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Reform’s head of policy, Zia Yusuf, clashed with a Sky News presenter during a debate on immigration, after being asked about his parents’ decision to move to the UK from Sri Lanka in the 1980s.Matt Barbet posed the question to Mr Yusuf on Sunday evening’s show (16 November) after he criticised the cost of illegal immigration to British taxpayers. Asked why his parents had chosen to settle in the UK, Yusuf replied: “I don’t think that’s particularly relevant,” adding that the question implied, “there is a limit to how restrictive an immigration policy I can advocate for because my parents happen to be immigrants.”Barbet denied the allegation, saying he was merely asking whether the UK was viewed at the time as a compassionate and welcoming country.The exchange followed comments from home secretary Shabana Mahmood, who announced that asylum seekers could lose their automatic right to housing support under Labour. More

Sir Keir Starmer has shut down Rupert Lowe’s recommendation that the death penalty be reintroduced for foreign criminals.Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday (12 November), the former Reform UK MP, who now sits as an independent, asked the prime minister if he would support holding a referendum on the matter, claiming that “every week we hear of a brutal murder, rape or stabbing” committed by “someone who should not be in our country to begin with”.Sir Keir shut down the suggestion, stating that “it is not the answer”. He added: “It didn’t work when it was in place, it led to the death of those it turned out in fact were innocent.” More

Sir Keir Starmer urged the BBC to “get its house in order” following Donald Trump’s threat to sue the corporation for $1billion lawsuit.The prime minister was urged by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to tell the US president to drop his demand during PMQs on Wednesday (12 November), stating that Mr Trump is “trying to destory our BBC”.Sir Keir responded by saying he believes in a “strong and independent BBC”, but admitted the corporation “needs to get their house in order” when “mistakes are made”.“The BBC must uphold the highest standards, be accountable and correct errors quickly.” More

Kate Garraway told off Robert Jenrick for swearing live on Good Morning Britain as he criticised David Lammy.During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (5 November), the justice secretary failed to answer questions about the mistaken release of 24-year-old Algerian national Brahim Kaddour-Cherif from HMP Wandsworth, despite having been informed about the case.The Ministry of Justice said the deputy PM was asked questions about the release of an asylum seeker, but it was confirmed after PMQs that the individual was not an asylum seeker. The ministry added that Mr Lammy waited until after PMQs and further facts had emerged before making a statement.During Thursday’s (6 November) show, Ms Garraway contended that the deputy prime minister may not have wanted to talk about the release before it was confirmed. Mr Jenrick called this “total bullshit”, to which the host interjected: “Don’t swear, don’t swear.”She later apologised on the MP’s behalf, before urging him not to swear again as he’ll “get us all in trouble”. More

David Lammy put on a poppy midway through Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (5 November).As he filled in for Sir Keir Starmer at the despatch box, the deputy prime minister attached a poppy to his jacket after being handed one by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who was sitting next to him.He explained: “I bought a new suit this morning because my Godmother said she would be watching… I am very grateful to the honourable member for Sunderland South for ensuring that, despite wearing a new suit, I have managed to put my poppy on.” More

Nigel Farage has claimed that lower-paid workers are “better off” if they claim that they have anxiety.Holding a news conference in London on Monday (3 November), he said that the UK is in an “economic mess” and outlined Reform UK’s monetary policies if the party wins the next election.Specifically discussing benefits, he claimed that the benefits bill has “boomed to over 300 billion”, which he said is “more than the cost of the NHS and defence combined”.“So things aren’t happening, work isn’t even paying. Our million lowest-paid workers would all be better off if they claimed to have mild anxiety. That is the level of mess that we’re in,” he said.Under the government’s current Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility criteria, a person may be able to claim the mobility part of PIP if they have difficulty getting around because of a cognitive or mental health condition, like anxiety. More

David Lammy has accused Robert Jenrick of having a “brass neck” over comments made about a mistakenly released migrant sex offender.Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday (27 October), the shadow justice secretary said the release of Hadush Kebatu – an asylum seeker from Ethiopia – was a “national embarrassment”.He accused the deputy prime minister of “feigning anger at what has happened”, whilst slamming the government’s Sentencing Bill, under which convicts who demonstrate good behaviour could be released earlyMr Lammy fired back, telling Mr Jenrick he should “hang his head in shame”. He said that 14 years of Conservative governments resulted in “crumbling courts and crumbling prisons”.“He comes here and has the brass neck to give the impression that this started just 14 months ago,” Mr Lammy said. More

Labour minister Josh MacAlister has said a return fail of the “one in, one out” deal with France proves the scheme is “working”.Speaking to Calum Macdonald on Times Radio on Thursday (October 23), Mr MacAlister was quizzed about an “Iranian” man who had been removed to France but returned to Britain on a small boat.The male migrant told The Guardian newspaper he is a victim of modern slavery at the hands of smugglers in northern France.The children’s minister responded “it shows the scheme is working” and sends a message from the government that  “if you come here illegally, and you cross, as we scale up this French returns agreement, you will be deported.” More