The security service MI5 sent a warning to those working in Westminster about two recruitment headhunters to watch out for who are working for Chinese security services. The message to parliamentary staff, seen by Sky News, says: "I am writing to you now to draw your attention to the attached espionage alert issued by the Security Service, MI5, to the parliamentary community. "This alert highlights how the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) is actively reaching out to individuals in our community. "Their aim is to collect information and lay the groundwork for long-term relationships, using professional networking sites, recruitment agents and consultants acting on their behalf." Westminster employees were warned that two individuals were both known to be reaching out on LinkedIn to "conduct outreach at scale on behalf of MSS". "The alert also highlights that other similar profiles are acting as fronts for espionage," the warning continued. "MI5 has issued this alert because the activity is targeted and widespread." The government is set to make a statement in parliament at 12.30pm on China espionage and the government security response. This latest warning comes after the collapse of a prosecution into two people suspected of spying on behalf of China. The previous spying allegations led to controversy into how the government under Labour responded to the Crown Prosecution Service's requests for evidence. Sir Keir Starmer sought to blame the previous Conservative government for the issues, which centred on whether China could be designated an "enemy" under First World War era legislation. Starmer has sought to keep relationships with Beijing somewhat warm, highlighting the value in China as a trading partner. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has changed its methods for calculating immigration by using people's interaction with public authorities as opposed to surveys. Politics latest: Reeves to 'put up taxes to spend more on benefits', claims Badenoch Estimates for net migration of British nationals were previously based on the International Passenger Survey, but the ONS said this had a very small sample size and had been "stretched beyond its original purpose". The estimates are now produced using data from the Department for Work and Pensions, which incorporates everyone with a National Insurance number and which can be used to determine the likely migration status of UK individuals. It means that rather than the 77,000 British nationals who were thought to have left the UK in the year ending December 2024, 257,000 in fact left. The statistics, published this morning, show there was also an increase in British nationals returning to the UK last year - up by 83,000 to 143,000, from 60,000. The UK population is now also thought to be 97,000 lower than previously estimated. The ONS tracks legal migration and some irregular migration. It said migration from outside the EU had been the main driver of international immigration in recent years, largely due to work and study purposes, as well as for humanitarian reasons such as the Ukraine war. The new data also shows that the peak of net migration - the number of arrivals minus the number of departures - was higher than previously thought. The ONS estimates that net migration hit 944,000 in the year ending March 2023, which is higher than the previously estimated peak of 906,000 in the year ending June 2023. This was followed by a sharper fall than initially reported, with net migration in the year ending December 2024 now estimated to be 345,000, lower than the original estimate of 431,000 that was published by the ONS in May of this year. The figures come amid a wide debate about immigration and asylum that saw the home secretary unveil the biggest policy changes to the UK since the Second World War. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, told Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby that the number of illegal immigrants in the UK was "too high" and that she was "horrified" by the 27% increase in irregular arrivals in the year to June. Read more:Labour's immigration reforms at a glanceHere's how Denmark handles illegal immigration On Monday, she unveiled a series of reforms to clamp down on the so-called "pull factors" bringing people to the UK, including what she called the "excessive generosity" of the asylum system. Under the new plans, families with children will be removed - either voluntarily through cash incentives of up to £3,000, or by force. The time successful asylum seekers must wait to claim permanent residency in the UK will also increase from five years to 20, and there will no longer be a legal obligation to provide financial support to asylum seekers - so those with the right to work but choose not to will receive no support. In addition, a new appeals body will be set up to significantly speed up the time it takes to decide whether to refuse an asylum application. Visas for countries refusing to accept deportees will also be banned and new safe and legal routes will be established.

Changes to planning rules being announced by the government today will make it easier to build on sites within 15 minutes' walk of "well-connected" stations, including on green belt land. It will amount to developments near stations getting a "default yes". Housing Secretary Steve Reed told Sky News' Mornings With Ridge And Frost he will also get "stronger powers" to deal with councils that "drag their feet" on approving new homes. "I promised we'd get Britain building and that's exactly what we are doing," he said ahead of the announcements. "But it has to be the right homes in the right places and nearby transport links are a vital part of that." Under Mr Reed's proposals, councils that intend to refuse planning permission to developments with more than 150 homes will have to inform the government, giving ministers the final say. Some organisations that are legally required to be consulted on planning applications could also be removed from the list, including Sport England and The Gardens Trust. Read more from Sky News:Planning reforms to 'rewire the system'Is this Labour's most important piece of legislation? The changes involve amending the National Planning Policy Framework. Mr Reed told Ridge: "You've got stations around our great cities and towns where job opportunities [are] available. You've got stations where you can build housing. The public transport is already in place, and you can develop communities there. "We want councils who are the decision makers here to support developers, get those homes built, build the new communities and give people somewhere they can afford to live." The Conservatives accused the government of trying to "railroad through unpopular developments", as it tries to hit its ambitious target of building 1.5 million homes by the next election. According to the most recent figures, only 231,000 were built between last year's election and September 2025.

A YouGov poll for The Times suggests just a third of people who backed the party last year want the prime minister to lead it into the next national contest, which is due in 2029 at the latest. And some 23% of those voters think he should quit now. Sir Keir's ratings have plummeted since entering Downing Street, and Labour consistently trail Reform in the polls. His chancellor will deliver what is expected to be an unpopular budget next Wednesday, despite a U-turn on raising income tax, while May brings local elections that could further damage Sir Keir's reputation among Labour MPs. The aftermath of the budget and next year's elections, which include Labour strongholds of London and Wales, have both been mooted as the time for a potential leadership challenge. But speaking to the Daily Mirror, the prime minister has attempted to silence doubts about his position. Asked if he would lead Labour into the next general election, Sir Keir said: "Yes, I will." Sir Keir said "dealing with the cost of living" is his main priority, and "making people feel better off". He said people wanted to "give their kids a treat, go out for a meal, have a holiday, get on and progress, and feel safe and secure", and promised the budget will have "Labour values right through it". Rachel Reeves has been tipped to announce the two-child benefit cap will be scrapped, while the prime minister indicated the £9.90 prescription charge in England will be frozen. "We've had a freeze in place, which is really important, and you can expect more on that in the coming days," he said. Badenoch to warn of 'stealth tax bombshell' Despite the income tax U-turn, other tax-raising measures are expected as the chancellor looks to plug a gap in the public finances without cutting spending. In a speech later today, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will blame the government's failure to push through its welfare reforms earlier this year for the budget measures to come. If the chancellor extends the freeze in income tax thresholds, as has been reported, Ms Badenoch will say it means "hiking taxes on people in work to give handouts to people on benefits". Freezing the thresholds means as wages rise, more people get dragged into paying tax or shifted into higher bands, which Ms Badenoch will describe as a "stealth tax bombshell". Nigel Farage will also give a speech today, setting out how a Reform UK government would seek to block EU nationals from claiming benefits and slash overseas aid spending to save £25bn a year. Rebellion brewing over immigration reforms A Labour backbench revolt forced the government to row back on its welfare reforms, and another rebellion may be brewing over asylum plans announced on Monday. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced sweeping changes, including rowing back on guarantees of financial support for asylum seekers. Read more: Everything you need to know about Labour's plans Nadia Whittome MP called Ms Mahmood's plans "dystopian" and "shameful", while Richard Burgon MP said she should change course now rather than be forced into a U-turn later. Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday evening, Ms Mahmood warned her colleagues: "If we fail to deal with this crisis, we will draw more people down a path that starts with anger and ends in hatred." Follow Ms Badenoch and Mr Farage's speeches live in the Politics Hub.

Shabana Mahmood, speaking just after announcing a major policy change on migration, said she was "horrified" by the 27% increase in irregular arrivals in the year to June. Speaking to Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby, the home secretary said: "I acknowledge the numbers are too high, and they've gone up, and I want to bring them down. "I'm impatient to bring those numbers down." She refused to "set arbitrary numbers" on how much she wanted to bring illegal migration down to. Politics Hub: Follow live updates Earlier on Monday, Ms Mahmood announced a new direction in Labour's plan to crack down on asylum seekers. The "restoring order and control" plan includes: • The removal of more families with children - either voluntarily through cash incentives up to £3,000, or by force;• Quadrupling the time successful asylum seekers must wait to claim permanent residency in the UK, from five years to 20;• Removing the legal obligation to provide financial support to asylum seekers, so those with the right to work but choose not to will receive no support;• Setting up a new appeals body to significantly speed up the time it takes to decide whether to refuse an asylum application;• Reforming how the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is interpreted in immigration cases;• Banning visas for countries refusing to accept deportees;• And the establishment of new safe and legal refugee routes. Read more: Everything you need to know about Labour's plans Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the plan was much like something his party would put forward, and said Ms Mahmood sounded like a Reform supporter. The home secretary responded with her usual frankness, telling Rigby: "Nigel Farage can sod off. I'm not interested in anything he's got to say. "He's making mischief. So I'm not going to let him live forever in my head." You might need our support, says Badenoch Her plans have also been tentatively welcomed by the Conservatives, with Kemi Badenoch suggesting the home secretary work with her in case of a rebellion by Labour MPs. The backing of Tory MPs could "come in handy", Ms Badenoch said. The government's attempts to cut the welfare bill earlier this year were thwarted by its own backbenchers, and the proposals announced on Monday have already attracted backlash from some on the left of the Labour Party. Fury on the backbenches Speaking in the House of Commons, Nadia Whittome MP called Ms Mahmood's plans "dystopian" and "shameful", and pointed out they enjoyed the support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Richard Burgon MP said she should change course now rather than be forced into a U-turn later, and Olivia Blake MP told Sky News the policies were "cruel" and "inhumane". Sarah Owen MP compared Ms Mahmood's policies to those of former Home Office minister Robert Jenrick, now the shadow justice secretary who's also been accused of a tilt to the right in a bid to woo Reform voters. Read more:How the UK and Denmark's immigration policies compare Mahmood's warning to Labour MPs But Ms Mahmood has warned her colleagues that disrupting her bid to reform the asylum system - thus hoping to bring down the number of small boat crossings - risks "dark forces" coming to prominence. Speaking in the Commons on Monday evening, Ms Mahmood said: "If we fail to deal with this crisis, we will draw more people down a path that starts with anger and ends in hatred." She later told Beth Rigby that Reform wanted to "rip up" indefinite leave to remain altogether, which she called "immoral" and "deeply shameful". The home secretary, who is a practising Muslim, was born in Birmingham to Pakistani parents. Earlier, in the Commons, she said she sees the division that migration and the asylum system are creating across the country. She told MPs she regularly endures racist slurs.