Nigel Farage and Tory turncoat Robert Jenrick will take questions today ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Spring Statement.
The Reform chief and his Treasury spokesman’s appearance comes 24 hours before Ms Reeves’s update to MPs on the state of the economy. The Chancellor is expected to deliver a no-frills update to Parliament on Tuesday, designed to project stability after the chaos of the Budget in November. A Treasury source told the Mirror at the weekend: “The economic plan is the right one. The numbers back that up.”
“You can see that the numbers are starting to improve. I think it will be a moment of defiance. We know what we are doing and we are doing the right things.”
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Farage shares thoughts on Iran crisis
Nigel Farage opens up by claiming that the UK’s policy to Iran has been “wrong, wrong, wrong” since 2015.
He accused Boris Johnson of an “act of appeasement” and allowing Iran to back terrorist organisations. Mr Farage said: “I do believe the American president and the Israelis are right in what they’re doing, and I find the actions of our Prime Minister or the inactions, perhaps I should say, of our Prime minister, frankly pathetic.”
Labour suspends member after Jenrick claims
A member of Labour Party has been suspended over allegations about his views, it is understood.
Arshad Khatana, from Leeds, is claimed to have shared extremist material on social media. Mr Jenrick shared a video questioning why Rachel Reeves had been pictured with him on several occassions.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “These abhorrent views are clearly not shared by the Chancellor. She was not aware of these allegations.”
New asylum regulations start today, Government says
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced refugee status for asylum seekers will be reviewed every 30 months from today.
The Home Office said refugees whose countries are deemed safe will be expected to return under the hardline measures. Human rights groups have branded it a “dark day” for refugees – warning people fleeing war and persecution will face uncertainty.
Under previous rules, those granted refugee status had it for five years and could then apply for indefinite leave to remain – the main route to citizenship. But from now on, refugees will need to renew their permission to stay or apply for a visa route like any other legal migrant, including paying associated fees.
The Government claims this will discourage small boat crossings. Cabinet minister Ms Mahmood last week visited Denmark, which has one of the toughest asylum and immigration systems in Europe.