Speaking at a crypto conference in London, Mr Farage explains the need for Britain to get on board with cryptocurrencies.

“It’s very interesting that financial services in Britain, you can look at the City of London and think ‘well it’s really old fashioned and traditional’. It’s always had its customs, but it’s always thrived through innovation. It’s been brilliant at developing new products over the centuries.

“And yet right now we’re in a situation where we have an FCA that seem to be there not necessarily protecting anybody, over-regulating financial services, such that we’re losing reinsurance businesses off to Bermuda etc

“And this whole area of digital assets and crypto just isn’t being talked about at all. We’ve got no regulated market – you need some regulation, a sensible level of regulation, not the ludicrous regulation we now have on equities and elsewhere.

“I guess the reason I was the first prominent person in British politics to talk about crypto, to try and legitimise crypto in 2020, is I could see this is the way it was going.”

“One of the reasons I am here today is my deep frustration that despite one speech by Rishi Sunak on this space, the government of the day have done nothing in this area.

“So I’ve combined my trading background with my political background and if you look at Reform UK we’ve actually published a digital assets and crypto Bill, which if we win the next general election will get put into law very very quickly.

“We will bring crypto in from the cold.”

Ministerial question on China/National Security Act confirmed for this afternoon.

Minister Dan Jarvis is in the hot seat.

Nigel Farage has said he believes he will be the next Prime Minister of Great Britain.

Speaking at a crypto conference this afternoon, the Reform UK leader was introduced by the host of kicked off by asking if he was speaking to the next Prime Minister.

Mr Farage said: “Are you talking to the next Prime Minister? I think so, yes.”

It is “entirely false” to suggest the Government influenced the collapse of the China espionage case because of concerns Beijing could withdraw investment in the UK, Downing Street said.

Asked about reports in the Sunday Times which suggested a decision was taken high up in Government to abandon the case, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It is entirely false. The CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) decision to drop the case was entirely a matter for the CPS.

“There was no role for any member of this Government, no minister, or special adviser, to take any decision in relation to this case. That is entirely for the CPS.”

Sir Keir Starmer said he felt deeply relieved after the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas were released.

The Prime Minister said: “I share the deep feeling of relief as Avinatan Or and other hostages are released today.

“But this is also a stark reminder of the treatment that he has been subject to at the hands of Hamas, and the atrocities that shook the world two years ago.

“Having met his family, I know that no one can truly understand the torture and agony they suffered for two drawn out years and my thoughts are with them. My thoughts are also with the family of Yossi Sharabi, who are still waiting for news.

“I reiterate my thanks for the tireless diplomatic efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. It is now crucial that we work together to implement President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, and that will be my focus in Egypt today.

“Commitment to this plan from all parties will be essential to ending the war and building the foundations for a sustainable path to a long-term peace. The UK will support the crucial next stage of talks to ensure the implementation of the peace plan.”

Kemi Badenoch said she is worried that a “cover up” is taking place in regards to the Government’s involvement in the collapse of a major Chinese spying court case.

Speaking during a visit to Grantham, Lincolnshire, the Conservative leader said: “It is quite clear that there are a lot of questions to answer. I am worried that there is a cover up taking place.

“We will be making sure that we ask questions in Parliament about exactly who knew what, where and when, but Jonathan Powell certainly has questions to answer.”

Ministers have insisted that national security adviser Mr Powell had no involvement in the substance or evidence of the case.

But Mrs Badenoch told broadcasters: “I would say that we are seeing information that contradicts that. That is why it is very important that the Government come clean about who knew what, where, when, and why this has happened.”

The Tory leader would not be drawn into saying whether Mr Powell should resign, as “we don’t exactly know what has transpired”.

Sir Keir Starmer is meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the fringes of the Gaza summit in Sharm El Sheikh.

The two leaders smiled and Mr Macron patted Sir Keir on the knee as they sat for photos before a bilateral meeting.

The release of hostages from Gaza is a moment of “immense relief”, the Board of Deputies (BoD) of British Jews said.

Its president, Phil Rosenberg, added that this must also be a moment which prompts reflection on the “profound damage” to community relations since the October 7 Hamas attacks more than two years ago.

He said: “In our political engagements we will continue to convey the overwhelming desire of the British Jewish community for a lasting peace.

“In the UK, this moment must also prompt reflection. The profound damage to community cohesion and the massive increase in antisemitism since 7 October 2023, culminating in the deadly terrorist attack in Manchester on Yom Kippur, require a concerted response.

“We will continue our efforts to ensure action against anyone who incites violence and hatred. We also need to see a renewed focus on building community cohesion and mutual respect.”

Mr Rosenberg said the BoD welcomes “with immense relief the release of hostages from Gaza and share in the profound joy felt by their families, friends, and all who have worked for their safe return”.

He added: “We also grieve with those who are due to receive the bodies of their loved ones for burial. May their memories be a blessing.”

A former security minister has said it is “absolutely abhorrent” that the case against two alleged Chinese spies has collapsed.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Tom Tugendhat claimed the Government is “willing to cover up the actions of a hostile state”.

Mr Tugendhat said: “I think this is absolutely abhorrent action and I think the right thing to do is to have gone to trial.

“But the Government appears to have decided that there are other reasons why the British people should not have the ability either to choose their own MP or to allow those MPs to speak freely, but instead, is willing to cover up for the actions of a hostile state which is seeking to intervene in the freedoms of the British people.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has accused Sir Keir Starmer of flying to Egypt to avoid answering questions about the collapse of the China spy case.

He told GB News: “I think, to be quite honest with you, he’s got a cheek. He’s got some brass neck showing up trying to claim some credit for something that has nothing whatsoever to do with him. And in fact, if anything, he probably made it harder with his actions.

“Instead of running off overseas to claim credit for something that’s nothing to do with him, he should be behind me in Parliament answering the very serious questions Keir Starmer has to answer about why it was his government chose to withhold evidence which the government has in its possession, which, if they wanted to, they could have handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service, who had been asking for the evidence for many, many months.

“But instead, Keir Starmer’s government chose to withhold that evidence, causing the China spy trial to collapse, and the reason for that is that the Labour government are more interested in kowtowing to the Chinese for economic reasons, to help bail them out of their financial mess that Labour has created.

“They’re more interested in that than they are in protecting our national security.”

Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said the UK had played a “vital” role in the Gaza peace process and praised National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

He wrote on social media: “I would like to acknowledge the vital role of the United Kingdom in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day in Israel.

“In particular, I want to recognize the incredible input and tireless efforts of National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell.”

China does pose a threat to the UK, a Foreign Office minister has said, as the Government continues to face questions about the collapse of a major spying court case.

Beijing’s threat to the UK includes in the arena of cybersecurity and its relationship with Russia, Hamish Falconer said.

He told Times Radio: “They do pose national security threats to the UK, whether that’s in relation to cybersecurity, transnational repression, their relationship with Russia, in relation to the conflict in Ukraine; but there are also, of course, areas where we have to co-operate.”

Kemi Badenoch has written to Sir Keir Starmer asking him to address “unanswered questions” in Parliament over the collapse of a case against two alleged Chinese spies.

The Tories said they were insisting on “clarity and honesty” from the Prime Minister, with a call for the Government to make a statement to the Commons about the dropped prosecution today.

Sir Keir’s Labour administration is likely to face scrutiny over the case, in which Downing Street has denied Government involvement, as MPs return to Westminster from conference recess.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mrs Badenoch said: “Your Government’s account of what has happened has changed repeatedly.

“Instead of setting out the full facts before the House of Commons today, you are planning to travel to the Middle East.

“If you will not make a statement yourself, will you instruct a senior minister to clear things up once and for all through a full parliamentary statement? The public and Parliament deserve answers and transparency.”

Sir Keir Starmer will call for the momentum of the ceasefire agreement brokered by Donald Trump to be seized to secure lasting peace in Gaza as he attends a summit today.

The US President and fellow negotiators, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, will sign off the peace plan in Sharm El Sheikh, joined by leaders from more than 20 countries.

The summit, co-hosted by the US leader and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, comes as part of efforts to secure the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that has been holding since Friday.