Awkward moment Trump leaves Starmer squirming over ‘family farm tax'
During a press conference held as part of the US president's four-day trip to Scotland, the pair were questioned on how important farmers are to a country.
While Mr Trump did not comment on the UK 's 'tractor tax' plans, which will make farms valued at £1m or more liable for 20 per cent inheritance tax, he stated that the US had ended its federal levy on farmers.
'There's no estate tax on farmers, so when a parent leaves their farm, because a lot of these farms, they don't make a lot of money, but it's a way of life and they love that way of life.'
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South Wales Guardian
33 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Cross-Channel migrants to be detained as France treaty comes into force
The deal, which has now been approved by the European Commission, means the UK will be able to send people crossing the Channel in small boats back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with ties to Britain. It also means that anyone arriving in a small boat can be detained immediately, and space has been set aside at immigration removal centres in the expectation that detentions will begin within days. The Prime Minister said the ratification of the treaty will 'send a clear message – if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France'. But opposition parties have criticised the deal amid reports that the pilot scheme will see only 50 people a week returned to France while this year has seen a weekly average of more than 800 people make the crossing. The deal has also been criticised by refugee charities, which have urged the Government to provide more safe, legal routes for asylum seekers instead. Ministers have so far declined to say how many people could be returned under the deal, and insist that if the pilot is successful the figure will increase. Under the terms of the agreement, announced during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit last month, adults arriving on small boats will face being returned to France if their asylum claim is inadmissible. In exchange, the same number of people will be able to come to the UK on a new legal route, provided they have not attempted a crossing before and subject to documentation and security checks. The Home Office said it had also learned from the 'lengthy legal challenges' over the previous government's Rwanda scheme and would 'robustly defend' any attempts to block removal through the courts. It is the first such deal with France, with the pilot scheme set to run until June 2026, pending a longer-term agreement. Sir Keir said the deal was 'The product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people'. He added: 'The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over – we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was 'an important step towards undermining the business model of the organised crime gangs that are behind these crossings – undermining their claims that those who travel to the UK illegally can't be returned to France'. Ratification of the deal comes as both Britain and France battle to bring the small boats problem under control, with 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings. Some 25,436 people have already made the journey this year, according to PA news agency analysis of Home Office figures – 49% higher than at the same point in 2024. The issue has also sparked concern that a series of protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers could lead to public disorder similar to last year's riots. On Monday, the Home Office announced it was providing another £100 million to tackle people smuggling and would introduce new powers to seize devices from people suspected of facilitating crossings. Ministers have also launched a crackdown on illegal working in an effort to reduce the 'pull factors' said to be encouraging people to make the journey, while French authorities have changed their guidance to allow police officers to intercept boats while they are in shallow waters. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp attacked the plans, saying they would return 'just 6% of illegal arrivals' and 'make no difference whatsoever'. He added: 'The Rwanda removals deterrent, under which 100% of illegal arrivals would be removed, was ready to go last summer but Labour cancelled it just days before it was due to start with no proper replacement plan. As a result, this year so far has been the worst ever for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel. 'Only removing all illegal immigrants upon arrival will provide the necessary deterrent to stop the crossings. This is the Conservative plan, but Labour is too weak to implement it and as a result they have lost control of our borders.' While the Conservatives' Rwanda plan was in theory uncapped, it was expected to take only around 1,000 asylum seekers in its first five years of operation thanks to limited capacity in the East African nation. The plan, which Sir Keir had previously dismissed as a 'gimmick', was scrapped as one of the first acts of the incoming Labour Government last year.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
More than 40 protesting Gaza genocide arrested at Trump hotel in New York
More than 40 people protesting the genocide and worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza were arrested outside the Trump International hotel in New York City on Monday evening. The protest, organized by IfNotNow, a Jewish-American anti-occupation group, had begun earlier in the evening at Columbus Circle. Hundreds gathered under the banner 'Trump: Jews Say No More' to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza and that the Trump administration pressure Israel to allow greater humanitarian aid to enter into territory, as health officials there continue to report deaths from starvation and malnutrition. 'Let's not mince words, the Israeli government's blockade of Gaza is a policy of ethnic cleansing by way of forced mass starvation,' said Morriah Kaplan, IfNotNow's interim executive director, during her speech to the crowd. 'It is an unbearable, unspeakable, unfathomable affront to our shared humanity and those who are carrying it out and are deploying our Jewish symbols, language and traditions to defend and justify it, which is why I'm heartened to see such a range of Jews and Jewish organizations coming together today to say with one voice that we oppose these atrocities, not in spite of our Judaism, but for many of us, because of it.' 'We need the US government to use its considerable leverage to end these horrors,' she added. Protesters held signs that read 'stop ethnic cleansing', 'never again is now' 'stop starving Gaza' and 'not in our name' and speakers included Ruth Messinger, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the T'ruah CEO, and Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller. 'Yesterday was the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av in which Jews mourn the destruction of the people of Israel,' Lander said, 'and what we're witnessing right now is destruction caused by the State of Israel.' 'Its been going on for many months,' he added. 'But to witness forced mass starvation, emaciated children and starving of families, on top of all the bombing and destruction and displacement, it is necessary for Jews to cry out louder, to do more organizing to make sure that we stop sending offensive weapons and bombs and guns that we demand an end to what Israel is doing in Gaza. That's why we're here tonight.' Also in attendance was Lily Greenberg Call, a former special assistant to the chief of staff at the US Department of the Interior under the Biden-Harris administration who publicly resigned in protest in May 2024 over the administration's handling of the war in Gaza. 'I was the first, and unfortunately the only official Jewish official to publicly resign in protest of the administration's unconditional support for Israel during the war in Gaza,' Greenberg Call said in an interview with Guardian. Greenberg Call said that she was noticing new people among the crowd protesting Israel's genocide in Gaza. 'There is something shifting,' she said. 'Showing up is really important, and our role as Americans especially – our government and our tax dollars are funding this.' 'We have an obligation, specifically as American Jews, to stand up against what's happening in our name,' Greenberg Call added. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion Palestinian photojournalist, Motaz Azaiza, was also in the crowd and delivered brief remarks. Just after 8pm, the group began walking to the Trump International hotel. They gathered in front of the hotel, sitting in the street, singing and chanting. Around 8.15pm ET, New York police department officers began arresting protesters for blocking the street. It was unclear as of 9pm ET how many people were arrested but the Guardian counted at least more than 40 people. Those arrested were loaded on to police vans and the crowd dispersed shortly after. In a press release issued after the arrests occurred, IfNotNow said that this mobilization marked 'the broadest tent coalition in the Jewish community against the atrocities in Gaza in the last two years, representing the vast majority of US Jews who are outraged by the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza'.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Lime bikes to be banned in London borough - with rival companies handed rental e-bike firm's contract
A west London borough is set to ban Lime bikes following complaints of 'anti-social' parking on pavements and hand over contracts to a rival e-bike rental firm instead Hounslow Council terminated its two-year agreement with Lime due to riders blocking pavements and the high price. It comes as a victory to competing e-bike companies Forest and Voi who have both been given contracts to set up their bikes in the borough instead. Lime have the monopoly on e-bikes across London, owning most of the estimated 30,000 in the city. Companies submitted their bids for the highly-desirable contracts during a competitive procurement process. A council spokesperson said the decision was 'shaped by widespread community feedback' which found residents wanted 'stronger parking compliance, faster response times to resident concerns, and more tailored and affordable pricing'. A spokesperson for Lime told The Telegraph: 'Despite acknowledging the quality of our service was higher in our bid, Hounslow council selected another provider because it offered them more money. 'This is a really disappointing outcome for the thousands of Hounslow residents that rely on our bikes daily to connect to other areas of London.' The City of London seized more than 100 e-bikes in February amid a clampdown on pavement parking and dangerously dumped e-bikes. James Bolton, Voi's UK general manager, said: 'We're delighted to win this contract and extend our London e-bike pilot to Hounslow. 'We will work responsibly and closely with the council to ensure our scheme works for everyone in the borough, stretching from Bedfont Lakes Country Park in the west to Chiswick House Gardens in the east. A Forest spokesperson said: 'The Hounslow tender was a highly competitive process and we're delighted our bid stood out.' Lime bikes have become a nuisance for people who find them stacked up outside their homes, blocking walkways or abandoned in the road. Charities including the Sight Loss Council and the National Federation of the Blind of the UK have repeatedly warned councils about the bikes posing a trip hazard or unnecessary obstacles for blind people. Last month actor Robert Powell, 81, revealed he 'sent 570 photographs' to Camden Council showing the bikes taking over his doorstep. The Bafta-nominated actor urged the council to take action, saying that he and his wife, Barbara Lord, once counted at least 100 bikes in a parking bay in front of their Highgate home. 'You've got two octogenarians here who are in danger of being killed,' Powell said. 'The entire pavement has been blocked by bikes. Camden say they prioritise safety and safer travel, so do they know that allowing bikes on pavements is not safe for anyone? 'Last year we called the police about the bikes, they just laughed.' Riders can rent e-bikes on the street in London by picking them up with a mobile phone app, but they are often not required to put them in a designated area after use. This has led to them blocking pavements across the capital - with councils receiving thousands of complaints and some even threatening to ban hire firms altogether. Mr Powell admitted that he was 'terrified' of having a heart attack due to having to move 10 to 12 heavy bikes from the area each day. He said his GP has even written a letter to the council explaining how stressful the situation is for him and his wife. The spot is particularly busy as it is close to Hampstead Heath, the actor told the Camden New Journal. Camden Council responded by saying it is working to relocate the bay and has marked out a new bay further up the road. Last December, new powers to crack down on the scourge of e-bikes and e-scooters being dumped on pavements were hailed as the 'beginning of the end for the Wild West model'. Enforcement has however, become increasingly complex, although the new powers mean Mayor Sadiq Khan will able to fine users and operators who dump their devices in dangerous locations. It comes after Transport for London (TfL) warned rental e-bike operators could be fined as part of measures to tackle 'significant safety issues' around poor parking. In September, Brent Council threatened that Lime would have to remove its e-bikes from the borough by October 31 for allegedly ignoring its safety concerns amid 'havoc' caused by the cycles. But the council agreed to allow Lime to continue operating after the company addressed these concerns. In Hammersmith and Fulham, more than 100 e-bikes were seized by the council in August last year after complaints from residents that they were blocking roads and pavements. TfL revealed last November that rental e-bike operators could be fined as part of measures to fight back against poor parking in London. It published a new 'enforcement policy' in response to widespread concerns about e-bikes blocking pavements and said it will take action over dockless e-bikes being left on its red route road network outside designated places, and on its land such as station forecourts and bus garages. This brings e-bike regulations closer into line with those for rental e-scooters, which are already required to be parked in bays. It added that responses may include warning letters, fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to operators, prosecutions and removal of vehicles. FPNs would be £100 each, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
