Labour in ‘complete denial’ over asylum crisis as Cooper unveils crackdown – live – UK Times

Sir Keir Starmer’s shake-up of his Downing Street operation and the appointment of Darren Jones as his chief secretary reflects the shift into a “second phase” of government, No 10 has said.

“It reflects the Prime Minister’s view that phase one of this government was about fixing the foundations and the second phase has to be about a relentless focus on delivery,” Sir Keir’s official spokesman said.

Asked if the shake-up was an implicit acknowledgement that delivery has not gone as the Prime Minister might have hoped, his press secretary added: “The Prime Minister came into government with commitment to deliver change for working people. He spent the first year getting on with that job.”

She later said: “Of course, the Prime Minister is always determined to make sure that we are straining every sinew to deliver for the British people.

“That is what they rightly expect and what he comes to work and focuses on every single day.”

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson claimed that Reform leader Mr Farage has “no interest” in finding solutions to the migrant crisis and small boats and is using it to build political support.

Net zero “is impossible” as it stands and we “cannot bankrupt our country”, Kemi Badenoch has said.

During a visit to Redhill, she said the Conservative Party “needs to show that it is on the side of the people of this country”.

Mrs Badenoch said: “Net zero, as it currently stands, is impossible. We cannot bankrupt out country.

“We need to get our energy out of the ground rather than importing oil from Norway who are drilling in the same basin – that’s not doing anything for the environment.”

Kemi Badenoch has said she still supports people’s rights to protest against asylum hotels.

She said: “Of course I support people’s right to protest. I have been in Epping and the people I saw were everyday mum and dads who live in the community, who are very worried about their safety and about their children’s safety.

“They have a legitimate right to protest.

“What’s causing the problem is people from outside the community, from all parts of the political spectrum, who like to agitate and create additional problems. That’s where we want to see the police tracking them.”

Kemi Badenoch has said Labour “do not have the stomach” to take stronger action on immigration control.

The Conservative Party leader said during a visit to Redhill: “Well, what I would actually like to see the Home Secretary talk about is how she’s going to close down the asylum hotels.

“What they have done with their recent court case is actually shown that they believe that illegal migrants have more rights than our local communities, and we completely disagree with that.

“We had a deportation Bill, which we asked Labour to support, we talked about disapplying the Human Rights Act so you wouldn’t even get to some of the circumstances that she’s talking about.

“There’s a lot more that can be done on immigration control. Labour do not have the stomach to do it. We do, and we have the plans as well.”

Labour minister Stephen Morgan has said the Government wants to reform the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to bring down immigration.

Mr Morgan told GB News: “We’re really clear that we inherited an asylum system in chaos and we want to bring order to that system, and fairness and balance.

“So, Yvette Cooper will set out details later today, but we want to see reform in the ECHR, we think that’s really important to bring down the levels of migration that we’ve seen coming into our country.”

He said “good progress” has been made with 35,000 people with no right remain in the UK already deported and stressed the Government is committed to ending the use of asylum hotels.

He said shadow home secretary Chris Philp’s comments that Labour is “tinkering around the edges” on migration is “rank hypocrisy” after 14 years of the Conservatives in power.

He added: “Action is being taken, but we will go further and faster as the Home Secretary will set out later today.”

Reform is holding a press conference on plans to overhaul council-controlled pension funds.

You can watch it as it unfolds below.

Moving briefly away from the two big politics stories of the day, we bring you the latest from Scotland following a horrible report of hidden cameras in the toilets at the Scottish Parliament.

First Minister John Swinney said he was “absolutely horrified” by the reports alleging a hidden camera had been placed in the toilets.

The SNP leader said he was “extremely concerned” about the implications for those using the Holyrood building, including MSPs, staff and journalists.

His comments came after MSP Colin Smyth denied allegations he had placed a secret camera in toilets in the building.

The South Scotland MSP was arrested on Tuesday, 5 August and charged with a separate offence of possession of indecent images, prompting his suspension from Scottish Labour.

His Holyrood pass was deactivated on Thursday, effectively preventing him from accessing the building.

On Friday it was confirmed Police Scotland had carried out a search of toilets and changing facilities in the Parliament building, with “no covert recording devices” found.

Those using the building were also told there will be “enhanced additional checks” going forward.

Mr Smyth, meanwhile, issued a statement in which he rejected the allegations against him.

Earlier, we reported that Sir Keir Starmer had begun a mini-reshuffle in No 10.

Below, you can read out full report on the story.