Sports
Farage: Labour made ‘very major political mistake’ over Trump row
Nigel Farage said Labour had made a “very major political mistake” after Donald Trump’s campaign claimed Sir Keir Starmer’s party was interfering in the US presidential election.
Mr Farage suggested the row over Labour activists volunteering for Kamala Harris’s campaign could harm the UK’s “most important relationship”.
The Reform leader told GB News: “It is likely, if you believe the betting markets, that Trump is going to win on November 5.
“Our relationship with America when it comes to intelligence, when it comes to defence, when it comes to commerce, is our most important relationship in the world.
“And for a governing Labour Party to be seen officially acting on behalf of a rival candidate to the man that is going to win is a very major political mistake.”
The Trump campaign announced yesterday that it had filed a formal complaint to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the agency that oversees US election laws, accusing Labour of making “illegal foreign campaign contributions and interference in our elections”.
It came after Labour Party staff were claimed to have organised a trip last week for almost 100 activists to campaign for Ms Harris in several critical battleground states.
Sir Keir said any Labour activists in the US would be there as volunteers and would be “doing it in their spare time”.
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03:50 PM BST
That is all for today…
Thank you for joining me for today’s politics live blog.
I will be back tomorrow morning.
03:24 PM BST
UK will start running out of water in 10 years, says Environment Secretary
The UK will start running out of water within 10 years, the Environment Secretary has said.
Steve Reed said that big investment in new reservoirs and infrastructure was necessary as water demand would outstrip supply by the mid-2030s.
It comes after his department today launched the biggest overhaul of the water sector since privatisation 35 years ago, to ensure that the industry can attract private investment for upgrades.
You can read the full story here.
03:07 PM BST
Healey hails UK-Germany defence pact as ‘milestone moment’
Today, the UK and Germany signed the Trinity House Agreement.
This defence agreement is a milestone moment: a major strengthening of European security and our shared prosperity. pic.twitter.com/rZI6TpnQeF
— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) October 23, 2024
02:59 PM BST
Lord Cameron criticises NHS for blocking Alzheimer’s wonder drug
Lord Cameron said a decision by the NHS to block the use of the most effective drug for Alzheimer’s on cost grounds was “disappointing and disheartening”.
Regulators have declared the new treatment – Donanemab – for the disease safe for use but the rationing body immediately ruled that it is too expensive for NHS patients.
Lord Cameron, who previously served as president of the Alzheimer’s Research UK charity, welcomed the fact that “there is now real momentum in the development of drugs that can slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s, rather than just manage the symptoms”.
But the former prime minister added: “However, that it won’t be available on the NHS in England and Wales is disappointing and disheartening.
“We urgently need to find a way to diagnose patients more quickly and make this and other future medicines readily available to all. I hope a way forward can be found soon. Those living with dementia do not have time to wait.”
02:27 PM BST
Badenoch vows to end Tory infighting
Kemi Badenoch has promised to stop the infighting which has plagued the Conservative Party in recent years if she becomes Tory leader.
Mrs Badenoch said a desire for greater unity was one of the main messages she had been given by Tory members during the leadership race.
A consistent message from members as I visit them all across the country: Stop the infighting.
We need to unite around our principles and values. I’m proud to be supported by all sides of our party including two former party leaders, Iain Duncan-Smith and William Hague.
It’s… pic.twitter.com/EcUkDlvBEG
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) October 23, 2024
02:16 PM BST
Police who shoot suspects to be granted anonymity during murder trials after Chris Kaba case
Police who shoot suspects are to be granted anonymity during murder trials, Yvette Cooper has announced.
The Home Secretary said she would introduce a presumption of anonymity for firearms officers facing criminal proceedings following police shootings, up until the point at which they are convicted.
You can read the full story here.
02:04 PM BST
Jenrick vows to ‘end the drama’
01:21 PM BST
Labour denies senior officials advised Harris team
Senior Labour figures who attended the Democratic National Convention did not advise or assist Kamala Harris’s campaign in any way, Labour sources have said.
The Trump campaign’s complaint to the Federal Election Commission alleging Labour interference in the presidential election referred to Labour-linked strategists “offering advice to Kamala Harris”.
It also referred to Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, and Matthew Doyle, No 10 director of communications, attending the DNC in Chicago in August.
Party sources pointed out that Labour sends a delegation to the convention every time it is held.
01:18 PM BST
UK-US special relationship will always endure, insists No 10
The UK’s special relationship with the US has endured with “leaders of all political stripes” and always will, the Prime Minister’s spokeswoman has said after Donald Trump’s presidential campaign claimed the Labour Party was interfering in the US election.
“We’ve always been steadfast allies and we will work with whoever the American people choose to be their president,” the spokeswoman said.
She referred to Sir Keir Starmer’s meeting with Mr Trump in September and said they discussed the importance of continuing to develop the “strong and enduring partnership” between the US and UK.
“It is a special relationship which has endured for over a century with leaders of all political stripes, and that will always be the case.”
01:13 PM BST
Rayner seeks to defuse Trump row
Angela Rayner said UK political activists campaigning in the US ahead of the upcoming presidential election is something that happens within all parties.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, she said: “People in their own time often go and campaign, and that’s what we’ve seen.
“It happens in all political parties, people go and campaign and they do what they want to do with their own time, with their own money.”
She had been asked by Stephen Flynn, the leader of the Scottish National Party in Westminster: “Will the Deputy Prime Minister join me in applauding the brave Labour staff members who travelled across the Atlantic to campaign against Donald Trump?”
12:35 PM BST
Healey: Labour activists helping Harris campaign ‘there as individuals’
John Healey dismissed complaints from Donald Trump’s campaign about Labour activists supporting Kamala Harris.
“This is in the middle of an election campaign, that’s the way that politics works,” he said.
The Defence Secretary insisted the row would not damage the UK-US relationship if Mr Trump returned to the White House.
He said: “Any individual Labour supporters that are over in the US, being part of the Democratic election campaign, are there as individuals. They’re there in their own time. They’re there at their own expense, and if they’ve got accommodation out there that will be also provided by volunteers.
“This happens in every election. It’s commonplace. It is very different to the determination of a Labour Government to work with whoever the American people elect next month as their president.”
He said the “special, deep relationship” had “withstood the political ups and downs on both sides of the Atlantic and we are determined to make that work in future”.
12:30 PM BST
Rayner ‘will miss battle of the gingers’ as Dowden set to leave role
Oliver Dowden said today’s clash with Angela Rayner at Prime Minister’s Questions would be his last because the Tory leadership contest will conclude at the start of next month and he will leave his role as shadow deputy prime minister.
Mr Dowden said he will miss their exchanges.
Ms Rayner agreed and said: “I will miss our exchanges. The battle of the gingers.”
12:13 PM BST
Dowden pressures Rayner over National Insurance plans
Sticking with the tax theme, Oliver Dowden asked Angela Rayner: “Does she agree with this: ‘Working people will pay when employers pass on the hike in National Insurance?’. These are her words. Does she at least agree with herself?”
Ms Rayner would not be drawn.
She replied: “What I am incredibly proud of is this week this Government brought in a new Employment Bill which will raise the living standards of 10 million workers…”
12:09 PM BST
Rayner refuses to say if small business owners are covered by Labour’s tax pledge
Oliver Dowden said Angela Rayner had stood on a manifesto pledge not to raise taxes on “working people” but the Deputy Prime Minister “can’t even define who working people are”.
He then asked: “I will give her another go. There are five million small business owners in this country. Are they working people?”
Ms Rayner dodged the question as she replied: “I don’t know how the shadow deputy prime minister can stand there with a straight face when it was the small businesses, the working people of this country, that paid the price of them crashing the economy…”
Tory MPs could be heard shouting: “Answer!”
12:05 PM BST
Dowden grills Rayner over Labour’s ‘working people’ tax pledge
Prime Minister’s Questions is now underway in the House of Commons as Angela Rayner stands in for Sir Keir Starmer.
Oliver Dowden, the shadow deputy prime minister who is standing in for Rishi Sunak, started by grilling Mrs Rayner over Labour’s tax promises.
He asked: “What is the Deputy Prime Minister’s definition of working people?”
Ms Rayner replied: “The definition of working people are the people that the Tory party have failed for the last 14 years.”
Labour pledged in its manifesto not to increase taxes on “working people” but ministers have struggled to define the term.
11:55 AM BST
Lord Alli apologises after breaching House of Lords’ code of conduct
Labour donor Lord Alli has apologised after he was found to have breached the House of Lords’ code of conduct over the registration of his interests.
The Commissioner for Standards said in a report published this morning that Lord Alli had breached the code four times.
It said those breaches were “minor” but it believed some remedial action was still required.
The commissioner recommended the Labour peer should write a letter of apology to the Conduct Committee which he has now done.
Writing to the committee chair, Baroness Manningham-Buller, Lord Alli said: “I am writing to you today to offer my apology for my breach of conduct by not registering my interests correctly.
“I will endeavour to keep to the code of conduct at all times to avoid such circumstances again.”
11:54 AM BST
Labour: Volunteering in US elections is common practice
Labour said volunteering in US elections is “common practice” as it looked to take the sting out of the Donald Trump row.
It also said that any Labour activists taking part would be doing so at their own expense.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “It is common practice for campaigners of all political persuasions from around the world to volunteer in US elections.
“Where Labour activists take part, they do so at their own expense, in accordance with the laws and rules.”
11:51 AM BST
Watch PMQs live as Rayner faces Dowden
11:47 AM BST
Healey: UK-Germany defence ties were ‘underdeveloped’
John Healey said the UK-Germany defence relationship was “underdeveloped” as he hailed a new pact between the two countries.
The Defence Secretary said collaboration in the past between the two nations had been “ad-hoc, it has not been systematic”.
But he said there is “huge potential” to strengthen ties and the new Trinity House Agreement, signed today, would do exactly that.
Mr Healey said there would be increased “co-operation focused on the now” but also on working together on the weapons of the future.
11:29 AM BST
UK tourists face delays in France over reintroduction of border checks
British holidaymakers heading to France have been warned of delays from November 1, when border checks will be reintroduced to combat illegal migration and terrorism.
France has joined six other countries in reintroducing Schengen Area border checks, which will be carried out on travellers entering by road or train from neighbouring countries.
They are being introduced for an initial six-month period on its borders with Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Italy.
They will be spot checks rather than being carried out on every person, but travel experts said they would add to delays at the border.
You can read the full story here.
11:19 AM BST
Shapps: UK-Germany defence pact must include Taurus missiles for Kyiv
A new defence pact between the UK and Germany should include a commitment from Berlin to provide Ukraine with Taurus long-range precision missiles, Grant Shapps said.
The former defence secretary questioned the value of the new Trinity House Agreement, which is being signed today, if it does not include such a move.
Germany is currently refusing to donate the missiles to Ukraine.
Mr Shapps tweeted:
Strong alliances need strong results. If Labour’s UK-Germany defence deal doesn’t include Taurus missiles for Ukraine or lifting the veto on Typhoon sales to Turkey, what are we really getting in return? Time for real action, not just show. 🇬🇧🤝🇩🇪
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps (@grantshapps) October 23, 2024
Ben Wallace, another former defence secretary, echoed a similar sentiment.
He argued the agreement would be “pretty hollow” without movement on the Taurus issue:
If the new UK/ German “Trinity House” agreement is to mean anything then Germany would have agreed with UK requests to send Taurus to Ukraine AND they would lift any export veto on potential Typhoon sales to Turkey – a Nato member. Otherwise it is pretty hollow 1/2
— Rt. Hon Ben Wallace (@BenWallace70) October 23, 2024
11:00 AM BST
German submarine hunters to be based in Britain for first time over Russian threat
German submarine-hunting planes are to be based in Britain for the first time, to counter the threat from Russia.
Flying from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, the P-8 Poseidons will patrol the North Atlantic and track any Russian submarines passing through the region.
The landmark deal between the UK and Germany, known as the Trinity House Agreement, will be signed by John Healey, the Defence Secretary, and Boris Pistorius, his German counterpart, in London today.
You can read the full story here.
10:49 AM BST
VAT raid is good for Britain, says privately educated Labour MP
A privately educated Labour MP has claimed that an exodus of pupils under his party’s tax raid would be good for Britain.
Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield and former star pupil at £22,350-a-year The Perse School in Cambridge, said the more private school pupils that join state schools, the better it would be for “our schools and for our country”.
The 31-year-old added children should not be “syphoned off into a private school” or “insulated” from the state school system.
However, private school parents have criticised the Labour MP for his “appalling comments” and said “children are human beings, not widgets”.
You can read the full story here.
10:46 AM BST
Pictured: Rachel Reeves arrives at the Treasury this morning
10:41 AM BST
Farage: Labour made ‘very major political mistake’ over Trump row
Nigel Farage said Labour had made a “very major political mistake” after Donald Trump’s campaign claimed Sir Keir Starmer’s party was interfering in the US presidential election.
Mr Farage suggested the row over Labour activists volunteering for Kamala Harris’s campaign could harm the UK’s “most important relationship”.
The Reform leader told GB News this morning: “It is likely, if you believe the betting markets, that Trump is going to win on November 5.
“Our relationship with America when it comes to intelligence, when it comes to defence, when it comes to commerce, is our most important relationship in the world.
“And for a governing Labour Party to be seen officially acting on behalf of a rival candidate to the man that is going to win is a very major political mistake.”
The Trump campaign announced yesterday that it had filed a formal complaint to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the agency that oversees US election laws, accusing Labour of making “illegal foreign campaign contributions and interference in our elections”.
It came after Labour Party staff were claimed to have organised a trip last week for almost 100 activists to campaign for Ms Harris in several critical battleground states.
Sir Keir said any Labour activists in the US would be there as volunteers and would be “doing it in their spare time”.
10:17 AM BST
Coming up: Rayner to face Dowden at PMQs
Sir Keir Starmer is currently on his way to Samoa to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
That means Angela Rayner will be standing in for Sir Keir at Prime Minister’s Questions at noon.
The Deputy Prime Minister will square off against Oliver Dowden, her Tory shadow.
10:01 AM BST
Two dead after migrant boat sinks in English Channel
Two people have died after a migrant boat sank in the English Channel this morning, French maritime authorities have said.
The French maritime prefecture for the Channel and the North Sea said another 46 migrants were rescued after the incident off the coast of Calais.
09:55 AM BST
Pictured: Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street this morning
09:40 AM BST
Water bills ‘will have to rise for years to come to fix sewage crisis’
Water bills will have to rise for years to come to fix the sewage crisis, the Government has suggested.
Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, is today launching a major review of the water industry to examine how to stop rivers and seas being polluted and secure more investment.
The terms of reference for the review, which will be run by a new independent commission, say the industry faces “multiple challenges” that will “involve trade-offs, such as the need to ensure affordability whilst securing the investment needed to achieve better customer outcomes and deliver clean rivers, lakes and seas”.
You can read the full story here.
09:33 AM BST
Wes Streeting to vote against legalising assisted dying
The Health Secretary will vote against legalising assisted dying over concerns regarding the state of palliative care in the UK, it has emerged.
He had previously voted to legalise assisted dying in 2015, but he has since reversed his stance ahead of a landmark vote next month and will not back a law change, writes Genevieve Holl-Allen.
Wes Streeting reportedly told Labour MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party that end-of-life care was not good enough to give patients a genuine choice.
The proposals, to be debated and voted on by MPs in November, would allow those who have six months to live to be assisted to end their life, subject to safeguards.
09:10 AM BST
Badenoch: Immigration system should take culture into account
The UK’s immigration system should be tailored to allow more people to come from some countries but less from others, Kemi Badenoch has suggested.
The Tory leadership contender suggested cultural similarities should play a role in determining who can come to the country.
She told the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast: “I think that we should be getting to a point where we can say we are happy to take more from countries A, B and C and, countries X, Y and Z we are going to have stricter rules on them and not have a completely agnostic view on countries.”
08:47 AM BST
Pictured: Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper talks to broadcasters this morning
08:38 AM BST
No guarantee reducing carbon emissions will work, says Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch said there is “no guarantee” that reducing carbon emissions will work as she questioned the UK’s Net Zero by 2050 commitment.
The UK has made a legally-binding commitment to hit the target but Mrs Badenoch suggested how best to address climate change would be an open question if she becomes leader of the Conservative Party.
She told the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast: “What I am saying is that climate change is a serious issue that needs work. But what strategy should we pick?
“We could pick an adaptation strategy, that this is going to happen, how do we build lives that will work within that?
“We have chosen a strategy which is to reduce carbon emissions. There is no guarantee that that will work. I want to see something, if we are going down that path, something that has other benefits, so energy security.”
On green targets, she added: “If you have a target and you can’t meet it, it is not real. Just putting something in law doesn’t make it real.”
08:21 AM BST
Cabinet minister on Trump row: ‘It’s up to private individuals what they do with their with their free time’
The Environment Secretary has denied claims the Labour Party was interfering in the US election, saying that any campaigning was “individuals using their own time and money”.
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign said yesterday that an official complaint had been filed after claiming Labour had “made, and the Harris campaign has accepted, illegal foreign national contributions”.
Asked about campaigning for the US Democrat Party, Steve Reed told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s up to private individuals what they do with their with their free time, and it’s actually perfectly normal for people who are interested in politics to go from one country to campaign for a sister party in another country.
“I’ve seen Americans in the UK doing that in our elections, but none of this has been organised or paid for by the Labour Party. This is just individuals using their own time and their own money.”
08:03 AM BST
Badenoch hits back at Jenrick over ‘disrespectful’ claim
Kemi Badenoch has hit back at Robert Jenrick after he claimed his rival’s failure to set out policy pledges during the Tory leadership campaign was “disrespectful” to Conservative Party members.
Mr Jenrick said earlier this week: “I think it’s disrespectful to the members and the public to ask for their votes without saying where you stand on the big issues facing our country today.”
But Mrs Badenoch, who has focused on setting out her values and principles rather than policies, suggested Mr Jenrick’s approach was the wrong one.
Responding to the “disrespectful” claim, she told the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast: “But he [Mr Jenrick] doesn’t know where he is going to be standing in four years’ time.
“He uses the word ‘disrespectful’, I would not use a word like that about any of the candidates who have stood. Everyone has got their own campaign approach, everyone has got their own way of doing things.
“If this was a general election, yes, it would be wrong to be standing with no policies. This is not a general election and if you are going to solve a problem you need to make sure that you know what the question you are being asked is.
“He thinks the question that is being asked is what are the right policies to win a general election. I think the question being asked is why should we trust the Conservative Party.”
07:46 AM BST
Pictured: King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Samoa for Commonwealth summit
07:30 AM BST
Farage: Labour has ‘already insulted incoming Trump administration’
Nigel Farage criticised Labour for having “already insulted the incoming Trump administration” after the former US president’s campaign accused the party of election interference.
The Reform leader, who is an ally of Mr Trump, said it was a “terrible decision” for Labour activists to campaign for Kamala Harris.
Labour Party staff organised a trip last week for almost 100 activists to campaign for Ms Harris in several critical battleground states.
Mr Farage tweeted:
“This was a terrible decision by [Keir Starmer’s] government who have now:
1) Surrendered the vital Chagos Islands.
2) Sent 100 Labour Party campaigners to support Kamala Harris.
3) Already insulted the incoming Trump administration.”
07:22 AM BST
Starmer insists Trump relationship not in jeopardy amid interference claims
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his relationship with Donald Trump is not in jeopardy after the presidential candidate’s campaign claimed the Labour Party was interfering in the US election (see the post below at 07.17).
Asked if it was a mistake for senior staffers to have met with the Harris campaign, Sir Keir insisted any members of his party were in the US on an entirely voluntary basis, similar to in previous elections.
“That’s what they’ve done in previous elections, is what they’re doing in this election. And that’s really straightforward,” he told reporters as he travelled to Samoa for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.
Pressed further about whether Labour officials’ involvement in the Harris-Walz Democrat campaign could jeopardise his relationship with Mr Trump if the ex-president wins re-election, Sir Keir replied: “No.”
07:17 AM BST
Trump campaign takes legal action over Labour Party’s support for Harris
Donald Trump’s campaign has accused the Labour Party and Kamala Harris of election interference in a federal complaint.
The former president’s team said it had filed a formal complaint to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the agency that oversees election laws, accusing Labour of making “illegal foreign campaign contributions and interference in our elections”.
In a release announcing the complaint, the Trump campaign accused Labour of being a “far-Left” party that had “inspired Kamala’s dangerously liberal policies and rhetoric”.
It comes after Labour Party staff organised a trip last week for almost 100 activists to campaign for Ms Harris in several critical battleground states.
You can read the full story here.
07:15 AM BST
Badenoch: Tories won’t be gloomy party if I am leader
Kemi Badenoch has vowed to shed the Tories’ “gloomy” tag if she wins the leadership contest against Robert Jenrick.
The former business secretary said she intended to bring some “humour” and “lightheartedness” to the role.
She told the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast: “How I will be leader will be constructively opposing but where we think that they’re getting things wrong, pointing that out, bringing in some humour, bringing in some lightheartedness.
“I think that we have been very gloomy. We are not the gloomy party. We are actually quite an optimistic and fun party and I want to bring that out.”
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