UK politics - live: Angela Rayner ‘to ditch Thatcher’s Right to Buy scheme’ as Tory leadership vote begins
Angela Rayner is reportedly set to launch a consultation on whether to ditch Margaret Thatcher’s right-to-buy scheme.
The deputy prime minister, who has promised a “council housing revolution”, will abolish the Tory flagship scheme that allowed council tenants to buy their homes from their local authority.
More than 100 local authorities called for the “unsustainable” scheme to to be scrapped on new council homes in a report on the state of Britain’s housing stock published on Tuesday.
Leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch hit out at Ms Rayner for trying to “destroy one of Baroness Thatcher’s most transformative policies”.
It comes as Tory MPs will take part in the first round of voting as they select a successor to Rishi Sunak.
The first ballot in the Tory leadership contest will take place on Wednesday afternoon, which will begin the process of narrowing the list of the current six candidates.
The field of six is made up of ex-ministers from the previous government: James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Dame Priti Patel, Tom Tugendhat, Mel Stride and Ms Badenoch.
An announcement on the result of the first round is expected at about 3.30pm.
Key Points
Welcome
07:43 , Joe Middleton
Good morning and welcome to our blog of all the latest goings on in Westminster and beyond
Starmer gets new kitten to join Larry the cat in Downing Street
Tuesday 3 September 2024 21:00 , Joe Middleton
Downing Street’s Larry the cat now faces competition for his job as No 10’s chief mouser following the news that Sir Keir Starmer is bringing a new kitten home.
Sir Keir Starmer has let his children get the kitten after “a long summer of negotiations”, meaning Larry will welcome a long-awaited recruit.
The prime minister said he had come around to getting the new family pet after his children had pleaded with him to get a dog, he revealed in a BBC 5 Live interview with Matt Chorley.
The Siberian kitten will join Larry who has become something of a celebrity figure over the last decade, often appearing in the street amid important political moments.
Athena Stavrou reports
Starmer gets new kitten to join Larry the cat in Downing Street
Lucy Letby: ‘Highly probable’ serial killer is innocent, Tory MP David Davis says
Tuesday 3 September 2024 20:00 , Joe Middleton
Former cabinet minister Sir David Davis has said he believes it is “highly probable” serial killer nurse Lucy Letby is innocent.
The NHS neonatal nurse is currently serving 15 whole life sentences for seven murders and seven attempted murders of babies while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Monday (2 September), the former Brexit secretary explained why he believes there is “more than reasonable doubt” over Letby’s conviction.
‘Highly probable’ Lucy Letby is innocent, Tory MP David Davis says
The UK is failing to get children ready for school – and time is running out
Tuesday 3 September 2024 19:00 , Joe Middleton
Children can barely recognise basic words by the time they start school. Investing in early years education is essential for their future, writes Sarah Brown, wife of former PM Gordon Brown and chair of children’s charity Theirworld
The UK is failing to get children ready for school – and time is running out
Former Labour frontbencher hits out as Starmer faces backlash over winter fuel cuts
Tuesday 3 September 2024 18:01 , Joe Middleton
A former frontbencher has hit out at the government’s plans to strip the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners as Keir Starmer faces a growing Labour backlash over the issue.
Melanie Onn has called on ministers to consider changes to the policy to ensure older people are “not left in the cold this winter”.
Her warning comes as pressure mounts on the prime minister over the decision to remove the allowance from 10 million people, after the regulator Ofgem announced household energy bills will rise by £150 in October.
Kate Devlin reports
UK to gets nine new offshore wind farms
Watch: Tories turned into 'grumpy party', James Cleverly says in leadership bid
Tuesday 3 September 2024 17:30 , Joe Middleton
UK to gets nine new offshore wind farms
Tuesday 3 September 2024 17:00 , Joe Middleton
Britain is set to get nine new offshore wind farms after the Government’s latest renewables auction.
The nine new projects compare to none last year, and include what will be Europe’s largest and second largest wind farm projects – Hornsea 3 and Hornsea 4 off the Yorkshire coast.
They are part of a new wave of green power projects including onshore wind and solar farms, which officials said will generate enough power for 11 million homes.
UK to gets nine new offshore wind farms
Cabinet Secretary backs Labour in ‘Tory £22bn black hole’ row
Tuesday 3 September 2024 16:30 , Joe Middleton
Britain’s top civil servant has rebuked the Conservatives for suggesting Labour exaggerated the scale of the black hole in the public finances when Sir Keir Starmer took office.
Cabinet secretary Simon Case said Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt’s failure to hold a spending review in its last year in office added to the uncertainty facing the Treasury.
It came after Mr Hunt, who served as chancellor until the general election, wrote to Mr Case in July to criticise what he described as “deeply troubling” statements by Rachel Reeves about the state of the public purse.
Archie Mitchell reports
Cabinet Secretary backs Labour in ‘Tory £22bn black hole’ row
Tugendhat doubles down on bid to win over rightwing Tories with attack on human rights convention
Tuesday 3 September 2024 16:01 , Joe Middleton
Tom Tugendhat doubled down on his bid to reinvent himself as a candidate of the Tory right as he waded into the growing debate within the party over ditching the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).
Just 24 hours after the contest’s frontrunner Kemi Badenoch had dismissed leaving the ECHR as an attempt to seek “easy answers”, the former security minister told his supporters that he was willing to ditch it.
When the race to replace Rishi Sunak began after the election disaster for the Tories, Mr Tugendhat had been seen as the candidate for the party’s One Nation group on the left who would try to win back power from the centre ground of British politics.
Our political editor David Maddox has the latest
Tugendhat doubles down on bid to win over Tory right with ECHR attack
Voices: Boris has sunk to a new low with his Israel intervention – even by his standards
Tuesday 3 September 2024 16:00 , Joe Middleton
For Johnson to claim that David Lammy and Keir Starmer want Hamas to ‘win’ is absurd, disgraceful and unworthy, writes Sean O’Grady
Boris has sunk to a new low with his Israel intervention – even by his standards
Chancellor Rachel Reeves says pensioners can afford winter fuel payment cuts
Tuesday 3 September 2024 15:31 , Joe Middleton
Rachel Reeves has said that pensioners should be able to afford the government’s decision to slash winter fuel payments because of increases to the state pension and energy bills being lower than previous years.
Wendy Morton, the Tory former Cabinet minister, questioned Ms Reeves decision to implement the controversial policy that will impact 10 million pensioners who have “worked hard all their lives”.
Ms Reeves replied: “The increases in the basic state pension mean that constituents of hers are £900 better off than they were a year ago and of course energy bills are lower this year than they were last year.
Ms Reeves appearance in the House of Commons comes amid a deepening row over the UK’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel.
Twelve dead after boat carrying more than 60 migrants sinks in Channel, French officials say
Tuesday 3 September 2024 14:52 , Joe Middleton
At least 12 people have died and others are feared missing after a boat carrying more than 60 migrants sank off the French coast, officials have said.
A major air and sea operation was launched on Tuesday after the boat got into difficulty off Gris-Nez point, close to Calais, plunging all those onboard into the water in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
“Unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open,” said Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel near the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where a first-aid post was set up to treat victims.
Both Mr Barbarin and Etienne Baggio, a spokesperson for the French maritime prefecture which oversees that stretch of sea, said rescuers recovered 61 people from the water.
Andy Gregory reports
Twelve dead after boat carrying more than 60 migrants sinks in Channel, officials say
Former Labour frontbencher hits out as Starmer faces backlash over winter fuel cuts
Tuesday 3 September 2024 14:30 , Joe Middleton
A former frontbencher has hit out at the government’s plans to strip the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners as Keir Starmer faces a growing Labour backlash over the issue.
Melanie Onn has called on ministers to consider changes to the policy to ensure older people are “not left in the cold this winter”.
Her warning comes as pressure mounts on the prime minister over the decision to remove the allowance from 10 million people, after the regulator Ofgem announced household energy bills will rise by £150 in October.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports
Former Labour frontbencher hits out as Starmer faces backlash over winter fuel cuts
Watch: Tories turned into 'grumpy party', James Cleverly says in leadership bid
Tuesday 3 September 2024 14:15 , Joe Middleton
Tory councillor’s wife ‘did not break X rules’ with criminal social media post
Tuesday 3 September 2024 13:45 , Joe Middleton
A criminal social media post shared by the wife of a Conservative Party councillor “did not violate X rules”, users who reported it claimed they were told.
Lucy Connolly, 41, could be facing a “substantial” prison sentence for the post, in which she called for hotels housing migrants to be set alight and for “mass deportation now”.
The childminder pleaded guilty to publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred at Northampton Crown Court on Monday.
Athena Stavrou reports
Tory councillor’s wife’s criminal social media post ‘did not break X rules’
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms government capping corporation tax at 25 per cent
Tuesday 3 September 2024 13:20 , Joe Middleton
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the government will be capping corporation tax at 25 per cent , as part of a “tax roadmap for business” which will be set out at the Budget.
During Treasury questions, Ms Reeves told the Commons: “Investment is at the heart of this Government’s growth mission, alongside stability and reform, with robust fiscal rules and respect for economic institutions, the Government is building the confidence needed to deliver private sector investment.
“It is vital also that the tax system supports growth, and that’s why today I can confirm that at the Budget the Government will be outlining a tax roadmap for business, to offer the certainty that encourages investment and gives business the confidence to grow, including our commitment to cap corporation tax at 25% for the duration of this Parliament, and to retain full expensing.”
Jordan praises UK’s decision to suspend some Israel arms exports
Tuesday 3 September 2024 13:14 , Joe Middleton
Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, has praised the UK’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel and called on other countries to impose a complete arms embargo on the country.
Posting on X, he said: “The Uk did right to suspend some arms exports licenses to Israel. We urge an expansion of this suspension and call on all countries to impose a complete arms embargo on Israel. Unless consequences are real, Netanyahu will not end his aggression on Gaza and the West Bank, and will not stop violating international law and threatening the security of the whole region.”
The Uk did right to suspend some arms exports licenses to Israel. We urge an expansion of this suspension and call on all countries to impose a complete arms embargo on Israel. Unless consequences are real, Netanyahu will not end his aggression on Gaza and the West Bank, and…
— Ayman Safadi (@AymanHsafadi) September 3, 2024
Tory leadership hopeful Cleverly accuses foreign secretary Lammy of damaging UK’s relationship with Israel and US
Tuesday 3 September 2024 12:51 , Joe Middleton
Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly has accused foreign secretary David Lammy of damaging the UK’s relationship with the United States and Israel.
Posting on X in response to the government’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel, he said: “The Foreign Secretary has damaged two of our most important relationships at a crucial time - and it won’t have the impact he wants.”
The Foreign Secretary has damaged two of our most important relationships at a crucial time - and it won't have the impact he wants. pic.twitter.com/iOn1dk2NyQ
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) September 3, 2024
MPs raise concerns about winter fuel allowance cuts
Tuesday 3 September 2024 12:47 , Joe Middleton
MPs have raised concerns about cuts to the winter fuel allowance, with one saying that 90 per cent of pensioners in Devon and Cornwall will be affected by the partial scrapping of the benefit.
Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay said that in his constituency in Devon that 21,000 pensioners will be impacted by the cut.
He said: “Whilst many of us would acknowledge that you were left with a massive financial challenge when coming into this House, one remains extremely concerned for residents who have reached out to myself and many colleagues with their major concerns about being able to make ends meet as we enter into the winter period. They have had no time to save for this, and therefore it’s a complete shock to them.
“What assurances can you give us that you’ll be supporting those who are most vulnerable, and if it’s failing to achieve this, what assurances can you give that you will scrap these proposals?”
In response, the chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the government was working with charities and local authorities to encourage pensioners who are entitled to the pension credit benefit to apply to do so, adding: “I want to ensure that the lowest income pensioners get the support that they are entitled to.
“Under the previous government, 800,000 pensioner households entitled to pension credit were not receiving it.
“That is why this Government is currently undertaking action to encourage uptake of the pension credit, to ensure that the poorest pensioners, those who are not even receiving that minimum income guarantee are getting it.”
Reeves defends winter fuel allowance payments for some pensioners
Tuesday 3 September 2024 12:27 , Joe Middleton
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended the decision to cut winter fuel allowance payments for some pensioners, as she said that it should be offset by increases to pensions and lower energy prices this winter compared with last year.
Ms Reeves said that the state pension was worth £900 more than last year, and that it will rise again next April under the triple lock, which guarantees it will rise by inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%.
Responding to questions in the Commons, she said: “We inherited a £22 billion blackhole from the previous government who made unfunded spending commitments with no idea how to pay them.
“When I became Chancellor I took an immediate audit of the spending situation to understand the scale of that challenge, and I made difficult decisions to put the public finances on a sustainable footing. They were tough decisions, but they were the right decisions.
“This includes the decision to make the winter fuel payment better targeted so pensioners who need it most, will get it alongside pension credits.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out pensions tax hike
Tuesday 3 September 2024 12:16 , Joe Middleton
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she will not be speculating on the Budget and refused to rule out heavier taxation on pensions.
Opening Treasury questions in the Commons, Ms Reeves said: “I understand that members from across the House will have questions on the tax system for me today, I remind them that tax announcements will be made in the Budget on October 30, alongside an independent forecast from the Office of Budget Responsibility.”
Shadow Treasury minister Nigel Huddleston said: “During the election, Labour promised on more than 50 occasions not to increase taxes on working people, do they recognise that working people have pensions too?
“And therefore can she give those people saving for the future peace of mind by confirming that they will not increase taxes on pensions in the upcoming Budget?”
Ms Reeves replied: “I’m not going to speculate about what will be in the Budget, but I’m absolutely determined to ensure that working people are better off.”
Left-wing MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, call for total arms embargo against Israel
Tuesday 3 September 2024 11:52 , Joe Middleton
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called for an “immediate and total arms embargo to Israel”.
Mr Corbyn shared a letter signed by the five MPs who are part of the newly formed Independent Alliance group.
The other members are Shockat Adam, who defeated Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth in Leicester South, as well as Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed, who all also stood on pro-Gaza platforms in the general election.
Other left-wing MPs such as Zarah Sultana also called for the arms exports implemented by the government on Monday to go further.
We must continue to call for an immediate and total arms embargo to Israel.
A statement from the Independent Alliance. pic.twitter.com/FZOeD4bJOj— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) September 3, 2024
Yesterday it was confirmed an Israeli F-35 fighter jet – made in part in Britain – was instrumental in a recent attack on a "safe zone" in Gaza, killing 90 people.
Hours later the UK government refused to suspend licences pertaining to F-35s.
ALL arms sales to Israel must end.— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) September 3, 2024
Labour's general secretary David Evans to step down
Tuesday 3 September 2024 11:36 , Joe Middleton
Labour general secretary David Evans has announced he is standing down at the end of September after four years in the job.
Mr Evans, who oversaw Labour’s machine as it rebuilt from the heavy defeat of 2019 to enter government this year, will leave his post after the party conference in Liverpool.
Describing the job as “the privilege of my life”, Mr Evans said: “It has always been my plan to serve for one general election, and take the organisation from shattering defeat to being a party of government.
“Now both have been achieved, it is the right time both for me and the party for a new general secretary to take over.”
Mr Evans became general secretary in May 2020, shortly after Sir Keir Starmer became party leader, and secured the most by-election victories of any general secretary as the party prepared for office.
He also oversaw the response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report into antisemitism in Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Mr Evans, saying he had been “hugely consequential”.
Pictured: Chancellor Rachel Reeves leaves Downing Street following the Cabinet meeting
Tuesday 3 September 2024 11:31 , Joe Middleton
ActionAid calls for ‘halt all new and existing arms licenses to the Israeli government'
Tuesday 3 September 2024 11:29 , Joe Middleton
Responding to the UK announcing a partial suspension of arms export licenses to Israel on Monday, Hannah Bond, co-CEO of ActionAid UK, said: “Now is not the time for half measures: if the UK government believes the Israeli military may be breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza, then it should go much further and halt all new and existing arms licenses to the Israeli government immediately.
“Until it does, the UK remains at risk of being complicit in the atrocities taking place in Gaza daily. After 11 months of horror, it’s time for the UK to apply maximum pressure on the Israeli government to secure a permanent ceasefire and the release of the hostages – and finally put an end to this nightmare.”
Tom Tugendhat launches leadership campaign and says voters deserve apology from Tory Party
Tuesday 3 September 2024 11:11 , Joe Middleton
Tom Tugendhat began his leadership campaign launch with an apology on behalf of the Conservative Party.
He said: “I know that integrity matters, so I want to start with an apology.
“The Conservative Party owes you better. Politics isn’t a game and we all know the cost when government isn’t sober and serious.”
Reflecting on the end of the last government, he added: “I saw duty give way to ego. That’s why I’m standing before you today, because this country can change, we must change, and Britain deserves better.”
US government feel ‘let down’ by UK over Israel arms suspension as backlash grows
Tuesday 3 September 2024 10:51 , Joe Middleton
The ITV’s political editor Robert Peston is reporting that the US government is disappointed by the UK’s decision to suspend 30 arms export licences to Israel.
Posting on X, he said: “Washington sources tell me the Whitehouse feels let down by Starmer’s and Lammy’s decision to revoke licences for the export of military equipment to Israel. “They assured us they wouldn’t do this” said one.”
Washington sources tell me the Whitehouse feels let down by Starmer’s and Lammy’s decision to revoke licences for the export of military equipment to Israel. “They assured us they wouldn’t do this” said one
— Robert Peston (@Peston) September 2, 2024
Tory MP Andrew Mitchell thinks UK’s suspension of arms sales to Israel ‘will fail'
Tuesday 3 September 2024 10:36 , Joe Middleton
Tory MP Andrew Mitchell has cast doubt on the UK’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel and said the policy is designed to “satisfy” Labour MPs.
He said on X: “Announcing an arms embargo on the day when Israel is burying its murdered hostages, and within weeks of British military personnel and arms defending Israel from Iranian attack, is not easy to swallow.
“Having now looked at Labour’s memorandum, it has all the appearance of something designed to satisfy Labour’s backbenches, while at the same time not offending Israel, an ally in the Middle East. I fear it will fail on both counts.”
Announcing an arms embargo on the day when Israel is burying its murdered hostages, and within weeks of British military personnel and arms defending Israel from Iranian attack, is not easy to swallow.
Having now looked at Labour’s memorandum, it has all the appearance of…— Andrew Mitchell (@AndrewmitchMP) September 2, 2024
Cabinet Secretary backs Labour in ‘Tory £22bn black hole’ row
Tuesday 3 September 2024 10:24 , Joe Middleton
Britain’s top civil servant has rebuked the Conservatives for suggesting Labour exaggerated the scale of the black hole in the public finances when Sir Keir Starmer took office.
Cabinet secretary Simon Case said Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt’s failure to hold a spending review in its last year in office added to the uncertainty facing the Treasury.
It came after Mr Hunt, who served as chancellor until the general election, wrote to Mr Case in July to criticise what he described as “deeply troubling” statements by Rachel Reeves about the state of the public purse.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports
Cabinet Secretary backs Labour in ‘Tory £22bn black hole’ row
UK government’s decision on export licences ‘very problematic', says Israeli foreign minister
Tuesday 3 September 2024 10:05 , Joe Middleton
Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz said the UK government’s decision on arms export licences “sends a very problematic message to the Hamas terrorist organisation and its backers in Iran”.
He said: “Israel is disappointed by the British government’s recent series of decisions, including the latest decision regarding security exports to Israel, the British Government’s decision to withdraw its request to submit an amicus brief to the ICC (International Criminal Court), and its stance on UNRWA (UN relief agency for Palestinians), as well as the UK’s recent conduct and statements in the UN Security Council.
“Israel is a law-abiding state that operates in accordance with international law and has an independent and respected judicial system - we expect friendly countries, such as the UK, to recognise this all year-round, especially just days after Hamas terrorists executed six Israeli hostages, during intense negotiations for the release of the hostages and for a ceasefire, and in light of the recent threats by the Iranian regime to attack the state of Israel.
“A step like the one taken by the UK now sends a very problematic message to the Hamas terrorist organisation and its backers in Iran.
“We hope that the deep friendship between the UK and Israel, which has been maintained throughout all the years since the founding of the state of Israel, will continue in the future.”
Tories turned into ‘grumpy party,’ says James Cleverly in leadership bid
Tuesday 3 September 2024 09:45 , Joe Middleton
James Cleverly suggested the Conservatives have turned into the “grumpy party” as he launched his leadership bid on Monday 2 September.
The former home secretary vowed to reduce migration and restore “confidence in capitalism” as he calls for party unity in what was billed as a major speech in his campaign.
After delivering his address, Mr Cleverly was asked by reporters how he would draw young voters back to the Tories.
“We’ve never been the nasty party, I’ve never subscribed to that, but we have turned into the grumpy party, and young people are turned off by that,” he said.
“So let’s change that. Let’s be optimistic. Let’s focus on them, attract them to the party, listen to their voices and deliver on their aspirations, and that’s what I would do.”
Tories turned into ‘grumpy party,’ says James Cleverly in leadership bid
Israel PM Netanyahu says UK decision to suspend arms sales ‘shameful’
Tuesday 3 September 2024 09:40 , Joe Middleton
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has posted a lengthy thread on X responding to the UK’s decision to suspend around 30 arms export licences to Israel.
He said it was a “shameful decision” and it would not discourage Israel from its current military campaign in Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu said: “Hamas is still holding over 100 hostages, including 5 British citizens. Instead of standing with Israel, a fellow democracy defending itself against barbarism, Britain’s misguided decision will only embolden Hamas.”
He added: “Israel is pursuing a just war with just means, taking unprecedented measures to keep civilians out of harm’s way and comporting fully with international law.
“Just as Britain’s heroic stand against the Nazis is seen today as having been vital in defending our common civilization, so too will history judge Israel’s stand against Hamas and Iran’s axis of terror.”
Days after Hamas executed six Israeli hostages, the UK government suspended thirty arms licenses to Israel.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 3, 2024
Watch live: Keir Starmer’s cabinet arrive at Downing Street ahead of chancellor’s budget grilling
Tuesday 3 September 2024 09:27 , Joe Middleton
Watch live as Labour cabinet ministers arrive at Downing Street for a meeting on Tuesday 3 September.
Sir Keir Starmer gathers his top team as he faces facing party backlash and fresh Tory attacks over the government’s decision to strip the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners.
The decision by the prime minister and chancellor Rachel Reeves would result in a “bureaucratic and unpopular means test” for older people, Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan said as he tabled a Commons motion calling for the government to delay the move on Monday.
Live: Keir Starmer’s cabinet arrive at No 10 ahead of chancellor’s budget grilling
Introducing the leader of the opawsition
Tuesday 3 September 2024 09:25 , Joe Middleton
Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling is back in Westminster and has launched an X account for his beloved guide dog, Jennie.
He said on X: “Now that Parliament has returned, my guide dog Jennie has now set up her official X account. If you would like to follow Jennie’s official account you can find her @RtHonJen We should be on Sky TV tomorrow morning.”
Now that Parliament has returned, my guide dog Jennie has now set up her official X account. If you would like to follow Jennie's official account you can find her @RtHonJen We should be on Sky TV tomorrow morning pic.twitter.com/DRuBo0W0Iz
— Steve Darling MP (@SteveDarlingMP) September 2, 2024
Back up in Westminster after a glorious August in Torbay. At last my owner now has an office so I'm starting to fill it with dog toys... pic.twitter.com/1F8wFMYOtC
— RtHonJennieOffical (@RtHonJen) September 2, 2024
Boris Johnson says Starmer ‘wants Hamas to win’ in Israel war
Tuesday 3 September 2024 09:18 , Joe Middleton
Boris Johnson has accused Sir Keir Starmer of abandoning Israel after the government suspended some arms export licences to the country.
The former prime minister said Hamas is still holding many innocent Jewish hostages while Israel tries to prevent a repeat of the October 7 massacre.
Writing on X on Tuesday, Mr Johnson added: “Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?”
Britain is suspending around 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel amid a “clear risk” they could be used to breach international humanitarian law relating to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the supply of aid to Gaza.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports
Boris Johnson says Starmer ‘wants Hamas to win’ in Israel war
Labour Friends of Israel ‘deeply concerned’ as UK suspends some arms sales to Israel
Tuesday 3 September 2024 09:08 , Joe Middleton
Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) has said it is “deeply concerned” after the UK government decided to suspend around 30 arms export licences to Israel.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the LFI said that it did not think the decision to restrict arms sales to Israel would “bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to a close”.
It added that it was “deeply concerned” about the signal this move sends to Iran.
Our statement on the government's announcement of a partial suspension of arms export licences to Israel. pic.twitter.com/IXqYAnbBQK
— Labour Friends of Israel (@_LFI) September 2, 2024
Immigration numbers could go up under Labour, claims shadow transport secretary
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:51 , Joe Middleton
Shadow transport secretary Helen Whately has said she’s concerned that immigration numbers could go up under Labour and that it is a key issue for voters.
She told Kay Burley, on Sky News: “Immigration is a big issue for voters, it’s far from the only issue, but it is a big issue. And it’s something to which we know there are no easy answers. What I do know for sure is that Labour doesn’t have the answers...
“I’m worried we’ll see immigration numbers go up under Labour and they won’t get control of illegal immigration’.”
'I'm worried we'll see immigration numbers go up under Labour and they won't get control of illegal immigration'.
Shadow Transport Secretary @Helen_Whately on the different immigration policies of potential Tory party leaders.https://t.co/D5LGpTYpWA
📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/8Dt9D9Kiii— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 3, 2024
UK’s decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel made to protect ‘integrity’ system, says former diplomat
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:36 , Joe Middleton
Former British diplomat and national security adviser Lord Peter Ricketts said the government’s decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel was made to protect the “integrity” of the UK’s arms export system.
Lord Ricketts told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “They’ve been very careful, I think.
“They’ve gone into this thoroughly, and they’ve concluded that although they can’t pin individual weapons systems to individual acts in Gaza - because there aren’t the number of observers on the ground to see it - they’ve reached a conclusion that there are certain weapons where there is a clear risk that if they were supplied, they would be used in a way that breaches international humanitarian law.
“And that is one of the conditions in the licenses that we serve to all countries that get British arms.
“So I think their move is about the integrity of the arms export system, rather than any hope that it might change Netanyahu’s mind, which it clearly won’t.”
UK arms sales decision sends a ‘terrible message’, says president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:30 , Joe Middleton
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, has strongly criticised the decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “On the day that those beautiful people were being buried, kidnapped from a music festival like Reading or Glastonbury, the UK decides to send a signal that it’s Israel that it wants to penalise, and that is a terrible, terrible message to be sending both to Israel in its hour of need, also to Hamas about the consequences - where consequences are for the horrific actions that Hamas has taken as a terrorist organisation, but also to other allies and adversaries around the world.
“So it is the wrong decision taken very much at the wrong time.”
New kitten set to join Starmer family in Downing Street, PM reveals
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:24 , Joe Middleton
Sir Keir Starmer has let his children get a new kitten while they live at Downing Street, after “a long summer of negotiations” about a dog, the Prime Minister has revealed.
A “Siberian kitten” will be the Starmer family’s new pet, Sir Keir revealed in a BBC 5 Live interview with Matt Chorley.
The prime minister was asked for an update on remarks he made during the summer general election campaign that his children were lobbying him to get a German shepherd dog.
New kitten set to join Starmer family in Downing Street, PM reveals
What is happening in Westminster on Tuesday - everything you need to know
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:21 , Joe Middleton
8.30am - Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet have their first meeting since the summer recess.
10.30am - Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat will launch his leadership campaign in central London.
11.30am - Urgent Treasury questions will take place in the Commons with chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill will go through the House today.
Over at the House of Lords a debate will take place at 3.20pm on the first report from the Covid inquiry.
Former PM Boris Johnson reacts to UK’s decision to suspend arms sales to Israel
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:13 , Joe Middleton
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Boris Johnson has accused Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy of “abandoning” Israel.
He said: “Hamas is still holding many innocent Jewish hostages while Israel tries to prevent a repeat of the 7th October massacre. Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?”
Hamas is still holding many innocent Jewish hostages while Israel tries to prevent a repeat of the 7th October massacre. Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 3, 2024
UK export licence suspension won’t have ‘material’ impact on Israel, UK minister says
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:08 , Joe Middleton
Defence secretary John Healey said the UK’s decision to suspend some arms exports would not weaken Israel’s security.
He told Times Radio: “It will not have a material impact on Israel’s security.”
Mr Healey said he informed his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, about the suspension before it was announced.
“As I said to the defence minister Yoav Gallant yesterday when I spoke to him before the announcement, we have a duty to follow the law, but this does not alter our unshakable commitment to support Israel’s right to self-defence and to the defence of Israel if it comes under direct attack again, just as UK jets back in April helped intercept Iranian drones and missiles that were targeted directly at Israeli civilians.”
Mr Healey said Mr Gallant “found the call unwelcome”.
“That’s not surprising, but sometimes your closest friends are the ones that need to tell the hardest truths.”
UK chief rabbi slams decision to suspend Israel arms export licences
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:06 , Joe Middleton
Britain’s chief rabbi criticised the government’s decision to suspend some arms export licences to Israel only a few days after the killing of six Israeli hostages in Gaza.
“It beggars belief that the British government, a close strategic ally of Israel, has announced a partial suspension of arms licences,” Ephraim Mirvis said on X.
He said the move would bolster unfounded claims that Israel was in breach of international humanitarian law.
“Sadly, this announcement will serve to encourage our shared enemies,” Mirvis said. “It will not help to secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages, nor contribute to the peaceful future we wish and pray for, for all people in the region and beyond.”
It beggars belief that the British government, a close strategic ally of Israel, has announced a partial suspension of arms licences, at a time when Israel is fighting a war for its very survival on seven fronts forced upon it on the 7th October, and at the very moment when six…
— Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) September 2, 2024
Israel anger after Britain suspends arms sales
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:03 , Joe Middleton
Israel has reacted with fury after the UK suspended around 30 arms export licences to Israel amid concerns a “clear risk” exists that they could be used to breach international humanitarian law.
Foreign secretary David Lammy told the House of Commons on Monday that a review conducted by the UK government could not “arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law” in Gaza, but ministers have a legal duty to review export licences.
He said Israel had a right to defend itself but he said that he was not satisfied with answers after he had raised concerns with the Israeli government.
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said he was “deeply disheartened” by what he described as “sanctions placed by the UK government on export licenses to Israel‘s defence establishment”.
Welcome
Tuesday 3 September 2024 08:03 , Joe Middleton
Good morning,
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