Starmer pleads for government to unite in fightback after difficult week

Keir Starmer has warned senior ministers and officials to stop briefing against one another and leaking details of the budget as he pleaded for his embattled government to unite.The prime minister told his weekly cabinet meeting that last week’s political turmoil had distracted from voters’ priorities, and ministers needed to work together and start delivering rather than talking about the government itself.His warning came after a turbulent week during which his government was engulfed by accusations of briefing against the health secretary, Wes Streeting, and reports of a major pre-budget U-turn.The prime minister’s spokesperson said on Tuesday: “He said distractions meant our focus shifted from where it mattered most, working every day in the service of the British people.“The prime minister said next week’s budget would prioritise rebuilding the economy, showing what the government stands for

‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school

It is the hectoring tone, the “jeering quality”, in Nigel Farage’s voice today that brings it all back for Peter Ettedgui. “He would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right,’ or ‘Gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers,” Ettedgui says of his experience of being in a class with Farage at Dulwich college in south London.Ettedgui, 61, is a Bafta- and Emmy-winning director and producer whose credits include Kinky Boots, McQueen and Super/Man: the Christopher Reeve Story.Back then he was a 13-year-old boy at a loss as to how to handle what he describes as a sudden and inexplicable intrusion of antisemitism in his life.This is the first time Ettedgui has spoken in such detail of his alleged experiences, but he is not the only one

Most Reform UK voters would back wealth tax on very rich, poll suggests

Most potential Reform UK voters would back a one-off wealth tax on the very rich, polling suggests, with about three-quarters supporting windfall taxes on energy companies and banks.The figures, compiled by the Best for Britain thinktank ahead of next week’s budget, indicate that Nigel Farage might be out of step with many of his supporters.Farage has consistently pushed back against the idea of a wealth tax, arguing that higher earners and other rich people should not be targeted in case it makes them more likely to leave the UK.And while Farage is often critical of big business, the only plan for a windfall tax set out by Reform so far involves targeting renewable energy companies.According to a survey of more than 3,000 people who are considering voting for Reform, carried out by YouGov, 61% would support a one-off tax on UK households with net wealth above £10m

Reform would ‘cut benefits for EU nationals and hike NHS immigration surcharge’

A Reform UK government would block EU nationals from receiving universal credit, a move that would rip up the post-Brexit trade deal with Europe and risk potential retaliation from Brussels.It is among several proposals that will be announced by Nigel Farage at a press conference on Tuesday. The party claims its measures would save £25bn a year in total – enough to cover the supposed shortfall faced by Rachel Reeves in next week’s budget.Other proposed cost savings would involve cutting overseas aid to a maximum of £1bn a year – a 90% reduction from the current level of 0.3% of national income – and almost tripling the NHS surcharge paid by non-UK residents

Reform MP invites Mahmood to join his party, saying he ‘welcomes’ and ‘recognises’ her rhetoric – as it happened

Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, is making her statement to MPs.Before she started, Caroline Nokes, the deputy speaker, criticised the Home Office for releasing so much information about the policy before the statement to the Commons.She says Labour strongly criticised the last government when they pre-announced information in this way.Mahmood that the asylum system feels “out of control and unfair” to members of the public.She says if the government does not bring the asylum system under control, there will be more hatred

Shabana Mahmood puts the signs up: Britain is full. No blacks, no dogs, no Irish

Shabana Mahmood was in a determined frame of mind. It was time to get serious. No more Mr Nice Guy stuff when dealing with illegal immigrants. Not that there was anything like a legal immigrant as far as she was concerned. The only good migrant was a deported migrant