Labour Peer ‘Deeply Ashamed’ At Government’s Decision To Ban Palestine Action

Posted on 03/07/2025 by Boris Clair

A Labour peer and former cabinet minister has said he is “deeply ashamed” at the government’s bid to ban Palestine Action.

Lord Hain, who served under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, said he would have been labelled a “terrorist” for campaigning against apartheid in South Africa in the 1960s and 70s.

Palestine Action describes itself as a “direct action movement committed to ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime”.

It aims to target “corporate enablers of the Israeli military-industrial complex”.

Lord Hain spoke out after MPs voted to proscribe the group as a terrorist group on Wednesday night.

Home Office minister Dan Jarvis told the Commons: “By implementing this measure, we will remove Palestine Action’s veil of legitimacy, tackle its financial support and degrade its efforts to recruit and radicalise people into committing terrorist activity in its name.”

The move came after members of the group allegedly entered Brize Norton RAF base last month and sprayed two aircrafts with red paint.

Backing a so-called “regret motion” in the House of Lords condemning the government’s decision, Lord Hain said: “In 1969-70, I was proud to lead a militant campaign of direct action to disrupt all-white, racist South African rugby and cricket tours, and we successfully succeeded in getting them stopped for two decades.

“No doubt, I would have been stigmatised as a terrorist today rather than vilified as I was then.”

He added: “This government is treating Palestine Action as equivalent to Islamic State or al-Qaida, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled and morally wrong. Frankly I am deeply ashamed.”

Trump White House Halts Weapon Shipments To Ukraine To ‘Put America’s Interests First’

Posted on 02/07/2025 by Boris Clair

Donald Trump’s administration has halted weapon shipments to Ukraine, sparking major concern in Kyiv – but delight in Moscow.

The White House said the move followed fears that the US is facing stockpile issues with its arsenal after a recent Department of Defence review.

The US has subsequently decided to “put America’s interests first”, according to the White House.

The Pentagon allegedly chose to halt shipments of critical US Patriot air defence systems and other precision weapons in June but the decision only came to light overnight.

The White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly batted away suggestions this threw America’s military into question, saying: ”[The decision] was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe.

“The strength of the United States armed forces remains unquestioned – just ask Iran.”

Ukraine said it did not receive any official notification from the US over the suspension of the military aid.

“Ukraine has not received official notices regarding the suspension or revision of the delivery schedules of agreed defense assistance,” the Ukrainian defence ministry said in a statement.

Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, even claimed on Wednesday that “deliveries continue”.

He added: “It would look very strange and inhumane to stop supplying missiles for Patriot systems that protect Ukrainian civilians.”

Ukraine’s foreign ministry has subsequently summoned the US Charge d-Affaires John Ginkel over the reported pause.

Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister Mariana Betsa also warned: “Any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defence capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace.”

But Russia was delighted by the news. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “The fewer weapons that are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the [war].”

Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine in recent months, launching a record 5,337 drones in June – the highest total since Vladimir Putin first invaded in 2022.

The Russian president also claimed “all of Ukraine is ours” just last week, suggesting his land grab is far from over.

The Jokes Write Themselves As Clip Of Starmer Stumbling Before PMQs Emerges

Posted on 02/07/2025 by Boris Clair

Keir Starmer’s critics are having a field day online after a clip emerged of the prime minister tripping up outside the steps of No.10 today.

The footage, shared by Sky News’ Serena Barker-Singh, shows the PM stumbling across the pavement as he walks out of the front door of 10 Downing Street, and reaching for the railings to steady himself on the way to the car.

It is only a six-second clip of Starmer heading out on his usual ride to the Commons for prime minister’s questions, but the timing of the footage is deeply unfortunate for the PM.

It comes amid the greatest crisis his premiership has faced yet.

On Tuesday, his government was forced into a last-minute U-turn over welfare reforms to avoid a humiliating defeat in the Commons.

Scores of Labour rebels were threatening to vote down the government bill even after the PM had already watered the original proposals down.

His second set of concessions meant the proposals were voted through – but Starmer has clearly lost his authority over his own party in the process.

It also means his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will have to fill a £5billion black hole in the public finances.

So many people on social media saw Starmer’s fall as a metaphor for the many crises the top of government is facing right now…

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Remember when everyone was laughing at Rishi Sunak being drenched in the rain whilst announcing the general election…

We’ve reached that.

But quicker. https://t.co/Qm2hEddqWD

— Puja Teli (@ThePujaTeli) July 2, 2025

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Remember when everyone was laughing at Rishi Sunak being drenched in the rain whilst announcing the general election…

We’ve reached that.

But quicker. https://t.co/Qm2hEddqWD

— Puja Teli (@ThePujaTeli) July 2, 2025

Starmer was not the only Labour frontbencher to go viral for all the wrong reasons today, either.

His chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared to be crying in the Commons today during PMQs after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked whether Starmer if her job was safe.

The PM dodged the question, although a spokeswoman for Starmer later said: “The chancellor is going nowhere. She has the prime minister’s full backing.”

When asked about Reeves’ display of emotions during PMQs, a spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “It’s a personal matter, which – as you would expect – we are not going to get into.

“The chancellor will be working out of Downing Street this afternoon.”

Keir Starmer Hit By Major Labour Rebellion As MPs Back His Welfare Bill

Posted on 01/07/2025 by Boris Clair

Keir Starmer has suffered a major rebellion by Labour MPs against welfare cuts which are set to push 150,000 people into poverty.

In a major blow to the prime minister’s authority, dozens of his own backbenchers voted against the PM’s flagship Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

However, a last-minute climbdown by the PM on a key plank of the legislation was enough to ensure it passed by 335 votes to 260.

A total of 48 Labour MPs voted against the bill, with around 30 abstaining.

But the result was completely overshadowed by Starmer’s latest U-turn, which came less than two hours after the Commons vote took place.

The government’s initial plan had been to cut the health element of universal credit and make it harder for disabled people to claim personal independence payments (PIP) in a bid to save £5 billion from the welfare bill.

More than 120 Labour MPs backed an amendment which would have killed off the changes, forcing the prime minister to announce last week that current recipients of the benefits would not lose out.

Despite the climbdown, senior figures including Labour mayors Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan said Starmer’s concessions did not go far enough.

In a further climbdown as MPs debated the bill this afternoon, disability minister Stephen Timms told MPs announced there will be no changes to PIP rules at all until after he has finished a review of the whole system.

Given that disability groups are feeding into the review, it means the most contentious part of the reforms are now unlikely to ahead.

Timms told MPs the government had listened to the “concerns” of Labour MPs and that his review would be completed by autumn next year.

The climbdown is also a humiliation for work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, who had earlier told MPs that the changes to PIP would definitely be going ahead.

One Labour MP told HuffPost UK the situation was “a fucking farce”.

In a further headache for the government, the latest climbdown means the £5 billion of savings the reforms were supposed to raise has almost been completely wiped out.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will now have to find the money to plug that black hole in her budget, as well as the £1.5bn cost of Starmer’s U-turn on winter fuel payments last month.

Posting on X, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “This is an utter capitulation. Labour’s welfare bill is now a TOTAL waste of time. It effectively saves £0, helps no one into work, and does NOT control spending. It’s pointless. They should bin it, do their homework, and come back with something serious. Starmer cannot govern.”

Keir Starmer In 11th-Hour Welfare Cuts Climbdown In Bid To Avoid Commons Defeat

Posted on 01/07/2025 by Boris Clair

Keir Starmer has killed off a major plank of Labour’s flagship welfare reforms as the government desperately tries to avoid an embarrassing Commons defeat.

The prime minister caved in to another key demand from rebel Labour MPs just 90 minutes before the crunch vote was due to take place.

It came amid government fears that previous concessions to the rebels would not be enough to guarantee parliament would back the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill.

Thanks to the last-minute climbdown, MPs backed the legislation by 335 to 260.

The initial plan had been to cut the health element of universal credit and make it harder for disabled people to claim PIP in a bid to save £5 billion from the welfare bill.

More than 120 Labour MPs backed an amendment which would have killed off the changes, forcing the prime minister to announce that current recipients of the benefits would not lose out.

In a further climbdown just 90 minutes before the Commons vote, disability minister Stephen Timms told MPs announced there will be no changes to PIP rules at all until after he has finished a review of the whole system.

Given that disability groups are feeding into the review, it means the most contentious part of the reforms are now unlikely to ahead.

Timms told MPs the government had listened to the “concerns” of Labour MPs and that his review would be completed by autumn next year.

The climbdown is also a humiliation for work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, who had earlier told MPs that the changes to PIP would definitely be going ahead.

One Labour MP told HuffPost UK the situation was “a fucking farce”.

In a further headache for the government, the latest climbdown means the £5 billion of savings the reforms were supposed to raise has almost been completely wiped out.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will now have to find the money to plug that black hole in her budget, as well as the £1.5bn cost of Starmer’s U-turn on winter fuel payments last month.

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This is an utter capitulation. Labour’s welfare bill is now a TOTAL waste of time. It effectively saves £0, helps no one into work, and does NOT control spending.

It’s pointless. They should bin it, do their homework, and come back with something serious. Starmer cannot govern. https://t.co/fJJ78lPkX0

— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 1, 2025

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Starmer cannot govern. https://t.co/fJJ78lPkX0— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 1, 2025\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Kemi Badenoch on Twitter / X","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/KemiBadenoch/status/1940093351195250703","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isAdsFree":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"68640873e4b0aa65edbb4759","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/keir-starmer-in-fresh-welfare-climbdown-in-bid-to-avoid-commons-defeat_uk_68640873e4b0aa65edbb4759","entryTagsList":"labour-party,keir-starmer,welfare-cuts,@ai_seo_headline","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"isShopping":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"16b0ecc6-802c-4120-845f-e90629812c4d","clickToPlayPlayer":"823ac03a-0f7e-4bcb-8521-a5b091ae948d","videoPagePlayer":"05041ada-93f7-4e86-9208-e03a5b19311b","defaultPlaylist":"2e062669-71b4-41df-b17a-df6b1616bc8f"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"68640873e4b0aa65edbb4759","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"labour party","slug":"labour-party","links":{"relativeLink":"news/labour-party","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/labour-party","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/labour-party"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Labour Party","slug":"labour-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/labour-party/"},{"name":"keir starmer","slug":"keir-starmer","links":{"relativeLink":"news/keir-starmer","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/keir-starmer","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/keir-starmer"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/keir-starmer/"},{"name":"welfare cuts","slug":"welfare-cuts","links":{"relativeLink":"news/welfare-cuts","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/welfare-cuts","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/welfare-cuts"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/welfare-cuts/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","enableIncontentPlayer":false,"bodyAds":["

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This is an utter capitulation. Labour’s welfare bill is now a TOTAL waste of time. It effectively saves £0, helps no one into work, and does NOT control spending.

It’s pointless. They should bin it, do their homework, and come back with something serious. Starmer cannot govern. https://t.co/fJJ78lPkX0

— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 1, 2025

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “The government should stop tying themselves in endless knots and put this bill out of its misery.

“This has been a mess from start to finish and it’s clear that this legislation is not fit for purpose. Ministers are asking MPs to vote on a bill on which the ink hasn’t dried before it is blotted out once again.

“The government needs to go back to the drawing board and pull this bill.”

Disabled Labour MP Says ‘With A Heavy Broken Heart’ She Will Vote Against Welfare Cuts

Posted on 01/07/2025 by Boris Clair

A disabled Labour MP has said she will vote against her party’s plans to slash welfare “with a heavy broken heart”.

Dr Marie Tidball appeared close to tears as she explained why she could not support the government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill.

Ministers want to cut the health element of universal credit and reduce PIP payments for those receiving the benefit after November 2026.

Speaking in a debate ahead of a crunch Commons vote on Tuesday evening, Tidball said: “I am now one of the only visibly disabled members of parliament. I am proud that our manifesto committed to championing the rights of disabled people, and the principle of working with disabled people to ensure our views and voices are at the heart of all we do.

“My community nurtured me growing up, and they taught me the values of fairness, equality, community. So it is with a heavy, broken heart that I will be voting against this bill today.

“As a matter of conscience, I need my constituents to know I cannot support the proposed changes to PIP as currently drafted on the face of the bill before us today.”

Dozens of Labour MPs are set to vote for a wrecking amendment which would block the government’s welfare plans.

Ministers have already watered down the legislation in an attempt to avoid a humiliating Commons defeat.

More Than 18,000 Russian Troops Reported AWOL Since Putin Invaded Ukraine, UK Says

Posted on 30/06/2025 by Boris Clair

More than 18,000 Russian soldiers have been reported to the courts for being absent without leave since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, the UK says.

According to the latest update on X from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), 18,159 troops have been faced with a decade-long prison sentence for going AWOL between February 2022 and May 2025.

That is a criminal offence in Russia and a staggering 17,721 (86.2%) of those soldiers were prosecuted.

Citing Russian independent news outlet Mediazona, the MoD said a further 2,379 soldiers were reported to the courts for desertion or refusing orders.

The British officials pointed out there are multiple reasons a soldier could desert.

“Brutal discipline in the Russian Armed Forces, poor medical treatment for injured soldiers and inadequate military training all likely contribute,” the MoD said.

Putin’s soldiers could end up serving on the frontline against Ukraine within 14 days of signing a contract – and just five days of relevant military training.

The MoD continued: “This all runs counter to the official narrative that the Russian leadership values the military service of those who fight in Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.

“It is a realistic possibility that those prosecuted could commute their sentence by serving in the Russian Storm-Z convict assault units.”

There have been multiple reports of low morale among Russian troops ever since Putin invaded.

In 2023, UK intelligence suggested thousands of Russian casualties in Ukraine were linked to “alcohol consumption” and that soldiers could be “coerced” into joining to boost recruitment numbers.

Despite this chaos within the Russian forces, Putin is still dragging his heels over possible ceasefire talks with Ukraine – even when US mediators suggest terms more favourable to Moscow than Kyiv.

Andy Burnham Calls On Labour MPs To Vote Against Welfare Cuts Despite Starmer U-Turn

Posted on 29/06/2025 by Boris Clair

The Manchester mayor said the prime minister had only performed “half a U-turn”, which did not go far enough.

His comments, at an event at the Glastonbury festival, will be seen as a direct challenge to the PM’s authority.

The government announced on Friday that it was watering down its plans to cut £5 billion from the welfare budget after a rebellion by more than 120 Labour MPs.

It means that those currently in receipt of personal independence payments (PIP) and universal credit will not be affected, but those claiming in the future will receive less cash.

Starmer hopes the concessions will be enough to persuade Labour MPs to vote for the government’s reforms in the Commons on Tuesday.

But Burnham said: “What’s been announced is half a U-turn, a 50% U-turn. In my view I’d still hope MPs vote against the whole bill when it comes before parliament.”

He said Labour MPs “face the prospect, if they accept this package, someone could come to their surgery in two years saying ‘why did you vote to make me £6,000 worse off than someone exactly the same, but who was protected because they were an existing claimant’?”

“I hope they think carefully before the vote, because the vote will create that unfairness and divide in disabled people,” he added.

Keir Starmer Demands BBC Explain How Bob Vylan ‘Hate Speech’ Was Broadcast

Posted on 29/06/2025 by Boris Clair

Keir Starmer has demanded answers from the BBC for broadcasting “appalling hate speech” from Glastonbury.

The prime minister added his voice to the backlash against punk duo Bob Vylan after they led the festival crowd in chants of “death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)” on Saturday afternoon.

Their performance was streamed live on the BBC iPlayer.

Starmer told the Telegraph: “There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.

“The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast.”

Health secretary Wes Streeting had earlier said both the BBC and Glastonbury “have questions to answer”.

He told Sky News: “I thought it was appalling to be honest and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer on how we saw such a spectacle on our screens.

“I also think it was a pretty shameless publicity stunt that I don’t want to give too much indulgence to for that reason.”

A spokesperson for the BBC said: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive.

“During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language.

“We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”

In a statement posted on Instagram on Sunday, Glastonbury’s organisers also said they were “appalled” by Bob Vylan’s performance.

They said: “Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence”.

Starmer’s Start As Prime Minister ‘Even Worse Than Liz Truss’, Claims Expert

Posted on 29/06/2025 by Boris Clair

Keir Starmer has made an even worse start to life as prime minister than Liz Truss, an expert has claimed.

Political historian Anthony Seldon, who has written biographies of numerous PMs including Tony Blair, David Cameron and Boris Johnson, said at least the former Tory leader “had a clear plan” for government.

Truss was ousted from No.10 after just 49 days following a revolt by Conservative MPs in the wake of her disastrous mini-Budget.

But Seldon said that Starmer, who marks a year in office on July 5, has been worse.

He told Sky News: “I think it is absolutely right that not in a hundred years has anyone made such an inept start coming in to the office of prime minister with so little idea of what he’s doing, why he’s doing, what story he’s telling, what he’s communicating and the people he needs around him, both inside Downing Street and in the other key positions.”

But presenter Phillips told him: “When you say ‘not in a hundred years’, I can hear people shouting at the telly ‘Liz Truss’.”

Seldon replied: “At least Liz Truss had a clear plan and it’s the wring plan, and it’s the plan that Starmer needs to have – nothing matters more than growth and optimism.

“Liz Truss had growth as her core objective and she had optimism, she just went about it in totally the wrong way. You can learn good and bad things from Liz Truss.”

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Category Archives: POLITICS

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