Angela Rayner accused of 'rigging system' after threatening to change law following Reform's £72m donation

Angela Rayner has been slammed for "two-tier" rules after threatening to change the law on political donations.

A task force, the Housing Secretary said, would assess ways in which donors could "buy their way into democracy" just 48 hours Nigel Farage's party were handed a record £72million from two billionaires.

This afternoon, Labour announced a full crackdown on millionaires donating to political parties.

Communities secretary Louise Haigh and Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner called on the Electoral Commission asking them to review the donations spending review "which we believe is too high".

Senior Reform sources have told GB News that more donations to the party are on the way.

But the unions, many of whom back Labour, have insisted their organisations will not be impacted by the changes proposed by Ms Rayner.

"The hyperventilating hypocrisy of the socialists is truly extraordinary," Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform, told GB News.

"They're bang on about this, just conveniently forgetting that they get tens of millions pretty much plus or minus every year from the unions.

"Voters up and down the country will see this for what it is: a failing socialist Government that is essentially trying to rig the system against a new competitor that is gaining lots of votes, lots of support, lots of attraction, because the two main parties have messed up our country - financially, culturally, societally."

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IN FULL: What is Labour threatening to change on party donations?

Labour is attempting to change party donation rules after Reform UK received £72million from two overseas donors.

This afternoon they announced the new £100,000 cap on donations from overseas electors will start on March 25.

Donors who have moved to UK will have to reside here for a full calendar year before being able to donate.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has also established new unit in the Culture department to look at bias in the political system looking at "unfair influence" and "platforms rigged to divide us".

SNP signs 'historic' deal with Plaid and Sinn Fein pushing to break-up the UK

Leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin have declared that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end” in a joint agreement in a bid to break up the UK

John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin's Vice President Michelle O’Neill signed the memorandum of understanding at a meeting in Cardiff this morning.

Joining them was Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, leader of the opposition in the Irish Dáil.

Together, the leaders called on Westminster to "prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change".

Nationalist leaders spearhead bid to return countries to EU - 'Westminster's time is coming to an end'

Nationalist leaders have spearheaded a bid to return countries to the European Union as they declared that Westminster's "time is coming to an end".

The First Ministers of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland said the "political landscape across these islands is changing" as the trio pushed to rejoin the Brussels bloc.

Signing a memorandum to work together, the leaders said they will build a "stronger, fairer economy", expand "our own energy resources", and their futures "belong in the European Union".

Keir Starmer by-election is Andy Burnham’s ‘test run’ for early general election

The by-election in Sir Keir Starmer's old seat has been described as Andy Burnham's "test run" for an early general election.

If the Prime Minister wins the desired amount of support in the Holborn and St Pancras mid-term, where Labour is facing off against Greens leader Zack Polanski, Mr Burnham could bring forward the scheduled date for the 2029 election.

The contest was triggered when Sir Keir announced his resignation at the start of September - despite previously vowing to stay on as an MP following his departure from No10.

Now, Mr Burnham's advisers have suggested that the upcoming contest, due to take place next month, could be a small-scale test of whether the "King of the North's" rise to power has truly quashed the threat from the Greens.

"Because Keir’s seat was a target and Polanski is running in it, this gives the PM a perfect opportunity to see if the Green threat has gone with a change of leader," a party insider told The Independent.

“We are seeing people come back [from the Greens] to Labour. Under Keir, there was no doubt that we were losing lots of supporters and party members to the Greens."

They further claimed that a by-election win against Mr Polanski will prove Labour is "in good shape to fight a general election".

During his time as Prime Minister, Sir Keir oversaw the rise of the progressive left, with Labour voters flocking to the Greens across former heartlands - including the previously-safe Gorton and Denton seat.

After Mr Burnham, who resides within party's soft-left faction, entered Downing Street, strategists are hoping Camden Council leader and refugee Sagal Abdi-Wali could pull back support.

'Stinks of two-tier Government!' GB News star takes aim at Labour minister over donations row

GB News star has taken aim at a Labour minister this morning over the donations row which has continued to rumble on.

Back in 2024, Labour pocketed a donation from a Cayman Islands-registered hedge fund with hundreds of millions of points in arms manufacturers and fossil fuels.

Now, after Reform UK received a whopping £72million in donations, the Government has floated the idea of capping donations to political parties.

Pointing out the timing, Alex Armstrong said: "It stinks to people. It stinks of two tier hypocrisy. Can you not see that?"

In response, Georgia Gould told GB News: "I don't know all the details, but my understanding of the donation that you referred to is two individuals who are two of Britain's biggest taxpayers.

"That organisation pays corporation tax in the UK. But I think the important thing is that the rules that we're talking about will apply to every single political party, including our own."

'Too much money!' Labour minister cautions against letting 'big money' into British politics

Labour minister Georgia Gould has cautioned against allowing "big money" into British politics, rather than the standard British voter.

"I think it is critically important that those who are shaping politics are the the voters, the British citizens who we kind of talk to on the doorstep and that there's too much money going into politics, big money. It's something we're really concerned about," she told GB News.

Angela Rayner, who previously resigned from Government over her tax affairs, and Louise Haigh, who previously resigned from Government after being revealed as a convicted fraudster, have written to the Electoral Commission about the introduction of donation caps.

Donation caps risk forcing British taxpayers to bankroll state funding, top Tory warns

Donation caps could risk forcing British taxpayers to bankroll state funding, a top Tory has warned.

Amid the ongoing row over donations between Reform UK and Labour, James Cartlidge told GB News: "We don't support an arbitrary cap in the Conservative Party.

"We think that, as the Committee on Standards in Public Life said in 2011, if you put in a cap, caps will inevitably lead to state funding, and state funding means higher taxes for the public to fund political parties, which the UK people do not support.

"That's certainly my impression. I can only speak on my constituency. We still rely on private donations. It's a good way to get people involved in politics. The key is to have transparency."

Shadow Defence Secretary brushes off Donald Trump's call for Irish reunification as President said to 'shoot from the hip'

The Shadow Defence Secretary has brushed of Donald Trump's unprecedented call for Irish reunification.

The President is said to "shoot from the hip", James Cartlidge told GB News.

He told GB News: "We are the Conservative and Unionist Party and we're proud to be unionists.

"Northern Ireland is absolutely integral part of the United Kingdom. It's part of the country, I'm proud to call it that.

"I've had many good trips there as a minister and have enjoyed my time with politicians from Northern Ireland. And I think we should be proud of the way we came through and had a peace process.

"And actually the US previously was was important in that. [Donald Trump] does have a habit of shooting from the hip, as he said."

Andy Burnham to demand 'culture shift' to boost British economy

Andy Burnham is set to demand a "culture shift" in a bid to boost the economy at a major business summit today.

The Prime Minister will brand the Government as a "partner for growth", insisting the UK has "everything it needs to succeed".

But, to "unlock the potential", he will say: "That means putting Government firmly on the side of the people who take risks, start companies, create jobs and bring new ideas to life.

"It means ensuring ambition is rewarded, making it easier to start and grow a business, and giving people the confidence that if they have a great idea, they’ll get all the support they need to bring it to life."

Fish and chips BANNED from schools as Labour orders pupils to eat lentils and chickpeas every week

Schools across England will be banned from serving traditional fish and chips as Labour orders pupils to eat lentils and chickpeas every week under sweeping new food rules.

The Department for Education (DfE) is set to unveil new standards on Monday requiring schools to serve pulses, such as lentils and chickpeas, at least once a week.

Deep-fried dishes will be eliminated from school kitchens, while breakfast favourites including fried eggs, pastries, chocolate spread and high-sugar cereals will also be banned.

READ MORE HERE.

Former Chancellor says Britain has 'gone off a cliff' in blistering anti-Brexit tirade

George Osborne said the UK has "gone off a cliff" since Brexit as he called for a return to the European Union customs union.

The former Conservative Chancellor, now Chairman of the British Museum, said the UK economy has been drastically affected by leaving the bloc.

Mr Osborne said it would be easier to rejoin the customs union than to join the single market.

"Brexit has been a mess," he told The Independent. “Britain has basically gone off a cliff."

READ MORE HERE.