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Richard Tice has defended a Reform UK MP’s call for a burqa ban, after party chairman Zia Yusuf branded the argument “dumb” and quit.Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Friday (6 June), Mr Tice said: “What you should be able to do in a democracy, in a world of free speech, is have a sensible, respectful debate,” adding he wants to “find out where the British mood is on this”.On Wednesday (4 June), newly elected MP Sarah Pochin called on Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons to ban burqas in “the interest of public safety”.Mr Yusuf said announced his resignation on Thursday (5 June), stating that he “no longer believes working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time”. More

A group of “animals” took over a council meeting in the hopes of giving non-human voices more prominence.Southampton National Park City campaigners donned costumes at an “interspecies democracy meeting” in the city last week as part of the Urban Wild festival.The campaign says it has a vision for the city to be “an urban setting where vibrant biodiversities are woven into the fabric of our daily lives, where people, culture and nature can coexist harmoniously.”Outgoing lord mayor, Councillor Dave Shields, dressed up as an owl. Other costumes included a foxglove, a salmon, and a butterfly. More

A staff member at a bus factory had a hilarious reaction to Rachel Reeves’ speech in Greater Manchester on Wednesday morning (4 June).As the chancellor announced the government’s “biggest ever” transport investment in the UK, the worker displayed an animated expression behind her.The individual in the background fidgets as Ms Reeves speaks, with video of the moment posted on X by the Conservatives in a post captioned: “This guy speaks for all of us.”The party added: “Listening to Rachel Reeves makes you just want to…” and inserted an eye-rolling emoji. More

Sarah Pochin called on Sir Keir Starmer to ban burkas in “the interest of public safety” during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (4 June).The new Reform UK MP used her first question to ask the prime minister if he would follow in the footsteps of other countries and prohibit them.Ms Pochin’s comment was met with jeers and outrage from fellow MPs.Sir Keir responded by welcoming Ms Pochin before saying he “won’t follow her down that line” and then making a jab at Nigel Farage. More

Sir Lindsay Hoyle accused the government of committing a “blatant breach” of the ministerial code over how it released details of a major defence review on Monday, 2 June.The Speaker took exception to details of the strategic defence review (SDR) being briefed out over the weekend and Sir Keir Starmer holding a media event several hours before the document was published in Parliament.Making it clear that the House of Commons, rather than the media, should be informed first, Sir Lindsay said of Labour: “This shows complete disregard for the House and for the honourable members.””The government appears to have breached the principle set out in paragraph 9.1 of the ministerial code – that when Parliament is in session, the most important announcements of government policy should be made in the first instance in Parliament.” More

Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated that‘‘nobody should be crossing the channel”, a day after a record number of migrants made the journey.Taking questions after he announced the Strategic Defence Review in Glasgow, the prime minister was grilled by GB News’ Katherine Foster on his “failure” to keep the British public “safe in the English channel”.He said that “nobody should be making that journey” and that the UK is working closely with France and other nations to “take further action” to prevent illegal crossings.On Sunday (1 June), more than 1,100 migrants arrived in the UK, the highest number recorded on a single day so far in 2025. More

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out sending British troops to Russia, stating that the UK cannot “ignore the threat” Vladimir Putin poses.Asked on the BBC’s Radio 4’s Today programme whether the UK might have to send forces to Nato’s eastern border to “possibly die”, the prime minister replied: “I hope not.”.On Sunday (1 June), German’s chief of Defence, General Carsten Breuer, told the broadcaster that Russia would attack again within the next four years, highlighting Lithuania and Poland as particularly vulnerable.On Monday (2 June), Sir Keir told BBC’s Nick Robinson that in order to make sure British troops aren’t sent to the frontline, the UK “has to prepare”. More

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed that he was scared of the postman delivering bills through his letterbox growing up.The prime minister made the admission amid a scathing attack on Nigel Farage, where he warned Britons against the Reform UK’s leader’s “mad” economic plans.Delivering a speech in the north west of England on Thursday (29 May), Sir Keir said that unlike Mr Farage, he knows “what it’s like when your family can’t pay the bills, when you fear the postman and the bills that may be brought”.On Monday (25 May), Reform UK announced it will fully reinstate winter fuel payments and scrap the two-child benefit cap.Sir Keir slammed the party for pledging “completely unfunded” tax cuts which would trigger economic instability. More