Sir Keir Starmer today pledges to crack down hard on the ‘bulging benefits bill blighting our society’ as he tries to steal the Tories’ political clothes over abuses of the welfare system. The Prime Minister uses an article in today’s Mail on Sunday to promise ‘sweeping changes’ to try to tame the £137 billion bill for welfare benefits – including a blitz on cheats and those who ‘game the system’ – vowing: ‘No more business as usual.’ His most hardline comments yet on the issue come as Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall prepares to announce a package of legislation on Tuesday to ‘get Britain working’, after officials forecast that more than four million people will be claiming long-term sickness benefits by 2030 – 60 per cent higher than before the pandemic.

A petition calling for a general election has exceeded the amount needed for a response from the government and needed to be considered for a debate in in parliament. The online petition has surpassed 200,000 signatures, at the time of publication, after being widely shared on social media since being created on Wednesday. It smashed through the 100,000 mark today which is the amount needed for it to be considered for a debate in parliament.

The United States will ‘crush’ the UK economy if Britain helps arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, following an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Prime Minister Keir Starmer that those who follow the ICC’s ruling could expect sharp economic consequences from the US. ‘Any nation or organization that aids or abets this outrage should expect to meet firm resistance from the United States, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his team, and my colleagues in Congress to come up with a powerful response,’ he said.

Tammy Hembrow and Matt Zukowski are officially husband and wife. The fitness influencer, 30, and the former Love Island Australia star, 29, tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at Chateau Du Soleil in Byron Bay, surrounded by family and friends. Tammy looked stunning in a strapless ivory and blush pink gown that featured an elaborate tulle train and a corset bodice, highlighting her ample cleavage.

The View hosts did not look pleased as they were forced to read three legal notes after discussing accusations against George Santos, Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth. Sunny Hostin read two of the notes on Friday as the panel discussed former Rep Gaetz bowing down of the Attorney General nomination as he deals with 𝑠e𝑥ual assault claims. ‘Matt Gaetz long denied all allegations and has not been charged with any crime,’ Hostin said as she grimaced.

Homebase has put 74 stores up for sale after the DIY chain fell into administration. The company has set a deadline of the end of next week for potential buyers to snap up its remaining shops in the UK and Ireland. Homebase appointed administrators at consultancy Teneo after it was hit hard by an ‘incredibly challenging’ three years for the DIY sector.