Reform leader Nigel Farage has called on the UK to be “friendly” with the EU as he admits the post-Brexit deal is “not a very good one”.
“You can have negotiations, you can be friendly, you can do all those things,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme after admitting the deal negotiated by Boris Johnson’s government has not succeeded.
But he warned that “industrial collaboration” with the EU could result in “less flexibility” in forming trade deals with the US.
Sir Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations with the EU bloc, amid threats from the Donald Trump administration of a trade war between the US and EU.
The prime minister downplayed the US president’s threats to impose tariffs on the EU and UK, after EU and US stock markets tumbled on Monday.
Meanwhile, Reform has topped a bombshell YouGov voting intention poll for the first time.
Nigel Farage’s right-wing party would take 25 per cent of the votes, the poll showed, while 24 per cent would pick Labour and 21 per cent would vote for the Conservatives.
But Reform’s lead in the major poll remains within the margin of error, YouGov said.
Key Points
- 'Ruthless pragmatism' needed in UK-EU relations, says minister
- Farage says UK needs better post-Brexit deal with EU
- Reform UK beats Labour in YouGov voter poll for first time
- No 10 responds to Trump's comments about UK
- Starmer addresses Trump fallout during address to EU chiefs
The NHS caught my cancer – but with AI it can save many more lives
10:21
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Alex Croft
The NHS saved my life. There’s no doubt about it. I went into A&E with kidney stones but came out with a cancer diagnosis. And that is the best of the NHS in action. Had that meticulous doctor not spotted my cancer on the X-ray, I may not be here today.
Yet I know, sadly, many cancer patients don’t experience the NHS at its best.
The tough reality is that, after years of neglect, too many patients face long waits, delayed diagnoses and critical gaps in the urgent care they so desperately need.
Limbo is a horrible place to be when it comes to your health – I should know. I had multiple follow-up appointments cancelled after my treatment and spent endless nights worrying about whether my cancer had gone, or worse, had returned. That’s why reducing lives lost to cancer is so personal to me.
Health secretary Wes Streeting writes for The Independent:
'Ruthless pragmatism' needed in UK-EU relations, says minister
09:58
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Alex Croft
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the cabinet minister for European Union Relations, is currently speaking at the UK-EU forum’s annual conference.
“In a more uncertain world, we are regularly reminded that allies are more secure together than they are apart,” he told delegates.
“The time for ideologically driven division is over. The time for ruthless pragmatism is now. It is through a new partnership, between the UK and the EU that we will deliver for the people of the UK and for people across the continent
“The future of the EU and the UK lies beyond the status quo, reaching forward to deliver benefits for all our people to share.”
“Together, we will create a stronger UK, and we will create a stronger Europe.”
Keir Starmer denies breaking Covid lockdown rules with voice coach
09:51
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Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor
Keir Starmer has denied breaking strict Covid lockdown regulations by meeting his voice coach in late 2020.
At a Nato press conference in Brussels, Sir Keir said “all rules were followed”.
Asked, “Did you break lockdown rules, prime minister?”, he replied: “Of course not.”
The Conservatives have said the Labour leader has “serious questions to answer” after he met Leonie Mellinger at the height of Covid restrictions.
In pictures: Starmer joins EU summit
09:31
,
Alex Croft
Nigel Farage confronted over Elon Musk calling for new Reform leader: 'How embarrassing was that?‘
08:58
,
Holly Patrick
Starmer was working when he met voice coach during Covid lockdown - minister
08:57
,
Alex Croft
Sir Keir Starmer was working when he met a voice coach during lockdown of winter 2020, a minister has said.
Suggestions that Sir Keir broke lockdown rules are “mudslinging”, health minister Karin Smyth told GB News.
Sir Keir has previously denied breaking lockdown rules when he met a communication skills specialist to discuss a response to Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
“I think what we’re seeing again is more mudslinging by the Tories on this issue at a time when they were partying – and we’ve got all the evidence of that, and the sorry tale of that,” she said.
“Keir was working. Working was allowed in tier four in London at that time.”
Sir Keir was working to prepare for interviews in the run up to the UK leaving the EU, Ms Smyth added.
“And that was a working event at the time, when we know what the Tories were doing – partying – that’s well documented,” she said.
Hundreds of Met Police workers begin strike action
08:45
,
Alex Croft
More than 300 civilian workers at the Metropolitan Police have started a two-week strike in a dispute relating to flexible working.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) have been threatened with having their pay docked if they did not agree to a new attendance policy, the union said.
Staff refused to return to the office for additional days which they described as unnecessary. Hundreds of members in the reference and vetting department will now walk out from work from February 4 to 17.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our hard-working members in the Met are angry as they believe they have been continually disrespected and ignored by their bosses.
“If their pay will be docked when they’re not on strike, they feel they might as well lose pay by walking out.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We are disappointed the PCS feels such action is necessary and we remain committed to continuing to engage with the trade unions to resolve the dispute.”
Farage says UK needs better post-Brexit deal with EU - but fails to explain what he would do in tetchy interview
08:30
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Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent
Nigel Farage has admitted Britain needs a better post-Brexit deal with the European Union amid Sir Keir Starmer’s reset of relations with the bloc, but refused to say what an improved relationship would look like.
The Reform UK leader said the UK’s existing trade deal with the EU, negotiated under Boris Johnson, “was not a very good one”.
“We can improve on that,” the arch-Brexiteer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Archie Mitchell reports:
What are Trump's tariffs and who will be hit next?
08:02
,
Bryony Gooch
Donald Trump’s trade tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China have come into force in a move that has caused panic for financial markets across the world.
He claimed the measures are designed to stop the flow of drugs and immigrants from the country’s two closest neighbours, Canada and Mexico.
Chinese goods will also see a new tariff placed on them, with Mr Trump hinting more countries across the world could make the list in the near future.
While the president has said new tariffs on the EU will “definitely happen”, he has been more vague in regard to the UK.
He told reporters on Sunday “it might happen”, saying the UK is “out of line” but he is sure it can be “worked out”. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, he added, “has been very nice”.
Albert Toth with the full explanation
Reform UK beats Labour in YouGov voter poll for first time
07:43
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Bryony Gooch
Reform UK has topped a YouGov voting intention poll for the first time.
Nigel Farage’s right-wing party has beaten the Labour Party to take the lead for the first time in the poll published on Monday.
The poll showed that if a general election were held tomorrow 25 per cent of British voters would choose Reform, 24 per cent would pick Labour, and 21 per cent would vote for the Conservatives.
Our latest voting intention poll (2-3 Feb) has Reform UK in front for the first time, although the 1pt lead is within the margin of error.
— YouGov (@YouGov) February 3, 2025
Ref: 25% (+2 from 26-27 Jan)
Lab: 24% (-3)
Con: 21% (-1)
Lib Dem: 14% (=)
Green: 9% (=)
SNP: 3% (=) pic.twitter.com/eerJuTozLI
YouGov, who conducted the poll for The Times, said that Reform's one-point lead over Labour in the poll is within the margin of error.
The survey of 2,465 people over February 2 to 3 gave Reform its joint-highest score to date, up from 23 per cent in its previous poll on 26-27 of January.
Athena Stavrou’s full report here:
Health Minister lauds 'exciting development' of AI breast cancer screening
07:27
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Bryony Gooch
Karin Smyth has said on World Cancer Day that she hopes that the clinical trial to use AI in breast cancer screenings will lead to faster diagnosis and faster treatment, as 700,000 women are set to take part in it.
“This is a very large trial, we screen about two million women a year at the moment, so 700,000 women coming forward will take a year or so to get the [trial] through and get the results done.”
Rachel Clun’s full report on the trial:
If Britain is to avoid Trump’s tariffs, the NHS may pay the price
07:00
,
Sean O’Grady
It was Jeremy Corbyn who – in a rare moment of prescience – revealed exactly how the health service would be ‘on the table’ during any trade deal with the US. Given the maelstrom over tariffs, will Keir Starmer be able to defend the NHS when he meets the new president, asks Sean O’Grady:
‘Better safe and legal routes needed alongside enforcement against smugglers’
06:00
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Athena Stavrou
Improving safe and legal routes for refugees to come to the UK is work the Government should be undertaking alongside its efforts to tackle smuggling gangs, a report has said.
Strengthened family reunion and resettlement schemes and a pilot humanitarian visa scheme for people coming from Sudan and Eritrea are among the recommendations from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Refugees.
The group also called on the Government to commit to resettling at least 5,000 refugees annually, saying a 2019 pledge under the previous Conservative government to help the most vulnerable had never been met.
APPG co-chairs Lord Alf Dubs and Labour MP Laura Kyrke Smith acknowledged that while safe and legal routes “are not a silver bullet”, these should be “combined with the current Government’s enforcement measures and efforts to increase our SAR (search and rescue) capabilities”.
Keir Starmer denies breaking Covid lockdown rules with voice coach
05:00
,
Athena Stavrou
Keir Starmer has denied breaking strict Covid lockdown regulations by meeting his voice coach in late 2020.
At a Nato press conference in Brussels, Sir Keir said “all rules were followed”.
Asked, “Did you break lockdown rules, prime minister?”, he replied: “Of course not.”
The Conservatives have said the Labour leader has “serious questions to answer” after he met Leonie Mellinger at the height of Covid restrictions.
On Christmas Eve that year, while London was under tier 4 pandemic regulations, the PM sought the actor’s advice to respond to Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, according to a new book.
Kate Devlin reports:
Education Secretary defends Ofsted’s proposed grading scale as what parents want
03:45
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Athena Stavrou
The Education Secretary has rejected criticism of plans to revamp Ofsted’s grading system for schools with a new “report card” style scale.
Bridget Phillipson said she “fundamentally” rejects the idea that giving more information on where schools need to improve is “not something that parents want”, after unions and the sister of a headteacher who took her own life following an Ofsted inspection criticised the plans.
Schools in England will receive ratings – from the red coloured “causing concern” to orange coloured “attention needed”, through the green shades of “secure”, “strong” and “exemplary” – for each area of practice under proposals for Ofsted’s new report card system.
Previously, Ofsted awarded one of four single-phrase inspection judgments: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.
Ms Phillipson said “good” as a judgement has become “too vague to serve its purpose” and that too many schools are “coasting” to deliver education that is not up to the required standard.
Starmer walks Trump tightrope between Europe and US in trade war
02:28
,
Athena Stavrou
Keir Starmer is “walking a tightrope” between the US and EU on trade, experts said after Donald Trump unleashed a global tariff war.
The prime minister insisted it was not a choice of “either or” as he sat down with EU leaders for dinner last night to launch his post-Brexit reset talks.
And leading trade experts told The Independent there are “reasons to be optimistic” that Britain can land good trade deals with both Brussels and Washington.
It came as Trump threatened tariffs against the EU, after announcing plans to impose them on Canada and Mexico.
Members of his inner circle have made it clear tariffs could be imposed on Britain, however there were signs of optimism on Monday as Trump said the UK was “out of line” on trade “but I'm sure that one... I think that one can be worked out”.
David Maddox reports:
Starmer pays tribute to boy, 15, killed in stabbing at Sheffield school
01:02
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has said his “heart goes out” to the family of a 15-year-old boy who died after being stabbed in Sheffield.
In a statement, the Prime Minister said: “It is horrific and senseless news that a boy has died after a stabbing in Sheffield.
“I am deeply grateful to the first responders, the police officers and the medical staff who are offering support and reassurance.
“My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of the boy, the staff and students at the school and the entire community of Sheffield.
“They are grieving the needless loss of a young life and the nation mourns with them.
“Our schools should be places of safety and learning, not violence and fear. My Government is absolutely committed to tackling knife crime so young people are safe on our streets and in our schools.
“Tonight a young boy should be returning to the love and safety of his family.
“We stand and work together against the devastating consequences of knife crime, so no more families know this tragic loss.”
Kay Burley accuses Richard Tice of 'talking rubbish' in heated clash
Monday 3 February 2025 23:33
,
Athena Stavrou
Watch: Trump warns EU tariffs will happen and UK is 'out of line'
Monday 3 February 2025 22:44
,
Athena Stavrou
Starmer calls for deeper co-operation with European Union at dinner with leaders in Brussels
Monday 3 February 2025 22:03
,
Athena Stavrou
The prime minister has called for deeper defence co-operation with European Union as he pushes to ‘re-set’ relations in Brussels.
Sir Keir addressed EU leaders over dinner in Brussels, where he became the first UK prime minister to attend a European Council meeting since Brexit.
He said: “We need to deepen co-operation to protect ourselves from state threats and sabotage, including on sub-sea infrastructure.
”Sir Keir told the leaders in Brussels they should also “explore greater co-operation on missions and operations, like we’re already doing with our operations in the Red Sea and our work to train Ukrainian troops”.
The Prime Minister, who is pushing for closer defence and security ties as part of his “reset” in relations with the EU, also called for more work on military research and development, where the UK has “unique skills”.
What does the UK trade with America?
Monday 3 February 2025 21:30
,
Athena Stavrou
The United States is one of the UK’s major trading partners, accounting for nearly a quarter of exports of chemicals and almost a third of crude oil imports.
Here we looks at how much trade the UK has with the US, based on figures published by the Office for National Statistics.
Read the full article here:
Starmer told to side with Canada against 'playground bully' Trump's
Monday 3 February 2025 21:00
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Athena Stavrou
Keir Starmer has been urged to hold an emergency summit of the Commonwealth with Canada to formulate a joint response to Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.
President Trump has sparked a new trade war by announcing a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods entering the US.
The president also claimed on Sunday that without a massive subsidy from the US “Canada ceases to exist as a viable country”, as he renewed his calls for it to become America’s 51st state.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said an urgent meeting was needed, as “we mustn’t let Donald Trump bully the UK or our close ally Canada, who we share a head of state with.”
What's on the agenda at Starmer's meeting with EU leaders?
Monday 3 February 2025 20:01
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Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer will join a gathering of European Union leaders on Monday, becoming the first prime minister to do so since Brexit.
The agenda for the meeting is set to be wide-ranging as leaders of the EU’s 27 member states gather for the “informal retreat” in Brussels.
Joint European defence, security, trade and migration are all understood to be on the table, as the Labour leader looks to deliver on his pledge to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with the bloc which voters elected to leave in 2016.
The prime minister’s office has confirmed conversations about trade will take place but insists measures like rejoining the single market or freedom of movement are off the table.
Here’s what’s on the agenda:
Prison population up by more than 1,000 since start of year, figures show
Monday 3 February 2025 19:32
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Athena Stavrou
The number of prisoners in England and Wales has jumped up by more than 1,000 since the start of the year, new figures reveal.
The prison population grew by 1,184 in the five weeks from December 30 to February 3, according to analysis by the PA news agency of Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data published on Monday.
This takes the number of inmates in jail to 86,802, the highest figure since October 21 last year (87,465), the day before more than 1,000 prisoners were released early as part of the Government’s bid to ease overcrowding.
Cladding deadline ‘essentially meaningless’, campaigner tells MPs
Monday 3 February 2025 18:52
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Athena Stavrou
A building safety campaigner has branded the Government’s 2029 deadline for cladding removal “essentially meaningless”.
Giles Grover, from the End Our Cladding Scandal campaign group, told MPs he is “not at all confident” that the action plan for England, revealed in December, will deliver for residents.
Labour unveiled its Remediation Acceleration Plan last year, pledging that, by the end of 2029, all buildings more than 59ft (18m) tall with unsafe cladding that are on a Government scheme will have been remediated.
Giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on Monday, Mr Grover was asked about his confidence in the remediation action plan.
He told the committee: “I’m not at all confident, to be blunt. I’m sure officials are patting themselves on the back for announcing a target date of 2029.
“That’s still five years, five long years away. It’s only for some buildings, the high rise buildings that are in grant funding schemes that were first known in 2020.
“I think the target date is essentially meaningless to most people, really. People really want to know for their homes, whatever height it is, when it will be made safe.
‘No evidence’ that Ofsted reforms will improve current system
Monday 3 February 2025 18:38
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Athena Stavrou
There is “no evidence” the Government’s proposed reforms to Ofsted will be an improvement on the current system, the Conservatives have said.
Under the plans unveiled on Monday, schools in England could be graded across a variety of different areas – including attendance and inclusion – using a colour-coded five-point scale.
Schools would receive ratings – from the red-coloured “causing concern” to orange-coloured “attention needed”, through the green shades of “secure”, “strong” and “exemplary” – for each area of practice under proposals for Ofsted’s new report card system.
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott argued the new report cards system would be “slower and weaker”, and result in more children staying in failing schools for longer.
She added: “There is no evidence whatsoever that the approach proposed today for the delay and a rise (regional improvement for standards and excellence) team coming in will be any better.”
Trump pauses tariffs on Mexico after its president agrees to send 10,000 troops to border
Monday 3 February 2025 18:31
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Athena Stavrou
Donald Trump has agreed to suspend his aggressive tariff hike against Mexico by one month after speaking to his counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum, who in return has agreed to dispatch 10,000 additional troops to the border between their two countries in order to police illegal drug trafficking.
Writing on Truth Social, the American said he had had a “very friendly” conversation with Sheinbaum and that the soldiers “will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our Country”.
Follow live here:
Starmer denies breaking lockdown rules over meeting with voice coach
Monday 3 February 2025 18:06
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Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has denied breaking lockdown rules after it emerged he had met a voice coach during the winter of 2020.
The Prime Minister said “of course” he did not breach restrictions in place during the coronavirus pandemic by working with a communication skills specialist on a response to Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
In excerpts of Get In, a book on Sir Keir’s leadership being serialised by The Sunday Times, the coach, Leonie Mellinger, is described as having qualified for “key worker” status.
But opposition critics have seized on the revelation as evidence of what they suggest amounts to a potential breach of lockdown rules, as London and the South East were under regional restrictions at the time.
If Britain is to avoid Trump’s tariffs, the NHS may pay the price
Monday 3 February 2025 17:52
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Athena Stavrou
It was Jeremy Corbyn who – in a rare moment of prescience – revealed exactly how the health service would be ‘on the table’ during any trade deal with the US. Given the maelstrom over tariffs, will Keir Starmer be able to defend the NHS when he meets the new president, asks Sean O’Grady:
Nato Secretary General says Trump's Greenland comments 'useful'
Monday 3 February 2025 17:21
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Athena Stavrou
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has said it is “useful” that Donald Trump “alerted us to the fact that when it comes to the high north there is a geopolitical and strategic issue at stake”.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels alongside Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Rutte was asked about the dispute over Greenland.
Mr Rutte said: “What I think is very useful is that President Trump alerted us to the fact that when it comes to the high north there is a geopolitical and strategic issue at stake.
“I would say that is not only about Greenland, this has to do with Finland, it has to do with Sweden, Norway, Iceland, yes, Greenland and therefore Denmark. Also Canada and also the US.
“Clearly, collectively as an alliance, we will always look at the best way to make sure that we can tackle those challenges.”
Pictured: Starmer speaking at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Monday 3 February 2025 16:58
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Athena Stavrou
Analysis: Starmer denies the UK has to choose between the EU and the US
Monday 3 February 2025 16:45
,
Kate Devlin
Keir Starmer is stuck in the middle – a place he never wanted to be.
But the prime minister has insisted that the UK does not have to choose between the US and the EU – despite Trump’s threat of a trade war.
At a Nato press conference in Brussels just now the Labour leader insisted it was “really important we work with both”.
US President Donald Trump has warned the EU could be next to face tariffs, saying it could happen "pretty soon".
The next UK ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson has also insisted there is no need for the UK to change sides.
Despite his protestations, Sir Keir is expected to face heavy pressure on this issue – potentially for the four years of Trump’s presidency.
UK's commitment to Nato 'stronger than ever'
Monday 3 February 2025 16:23
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Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK’s commitment to Nato is “stronger than ever” because the need for Nato is stronger than ever.
The Prime Minister said he had “very productive discussions” on Monday about how to ensure European security.
He said: “We must do all that we can to support Ukraine.
“President Trump has threatened more sanctions on Russia and it’s clear that that’s got Putin rattled. We know that he’s worried about the state of the Russian economy.”
Nato secretary general 'convinced' tensions between allies won't affect defence
Monday 3 February 2025 16:21
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