Zack Polanski confirmed as Green by-election candidate in bid to flip Keir Starmer's seat
Zack Polanski has been confirmed as the Green Party's candidate for the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election in a major test for Andy Burnham.
The Green Party leader will run in the seat left vacated by Sir Keir Starmer after the former Prime Minister announced he would be resigning as an MP.
Mr Polanski is the second candidate to be declared after Labour confirmed local councilor Sagal Abdi-Wali would run in the north London seat.
Green Party MP for Gorton and Denton Hannah Spencer said local party members "overwhelmingly" chose London Assembly member Mr Polanski over local councillor Hamza Chowdhury for the nomination.
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Supporters and opponents of the assisted dying bill gather outside Parliament
Supporters and opponents of today's assisted dying bill have gathered outside Parliament ahead of a crunch vote this afternoon.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has returned to Parliament, after running out of time earlier this year.
On Friday, the House of Commons has a third chance to vote for or against a Bill that would allow adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death subject to the approval of two doctors and an expert panel.
Lauren Edwards, the MP who has re-introduced the Bill to the Commons, taking over from its previous sponsor Kim Leadbeater, has urged her fellow MPs to send the near-identical Bill back to the Lords "so that they can finish what they started" in scrutinising the legislation.
The Bill’s fall in the Lords in April prompted claims of a "denial of democracy" from supporters who criticised some peers for tabling hundreds of amendments and effectively talking the legislation out.
Kemi Badenoch issues warning to Tory MPs ahead of assisted dying Bill vote
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has warned against trying to “ram” through the “badly drafted” assisted dying Bill.
The legislation proposes allowing adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death subject to the approval of two doctors and an expert panel.
While it passed two previous votes in the Commons, its progress stalled in the Lords.
It has now returned in the same form in a new parliamentary session, possibly allowing the little-used provisions of the Parliament Acts to be implemented to prevent the Lords blocking its passage.
Mrs Badenoch, who opposes the legislation, said: "I have significant concerns about the Bill in and of itself. It’s rushed, it’s badly drafted, and I say this as someone who is not, in principle, opposed to assisted suicide.
"I think we need to be very careful about what we’re doing.
"I don’t think our NHS is ready and I think this should be something that the Government does thoughtfully, not a private members’ bill, let alone one which has failed before and which they’re trying to ram through with government numbers.
"I think that’s wrong."
US Ambassador pays tribute to British victims of 9/11
The US ambassador to the UK has paid tribute to the 67 British people who were killed in the 9/11 attacks 25 years ago as he reflected on the friendship Britons showed with “an outpouring of letters and flowers” in the wake of the atrocity.
Warren Stephens laid a white floral wreath at the September 11th Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square in central London alongside his wife Harriet to pay respects to those killed in the terror attacks.
He said: "Harriet and I want to pay our respects to the 67 UK citizens who were killed on 9/11 25 years ago. It’s hard to believe, it’s 25 years ago for me, for us. Talking about it as we walked in and it’s still hard to believe what happened.
"It’s a tragedy none of us will ever forget. But we’ll also never forget the friendship the British people showed us with an outpouring of letters and flowers from all over the country."
Kemi Badenoch slams British-French 'one in, one out' deal
Kemi Badenoch has slammed Labour's "one in one out" deal with France.
The Conservative leader told GB News: "I have always said the deal was not working for us. It's more like 'one out, many people in.'
"There's only one thing that is going to fix this, we need to leave convention on human rights.
"We know it is going to be difficult but there is only one party willing to do this and that is the Conservative Party."
Heidi Alexander says there are 'tough questions to be answered' over airport disruption
The Transport Secretary has told GB News there are "tough questions to be answered" after widespread disruption for British travellers this week.
Heidi Alexander said: "I said in the House of Commons this week that I don't believe the situation was unavoidable.
"I had held a sit down meeting with the Chief of Nats [the company which provides air traffic control services to 15 British airports] with a full and frank discussion...I was clear we needed a report back on my desk within seven days so that will be here by next Wednesday.
"But I am not content for Nats to be marking their own homework...I think there are tough questions to be answered.
"The level of disruption we saw was completely unacceptable and passengers deserve better."
John Healey insists the UK Economy is 'turning a corner'
Chancellor John Healey insists the UK economy was "turning a corner" after the Office for National Statistics suggested the UK economy unexpectedly grew by 0.4 per cent in July.
Mr Healey said: "Britain’s economy is demonstrating a welcome resilience, despite serious global uncertainty."
He referred to the Iran war which he said "does have impacts here at home, from the cost of the weekly family shop to the cost of Government borrowing">
Government long-term borrowing costs have risen to their highest levels in 28 years in recent weeks.
The Chancellor said: "We are shifting power to local communities to generate growth in more places and backing business to succeed with more investment, innovation and jobs.
"This is the route to raising living standards and delivering good growth in every postcode."
MPs warn of 'extraordinary risk' as assisted suicide Bill faces crunch second vote today
Parliament has been warned not to take an "extraordinary risk" ahead of a vote on the assisted suicide Bill today.
The Bill, tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, cleared the Commons in the previous Parliament but stalled in the House of Lords after peers tabled more than 1,200 amendments.
An identical Bill has been reintroduced this Parliament by fellow Labour MP Lauren Edwards, who has asked the House of Lords to "finish the job".
This opens up the possibility of rarely-used powers of the Parliament Act to bypass the Lords entirely.
Zack Polanski expected to be named Green candidate in Keir Starmer’s London seat
The Green Party is set unveil its candidate to challenge Labour in the Holborn and St Pancras seat vacated by Sir Keir Starmer, with party leader Zack Polanski likely to secure the nomination.
Mr Polanski is expected to be declared the winner of a local party members’ vote after online hustings last night.
He was competing against local councillor Hamza Chowdhury for the Green nomination.
The chosen candidate will take on Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali at the October 8 contest, triggered by former prime minister Sir Keir’s departure from Parliament.
Shabana Mahmood orders police to ban masks and ramp up surveillance to target anti-migration protesters
Shabana Mahmood has ordered police chiefs to make greater use of mask bans and surveillance technology as forces prepare to clamp down on anti-migration protests this weekend.
The Home Secretary demanded tougher action ahead of further demonstrations expected this weekend following major disruption in Dover and Portsmouth.
Police forces have been told to make "full use" of new powers allowing officers to ban face coverings at protests for up to 24 hours.
Ms Mahmood also urged forces to step up the use of facial recognition, CCTV, automatic number plate recognition and body-worn cameras to gather evidence.
UK economy beats expectations with surprise 0.4% growth
The UK economy returned to growth in July, providing a boost after a challenging period for businesses and households.
GDP rose by 0.4 per cent during the month, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Economists had expected the economy to flatline in July, making the latest growth figures a stronger-than-expected boost.
However, the improvement comes as conflict in the Middle East continues to put pressure on the global economy, with UK Government borrowing costs climbing to their highest level in almost two decades.
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