Kemi Badenoch takes cheeky jibe at Zia Yusuf after furious Tory-Reform row breaks out over Piddington camp

Kemi Badenoch has taken a jibe at Zia Yusuf after a furious Tory-Reform row broke out over the Piddington camp.

Mr Yusuf and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp descended into a bitter war of words over the Conservatives' record on migration during a protest against Labour's decision to approve housing 1,200 asylum seekers at MoD Bicester.

The Home Affairs spokesman asked Mr Philp if he was going to apologise to Piddington locals for "bringing hundreds of thousands of people into this country illegally".

Outraged, Mr Philp immediately shut down Mr Yusuf for his "political point-scoring".

The parties' leaders have now both taken to social media, with Nigel Farage insisting Mr Philp "had a lot to apologise for".

Meanwhile, Mrs Badenoch reeled off: "The real Shadow Home Secretary won that exchange and the applause.

"The fake one went along to score cheap points but made an a**e of himself instead. Reform MPs Jenrick and Braverman (currently spending her time handcuffed to Katie Price) were part of the failure.

"They are not a serious party and have no serious plans for government. They are noisy time-wasters who are merely standing in the way of us removing this Labour Government."

Andy Burnham eyes up EU reset as PM claims new Brexit deal could deliver 'what voters wanted in 2016'

Andy Burnham has said a deal with the EU could deliver what "people thought they were voting for in 2016".

The Prime Minister, speaking to reporters at the European Political Community summit in Ireland, said a "win-win" deal with the bloc could be made.

Mr Burnham will meet EU leaders in Brussels next week and sign agreements on food and farming, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme, which he says will raise GDP by 0.4 per cent.

He said: "I believe there is a good deal to be done that could be a win-win for Britain and Europe. I think it actually could be more like the Brexit that people thought they were voting for in 2016.

"I don't think people thought they were going to get a Brexit as hard as the one that finally came through at the end of 2019."

He added that there was more to negotiate, but the Prime Minister believes the end agreement could be "closer to what people voted for at the referendum."

Asked if his move to reopen debate on the UK-EU relationship had helped or hindered negotiations, Mr Burnham said: “I think it has helped, but there’s a long way to go."

He said he would "fight now, over the days to come, to make sure we get this deal over the line".

Nigel Farage wades in on Zia Yusuf and Chris Philp row

Nigel Farage has defended Zia Yusuf following a public spat between the Reform spokesman and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp over illegal migration.

Taking to social media, the Reform leader said in a post on X: "Chris Philp has a lot to apologise for. Including the two men charged yesterday with spying for Iran, who came to the country illegally."

During a press conference in Piddington, Mr Yusuf had called on Mr Philp to apologise for the Tory record on illegal migration.

Mr Philp then hit back: "That is disingenuous Zia, as usual. The men that are going to be placed here are men who arrived very recently under this Labour Government.

"But I hope today, rather than engaging in point scoring, we can stand in solidarity. We can stand in solidarity with the residents. Listen to the people clapping and read the room."

WATCH THE MOMENT HERE.

Downing Street briefed on 'full picture' after major Microsoft outage

Ministers are being briefed on Microsoft outages and contingency plans are in place for disrupted services as the Government seeks to figure out the "full picture" of the impact, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister’s deputy spokeswoman said: "We’re working with departments and with Microsoft to establish the full picture, and where services are disrupted, departments have contingency arrangements in place.

"You’ll obviously appreciate this is an ongoing situation, but in the meantime, people are encouraged to follow advice on the services they require for alternative ways to get in touch."

The spokeswoman added that ministers are being kept regularly updated and that a "range of services" are experiencing disruption as parts of the Government use Microsoft.

She said: "Frontline services have their own contingency arrangements, and departments are working to make sure essential services keep running."

Nigel Farage defies polling doubters as Reform score double by-election victory over Andy Burnham

Nigel Farage has been handed a major boost to Reform UK, with the party securing a triple victory in this week's by-elections.

Labour lost two seats to Mr Farage's candidates, but defended one and gained another from an Independent candidate.

The triple win comes at a difficult time for Reform UK after falling behind Labour and the Conservatives in recent polls.

GB News takes a closer look at the results breakdown of the six by-elections and what it means for Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

READ THE FULL STORY.

WATCH: Zia Yusuf and Chris Philp descend into bitter illegal migration row during Piddington press conference

Watch the moment Reform UK's Zia Yusuf and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp descend into bitter a illegal migration row during a press conference in Piddington.

Speaking following Labour's decision to approve plans for asylum seeker accommodation in MoD Bicester, Mr Yusuf used his statement to call on Mr Philp to "apologise" to the people of Piddington for his party's failure to tackle illegal migration when in Government.

Mr Yusuf said: "Chris, would you like to actually apologise for the things that you did in Government, to bring hundreds of thousands of people into this country illegally?

"Are you going to take the opportunity to apologise to the people of Piddington and to the country?"

Mr Philp appeared outraged at the remark, hitting back: "That is disingenuous Zia, as usual. The men that are going to be placed here are men who arrived very recently under this Labour Government.

"But I hope today, rather than engaging in point scoring, we can stand in solidarity. We can stand in solidarity with the residents. Listen to the people clapping and read the room."

WATCH THE MOMENT HERE.

Piddington Parish Council Chair holds press conference following Labour decision

Piddington Parish Council Chair Tim McNally has held a press conference in his village, following the decision to approve plans for asylum seeker accommodation in MoD Bicester.

Speaking to the nation, Mr McNally launched a furious tirade on Prime Minister Andy Burnham, declaring he "never responded" to the village's pleas.

He said: "We've tried our very best to engage you, the Government. Andy Burnham and co, you're all responsible for what you're doing and we've tried very hard to engage with you in a appropriate, professional and polite manner, and yet you haven't extended to us a simple courtesy of consideration of what we are going to have to consider to receive here as our new incumbent guests that you have targeted for us 1,250 men.

"Andy Burnham, where's your responsibility to our community and the sexual violence that might be coming upon our community here? You haven't stepped up once to discuss that. One other thing is I've talked about this aspect of deceit and lies and manipulation of the process, and I'm disgusted by it, and this is why I have been so driven to do what I've done.

"What is it that the Government does to its people to enforce the fact that they want to leave the United Kingdom for what it stands for? Think about that, Andy Burnham. It's a disgrace. You've only been in position since July 20th, and you haven't responded to a single request from me. You should have been there. You should have responded."

Labour's decision on MoD Bicester is a 'catastrophe', Zia Yusuf tells GB News

Reform UK's Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf has criticised the Labour Government over their approval of plans for asylum seeker accommodation at MoD Bicester.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Yusuf said: "This is an absolute catastrophe. It is an insane betrayal of the people of Piddington. It's actually really astonishing when you think about it.

"Angela Rayner has just approved 1,200 illegal migrant men to be dumped into a village of 350 people. What that means is for the women and girls of Piddington, they are about to be outnumbered eight to one by illegal migrant men.

"The last time I was in Piddington, I met a mother who told me that she and her daughter had begun taking self-defence classes in anticipation of this decision. In Britain in 2026, women and girls here in Piddington are taking self-defence classes."

Chris Philp hits out at 'shameful' female Labour MPs after asylum camp approval

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has hit out at the "shameful" female Labour MPs for "ignoring the women of Piddington", following the Government's decision to approve asylum seeker accommodation at MoD Bicester.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Philp said it is "common sense, not racist" to speak out against illegal migration.

He said: "It is absolutely shameful that female Labour MPs ignored the women of Piddington. Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, has ignored the women of Piddington. Angela Rayner now has as well, by giving planning permission for this awful site.

"It is a betrayal of the people of Piddington that the Labour Government is going to send almost 1,500 young male illegal immigrants to live on the edge of that village, a village of only 350 people.

"So when they've moved in, the village will become 80 per cent young male illegal immigrants. I've been to the village, and all of the women that I've spoken to in the village of Piddington are scared for their own safety and for their daughters and granddaughters' safety, because these young male illegal immigrants have a terrible track record of rape and sexual offence."

Piddington Parish Council Chair vows to 'blow apart' Angela Rayner's approval of asylum seeker camp

Chair of Piddington Parish Council Tim McNally has vowed to "blow the whole thing apart" following the Government's announcement that it has approved plans for asylum seeker accommodation at MoD Bicester.

Speaking to GB News, Mr McNally previewed his press conference taking place later today, opposing Angela Rayner's decision.

He said: "It's massively disappointing naturally for this community, to be exposed to this potential risk that's going to come.

"But the Government hasn't taken any effort to explain the risk to us at all, other than saying 24 hours security, 24/7 CCTV, but only on site, not out in our villages.

"It's pretty clear from their behaviour and the approaches we've made which have been consistent, professional and engaging, not a single response from them. To be heard you need to be listened to, and they haven't actually spoken to us about anything.

"Today, I'm going to make an announcement which will blow this whole thing apart about the deceit, the lies and how this Government behaves and considers its constituents are basically not worth the consideration at all."

Kemi Badenoch declares Angela Rayner decision on Piddington a 'betrayal to women'

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has hit out at Housing Secretary Angela Rayner's decision to approve planning permission for the asylum seeker camp in MoD Bicester.

Taking to social media to express her outrage at the decision, Mrs Badenoch said in a post: "This is a betrayal of the women of Piddington, but emblematic of Labour and Angela Rayner’s disregard for the law and women and girls’ safety.

"When I visited Piddington I met a village terrified of what was about to land on their doorstep. The government said it was listening, instead it’s completely ignored this community’s concerns.

"The 1000+ male migrants that Labour are about to deposit in Oxfordshire are in Britain illegally. They should be deported as soon as possible, not housed in areas completely unsuitable for the task.

"Only the Conservatives have a thorough plan to leave the ECHR and ensure that every illegal migrant is removed from our country as swiftly as possible."

Labour's defence strategy is 'incoherent', Angus MacIntyre tells GB News

Reform UK's Armed Forces Spokesman has declared that the Government's defence strategy is "incoherent".

Speaking to GB News, Angus MacIntyre said: "The urgency to thicken the armed forces for sustained combat in Europe is immediate and important.

"And let's look at the incoherence as well of the current Labour Government policy. We have Wes Streeting telling everybody '1,000 days until we're in conflict', and in the very next week the chief of the Defence Staff, who I know well and I do respect, then ends training in the UK because there's no budget.

"So what is that? The answer is nonsense. Prepare for war, but there's no training budget."

Angela Rayner accused of 'ignoring all warnings' after approving Piddington asylum camp

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has been accused of "ignoring all warnings" after approving plans for the Piddington asylum accommodation.

Speaking to GB News, Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson said: "I think local opinion and local politicians have been completely overridden by Angela Rayner.

"My brilliant colleague Calum Miller, who's the Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, has been fighting this plan since the moment it was proposed and has been asking all the right questions, demanding transparency and information from the Government.

"And it sounds like Angela Rayner has ignored all the warnings around health services, not being able to cope locally, and the fact that community cohesion is at risk, as well as the fact that actually the site itself is full, as I understand it, of asbestos and are not ready to deal with all the sewage.

"It's just beggars belief that a site like this has been chosen for asylum seeker accommodation. And I know that it's being fought in the High Court, and Callum Miller will be with them every step of the way."

'It's NOT working!' Luke Pollard slammed in GB News grilling over Piddington approval

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been grilled on GB News over Labour's decision to approve the asylum accommodation site at MoD Bicester.

GB News host Anne Diamond pressed the minister on referring to asylum hotels "seven times" during his defence of the decision.

Mr Pollard told the People's Channel: "I think during this period there will be communities that have asylum accommodation on their doorstep. That will be a concern and that's why the Home Office is engaging with those communities.

"I recognise there will be some people who won't want that at all in their community, but there will be others for whom their mitigations will be appropriate for that community, and that is the engagement the Government is taking.

"But it's not an easy decision, there's no magic wand. The last Government couldn't solve the problem with half the number of hotels."

'You're WRONG!' Prime Minister hits back at Lord Cameron

Andy Burnham has hit back at David Cameron after the former Conservative prime minister and arch-remainer advised Labour against starting a "decade-long debate" over whether to rejoin the European Union.

The Tory peer, who campaigned for Remain in the 2016 referendum and resigned within hours of Leave's victory, warned Mr Burnham against "a long and painful argument" about rejoining the bloc and said the UK’s economic problems had “nothing to do with Brexit".

But Mr Burnham hit back, telling reporters: "I think he is wrong to say that the low growth that we've had over the last decade has quote 'nothing to do with Brexit'. I would say the evidence says otherwise, and indeed the Treasury analysis says otherwise."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Andy Burnham under pressure as 100 Labour MPs want to start drilling Rosebank

As many as 100 Labour MPs want Andy Burnham to allow the start of production from the Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea, a leading Labour MP has told GB News.

Steve Yemm, MP for Mansfield since 2024 and chairman of a cross-party group calling for a "sensible, worker-first approach to North Sea oil and gas", disclosed the strength of feeling among Labour MPs who want drilling to start.

There are already reports of a split with Chancellor John Healey and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds keen for drilling to start against opposition from Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh.

The remarks to Chopper's Political Podcast lay bare the pressure the Prime Minister is under from his own backbenchers to deliver the "pragmatic" approach towards drilling in the North Sea which he promised US President Donald Trump in September.

Mr Yemm told GB News there was "strong support" for drilling and "support for British jobs, British workers and our own efforts in the North Sea".

READ THE STORY FROM CHOPPER'S POLITICAL PODCAST HERE

Britain to 'adopt EU law every 12 hours' under Brexit reset deal

Britain will adopt new EU regulation every 12 hours under Andy Burnham's Brexit reset, a Lords' committee has warned.

The Prime Minister, after jetting off to meet Ursula von der Leyen in Dublin, will again meet with EU leaders in Brussels next week to sign his Brexit reset agreement, which he claims could raise GDP by 0.4 per cent.

But a new report from the House of Lords European Affairs Committee warns that this shift in relations would require dynamic realignment and could leave the UK swamped with new EU regulation.

A deal on farming alone could result in at least 780 pieces of in-scope EU law every year - or the equivalent of two new regulations a day, the committee warned.

Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group of Tory MPs, said Britain would "become a 'rule-taker' again; and all because Labour are obsessed with rejoining the EU".

And Esther McVey, the former Tory Minister, said Mr Burnham's "Brexit betrayal" would force small businesses to "follow pointless bureaucratic regulations".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE