Politics latest: Starmer and Burnham hit out at Ratcliffe over ‘insulting’ immigration claims

Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

The Green Party's candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election has accused Sir Jim Ratcliffe of "punching down on the people in this constituency" after the Manchester United owner claimed the “UK has been colonised by immigrants”.

Responding, Hannah Spencer said: "I challenge Jim Ratcliffe to join me on Stockport Road, meet the hard-working business people, struggling residents, and look them in the eye and listen to them.

"I have and I know that they are sickened by his views and demand his apology.

"This is Britain’s seventh-richest man, who moved to tax-free Monaco in 2020 and owns Manchester United punching down on the people in this constituency. What disgusting and racist comments. No wonder Reform leader Nigel Farage has backed him.

"This is what Reform are all about, division and hatred, enabled by a failed Labour government. Only the Greens can beat Reform in this by election and we will run them out town."

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said: “I disagree fundamentally with Jim Ratcliffe about these comments – I think the United Kingdom and Scotland have benefitted from migration.

“People have come to live here, to contribute to our economy, and they are welcome.

“Scotland faces particular challenges about the size of our working-age population, so we need to attract a larger working-age population.

“Morally and philosophically, I disagree with Jim Ratcliffe, and economically I disagree with him, because migration helps to boost our economy, and that’s a good thing for our country.”

Sir Keir Starmer nominated a former aide for a peerage despite being told he had “been supportive” of a councillor who had been accused of child sex offences, his ex-communications chief has claimed.

The prime minister is facing continued questions over his judgement over his decision to appoint his former spin doctor Matthew Doyle to the House of Lords after he campaigned for a councillor who had been charged with having indecent images of children.

The prime minister said on Wednesday that Lord Doyle, who has now apologised and had the Labour whip removed, had failed to give a “full account of his actions” when he was granted a peerage, and had not disclosed he had campaigned for the Sean Morton in 2017.

However, Tim Allan, who quit as the communications chief in No 10 this week, said that Lord Doyle had confirmed he believed Morton before his conviction and had been “supportive” during that time.

Read the full article: Starmer ‘knew ex-comms chief Lord Doyle supported paedophile councillor’

Political Editor David Maddox reports:

The prime minister is set to receive a letter of demands from the Anti Corruption Coalition pushing for an overhaul of the House of Lords and lobbying rules in the wake of the Peter Mandelson scandal.

The signatories note that despite resigning from the upper chamber over his links with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Mandelson can still use the title “Lord”.

They warn: “The government must now move decisively from commitments to concrete reforms that clean up corruption throughout our system and restore trust in politics.”

Demands include: reforming the process of appointments to the Lords; ban peers from being lobbyists; and greater transparency over their financial interests.

One issue is that Mandelson was using his position to boost his Global Counsel lobbying company. This included having Palantir as a client with questions being raised over a £240m contract following an undiaried meeting Mandelson arranged with Sir Keir Starmer.

The letter also calls for a stricter cap on political donations, reform of access to ministers and a much more robust register for lobbyists.

Political Editor David Maddox reports:

At a media reception in the London Transport Museum on Wednesday night, London mayor Sadiq Khan made jokes about the prime minister’s current troubles.

He jested that after the disgraced former Labour peer Peter Mandelson was withdrawn as US ambassador because of his relationship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein that he had suggested he should go to Washington in his place.

“Because I already live rent free in Donald Trump’s head,” Sir Sadiq added following personal attacks on him from the US president.

Sir Sadiq has just returned from campaigning in the Gorton and Denton by-election which he visited on Monday.

The Greater Manchester Mayor criticised the Manchester United co-owner’s comments.

Kick It Out – the anti-discrimination football campaign group – criticised Sir Jim’s comments, including the inaccurate claim that the UK population has swelled by 12 million since 2020.

In a statement to the Press Association, Kick It Out said: “Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments are disgraceful and deeply divisive at a time when football does so much to bring communities together.

“In addition to the inaccurate figures mentioned, it’s worth reminding him that Manchester United has a diverse fan base and plays in a city whose cultural history has been enriched by immigrants.

“This type of language and leadership has no place in English football, and we believe most fans will feel the same.”

A senior Conservative has criticised Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s claim that the UK has been “colonised” by immigrants, but said many people have concerns around “too high” migration.

Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride told the Press Association: “I wouldn’t use that term colonised. I think it’s pejorative and suggests there’s some kind of huge negativity around the motivations of those people that come here. And I don’t think that’s the case across the piece.

“But he is referencing something that is of great concern to millions of people up and down the country, that migration has been too high for too long.

“When we were in government, we were doing something about that at the tail end of the Conservative government. We’ve seen those figures coming down as a consequence of our action.

“But we do need to be very aware of the impact that migration has, particularly illegal migration, which the Government is showing no signs of being able to control.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the UK’s latest “subdued” GDP figures has shown Britain’s “economy is growing”.

Britain’s GDP grew by 0.1 per cent in the final quarter between October and December last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Thursday.

“Job number one is easing the cost of living pressure that many people still feel,” the prime minister wrote on X.

“Today’s GDP figures show our economy is growing. That means more money back in your pocket.“I know there’s more to do, but we are heading in the right direction.”