Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government has announced it will not issue a legal challenge against arrest warrants the International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been accused of war crimes committed during Israel’s war in Palestine.
Rishi Sunak previously threatened to submit arguments on whether the ICC had the right to order the arrests, but Downing Street has now confirmed it will not oppose the applications as they “matter for the court to decide on”.
It comes as education secretary Bridget Phillipson has defended the decision to pause the Tories’ university free speech law, claiming it is “not fit for purpose” amid fierce backlash from campaigners.
Labour‘s Rachel Reeves is expected to unveil a black hole in the public finances of around £20 billion, suggesting that tax rises could be on the way, but Jeremy Hunt dismissed the claims as “fabrication”.
At the Tory leadership contest, Mel Stride became the fourth Conservative MP to announce he is joining the race, joining Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly and Robert Jenrick in the contest to replace Rishi Sunak as leader.
Key Points
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Labour drops objection to ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu
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Education secretary defends decision to scrap university free speech law
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Jeremy Hunt claims Reeves is ‘laying the ground for taxes’
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Chancellor set to unveil £20bn black hole in public finances
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Fourth candidate enters Tory leadership race to replace Sunak
Health secretary ‘reflecting on the best way forward’ on social care
Friday 26 July 2024 09:10 , Salma Ouaguira
Wes Streeting said he was “reflecting on the best way forward” on social care but indicated he was open to reaching “across the divide” and working with other parties on the issue.
Asked whether he would agree to Liberal Democrat suggestions to establish a cross-party commission on care, the health secretary told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “It has been striking, during and since the general election, that we now have the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Reform all saying they want to work cross-party on social care.
“There have been various options floated in the media and in parliament. I’m reflecting on the best way forward.
“I do want to work cross-party and one of the things that Keir Starmer and I both said actually is regardless of the size of Labour’s majority, we do want to reach across the divide.”
Starmer’s Olympic effort in getting Brexit reset over the line with series of meetings in Paris
10:04 , Holly Evans
Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet other European leaders after the opening ceremony of the Olympics as he continues his bid to reset Britain’s relationship with the continent after Brexit.
The prime minister will be in Paris on Friday as the Games get underway in the French capital and is expected to meet members of the Team GB squad on Saturday.
But it is understood there is also the opportunity for meetings with other leaders after the event.
Read the full article here:
Starmer’s Olympic effort in getting Brexit reset over the line with meetings in Paris
Tax rises aren’t the only way to fill a £20bn spending black hole
09:01 , Holly Evans
Tax rises aren’t the only way to fill a £20bn black hole in government spending
The alarming rise of left-wing populism should put Labour on red alert
07:45 , Holly Evans
The alarming rise of left-wing populism should put Labour on red alert
Mel Stride’s four-word response on why he should be next Tory leader
07:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Mel Stride’s four-word response on why he should be next Tory leader
Labour will make ‘tough choices’ on public finances, Streeting says
06:30 , Salma Ouaguira
The Labour government will not “duck difficult decisions” in its budget, Wes Streeting said amid concerns over a black hole in the public finances of around £20 billion.
The health secretary said “tough choices” were required ahead of an expected update from chancellor Rachel Reeves on a spending audit she ordered Treasury officials to produce.
Her update will reveal “the true scale of the damage the Conservatives have done to the public finances”, a Labour source said.
They did not deny reports that an early assessment has found a nearly £20 billion annual gap between revenues and funding commitments, including in areas such as asylum and public sector pay.
Speaking to broadcasters on Friday morning, Mr Streeting said Labour had discovered the state of the public finances was “shocking” since entering government.
“We knew that the economic inheritance would be the worst since the Second World War. That’s why ahead of the general election we were so disciplined about our manifesto to make sure the promises we made would be promises we would keep and the country could afford,” he told Times Radio.
“What I think we have found shocking is the state of the public finances in the year that we’ve inherited and that means tough choices … as the chancellor, (Rachel Reeves) will continue to show iron discipline and she will have the full support of the entire cabinet.
“Because these aren’t just tough choices for the chancellor, these are tough choices for all of us and we’re determined to meet that challenge, to be honest with people, to not duck the difficult decisions and to make sure that we make the right choices now that set Britain up for the longer-term success that we need.”
Lammy urged to heed cross party support for Somaliland recognition
06:00 , Salma Ouaguira
David Lammy is being pushed to urgently review Britain’s foreign policy towards a potential key ally in the Red Sea conflict with the Houthis and officially recognise Somaliland.
The former UK protectorate on the Horn of Africa has functioned as an independent state since 1991 after breaking away from Somalia following a civil war but has not received official recognition by the international community. The two countries had unified within days of the UK giving Somaliland independence in 1960 but broke up again after a civil war.
The renewed calls came this week after Labour run Liverpool City Councilunanimously backed a motion recognising Somaliland in what has been hailed as a significant move in the country’s relations with the rest of the world.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Lammy urged to listen to cross party support for Somaliland recognition
Assisted Dying Bill gives ‘glimpse of hope’, says Esther Rantzen
05:30 , Salma Ouaguira
TV star Dame Esther Rantzen said she has “caught a glimpse of hope” with a fresh bid to legalise assisted dying being laid before Parliament on Friday.
Former Labour justice secretary Lord Falconer of Thoroton will introduce a private members’ Bill in the House of Lords which would allow terminally ill adults with six months or fewer left to live to end their lives.
Dame Esther has been campaigning for assisted dying to be legalised since she was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2023.
Writing in the Daily Express, she said: “This week, for the first time for over a year, I caught a glimpse of hope… I have dared to look forward.”
She said the first reading of the Bill had provided “light at the end of a tunnel which has trapped me for so long”.
“What we terminally ill need is to be allowed the hope that if life becomes intolerable, we can ask for help to leave it,” she wrote, saying the existing law meant anyone accompanying her on a trip to Switzerland to end her life would be breaking the law.
“The law might actually change in time for me to die peacefully at home surrounded by those I love. Suddenly my heart lifted.”
Last week, Dame Esther’s daughter Rebecca Wilcox said her mother is “living from scan to scan”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has doubled down on a pre-election commitment to allow a free vote on changes to assisted dying laws, but has declined to put a timetable on it.
Lord Falconer was chosen second in the ballot to introduce the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill.
Starmer drops Britain’s challenge to arrest warrant for Netanyahu
05:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Keir Starmer has dropped Rishi Sunak’s plans to challenge the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) application for an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu.
The previous Conservative government had suggested the ICC was overreaching its powers.
But No 10 has now confirmed that, under Labour, no objection will be submitted.
The matter was one “for the court to decide”, Downing Street said.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has the full story:
Starmer drops Britain’s challenge to international arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Exclusive: Starmer’s Olympic effort in getting Brexit reset over the line
04:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet other European leaders after the opening ceremony of the Olympics as he continues his bid to reset Britain’s relationship with the continent after Brexit.
The prime minister will be in Paris on Friday as the Games get underway in the French capital and is expected to meet members of the Team GB squad on Saturday.
But it is understood there is also the opportunity for meetings with other leaders after the event.
Last week the Labour leader, who has said he wants a “reset” with the European Union, promised to fix Britain’s damaged relations with the bloc for the benefit of “generations to come”.
The Independent’s politics team has the full story:
Starmer’s Olympic effort in getting Brexit reset over the line with meetings in Paris
Suella Braverman ‘struggling’ to get on Tory leadership ballot as rightwingers turn to Jenrick
03:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Rightwing Tory MP Suella Braverman’s bid to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader may come to an end before it even begins despite growing supprt among ordinary party members.
The Independent understands that the former home secretary is struggling to get the 10 MPs needed to put her on the ballot paper to become the next Conservative leader as rightwing Brexiteers look at Robert Jenrick as an alternative candidate.
Ms Braverman has attracted negative headlines with her support for the Rwanda deportation scheme as “her dream”, description of pro-Gaza supporters as “hate marchers”, call to takeaway homeless people’s tents, claim LGBTQ+ flag “represented child mutilation which left her physically repulsed” and claiming imigrants arriving on small boats was “an invasion”.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Braverman ‘struggling’ to get on Tory leadership ballot as rightwing turns to Jenrick
In full: Mel Stride becomes fourth Conservative MP to enter leadership race
02:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Mel Stride has become the fourth Conservative MP to announce they are joining the race for the party’s leadership.
The former work and pensions secretary told BBC Breakfast on Friday he has been “fully nominated” as a candidate, joining Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly and Robert Jenrick in the race to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader.
Mr Stride, the MP for Central Devon, said he believed he was the right person to “unite the party”.
He said: “What we know from the general election is that we’re in a very, very difficult place as a party, and I worry about that because I care about my party and I care about my country.
“We’ve substantially lost the trust of the British people and we’ve lost our reputation for competence, and I believe that I’m in a very good position to address those issues going forward.
“In terms of trust, I think (the party) needs somebody who is going to be able to unite the party. People are not going to vote for a party that’s at each other’s throats all the time.
“I am respected, I think, right across the parliamentary party. I was chair of the Treasury Select Committee, the leader of the House of Commons, all of those things are roles about bringing people together.”
Mr Stride said he was “politically well placed” to unite the Tory parliamentary party.
“My background is growing companies from scratch,” he told LBC.
“I believe I have the right skills and approach to bring us to a point where we can get back into political contention.”
Mr Stride retained his seat by just 61 votes at the general election.
Sarwar’s no austerity under Labour pledge coming back to bite him, SNP warns
01:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Anas Sarwar has been warned his election pledge of “no austerity under Labour” has come back to bite him amid reports the UK Chancellor will announce a £20 billion black hole.
On Monday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to unveil a public finances shortfall which the SNP has warned could lead to cuts or tax increases.
The Scottish Labour leader is now facing criticism after he used a General Election leaders’ debate to state: “Read my lips – no austerity under Labour”.
The comment came after SNP leader John Swinney said during the same debate Labour’s plans would lead to £18 billion of cuts.
Ahead of the Chancellor’s speech on Monday, SNP MP Dave Doogan said cuts and tax rises were “repeatedly dismissed” by the Scottish Labour leader.
In a letter to Mr Sarwar, he said: “That comment has rapidly come back to bite you. The new Labour Chancellor has blown your election promises apart – so what are your lips saying now?”
He added: “People will rightly be concerned that Labour lips were prepared to promise the public one thing to win votes during the General Election but are now saying the exact opposite within weeks of taking power. Alarm bells are now ringing that the Labour Government plan to continue Tory cuts and public services will be starved of the cash they need – just as we have seen with the failure to scrap the two-child benefit cap this week.
“I hope we can agree that Scotland’s public services cannot afford another five years of Westminster cuts.”
Lib Dems: Net zero is major economic opportunity of the century
Saturday 27 July 2024 00:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for climate change Wera Hobhouse said the race to net zero is the “major economic opportunity of the century”.
She said: “The green economy must sit at the heart of economic growth, and the Government has work to do to reverse the damaging narrative of the previous government, that this is about green versus growth.
“And also to reverse the unforgivable failures of the last Conservative government, which delayed, blocked or even reversed urgent action on climate change. Now is the time to move forward.”
Winding up, Tory shadow energy minister Joy Morrissey pointed to plans for a Government-backed company called GB Energy to “accelerate Britain’s pathway to energy independence”.
Ms Morrissey said the plan “is simply the Government subsidising high-risk projects for the private sector on the one hand, whilst decimating our oil and gas industry on the other”.
Ms Hobhouse intervened and said: “Is the shadow minister not aware that exactly this negative narrative from her party has held us back in the way to net zero?”
In his winding up speech, Mr Shanks said: “The rhetoric that we’re now hearing from this Conservative Party is a million miles from that David Cameron conservatism that said we should take the environment seriously.”
He added: “The reason that we’re on this journey is not because of some sort of ideological commitment to net zero, but because we know it is the only way to deliver the energy security that we need to reduce our dependence on volatile gas prices and to deliver the cheaper energy that we know will bring down bills.”
Ex-Toy party chairman slams Labour energy bill plans
Friday 26 July 2024 23:30 , Salma Ouaguira
Former Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden also criticised the Government over its claim that clean energy plans would knock £300 off bills.
During a debate in the Commons, he said: “It’s been causing quite a lot of confusion in the national media over the last couple of days when Downing Street have been saying one thing, (Mr Shanks’) department have been saying another.”
Mr Shanks replied: “I think it does take a bit of a brass neck to come here and talk about bringing down bills when the government that he supported for a long time saw those skyrocket.
“We’ve been very clear, bills will come down, we said that throughout the campaign, we said that yesterday and we stand by that because bills must come down, but this isn’t going to happen overnight.”
Coutinho: Starmer sold his MPs down the river with energy bills
Friday 26 July 2024 23:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has sold his MPs down the river and that energy bills will not reduce under Labour.
Ms Coutinho said: “The people now sitting on the benches behind the minister will have been telling their new constituents that their plans would save them £300 on their energy bills – they said it in hustings, they said it on local media, they said it on their leaflets. But they will have noticed by now that their ministers are no longer saying that at all.
“And this is the problem, when you get into government, and you speak in the House, you cannot use numbers for which you have no basis.”
This was met with laughter from the Labour benches.
Ms Coutinho continued: “They will learn this, they laugh, but their voters won’t forget that they made them that promise.”
She added: “They all know that their leadership has sold them down the river on this one, because the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State know those savings cannot be delivered. In fact, their approach to energy will add huge costs to people’s bills.
“That’s not us being evil Tories on this side of the House, that’s also the view of the European lead for Mitsubishi Power who said that Labour Party plans would require a huge sacrifice from Brits.”
Government will not ‘pass the buck’ on energy to future generations – minister
Friday 26 July 2024 22:30 , Salma Ouaguira
The Government will not be “passing the buck” on building renewable energy infrastructure to future generations, a minister has said.
Energy minister Michael Shanks also told MPs that some areas will have to host “nationally significant” power infrastructure such as solar farms in response to concerns expressed about the “detrimental impacts” on communities.
MPs had a general debate on Friday on making Britain a “clean energy superpower”, with the Great British Energy Bill due to receive its second reading after the summer recess.
Conservative MP for Huntingdon Ben Obese-Jecty raised the East Park Energy solar farm, a proposed project in his constituency, which he said would be “larger than Gatwick Airport”.
He said local residents have “grave concerns” over the scale of the development and asked the minister if he would commit to rural communities having a say on the Government allowing large solar farms to be built in their local areas “given the detrimental impacts”.
Mr Shanks replied: “We’re not in any way going to remove the ability of communities to be part of, of course, a consultation process in the planning system.”
He added: “But at some point, we have to have this national recognition that there is infrastructure that we need that is nationally significant.
“Some communities will have to host that infrastructure and there should be benefits for those communities in doing it.
“But that doesn’t mean that we should stop doing it and I’m afraid the days of Government passing the buck to a future generation to fix these issues are gone.
“We need to tackle this crisis and that means we will be building and there will be projects in communities, with consultation of course, but nationally significant projects will have to go ahead if we want to reach the targets by 2030.”
PM: Reaping benefits of clean power will ‘take time’ but bills will fall by £300
Friday 26 July 2024 22:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer has warned it will “take time” to reap the benefits of clean power initiatives but stood by a claim that Labour’s plans will eventually drive down household bills by £300 a year amid confusion over the commitment.
The Prime Minister said the Government is “moving at pace” with the development of the publicly-owned GB Energy company but said “problems that have been left to fester for years” cannot be fixed “overnight”.
Hitting out at the Conservative record, he said chances to boost energy security had been missed by the previous government, leaving a “rot of short-sightedness and self-service” for Labour to clear up.
In a speech in Runcorn, Cheshire, Sir Keir said “every day” his administration is finding “more mess” that the Tories left behind.
“The hard graft of rebuilding this country has well and truly started, and it is vital that we begin immediately because the last government dropped the ball,” he said.
“They left us the worst inheritance since the Second World War, and every day – every day – we’re finding more mess that they’ve left for us to clear up, the rot of short-sightedness and self-service that has weakened the foundations of our country.”
Sir Keir’s speech was aimed at setting out new plans to team up with the Crown Estate, which owns the vast majority of Britain’s seabed, to boost the building of offshore wind farms.
It comes after the Tories cast doubt on a previous Labour pledge to help cut household bills by £300 a year, in part through GB Energy, its flagship green initiative.
Is public ownership back in fashion under Labour?
Friday 26 July 2024 21:00 , Salma Ouaguira
The new government’s plans for a state energy company and renationalised rail operators are an adjustment, not a revolution, writes John Rentoul:
Is public ownership back in fashion under Labour?
North Korea-backed cyber group sought to steal nuclear secrets, NCSC says
Friday 26 July 2024 20:00 , Salma Ouaguira
A North Korea-backed cyber group has been accused by the UK, US and South Korea of carrying out an online espionage campaign to steal military and nuclear secrets.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said the Andariel group has been compromising organisations around the world to steal sensitive and classified technical information and intellectual property data.
NCSC director of operations Paul Chichester said: “The global cyber espionage operation that we have exposed today shows the lengths that DPRK (DemocraticPeople’s Republic of Korea) state-sponsored actors are willing to go to pursue their military and nuclear programmes.”
North Korea-backed cyber group sought to steal nuclear secrets, NCSC says
Rwanda plan flight used to deport migrants to Vietnam and Timor-Leste
Friday 26 July 2024 19:00 , Salma Ouaguira
The Labour government has used flights scheduled to deport migrants under the Tories’ scrapped Rwanda scheme to return failed asylum seekers to Vietnam and Timor-Leste.
The Home Office has announced that a charter flight took 46 migrants to the Asian countries on Wednesday.
Rwanda scheme charter flight used to deport migrants to Vietnam and Timor-Leste
Global trade to go digital as UK and 90 other countries agree paperless switch
Friday 26 July 2024 18:20 , Salma Ouaguira
The UK has joined nearly 100 other countries in agreeing to use new digital customs systems which could save billions of pounds and streamline international trade.
Niniety-one nations have agreed the E-commerce Joint Initiative at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which commits countries to digitising customs documents and processes – meaning printing off, filling in by hand and handing in forms at customs points will no longer be required.
The new agreement will also see nations use and accept digital forms and e-signatures, reducing the need for businesses to physically sign contracts and post them around the world.
The government said the new system, once fully implemented around the world, could help boost UK GDP by as much as £24.2 billion – and even partial adoption could spark a significant boost to the economy.
It said the move to digital would also make global trade faster, fairer, cheaper and more secure.
Business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We are proud to play our part in securing the first ever global digital trade agreement, cutting costs for business and delivering on this government’s ambition to deliver economic growth.”
“Britain is back and proudly playing her role as an outward looking trading nation. Global digital trade is already estimated by the OECD to be worth around £4 trillion and counting but no common set of global rules exist. This is a huge step forward in correcting that and ensuring British businesses feel the benefit.”
Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle said: “This global agreement aims to help people use technology safely by protecting them from fraud, while driving economic growth through the digitalisation of trade so it’s faster and more secure.”
“We will leave no stone unturned in our work to share the benefits of technology and drive economic growth by working with partners around the world to achieve this.”
‘I would never let Farage join the Tories – Stride
Friday 26 July 2024 18:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Mel Stride has said he would never allow Reform’s Nigel Farage join the Conservatives if he becomes party leader.
Speaking to the i, the shadow work and pensions secretary ruled out discussing a formal deals with the Reform UK leader.
Mr Stride said: “Nigel Farage is a very clever, very talented politician, but he is absolutely bent – as he said – on destroying the Conservative Party.”
He added: “I think what we need to be doing, actually, is addressing those common ground issues as part of our response to Reform.
“But at the same time, not losing sight of the fact that we need to be that core base offer to the British public that will appeal also to those who have voted Labour and Liberal Democrat.”
Jewish groups attack No 10 over Netanyahu decision
Friday 26 July 2024 17:40 , Salma Ouaguira
Independent MP welcomes Labour decision on Netanyahu’s ICC arrest warrant
Friday 26 July 2024 17:20 , Salma Ouaguira
Independent MP Annan Hussain has welcomed the government’s decision not to challenge the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) application for an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Hussain tweeted: “The government’s decision to withdraw the challenge to the ICC is a welcome one, and a step in the right direction in aligning with international law on the matter.
“Going forward, all arms sales to Israel must be banned. International law must be abided by for peace to prevail.”
The government’s decision to withdraw the challenge to the ICC is a welcome one, & a step in the right direction in aligning with international law on the matter.
Going forward, all arms sales to Israel must be banned. International law must be abided by for peace to prevail.
— Adnan Hussain (@AdnanHussainMP) July 26, 2024
Sir Lenny Henry supports letter calling Voter ID laws ‘attack on rights’
Friday 26 July 2024 17:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Sir Lenny Henry is among the celebrities who have called on the new Government to reverse laws that require voters to bring photo identification to polling stations.
The actor and comedian, 65, backed an open letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying that the legislation, which was introduced by the last government, is “an attack on the democratic rights of people of colour”.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the department responsible for voting rules, says that there will be a “thorough evaluation of voter ID rules”.
The letter to Sir Keir, organised by campaigning group Operation Black Vote and the equality think tank, the Runnymede Trust and posted online on Thursday, was also backed by other famous faces.
Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh, artist Anish Kapoor, Homeland actor David Harewood, Star Wars star Hugh Quarshie, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody actress Naomi Ackie and Hotel Rwanda actress Sophie Okonedo were among the more than 50 signatories.
They urge Sir Keir to “repeal the unfair Voter ID laws brought in under the last government”, citing more than 400,000 people being turned away during the 2024 General Election.
Who are the seven Labour MPs suspended by Keir Starmer?
Friday 26 July 2024 16:40 , Salma Ouaguira
Keir Starmer has suspended seven Labour MPs from the party after he faced an early rebellion supporting an amendment to the King’s Speech in favour of scrapping the two-child benefit cap.
The government has so far resisted calls to lift the cap, which has been described by campaigners as “cruel.”
Given his massive majority, the prime minister was able to comfortably see off the rebellion with the amendment failing by 363 votes to 103 – a majority of 260 for Labour.
But his decision has divided the party, in an episode that will be seen as damaging to the new prime minister. The seven MPs suspended by Sir Keir are all on Labour’s left, and the move could stoke factional tensions which have gripped the party throughout his tenure as leader.
Here are the seven Labour MPs that have been suspended by Sir Keir:
Who are the seven Labour MPs suspended by Keir Starmer?
Threats to UK ‘alive and well’ in war-torn Ukraine, says defence review chief
Friday 26 July 2024 16:20 , Salma Ouaguira
Threats faced by Britain are no longer theoretical or a distant possibility but are “alive and well” in Ukraine after Russia’s brutal invasion, the head of the UK’s defence review has said.
Former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, who served as defence secretary under Tony Blair, highlighted the “depraved conduct” of Vladimir Putin’s occupying forces to highlight what was at stake.
The Labour peer said it was imperative the UK military was able to deter any threat to the nation.
Lord Robertson also made clear the problems facing Britain’s overstretched armed forces were known and what he was inviting through the review was solutions “and the trade-offs that will be involved”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently reaffirmed his commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP (gross domestic product) at the Nato summit in Washington.
But he is under pressure over the timescale on funding given the present threats to national security.
Speaking during the defence debate on the King’s Speech, Lord Robertson said: “This will be my second strategic defence review but probably the more difficult.
“The world has changed dramatically since the last one in 1998 and in the intervening period the range of challenges, threats, complications, instabilities and fragilities has multiplied.
“The sheer volatility of events today in the world combined with the velocity of dynamic change have both combined to produce new vulnerabilities in our society.
“And we must all face that new global turbulence with serious intent.
“Therefore, our armed forces must be agile, lethal, survivable and robust enough to deter any threat to our country and that is the imperative.”
Tory leadership hopeful Mel Stride claims UK must raise defence spending to 3%
Friday 26 July 2024 16:10 , Salma Ouaguira
The shadow work and pensions secretary has called for defence spending to be pushed to three per cent of GDP by 2030.
The Tory leadership hopeful claimed the world is getting more “difficult and dangerous” after launching his bid to lead his party.
He told the i newspaper: “I think moving to 3 per cent is absolutely right and I think the reason for that is the growing threats we have with Putin, with Iran, with North Korea.
“I think we need to be on that trajectory for getting ready for more dangerous and difficult times.”
But he added the timescale on the commitment was still up for discussion.
Watch: Starmer meets Macron in Paris ahead of Olympics 2024 opening ceremony
Friday 26 July 2024 16:09 , Salma Ouaguira
Starmer forced to change travel plans following French rail sabotage
Friday 26 July 2024 16:08 , Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer has been forced to change his travel plans after the French railways were hit by what is believed to be “co-ordinated acts of sabotage”.
Up to 800,000 passengers are facing travel chaos attempting to reach Paris this weekend after high-speed rail services to the French capital were hit by what officials described as “criminal actions” ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday.
A No 10 spokesman said the prime minister was meant to travel on the Eurostar to Paris ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony, but he flew to France because of the disruption.
Addressing the incident, Sir Keir said that it was right to not let the travel disruption “overshadow” the Olympic Games in France.
New justice minister volunteers to wear alcohol monitoring tag
Friday 26 July 2024 15:57 , Salma Ouaguira
A justice minister has volunteered to wear an alcohol monitoring tag used to help cut re-offending rates for prison leavers.
Lord Timpson said he expects to gain “first-hand insight” from wearing the device, which he said gives people a chance to “rewrite their behaviour”.
Speaking as peers considered a report on community sentences, Lord Timpson described electronic monitoring as a “useful tool” to monitor compliance.
They can be used for several purposes, including monitoring alcohol levels in the wearer’s sweat every 30 minutes, tracking the location of offenders throughout each day and making sure offenders do not stray from home if they are under a curfew.
Lord Timpson was previously the chief executive of the shoe repair company Timpson, which trains and employs former prisoners, and also served as chairman of the Prison Reform Trust.
The rehabilitation campaigner, who oversees prisons, parole and probation in his new role, told peers: “Data from alcohol monitoring for community sentences shows devices did not register a tamper or alcohol alert for over 97% of the days worn.
“This provides offenders with a real chance to rewrite their behaviour and change the narrative of their life.
“I myself have volunteered to be fitted with an alcohol tag and look forward to gaining first-hand insight into the experience of those who are electronically monitored.”
Liberal Democrat Baroness Hamwee joked to the minister: “I wonder whether he knows if there’s a chocolate tag – I could do with one of those.”
Watch: Martin Lewis clears up confusion over child benefit cap
Friday 26 July 2024 15:46 , Salma Ouaguira
Martin Lewis clears up confusion over child benefit cap
Labour decision to pause freedom of speech law branded ‘chilling’
Friday 26 July 2024 15:37 , Salma Ouaguira
Labour’s move to pause legislation which could see universities and student unions fined for failing to uphold freedom of speech has been branded “chilling” by a former Conservative minister.
The government has decided to put a hold on the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 “in order to consider options, including its repeal”, education secretary Bridget Phillipson announced on Friday.
The legislation, which was set to come into force next week, would have allowed the Office for Students (OfS) to sanction higher education providers and student unions in England if they did not sufficiently protect freedom of speech.
Claire Coutinho, who served as the Energy Secretary in Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet, hit out at the decision on social media, claiming it is a “taste of what is to come” under the new government.
A Labour spokesperson denied the decision signals a backsliding on freedom of speech.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:
Labour decision to pause freedom of speech law branded ‘chilling’
Watch: Mel Stride’s four-word response on why he should be next Tory leader
Friday 26 July 2024 15:27 , Salma Ouaguira
Union leaders urge Starmer to restore whip of suspended Labour MPs
Friday 26 July 2024 15:18 , Salma Ouaguira
Ten trade union general secretaries have called Sir Keir Starmer to restore the whip of the seven Labour MPs suspended for rebelling against the party, Tribune Magazine reports.
The prime minister faced an early rebellion supporting an amendment to the King’s Speech in favour of scrapping the two-child benefit cap.
Following the suspension, Sir Keir has now been urged by several union leaders including Mick Lynch of the RMT union and Trade Union Coordinating Group’s chair Jo Grady to scrap the controversial ban.
In a letter to the PM, they said: “We greatly regret the omission from the manifesto and subsequent King’s Speech of any plan to scrap the two-child limit to Universal Credit claims, which the Resolution Foundation has said impacts on 1.6 million children who live in families affected by this policy — of which households more than 3 in 5 have someone in work.”
In full: Starmer drops Britain’s challenge to international arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Friday 26 July 2024 15:10 , Salma Ouaguira
Keir Starmer has dropped Rishi Sunak’s plans to challenge the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) application for an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu.
The previous Conservative government had suggested the ICC was overreaching its powers, but No 10 has now confirmed that, under Labour, no objection will be submitted.
The matter was one “for the court to decide”, Downing Street said.
In May, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his defence minister Yoav Gallant over Israel‘s war in Gaza.
It marked the first time in ICC history that a sitting head of state and a sitting defence minister of a country supported by other powerful Western states, including the UK and US, faced arrest warrants, international law experts told The Independent.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has the full story:
Starmer drops Britain’s challenge to international arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Bank of England’s interest rate decision on a knife-edge, economists say
Friday 26 July 2024 15:05 , Salma Ouaguira
The Bank of England’s next decision on interest rates sits on a “knife-edge”, experts have said, as borrowers wait to see if costs will be cut for the first time since the pandemic.
Economists are split over whether the Bank’s policymakers will decide it is the right time to reduce rates on Thursday.
The UK’s base rate has been held at 5.25% since August last year as part of the central bank’s task to put a lid on unruly inflation.
But with inflation hitting the Bank’s 2% target level for the past two months, hopes have been raised that rates can start to be reduced, easing the pressure on borrowers.
If so, it would mark the first time that UK rates have been cut since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.
James Smith, developed market economist for ING, said it will be a “close call” but he expects a majority of policymakers to vote in favour of a 0.25 percentage point rate cut on Thursday.
He said services inflation – which looks only at service-related industries such as hospitality and culture – is the “guiding light for Bank of England policy right now”.
“More recently, services inflation has been propped up by a spike in hotel prices,” he said, suggesting that the Bank could be less concerned by the “highly volatile” nature of the data.
“The bottom line is that there is just about enough in the recent data to give the Bank confidence to begin lowering rates,” Mr Smith concluded.
Suspended Labour MP hails decision on Netanyahu’s arrest warrant but urges ban on arms sales to Israel
Friday 26 July 2024 15:00 , Salma Ouaguira
Supporting the ICC in its pursuit of arrest warrants is an important step in the fight against impunity for war crimes committed in Gaza.
Next the government needs to ban ALL arms sales to Israel, not just some.
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) July 26, 2024
Cleverly: ‘Labour are getting ready to raise your taxes’
Friday 26 July 2024 14:54 , Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch accuses Tory leadership rival of ‘dirty tricks’
Friday 26 July 2024 14:49 , Salma Ouaguira
Kemi Badenoch has accused one of the Conservative leadership contenders of carrying out a dirty tricks campaign against her ahead of a possible bid announcement.
The shadow business secretary has attacked an unnamed rival after a dossier emerged claiming she was behind anonymous blog comments featuring abusive remarks.
The former cabinet minister claimed it was “amusing and alarming the extraordinary lengths people will go to play dirty tricks”, adding that “apparently, a leadership campaign has sent a ‘dirty dossier’ of ‘strong comments’ from 20 yrs ago to the Westminster lobby”.
Ms Badenoch added: “We can do better than this, and I will be saying and writing more about how in due course.”
She also said much of the “discourse across the political spectrum is obsessed with the petty and the puerile.”
It’s both amusing/alarming the extraordinary lengths people will go to play dirty tricks.
3 things happened today that show why the public are put off politics:⁰
1) Apparently, a leadership campaign has sent a “dirty dossier” of “strong comments” from 20 yrs ago to the… https://t.co/Vu7PZd84dS— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 25, 2024
Is Labour going to raise taxes? Rachel Reeves’ options amid £20bn black hole warning
Friday 26 July 2024 14:49 , Salma Ouaguira
Rachel Reeves is set to unveil a £20 billion ‘black hole’ in public finances on Monday, sparking rumours that Labour’s first autumn statement will bring new tax raising measures.
The chancellor is expected to reveal her findings when she releases a Treasury spending audit, setting out the strained state of government finances amid issues with cash-strapped public services.
A Labour source said that the update will reveal “the true scale of the damage the Conservatives have done to the public finances.”
It is the latest indication from the new government of its position that previous Conservative administrations have left them in a difficult position. Speaking at PMQs this week, the prime minister said that his party has found “crisis and failure everywhere.”
But Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) director Paul Johnson said: “There should not be a sense of surprise there is a big issue here.”
Is Labour going to raise taxes as Rachel Reeves to warn of £20bn black hole’?
Government will not ‘pass the buck’ on energy to future generations – minister
Friday 26 July 2024 14:39 , Salma Ouaguira
The Government will not be “passing the buck” on building renewable energy infrastructure to future generations, a minister has said.
Energy minister Michael Shanks also told MPs that some areas will have to host “nationally significant” power infrastructure such as solar farms in response to concerns expressed about the “detrimental impacts” on communities.
MPs had a general debate on Friday on making Britain a “clean energy superpower”, with the Great British Energy Bill due to receive its second reading after the summer recess.
Conservative MP for Huntingdon Ben Obese-Jecty raised the East Park Energy solar farm, a proposed project in his constituency, which he said would be “larger than Gatwick Airport”.
He said local residents have “grave concerns” over the scale of the development and asked the minister if he would commit to rural communities having a say on the Government allowing large solar farms to be built in their local areas “given the detrimental impacts”.
Mr Shanks replied: “We’re not in any way going to remove the ability of communities to be part of, of course, a consultation process in the planning system.”
Labour decision to pause freedom of speech law branded ‘chilling’
Friday 26 July 2024 15:18 , Salma Ouaguira
Labour’s move to pause legislation which could see universities and student unions fined for failing to uphold freedom of speech has been branded “chilling” by a former Conservative minister.
The government has decided to put a hold on the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 “in order to consider options, including its repeal”, education secretary Bridget Phillipson announced on Friday.
The legislation, which was set to come into force next week, would have allowed the Office for Students (OfS) to sanction higher education providers and student unions in England if they did not sufficiently protect freedom of speech.
Claire Coutinho, who served as the Energy Secretary in Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet, hit out at the decision on social media, claiming it is a “taste of what is to come” under the new government.
A Labour spokesperson denied the decision signals a backsliding on freedom of speech.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:
Labour decision to pause freedom of speech law branded ‘chilling’
Palestinian ambassador welcomes No 10’s Netanyahu arrest warrant decision
Friday 26 July 2024 14:29 , Salma Ouaguira
Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot has welcomed the government’s decision not to challenge the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) application for an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Zomlot said the move represents a “significant step” for the UK to hold Israel to account “after many decades of impunity”.
In a statement, he said: “The only way to secure a just and lasting peace in our region is through unwavering commitment to the equal implementation of international law, international resolutions and International Humanitarian Law. Combined with the decision to reinstate funding for UNRWA, the British government has in a short time taken two necessary and positive steps towards aligning UK policy with its international legal and humanitarian commitments, facilitating a path towards a peaceful resolution.
“There is still a long way to go. In the short-term we must remain focused on bringing about an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza in order to end the genocide against the Palestinian people, begin to deliver the huge amounts of humanitarian assistance that is so desperately needed and prepare for what will be a years-long reconstruction project to make Gaza livable again.
“We look forward to working with the UK government going forward to end arms sales to Israel, sanction the illegal colonial settlements, recognise the state of Palestine and secure the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights to return and self-determination in an independent sovereign state of Palestine.”
Streeting warns health watchdog not fit for purpose after damning report
Friday 26 July 2024 14:29 , Salma Ouaguira
England’s health and social care watchdog is “not fit for purpose”, health secretary Wes Streeting has warned, pledging immediate action to restore public confidence.
This came after an independent review into the Care Quality Commission (CQC) pointed to “significant internal failings” affecting its ability to identify poor performance at hospitals, care homes and GP practices.
The CQC monitors and inspects all health and adult social care providers to ensure safety and quality standards.
Mr Streeting said he was “stunned by the extent of the failings” revealed in the report.
He said the organisation must put in place a new chief executive and chief inspector of hospitals to oversee “radical” reform, adding: “Leadership is vital”.
Ian Trenholm, who served as the CQC’s chief executive for six years, stepped down in June, just one month before the interim report was published. Kate Terroni, who was formerly his deputy, has been appointed interim chief until a permanent appointment is found.
Green leader urges MPs to ‘move beyond’ comments made about pylon stance
Friday 26 July 2024 14:24 , Salma Ouaguira
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay has called on MPs to “move beyond some of the comments made” about his stance on a string of pylons along England’s east coast.
Making his maiden speech on Friday, the Waveney Valley MP said he welcomes the Government’s plan to scale-up renewable energy generation but added Whitehall must turn its attention towards adapting and mitigating “climate breakdown”.
Mr Ramsay leads the Greens in England and Wales with Carla Denyer, the MP for Bristol Central who made her maiden speech on July 18, and is one of four from his party newly elected to the Commons at the General Election earlier this month.
At Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Ramsay had opposed “vital clean energy in his own constituency” and added: “He talks about leadership, and I’d ask him to show some.”
Mr Ramsay said in his maiden speech: “If we are to scale up renewable energy at pace – the pace required to tackle the climate emergency – we do need to take communities with us and make infrastructure decisions that are right for the long term.
“So what I’ve called for in relation to the infrastructure proposals that are currently on the table for East Anglia is a proper options assessment of the different ways in which the energy generated by new wind farms in East Anglia is connected to the grid.”
The National Grid has plans for a 112-mile power line between Norwich in Norfolk and Tilbury in Essex, through Mr Ramsay’s constituency which straddles the Norfolk and Suffolk boundary, to help connect offshore wind farms with the grid.
Tories accuse Labour of ‘sacrificing next generation’ with free speech law decision
Friday 26 July 2024 14:23 , Salma Ouaguira
The Tories have accused the government of being willing to “sacrifice the next generation on the altar of their own ideological dogma” after the education secretary announced a controversial free speech law would be postponed.
Shadow education Damian Hinds MP said: “Free speech is a fundamental right, and this must extend to universities.
“Without the ability to freely express views in higher education, these centres of learning risk becoming centres of co-option and intolerance.
“The fact this Labour Government is willing to scrap the measures we put in place to protect these rights makes clear that they are willing to sacrifice the next generation on the altar of their own ideological dogma.”
In full: Powers to fine universities over ‘free speech’ breaches put on hold
Friday 26 July 2024 14:10 , Salma Ouaguira
A controversial new law that could see universities and student unions fined for failing to uphold “freedom of speech” could be repealed under Labour, the Education Secretary has announced.
Bridget Phillipson said there were concerns the legislation would be “burdensome” on providers and the Office for Students (OfS) watchdog.
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, which was due to come into force next week, will be put on hold to allow for time to consider options “including its repeal”, she said.
In a written ministerial statement on Friday, the Education Secretary said: “I am aware of concerns that the Act would be burdensome on providers and on the OfS, and I will confirm my long-term plans as soon as possible.
“To enable students to thrive in higher education, I welcome the OfS’s plans to introduce strengthened protections for students facing harassment and sexual misconduct, including relating to the use of non-disclosure agreements in such cases by universities and colleges.”
The Act, introduced by the previous Tory government, sought to place a duty to “secure” and promote the importance of” freedom of speech and academic expression
Ms Phillipson has signalled that Labour wants an end to so-called “culture wars” on campuses after a number of high-profile protests – including at Oxford before a talk by academic Kathleen Stock over her views on gender identity.
Higher education institutions will still have a legal duty to uphold freedom of speech under existing legislation.
VOICES: Ryan Coogan – There’s one big reason Sadiq Khan should bring WrestleMania to London
Friday 26 July 2024 13:59 , Salma Ouaguira
As talks are held between WWE boss Triple H and the city’s mayor to bring the ‘showcase of the immortals’ to our nation’s capital, wrestling fan Ryan Coogan explains why the UK can only benefit from hosting the company’s flagship event:
There’s one big reason Sadiq Khan should bring WrestleMania to London
Lammy urged to heed cross party support for Somaliland recognition
Friday 26 July 2024 13:49 , Salma Ouaguira
David Lammy is being pushed to urgently review Britain’s foreign policy towards a potential key ally in the Red Sea conflict with the Houthis and officially recognise Somaliland.
The former UK protectorate on the Horn of Africa has functioned as an independent state since 1991 after breaking away from Somalia following a civil war but has not received official recognition by the international community.
The two countries had unified within days of the UK giving Somaliland independence in 1960 but broke up again after a civil war.
The renewed calls came this week after Labour run Liverpool City Councilunanimously backed a motion recognising Somaliland in what has been hailed as a significant move in the country’s relations with the rest of the world.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Lammy urged to listen to cross party support for Somaliland recognition
Board of Deputies of British Jews back government’s university freedom of speech law decision
Friday 26 July 2024 13:39 , Salma Ouaguira
The Board of Deputies of British Jews backed Bridget Phillipson’s decision to pause the roll out of the Tories’ university freedom of speech law.
Phil Rosenberg, the organisation’s president, said: “We welcome the Secretary of State’s decision to halt the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, pending consideration of repeal.
“The Union of Jewish Students has been clear that the Act, while well-intentioned, risked enabling antisemitic extremists to access university campuses by severely impacting the ability of universities to block their presence – we strongly support UJS’s concerns and reflected this in our Jewish Manifesto for the 2024 general election.
“This halt will enable the Government to consider how to ensure that freedom of speech is protected without allowing free rein to purveyors of hate speech.”
