Rachel Reeves – latest: ‘Questions to answer’ over chancellor’s expenses says Labour MP as CV also under fire

The world will be on a “rocky path” if politicians “kowtow” to the likes of Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Movements in the style of the two men have seen increased political success in recent years, but Ms Sturgeon has urged “progressive, liberal people who care about democracy” to fight back.

Speaking to community radio station Glad Radio, she said politicians in the UK have a “choice” to make regarding fending off the threat of Mr Farage’s Reform UK and its surging poll ratings – to copy them or be an alternative.

While she said work should continue to try and build a relationship with the US given its status in the world, Ms Sturgeon said: “If we don’t stand up now and fight for democracy, fight for a view of the world that values everybody for who they are and says that it’s right to support people from excluded groups in society to be more involved.

“If we don’t stand up for all of that, if we don’t be very mindful of the power of China and Russia and the changing dynamics in the world, if we don’t absolutely get to grips with the climate crisis, then the world we’re going to bequeath to those that come after us is not one that I would have ever wanted to contemplate.

“So this next few years, if progressive, liberal people who care about democracy kowtow to the Donald Trumps and Nigel Farages of this world, then we’re on a pretty rocky path.

“I hope that’s not what happens, I hope we see a coming together of those forces to stand up and actually defend the form and the vision of the world we want to see.”

The UK will continue to engage in “robust and constructive” discussions with China, David Lammy said as he welcomed Beijing’s foreign affairs minister to London.

Wang Yi met with the Foreign Secretary in central London, as the Government seeks a warmer relationship with China in order to drive investment into the UK.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, an influential figure within the Government, was said to have joined part of the meeting to discuss economic growth.

As Mr Lammy welcomed his counterpart to the Foreign Office, he said the UK and China’s relationship should be “consistent, strategic and in both of our countries’ long-term interests”.

He added: “Since my visit to Beijing, the Prime Minister and President Xi met at the G20, of course, and the Chancellor travelled to China for a wide-ranging visit including an economic and financial dialog and conversations which have brought tangible benefits and progress to both of our countries.

“I look forward to a broad set of discussions today including following up on areas of bilateral economic co-operation as well as important issues for UK national security.”

The Government has been warned in recent months of the security risks posed by the Chinese state as ministers seek to strengthen ties.

Compensation payouts to victims of the infected blood scandal are taking “far, far, far too long”, ministers have been warned.

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds used a Commons statement to update MPs on the efforts to compensate people, with payments to those who are living, infected and registered with the support scheme to be “accelerated” from April.

But several MPs voiced concerns on behalf of victims, including fears that more will die before they receive money they are entitled to.

More than 30,000 people who received NHS treatment between the 1970s and early 1990s were infected with contaminated blood.

Many contracted a number of viruses including hepatitis C and HIV.

Some 3,000 died as a result and survivors are living with lifelong health implications.

Labour MP Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington) told Mr Thomas-Symonds: “Despite his sterling efforts, and I really mean that, I’ve got to say that this process is taking far, far, far too long.

“There are victims dying at the rate of two per week, never seeing the compensation which they deserve.

“Victims are desperate to understand what and how much compensation they might even be due under this process.”

Mr Thomas-Symonds said the Government has published explainer documents on compensation and the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) intends to publish a “compensation calculator” by the end of March.

A year-on-year rise in no-fault eviction claims issued to households exposes the uncertainty many tenants face, a charity has said.

The latest data published by the Ministry of Justice showed 32,287 claims had been issued to households under the accelerated procedure in 2024.

Landlords can apply for an accelerated possession order if the tenants have not left by the date specified in a Section 21 notice.

Last year’s figure was up by 7% from 30,230 in 2023.

The Renters’ Rights Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, has promised a ban on no-fault evictions.

Matt Downie, chief executive of the Crisis charity said while the proposed legislation will provide tenants in England with “long overdue and much-needed protection from no-fault evictions, easing anxiety for renters across the country”, stronger measures are needed to protect low-income households from “unaffordable” rent increases.

Big Issue founder Lord John Bird, who is a crossbench peer, described the latest rise as “frightening”.

European leaders agree that “Europe needs to step up in terms of defence collaboration”, Downing Street has suggested.

Answering questions about President Donald Trump and Ukraine on Thursday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the US “remains committed to the Nato alliance”, adding: “I think all European leaders agree that Europe needs to step up in terms of defence collaboration, defence spending.

“You can see that in the UK with the increased defence spending that we announced at the budget, our commitment to setting our path to 2.5% of GDP in defence, our work as part of the strategic defence review to determine the challenges, threats and opportunities that UK faces.”

Referring to a Nato meeting involving Defence Secretary John Healey on Wednesday, the spokesman added: “There was a clear message from European Nato allies to step up support for Ukraine.”

People living with the most harm from the infected blood scandal will be able to apply for higher rates of compensation from the Government scheme, a minister has announced.

Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds said those eligible would have to apply through the “core” scheme first, but would later be able to register with the “supplementary” scheme.

Giving an update on payments to both affected and infected victims of the scandal, he told MPs: “The Government recognises that there are some exceptional cases where the the level of compensation offered through the core route does not sufficiently address a person’s individual circumstances.

“For this reason, the Government has provided for higher levels of compensation for specific awards through the supplementary route where people can demonstrate their eligibility.”

He said the Government had laid parliamentary regulations which would allow for payments to be made to those affected by the scandal, as well as those infected. He said he hoped the first compensation payments to that group would be made before the end of 2025.

Mr Thomas-Symonds said 23 offers had been made to infected people, worth a total of £34 million in compensation.

Fourteen have been accepted, which amounts to more than £13 million. Payments to those who are living, infected and registered with the support scheme will be “accelerated” from April, he said, adding: “This is only the beginning and there is much more work to do.”

The public faces a choice between better living standards or wanting farmers to keep their inheritance tax break, Sir Keir Starmer suggested.

Responding to a protest which took place while he visited a building site in Buckinghamshire, the Prime Minister said: “Yes there was a protest there, and to some extent that draws out quite an important discussion that we have to have as a country.”

The budget had to stabilise the UK’s finances, he insisted, which included “tough but right decisions” on national insurance contributions for businesses and ending the inheritance tax break for farmers.

Sir Keir told broadcasters: “These are political choices, but what you can’t have is interest rates coming down, the growth we need in the economy, your waiting lists coming down, and maintain the tax break for farmers.

“People watching this will understand that that is a choice. They will know what they would prefer.

“Do they want their waiting lists to come down, do they want their mortgages to come down, the economy to start working for everyone?

“That is what we are trying to achieve.

“Or do we want to give tax breaks for farmers? We can’t have both.”

Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh says there are “questions to be asked” regarding Rachel Reeves’ CV and allegations regarding historic expenses as revealed by the BBC today.

Ms McDonagh also twice described the incident as an “expenses scandal”.

Speaking to Jo Coburn on BBC Politics Live, McDonagh said: “We’ve got to be sure about what happened with the expenses scandal. As far as I’m aware she absolutely denies that she was approached by anybody about the expenses scandal”.

“So I think there’s still questions to be asked about what is going on and we’ll see what happens.”

Ms McDonagh also described the chancellor as “one of the most hardworking, honest politicians that I have ever met”.