Politics LIVE: Reform would create Ice-style agency amid plans to deport nearly 300,000 people per year

Reform UK will create an “Ice-style” agency as the party’s shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf is set to announce plans to deport nearly 300,000 a year. Mr Yusuf is set to announce plans to create a new agency, the UK Deportation Command, with the capacity to detain 24,000 migrants at a time and deport up to 288,000 annually on five flights a day. Experts have previously said the costs of such an expansion would be massive, as of April 2024 there were approximately 2,500 detention spaces.Mr Yusuf will tell a press conference later today: “For decades, the Tories and Labour have turned the other way while the very fabric of our society has been under assault.”The social contract has not merely been broken; it’s been shattered. Under a Reform government, His Majesty’s parliament will be sovereign once again.”We will secure our borders, leave the ECHR, and deport those here illegally. My message to the British people is simple: I will secure our borders and make you feel safe.”The plans were slammed as “un-British” by Labour Chair Anna Turley, who said: “Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse nation, which stands in opposition to the kind of divisive politics stoked by Reform.”Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson said “[Reform’s] Trump-inspired plans for an Ice-style force will only bring chaos and disorder to Britain’s streets, not the order and control our immigration system needs.”Far from rescuing the economy or making us safer, Reform’s plans are a serious threat to Britain’s economy and to our NHS, police and other key public services.”FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…Your Party leadership elections to close todayThe leadership elections for Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s Your Party’s leadership closes today. Last month, it was reported in the New Statesman if Jeremy Corbyn’s slate wins, named “The Many”, then he will be elected parliamentary leader, in a blow to Ms Sultana’s Grassroots Left slate.WATCH: Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza reacts to a government white paper that will increase SEND funding for schools by

Donald Trump hikes global tariffs to 15% as Labour promises to secure ‘best possible deal’ with White HouseSenior Labour Government discussions are continuing in response to Donald Trump’s declaration of 15 per cent tariffs on imports worldwide, with ministers seeking the most favourable outcome for British companies.Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson conceded that firms face a period of doubt following the US President’s announcement, but maintained that the UK anticipates its advantageous trading terms with America will remain intact.This weekend, the Labour minister said: “We, through the work that the Prime Minister has been leading in engaging with the US Government and with President Trump, we would hope and expect that to continue, but these discussions are ongoing.”Our Money Reporter Patrick O’Donnell has taken a deep dive into the figures here.Zia Yusuf says today’s immigration announcement is ‘the least that should be done’Zia Yusuf told GB News: “This is the least that should be done and it is data driven.”The Pakistani Government has consistently refused to take people back, they haven’t even taken the most egregious and despicable of the grooming gang members.”It’s not just Pakistan there’s a host of other countries we have announced today.”What we are saying is if we are going to continue to issue visas, which is a privilege not a right, then the very least we should expect is those countries reciprocate by taking back the people who are in our country illegally.”Here’s what’s happening as MPs return to Westminster from recessGood morning and happy Monday, here’s what’s happening today in Westminster and beyond. MPs will be flooding back into the Commons today after an eventful half-term recess. Labour is set to unveil its plans for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) later today. We’ll be joined by the School Standards Minister Georgia Gould later this morning on GB News Breakfast. Overnight, Keir Starmer was accused of letting suspected child sex offenders off with a warning note while in charge of Crown Prosecution Service. Our reporter Oliver Partridge has the story here.A GB News investigation has found that Labour pressing ahead with 2030 net zero targets across the Welsh public sector could cost more than £13billion. Keith Bays has the exclusive story here.New polling has found has than half of Britons think Labour is too busy policing people’s lives instead of tackling the cost-of-living crisis. Peter Stevens has the write up here.As well as Mr Yusuf announcing Reform’s deportation scheme, we’ll be joined by Shadow Policy Renewal Minister Neil O’Brien.

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