Sir Keir Starmer has thrown down the gauntlet to Nigel Farage as the Prime Minister braces for a new Brexit battle with the Reform UK leader.
The Prime Minister, who campaigned for a second referendum as Jeremy Corbyn’s Remain-supporting Shadow Brexit Secretary in 2016, hinted yesterday that the UK is looking to pursue greater access to the EU’s single market.
Despite promising voters Labour would not rejoin the single market or customs union, Sir Keir said there are other areas beyond the deals the UK is negotiating on food, agriculture and energy market alignment that he will consider on a sector-by-sector basis.
Labour strategists hope a new Brexit battle will help Sir Keir take on Mr Farage, with opinion polls suggesting a shift in support for rejoining the Brussels bloc.
No10 insiders also believe the Reform UK leader is vulnerable on the economy and foreign policy, Bloomberg has revealed.
However, Sir Keir was dealt a blow yesterday after a new Merlin Strategy poll suggested Mr Farage is the most trusted to run the economy.
The Prime Minister might look to kick-start negotiations for a closer relationship with the EU in an upcoming UK-EU summit.
Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Sir Keir said: “If it’s in our national interest to have even closer alignment with the Single Market, then we should consider that, we should go that far.”
Meanwhile, Mr Farage has previously argued such a pivot is “breaking faith with his manifesto pledges on the EU”.
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John Swinney admits he is ‘anxious’ to reach deal to end resident doctor strikes in Scotland
John Swinney issued a warning ahead of the talks with resident doctors
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GETTY
A strike by resident doctors next week would see NHS care in Scotland “disrupted”, John Swinney has warned, with the First Minister saying he is “anxious” to reach a deal to end the dispute.
The SNP leader stressed he “obviously” wants to avoid industrial action, but he also told doctors preparing for industrial action: “I can’t put offers on the table that the Government can’t afford.”
The First Minister spoke out on the issue ahead of talks between Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray and the British Medical Association (BMA) on Monday.
Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, in BMA Scotland voted last month for strike action, with walkouts now scheduled to start from 7am on Tuesday, January 13, lasting until 7am on Saturday, January 17.
Faced with the prospect of industrial action Mr Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland he was “anxious to find a solution” to the pay dispute.
Keir Starmer insists Britain will ‘turn a corner’ in 2026
Sir Keir Starmer insisted Britain will turn a corner in 2026, as he made his first visit of the year to meet members of the public.
On a visit to a Berkshire community centre, the Prime Minister said: “It’s really good to be able to come here and speak to you.
“I’m acutely aware that there are a lot of things going on in the world at the moment, particularly you will see some things this weekend.
“But I always remind myself that for you and millions of people across this country, what matters more than anything is the cost of living, is actually being able to pay bills, making sure that ends meet at the end of the month, and that we’re driving down all those things that cause people a lot of anxiety when they feel they can’t pay the bills.”
Concluding his remarks, Sir Keir said: “2026 is the year that we’re going to be turning a corner where, when we say we want national renewal of the country, and we do, it becomes a reality, and people begin to feel the difference in their pockets, in the ability to pay the bill.
“That’s why we say we are turning a corner into 2026.”
WATCH: Mike Tapp grilled by Ben and Ellie on Labour’s latest move to tackle illegal migration
Labour minister insists asylum hotels ‘are closing’ as he defends Government’s migration policy
Migration Minister Mike Tapp
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GB NEWS
Migration Minister Mike Tapp has insisted asylum hotels “are closing” as he laid out plans to move migrants to military bases.
When asked when asylum hotels would close, Mr Tapp told GB News: “What I’ll say at this point, [the number of asylum hotels] has halved from the peak of 400 to just under 200.
“We’ve got lots of effort going in from the Home Office to move people out of hotels into military style bases. Hotels will close, and I can give you that absolute certainty and more is to come on that.
When pressed by host Ben Leo about where they would be going, Mr Tapp said: “We’re working at opening military bases and accommodation, it’s still humane but it is basic and not as attractive.”
Labour minister says new package is ‘bringing counter terror powers forward’
Mike Tapp has defended today’s migration package, saying it aims to “bring counter terror powers forward.”
The Labour Minister for Migration told GB News: “Over last 18 months we have been making a lot of changes
“Anyone travelling into the UK on a small boat illegally means they can have their devices seized and that helps with the intelligence picture.
“This is bringing counter terror powers forward. This means we can go after more of the vile smugglers to reduce those small boat crossings.
“We’re not claiming this is a silver bullet but lets not let perfect get in the way of the good…there’s a lot going on here, it’s a big package and I am confident over time it will have the impact that we hope it will.”
Andy Burnham is Labour’s ‘best shot’ at keeping Nigel Farage out of Downing Street, says top pollster
Sir John Curtice has suggested Andy Burnham is Labour’s “best shot” at preventing a Reform UK government, but warned the Manchester Mayor’s route back to Westminster is “very difficult.”
The top pollster told The Independent: “Andy Burnham is probably still the best possibility, but there are many barriers in his way.
“If you look at his popularity, both within and outside the Labour Party, his popularity is clearly more extensive than any of the other candidates.”
State pension triple lock blamed for ‘growing tax burden on young people’ as Labour told to axe payment hikes
The state pension triple lock has been blamed for contributing to the “growing tax burden on young people,” with the Labour Government being called to implement reform to the payment uprate mechanism.
Under the triple lock, state pension payment rates rise every year in line with either the rate of consumer price index (CPI) inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest.
Thanks to the policy, the full, new state pension will rise by £574.60 in April this year, which means recipients of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit will claim £12,547.60.
Last year, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast the triple lock would cost the taxpayer three times more than initially projected by 2030, with the total bill set to reach £15.5billion by the end of the decade.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
WATCH: Matt Vickers scolds Labour for ‘tinkering around the edges’ on illegal migration
Yvette Cooper to lay out UK response to Venezuela later today
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will lay out the Government’s response to the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the House of Commons later today.
Migration Minister Mike Tapp told Sky News: “We will see later today, well, an application has gone into the Speaker, for a statement from the Foreign Secretary later today, so there may well be more detail on that.”
The UN Security Council, of which the UK is a permanent member, is set to meet later to discuss the operation in Venezuela.
Mr Tapp did not disclose whether Britain plans to abstain on any vote during the meeting.
Senior Tory accuses Labour of ‘tinkering round the edges’ over migration plans
Matt Vickers appearing on GB News this morning
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GB NEWS
Shadow Minister for Illegal Immigration Matthew Vickers has accused Labour of “tinkering round the edges” amid plans to seize migrants’ mobile phones and SIM cards.
The Deputy Conservative Chairman told GB News: “The reality is there was already powers in legislation to do this.
“This is all tinkering round the edges, the only way to solve this illegal migration crisis is to remove people who are here illegally.
“That’s how you solve this, everyone at home knows this it’s the common sense approach and we know it works, we tested it as we had our agreement with Albania.”
WATCH: Former Scotland Yard Detective Peter Bleksley launches scathing rant against Labour
Border Force to seize mobile phones from small-boat migrants in bid to smash people-smuggling gangs
From today, Border Force, immigration officials and police have new powers to seize migrants’ mobile phones and SIM cards without making an arrest, as part of a crackdown on people-smuggling gangs.
The powers, which came into force on Monday under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act passed in December, allow officers to seize and examine electronic devices where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they hold intelligence useful in prosecuting smugglers.
Phones belonging to migrants arriving by small boat will be seized immediately on arrival at the Manston processing centre in Kent.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Kemi Badenoch dubs plan to scrap Legacy Act ‘national disgrace’
Kemi Badenoch has described the plan to scrap Legacy Act a “national disgrace” for leaving open former British soldiers to prosecution.
Labour has put forward plans that include a commission to investigate Troubles-related killings, scrapping plans which granted legal immunity to British troops who served during the period.
Critics said they fear vexatious legal claims could be filled against ex-soldiers.
Writing in The Telegraph, the Conservative Leader said: “Labour’s bill sends a catastrophic message to those currently serving: one day the state might abandon you.
“There can be no easier way to undermine morale, damage recruitment and retention, and corrode trust between soldiers and government.”
WATCH: Former Labour Adviser Matthew Torbit discusses reports that suggest Keir Starmer is plotting a softer Brexit in order to ward off a potential leadership contest
Reform UK on course for three-figure Commons majority while Labour brace for General Election disaster in bombshell mega poll
Reform UK is set for a three-figure majority in the House of Commons, while Labour are set for a huge slump, a bombshell poll has revealed.
It’s been a year of continued growth for Nigel Farage and Reform this year, demonstrated at local level where they made a net gain of 94 seats – the most of any party by a significant distance.
But now, on a national level, More in Common’s January MRP projects a Reform UK majority if a General Election were held today.
The organisation suggests, based on polling of more than 16,000 Britons, Reform would take 381 seats.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
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