Who are the 'Brexit badboys' tipped to replace Zia Yusuf as Reform UK turmoil deepens
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, Mr Tice said: "I think it is right that we should have a debate about whether or not the burka is appropriate for a nation that's founded in Christianity, where women are equal citizens and should not be viewed as second class citizens."
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ITV News
5 hours ago
- ITV News
Kendall tells MPs she'll press ahead with welfare cuts, despite fierce opposition from backbenchers
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has told concerned MPs she'll press ahead with planned welfare cuts, despite fierce opposition from many backbenchers. Responding to a letter from the Work and Pensions Committee urging her to delay the changes, Kendall wrote "we will not avoid or delay the decisive action needed to transform the system". MPs on the committee had said there needs to be a pause in implementing the reforms while the government carry out a full impact assessment. But Kendall insisted there will be no delay, because the bill needs final sign off from Parliament by November this year for the changes to be in effect from 2026. The government plans to make it harder for disabled people to claim Personal Independence Payments (Pip), and to freeze universal credit incapacity benefits for existing claimants, while cutting them by 50% for new claimants. The reforms are expected to save £5bn from the ballooning welfare budget, but critics warn the move will push vulnerable people into poverty. ITV News revealed the details of the letter from the Work and Pensions Committee last month. The cross-party group of MPs, led by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, said that alongside a comprehensive impact assessment, disabled people must also be consulted before MPs are asked to vote on the reforms. After hearing from a series of experts, the group warned of possible unintended consequences. The letter warned: "The legislative changes might not incentivise work as the government hopes, but rather push people deeper into poverty, worsen health, especially in more deprived areas, and move people further away from the labour market." Abrahams told ITV News that she understood the financial strain facing the government, and the need to reform welfare to support disabled people into work. But she also cited expert evidence that cutting benefits could increase the risk of suicides. Chancellor Rachel Reeves also confirmed on Thursday that the government is "not going to be changing" the planned cuts, despite speculation they could be softened. The U-turn on winter fuel and reports the government could be poised to lift the two-child benefit sparked hope from backbenchers the government could be more likely to change course on welfare. But in an interview on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Reeves insisted: "No, we're not going to be changing that. It is important that we reform the way the welfare state works, so that there is a welfare state there for people.' But the rebellion among backbench Labour MPs doesn't seem to be abating. "I don't think they're listening to us on welfare reform at all", one MP said. "The government just aren't taking the size of this rebellion seriously", said another. "The free school meals and winter fuel allowance announcement and signals on the two child benefit cap are great, but not cutting it when it comes to the welfare changes." Cat Eccles, Labour MP for Stourbridge said she was "disappointed" by Kendall's response to the letter from Debbie Abrahams, accusing her of a "tunnel-vision approach of rushing forward" to get the plans signed off by parliament by November. "Many are rightfully concerned that ignoring this will push some of our most vulnerable in society into unnecessary poverty and hardship. "The response from the Secretary of State appears to ignore this evidence-based advice entirely, focusing rather on a tunnel-vision approach of rushing forward to gain Royal Assent by November this year, so these reforms can be implemented for 2026/27." She called on Kendall to "reconsider" her response, insisting: "Our welfare system must be a safety net to catch and support those who need it. "Do not pursue reckless changes that result in the holes of that net widening, with more of our most vulnerable falling through." There are reports up to 170 Labour MPs have raised concerns about the cuts with the government. ITV News understands that includes some senior backbenchers who work as Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS) to ministers, and even one junior minister. The legislation needed to bring in the changes is due to be introduced to Parliament on Monday 16th June, with a vote expected in the week of the 30th June. It's unclear exactly how many MPs will vote against the plans, but it's likely to be the biggest rebellion of Starmer's premiership. The government's own impact assessment on the reforms estimates that that in 2029-30,
Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Telegraph
Britons could be stopped from entering Gibraltar by Spanish police, Lammy admits
Spanish border guards will be able to stop Britons entering Gibraltar because of the new Brexit deal for the Rock, the Government has admitted. Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's chief minister, furiously denied surrendering any sovereignty to Spain or the EU after The Telegraph reported details of the deal on Wednesday. But David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, was forced to concede in the House of Commons on Thursday that Spanish guards working for the European Union would have control over who entered Gibraltar. Under questioning, Mr Lammy told MPs that a British person stopped by Spanish guards at Gibraltar airport would have a choice: they could either voluntarily go over to Spain for questioning, or be returned to the Gibraltarian authorities and return to the UK. 'It is clear from the Foreign Secretary's answer that Spanish border officials can prevent a UK citizen from entering one part of the UK from another part of the UK,' Richard Tice, the Reform UK deputy leader, said. 'This appears to be a significant sovereignty compromise,' he told The Telegraph. The deal ensures Gibraltar's border with Spain remains open after Brexit, and means the 15,000 people who cross it every day will not have to have their passports stamped. Border checks will be moved to Gibraltar's nearby airport after the Rock effectively becomes part of the EU's Schengen zone of passport-free movement. People flying into Gibraltar from the UK will face one check from Gibraltarian officials and another by the Spanish on behalf of the EU. Mr Lammy said: 'For those arriving by air into Gibraltar's airport, there will be a dual border control check, in a model similar to French police operating in London St Pancras station.' Dame Harriett Baldwin, a former Conservative minister, asked: 'Can a British citizen flying from the UK to Gibraltar now be stopped by a Spanish official as they land?' Mr Lammy replied: 'There will be a second line queue, as there is in St Pancras, and there will be Spanish border guards and police situated in that second line. 'And of course, if there was an alert, then at that point, not on their own, but at that point, there would be a hand-back facility with the Gibraltar police, so they are working alongside that Spanish team. 'And if there was an alert, then the individual would have a right to legal advice. They would either be able to return to their country of origin, let's say the UK, or they would be able to voluntarily go over to Spain to face the questions they are facing.' Mr Tice asked whether Spanish border officials 'have an effective veto on the entry of a British citizen from the United Kingdom landing on British sovereign territory in Gibraltar'. Mr Lammy said if Mr Tice flew to Gibraltar and there was an alert in the Schengen system, 'he would be handed back to the Gibraltarians, where he might feel more comfortable' before returning to the UK. 'No doubt the Spanish would seek to extradite him, and many in this House would be rather pleased,' he added. Mr Lammy said he had insisted on a 'sovereignty clause' in the treaty and added that immigration, policing and justice remained the responsibilities of Gibraltar's authorities.
Glasgow Times
13 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Lord Brittan's widow says closure of police misconduct probe ‘undermines trust'
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said last week it had stopped the investigation into former Met deputy assistant commissioner Steve Rodhouse after a 'large volume of relevant material was recently disclosed to the IOPC by the Metropolitan Police'. Mr Rodhouse was due to face a disciplinary hearing for potentially breaching police professional standards of behaviour for honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct. An investigation into former Met deputy assistant commissioner Steve Rodhouse has been dropped by the police watchdog (PA) The allegations centred around comments made to the media in March 2016 concerning his beliefs about the honesty of two witnesses to Operation Midland – a Met investigation into allegations of non-recent sexual abuse. They also involved remarks he is alleged to have subsequently made to former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques, who had been commissioned to carry out an independent review of the handling of Operation Midland in August 2016. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Lady Diana Brittan said she had hoped the investigation would bring a sense of 'closure'. She said: 'My husband was a high-profile individual, but at every level of society there are people who are falsely accused, and for them (also) it's the ruining of reputation, it's the anxiety that goes with it. 'I feel that it would have at least put a closure, to use that odd word, on the whole episode if somebody had been held to account, either for misconduct, or even for incompetence.' Operation Midland was launched off the back of lurid and false allegations made by fantasist Carl Beech – later jailed for 18 years for what a judge called 'cruel and callous' lies. The Metropolitan Police's 16-month investigation into fake claims of a VIP paedophile ring saw raids on the homes of Lord Brittan, as well as D-Day veteran Lord Bramall and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor. Operation Midland was launched off the back of lurid and false allegations made by fantasist Carl Beech (CPS/PA) The probe ended in 2016 without a single arrest after Beech made a series of baseless allegations, including of three murders. The force was heavily criticised for believing Beech too readily despite inconsistencies in his evidence, including naming witnesses who did not exist. The IOPC said there was 'no evidence' within the material provided from the Met that there was 'any inappropriate motivation in Mr Rodhouse's comments to the media' or which 'supports that he made those remarks during Sir Richard's review'. Mr Rodhouse said the allegations made against him were 'ill-founded and incorrect'. Mr Proctor said he was 'appalled' by the 'disgraceful decision' not to proceed, adding he would be writing to Sir Mark Rowley, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to 'demand a meeting and an explanation'. Lady Brittan said she felt her husband's legacy had been permanently tarnished by the episode, telling the BBC: 'What I really feel very sorry about is the fact that my husband was a great public servant. 'When he died, his obituaries referred to all of this.' Leon and Diana Brittan in 2013 (John Stillwell/PA) In response to Lady Brittan's comments, an IOPC spokesperson said: 'Our recent decision does not change our finding that – by failing to follow Sir Richard Henrique's recommendation to investigate the witnesses in his independent review of the Met's handling of Op Midland – the Met's service was unacceptable and its subsequent reviews concluding no investigation was needed were flawed. 'During our investigation we reported a potential crime to the Met, which is being actively investigated by another force.'
