Labour MPs revolt against blocking Andy Burnham as PM warns decision is 'real gift' for Reform UK
Around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter objecting to the decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in the upcoming Gorton & Denton by-election.
The letter, which has been sent to Sir Keir Starmer, warns the decision is a 'real gift' to Reform UK.
It also suggested there was 'no legitimate reason' to block Burnham and asked for Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to 're-evaluate'.
However, Sir Keir has defended the decision to block the Greater Manchester Mayor from seeking a return to Westminster.
"Resources, whether that's money or people, need to be focused on the elections that we must have, not elections that we don't have to have," the Prime Minister said earlier.
"And that was the basis of the NEC decision."
Angela Rayner mocks Reform's Lee Anderson for X blunder
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has mocked Reform UK's Lee Anderson after a blunder on his X account.
The Reform Chief Whip shared photos of himself along with activists at Stanley House Function Rooms ahead of the Gorton & Denton vote.
"A cold but productive day in what will be a hotly contested seat," Mr Anderson wrote.
Speaking to The Mirror, Mrs Rayner revealed that the photos were actually mistakenly taken in her constituency, the neighbouring Ashton-Under-Lyme, instead.
"Farage's Reform can't even find the Gorton and Denton constituency on a map," she told the paper. "Perhaps it's because they're too busy filling their party full of former Tories who failed the country."
"Local residents in Gorton and Denton deserve a local MP who is focussed on delivering on local residents' priorities like tackling the cost of living."
"That's what Labour will be speaking to voters about every day on streets across Gorton and Denton while Farage gets round to finally learning how to use Google maps and actually work out where they live."
Liberal Democrats welcome ground rent caps but demand further action on 'absurd' system
The Liberal Democrats have welcomed the Government's announcement that ground rents for leaseholders in England and Wales will be limited to £250 a year.
Liberal Democrat housing spokesman Gideon Amos said: "This news will come as a relief for thousands of leaseholders who have had their finances wrecked by spiralling ground rents."
However, Sir Ed Davey's party then called on Labour to abolish the 'absurd' system for good.
"But the government cannot call this job done. Liberal Democrats demand an end to the absurd, feudal system of leasehold for good," Mr Amos added.
"People are being fleeced by a system that restricts their rights in a way that is indefensible in the 21st century."
Steve Reed dismisses claim that Starmer's China trip hinged on approving super embassy
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has denied that the Prime Minister’s trip to China was dependent on approval for its new London super embassy, describing the charge as 'scaremongering'.
He told GB News: "Not at all. In fact, the UK is looking to build a new UK Embassy in Beijing. If you have relations with a foreign country, then we have an embassy in their capital. They have an embassy in our capital."
"Now, of course, I've heard, I think it's scaremongering, to be honest, about the Chinese Embassy in London. Of course, we need to be alive to the security risks. That's why we have security services. But they have made very, very clear it is better for you…to have the Chinese Embassy in one location than seven different locations, which is how it is currently."
Richard Tice blasts 'Kowtow Keir' amid Chinese phone hacking reports
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has blasted the Prime Minister on social media this morning.
"Kowtow Keir bows to Beijing bullies Chinese Communist regime spy on No 10, MPs, & steal corporate patents," he wrote on X.
"So serious questions grow about influence of communists in socialist Labour Party China is national security threat, yet Labour suck up to them."
The tweet comes as reports emerged this morning that Chinese state-sponsored hackers infiltrated the phones of senior Downing Street officials over several years.
The espionage campaign is believed to have compromised close advisers to three successive prime ministers between 2021 and 2024.
'I've got a five-year mandate!' PM dismisses leadership rivals ahead of China trip
Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed the threat posed by his Labour leadership rivals ahead of his trip to China.
Speaking to Bloomberg, the Prime Minister said: "I’ve got a five-year mandate," Starmer says in an interview with Bloomberg when asked if he’d stand in any leadership contest."
"It’s a considerable mandate. I intend to deliver on that."
Reform UK to unveil Gorton by-election candidate at 2pm
Reform UK's Chief Whip Lee Anderson will unveil the party's by-election candidate in Gorton & Denton at 2pm today.
Following a frenzy around Andy Burnham's candidacy, Reform UK is expected to announce a 'big name' to contest the Greater Manchester seat.
There had been speculation that Reform UK's policy chief Zia Yusuf was eyeing up the seat.
Mauritius could prohibit storage of nuclear weapons on Chagos Islands after Labour surrender
Mauritius could ban the US from having nuclear-capable weapons and vehicles on the Chagos Islands if Labour's surrender deal goes ahead.
The country previously signed onto the African nuclear weapon-free zone treaty, which prevents the 'stockpiling, acquisition, testing, possession, control or stationing of nuclear weapons'.
If the ban were to be lifted, it would require all 50 signatories to approve, which could take years to negotiate.
On Monday, the Conservatives said the deal 'would expressly prohibit' Mauritius from allowing the US to have 'any nuclear explosive device at the Diego Garcia military base'.
Muslim voting group backs Greens to stop Nigel Farage as Keir Starmer braces for bruising by-election defeat
Sir Keir Starmer is bracing for a bruising defeat in the upcoming Gorton & Denton by-election after a key Muslim voting group endorsed the Green Party.
The Muslim Vote, which helped propel Shockat Adam, Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan and Iqbal Mohammed into Parliament, last night confirmed it would be urging voters to support Zack Polanski’s candidate.
"Muslim voters, alongside many others in the constituency, will play a decisive role in this by-election," the campaign group told PoliticsHome.
"This moment must result in the defeat of both Labour and Reform through unity behind a single, credible candidate."
"On this occasion, we believe the Green Party offers the strongest opportunity to win, and we urge them to work swiftly with local communities, while calling on all other progressive and independent alternatives to stand aside to give the best chance of delivering a clear break from politics as usual and putting the community first."
Gorton & Denton, which is the UK’s 23rd most Muslim constituency with 30 per cent of electors identifying as followers of Islam, now looks poised to deal Sir Keir a bloody nose less than 12 months after Labour lost Runcorn & Helsby to Reform UK.
Left-wing coalition could gain power in Britain if Reform and Conservatives cannot work together, new poll suggests
A coalition of left-wing parties could keep Reform UK out of power if they do not strike a deal with the Conservatives, a new poll has revealed.
Recent YouGov polling had the top five parties, Labour, Conservatives, Reform, Greens and Liberal Democrats, separated by just 10 points after Reform (24 per cent) failed to get a boost from the defection of three high-profile Tories.
Whether yesterday's announcement of the defection of Suella Braverman will have an impact is yet to be seen.
However, a coalition slapped together by Labour on 19 per cent, Sir Ed Davey's Liberal Democrats on 14 per cent and Zack Polanski's Green Party on 17 per cent would have the backing of half of the electorate.
Andrew Griffith condemns 'wrong' Tory response to Suella Braverman defection
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith has condemned the Tories' response to Suella Braverman's defection to Reform UK.
The initial response from the Tory Party made reference to Mrs Braverman’s mental health and was later retracted.
Mr Griffiths told GB News: "It shouldn't be about people's individual characteristics."
"I think it was wrong. The party withdrew that and said it was a mistake."
PM says 'never again' in Holocaust Memorial Day statement
Sir Keir Starmer has made a statement to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
The Prime Minister said: "The Holocaust stands as one of the darkest stains on humanity: the systematic murder of six million Jews, each one an individual life extinguished by a hatred that sought to erase the entire Jewish people."
"As we mark Holocaust Memorial Day, we confront that truth directly, because remembrance is the first defence against denial, distortion and prejudice."
"Together, we look back and challenge antisemitism wherever it appears. And ensure that 'never again' is a promise we uphold, not just a phrase we repeat."
Keir Starmer refuses to 'choose between' US or China ahead of Beijing visit
Sir Keir Starmer has refused to 'choose between' relations with Washington or Beijing as he prepares to become the first British PM to visit China in eight years.
Speaking to Bloomberg News ahead of the trip, the Prime Minister stressed the commercial opportunities he believes await British companies in the world’s second-largest economy.
"I’m often invited to simply choose between countries. I don’t do that," Sir Keir said."
The delegation will include dozens of British business leaders, with visits planned to Beijing and Shanghai.
Sir Keir argued that sidelining China altogether would be economically reckless for the country.
"Just sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China, when it’s the second-biggest economy in the world and there are business opportunities, wouldn’t be sensible."
Reform receives poll boost to open up four point lead over Labour as Tories slide
The latest YouGov voting intention poll shows Reform once again rising, after a couple of weeks of stagnation.
Reform UK has seen a small resurgence, boosting its vote share to 25 per cent."
Labour remains in second, rising up to 21 per cent."
Meanwhile, the Tory Party's support dropped to 17 per cent, just one point ahead of the Greens and three per cent above the Liberal Democrats."
Ground rents will be capped at £250 a year for leaseholders, Keir Starmer announces
Ground rents for leaseholders in England and Wales will be limited to £250 a year under wide-ranging reforms unveiled by the Government."
The plans also include a ban on new leasehold flats and a new right for existing leaseholders to convert to commonhold, aimed at giving homeowners greater control over their buildings."
Announcing the changes in a TikTok video, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he had 'spoken to so many people who say this will make a difference to them worth hundreds of pounds', adding that easing pressure on household budgets remains crucial as the cost of living continues to dominate concerns nationwide."
The measures will be set out in the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, due to be introduced on Tuesday."
Date set for crunch by-election after Andy Burnham warns Keir Starmer risks losing safe seat
The Gorton & Denton by-election will take place on February 26 as Labour searches to find its candidate after snubbing Andy Burnham from returning to Westminster."
Voters will likely go to the polls on the last Thursday of February after a writ was moved in the House of Commons for a by-election."
The by-election has to be held between 21 and 27 working days after the writ was moved."
Gorton & Denton will elect a new MP after ex-Health Minister Andrew Gwynne stepped down over health concerns following his suspension from the Labour Party over the WhatsApp group, Trigger Me Timbers."
READ IN FULL: The Muslim Vote urges thousands of voters in Denton & Gorton to vote Green
"The blocking of Andy Burnham from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election is yet another example of a Labour Party fearful of even the most basic democratic challenge. It reflects a leadership more concerned with control than with listening to the communities it claims to represent."
"From failing to address the cost of living crisis, to overseeing deteriorating public services, and presiding over the genocide in Gaza, this Labour Party has drifted far from the promise of change."
"It now offers a politics of continuity that leaves many voters feeling unheard, unrepresented, and deeply disillusioned."
"This by-election comes at a moment when Labour is losing trust and support at a pace comparable to the rise of Reform — not because communities are turning to division, but because they are seeking a credible alternative rooted in fairness, accountability, and real change. Gorton and Denton deserves better than a choice between stagnation and scapegoating."
"Muslim voters, alongside many others in the constituency, will play a decisive role in this by-election."
"This moment must result in the defeat of both Labour and Reform through unity behind a single, credible candidate."
"On this occasion, we believe the Green Party offers the strongest opportunity to win, and we urge them to work swiftly with local communities, while calling on all other progressive and independent alternatives to stand aside to give the best chance of delivering a clear break from politics as usual and putting the community first."
