Reform UK would repeal the Equality Act on day one if it won the next election, Suella Braverman has announced.
The party’s new education, skills and equalities spokeswoman said Britain was being “ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion” policies – and the party would scrap the equalities minister, part of her own brief.
As Nigel Farage announced members of his front-bench team, he put Robert Jenrick in charge of Reform's plan for the economy, dubbing him the party's “shadow chancellor of the Exchequer”.
Mr Farage has unveiled four spokespeople in all who would form part of a cabinet if Reform won the next general election, saying his party was “the voice of opposition” to Labour.
He also announced Zia Yusuf will be Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman, while its new business, trade and energy spokesman Richard Tice said the party would create a new “super-department” in government.
Local government leaders are still reeling after Labour abandoned plans to postpone elections across 30 councils this May, in the wake of advice from lawyers following a legal challenge from Reform UK.
Read MoreFarage promotes Jenrick and Braverman as he unveils new Reform front bench
Which parties run the councils where elections are no longer postponed?
Tories could be hit harder by local election U-turn than Labour, top pollster says
key points
- Farage unveils Jenrick as Reform's 'shadow chancellor' as he names party's top team
- Starmer abandons plans to cancel May council elections in latest U-turn
- Farage refuses to apologise for taxpayer cost of footing bill for legal fees and election
- Reform lead over Labour down to five points
- Yusuf calls for government to publish legal advice that led to election U-turn
WATCH: Farage responds to Reform candidate’s suggestion people who don’t have children should pay more tax
14:45 , Dan HaygarthNigel Farage has suggested people should be offered tax breaks for having more children, after he was asked about comments Reform UK’s by-election candidate made about Britain’s “fertility crisis”.
Last week,The Independent revealed that Gorton and Denton by-election candidate Matt Goodwin previously suggested people who don’t have children should be taxed extra as punishment.
When asked by The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke about whether he would back such a plan, Mr Farage said: “I wouldn’t want to tax anybody more, but you might give people tax breaks for having quite a few children given the cost of living is as high as it is.”
He added: “If part of our strategy going forward is to find some way that we can help young working people have kids in an affordable manner, that would be a very decent and good thing to do.”
The 30 local councils where elections will now go ahead in May
14:22 , Dan HaygarthThe government has abandoned plans to postpone local elections for dozens of councils in May after receiving legal advice against the move.
Of the 63 councils able to apply for a delay, a total of 30 were due to go ahead with the postponement.
The councils that were due to have their elections delayed were:
- Adur District Council
- Basildon Borough Council
- Blackburn with Darwen Council
- Burnley Borough Council
- Cannock Chase District Council
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Chorley Borough Council
- City of Lincoln Council
- Crawley Borough Council
- East Sussex County Council
- Exeter City Council
- Harlow District Council
- Hastings Borough Council
- Hyndburn Borough Council
- Ipswich Borough Council
- Norfolk County Council
- Norwich City Council
- Pendle Borough Council
- Peterborough City Council
- Preston City Council
- Redditch Borough Council
- Rugby Borough Council
- Stevenage Borough Council
- Suffolk County Council
- Tamworth Borough Council
- Thurrock Council
- Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
- West Lancashire Borough Council
- West Sussex County Council
- Worthing Borough Council
'Conservatives, current or former, are totally unfit to govern', Lib Dems say
14:10 , Dan HaygarthLiberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper described Reform’s front bench as a “Reform-Tory ‘Fifty Shades of Blue’ love-in”.
She said: “Robert Jenrick voted for Liz Truss’s economic disaster of a mini-budget, now he wants to do the same damage to the economy all over again.
“Nigel Farage is welcome to give his colleagues new name badges but it won’t change the opinion of the country, that Conservatives, current or former, are totally unfit to govern.”
Farage 'shadow chancellor' claim incorrect
13:50 , Jane DaltonEven though Nigel Farage has termed Robert Jenrick the “shadow chancellor”, in fact only the official opposition in Parliament has a shadow cabinet.
The leader of the Opposition – the second-largest party – appoints a shadow team, considered a government in waiting.
They sit on the frontbench opposite government ministers in parliament.
Other parties may use the term “shadow” but only in a loose, not official, sense. Their top teams instead have spokespeople for each department.
Elections U-turn may hit Tories harder than Labour, pollster says
13:36 , Jane Dalton Tories could be hit harder by local election U-turn than Labour, top pollster says
Yusuf says more migrants crossed Channel than on D-Day in war
13:27 , Jane DaltonReform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said that "more people have turned up on our beaches uninvited in the last seven years than stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day".
Border Force data show that since 16 February 2019 - seven years ago - 193,786 migrants have crossed the Channel on small boats.
The Allies landed more than 156,000 troops on five beaches in Normandy on D-Day, June 6 1944. By the end of Operation Neptune on June 30, more than 850,000 men had landed on Normandy beaches.
Starmer hits out at Reform over past vaccine claims as measles cases surge
13:04 , Dan HaygarthRead: Starmer hits out at Reform over past vaccine claims as measles cases surge
In pictures: Farage announces Reform's top team
12:43 , Dan Haygarth Farage responds to Reform candidate’s suggestion people who don’t have children should pay more tax
12:28 , Daniel HaygarthPolitcal reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Nigel Farage has suggested people should be offered tax breaks for having more children, after he was asked about comments Reform UK’s by-election candidate made about Britain’s “fertility crisis”.
Last week,The Independent revealed that Gorton and Denton by-election candidate Matt Goodwin previously suggested people who don’t have children should be taxed extra as punishment.
When asked by The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke about whether he would back such a plan, Mr Farage said: “I wouldn’t want to tax anybody more, but you might give people tax breaks for having quite a few children given the cost of living is as high as it is.”
He added: “If part of our strategy going forward is to find some way that we can help young working people have kids in an affordable manner, that would be a very decent and good thing to do.”
'Nothing socialist' about government having stake in British industries, Farage says
12:26 , Dan HaygarthThere is “nothing socialist” about saying the government should take a stake in British industries, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said.
Asked by reporters about the party’s policy for state involvement in industries, Mr Farage said: “I don’t think state involvement in strategic industries is socialism.
“There’s nothing socialist about saying that the British government should maybe take a stake in some of these strategic industries. That’s not nationalisation, far, far from it.”
Robert Jenrick, Reform’s Treasury spokesman, added: “There’s nothing socialist about saying that our economy should be concerned about salvaging strategic industries like steel or carmaking.
“We’re losing those strategic industries now.”
'They failed Britain before': Labour respond to Farage's appointments
12:23 , Dan HaygarthLabour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said Nigel Farage’s front bench appointments had “failed Britain before” and would do the same again.
Ms Turley said: “Farage’s top team of failed Tories spent over 3,000 days inflicting untold damage on our country in government, trashing our economy, hammering families’ mortgages, and leaving our borders open.
“They failed Britain before – they’d do the same again under Reform.
“Today’s appointments clearly reveal that neither keeping our nation safe nor tackling NHS waiting lists are priorities for Farage or Reform UK.
“Only Keir Starmer’s Labour Government is delivering on the people’s priorities by tackling the cost of living and cutting NHS waiting lists.”
Jenrick: Reform would focus on cutting taxes
12:17 , Dan HaygarthRobert Jenrick, Reform UK’s treasury spokesman said the party would be focused on cutting taxes.
Mr Jenrick also said Reform would be looking at the issue of youth unemployment, which he said was higher than parts of Europe.
He said: “We’re going to set out our economic plans tomorrow, but it’s going to be about reducing bills, having a sensible energy policy to make our country more competitive once again, reducing taxes as we can, and bring back good jobs in all parts of the country.”
Farage refuses to let new top team answer questions - despite attempting to shed ‘one man band’ image
12:08 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Nigel Farage went into today’s press conference endeavouring to shed Reform UK’s image that it is a “one man band”, with himself at the helm.
But as the event turned to questions from the media, Mr Farage repeatedly answered questions directed at his new top team.
One reporter who asked Zia Yusuf if he had “put his differences aside” with Robert Jenrick was told by Mr Farage: “I don’t think we need to answer that question frankly I think it rather speaks for itself”
Later, when a reporter asked Robert Jenrick about the axing of the two child benefit cap Mr Farage said: “I’m going to speak for Robert here - wait for tomorrow."
Farage says he ‘won’t tolerate’ disloyalty in top team
12:04 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Nigel Farage has said those in his frontbench “won’t be here for very long” if they “behave badly”.
Asked how he will avoid the “psychodrama” seen within the last Conservative government, the Reform UK leader said he would “not put up with it”.
“If people mess about, behave badly or are disloyal they won’t be here very long,” he said.
“We’re not going to put up with it. We’ll have our disagreements, of course we will, but we’ll have those disagreements in private, behind closed doors.
He added: “I won’t tolerate it publicly. We haven’t got time. We’re not going to aim for government to put it through the same psychodrama the Conservatives did for 14 years when they spent more time fighting eachother than running the country.”
Keir Starmer hits out at Reform over past vaccine claims as measles cases surge
12:00 , Dan HaygarthWhitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Keir Starmer has hit out at Nigel Farage’s party as measles cases surge, saying the public expects leaders to "stand firmly behind science to protect our children, not to give oxygen to conspiracy theories".
Reform UK came under fire last year after they included a speaker at their conference who suggested that Covid vaccines were linked to the cancers of the King and the Princess of Wales.
Aseem Malholtra, an adviser to US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, said: "One of Britain's most eminent oncologists Professor Angus Dalgleish said to me to share with you today that he thinks it's highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers in the royal family."
Reform UK later distanced the party from his claims.
But Labour said it was "shockingly irresponsible" of Reform to allow Dr Malholtra at the conference.
Now the PM has warned: “Our country expects its leaders to stand firmly behind science to protect our children, not to give oxygen to conspiracy theories. Public health isn’t a culture war. It’s about keeping our communities safe.”
It came as he also said it was “concerning to see more children getting measles."
He added: “Vaccines are safe, effective and can be life saving. We’re urging all parents to check their children are up to date with their recommended vaccinations.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned of a "big measles outbreak" in parts of London affecting unvaccinated children under the age of 10.
The outbreak in schools and nurseries in north-east London is said to have left some children requiring hospital treatment.
Farage pressed on why Reform chose non-MPs for top positions
11:55 , Dan Haygarth‘I can’t win’: Farage questioned on small size of frontbench
11:47 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Nigel Farage has defended his decision to only appoint four roles to his frontbench, and choosing to omit sitting MPs in favour of unelected Tory defectors.
The Reform UK leader insisted there would be more announcements to come, after he unveiled four roles in his would-be frontbench.
“I can’t win. This time yesterday we’re a one man band, now you want a bus full,” he said in response to a question from GB News.
“What can I do? I’ve appointed four people that I think are ideally suited to those four roles.”
He added: “This is just the beginning, and that’s exactly what it is.”
Braverman promises to scrap Equalities Act and role of equalities minister
11:42 , Dan HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Suella Braverman has promised to scrap the role of minister for women and equalities, as well as pledging to repeal the Equalities Act if Reform wins the next election - a key piece of legislation that prevents against discrimination in Britain.
She claimed that "diversity and equality policies are ripping Britain apart".
Suella Braverman says Reform would ban gender transitioning in all schools
11:38 , Dan HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Suella Braverman has launched a direct attack on the rights of trans young people, saying that "social and gender transitioning will be banned in all schools, no ifs no buts".
She promised to "bring an end to the transgender chaos in schools", claiming that children are "taught more about gender ideology than biological fact".
She also claimed that "in some classes, children are taught to view Britain with shame rather than pride", adding: "It's why a Reform government will deliver a patriotic, balanced curriculum that fosters a love of out government".
Suella Braverman put in charge of education, skills and equalities
11:33 , Dan HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Suella Braverman has been put in charge of Reform's education, skills and equalities brief.
Mr Farage said that, in this role, not only would she be in charge of Reform's education policies and what children are taught in schools, she will also be in charge ripping up diversity, equality and inclusion policies in Britain.
Yusuf promises to rip up every international treaty that would prevent deportations
11:31 , Dan HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Zia Yusuf has said the party would go even further than leaving the ECHR, promising to rip up "every international treaty" that would get in the way of deporting people from Britain.
Just minutes after being appointed as the party's would-be home secretary if Reform were to win an election, Mr Yusuf made clear the party's approach towards international law.
"We will not just leave the ECHR. We will derogate from every national treaty that would be used to frustrate and upend deportation", he said.
Zia Yusuf would be the home secretary if Reform win next election
11:25 , Daniel HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Zia Yusuf has been put in charge of Reform's plan for immigration, with Nigel Farage dubbing his role the party's 'shadow home secretary'.
Speaking after his appointment was made, Mr Yusuf claimed that migration has "broken Britain" and "overwhelmed" the country.
He said: "Britain has been overwhelmed by immigration. Both legal and illegal. I'm the son of immigrants myself and my parents between them gave almost half a century of service to the NHS, and I'm really proud of that.
"Nobody knows better than myself the contribution that migrants can make to this great country... but the sheer scale of migration over the last few years have broken Britain".
Robert Jenrick unveiled as Reform UK's 'shadow chancellor'
11:20 , Dan HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Nigel Farage has put Robert Jenrick in charge of Reform's plan for the economy, dubbing him the party's 'shadow chancellor of the Exchequer'.
Addressing a press conference in Westminster, Mr Jenrick - who only recently defected from the Tories - said: "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to oppose the wrecking ball that is Rachel Reeves and this Labour government".
Despite Mr Jenrick holding a role in Liz Truss's chaotic government, Mr Jenrick promised to "bring back stability to the economy".
"Together we are going to build an economy that serves alarm clock Britain - the people who got up early this morning to go to work", he said.
Tice promises to scrap 'net stupid zero'
11:18 , Dan HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Addressing the Westminster press conference, Richard Tice promised to "get rid of the madness of what we call 'net stupid zero'" - arguing that clean energy was holding Britain back.
He also promised to "reindustrialise Britain" and create a "sovereign wealth fund" to invest in British businesses.
Farage appoints Richard Tice as Reform UK's head of business, trade and energy
11:14 , Dan HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Nigel Farage has appointed Richard Tice as Reform UK's head of business, trade and energy.
The first appointment he has made this morning, as he unveils his party's new top team.
Mr Tice said his department would have a "total focus on growth and prosperity".
Farage gears up to unveil Reform's would-be cabinet
11:04 , Dan HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports from Westminster:
Nigel Farage is gearing up to unveil Reform UK's would-be cabinet at a dimly lit press conference in Westminster.
Four podiums have been set out on the stage, each embossed with different titles including shadow home secretary; shadow chancellor of the Exchequer; shadow secretary of state for business, trade and energy; and shadow secretary of state for education and skills.
Robert Jenrick is expected to be named Reform’s would-be chancellor, Richard Tice is expected to be named its choice for business secretary, while Zia Yusuf is expected to be its option for home secretary, if the party wins the next election.
Its pick for who would become its secretary of state for education and skills, however, is currently unknown - with growing speculation that it could be a new, unexpected figure.
Nigel Farage to name top team at 11am
10:52 , Dan HaygarthThe Reform UK leader will host a press conference in London at 11am. He will name spokespeople, who would form part of the cabinet if his party win the next general election.
Yusuf hails Jenrick as ‘thoughtful, serious man’ amid Reform UK’s frontbench speculation
10:48 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Zia Yusuf has described Tory-defector Robert Jenrick as a “thoughtful, serious man” amid speculation he will be named Reform UK’s chancellor if they were to win an election.
The party is preparing to unveil their would-be frontbench on Tuesday morning, with Mr Jenrick rumoured to be taking the highly coveted Treasury role.
“He is somebody who is already adding value in terms of helping with his experiences that he had in government,” Reform’s head of policy told Times Radio.
Despite clashing with Mr Jenrick on social media ahead of his chaotic defection to Reform UK last month, Mr Yusuf praised him ahead of today’s announcement.
He said: “People probably have seen the tweets. We had some exchanges on social media. I've gotten to know Robert quite well. And I speak to him almost every day. He's a thoughtful, serious man.
“I think he does believe clearly the things that he has talked about, and he got extremely frustrated inside the Conservative Party.”
Make places like Somerset take more migrants, Danish minister tells UK
10:35 , Dan HaygarthThe UK should make places like Somerset take their fair share of migrants, a Danish minister who oversaw radical immigration reforms has suggested.
Kaare Dybvad Bek, Denmark’s employment minister who is part of the leading centre-left Social Democratic Party, told an event in Westminster on Monday that he found it “curious” that parts of southern England lacked diversity while the north of England was very diverse.
Mr Dybvad Bek said that the separation was “fundamentally wrong”, saying: “This is different from our [Danish] culture. I think also that there are some things that are fundamentally wrong – to segregate towns and cities. I think it is wrong also to give special rights based on ethnic or religious groups. I think that we need to have a society where everyone has the same rights.”
Councils ‘race against time’ to organise elections in time for May after U-turn
10:21 , Dan HaygarthCouncils face a “race against time” to organise reinstated local elections, the body representing ballot organisers has said, as the head of one affected council claimed it raised significant questions over the Government’s wider devolution plans.
The deputy chief executive of the professional body for election administrators said returning officers and other election staff had lost “months” of planning for the elections that will now take place in 30 council areas on May 7.
The Government announced its latest policy U-turn on Monday, after telling dozens of councils they would not have ballots this year ahead of planned local government reorganisation.
Some £63 million will be made available to local authorities who are undergoing changes.
Read more: Councils ‘race against time’ to organise elections in time for May after U-turn
Tories could be hit harder by local election U-turn than Labour, top pollster says
10:05 , Dan HaygarthThe Conservatives could be hit harder than Labour by the government’s decision to abandon plans to postpone elections in 30 areas, Britain’s leading polling expert has said.
Writing in The Independent, the top pollster explained that while Labour were always likely to face embarrassment in the May polls, the Tories are now fighting significant challenges from Reform UK in key counties that had been told they could delay elections.
Sir John Curtice said despite more Labour-controlled councils having been due to postpone their elections, the Conservatives “have a good reason to regret the reversal” of the delays, with four large Tory-majority county councils – Norfolk, Suffolk, East and West Sussex– now having to organise ballots.
“Although it was mostly relatively small Labour councils where only a third of the seats are up for grabs that opted for postponement, so also did three county councils under Tory control and a fourth where the Conservatives are the largest party,” he wrote.
Read the full article: Tories could be hit harder by local election U-turn than Labour, top pollster says
Minister ‘baffled’ by Tory response to election climbdown
09:55 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
A government minister has said he is “utterly baffled” by the Conservative Party’s response to Labour’s u-turn on delaying 30 local elections.
After the government announced it was abandoning plans to postpone some polls, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described the reversal as “predictable chaos from a useless Government that cannot make basic decisions”.
On Tuesday, health minister Stephen Kinnock told Times Radio that Ms Badenoch appeared to be “criticising her own local government”.
“I’m utterly baffled by Kemi Badenoch’s views on this because of the 30 local authorities that asked for these elections to be postponed, I think five of them were Conservative controlled councils,” he said.
“So you know she seems to be criticising her own local government setup when she makes those comments.”
It comes as top pollster Sir John Curtice said the Tories could be hit just as hard as Labour by the u-turn, with Ms Badenoch’s party now facing significant challenges from Reform UK in large county councils that had been told they could delay elections.
How Tony Blair became more powerful now than he was as PM
09:45 , Dan HaygarthAs the director of a new documentary exploring the success of the former prime minister, Michael Waldman spent several months living on Planet Blair and talking to former colleagues – including Peter Mandelson.
Read his article here: How Tony Blair became more powerful now than he was as PM
Young people hardest hit by unemployment rise
09:35 , Dan HaygarthThe unemployment rate among young people is at its worst level for more than a decade, official figures show.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment lifted to 5.2 per cent in the three months to December, up from 5.1 per cent in the three months to November.
This was the highest since the three months to January 2021, and outside of the pandemic era, it marks the highest since the autumn of 2015.
Experts said young workers were among the hardest hit, with almost one in six left without a job.
The ONS said the unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds surged to 16.1 per cent in the latest quarter – the highest level since early 2015.
The Resolution Foundation think tank said the UK’s youth unemployment is now higher than the EU average for the first time since records began in 2000, with the rate across Europe at 14.9 per cent in the final three months of last year.
McFadden: 'We know there is more to do to get people into jobs'
09:25 , Dan HaygarthSecretary of state for work and pensions, Pat McFadden on today’s unemployment figures: "Today's figures show there are 381,000 more people in work since the start of 2025, but we know there is more to do to get people into jobs.
“Our £1.5 billion drive to tackle youth unemployment is a key priority and this month we announced that we’ll make it easier for young people to find and secure an apprenticeship, which comes on top of our investment to create 50,000 new apprenticeships.
“We’re also meeting people where they are – trebling the number of jobcentres on wheels, bringing a youth hub to every area in Great Britain and giving every young person the chance to earn or learn with our Youth Guarantee.”
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment lifted to 5.2 per cent in the three months to December, up from 5.1 per cent in the three months to November.
This was the highest since the three months to January 2021 and the highest for over a decade outside of the pandemic era.
Most economists had expected unemployment to remain at 5.1 per cent in the latest quarter - but data from HMRC suggests further redundancies are already in the works, while firms responding to industry research frequently cite limited hiring plans.
Reform lead over Labour down to five points
09:15 , Dan HaygarthThe weekly YouGov voting intention poll for The Times and Sky News shows Reform’s lead over Labour is down to five points.
Reform 24 per cent (-3)
Labour 19 per cent (=)
Conservative 18 per cent (=)
Green 17 per cent (+1)
Liberal Democrats 13 per cent (-1)
Watch: 'A victory for democracy', says Nigel Farage over the government's election U-turn
09:10 , Dan HaygarthGraph shows unemployment rising
09:01 , Dan HaygarthUnemployment has unexpectedly risen to its highest level for five years and wage growth has slowed again as the UK jobs market continues to come under pressure, according to official figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment lifted to 5.2 per cent in the three months to December, up from 5.1 per cent in the three months to November.
This was the highest since the three months to January 2021 and the highest for more than a decade outside the pandemic era.
Trust between Whitehall and local councils is 'in doubt', councillor says
09:00 , Dan HaygarthTrust between Whitehall and local councils is “in doubt” after the U-turn on local elections, a councillor has said.
Richard Wright, chairman of the District Councils Network and Conservative leader of North Kesteven Council, told Times Radio: “If you’re told by Government that there’s a position, you should be able to trust that.
“The trust between local government and central government needs to be there for us all to work properly on behalf of our residents.”
Asked what the condition of that trust was following Monday’s announcement, he said: “Well, at the moment, it’s in doubt.
“It was only in December that questions were asked directly of the Secretary of State and officials about the soundness of the legal opinion, and we were assured that the Government was confident in its position.
“So if they tell us they’re confident, and then obviously it’s completely torn apart, then it leaves us wondering at the moment if central government will give us the correct answers when we ask for them.”
Minister admits yet another Labour u-turn is ‘not ideal’
08:40 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
A government minister has insisted Labour’s decision to abandon the postponement of 30 local elections was due to a change in legal advice, but conceded the latest u-turn is “not ideal”.
Health minister Stephen Kinnock explained the government rowed back on plans to delay elections amid ongoing local government reorganisation after criticism.
He told LBC: “That legal advice has now changed. That is not ideal. I’m not going to stand here and pretend to you that it is, but we’re a Government that works with the rule of law.”
Mr Kinnock also said the government "had no choice" in the u-turn, telling Times Radio: "As always as a government we listen to legal advice and if the legal advice changes then we have no choice but to change our position."
Government is 'taking active measures' to get more people into work as unemployment rises
08:25 , Dan HaygarthThe Government is “taking active measures” to get more people into work, a minister has said in response to new unemployment figures.
Stephen Kinnock, a health minister, told Times Radio: “We know that we had the best growth of all the G7 European countries last year, and on unemployment, I think we’ve seen something like 440,000 new jobs created in the economy.”
Pointing to investment in apprenticeships and other schemes to get people back into work, he added: “We’re taking active measures to get more people back into work.
“But of course, there’s still a long way to go, given the appalling economic inheritance that we got in July 2024.”
Minister admits ‘things need to change’ - but backs Keir Starmer as PM
08:19 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
A government minister has admitted “things need to change” amid yet another government u-turn.
Health minister Stephen Kinnock was questioned on the government’s latest climbdown after it abandoned plans to postpone local government elections for 30 councils.
“I accept that things have to change, and we’ve had some very big changes in No 10,” he told LBC. “It means now really getting back to core Labour values of building an economy that works for everyone.”
When asked whether Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership was one of the elements that needed to change, Mr Kinnock defended the prime minister.
“Keir Starmer is absolutely the right man to take us forward,” he said.
Minister backs Steve Reed after local election climbdown
08:15 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
A minister has defended Steve Reed after the local government secretary was forced to abandon plans to postpone 30 council elections following a legal challenge.
Health minister Stephen Kinnock insisted Mr Reed was doing an “excellent job” as he defended him against calls to resign over the u-turn.
“Steve Reed is doing an excellent job as Secretary of State, pushing through the Pride in Place programme, pushing through renters’ reforms, bulldozing all of the bureaucracy and regulations that stops us building things in this country,” he told Sky News
“Steve is doing an excellent job as Secretary of State and he will continue to do that and to deliver for the British people.”
Unemployment rises to highest level for five years
08:07 , Dan HaygarthUnemployment has risen to its highest level for five years and wage growth has slowed again as the UK jobs market continues to come under pressure, according to official figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment lifted to 5.2% in the three months to December, up from 5.1% in the three months to November.
This was the highest since the three months to January 2021 and the highest for over a decade outside of the pandemic era.
Most economists had expected unemployment to remain at 5.1% in the latest quarter.
Yusuf calls for government to publish legal advice that led to election U-turn
08:00 , Dan HaygarthPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Reform’s head of policy has called for the government to publish the legal advice they received that prompted them to abandon plans to postpone elections in 30 local councils.
Zia Yusuf said the publication of the advice, which was given in response to a legal challenge from Reform UK, is “in the public interest”.
“The letter where they announced they were throwing in the towel and conceding that the elections can go ahead said this was in light of ‘new evidence and they’ve reserved their privilege on that meaning they are not going to publish it,” he told LBC.
“I think its in the public interest for us all to see it, I think I know what that new legal advice was going to be, was that they were going to lose.”
Labour faces wipe out in local elections now going ahead, poll suggests
07:44 , Dan HaygarthPolling for The Telegraph suggests that Labour majorities on ten local authorities will be wiped out now that elections in 30 areas will go ahead.
Labour had initially announced plans to cancel elections in 30 areas this year, impacting 4.5 million people, in order to free up “capacity” to undertake an overhaul of council structures.
Now that they will go ahead, The Telegraph suggests that Labour will likely lose control of six councils – Blackburn with Darwen, Cannock Chase, Exeter, Preston, Thurrock and Worthing.
Its majority will be wiped out completely in four more, the report states.
The polling suggests the Labour party will lose half of the seats it will defend in May.
What to expect today?
07:00 , Bryony Gooch- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage will be announcing members of his party’s shadow cabinet team at a Westminster press conference.
- There will be a hearing for MP Rupert Lowe’s legal challenge against parliamentary watchdog.
- Rupert Lowe, the independent MP for Great Yarmouth, is seeking to take High Court legal action against the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme over its decision last July to investigate a complaint made against him.
Reform by-election candidate defends man who said ‘burn asylum hotels’
06:00 , Bryony Gooch Reform candidate called it ‘insane’ to jail man who said ‘burn asylum hotels’
In pictures: Reform rally in Romford
05:00 , Bryony Gooch Make places like Somerset take more migrants, Danish minister tells UK
04:00 , Bryony Gooch Make places like Somerset take more migrants, Danish minister tells UK
Watch: Keir Starmer denies knowledge of Labour Together-linked ‘probe’ into journalists
03:00 , Bryony GoochFarage refuses to apologise for taxpayer cost of footing bill for legal fees and election
02:00 , Bryony GoochAsked if he should apologise for the potential cost to taxpayers of both footing the bill for legal fees and of holding the elections that had been due for postponement, Mr Farage said: “The idea I should apologise because it costs money to hold elections in a country where one-and-a-quarter million people died in two world wars so that we could be a free democracy, I won’t even begin to apologise.
“That is our system. That is our way. We choose the people that represent us, tax us, make decisions on our behalf, and once every few years, we’ve the right to judge them and get rid of them. That is the very basis of how modern Britain works.”