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

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.

We have some more information on Sir Keir Starmer’s mini-reshuffle.

Tim Allan, a former adviser to Sir Tony Blair’s government, has been appointed the Government’s executive director of communications, as the PM aims to improve communications across his administration.

James Lyons, who had been director of strategic communications within No 10, has left his role after a year.

As he left, the former print journalist said his role at the heart of Government “was never intended as a long haul”.

More than 90 per cent of refugee family reunion visas go to women and children, experts have said, as home secretary Yvette Cooper is set to crack down on the scheme.

Jon Featonby, chief policy analyst at the Refugee Council, posted on social media that, as of June 2025, 92 per cent of these visas were given to women and children, and more than half went to children. The figures are reflected in a paper published by the Refugee Council entitled ‘Families Belong Together’.

He added: “Two thirds [go] to people from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran and Sudan. It helps integration and provides a safe route. Family reunion should be easier, not harder.”

His comments come as Ms Cooper is set to overhaul the UK’s family reunion policy. The current visa scheme allows people to bring their partners and children to the country once they are granted refugee status.

Since 2022, the number of people entering the UK using these visas has risen sharply, with just over 20,000 being granted in the year to June 2025. This represents a 30 per cent rise on the previous 12 months.

There were rounds of protests again yesterday outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, and the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf.

Seven people were arrested, three in Epping and four in Canary Wharf.

Below, you can see some pictures from those demonstrations.

Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Darren Jones to be Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, a new position, as he reshuffles his Downing Street team.

Mr Jones, who had been chief secretary to the Treasury, will be based in Number 10 and “directly oversee work across Government to support the delivery of the Prime Minister’s priorities”, Downing Street said.

Treasury minister James Murray will replace him as Treasury chief secretary while Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson has replaced him as Treasury exchequer secretary.

The appointment follows Sir Keir’s recruitment of Baroness Minouche Shafik, an economist and former president of Columbia University in New York, as his chief economic adviser.