Starmer under pressure as Labour says Rochdale candidate fell for Gaza conspiracy

Labour’s shadow business secretary has indicated Labour would row back on plans to ‘scrap’ the non-dom tax loophole, saying instead that the party will ‘modernise it’.

Labour pledged to scrap non-dom tax status back in 2022, as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “If you make your home in Britain you should pay tax here – on all of your income.”

Jonathan Reynolds has now told the Financial Times the ‘case for modernisation’ of the non-dom tax status is ‘clear’.

“It’s a change we are absolutely committed to. Of course, we will replace it with a modern regime for people who are going to be in the country for a short period of time,” he added.

On Monday, peers will begin detailed examination of Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill in the House of Lords.

The legislation aimed at reviving the stalled deportation policy is expected to face numerous changes in the upper chamber, where some fiercely oppose it, setting up an extended tussle between the Commons and Lords.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights said the law is “fundamentally incompatible” with the UK’s human rights obligations and “risks untold damage” to the country’s international reputation.

In a report on Monday, MPs and peers on the panel said “hostility to human rights is at its heart and no amendments can salvage it”.

Mr Sunak was speaking as he was shown around the latest electric buses on Monday morning, before speaking to apprentice bus drivers and engineers.

He said: “Every penny from HS2 in the North, almost £20 billion, is going to stay in the North.”

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Police will take no further action against Tory MP Andrew Rosindell after he was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and misconduct in a public office.

Scotland Yard said a “thorough investigation” had been carried out and the evidence threshold for criminal prosecution had not been met.

A spokesman for the Romford MP said: “In relation to an allegation made in May 2022 by an individual against Andrew Rosindell the Metropolitan Police have conducted a thorough investigation and concluded that there was no case to answer and that no further action would be taken.

“Andrew has been completely exonerated. He has been working constantly for Romford throughout the past twenty-one months and will continue to speak up for the people of his beloved home town as their local MP.”

Tobias Ellwood has described Donald Trump’s Nato comments as “arguably the most irresponsible” that any former president has made on international security.

Mr Trump said he told the president of one Nato country that he would “encourage” Russia to do as it wishes to members who failed to meet the alliance’s defence spending targets.

And Mr Ellwood, the ex-chairman of parliament’s defence committee, said he was “astonished and baffled” by the comments.

“To encourage an adversary that is already taking chunks out of eastern Europe to then invade a Nato ally… Putin is probably delighted,” he added.

Mr Ellwood told Sky News the comments were “very dangerous indeed”.

Britain’s security minister has refused to condemn Donald Trump after the former president said he would let Russia “do whatever the hell they want” to countries that are “delinquent”.

At a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, Mr Trump recounted telling the president of one Nato country that he would “encourage” Russia to do as it wishes to members who failed to meet the alliance’s defence spending targets.

Asked about the Republican frontrunner’s comments, Tom Tugendhat said: “You’re asking me to comment on the campaigning words of a democracy.

“I’m always really cautious about entering into that for the very simple reason that my job is to keep the British people safe.”

He added: “We all have a responsibility to make sure that we deter our enemies and protect our friends.”

Security minister Tom Tugendhat appeared to confirm he has not been out campaigning in Kingswood in the run-up to the by-election.

Asked whether he had visited the South Gloucestershire constituency, he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I’ve been campaigning across the country.”

Pressed on whether he had campaigned in Kingswood, he said: “Kingswood is a long way away.”

It was put to him that this may “tell us something”, to which he replied: “It tells you that I’ve been speaking at different events across the country. I’ve been supporting people in different areas.”

Labour’s candidate for the upcoming Rochdale by-election has sparked anger after reportedly saying Israel had been warned about the 7 October attack and allowed it to happen.

Mr Ali apologised for the claims, stating: “I apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community for my comments which were deeply offensive, ignorant, and false.”

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Official figures on Thursday will show whether the UK slipped into recession.

Mr Sunak promised to grow the economy, but if the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) gross domestic product data for the final three months of last year shows a contraction, it means the UK was in a recession after two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

ONS inflation statistics for January could show a small uptick, in what would be a blow to his goal of curbing price rises.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott told the Sunday Times: “There will be bumps in the road and on Wednesday we can expect inflation to slightly increase when data for January is published.”

Rishi Sunak’s proposed Rwanda asylum law is “fundamentally incompatible” with the UK’s human rights obligations and would flout international law, MPs and peers have warned.

Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights said the government’s Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill “risks untold damage” to the UK’s hard-won reputation as a proponent of human rights internationally.

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