Kemi Badenoch has been slammed by a senior Tory after she appeared to give the green light for Conservative councillors to do coalition deals with Reform UK.
Badenoch raised eyebrows last week when she said she would not have a problem with Conservative and Reform councillors joining forces to run town halls after the local elections on May 1.
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She said: “What I’m telling local leaders across the country [is] they have to do what is right for the people in their local area.”
On BBC1′s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg this morning, Street, the former mayor of the West Midlands, also dismissed Badenoch’s suggestion.
He said: “It’s not my decision in any way, but my feeling on it is that we should have nothing to do with alliances with them, just as Kemi has said about the national situation.
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“We’ve got to put in front of voters the choice – a moderate, centre-right Conservative Party against a populist party that do not have a policy answer to any of the big questions.”
On the same programme, shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith backed his leader.
He said: “There’s always been, after elections, for local councillors themselves to decide how they run the local council. If that is needed, then historically people have done deals on a local level with all sorts of groups.
“I think the Lib Dems are quite extremist – whenever they get into power they want four-day weeks and veganism – but no one should take that off the table because those are decisions for local councillors.”
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He added: “I think Kemi is reflecting the reality that we have local democracy and if people stand for local councils and they want to do the best for their communities, then they will have to, in light of how people have voted, work out what the right combination is.”
However, they won’t be getting them from the questions asked by reporters like Cara Castronuova, who works for Lindell TV, a news network created by My Pillow big cheese Mike Lindell.
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Castronuova, a former boxer, became the subject of much social media mockery on Friday when she asked a question at the White House’s press briefing that seemed like it could have been composed by press secretary Karoline Leavitt herself.
“Will you guys also consider releasing the president’s fitness plan? He actually looks healthier than ever before — healthier than he did eight years ago, and I’m sure everybody in this room could agree,” Castronuova asked. “Is he working out with Bobby Kennedy and eating less McDonald’s?”
Leavitt was obviously happy to end the press gathering with a softball question like that.
“I can confirm the president is in very good shape, as you see on a near daily basis here,” she said.
REPORTER: President Trump looks healthier than ever before. I’m sure everybody in this room could agree. Is he working out with Bobby Kennedy and is he eating less McDonald’s?
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REPORTER: President Trump looks healthier than ever before. I’m sure everybody in this room could agree. Is he working out with Bobby Kennedy and is he eating less McDonald’s?
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The great leader is the most handsome man in the galaxy, is it his amazing genes or eating at McDonald’s? Brought to you by McDonald’s, you’re lovin’ it or else
— Aleksandar Djokic (Александар Джокич) (@polidemitolog) April 11, 2025
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The great leader is the most handsome man in the galaxy, is it his amazing genes or eating at McDonald’s? Brought to you by McDonald’s, you’re lovin’ it or else
— Aleksandar Djokic (Александар Джокич) (@polidemitolog) April 11, 2025
— The Nicest Boy on this Website and App (@bikivindaloo) April 11, 2025
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How much do you want to bet Americans are told by his doctor that “Trump could run a 5k today, in scorching conditions of 110 degrees, and win” if he chose to.
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How much do you want to bet Americans are told by his doctor that “Trump could run a 5k today, in scorching conditions of 110 degrees, and win” if he chose to.
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MPs will return to Westminster on Saturday to vote on emergency government plans to save British Steel which could see it brought into public ownership.
In a highly unusual move, parliament has been recalled from its Easter recess as Keir Starmer warned the company’s future was “in the balance” unless the government acts.
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Ministers fear that the UK’s ability to produce its own steel will end forever if the loss-making plant at Scunthorpe is allowed to close down.
Negotiations between the government and British Steel’s Chinese owners Jingye on a rescue package broke down, forcing ministers to consider nationalisation.
The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill is expected to be passed by both the Commons and the Lords on Saturday.
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It will give business secretary Jonathan Reynolds the power to direct the company’s board and workforce, while ensuring it is able to order the raw materials needed to keep the plant’s vital blast furnaces running.
Ministers also want to ensure the plant’s 3,500 employees are not made redundant.
In a Downing Street statement on Friday evening, Starmer said: “As prime minister, I will always act in the national interest to protect British jobs and British workers.
“This afternoon, the future of British steel hangs in the balance. Jobs, investment, growth – our economic and national security are all on the line.”
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The PM added: “As I have said, we will keep all options on the table.
“Our future is in our hands. This government will not sit back and just hope. We will act to secure Britain’s future with British steel: made in Britain, in the national interest.”
Starmer also insisted that the plant’s cashflow problems are longstanding and not directly related to Donald Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on all steel imports into the US.
A No.10 source said: “We’re in a new era and the quicker people stop clinging to the old ways the better.
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“It’s not feasible to have critical infrastructure in the hands of companies that are willing to run them down.”
One steel industry insider told HuffPost UK it was “squeaky bum time” for the future of the plant, meaning the government had little option but to act.
But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour had “landed themselves in a steel crisis entirely of their own making”
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She said: “The union-led Labour government have bungled the negotiations, insisting on a Scunthorpe-only deal that the company has deemed unviable.
“Keir Starmer should have seen this coming. But instead of addressing it earlier in the week when parliament was sitting, their incompetence has led to a last-minute recall of parliament.”
Rishi Sunak has been accused of giving “rewards for failure” after he handed out gongs to senior Tories in his resignation honours list.
Michael Gove, Mark Harper and Alister Jack are among the former cabinet ministers given seats for life in the House of Lords by the former prime minister.
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He also awarded knighthoods to James Cleverly, Jeremy Hunt, Grant Shapps, Mel Stride and Andrew Mitchell.
In all, Sunak – who led the Conservatives to a landslide general election defeat last year – gave honours to 11 current and former Tory MPs, 18 former Tory advisers, two Tory councillors and the party’s former chief executive.
He also awarded a knighthood to former England cricketer James Anderson and the filmmaker Matthew Vaughn.
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Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “These political nominations look like an ID parade of political flunkies whose fingerprint of failure are still felt on family finances.
“They are rewards for the failure of a dreadful Conservative government that was rightly kicked out of office.
“Millions of hard working families were fed up after years of Conservative chaos culminating in a cost of living crisis, and public services on their knees.
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“The fact that Rishi Sunak has dished out honours to his mates after all the damage they did is yet more proof of how out of touch the Conservatives still are.”
Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “Trust in our politics has slumped to record lows in recent years. Yet today the public is again witnessing the spectacle of a former prime minster stuffing even more friends and allies into the already ludicrously bloated House of Lords – handing each one a job for life in parliament.
“This business-as-usual ‘jobs for mates’ approach at Westminster will do nothing to arrest that alarming collapse in public trust.”
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The reaction was no more positive on social media.
All the amazing, tireless and often unappreciated public servants and national heroes that Prime Ministers meet on a daily basis, and Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours and peerages list looks like this:
18 x former Tory advisers 11 x Tory and former Tory MPs 2 x Tory councillors…
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All the amazing, tireless and often unappreciated public servants and national heroes that Prime Ministers meet on a daily basis, and Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours and peerages list looks like this:
18 x former Tory advisers 11 x Tory and former Tory MPs 2 x Tory councillors…
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Keir Starmer was cornered by a journalist today over his lack of contact with Donald Trump since the US president unveiled his new trade tariffs.
The president hit the UK with a baseline 10% tax on imports heading into the US on April 2.
That came on top of his 25% global levy on cars, steel and aluminium products.
While the 10% tax was much less than many other trading partners – the EU was slapped with a 20% tariff – it was still more than some, such as Russia, who got away without any new tariffs at all.
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Then Trump U-turned this week and announced most tariffs would be reduced to 10%, aside from China – taking away any trade advantage the president had handed to the UK had over competitors altogether.
So ITV News’ Carl Dinnen asked the prime minister today in Doncaster: “Have you spoken to President Trump since he put a 10% tariffs on all goods coming from here to the United States?”
Starmer replied: “My team are in contact with the President’s team every day.”
“So you haven’t spoken to him?” Dinnen pushed.
The PM hit back: “Well, I’ve spoken to him frequently both on the phone and I’ve met him a number of times.”
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The reporter said: “Yeah but not since he put the tariffs on.”
Starmer replied: “The teams are discussing every day, and seeking to do what we can to mitigate the tariffs –”
Dinnen cut in: “With respect prime minister, it feels like he’s not taking your calls. Is that what’s happening?”
The prime minister pushed back: “No, not at all, you have to understand that the UK and the US – our teams talk all of the time, whether that’s on defence, on security, on intelligence, and on trade, on a deal.
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“That is constantly going on. That’s what you would expect of two very close allies. But at the same time, I’m clear this is a change that, in my view, isn’t temporary, and therefore we’ve got to do the hard graft of making sure we are turbocharging our own economy.”
He listed the work he’s been focused on in the UK and his conversations with other world leaders to “lower trade barriers”.
“My focus every day has to be on what’s in the national interest in the United Kingdom,” the prime minister said.
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Starmer has been phoning plenty of other world leaders since Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2.
That includes the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, the prime minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong, the prime minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni and the prime minister of Australia Anthony Albanese.
He has also spoken to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and leader of the German Christian Democratic Union party Friedrich Merz.
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But, despite Trump’s apparent silence towards the UK, Starmer has avoided criticising the president directly, only admitting that he is “disappointed” by the decision.
The UK is pushing to secure a trade deal with the States, and hoping it could mean Britain secures some tariff exemptions, too.
‘With respect prime minister, it feels like Trump’s not taking your calls…’@carldinnen grills Starmer on whether he’s spoken to Donald Trump since he put 10% tariffs on the UK
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‘With respect prime minister, it feels like Trump’s not taking your calls…’@carldinnen grills Starmer on whether he’s spoken to Donald Trump since he put 10% tariffs on the UK
Donald Trump announced global tariffs on foreign goods going into the US on April 2.
The UK was hit with only the “base rate” 10% tax on its imports, but it came on top of the global levy of 25% on cars and steel products.
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Still, the Labour government have avoided publicly condemning the dramatic move from the White House.
Starmer is hoping to secure a trade deal with the US before May 1, which – ideally – would see the UK secure exemptions to the tariffs in exchange for some British concessions.
Speaking on Wednesday, ITV News’ Robert Peston asked the prime minister just what he wanted out of the tariff chaos.
He said: “Do we have to have 10% forever, you know, you’re obviously keen to get the 25% on cars and steel down, but is the 10% permanent?”
“Look, I don’t know,” Starmer replied.
“We are negotiating and we hope to improve the situation, but what I mean by this is that simply thinking that any change in the rates or any deals is going to be enough, to my mind is wrong.
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“Because just as we’ve done with defence and security, where we’ve recognised it’s a changing world, we’ve got to step up and act differently.
“In that case with defence spend, coordinating better across Europe, so too with trade and the economy.”
While emphasising this is not a “passing phase” the world is going through, he also refused to call on Trump to reduce the 104% levy on China.
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He said: “I’m not going to engage in diplomacy through the media, but I mean I’ve been clear that throughout that a trade war is in nobody’s interest.”
Peston tried again, and asked: “For America, this looks like a Liz Truss-style financial crisis.
“The price that America pays to borrow is soaring and we’ve been infected.
“I don’t know if you’ve been told this, but the government’s borrowing costs are now the highest since 1998. He’s harming us. Surely you’ve got to say to him, ‘stop, change course’.”
But Starmer still refused to make any public statement against Trump’s economic policy.
He also told ITV News he would not follow Truss’s example of “putting to one side rules and institutions, checks and balances” by changing the government’s own fiscal rules.
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When Labour got into office, chancellor Rachel Reeves promised she would not borrow for day-to-day spending.
Despite the growing pressure on the struggling British economy, he said these are still “ironclad” ideas.
He added: “Those fiscal rules are foundational to the stability that we brought to our economy, so we go ahead in that calm way, obviously we’re talking to the US to see what we can do to mitigate the situation.”
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Starmer said it was important to be “calm” and “pragmatic”, focus on “turbocharging” the UK economy and “talking to other world leaders about lowering trade barriers across the world”.
He rejected any suggestion the public spending may have to be cut again or taxes may have to rise in the autumn as a result of the struggling markets.
“I don’t accept the proposition that it’s inevitable things will happen in six months’ time,” the PM said.
They ransacked federal agencies and axed jobs together, but US President Donald Trump’s expanding tariffs are apparently too much for even right-hand man Elon Musk.
So much so that Musk privately appealed to Trump to reverse the market-tanking measures in an “attempted intervention,” The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
But Musk’s alleged entreaty apparently didn’t work because Trump continued to saber-rattle on the trade war front, threatening to tack on 50% tariffs for Chinese goods.
Musk has expressed misgivings about the sweeping tariffs on his X platform but aimed his criticism at the likes of Trump adviser Peter Navarro, who is behind the strategy.
The Post dubbed Musk’s disagreement with the president as their “highest-profile disagreement” since Trump named him the leader of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
On Monday, Musk struck a somewhat conciliatory tone on the social platform he owns. He shared a post from a US trade rep that supported the “historic” tariffs and listed “unfair” trade practices of exporters. “Good points,” Musk wrote.
Vladimir Putin’s army has slowed down significantly with its territorial gains in Ukraine over the last few months, according to the UK.
Russia still occupies around a fifth of Ukrainian land, but is continuing to push forward and try to seize more territory.
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Putin has even issued his largest conscription call yet to bolster his army, all while Donald Trump is trying to negotiate a peace deal.
However, Russia is not actually having that much success on the frontline, according to the British Ministry of Defence (MoD).
In its latest social media update on the war, the MoD said: “Russian territorial gains in Ukraine have decreased during the first quarter of 2025, with Russian forces highly likely seizing only 143 sq km of Ukrainian territory in March 2025, an average of less than 5 square kilometres per day.”
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The British officials traced this decreased progress back to the end of last year.
“Russia’s rate of advance has dropped month by month since November 2024, when its forces seized more than 700 sq km,” the MoD said.
“Most of the advances by Russian forces in March 2025 were in central Donetsk oblast, but Russia not did not improve its operational position.”
And, according to the intelligence officers, Ukraine is successfully pushing some of the Russian forces back.
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“Ukrainian forces also carried out tactical counter-attacks, reversing some of Russia’s gains around Pokrovsk,” they said.
“The level of Russian ground attacks on several axes was reduced through much of March 2025.
“These began to increase towards the end of the month but have not resulted in a higher rate of advance.”
It’s worth noting Russia’s casualty rate has also reached around 900,000 – wounded or dead – since Putin invaded Ukraine back in 2022, according to the MoD.
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But, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned over the weekend, Russia is still launching daily air strikes on Ukraine.
The MoD’s update comes after one of Putin’s ministers spurned the US proposals for a peace plan.
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told the media that “there is no place for our main demand” in the American proposals, and so Moscow “cannot accept” such a plan.
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Trump has been pushing for a quick resolution to the Ukraine war, even if it means settling on Russia’s terms.
The US president did manage to secure partial ceasefires in the Black Sea and against Ukrainian energy infrastructure – but both sides now claim that brief truce has already been broken.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Friday that the world will know “in a matter of weeks” if Russia is “serious about peace or not”.
Kemi Badenoch is facing backlash for supporting Israel after the country refused entry to two Labour MPs.
Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed travelled to Israel and were planning to go on to the West Bank, but they – together with their aides – were questioned by the Israeli authorities and turned back on Saturday.
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They were allegedly suspected of planning to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred”, according to a statement from the Israeli immigration ministry.
While the UK government has made it clear this was “unacceptable”, Badenoch has suggested otherwise.
“What I think is shocking is that we have MPs in Labour who other countries will not allow through. I think that is very significant.”
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She added: “If you look at the reasons the Israeli government has given, they don’t believe [the MPs] are going to comply with their laws. MPs do not have diplomatic immunity. I believe the people who represent us in parliament should be able to go anywhere in the world and people not be worried about what they’re going to do.”
She added the UK “does the same thing” and refuses entry to plenty of people.
“I don’t think we should be setting precedents in a different way,” she said.
However, just hours later, the Tory shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Richard Fuller, seemed to contradict Badenoch during his own interview on Times Radio.
He said: “I haven’t seen the details of the MPs, whether on an official trip or a personal trip. But, you know, any member of parliament who goes on an official trip should be, I would think, welcomed in any country. They’re going there to be better informed about the situation and then report back to their parliamentary colleagues about what they have found.”
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He added: “I think we should all be very worried about democracy. Democracy isn’t a guarantee in life. Freedom isn’t guaranteed.”
Meanwhile, foreign secretary David Lammy quickly slammed Badenoch’s comments on X.
He said: “It’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs.
“Do you say the same about Tory MPs banned from China?
“This government will continue to stand up for the rights of our MPs to speak their mind, whatever their party.”
.@KemiBadenoch it’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs. Do you say the same about Tory MPs banned from China?
This government will continue to stand up for the rights of our MPs to speak their mind, whatever their party. https://t.co/91W4H9vLWt
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.@KemiBadenoch it’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs. Do you say the same about Tory MPs banned from China?
This government will continue to stand up for the rights of our MPs to speak their mind, whatever their party. https://t.co/91W4H9vLWt
Badenoch then hit back at the Labour politician, saying: “Unlike China, Israel is our ally and a democracy. A good Foreign Sec would be able to make that distinction.
“Perhaps Labour MPs could put UK national interest first and do their jobs instead of campaigning for airports in Kashmir or promoting Hamas propaganda in parliament.”
Unlike China, Israel is our ally and a democracy. A good Foreign Sec would be able to make that distinction.
Perhaps Labour MPs could put UK national interest first and do their jobs instead of campaigning for airports in Kashmir or promoting Hamas propaganda in parliament. https://t.co/lLd5aNtCHU
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Unlike China, Israel is our ally and a democracy. A good Foreign Sec would be able to make that distinction.
Perhaps Labour MPs could put UK national interest first and do their jobs instead of campaigning for airports in Kashmir or promoting Hamas propaganda in parliament. https://t.co/lLd5aNtCHU
The foreign secretary had already responded to the initial incident, describing it as “unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning”.
He said: “I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this no way to treat British Parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support.”
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The Labour chair of the foreign affairs committee Emily Thornberry also criticised Badenoch over her remarks earlier in the day, saying: “These are two young women who are potential leaders, people listen to what they say.”
She said: “Israel is badly advised to try and alienate them, to try to humiliate them and to try to treat them in this way.”
Thornberry explained this was an “insult to Britain and an insult to parliament”.
“I am outraged, and I cannot believe that the leader of the opposition would simply take on the face of it what the Israeli government says,” the Labour MP said.
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“Because we know there are times when what the Israeli government say the first time isn’t what they say when they’ve had a chance to think about it.”
An MP has been suspended from the Commons and had the Labour whip removed after he was arrested on suspicion of rape and child abuse offences.
Dan Norris was taken into custody on Friday after his constituency home was raided.
Police say he was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Now he’s been suspended, Norris cannot contribute to debates or votes in the Commons for an unspecified period of time.
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He is also no longer party of Labour’s parliamentary group now he’s been stripped of the whip.
Norris ousted the Conservatives’Jacob Rees-Mogg when he was elected in July 2024′s general election to represent North East Somerset and Hanham.
He was previously elected as the MP for Wansdyke between 1997 and 2010, and served as a junior minister under Gordon Brown and an assistant whip under Tony Blair.
He became a mayor of the west of England in 2021 but is due to step down ahead of May’s local elections.
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According to his website, Norris trained with child protection services the NSPCC and previously worked as a teacher and child protection officer.
A Labour party spokesperson said: “Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour party upon being informed of his arrest.
“We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.”
Responding to the news on Sunday morning, chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told Sky News: “Clearly we’re all shocked and personally saddened by the serious allegations that have been made.
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“It’s right that the Labour Party suspended the whip immediately when police informed the party of Dan Norris’s arrest.
“But, as the police have said, this is a sensitive investigation and we shouldn’t be commenting further at this stage.”
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed a man in his 60s was arrested on Friday on “suspicion of sexual offences against a girl (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), rape (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003), child abduction and misconduct in a public office.”
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“He’s been released on conditional bail for enquiries to continue,” the police said. “This is an active and sensitive investigation, so we’d respectfully ask people not to speculate on the circumstances so our enquiries can continue unhindered.
“In December 2024, we received a referral from another police force relating to alleged non-recent child sex offences having been committed against a girl.
“Most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s, but we’re also investigating an alleged offence of rape from the 2020s.
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“An investigation, led by officers within Operation Bluestone, our dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, remains ongoing and at an early stage.
“The victim is being supported and given access to any specialist help or support she needs.”
Norris has also stepped down from his role as the chair of animal welfare charity League against Cruel Sports, a spokesperson for the non-profit confirmed.
Help and support:
Childline – free and confidential support for young people in the UK – 0800 1111
Rape Crisis services for women and girls who have been raped or have experienced sexual violence – 0808 802 9999
Survivors UK offers support for men and boys – 0203 598 3898
