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Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer has paid back £6,000 in gifts and hospitality as the so-called “freebies row” threatens to spiral out of control and plunge his government into chaos.The prime minister’s gesture came on a day when Tory leadership candidates described his government as “the most venal in history”.This was shortly followed by the announcement of an investigation launched into the probity of billionaire Labour donor Waheed Alli who was responsible for many of the gifts to Starmer, his wife Victoria and many members of the cabinet.And while Sir Keir was trying to end the criticism and get his government back on track, the row appeared to intensify as it was revealed that deputy prime minister Angela Rayner received £836 worth of hospitality while partying in Ibiza. Added to that, foreign secretary David Lammy headed a group of Labour MPs and senior figures receiving Taylor Swift concert tickets.Keir and Victoria Starmer at aTaylor Swift concert More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorKeir Starmer faced a reality check on his first trip to Brussels as he appeared to come away from the European capital with only an agreement to hold further meetings with EU leaders.The prime minister travelled to Belgium for talks with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, as well as European Council chief Charles Michel and the European parliament’s Roberta Metsola, with a promise to “put the Brexit years behind us” and form a closer relationship with the bloc.But speaking at a press conference following the discussions, Sir Keir revealed plans for further talks this autumn followed by a summit early next year while unable to answer journalists’ questions on how the “reset” agreement could look like.Earlier, after what amounted to a meeting about a meeting, Sir Keir and Ms Von der Leyen promised in a joint statement to take forward an “agenda of strengthened cooperation at pace over the coming months”.Starmer hailed ‘very productive’ talks on his first trip to Brussels as PM More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorAngela Rayner’s trip to an Ibiza nightclub where she was spotted partying in a DJ booth over the summer was a freebie worth hundreds of pounds, it has emerged.In the latest register of MPs’ financial interests revealed on Wednesday, the deputy prime minister declared she received £836 worth of hospitality for a “visit to (a) DJ booth” at nightclub Hi Ibiza.It was paid for by Ayita LLC, which is the agent of DJ Fisher, who she was filmed dancing with in footage of the event on 29 August that was shared on social media.The Telegraph reports that Ms Rayner did pay for flights and accomodation herself during the four-day visit.Angela Rayner is filmed dancing in Ibiza during parliament’s summer recess More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorKemi Badenoch put her faltering leadership campaign back on track with a powerful speech to end the Tory conference.The former business secretary has had a difficult Tory conference with a number of missteps on maternity pay and suggesting some civil servants should go to prison, but her speech to close a four-day trial of strength for the leadership contenders appeared to woo Tory members.The back-back speeches have also confirmed that former home secretary James Cleverly is a contender as MPs prepare to whittle down the number to two next week.His speech received the loudest cheers as he appeared to take on criticisms that his affable nature hides a man who stands for very little.Instead, Mr Cleverly addressed head on his philosophy as a Conservative and what he would do to win back power for the battered Tory party.Conservative Party leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch on stage in Birmingham (Jacob King/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorLord Waheed Alli, the Labour peer at the centre of the donations row engulfing Sir Keir Starmer’s party, is under investigation over an alleged failure to register interests. He is facing a probe from the House of Lords commissioner for standards over potential breaches of parliamentary rules surrounding openness and accountability in the members’ code of conduct.Lord Alli, who funded clothes and other gifts for the prime minister and his wife, is listed as the subject of an inquiry published today. Lord Alli, a former TV executive, has donated more than £700,000 to Labour More

Tugendhat hits out at Jenrick for using video of dead friend in false claim on UK special forcesYour support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseMy recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyondEric GarciaWashington Bureau ChiefLabour peer Lord Waheed Alli is under investigation over alleged non-registration of interests that could lead to a possible breach of the members’ code of conduct.The fashion mogul, who has been at the centre of a row over donations accepted by Sir Keir Starmer, is being probed by the Lord’s commissioners.It comes as James Cleverly issued an apology to members of the Tory party following the party’s brutal election defeat in July, urging the party to avoid complacency, warning against “wallowing in self-pity” after Labour’s landslide victory.The former home secretary told Tories to be “more normal” and “sell Conservatism with a smile”, as he made his leadership bid at the party’s conference.Kemi Badenoch promised to make “Sir Keir Starmer sweat, Angie uncomfortable, and make Rachel wriggle” if she becomes the new Tory leader while also attacking her own government for its record on net zero targets.Tory rival Robert Jenrick used his speech to target “mass migration” promising to set a new net zero target and leave the ECHR to “finish what Brexit started”.During his pitch, Tom Tugendhat called for Thatcher-style revolution for a “free economy” and blamed bureaucrats for failings in the NHS, warning the health service is “not the envy of the world”.Show latest update 1727880007Kemi Badenoch suggests Treasury to blame for rise in immigrationTory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch has suggested the Treasury was to blame for the rise in immigration during the Conservatives’ time in power in her closing conference speech.Ms Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat are all battling to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader, and migration has been a central topic of discussion during the contest.All the candidates got a chance to make a final pitch to the conference on Wednesday morning.Ms Badenoch told delegates that in government, the Conservatives “did not always keep our promises”.“We promised to lower taxes, they went up. We promised to lower immigration, it went up. Why? Because the Treasury said high immigration was good for the economy, but we knew it was not good for our country,” she said.Migration – alongside the NHS and the future of the Conservative Party – has been one of the key discussion points of the contest.Salma Ouaguira2 October 2024 15:401727878841Rachel Reeves boasts new hair lookSalma Ouaguira2 October 2024 15:201727877364Breaking: Lord Alli under investigation over ‘alleged non-registration of interests’Labour peer Lord Alli is under investigation over “alleged non-registration of interests” leading to a possible breach of the members’ code of conduct.The fashion mogul, who has been at the centre of a row over donations accepted by Sir Keir Starmer, is being probed by the Lord’s commissioners. In the first controversy to hit Sir Keir’s new government, questions have been raised over Lord Alli – the business executive who has donated some £700,000 to the party over the past two decades – being handed a Downing Street pass.According to an update published on Parliament’s website on Wednesday, Lord Alli is being investigated by the Lords’ commissioner for “alleged non-registration of interests leading to potential breaches of paragraphs 14(a) and 17 of the thirteenth edition of the code of conduct”.These rules relate to making clear what the interests are that might be reasonably thought to influence a member’s parliamentary actions and ensuring entries are up to date.( More