Zia Yusuf brands illegal working in Britain a 'slap in the face to the public' as he vows to 'reclaim our high streets'

Reform UK has branded illegal working "slap in the face" to Britons as the party promises a series of measures to "reclaim our high streets".

Setting out the major pledge, Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf vowed a Reform Government would pass a "Deliveroo Law", making CEOs and directors of large companies benefiting from illegal working.

He said: "Under a Reform Government, Britain will have the harshest penalties in the world for those employing illegal migrants.

"Bosses of companies employing illegal migrants will be sent to prison, and their companies fined 10% of their global revenues.

"There are companies whose entire business model is based on profiting from illegal working.

"It is a slap in the face to the public. It makes a mockery of our immigration laws, takes jobs from British workers and is funding the people smugglers in the Channel.

"Young British people are being shut out of entry level jobs and our whole economy is being undermined. We will introduce the toughest penalties anywhere in the world for illegal working."

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Kemi Badenoch vows to never join forces with 'woke' Reform UK despite Tories' sinking polling

Kemi Badenoch has vowed to never join forces with Nigel Farage's "woke" Reform UK despite the Tories' sinking polling.

"A lot of people don’t understand, you know, the word ‘woke’ is used to mean many things," the Conservative leader said, when asked what the distinguishing factor was between her party and Reform.

Mrs Badenoch said the populist party was "all about grievance" and insisted on "demonising" large portions of society.

She explained: "When I talk about woke, I talk about people who [think] it’s all grievance. It’s victim narratives. People are doing this to us."

The North West Essex MP further declared the Tories are refusing to strike a deal with the party of her defected colleagues, Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman.

She ruled out both pre-election and post-election agreements, insisting either deal would result in a "stitch-up".

"So I just say no to everything, and the reason why is because people who talk about deals are usually not thinking about the public — they’re just thinking about how they can get jobs themselves," she said, speaking to Ed Balls on the Political Currency podcast.

In the latest YouGov polling, the Conservative dropped two points, just three points behind Labour and four behind Mr Farage.

Reform to make major illegal working announcement on 'Deliveroo law'

Reform is gearing up to make a major announcement on illegal working in the next 30 minutes.

Ahead of the press conference, Mr Yusuf said: "We will introduce the toughest penalties anywhere in the world for illegal working."

But, in defence, a Home Office spokesman said: "We are already closing the loopholes that allow illegal migrants to work in the UK by extending right to work checks to the gig economy and delivery sector.

"Employers who break the law face severe consequences, including fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker, business closures, licence revocations and prison sentences of up to five years.

"Since July 2024, we have increased Immigration Enforcement action to the highest level in British history, with illegal working arrests up by 83 per cent and raids up by 77 per cent."

Zia Yusuf takes aim at rising rate of Britons out of work, education and training - and heaps blame onto increased competition with illegal workers

Zia Yusuf has taken aim at the rising rate of Britons out of work, education and training as Reform's Home Affairs spokesman shifted blame onto increased competition with illegal workers.

Mr Yusuf fumed: "There are over a million 16 to 24 year old Brits who are out of work, not in education nor training. They are competing for entry level jobs with record numbers of illegal workers.

"It’s not fair. Corporate CEOs have been making a fortune by hiring illegal workers and undermining British youngsters. Reform will jail them and stop illegal working for good.

"We will stand up for British workers."

Sadiq Khan fights against 'anti-growth' ban on standing in pubs pushed by Westminster City Council

Sadiq Khan is fighting against an "anti-growth" ban on standing in pubs, which is being pushed by Westminster City Council.

The authority, which presides over nightlife across Soho and the West End, made the proposal to ban "vertical drinking" - and even ordering at the bar.

But the Mayor of London has fought the proposal, ripping into the new "anti-growth" draft licensing policy.

And, thanks to new powers being handed to City Hall, Lord Khan will be able to put a stop to licensing decisions and will be allowed to weigh in on local legislation.

Labour oversees worst jobs slump since 2008 financial crash

Britain’s services sector has recorded 22 straight months of falling employment, matching the longest run of job losses since the 2008 financial crisis.

S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows pubs, restaurants, cafés, hairdressers and professional services firms have been cutting staff continuously for two years.

It follows Rachel Reeves delivering her first Budget in October 2024, which introduced a £26billion increase in employer taxes.

Tim Moore, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said the latest figures match the longest period of employment decline in the survey’s 30‑year history.

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'Pretty sad!' Zack Polanski BACKS Cambridge professor who quit over plagiarism row

Zack Polanski has thrown his weight behind a Cambridge professor who quit after being engulfed in a plagiarism row.

The university's youngest black professor, Jason Arday has been hit with allegations he plagiarised his PhD thesis and other written work.

After the lecturer resigned, Mr Polanski said: "I think the whole affair sounds pretty sad.

"Again, I think it would be good, actually, if the (university) investigation still was carried out, because I think it would be good to know the truth," the Green Party leader said.

"And ultimately, I think these things should be about fair process and transparency rather than trial by media."

Ed Miliband manages to avoid White House dressing-down for labelling Donald Trump 'racist idiot'

Ed Miliband managed to escape a dressing down by Marco Rubio on Wednesday over his past remarks about Donald Trump.

The new Foreign Secretary visited Washington DC for the first time in his new role for talks with the Secretary of State - and revealed his comments about the President "didn't come up".

Mr Miliband had earlier ignored questions about whether he still thought Mr Trump was an "idiot, a racist and a misogynist" as he shook hands with Mr Rubio.

He simply said he was looking forward to the pair's meeting.

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Reform UK will jail bosses who employ illegal migrants under radical 'Deliveroo Law'

Reform UK will jail bosses who employ illegal migrant workers if it wins the next General Election.

In an assault on "soft-touch Britain", the party is pledging to bring in what it calls "the harshest penalties in the world" for anyone who employs illegal migrants.

Firms would face fines worth 10 per cent of their global revenues under the proposals.

While CEOs and directors would face prison sentences under Nigel Farage's future Government.

The policy has been dubbed "The Deliveroo Law", a reference to how illegal migrants have been using delivery apps to earn money in the UK.

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