New Bradwell will head to the polls this Thursday for a Milton Keynes City Council by-election prompted by the death of Labour's Shanika Mahendran.

The councillor passed away on July 1 after a short illness, aged just 28.

Ms Mahendran, who had only recently secured her seat in the reconfigured two-member ward at the May 2026 elections, made history as the first Asian woman to hold a cabinet post in the local authority.

She also held the city cabinet portfolio for planning and placemaking and was widely respected within the local community.

Five candidates are vying for the single vacancy.

Tracey Bailey for Labour, Julian Vernon Camies for Reform UK, Martin Kenneth Clarke for the Liberal Democrats, Gabriel Ferreira da Costa for the Conservatives, and Alan Francis for the Greens.

Labour is the clear favourite to retain the seat.

At the May 2026 elections, the party captured both ward seats on 35 per cent of the vote, with Reform UK on 27 per cent and the Greens on 22 per cent.

Wombourne North (South Staffordshire)

Voters in the Wombourne North ward of South Staffordshire District Council head to the polls this Thursday in a by-election prompted by the death of long-standing Conservative representative Barry Bond MBE, who served the ward on the district council for many years.

A single seat is up for grabs, with five candidates putting themselves forward.

The Conservatives have selected Elizabeth Beatrice Florence Keeling, while Reform UK is fielding Marie Shortland.

They are joined by Anil Singh for Labour and Co-operative, Michael James Jones for the Liberal Democrats, and Claire McIlvenna for the Green Party.

Wombourne North has traditionally been rock-solid Tory territory.

The party claimed all three seats on offer at the May 2023 elections, gaining 57 per cent of the total vote.

However, polling has shown the Conservatives face a fight to hold the ward, with Reform UK the favourites.

 Bray (Windsor and Maidenhead)

Residents of the Bray ward in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead will go to the polls this Thursday in a by-election prompted by the death of long-serving Conservative Councillor Leo Walters last month.

Walters had represented the area for decades, making him one of the borough's most established local politicians.

Five candidates are up for the seat.

Clare Stuart-Adams for the Conservatives, Joanna Korczak for the Liberal Democrats, William Albert Sennett for Reform UK, Nigel William Smith for Labour, and John Joseph Baldwin standing for The Borough First Independents.

On paper, the Conservatives enter as favourites given Bray's long history as a safe Tory ward.

However, the Liberal Democrats currently run the council, commanding 21 of the authority's 41 seats.

The Maidenhead parliamentary constituency also swung to the Lib Dems at the 2024 general election.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Donald Trump has told Andy Burnham the Chagos Islands deal is "terrible" in the latest withering assessment of the giveaway from the US.

Speaking at a press conference following a bilateral meeting, the President confirmed outright he did not support the "surrender" to Mr Burnham's face.

"I don't support it," he said.

"Most of them say they have ownership. Somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries. I think it's ridiculous."

He added: "It's strategically very important. Very important. We had to send our B2 bombers when we bombed the Iran nuclear [sites], we had to send the B2 bombers back home to Missouri, as opposed to flying for a short period of time.

"They had to fly for a long period of time. It's amazing how strategic it is, and I think the Prime Minister is going to be looking at it."

Mr Burnham has said Britain will "work hard" to find a resolution to the issue following the press conference with Mr Trump.

The comments come after the pair met for the first time in person - and Mr Burnham said he and the US President had "established a good connection".

He said: "We have established a good connection in our early discussions and we've taken that further today."

In a more ringing endorsement of the "special relationship", Mr Trump said the UK had "great patriotism" and is "waiting for success".

Though in a swipe at Labour, he jabbed that Britain was still "waiting for good leadership".

"I think there's a tremendous patriotism in Britain," he said.

"They want to see great things happen. Tremendous potential. I mean, I see some countries, and I'm with the leaders, and I don't say it, but I don't see a lot of potential. That they've got a tough road to go.

"This is a country with great patriots. They love the country.

"People love the country as much as any other country I can think of, and I think it's just waiting for success, waiting for good leadership, waiting for success."

Andy Burnham has issued a defiant Falklands message to Argentina ahead of his UN General Assembly address.

Following a string of comments over the sovereignty of the islands, Mr Burnham said the UK "will stand firm in the face of any threats".

The comments came after the Prime Minister met Donald Trump for the first time during the UN General Assembly, where the pair had discussed the Falkland Islands, amongst other topics.

When asked about what he discussed with the US President, Mr Burnham said: "Well, I think it's important where I'm going to make a statement that I tell him in advance and I will mention the Falkland Islands.

"I didn't react immediately when the Argentinian president made his recent comments.

"But in this forum, I think it's right for me to set out the position clearly.

"And the clear position is we will stand firm in the face of any threats.

"We will defend the right of the Falkland Islanders to self-determination and to remain British.

"I just wanted the President to know directly from me that's the clear British position and he very much understood what I was saying."

Mr Trump had confirmed earlier this month the US was reviewing its position on the South Atlantic territory, telling GB News he will "settle" the dispute between Britain and Argentina.

Argentina's President and Mr Trump ally, Javier Milei, has long defending his country's claim over the islands, saying they "were, are and will always be Argentine".

The archipelago has been a British Overseas Territory for over 193 years.

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The UK's sanctions on Israeli settlements, which were announced earlier this month, also fuelled Falklands fears.

Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly recognise the overseas territory as Argentinian.

Mr Burnham also raised other foreign affairs issues during his post-Mr Trump interview, such as the Chagos Islands.

The US President said in a press conference following their bilateral meeting that he thought the deal with Mauritius was "terrible" and he did not "support it".

When questioned about Mr Trump's remarks, the Prime Minister said: "Obviously we inherited the situation and we need a resolution.

"It's critical to safeguard the future of the base [Diego Garcia] — that matters to us for security reasons, but also clearly to the United States as well.

"So what I said in the meeting is that we will work to find that resolution between the different sides and we'll work hard to find it.

"It was clear that we need to come to that agreement, but I'm confident we can find it working with our US partners."

The International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 the Chagos Islands should be handed to Mauritius.

The UK signed a deal in May 2025 to do so, alongside billions of pounds in payments to lease back the Diego Garcia military base.

Mr Trump had previously called the deal an "act of great stupidity", however, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed earlier this month the Government will push ahead with the agreement.

The Prime Minister was also asked if he had invited the US President to the UK, to which he said Mr Trump is "always welcome".

He said: "Not today, but he's always welcome. We talked about the Irish Open and golf and lots of other things. I said one thing — that I'd like to deliver on things that I say.

"I said I was having second thoughts about playing golf with him, given a recent performance of my own was probably not up to the right standard. But we'll keep working at that."

Mr Burnham is due to address the UN General Assembly later this evening.

US President Donald Trump launched a scatching attack on the International Criminal Courts (ICC) and the UN over "transgender mutilation of children".

He branded the ICC as an "out of control institution" and vowed the US would never submit to its authority.

Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Trump said: "The United States is equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal Court, we will never allow US service members or anyone else to be investigated or given show trials by an anti-American tribunal with no jurisdiction over us.

"You're an evil group of people."

Mr Trump then called on every nation currently party to the ICC to formally cut ties with the organisation, urging them to "officially resign from this rogue institution immediately".

The US President also turned his fire on the UN's human rights apparatus, accusing officials of focusing on the wrong targets while genuine atrocities go unaddressed elsewhere in the world.

He said: "It is equally unacceptable that, with all the genuine atrocities in the world, the UN's top human rights officials spend their time criticising the United States for protecting our children from transgender mutilation and transgender insanity, and enforcing our immigration laws."

The remarks came during a wide-ranging speech in which Mr Trump opened by declaring "America is back" and insisting the country was "stronger today than ever before".

He told the Assembly: "I can report to you with pride that America is back and our country is stronger today than ever before.

"Our economy is the envy of the world. Our military is the most powerful on earth. Our technology is second to none, and we are leading in virtually everything."

The US President was joined by other world leaders in the Big Apple as they convened for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Also in his address, Mr Trump spoke about Iran and how they were "the bully no more" following the US's joint military operation with Israel against the Islamic Republic.

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He said: "While others have promised strength, I have used it to make America the most powerful country in the world.

"Working with many nations in this room, we are solving decades of intractable challenges, and we are settling years of unfinished business.

"And we're doing it well. There is no better example of a danger that was allowed to gather strength at the world's peril than the number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"For 51 years, the fanatical Iranian regime has ruled by bloodshed and mass murder, spreading death and carnage and chaos across the entire Middle East and beyond.

"They were the bully of the Middle East, but they are the bully no more."

He went to say he was considering whether to "annihilate" Iran or make a deal with them.

Mr Trump said: "Do I annihilate the Islamic Republic... Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?

"But I believe we’ll make a deal right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to."

He defended the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has triggered global economic disruption following Tehran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The US President reaffirmed his "unwavering" commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

He urged other nations to join the US in maintaining pressure on Iran, adding: "We will get it done, one way or another."

Ahead of his speech, senior Iranian officials arrived at the summit with what appeared to be an offer to reopen the Strait within seven days, in exchange for the US easing military pressure on the country.

The US has yet to publicly respond to the proposal.

Phew! Given the risk of any diplomacy involving Donald Trump, No10 will be delighted that the first face- to-face meeting between Andy Burnham and the US President has passed off without incident.

For a start, it was far longer than anyone expected. The chat was meant to last just 30 minutes - instead, it went on for the best part of an hour, including questions at the end.

In comparison, French President Emmanuel Macron was given just 25 minutes with Mr Trump last night.

And Mr Burnham's meeting with EU president Ursula von der Leyen - after the Trump chat - was just 20 minutes long.

Judging from the unscheduled questions from the Press, it could not have gone any better.

Take this from Mr Trump on Mr Burnham, who don't forget has only been in post for two months.

“Right now, based on our relationship with the Prime Minister, Andy, I think we’re doing very well," he said.

“It’s a really special country and we are with you all the way Mr Prime Minister.”

And on Mr Burnham personally: "I think he’s going to be a great Prime Minister. I think he’s got a lot of assets on his side."

The US President even praised Mr Burnham for his business skills.

"He is a natural business person; he gets it," he said. "He understands what he has to do."

This praise for Mr Burnham's business acumen was unexpected.

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Has Mr Burnham signalled in private that his Government is about so sanction the drilling of new oil and gas fields in the North Sea at Jackdaw and Rosebank? We will know soon enough.

The most significant news was Mr Trump's extinguishing of any lingering hopes to breathe life into the deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and pay billions of pounds in taxpayers' money for the privilege.

Mr Trump - who has an effective veto because of the US's involvement with the Diego Garcia military base from where the US wanted to launch attacks on Iran earlier this year - effectively sounded the deathknell on the deal.

He said: "I think it’s a terrible deal. They all of a sudden say they have ownership; somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries. I think it’s ridiculous...

“It’s amazing how strategic it is, and I think the Prime Minister is going to be looking at it. It’s very strategic location. And it’s unique... It’s a very important piece of real estate, militarily and strategically.”

A penny for the thoughts of Jonathan Powell, the National Security Adviser, who was in the room watching on.

Mr Powell was the architect of the deal when he held the same position under Sir Keir Starmer.

It is hard to see the deal now carrying on, even though Mr Burnham had suggested he was trying to make it happen when he spoke to us on the plane from the UK last night.

There are still unanswered questions about what else was agreed.

The future of the Falklands was discussed - did Mr Trump say he would signal US support for UK sovereignty over the islands?

Mr Burnham surely knows that Argentina will back off its claims over the islands if Mr Trump wants it - will the US President say anything in support of UK sovereignty?

Given the scale of what could have gone wrong, the team around Mr Burnham will be very pleased with the outcome.

Mr Burnham sounded genuinely grateful about the warm words from Mr Trump, saying: “Thank you, Mr President, that’s wonderful. We really appreciate that. This relationship matters so much to us and we’ll build on that relationship.

“You and I have established a good connection in our early discussions and we’ve taken that further today.”

As so often with Mr Trump, things can change rapidly. But for now Mr Burnham will be mightily relieved.

A small boat is heading to the UK after spending more than 33 hours at sea in "precarious conditions" despite refusing help from the French coastguard.

The boat, which is holding around 60 migrants, is understood to be making its way to Dover.

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GB News presenter Bev Turner has grilled Prime Minister Andy Burnham on British "patriotism" during his first meeting with Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Putting her question to Mr Burnham, Bev asked: "Your predecessor famously said he was happier in Davos than Westminster - are you happier in Manchester or Manhattan?"

Declaring it a "risky question", the PM responded: "I like to remind the President every now and again about the great city of Manchester. You once called it some town, and I don't hold it against you as the former mayor.

"But obviously I'm very much at home in Makerfield, Manchester, but here too. I love coming here. but I'm patriotic as well. I was explaining to the President today, Britain has been in too much turbulence, a sense of just not knowing where we're going.

"And I said we're going to lay out a plan for Britain, a 10 year direction. The country has got so much going for it, and it's time to turn the story about Britain to a positive story, get some hopefulness going around the country. And I think there's a great opportunity for us as we go forward.

Mr Trump then added: "I think there's a tremendous patriotism in Britain, they want to see great things happen. Tremendous potential. I see some countries and I'm with the leaders and I don't say it, but I don't see a lot of potential, they've got a tough road.

"This is a country with great patience. They love the country. The people love the country as much as any other country I can think of, and I think it's just waiting for success, waiting for good leadership, waiting for success."

WATCH ABOVE.

US President Donald Trump has given a special shoutout to his wife Melania during his address to the UN General Assembly.

Speaking of her work and efforts to reunite displaced Ukrainian and Russian children with their families, Mr Trump told the assembly: "I also want to recognise the extraordinary work of our great First Lady, who has secured the safe return of many displaced Ukrainian and Russian children back home to their families, so many. Thank you very much, First Lady.

"Thank you very much, First Lady, great job. She worked so hard on it. This year, she also became the only First Lady in history to preside over a meeting of the UN Security Council, and she did it very well.

"And today she's hosting a gathering of Fostering the Future Together, which has nearly 60 members, to help improve the lives of young people all over the world. So, Melania, thank you very much. Great job. Great job you're doing."

WATCH ABOVE.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey has taken a swipe at the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during his party conference speech.

Speaking to party members in Brighton, Sir Ed said: "Cynical politicians like Nigel Farage, not just willing, but eager to fan the flames of hatred and intolerance, to make himself richer, to get himself into power, trying to create a nation of division and fear. Because that's what keeps him going.

"Well, conference, that is not our country. That is not who we are. It is the worst of Trump's America. We must not let it become Farage's Britain.

"That rhetoric, it goes beyond words. It has real consequences on our streets and in our communities."

WATCH ABOVE.

Andy Burnham is facing his "first big test" on the world stage ahead of his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump, Bev Turner has told GB News.

Analysing the Prime Minister's visit to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, the People's Channel presenter questioned whether Mr Burnham will feel "more comfortable in Manchester or Manhattan".

The two political leaders, who have only spoken twice before on the phone, will come face-to-face in New York amid tensions over Chagos, the Falklands and the Middle East.

Discussing their upcoming meeting, Bev argued that Mr Trump is also "not in his home environment" and sees the UN Summit as a "globalist talking shop".

Bev told GB News: "President Trump is not at home in this environment. Lots of members of his Government roll their eyes at the concept of the United Nations, and he sees it as a globalist talking shop.

"He said in 2019, the future belongs to patriots, not globalists, and he finds himself back here seven years later, I think, even more wedded to that particular idea."

She argued that the summit will provide Britons with more insight into where Mr Burnham sits on the "globalist conversation".

She said: "But what we can find out today is where Andy Burnham sits on that particular conversation.

"We know that his predecessor, Keir Starmer, famously said if he had a choice to be at Davos or Westminster, he would be at Davos.

"So let's see today whether Andy Burnham is happier in Manhattan or Manchester, because it will tell us a lot about him."

As host Tom Harwood argued that we "all know the answer to that question", Bev was quick to disagree.

She responded: "Well do we, Tom? I think geographically, he'd be happier in Manchester. But I don't think I do know where he sits in terms of the globalist agenda to which we are all wedded.

"Remember, these climate agreements which are being talked about were signed and agreed in 2015.

"It's what President Trump calls communism by stealth. It is as a radical environmentalism, which he wants no part of.

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"Remember he took America out of the Paris climate agreement not once, but twice. So where does Andy Burnham sit on this?"

Bev recalled Mr Trump's calls on the Prime Minister to increase drilling and "open up the North Sea" and how he will be "under pressure" going into talks.

She told GB News: "We know that President Trump is going to place Burnham under pressure to drill.

"He says every single time he has a camera in front of his face and I get to ask him a question about the UK, he says, your windmills are killing your economy, you need to drill in the North Sea.

"So he will be asking Andy Burnham the tough questions over that I imagine today. And if he doesn't, no doubt some members of the press will as well."

Noting that Mr Burnham may have "more in common" with Mr Trump on a personality scale, Bev concluded that the meeting will be a "big test" for the Prime Minister.

She said: "There are huge geopolitical and defence issues to be spoken about today and for Andy Burnham, this is the first big test on the international stage. We haven't seen him in this sort of setting before.

"He looked quite comfortable on his romantic stroll with Pedro Sanchez, but of course, that is the man who is responsible for the invasion in Ceuta with the terrible situation there with illegal migration, so it would have been great to hear what Andy Burnham had to say to Pedro Sanchez and whether they found agreement or not.

"It's going to be absolutely blockbuster. Whatever happens today, we're going to learn a huge amount about Andy Burnham.

"I think personally they will get along well. He will certainly have more rapport than he did with Keir Starmer.

"They had nothing in common in a from a personality point of view. President Trump is always in on the joke in the room, and I think Andy Burnham shares that sense of humour.

"But Trump will take no prisoners because he loves the UK, he loves our country, and he wants us to do well."

Black Britons should put pressure on Andy Burnham for slavery reparations, a backbench Labour MP has said.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group, claimed millions of voters of African descent could force MPs to buckle to calls for reparations.

The Clapham & Brixton Hill MP told attendees at a conference: “As a politician, there is nothing that motivates politicians like whether or not they are going to win their next election.

“There are enough people of African descent within our countries, within Britain in particular, that would decide that.

“Imagine if they were all rooting for the same cause, rooting for reparative justice, what a difference that would make to policy.”

The black population of Britain stood at 2.4 million in the 2021 Census, equating to around four per cent of the overall population.

However, the black population is concentrated in major cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Labour currently holds 73 out of 90 seats across the three English cities, with Ipsos finding that 68 per cent of black voters supported Sir Keir Starmer at the last general election.

Ms Ribeiro-Addy's own seat has a black population of around 22 per cent.

The 41-year-old, who heads the all-parliamentary group of reparations, also suggested trade union members could lend their support.

She said: “Decisions are going to be made in London.

“Right across the UK there are millions of people of African descent and allies in the churches and trade union and town hall ready to fight alongside you.”

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Ms Ribeiro-Addy made the remarks shortly after it was revealed that Caribbean nations were drawing up a multi-pronged “action plan” to secure negotiations on reparations.

A United Nations committee on the elimination of racial discrimination also said countries were legally obliged to consider reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and take other ⁠measures to address the enduring ⁠legacy of racial discrimination.

Despite growing calls from Caribbean nations for trillions of pounds in reparations, Andy Burnham last week rejected the suggestion the UK is obliged to make payments.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The transatlantic slave trade was abhorrent.

"We fully recognise its horrific impacts and the ongoing strength of feeling it arouses.

“The UK’s position is clear: we do not and will not pay reparations.

“The UK is committed to continued dialogue with all our partners on legacies of the past."

Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage revealed he would battle for Britain not to pay reparations if he wins the next general election.

"Barbados, alongside other Caribbean countries, is preparing to take Britain to court for another reparations shakedown," Mr Farage said. "I will never let this happen as Prime Minister."

He added: "Let me be clear. If these countries continue to push for reparations under a Reform Government, I'll suspend visas to their nationals. If they want a fight, I’ll give them one.

British ships transported around 3.4 million Africans across the Atlantic between 1640 and 1807.

However, the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron ultimately led the charge in clamping down on the practice, seizing roughly 1,600 slave ships and freeing around 150,000 enslaved Africans by 1860.

While the UK abolished slavery in 1833, France only definitely outlawed the act in 1848 and the United States waited until 1865.

GB News host Alex Armstrong has challenged Luke Pollard in a fiery clash over the UK's support for international allies, after deploying support for Saudi Arabia.

Appearing on the People's Channel, the Defence Minister was questioned on why Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chosen to deploy RAF defences to Saudi Arabia, despite not offering support to Donald Trump in his Middle Eastern conflict.

Highlighting the lack of "dignity" from Sir Keir Starmer's Government towards the US President, Alex pressed Mr Pollard: "You have given support to one of our allies today, Saudi Arabia. However, in the previous Starmer Government, the same dignity wasn't shown, was it?

"We let the President of the United States down when it came to backing them when they asked for help, but now we're backing Saudi Arabia.

"It seems completely incoherent to our audience - what is going on with our defence and foreign policy here? Are you not making it up as you go along?"

Defending the decision, Mr Pollard told GB News: "No we're not making it up, but let me just cover the request made by our friends in Saudi Arabia that the Prime Minister has accepted.

"They've asked for air-to-air refuelling capabilities so they can use their British-built Typhoon aircraft in a defensive manner to defend their nation against the attacks that's been made by the Houthis against not just military installations, but also drones and missiles hitting their capital in Riyadh."

The defence minister assured that Saudi Arabia is a "very close friend" and ally of Britain.

He explained: "That request we received, we've analysed and we've discussed with our Saudi friends and we've approved it. So as a result, one of our RAF Voyager aircraft that's based at the RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus will be acting in support of those defensive measures for our friends in Saudi Arabia.

"But we've also announced today a really important milestone with our American friends, not just a new AI agreement, but also that we have test fired one of the American heavyweight torpedoes off one of our brand new undersea uncrewed submarines in our test range in Scotland."

Mr Pollard told GB News that the new agreement with the US ensures the UK's "lethality" is increased in light of international threats.

He said: "It helps increase our lethality and show to our adversaries that we have the latest technology. So it's not just our crude submarines that people wish to threaten us in the maritime space now need to worry about. It's our uncrewed platforms that can come equipped with torpedoes as well.

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"A really big increase in our lethality but also our deterrence and a good sign of the UK and the US working together in our national security."

Challenging Mr Pollard on the UK's threats from Russia, host Ellie Costello pressed him on remarks made by former Special Forces commander Al Carns, who warned that Russia will "ramp up" hybrid attacks "in the coming months".

Asked whether the Government has been "asleep at the wheel" on the threat from Russia, Mr Pollard was quick to disagree.

He said: "I'm a big fan of Al Carns, I worked very closely with him for two years when he was in the defence ministerial team. And certainly as someone with decades of military experience before him, I take what he says very seriously.

"We need to be aware that the threats that Russia poses to the UK is not just military threats. There's a number of grey zone threats that's below the level of military conflict. Some of that is about espionage and sabotage, some of that is about cyber attacks.

"And as a result, we've been increasing our spend in those areas to make sure that we have increased capabilities."

The defence minister assured that the Government is working "more closely" with its allies on several "cross-border" risks.

He said: "We've been working more closely, in particular with our Nato allies in Europe against some of the actions that we're seeing both in the UK potentially, but also elsewhere that people need should be reassured that we're spending more on defence and our country is well defended.

"But the risk that Russia poses is real and it's growing, and for that reason we're increasing defence spending."

The Labour Government has been accused of "losing control" of Britain's borders after an undetected small boat carrying illegal migrants arrived on the Kent coast.

Speaking to GB News, Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake argued that the only way to stop the crossings is to "detain and deport" all illegal arrivals to the UK.

On Monday, a GB News producer was alerted by a local skipper after seeing a migrant dinghy with up to 10 illegal immigrants onboard, heading towards the Kent shore near Folkestone.

Most of those on board had run off, but the People's Channel producer managed to persuade three of the illegal immigrants to stay with him until police arrived a few minutes later.

Following the incident, GB News has been informed that five of those onboard the dinghy have since been detained by police and Border Force.

Reacting to the crossing, Mr Hollinrake said that it is clear the Government has "lost control" of the country's borders.

He said: "I think it tells us they've lost control of our borders, and the only way to deal with this is detain and deport all illegal arrivals into the UK.

"And it's quite clear that's been our position for years, we legislated for that so we can detain anybody who comes here on a small boat, put them in a detention centre pending their deportation back to the home country. Or if that's not possible for whatever reason, we send them to a third country."

Reflecting on the Rwanda scheme, Mr Hollinrake made clear that the Tories would reinstate the policy "tomorrow" if they wee in Government.

He told GB News: "In our case we decided that should be Rwanda, that's the right thing to do. Again, upon taking office, the Labour Party scrapped that legislation. They could re-implement it tomorrow.

"We would support them to re-implement that tomorrow, that's what needs to be done.

"That would deal with people coming over the Channel, but crucially, it'd be the deterrent as well that would stop people making that journey in the first place. That's the right thing to do."

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Discussing the nation's prisons crisis, Mr Hollinrake also echoed the Conservatives's pledge to remove foreign criminals from UK prisons.

He told GB News: "We believe that foreign national offenders in British jails should be deported back to their home country, that's what we've said, and wherever that's possible, we'll do that.

"There are 10,000 foreign national offenders in British jails. That's how to create space in our jails to mean that violent offenders, sex offenders don't get released back into into society.

"That's what we wanted to do, and we're being very clear about that."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Individuals who have no legal basis to remain in the UK should be deported and we are committed to making this happen.

"We have a dedicated tracing capability in the Home Office who work with the police and other enforcement agencies to trace those who abscond.

"The number of absconders is 70 per cent lower than the peak year under the previous government. But we must go further.

"The Home Secretary will double the Immigration Enforcement budget to support tens of thousands more raids, arrests and deportations of those here illegally."

Evil Iranian army commanders are "at the mercy of Donald Trump’s bombers" after being tricked into revealing their secret hideouts, GB News can reveal.

The war-torn Islamic Republic entered a state of high alert yet again at the weekend over fears the American President had lost patience with the current stalemate.

Military chiefs fled to bunkers in locations across Iran as they awaited a fresh wave of attacks.

The US President issued a chilling threat to destroy the “entire country” if they did not submit to his demands after cutting short his weekend break and returning to Washington.

However, dissidents working with the US from within to destabilise the current regime believe it was all a trick to fool them into revealing their new network of hideaways.

A dissident source in southern Iran risked their life to tell GB News: “A state of high alert was declared for all military personnel.

“All the commanders had moved into bunkers, but the expected attack never came.

“The strong feeling is that it was a ruse to better identify the locations of the commanders’ hideouts.

“They have changed these places of so-called safety a few times throughout the conflict.

"But the rush to get to the new bunkers at the weekend will have been seen by the Americans and their spies.

“It’s now certain there are commanders at the mercy of Donald Trump’s bombers.”

Opposition forces in Iran are now holding their breath to see the result of today's meeting of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

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The US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, said that Donald Trump is "always open to a deal".

He was responding to questions about whether he would meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as the rest of the world seeks to de-escalate tensions in the area.

Once again warning the Iranians to "behave", the President said he was still in "deciding mode”.

However, Iran’s leaders, whose delegation to the UN had been denied visas by the US, are nervously awaiting what comes next.

They are still believed to be at their highest level of alert – known as Code 100 – as they watch movements of US bombers and other military assets in the Middle East.

It is understood that their fanatical armed forces are at the maximum level of war readiness, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regular army and air force units.

Nerves are already shredded among the struggling population, which has also had to deal with the economic crisis created in the aftermath of Operation Epic Fury in February.

People in towns and cities across the country are now braced for new attacks and even worse deprivation.

The dissident source told GB News: “I think another major war is imminent – we will be deprived of energy for a long time.

“Many people already cannot make ends meet. It will only get worse.”

The Iranian death toll following Operation Epic Fury stood at 3,468 in April, Tehran's state-run Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs claimed.

Meanwhile, the estimated figure for Iranian injured now sits at 25,000.

A migrant dinghy that departed from the Normandy coastline on Monday morning has now been at sea for over 24 hours and is nearing the Channel boundary line.

Ship tracking data indicates the vessel launched from a point near Vierville-sur-Mer, situated to the west of Bayeux, with a French coastguard ship following its progress.

This development comes as the Government faces scrutiny over a separate incident on Monday, when a dinghy reached the shore at Folkestone without authorities detecting it.

Authorities took five individuals into custody and handed them over to Border Security Command.

It marks the first unescorted small boat arrival at the UK coast since September 6, 2025.

Defence Minister Luke Pollard rejected any suggestion that ministers had lost grip on border control.

He told LBC: "Our borders are secure, but we want to make them stronger."

When pressed on how the vessel evaded detection, Mr Pollard confirmed the Home Office had launched an investigation into the circumstances but declined to elaborate further.

Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, claimed on social media he was going into the Channel to find the boat.

He founded Patriot Platform, an anti-migration organisation, and has close ties to political activist Tommy Robinson.

Mr Thomas played a leading role in the Portsmouth protest and organised the Dover demonstration.

Crossings originating as far west as Normandy remain unusual.

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Earlier in September, a dinghy that had launched from the Cherbourg area required assistance from Isle of Wight lifeboats, sparking furious protests in Portsmouth.

That voyage is believed to have been among the longest ever undertaken by a small boat crossing the Channel.

At the time, officials assessed the Cherbourg departure as an isolated occurrence rather than evidence of smuggling networks adopting new routes.

The vast majority of Channel crossings are intercepted at sea, with migrants typically brought ashore by Border Security Command or RNLI vessels.

Over 82,000 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boat crossings since the Labour Party took power in 2024.

So far in 2026, about 17,480 people have reached the UK by small boat, a 46 per cent reduction from the same period last year.

Of that total, some 5,011 arrivals have occurred since Andy Burnham took office as Prime Minister.

The English Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Robert Jenrick has launched a scathing attack on the Labour Government ahead of the first wave of early releases for UK prisoners.

Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK Treasury spokesman argued that he would rather see "three, four or five" prisoners in each cell than see them released onto our streets early.

The Prime Minister's early release scheme is facing fresh backlash as new data has revealed that more than 1,000 of the prisoners earmarked for early release will not be fitted with tracking tags.

The Probation Service is reportedly lacking the capacity neded to fit devices on offenders ahead of the first wave of 1,350 releases, which begins on October 1.

Reacting to the latest controversial development in the scheme, Mr Jenrick told GB News that if Reform UK were in Government, they would "never have released the prisoners".

He said: "I would have kept them in jail. I don't care if there are two, three, four or five prisoners in each cell, don't put these people on our streets.

"We know that many of them re-offend, we know that the tags don't work, that the probation service is overstretched and doesn't have the capacity to follow them and to ensure that they don't pose a danger to the public."

Mr Jenrick explained that a Reform UK Government would remove "all foreign prisoners" from the UK to either their home countries or other prisons.

He said: "What would Reform do? Well, we want to get all of the foreign prisoners out of this country, whether that's back home to their own countries or to others elsewhere in the world.

"And we announced that we would be in talks with El Salvador, a country that does this already for the United States, and that we would fly as many of these foreign criminals as possible to the giant prisons that are being constructed in El Salvador. That is the answer."

The Reform MP added that the party's long term plan will also ensure the creation of more prisons across the UK.

He told GB News: "In the long run, it's building more prisons, that's what we've got to do. The last Conservative Government didn't do it, that was a huge mistake, and they closed the old Victorian gaols before even the new ones had come on board.

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"But at Reform, we've found the money, we've found the savings. We're going to build those prisons so that we can keep dangerous people off the streets of this country."

Turning to the migration crisis, Mr Jenrick was asked for his reaction to an undetected small boat arrival in Kent, reported to authorities by a GB News producer.

He responded: "It's very worrying indeed. Look, you've got migrants now coming over on small boats and managing to get all the way to shore, and then some of them have just disappeared, probably never to be seen again.

"And we know that some of those young men may pose a risk to women, to our people. We also know that hostile states have been using small boats to smuggle in terrorists and agents into this country, countries like Iran.

"And so if they're able to get to our shores unimpeded by Border Force and the authorities, then who knows what they might do as well."

In a statement, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Public protection is our priority and were imposing the toughest-ever controls on offenders.

"We're investing £100 million in the biggest expansion of tagging in British history, introducing a presumption to tag offenders before release for the first time, and strengthening victim protections through new alert systems.

"This is part of our record £700million investment in probation and community services, recruiting 2,300 trainee officers over the last two years and a further 1,300 this year, and ensuring dangerous offenders are kept under closer surveillance than ever before."

Watch the moment GB News host Alex Armstrong challenges Liberal Democrat President Josh Barbarinde on the party's plan to change legislation surrounding single-sex spaces.

Pressing Mr Barbarinde, Alex asked: "Your party has voted to drop rules protecting single-sex spaces, essentially restoring the ability if you are in Government to allow trans people to use a bathroom of their choice.

"Many people are saying today that this is unworkable and that it would be putting women at risk. What do you make of those comments, Josh?"

Mr Barbarinde responded: "Absolutely, we have aired some of the concerns that the office for Equality and Opportunity, the Government's own equality body, have aired about the Equality and Human Rights Commission's guidance.

"And I'm sure you'd be shocked, actually, Alex, to see in there, there are some things that talk about risks of increased violence or discrimination against trans people. I don't think that we should accept that.

"And what we said in our conference hall is that we need to challenge that head on. We don't need to play off different people's rights against each other.

"We're very clear, and no one is under any doubt that we're a party that champions the rights of the individual, and that includes the rights of trans and non-binary people."

WATCH ABOVE.

Most of the 1,350 prisoners set free early under Labour's early release scheme next month will not be fitted with ankle tracking tags, it has emerged.

The Probation Service is said to lack the capacity to fit devices on offenders ahead of the first wave of releases, which begins on October 1.

The number of prisoners due out over the following fortnight is twice what was originally planned.

Those being released are serving sentences of up to two years and five months.

While tagging before release will be prioritised for the most dangerous offenders, serious and violent criminals could still leave prison unmonitored, according to the Times.

Ministers had pledged that electronic monitoring would form the foundation of the revamped early release model, which Prime Minister Andy Burnham restructured after taking office.

The government said that there would be a "presumption that all offenders are electronically tagged on release", with exemptions granted only in narrow circumstances deemed unsuitable.

In practice, however, most prisoners leaving custody next month under tagging orders will not have devices fitted before they walk out.

Instead, they will be tagged at a later point once already back in the community.

Three categories of devices, curfew, location and alcohol tags, are expected to be deployed.

Violent and sexual offenders will face newly created "restriction zones", with victims given input into how those boundaries are drawn.

It follows a damning National Audit Office report published this summer, which found the electronic monitoring system was broken and endangering the public.

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The watchdog identified 9,000 offenders across England and Wales who should have been wearing tags but were not, among them violent criminals and released prisoners.

Serco, the private contractor responsible for the tagging programme, successfully fitted devices to just 62 per cent of those who required them.

The firm met its visit punctuality targets, though this did not necessarily translate into offenders actually being tagged.

The NAO also found that Serco was allowed up to 53 hours to report licence breaches to the authorities.

Senior police figures have separately cautioned that supervising released prisoners intensively will stretch forces and potentially divert officers from tackling other crime.

Nick Timothy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, accused the Government of "systematically misleading the public" over the safety of the early release programme.

He said: "We were told that security measures would be in place so dangerous offenders would be properly tagged. Now it's been revealed that isn't true.

"The public have been told they will not be put in danger by the early release of prisoners, and that proper tagging would be in place before the first releases. Now it turns out that was a lie."

Mr Burnham had already overhauled the scheme after succeeding Sir Keir Starmer, barring those convicted of unlawful killing, sexual offences and crimes against children from eligibility.

Those changes followed public outrage and intervention from police chiefs over plans that would have made the killers of PC Andrew Harper eligible for release.

The Ministry of Justice told The Times: "Public protection is our priority and we’re imposing the toughest-ever controls on offenders. We’re investing £100million in the biggest expansion of tagging in British history, introducing a presumption to tag offenders before release for the first time, and strengthening victim protections through new alert systems.

"This is part of our record £700million investment in probation and community services, recruiting 2,300 trainee officers over the last two years and a further 1,300 this year, and ensuring dangerous offenders are kept under closer surveillance than ever before.”

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Andy Burnham has opened the door to reopening the Brexit battle "another day" after refusing to rule out making membership of the European Union a manifesto commitment.

The Prime Minister, who last year declared he wants the UK to rejoin the EU in his lifetime, insisted Labour was now focused on strengthening cross-Channel relations ahead of this year’s summit with Brussels.

MORE TO FOLLOW...

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

PC Harper's killer is not a danger to society and was only convicted of sexual assault because he is a Traveller, his mother has claims.

The 44-year-old mother of Albert Bowers, Donna-Marie Bowers, launched a furious attack on the decision to keep her son in prison and described her son as "not a danger to anyone now".

Bowers is understood to be flagged as a "sex offender", "violent" and "racist" in prison records.

His mother dismissed the sexual assault conviction as being based on "lies", claiming "the judge wasn't interested in that because Albert is a traveller".

She rejected the claim that the officer's death was "a tragic accident" and directed her anger at the British public and Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

In a series of Facebook posts, she blamed a petition signed by more than one million people for blocking her son's early release.

She wrote that the Prime Minister "might as well stand down and let the public just rule the country" if "he is just going to fold every time he gets a bit of pressure".

Mrs Bowers told The Daily Mail that her son and his co-defendant "didn't mean to do what they done".

PC Harper, a 28-year-old newlywed, was killed in Berkshire in 2019 after he attempted to intervene as a group of teenagers stole a quad bike.

The officer became entangled with the gang's getaway vehicle and was dragged for approximately a mile, suffering fatal injuries.

Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 17 at the time, were passengers in the car driven by 19-year-old ringleader Henry Long.

The pair were acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter, each receiving a 13-year sentence.

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Both Bowers and Cole, now 24, had been eligible for release after completing half their terms under Labour's early release scheme.

However, following a widespread public campaign backed by PC Harper's family, the Prime Minister intervened by excluding those convicted of unlawful killing from the programme.

In her online outburst, written in broken English, Mrs Bowers maintained that only "some of the public" were against the release, despite the petition attracting over a million signatures.

Mrs Bowers additionally shared posts attacking what she called "double standards" among campaigners, alleging that "most of the corrupt scum who wear the uniform are being protected by their like-minded colleagues".

A prison source described the killer as "evil" and "completely devoid of any morals or any humanity", adding that he treats PC Harper's death "almost like a medal".

The source told The Daily Mail that Bowers had "never shown a moment's regret" and was photographed smiling on his way to court appearances.

PC Harper's family said they were "re-traumatised" by the battle to prevent the early release of his killers.

Bowers and Cole are now expected to remain in prison until approximately March 2029, when they will have served two-thirds of their sentences.

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Andy Burnham will today tell the head of the European Union that he wants to move forward with a mobility scheme for young people at a summit before Christmas.

The Prime Minister is due to meet with EU President Ursula von der Leyen at the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Mr Burnham said that his "focus at the moment is on a UK/EU summit which we hope will take place later this year".

The summit had been postponed since the summer because of the resignation of Mr Burnham's predecessor Sir Keir Starmer.

He told reporters en route to the US: "My immediate priority is to build on the good work that Keir did in rebuilding bridges.

"Because those bridges were broken in the early part of this decade.

"And Keir did a good job in re-establishing that relationship."

The two sides are trying to hammer out a deal to agree limited freedom of movement for young adults aged 18 to 30.

He said that this remained a priority for the UK.

He said: "What we have got to do is now go to the to the next level in terms of reaching practical agreement that will further boost the British economy.

"And those issues are the substance of the summit alongside EU requests around youth mobility."

Mr Burnham also said there were worries in London about a "Made in Europe" initiative which will see EU states favouring their own domestic industries.

He said: "We do have concerns about Made in Europe, which is something that could affect British industry and British supply chains.

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"I will meet the President of the European Commission tomorrow and I will, in a constructive spirit put on the table some of our concerns towards those things."

Earlier this year, the British Chambers of Commerce warned that UK factories risk being cut out of EU supply chains under Brussels' “Made in Europe” plan.

The EU has been pushing for new quotas on the use of domestic components in products such as cars, which would end the bloc’s traditional reliance on China and the US.

Just days ago, it emerged that the initiative risked derailing Labour's Brexit "reset" talks altogether.

The UK fears the laws could leave billions of pounds worth of trade in peril if British goods are not marked as European.

That could lock Britain out of key contracts on the continent.

France, behind the Made in Europe laws, wants them passed by the end of the year, worsening fears that British manufacturing could be left behind.

While the French are thought to be sympathetic to the UK's position, they want the laws passed now in the face of increasing competition from China.

The EU would make allowances for third countries later - a process which could take years.

Government borrowing surged to £18.3billion last month, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This overshoots the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) projection by £3.5billion and heaps further pressure on Chancellor John Healey ahead of his October Budget.

August's figure came in £2.9billion higher than the same month in 2025, driven by expenditure growing at a faster pace than tax receipts.

The City had anticipated borrowing of around £15.6billion, meaning the actual total also significantly exceeded market expectations.

Britain's national debt is now rising faster than forecast, and the Government once again needs to borrow more than projected to keep public finances in order.

Across the first five months of the financial year, total borrowing has reached £77.3billion. While that sum is £2.2 billion below the equivalent period last year, it sits £8.1billion above what the OBR projected.

Relative to the size of the economy, however, the cumulative borrowing figure ranks as the tenth lowest for an April-to-August stretch since comparable monthly records started in 1993.

ONS senior statistician Tom Davies said: "Borrowing in the financial year so far was lower than over the same period last year.

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However, it was higher than the official forecast, largely because central government borrowed more than anticipated."

He added: "On the month, borrowing was up by almost a fifth on last August, as spending increased more than government income partly reflecting the impacts of inflation."

The Government's debt interest bill hit £8.8billion in August, marking the highest figure for that month since monthly records began in 1997.

Of that total, £2.1billion stemmed from index-linked gilts, whose repayments are tied to the RPI inflation rate.

Resources that might otherwise fund schools, hospitals, defence and other demands on the public purse are instead being absorbed by the cost of servicing the national debt.

Susannah Streeter, the chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said the Chancellor's fiscal constraints have become even more acute.

"The Burnham fiscal bind has wound even tighter, giving him very little room for manoeuvre at the Budget," she warned, adding that only minor adjustments are likely in late October given the absence of headroom for significant spending commitments.

She cautioned that any perception of fiscal looseness would provoke a sharp reaction from bond markets, potentially driving gilt yields higher.

Significant losses could be seen within months as the European Union continues to exclude the UK from its policies, potentially impacting an €80billion (£68.6billion) automotive relationship.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has highlighted the integrated relationship between the UK and the European Union amid fears it could be impacted soon.

In the near future, the EU will intensify talks relating to the Industrial Accelerator Act, as it works to shore up sectors across Europe given the emerging threat from China.

The IAA states that the UK is currently excluded from certain "Made in Europe" regulations, meaning vehicles manufactured in the UK risk losing out on certain incentives.

These incentives are only available to EU-made products and include backing for cleaner fleets and CO2 super credits.

The UK is still excluded from the EU's Member State procurement, despite a storied history between the two partners.

Through supply chain activity and wage-funded customer spending, the UK auto sector supports 250,000 jobs across the bloc.

The UK and EU also have a trading relationship worth a staggering €80billion (£68.6billion) annually, according to analysis from Oxford Economics.

UK automotive production is estimated to support around €24billion (£20.6billion) of economic activity across the bloc and across all sectors.

The export of vehicles from the UK to Europe is also significant, with estimates that they generate €5.6billion (£4.8billion) of spending and support 58,000 jobs.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, warned that both sides of the trading relationship could be hammered if the UK is given access to Made in Europe provisions.

He said: "Despite Brexit, supply chains remain deeply integrated and the cross-Channel trading relationship is worth €80billion (£68.6billion) a year, supporting jobs, growth and investment.

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"The EU is rightly focused on strengthening its industrial base, but the UK remains fundamental to Europe's automotive ecosystem and is therefore essential to that ambition.

"Excluding the UK from 'Made in Europe' would be an own goal, weakening competitiveness, reducing scale and limiting consumer choice."

Mr Hawes outlined that the UK's automotive sector needed recognition as a trusted partner within the IAA to "strengthen, rather than fragment, Europe's automotive industry".

Earlier this month, European Relations Minister Hamish Falconer raised the issue with European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič in Brussels.

The UK remains the EU's second-largest export market for vehicle parts, which is worth around €12billion (£10.3billion) every year.

It is also responsible for one-tenth of the EU's imported auto parts, although this could be impacted unless changes are made in Brussels.

A Government spokesperson told GB News: "We are working with carmakers about rules of origin requirements for electric vehicles, and will continue to engage with the EU to support industry on both sides of the channel."

A leaked report has revealed a rare species of newt was previously discovered at a proposed asylum camp in Oxfordshire.

Ecologists at the former Ministry of Defence (MoD) garrison next to the village of Piddington found a "large" population of great crested newts, which are strictly protected by environmental law.

A series of surveys had taken place at the site back in 2008 when it was originally pitched as an 800-bed immigration removal centre.

However, the then-Conservative Government scrapped the plans two years later, citing the cost of developing the site.

The report was flagged by one of the campaigners fighting the new asylum plans, reports The Telegraph.

Critics of the scheme said it is evidence to challenge the Home Office’s claim that its "preliminary" surveys have found "no recorded protected species present on the site".

Residents, who have conducted their own surveys, claim they show evidence not only of the newts but also barbastelle bats, one of the rarest endangered species of bat in the UK and internationally.

Added costs of protecting endangered species could add massive costs to the site in a further headache for the Home Office over the controversial proposals.

In their report for the Border Agency ecologists said they had discovered 157 adult great crested newts in a single visit to the MoD site.

Pointing to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, activists said the newts were guaranteed protection against "unlawful disturbance, killing and injuring" while their resting and breeding places were also protected by habitat regulations.

The Home Office said ecological surveys were ongoing.

However, a spokesman added: "Preliminary ecological surveys have identified no recorded protected species present on the site, and a licence is only required if officially identified.

"It has been concluded use of the site is unlikely to have a significant impact on the environment."

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The people of Piddington last week voted to secede from the UK after Labour announced plans to house 1,256 male asylum seekers at the nearby former military base.

The symbolic poll drew widespread media attention and also caught the attention of some in Barnham, Suffolk, where RAF Barnham has been identified as a possible asylum accommodation site.

Chairman of Barnham Parish Council John Bauer said a "small group" would travel to Piddington on Tuesday evening to meet campaigners there.

He said: "It’s really a fact-finding mission, I guess to find out a bit more about exactly what they’ve done, how effective it’s all been and whether that’s something we would want to do in Barnham."

Mr Bauer said that at the last census around 580 people were recorded as living in Barnham.

He added: "Why is Barnham not suitable (for the proposed asylum accommodation)? Where do you want me to begin?

"1,250 single men being accommodated next to a village of less than 600 – the numbers themselves, I mean, it’s so disproportionate.

"It’s not like they would be contained within the site, they’re not restricted."

Meeting residents of Piddington this week, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has told villagers "please don’t leave".

Speaking to more than 40 women at Piddington village hall, Mrs Badenoch said: "I know you had the referendum, the village referendum, to leave the United Kingdom. Please don’t leave."

She said she understood the poll was "just a sign of how desperate the situation is for young people here, for the women here, to be honest, even the men".

The United States, Denmark, and Greenland are expected to sign an agreement today that will allow Washington to establish two new military bases on the Arctic island.

According to reports, the deal will reopen a Cold War-era facility at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland, while a second base will be set up at Mestersvig on the territory's east coast.

The Narsarsuaq site previously housed a US military installation that closed in the 1950s, after which the local population declined significantly.

Mestersvig, meanwhile, currently serves as a base for Danish special forces operations.

Leaders are set to meet at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

President Trump revealed the agreement last Friday, after months of threatening to use force to seize the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

The White House has declined to discuss specifics of the arrangement.

The deal comes after a protracted campaign by Trump to bring Greenland under American control.

The President had urged Copenhagen to sell the mineral-rich island outright.

When Denmark initially refused, he said he would not rule out using military force.

His aggressive posturing unsettled Nato, of which Denmark is a founding member state.

A pre-existing security arrangement between Washington and Copenhagen already permitted the deployment of US forces on Greenlandic soil.

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A previous White House statement indicated the agreement would "secure and defend the security of Greenland and the United States".

America's military footprint on Greenland was once vastly larger.

During the Cold War, Washington maintained 17 installations across the territory, staffed by more than 10,000 service personnel.

That presence has since shrunk dramatically, with the US now operating only the Pituffik Space Base, where roughly 150 military staff are stationed.

The new agreement would mark the most significant expansion of American forces on the island in decades.

President Trump hailed the arrangement on social media last Friday, declaring that it "gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many US concerns".

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen struck an upbeat tone ahead of the signing.

He said: "Next week could be a good week for Greenland, Denmark and the United States alike."

Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, also expressed support, saying that the deal benefits all three governments and "recognises Greenland's interests".

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A man has been jailed for three years and nine months after admitting to helping five Iranian nationals enter the UK using false details and documents.

Under the name "Benjamin White", the 27-year-old, of Crwys Lane, Barry, pleaded guilty to assisting unlawful immigration to the UK after arranging flights from France and Spain to London for people using false identities.

The court heard White advertised his services on Telegram, and used a number of email addresses and telephone numbers to arrange 12 flight bookings involving eight people between September 2023 and July 2024.

Five of those people successfully entered the UK, and subsequently gave the Home Office their real identities before applying for asylum.

The remaining cases involved passengers who either failed to board their flights, or were refused permission to travel.

Sentencing White, Judge Hobson said he was satisfied the defendant had been involved in a criminal enterprise arranging air travel for Iranian nationals.

“You were part of a criminal enterprise which involved arranging air travel to the UK for Iranian nationals,” the judge said.

He added that he was “quite sure” the enterprise involved providing false documents to people making the journeys.

The court heard White used his own bank account and Apple Pay to pay for some of the flights, while different contact details were used when making bookings.

White told police he received $50 (£37) for each flight, and was paid in cryptocurrency. However, Judge Hobson rejected the suggestion that this was the extent of his financial motivation.

“That simply wouldn't make any commercial sense whatsoever,” he said.

Police arrested White on December 9 last year, after a search of his home uncovered two international driving licences, which the defendant told officers he had “found” and kept because he liked to collect documents.

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The court heard the documents were not used to arrange any of the flights.

Nigel Fryer, defending, said White accepted that he had knowingly purchased flights for people using false details, and had pleaded guilty at an early stage.

He said there was “a relative sophistication” to the offending, but pointed to the relatively small number of people who ultimately entered the UK.

The court also heard that White had no previous convictions in the UK, and had family and a partner in the Llanishen area. His immigration status was due to be settled next year.

The prosecution said there was no evidence that dangerous methods, such as small boats, had been used to facilitate the journeys, as the individuals travelled by air.

White is an Iranian national who originally entered the UK by small boat himself.

After arriving, he changed his name from Parham Moradzadeh Sarabi to Benjamin White, and was granted leave to remain on family grounds until November next year.

Following the sentence, Conservative Senedd member Andrew RT Davies called on Vale of Glamorgan Council to abandon its County of Sanctuary status.

The region is among local authorities whose council and community formally commit to offering a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for refugees and people seeking asylum.

He said: “Illegal migration poses a serious risk in the Vale of Glamorgan – and this case proves it. All authorities must unite to send a clear message that entering the country illegally, or assisting people to do so, will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

“The Council’s irresponsible County of Sanctuary policy does the opposite - it must be scrapped.”

It comes amid the arrival of a migrant dinghy on a Kent beach this afternoon migrant dinghy on a Kent beach this afternoon, undetected by UK authorities, who were only alerted after a GB News producer called the Coastguard.

Andy Burnham is bracing for his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump just hours after Nigel Farage issued a dire warning to the Prime Minister.

Mr Burnham, who will meet with the US President in New York City as world leaders gather at the United Nations, last night told reporters he "found a connection" with Mr Trump.

He said: "I will go with where I feel it's right, to meet him where he is at, and search for that common ground, which I'm sure we'll find."

The Prime Minister added: "I will be making the case for closer international co-operation on AI, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and renewed efforts to bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East because what happens abroad impacts each and every one of us at home."

However, Mr Burnham will arrive in New York alongside his wife, Marie-France Van Heel, following a series of warnings from political leaders at home.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is reportedly going to say it "doesn't come close to meeting the scale of the threat" and "only risks making us more dependent on a Trump administration in the pocket of the tech bros".

Meanwhile, Mr Farage told GB News: "If Andy Burnham walks in there and says 'we're going to continue giving China massive influence over this', well, there are two things really.

"One is the Diego Garcia base, the second, of course, is the Chagossian people. But I think frankly, he needs to say that's not going to go ahead."

The Reform UK leader added: "We've got to look out for that very, very carefully, but if you get off on the wrong foot like that, it won't go well."

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Britain "can be hopeful about where we’re going, draw a line under the last decade and say 'this next one’s going to be different'", Andy Burnham will tell world leaders today.

The Prime Minister said he was going to cut a defiant approach when he speaks to the United Nations General Assembly tonight after his first meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Speaking to journalists travelling with him to New York City, Mr Burnham said: "I’m going to give a really upbeat message when I speak tomorrow.

"We can be hopeful about where we’re going, we can draw a line under the last decade and say this next one’s going to be different, and it is going to be different, that’s my approach, will be my approach as Prime Minister.

"I keep saying this: 'Nobody won’t know what I’m trying to do in this role. Nobody will say: "Oh we weren’t quite sure." People will know.'

"You can make the judgement about whether it’s right or wrong, but people are going to know the direction I want to take this country and I will set it down quite clearly, starting next week."

Mr Burnham said that he is leading a "cost of living Government because that is the biggest issue of our times", a theme he will also expand upon at next week's Labour Party conference.

He said he wanted to look at "what the long term structural changes you can make to make the everyday basics more affordable to people, so those are connected, but they are two different things.

"And the plan for Britain is about what is our direction over the next ten years, and how do we make life more affordable for people, that is my main priority, that’s what people are looking for, but that brings me back to the message of the conference, the hope we bring.

He said: "People are feeling: 'Where is my ability to have a holiday, look forward to a holiday with the kids, go on a night out, have a few beers,' that’s what people are feeling.

"It’s realistic to say they don’t expect everything to be done, they want a Government that is trying, doing what it can, where it can, but it’s then about what the long-term changes we need to make to put the country on a long-term path where things are affordable, but also where the country is more functional, the economy is growing."

He added: "I hear people saying the country is on the slide. We're the fastest-growing in the G7, there’s lots to be proud of, there’s a lot right with the country."

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Mr Burnham also dismissed his past attacks on Mr Trump, saying that "politicians say things throughout their career".

But on the sidelines of the UN, Mr Burnham may have to fend off the President's fury on a whole slate of issues.

The UK has offered up a single refuelling jet to Saudi Arabia for the kingdom's campaign against the Houthis - but Mr Trump is still thought to be bristling at a lack of British backing for the war in Iran.

Mr Burnham is also set to push Mr Trump to further arm Ukraine, renewing his call during a visit to Kyiv last month for more US-made Patriot interceptor missiles.

Industry sources told The Times yesterday the Prime Minister may tell Mr Trump Labour will indeed approve drilling at the Jackdaw gasfield off the Scottish coast.

He may also face a grilling over the Government's assaults on the internet - in particular, the digital services tax, social media ban and plans to promote so-called "trusted" news sources online.

And he will have to contend with the President's interventions on Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands and the Chagos Islands - as well as his potential reaction to Labour's sanctions on Israeli settlements.

However, the Prime Minister will announce a new AI defence partnership between Britain and the US, part of a push for countries to use the technology to better protect critical infrastructure and detect threats.