Rachel Reeves has been hit by claims that she exaggerated how long she worked at the Bank of England on her online CV.
The BBC reported the chancellor left the central bank nine months earlier than she stated in her LinkedIn profile.
Her LinkedIn profile shows she worked at the Bank of England from September 2000 to December 2006. However, the BBC found she had left by March 2006 when she began working for Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) in West Yorkshire.
Ms Reeves has previously claimed in a 2021 magazine interview she spent a decade working at Threadneedle Street, while she told the Labour Party Business Conference last year she spent “the best part of a decade” at the Bank.
A spokesman for the chancellor confirmed the LinkedIn profile was inaccurate and said the error was due to an administrative mistake.
It comes as Britain’s economy unexpectedly grew in the final three months of last year after recession fears, but Ms Reeves said she was “still not satisfied”.
Official figures showed gross domestic product (GDP) edged 0.1 per cent higher between October and December, defying forecasts by analysts and the Bank of England for a contraction in the quarter.
Key Points
- Starmer disrupted by noisy farmer protest
- Rachel Reeves 'exaggerated Bank of England experience on her CV'
- Chancellor says economy must grow ‘further and faster’ after sluggish performance
- The UK economy unexpectedly grew in final quarter of last year
- Defence secretary says ‘don’t leave Ukraine out' of Russia peace talks
Tories say they support government's backing of Ukraine in rare show of cross-party support
11:49
,
Jabed Ahmed
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge told the Commons: “We remain 100% steadfast in our support for Ukraine and in our backing for the Government delivering that, as they did when in opposition, and we agree in principle with them – as we also stressed repeatedly in government – it is for the Ukrainians to decide the timing and terms of any negotiations on ending the war.”
He added: “Negotiations without the direct involvement of Ukraine would be unthinkable.”
Mr Cartlidge noted US President Donald Trump has been right to highlight that some Nato nations spend “far below what is expected and required” on defence.
He also sought assurances that the UK Government would use “every lever possible” to remind all Nato members that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is “seen to somehow win from any settlement that may bring a temporary end to the conflict, but it will not make the world a safer place”.
Mr Cartlidge went on: “Far from it, this would be an illusion of peace likely to send a very dangerous signal to other potential adversaries.”
Rishi Sunak makes rare appearance in Commons to ask question on Ukraine
11:31
,
Jabed Ahmed
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has urged the Government and its European allies to provide Ukraine with a “military presence across land, air and sea”, in the event of a peace deal.
During an urgent question on Ukraine, he said: “Can I ask the minister if she agrees with me that in this new world, and in the event of any peace deal, that the United Kingdom and its European allies must lead in providing Ukraine military support and potentially military presence across land, air and sea, to give Ukraine confidence that any peace will endure?
“And can I assure the Government that it will have my support, if that’s what it decides to do.”
Defence minister Maria Eagle replied: “I can confirm that we aim to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to enable it to negotiate, and that involves continuing to supply them with the arms and weapons that they need in order to fight, because fighting is still going on in a very fierce manner in that country.
“So we need to step up and make sure we do that.”
Ms Eagle added that 58% of aid and support received by Ukraine last year was from European nations.
Prime minister abandons housing development visit after farmers protest
11:19
,
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer was forced to cut short a visit to a housing development after a protest by farmers.
Around a dozen tractors and agricultural vehicles blocked the road near the Eastbrook development in Milton Keynes.
The Prime Minister abandoned planned media interviews due to the protest.
Rachel Reeves' spokesperson responds to exaggerated CV allegations
11:08
,
Jabed Ahmed
A spokesperson for Rachel Reeves said: “As Rachel said on Good Morning Britain a couple of weeks ago when she was asked, she worked as an economist at the Bank of England between 2000 and 2006, including over a year at the British Embassy in Washington working in the economics section, and then she worked at HBOS from 2006 to 2009. She’s proud of the jobs she did and experience she gained before becoming a Member of Parliament.”
Defence minister says she is glad support for Ukraine remains cross-party
10:57
,
Jabed Ahmed
Defence minister Maria Eagle, responding to an urgent question on Ukraine, told the Commons: “Nato’s job is to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for any talks, but there can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine being involved.
“We want to see a durable peace and no return to conflict and aggression. That’s the only way in which this war can end with the kind of security that President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have referred to.”
Breaking | Rachel Reeves 'exaggerated Bank of England experience on her CV'
10:49
,
Jabed Ahmed
Pictured | Farming protest distupts Starmer's housing development visit
10:36
,
Jabed Ahmed
Starmer disrupted by noisy farmer protest
10:24
,
Jabed Ahmed
A group of tractor-driving protesters staged a noisy demonstration as Sir Keir Starmer visited a housing development in Buckinghamshire.
The vehicles could be heard sounding musical horns while the Prime Minister spoke to workers at the side.
Farmers have staged a series of protests following the inheritance tax changes in the budget.
Urgent question on Ukraine tabled in Commons
10:05
,
Jabed Ahmed
There will be an urgent question on Ukraine in the Commons at 10.30am. It has been tabled by shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, and a defence minister will respond since defence secretary John Healey is at a Nato summit in Brussels.
It comes after Mr Healey warned that “Russia remains a threat well beyond Ukraine” after Donald Trump claimed that he and Vladimir Putin had agreed to start talks on ending the conflict.
Full report | British military chiefs rage over fears of Trump sell out of Ukraine
09:46
,
Jabed Ahmed
Our Political Correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Former MI6 chief slaps down Trump's plan for Ukraine
09:31
,
Jabed Ahmed
Donald Trump “can’t be allowed to give away Ukrainian sovereignty”, a former MI6 chief has said.
Mr Trump announced he plans to meet with Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine after a phone conversation with the Russian president on Wednesday night.
Speaking to BBC Radio’s Today programme on Thursday morning, Sir Alex Younger, the former chief of the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service, said the situation posed a threat to Ukraine’s existence as a sovereign country.
Sir Alex said: “There’s been some very, very hefty concessions made without much being asked for in return.
“The key point, though, the key point is that the vital ground of this conversation is not about territory. It’s about sovereignty.
“Russia wants Ukraine to be a non-country, and if Donald Trump gives that away, we’ve lost.”
Referring to comments Mr Trump has made following his conversation with Vladimir Putin, in which he stated that “Putin can’t be seen to win”, Sir Alex added: “We’ve got to operate on that.
“He will know that he can’t own a fiasco such as took place after the Afghan negotiation. Actually, he needs Europeans to close this deal.
“So, there are a set of levers that we have to pull right now.
“This is only the beginning of the negotiation, but this is the vital ground of the conversation.
“He can’t be allowed to give away Ukrainian sovereignty.”
Charted | UK economic growth
09:16
,
Jabed Ahmed
The latest economy data saw the UK defy forecasts last week from the Bank of England for a contraction of 0.1% in the fourth quarter, but experts said fears remain over the economy.
The ONS said growth in services and production drove the growth in December, which was the fastest monthly growth since March last year.
Government minister admits he doesn't know when people start to feel better-off.
09:01
,
Jabed Ahmed
A Government minister said he would not “pick an arbitrary date” for when people will feel better off financially.
Asked when people would begin to have more money in their pockets, housing minister Matthew Pennycook told BBC Breakfast: “I’m not going to pick an arbitrary date to give you for that, but we’re absolutely focused on boosting living standards. That’s at the heart of our plan for change.
“Wages have increased. People can expect and look forward to that rise in the minimum wage that comes into effect in April.”
Starmer to unveil plan for new towns in England inspired by King Charles
08:41
,
Bryony Gooch
David Maddox reports:
Reeves: it's 'not possible to turn around more than a decade of poor economic performance in just a few months'
08:30
,
Bryony Gooch
Chancellor Rachel Reeves remains unsatisfied with the growth numbers from the ONS, despite them coming in higher than many expected.
“And that’s why I am determined to go further and faster in delivering the economic growth and the improvements in living standards that our country deserves.”
She told broadcasters it is “not possible to turn around more than a decade of poor economic performance in just a few months”.
She added: “We are doing what is necessary to bring stability back to the economy, reforming the economy, the planning system, regulation and pensions to encourage investment in our economy, which is the lifeblood of a successful economy.
“We need to go further and faster in doing that, to turn around our poor growth performance and to make working people better off.”
When asked if she may need to backtrack her rules and move back to austerity, she said: “The Office of Budget Responsibility will publish their updated forecast on March 26 and I will respond to it then.
“I have been clear that the fiscal rules are non-negotiable, and that’s because stability is absolutely essential for returning growth to our economy.
“We’ve seen three cuts in interest rates since this Government took office in July. That’s only possible because of the stability that this Government have returned to the economy.”
Britain’s fury at Trump-Putin peace talks as defence secretary says ‘don’t leave Ukraine out'
08:17
,
Bryony Gooch
Millie Cooke reports:
Defence secretary says Ukraine view must be at heart of talks with Russia
07:59
,
Bryony Gooch
Defence Secretary John Healey spoke out as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have discussed a possible resolution to the war.
Mr Healey said: “We’ve seen the calls from President Trump overnight and we all want to see a durable peace and no return to conflict and aggression – and let’s not forget, Russia remains a threat well beyond Ukraine.
“So my message in these discussions will be that there can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine and Ukraine’s voice must be at the heart of any talks.
“Ukrainians are fighting bravely. It’s our jobs. It’s our job as defence ministers here at Nato, to put them in the best position to secure a lasting peace through strength.”
The US has suggested that as part of a peace deal Ukraine must accept it will have to give up some territory to Russia and Nato membership is not a realistic prospect.
But Nato’s official position – endorsed by Sir Keir Starmer’s Government in the UK-Ukraine 100-year partnership – is that Kyiv is on an “irreversible” path to joining the alliance.
Government 'not satisfied' with growth estimates, says minister
07:54
,
Bryony Gooch
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook told Times Radio: “Well, we’re not satisfied by the figures this morning, although there are some good indications in there, in my own sphere of responsibilities, if you like, and I hope we’re going to talk about it in some form.
“Construction numbers are up, but we’re not satisfied by these numbers. But on the other hand, we always knew that there was no silver bullet, no simple remedy to turning around 14 years of economic stagnation.
“We had to obviously come in, first off, and fix the public finances, put them on a sound footing, address that black hole that we discovered on assuming office.
“Then we’ve been focused on removing the regulatory barriers to growth that exist in my own area, that took the form of overhauling the national planning policy framework. So it’s a pro-growth framework.”
ANALYSIS: Reeves has been handed an unexpected boost – but alarm bells should still be ringing
07:45
,
Millie Cooke
Rachel Reeves has been handed an unexpected boost with today’s figures showing that the economy grew by 0.1 per cent in the final quarter of 2024.
The data has been welcomed by business groups, including the CBI, who said it suggests that the loss of momentum in the second half of the year will “prove to be a soft patch for the economy rather than a slide back into stagnation”.
The possibility of avoiding recession will undoubtedly come as a relief for the beleaguered chancellor - who has spent recent weeks fighting to prove she is the right person for the job. But it’s also not exactly an ambitious benchmark for a government that has put getting the economy moving at the centre of its mission.
The fact that 0.1 per cent growth is higher than expected should have alarm bells ringing for Labour.
While the Treasury has been clear it understands there is a long way to go, businesses and consumers are yet to be given any concrete evidence that the policies the government has put in place so far haven’t done more harm than good.
Shadow chancellor says Reeves budget was 'killing growth'
07:37
,
Bryony Gooch
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said that while Reeves promised the “fastest growing economy in the G7”, but her budget was “killing growth” following news of an unexpected boost to GDP in the final quarter.
“Working people and businesses are already paying for her choices with ever rocketing taxes, hundreds of thousands of job cuts and business confidence plummeting.
“It does not need to be this way. Under new leadership, the Conservative Party will continue to oppose Labour’s disastrous decisions and stand up for businesses and working people up and down our country.”
Experts say rebound is 'encouraging' but growth as a whole was 'lacklustre'
07:28
,
Bryony Gooch
Ben Jones, the lead economist of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), called the rebound in December “encouraging.”
He continued: “Although growth over Q4 as a whole was still lacklustre, the data supports our view that the loss of momentum in the second half of last year will prove to be a soft patch for the economy rather than a slide back into stagnation.“
“But our recent forecast for a return to moderate growth over 2025 will require consumers to abandon some of their recent caution. And it assumes that businesses won’t see their headroom for investment squeezed any further.
“Today’s figures underline how important the government’s renewed focus on growth is. Much of the innovation and investment necessary to drive economic growth will come from business leaders across the UK.
“They want to see a government fired up to move from positive words to ambitious delivery, working with business to create the right environment for investment and expansion.
“Whether that’s the Industrial Strategy, or reforms to business rates and the Apprenticeship Levy. By prioritising these the government can unlock much needed private sector investment and deliver on its clear vision to kickstart the economy in 2025.”
Chancellor vows not to accept an 'economy that has failed working people'
07:21
,
Bryony Gooch
Following unexpectedly positive news that the UK economy grew by 0.1 per cent in the final quarter last year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves released a statement renewing her aim to make the economy work for working people.
She said in a statement: “For too long, politicians have accepted an economy that has failed working people. I won’t.
“After 14 years of flatlining living standards, we are going further and faster through our plan for change to put more money in people’s pockets.
“That is why we are taking on the blockers to get Britain building again, investing in our roads, rail and energy infrastructure, and removing the barriers that get in the way of businesses who want to expand.”
The UK economy grew between October and December last year
07:10
,
Bryony Gooch
Gross Domestic Product grew by 0.1 per cent between October and December last year, the Office of National Statistics has announced.
Figures were expected to shrink after the Bank of England warned last week that it expected GDP to contract by 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, following zero growth in the previous three months.
This is set to bolster Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has faced intense criticism over the last few months over her October budget.
Watch: Boris Johnson will not return to politics for one very bizarre reason
06:59
,
Andy Gregory
Europe has heard Washington's call to step up on Ukraine, UK defence chief says
06:01
,
Andy Gregory
European nations have heard the US defence secretary’s call for them to step up in relation to Ukraine, John Healey said, adding: "We are and we will."
At a press conference in Brussels following a meeting of defence leaders from across the world on Wednesday, the UK defence secretary said: “It was a pleasure in his third full week in the job to welcome Secretary Hegseth.
“He confirmed the US’s continued commitment to this group, to Ukraine's pursuit of a lasting peace and the importance of security guarantees ... we heard his call for European nations to step up. We are and we will.
“Nato allies pledged €40bn in military aid for Ukraine in 2024 and then went on to deliver €50bn. The majority, nearly 60 per cent of that aid to Ukraine last year came from European nations.
“And while at the same time, we did more on Ukraine and will do more, we did more on defence spending and will do more.”
Starmer eyes locations for new English towns
05:00
,
Andy Gregory
More than 100 potential locations have been suggested for new towns in England as Sir Keir Starmer promised "the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era".
Each new town will have the potential for 10,000 or more homes as the Government promised to sweep away red tape and overcome environmental objections to get housing built.
A separate project to push ahead with stalled housing projects has already unblocked 20,000 homes, Sir Keir said.
The Prime Minister's push for new towns comes after Sir Keir and his deputy Angela Rayner joined the King for a tour of the Nansledan development inspired by Charles' views on architecture and planning on Monday.
The move raised concerns about dragging the King into politics, coming just days before Thursday's announcement about plans to create "beautiful communities" with affordable homes, much-needed infrastructure, GP surgeries and schools.
Reform vows inheritance tax relief for farmers – but not those with solar farms
04:01
,
Andy Gregory
Reform will restore the inheritance tax relief for farmers, apart from those who build solar farms on their land, Richard Tice said.
The Reform UK deputy leader told a press conference in central London the party would "abolish this appalling family farms tax".
But he added: "But I have to say to those farmers who want to sell out to the renewable industry for solar farms, you can't have it both ways, folks.
"You've got to make a decision, either you are part of food production, part of food security for our nation, or you're part of the renewables industry. So you can't double dip.
"If you sell out to the renewables industry, then you would not benefit from that inheritance tax relief. That's only fair."
Mr Tice also said Reform was putting energy companies and the National Grid "on notice" to place power cables underground instead of erecting pylons.
Reform says it would put 'windfall tax' on renewable energy
03:00
,
Andy Gregory
Reform UK would impose a "windfall tax" on renewable energy, the party's deputy leader has said.
Claiming that net-zero policies were to blame for the deindustrialisation of Britain, Richard Tice told a press conference on Wednesday evening that Reform would propose "probably a generation tax" and a "special corporation tax rate" in order to "recover" the money paid in subsidies to renewable generators.
He said: "This is the best way that we can help get the bills down and lower the cost of living.
"The British people need to know there is a direct link between the cost of all these subsidies to the vested interests in the renewables industry and your bills, your cost of living.
"So we will impose a windfall tax, whether it's wind, whether it's solar, whether it's Drax power station, which is another massive con and rip off."
Watch: Ex-Farage adviser condemns Labour's 'nasty' immigration raid videos
02:00
,
Andy Gregory
Full report: Labour government to deny UK citizenship to small boat refugees
01:00
,
Andy Gregory
The Home Office has toughened up existing guidance to make it nearly impossible for refugees to become British citizens if they travel to the UK by small boat.
The move has sparked outcry from Labour MPs and refugee charities, who urged the government to reconsider.
On Monday, the department updated guidance for staff assessing refugees so it now says applicants who have “made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship”.
Under the previous guidance, refugees who arrived in the UK by irregular routes would be required to wait ten years before being considered for citizenship.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke and social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft report:
Tories claim Labour 'dancing to our tune' on immigration
Wednesday 12 February 2025 23:57
,
Andy Gregory
The Tories have sought to claim that Labour are “dancing to our tune” on migration, after the Home Office moved to block small boat refugees from ever gaining citizenship.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Just days ago, Labour claimed changes to border rules were 'unworkable'. But now they're dancing to our tune with a change in position they have been forced into.”
Figures expected to reveal shrinking UK economy in downbeat final quarter of 2024
Wednesday 12 February 2025 23:11
,
Athena Stavrou
Figures set to be released on Thursday are expected to reveal a shrinking UK economy in the final quarter of 2024.
Latest figures for gross domestic product (GDP) are due to be announced by the Office for National Statistics in the morning.
The Bank of England warned last week that it expects GDP to contract by 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, following zero growth in the previous three months.
It represents another blow to chancellor Rachel Reeves’s hopes to rapidly grow the UK economy in order to help support the Labour government’s spending plans.
Labour MP accuses government of 'performative cruelty'
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:58
,
Andy Gregory
Labour MP Nadia Whittome has accused the government of continuing the “performative cruelty we saw from the Conservatives”, after the government moved to block small boat refugees from ever gaining UK citizenship.
Ms Whittome said: “What’s the point in refusing citizenship to refugees who have ‘made a dangerous journey’? What’s the point in publishing footage of people being deported?
“I’m sorry to say that this is simply a continuation of the performative cruelty we saw from the Conservatives.”
ICYMI: Eleven Labour councillors suspended over WhatsApp group
Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:59
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Andy Gregory
Eleven Labour councillors have been suspended from the party over their membership of a WhatsApp group that has already seen two MPs lose the whip.
Former health minister Andrew Gwynne was sacked over the weekend for offensive messages sent in the group, named Trigger Me Timbers.
On Monday, Oliver Ryan, who was elected as MP for Burnley last summer, became the second MP to have the whip withdrawn over his involvement in the group.
Now, almost a dozen more Labour members – including Mr Gwynne’s wife – are understood to have been suspended.
Athena Stavrou reports:
Heathrow to unveil expansion plan as Reeves attempts to kickstart growth
Wednesday 12 February 2025 20:57
,
Andy Gregory
Heathrow airport is set to announce multibillion-pound investment to expand two of its terminals as it prepares its proposal for a new runway.
In a speech on Wednesday, chief executive Thomas Woldbye unveiled funding for upgrades and expansion, including construction of the runway.
The upgrades will also include boosting the capacity of Terminals 2 and 5, reconfiguring the layout of the airfield, and improving bus and coach connections.
Rachel Reeves last month threw her backing behind the £20bn infrastructure project in an attempt to kickstart growth in the UK.
The chancellor hopes the project - which the government aims to complete by 2035 - will boost growth in Britain, as the economy teeters on the brink of recession.
Millie Cooke and Neil Lancefield report:
Watch: Murdered MP's daughter claims government 'shutting every door' in calls for public enquiry
Wednesday 12 February 2025 19:59
,
Andy Gregory
James Moore: Is this the first sign that Rachel Reeves’s plan could actually work?
Wednesday 12 February 2025 19:25
,
Andy Gregory
Our chief business commentator James Moore writes:
When the National Institute of Economic & Social Research (NIESR) speaks, people pay attention. Especially when it says “You’ve got it wrong” to the Bank of England.
Britain’s oldest independent economics research institute did just that, in so many words, when it concluded that the UK will earn the G7 economic bronze medal this year by growing twice as fast as the Bank expects.
Its growth forecast – 1.5 per cent – is hardly what you’d call an economy “going gangbusters”, to quote a certain Rishi Sunak.
But its view will still come as music to the ears of embattled chancellor Rachel Reeves. The No 11 soundtrack has, if only for a day, switched to Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony instead of Slayer.
Former Tory leader insists China should play no role in UK climate ambitions
Wednesday 12 February 2025 18:57
,
Andy Gregory
In a Commons debate on a major North Sea wind project, following reports of Chinese involvement, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith warned that Beijing was not the answer to UK climate ambitions "whatever the question is" – and raised concerns about the role of slave labour in any production of solar energy.
The veteran China sceptic told MPs: "We know that the MoD and the Department for Energy Security has raised objections about the Treasury's push to bring Mingyang Smart Energy into the circuit on this one, to bid for this.
"The second thing is that China is determined to use slave labour in their products. We are, under this Government, investing in solar arrays which have a huge amount of slave labour in the producing of polysilicon.
"Does the government not recognise that their tilt towards China, to get them to invest in this, runs the real risk of utter dependency on China, and of course, serious threats to our security, highlighted endlessly by the security services. Will they now stop?"
Energy minister Kerry McCarthy replied that the Solar Task Force would examine whether there is any slave labour in supply chains for solar panels.
"It's not something that one country can tackle by itself. We all need to be alert to the risks of slave labour," she said.
Questions over Chinese involvement in North Sea wind project
Wednesday 12 February 2025 18:29
,
Andy Gregory
The government has come under renewed pressure over Chinese involvement in a major North Sea wind project, amid claims it threatens national security.
Energy minister Kerry McCarthy said the department had processes in place to ensure any risk in the Green Volt North Sea farm was minimised, as the Conservative Party claimed Labour's green energy targets came with a "made in China label".
The project, due to be Europe's largest floating offshore wind farm, is a joint venture between a Japanese and an Italian-Norwegian company. The Treasury has reportedly selected Chinese firm Mingyang Smart Energy to supply wind turbines.
Among the concerns raised by government departments was that the Chinese state could switch off the power once the wind farm is operational, or that the platforms could be used as spy sensors, according to The Sun.
‘Probably essential’ Ukraine joins Nato, Nigel Farage says
Wednesday 12 February 2025 18:08
,
Archie Mitchell
Nigel Farage has said it is “probably essential” for Ukraine to join Nato as part of the settlement of the ongoing war.
The Reform UK leader highlighted that he has long believed Nato and the EU’s eastward expansion was to blame for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He was criticised during the general election campaign for claiming the West “provoked” Russia into launching the deadly war.
But, without saying whether he would support Ukraine joining Nato or not, Mr Farage said: “I would have thought if we are going to get Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy into a place where we can have a reasonable negotiation, looking ahead it is probably essential that Ukraine joins Nato.
“That is going to need to be part of this negotiation.”
Pressed on whether he would support Ukraine joining, he added: “Am I supportive of a settlement that ends the war and ends any further encroachment into territories by Vladimir Putin? Absolutely.”
Analysis: Is Labour turning into the nasty party?
Wednesday 12 February 2025 18:02
,
Andy Gregory
When one of Nigel Farage’s long term and loyal allies suggests that Sir Keir Starmer’s party is being “nasty” by publishing videos of migrant raids, alarm bells should be ringing in Labour HQ.
Gawain Towler has carefully nurtured the messaging around Farage’s inflammatory, hardline, anti-migrant rhetoric for many years through Ukip, the Brexit Party and until recently with Reform. And yet even he was horrified by what he saw from Labour this week.
That was before the home secretary announced that asylum seekers on small boats would not be allowed UK citizenship in almost any circumstances. As Labour MP Stella Creasy noted, that meant even Paddington Bear would be denied.
Towler is not alone in calling out the nastiness. Even before this new wave of anti-migrant policies were properly unleashed in November Labour peer Baroness Mallalieu was warning Sir Keir that he was turning them into the “nasty party.”
The “nasty party” phrase was infamously coined by Theresa May in 2002, when she was pointing out that the reason the Conservatives had lost two elections in a row so badly. Nobody liked the Conservatives then, but it seems that Starmer’s Labour government risks becoming equally unlikable.
Read the full analysis from our political editor David Maddox:
