Labour MP calls on Prime Minister to ‘urgently’ review business tax rate reforms

A Labour MP has called on Sir Keir Starmer to “urgently” review his tax raid on businesses.

Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, said: “Having met with many independent business owners, they fear the cumulative impact of the rateable value revision and relief reductions.

“In York hospitality sees an average business rate rise of 41 per cent, a music venue 44.4 per cent and many independent shops increases around 27 per cent.

“It will mean doors closing and trade ceasing. They just can’t do it.

“So could the Prime Minister urgently review the business rate proposals and will he ensure a minister or official attends my business rate summit at the end of January as I want to avert a crisis on York’s high street?”

Sir Keir replied: “As she knows during Covid rates went down and that was coming to an end. That’s why we’ve put in place interim relief as we move to the new rates.

“We are continuing to work with and talk to the sector on that support and what further support and action we can take.”

Keir Starmer says issue of Greenland is for ‘Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone’ in swipe at Donald Trump

Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated his stance the future of Greenland is for “Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.”

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey asked whether he thought an attack on Greenland by the US would be the end of Nato.

The Prime Minister responded: “The Greenland issue’s obviously very, very important, I thank him for raising it. The future of Greenland is obviously for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone…

“Of course Nato is hugely importantly, the single most effective and important military alliance the world has ever known.

“[Sir Ed] keeps encouraging me to sort of tug away at parts of Nato and to choose between Europe and the US.

“That would be a strategic mistake for our country. And yesterday we were working with our Nato allies, including the US, our Nato allies, on a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

WATCH: Kemi Badenoch and Sir Keir Starmer lock horns over PM’s conduct after announcing Ukraine troops deal

Ed Davey says Keir Starmer looks ‘ridiculous’ over Donald Trump comments

Sir Ed Davey said the Prime Minister “just looks ridiculous when he won’t tell the truth” in a clash over Donald Trump.

A backbencher shouted Sir Ed is “obsessed” with the US President.

Responding to a question from the Liberal Democrat leader, the Prime Minister said: “It is our long-standing position that Maduro was not a legitimate president in Venezuela and so nobody I think sheds any tears at his removal.

“What we need, what we were saying before the weekend and we say again is there needs to be a peaceful transition of power.”

Kemi Badenoch says Keir Starmer should have spoken to President Donald Trump by now

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded Sir Keir Starmer to speaking to Donald Trump over the ongoing situation in Venezuela.

She said: “That is concerning four days after the events in Venezuela.”

The Prime Minister responded: “I was with Nato allies yesterday, all day, in which we were discussing security in Europe in particular security guarantees in Ukraine and we made significant progress and I’m glad that she has welcomed that.

“Of course I will speak to president Trump, I spoke to his senior advisers yesterday, we were with them all day.”

Keir Starmer says Kemi Badenoch is ‘not serious’ about Nato

Kemi Badenoch has been accused of not being “serious” over Nato by Sir Keir Starmer.

The Tory leader said: “One of them asked ;he is here’. He’s got no choice but to be here for Prime Minister’s Questions! If he could skip this, we know he would do.

“All of us here agree, well most of us here agree that Nato is the bedrock of our security. The future of Greenland is of fundamental importance to the future of the alliance.

“I am sure that the Prime Minister agrees that it is essential for Nato leaders, including and especially the US, to meet. Will the Prime Minister call for an urgent meeting of Nato leaders?”

The Prime Minister responded saying: “We had one of the strongest Nato meetings last year, the summit, where we had more members of Nato and more unity.

“When I arrived back to the House to make a statement, which of course she asked for, her position was I shouldn’t have missed PMQs, I should have empty-chaired the Nato summit. That’s how serious she is about Nato.”

Kemi Badenoch brands Keir Starmer ‘astonishing’ over lack of statement on Ukraine

Kemi Badenoch has said it was “astonishing” the Prime Minister did not make a statement to the Commons after pledging to put British boots on the ground in the Ukraine once the war is over.

The Tory leader said it demonstrated a “fundamental lack of respect for all of us here and the people we represent.”

The Prime Minister said: “Military plans were drawn up some months ago and I’ve updated the House in relation to that. Yesterday was a political declaration that sits under those powers.

“If there were to be deployment there would have to be a legal instrument.

“Deployment would only be after a ceasefire, to support Ukraine’s capabilities, to conduct deterrent operations and to construct and protect military hubs.”

The Prime Minister also confirmed MPs would get a vote on whether to deploy British troops to Ukraine, adding he will publish a “legal instrument” relating to the deployment ahead of any vote.

Keir Starmer opens PMQs with a dig at Reform

Sir Keir Starmer launched the first Prime Minister’s Questions of 2026 with a jab at Reform UK.

The Prime Minister made a joke wishing Nigel Farage’s party a “Happy Christmas”, as he added “Today is the day they celebrate Christmas in Russia.”

Keir Starmer leaves Downing Street ahead of first PMQs of 2026

Sir Keir Starmer has left Downing Street ahead of the first PMQs of 2026.

We’ll bring you all the updates here on our live blog and on PMQs Live with Tom and Gloria.

Liberal Democrats accuse Reform of ‘talking London down’

Reform UK has been accused of wanting to “talk London down” by the Liberal Democrats.

The party’s London spokesman and MP for Sutton & Cheam Luke Taylor said: “From its history to its culture to its people, London is the greatest city in the world but all Reform seem to do is talk it down.

“Cunningham and Farage care more about sowing division than they do about solving the actual problems that Londoners face.

“The Liberal Democrats will stand up for the millions of Londoners who love this city and its values and ensure London is a better place for everyone.”

Nigel Farage brands Zack Polanski ‘a lunatic’

Nigel Farage has said Zack Polanski is “clearly a lunatic” as he took aim at the Green Party Leader.

The Reform leader said “the Greens are clearly for you” if you “oppose drugs laws and support open borders.”

Laila Cunningham says Mark Rowley ‘has got to go’ as Met Police chief

Reform UK’s candidate for Mayor of London Laila Cunningham has said Sir Mark Rowley “has got to go” as head of the Metropolitan Police.

She said: “My message will be clear. If you are not delivering for Londoners then you’re in and I was really disappointed when Mark Rowley said there were no grooming gangs in London and then turned around saying we’re reviewing 9,000 cases.

“How the hell do you get 9,000 new cases wrong? So as it stands right now I think he has to go, because on my watch you don’t get 9,000 grooming cases wrong. You get it right the first time.

“If he’s not delivering, he’s got to go and that’s a message to everyone.”

Reform UK attacks ‘eco warrior’ Sadiq Khan over hated Ulez scheme and vows to end ‘WAR on motorists’

Reform UK has pledged to end the war on motorists in London and tackle Sir Sadiq Khan’s Ulez scheme after announcing its candidate for the upcoming mayoral election.

At a press conference in the capital this morning, Nigel Farage unveiled Laila Cunningham as Reform UK’s candidate for the London election in 2028.

He praised Ms Cunningham, who represents Lancaster Gate in Westminster City Council, as a “vigilante mum” who was hard on crime, vowing to defeat Sir Sadiq Khan as he looks to run for a fourth time.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Nigel Farage says there are ‘genuine security concerns’ around Greenland

Nigel Farage has warned of “genuine security concerns” surrounding Greenland amid comments about the future of the island.

The Reform leader said he agrees with Labour that the fate of Greenland must be decided by Greenland and Denmark, not the US.

However, he said: “There are some genuine security concerns around Greenland and that becomes ever more relevant with a retraction of the ice caps as we head towards the North Pole.

“There is a strong feeling in British intelligence circles, and many in Nato, that there needs to be a significant Nato base located directly on the north of Greenland.

“At the moment, it would appear that is something Greenland is not particularly keen to do.

“Since 2009, Greenland has been moving further and further away from Danish control and is pretty close to establishing its own level of independence and the fear is that they will fall prey to very large amounts of Chinese money and Chinese influence.

“So, as ever, with things that Trump says, they may sound outrageous, and in the case of potentially using force, they are. But there is point behind it.”

Nigel Farage blasts Sadiq Khan as ‘deluded’ over London praise

Nigel Farage has accused Sir Sadiq Khan as being “deluded” to believe that London was the best city in the world.

The Reform Leader said: “When you ask people in Dubai, in Milan, places like that, when you ask them would they come back to the UK, well it’s not just about tax, it’s actually about I will only come back if this is a safe city for me and my family to live in.

“I honestly believe that Khan, the Labour Government, the Conservative opposition, they’ve lost sight of this, they’ve lost sight of how negative the perception is of London.”

Laila Cunningham takes aim at Sadiq Khan over Islamophobia accusations – ‘An insult to Londoners’

Laila Cunningham has slammed Sir Sadiq Khan over his response to critics of London, taking aim at the Labour Mayor’s accusations of Islamophobia.

Councillor Cunningham, who herself is a Muslim, said: “[Sir Sadiq] attacks anyone who says London’s dangerous.

“He calls them far-right, racist. He ludicrously says that criticism of his record is because he’s Muslim and we are all Islamophobic. Frankly, it’s an insult to victims and to Londoners.”

Laila Cunningham says May 7 elections are ‘first step’ to reclaiming London for Reform

Reform UK’s Laila Cunningham said local elections in May is the “first step” to “reclaiming” the city in the 2028 London mayoral elections after she was announced as the party’s candidate to take on Sir Sadiq Khan.

The Westminster councillor told a press conference: “Now I know that we’re still two and a half years away, but the election on May 7 is the first step.

“It’s the first step to reclaiming our city. Now, these local elections, I tell everyone, will be a referendum on Sadiq Khan, on Labour’s broken London.

“It’s London’s chance to vote out every councillor who’s propped him up and stayed silent while he’s let our city down.”

Laila Cunningham announced as Reform’s candidate for London Mayor 

Westminster City Councillor Laila Cunningham has been announced as Reform’s candidate for the next London mayoral election.

The former Conservative councillor and mother-of-seven, who defected to Nigel Farage’s party last year, said there is an “epidemic” of knife crime in London, adding she cannot understand why tackling it is not more of a priority for the Mayor.

Councillor Cunningham, who has represented the Lancaster Gate ward since 2022, said about how “scared” she is that one of her teenage children could come to harm on the streets of London.

Nigel Farage takes aim at ‘banana republic’ over cancelled elections

Nigel Farage has compared Britain to a “banana republic” over cancelled elections across the UK.

The Reform leader said: “I have likened this to a banana republic and I don’t pull back in any way from that statement.

“But regardless of what gets cancelled, this is still a very major set of elections taking place on May 7.

“It may well decide who the Prime Minister is, it may well decide who the leader of the Conservative Party is, and it will make a material difference to my strength or otherwise as leader of this party too and that’s pretty much unavoidable.”

Nigel Farage hails ‘most significant set of election tests’ in press conference

Nigel Farage has described May’s local elections as the “most significant set of election tests” before the next General Election.

The Reform leader said: “My time, my effort, my focus is getting this party ready to fight this election.”

He also said the Wales Senedd was a “two horse race” between Reform and Plaid Cymru.

The Clacton MP confirmed he would announce Reform UK Scotland’s leader at a press conference in Edinburgh next Thursday.

Reform UK takes eight point lead over Tories in new poll

Reform UK has opened its gap over the Conservatives to eight points as Labour continues to slump in third place.

The first poll by pollster More In Common of 2026 has Nigel Farage’s party up three points to 31 per cent, with Kemi Badenoch’s Tories on 23 per cent.

At 54 per cent, this is the highest the pollster has ever recorded for the Reform/Conservative share.

Labour’s fall continues with Sir Keir Starmer’s party down to 19 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats on 12 per cent. Just behind the Lib Dems are the Green Party on 10 per cent.

Reform leader Nigel Farage is set to hold a press conference imminently. We’ll bring you all the updates as they happen here.

Locals rage as Labour boss of ‘Britain’s worst council’ handed OBE – ‘Sticking two fingers up to us!’

Claire Holland (centre), the leader of Lambeth council in south London, was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s list, despite being found to have acted unlawfully twice | X

Locals have been left raging and questioning the legitimacy of the honours system after the Labour boss of one of Britain’s most criticised councils was handed an OBE.

Claire Holland, the leader of Lambeth council in south London, was awarded the honour in the New Year’s list, despite being found to have acted unlawfully twice last year.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Britain blasted as ‘WEAK’ by the White House for not celebrating Maduro’s capture

Britain has been slammed as being “weak” by White House sources for not celebrating the military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Aides of President Donald Trump are said to have been frustrated with Sir Keir Starmer’s muted reaction to the ousting of Maduro on Saturday.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Labour minister insists ‘nobody wants to stop people going out to the pub’

Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood has defended plans to bring down the alcohol limit for drivers, despite warnings from rural pub landlords.

Ministers are considering toughening the rules in England and Wales, and could align them with Scotland where one drink can put a driver over the limit.

Responding to the claims, Ms Greenwood told GB News: “There were 260 people killed by drink drivers last year. Every single one was preventable. I think about the families torn apart, I’ve spoken to some of them.

“We are out of step in England and Wales, the limit we have was set in 1967, it hasn’t changed since then.

“Look nobody wants to stop people from going out to the pub, but what we are saying is if you are going out for a drink, leave the car at home.”

WATCH: Kieran Mullan grilled on vacant prison HMP Dartmoor: ‘How was this allowed to happen?!’

Britain ‘to be forced back into EU net zero scheme under Labour’s Brexit Betrayal Bill’

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in London | PA

The UK could reenter the EU’s net zero scheme without a parliamentary vote under the new “Brexit Betrayal Bill”.

Labour’s proposed plans for “dynamic alignment” would see Britain and Brussels tied together on various areas of regulation.

This could see EU regulations take effect in Britain automatically without needing Parliament’s approval.

Under the arrangement, Britain would be bound to EU rules covering food standards, animal welfare and pesticide regulations on a permanent basis.

But Government sources have confirmed the legislation would also implement a new arrangement with Brussels on the Emissions Trading System (ETS), which governs how much carbon companies can release into the atmosphere.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Labour rocked by yet another councillor defection in London

Labour has been hit with yet another defection in London as a Southwark Councillor has joined the Green Party.

Councillor Reginald Popoola has joined Zack Polanski’s party and will be the third Southwark Council councillor in three months to make the switch.

The Councillor for the Queen’s Road and Nunhead ward said: “I have made the decision to join the Green Party as its core values of social justice, ecologicalsustainability and genuine member engagement more closely align with my principles and the future I want to build not only in Southwark but across the UK.”

In response, a Southwark Labour spokesman said: “It has been clear for some time that Councillor Popoola’s thoughts have been focused on the future of his own political career, rather than on his residents, colleagues or responsibilities within the council.”

Senior Conservative says the future of Greenland is ‘up to its people’

Shadow Justice Minister Kieran Mullan has told GB News the future of Greenland and Denmark should be “up to its people.”

Dr Mullan, the MP for Bexhill and Battle stressed that he agreed with President Donald Trump on the “importance” of Greenland to the United States.

David Lammy to meet JD Vance amid Greenland turmoil

Vice President JD Vance and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy | REUTERS

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy will meet Vice President JD Vance in Washington DC to discuss Ukraine, following confirmation a British and French-led peacekeeping force will be placed in the country once the Russian-instigated war is over.

Mr Lammy is travelling to Washington to take part in celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The Deputy Prime Minister and the Vice President are reportedly close, with Mr Vance and his family staying with Mr Lammy last summer at Chevening, the grace-and-favour Kent country house he had use of as Foreign Secretary at the time.

Their meeting comes at a fraught time for relations between the US and its European allies, amid the fallout of the American raid on Venezuela and renewed Trump administration interest in claiming sovereignty over Greenland, a territory which belongs to Nato ally Denmark.

What’s happening today in Westminster?

It’s the return of PMQs today, as Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch will go head-to-head in the Commons for the first time this year.

We’ll bring you all the updates here on the live blog and on PMQs Live from 12pm where Tom and Gloria will be joined by Labour MP for Peterborough Andrew Pakes and Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East Joe Robertson.

Also today, the Tories are using their opposition day debate to challenge Labour’s plans to scrap jury trials for less serious offences, with some Labour MPs telling Politico they will vote against their party.

Family of David Amess to meet with MPs to press for ‘answers’ over missed opportunities

Sir David Amess was killed in October 2021 after being stabbed during a constituency surgery in Essex | IAN WEST

The widow and daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess are set to meet with the Home Secretary to push for “answers” over missed opportunities in the lead-up to his death.

Sir David was stabbed to death in Leigh-on-Sea in 2021 by Islamic State sympathiser Ali Harbi Ali, who was sentenced to a whole-life order for the murder the following year.

Lady Julia Amess and Katie Amess are set for talks with Shabana Mahmood on Wednesday, with Sir David’s daughter describing the meeting as one about “accountability, transparency, and learning lessons properly.”

Katie Amess has made repeated calls for a public inquiry into her father’s murder, saying it is the only way to achieve “real accountability.”

Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper previously wrote to Sir David’s family to reject their calls for an inquiry, which Lady Amess and Katie branded “totally unacceptable” and “insulting.”

​RECAP: Reform UK withdraws from BBC documentary made by firm behind ‘biased’ Trump programme

Between the Donald Trump controversy and the Question Time row, Reform UK pulled out of a BBC documentary made by the firm behind the “biased” Trump clip.

The documentary, titled The Rise of Reform, is set to be hosted by BBC politics presenter Laura Kuenssberg.

But Reform sent an email to its leading figures, MPs and councillors insisting that they cut ties with the firm.

In a damning memo, the party said: “We want to be clear that October Films have always conducted themselves professionally, and there is no suggestion from our side that they would maliciously misrepresent Reform UK.

“However, following the Panorama documentary, the trust has been lost.”

READ THE FULL STORY ON REFORM UK’S PULL-OUT HERE

RECAP: Zia Yusuf rages at BBC after Question Time ‘planted migrant’ stunt

Just weeks after the Donald Trump-BBC feud broke out, the broadcaster was drawn into yet another row on a special episode of Question Time.

The BBC had invited invited multiple “asylum seekers” to sit among the live audience in Dover – ground zero of Britain’s migrant crisis.

During the show, one of the migrants revealed that his asylum application had been rejected by six other countries before he came into Britain.

And speaking to GB News after he got home from Dover, Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf said: “It was put to me, would a Reform Government deport him?

“And I said, look, you know, we’re always going to give her the same answer on this. If you came to this country illegally, yes, you will be deported. Absolutely.

“And there were sort of gasps in the audience, which obviously I don’t know how.

“By the way, this is another stunning achievement from the BBC. They managed to rig… an audience in Dover of all places – a seat that looks as if the General Election would happen tomorrow, I think Reform would take handily.

“How did they manage to stack up so many people who gave rapturous applause to Zack Polanski, talking about open borders and more immigration? The whole thing was incredibly surreal. I think it is frankly, a scandal.”

Asked by GB News whether the chaos was an example of BBC bias, Mr Yusuf encouraged viewers to watch clips of the episode online, before noting that he “could not believe this was happening in such an open and blatant way”.

He had earlier blasted: “It is a scandal that licence fee money is being paid to bring to air an ‘immigration special’ where people who literally broke into this country are getting to air their views.

“What’s next? On Budget day, is the BBC going to bring us the viewpoint of tax evaders? I don’t know where we go from here.”

READ THE FULL STORY ON THE BBC QT ROW HERE

RECAP: Donald Trump sues ‘fake news’ BBC for $10 BILLION over Panorama edit

| GETTY

Late last year, the BBC was rocked by a major bias row after one of its Panorama documentaries was found to have misled viewers.

The show had spliced together two parts of a speech made by Donald Trump to make it look like he had directly encouraged his supporters to riot at the US Capitol on January 6, 2020.

The chaos forced the resignation of director general Tim Davie, as well as BBC News CEO Deborah Turness.

In December, Mr Trump formally accused the BBC of defamation and breaking Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

The President is pushing for $5billion (£3.74billion) for each alleged offence.

A spokesman for his legal team said at the time: “The BBC has a long pattern of deceiving its audience in coverage of President Trump, all in service of its own Leftist political agenda.”

DONALD TRUMP SUES THE BBC – READ THE FULL STORY HERE