Politics LIVE: Rachel Reeves handed major blow as key adviser LEAVES after just 4 months

A leading lawyer appointed by Rachel Reeves to advise on Labour's proposed planning law reforms is set to leave her post after four months.

Catherine Howard, who was appointed by the Chancellor in September, will leave the role when her term is up on January 1.

Her departure will go head despite informal requests to stay on in the job, The Guardian reports.

Ms Howard was appointed to advise Ms Reeves to help drive through the Government's planning overhaul as part of its Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The Bill aims to speed up the delivery of new homes and infrastructure under Labour's pledge to build 1.5 million homes in Britain by 2029.

Ms Howard said: "Over the past four months I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as the Chancellor’s infrastructure and planning adviser and in my time have had the ability to advise HM Treasury and help steer the important steps the Government is taking to improve the planning system to support economic growth.

"I look forward to continuing my engagement with HM Treasury and government as I return to the private sector."

A Treasury spokeswoman added: "Catherine was originally appointed until the Budget, but her post was extended to January to continue to support the development of our planning reforms, as per the terms agreed at the time of appointment."

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New MI6 chief to warn of growing threats from Russia in first major speech

The new head of MI6 will warn in her first major public speech of the growing threat of Russia and the need for spies to master technology to deal with increasingly complex threats.

Blaise Metreweli will say the “front line is everywhere” as she sets out her understanding of the global security landscape in a speech at the headquarters of Britain’s foreign intelligence service.

Ms Metreweli, appointed head of MI6 in June, is expected to speak of the threat posed by an “aggressive, expansionist and revisionist” Russia.

She will say: “Putin should be in no doubt, our support is enduring. The pressure we apply on Ukraine’s behalf will be sustained.

“The export of chaos is a feature, not a bug, in the Russian approach to international engagement, and we should be ready for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculus.”

Threats from across the globe are increasingly intricate, the spy chief will say, including sabotage, technological disruption, and disinformation.

But she will insist the UK is already working to harness technology to tackle them.

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Labour admits it has 'not yet' got a grip on small boats crisis 

Shabana Mahmood admitted the Government has "not yet" tackled Britain's small boats crisis.

More than 700 migrants crossed the English Channel on Saturday, bringing the total for the year so far to 40,029.

When asked if Labour had turned the tide on the issue, the Home Secretary told Sky News: "Not yet."

"We are working very closely with our partners in France particularly in the north of France. But actually further upstream in Europe as well," she added.

"The work that we are doing with law enforcement in France has already stopped 20,000 crossings.

"In fact, even yesterday when we saw the change in weather led to people successfully making the crossing again there were disruptive methods and they did stop some of those boats."

The Birmingham Ladywood MP admitted she faced a "difficult challenge".

WATCH: Conservatives to drop plans to ban new petrol and diesel cars 

Father Christmas would vote for the Greens, new poll suggests

Nearly a third of voters think Father Christmas would back the Green Party if a general election was to be held tomorrow, according to a new poll.

The YouGov poll of more than 2,000 voters concluded that Santa would support Zack Polanski's party in an election - while Ebenezer Scrooge would put his weight behind Reform UK.

Even 20 per cent of Labour voters who took part in the poll agreed Mr Clause would vote for the Greens instead of Sir Keir Starmer for a second term, The Times reports.

27 per cent of Conservative voters meanwhile thought Santa would back the Tories, while almost half of Reform voters believed he would back Nigel Farage.

Nigel Farage reveals plans to slash thousands of civil service jobs to tackle 'Whitehall bloat' 

Nigel Farage has promised to axe thousands of civil service jobs if his party is elected in a plan to save £5billion of taxpayer cash.

The Reform UK leader has pledged to slash 68,000 civil service jobs to end the "Whitehall bloat" and increase the pay-related bonus pot for top civil servants to incentivise staff, The Sun reports.

The Clacton MP said: "This is a radical plan to modernise, streamline and incentivise the civil service.

“Giving huge benefits to the public finances and the operational effectiveness of those overseeing our vital public services."