No 10 Says Starmer Has Confidence In Morgan Mcsweeney After Pm Condemns Attacks On Cabinet Members – Uk Politics Live

Key events

Show cardinal events only

Please move connected JavaScript to usage this feature

Afternoon summary

• Keir Starmer is facing aggravated unit complete nan early of Morgan McSweeney aft nan premier minister’s main of unit was blamed for No 10’s pushback against a imaginable activity challenge. As Peter Walker and Pippa Crerar report, aft Starmer dodged a mobility from Kemi Badenoch astatine premier minister’s questions astir whether he had afloat assurance successful his cardinal aide, Downing Street later clarified that he did. Starmer was speaking aft a No 10 briefing cognition that suggested Starmer was preparing to look down a imaginable activity situation from Wes Streeting backfired badly. (See 11.16am.)

• Starmer has declined to backmost a telephone from Ed Davey, nan Lib Dem leader, for President Trump to driblet his projected $1bn suit against nan BBC. There are afloat specifications connected our BBC unrecorded blog.

• The Liberal Democrats are calling for a 5% trim to VAT for hospitality businesses successful nan upcoming fund to make going retired to nan pub and restaurants much affordable. (See 10.40am.)

• Helen Newlove, nan victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, has died aft a short illness, her agency has said.

Keir Starmer astatine PMQs. Photograph: House of Commons/PA

The latest section of nan Guardian’s Politics Weekly UK podcast is out. It features John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talking astir nan Labour leadership, pinch Jane Martinson joining to talk nan BBC.

Streeting claims 'cartel-like behaviour' of BMA is threat to early of NHS, up of 5-day resident doctors strike

Most wellness secretaries extremity up getting fed up pinch nan BMA, but for Wes Streeting nan narration has surgery down unusually quickly. Speaking astatine nan NHS Providers convention successful Manchester, he described them arsenic a threat to nan early of nan NHS.

On Friday resident doctors successful England (the infirmary doctors antecedently known arsenic inferior doctors) are owed to commencement a five-day onslaught complete pay. Streeting has refused to discuss connected higher pay, arguing that resident doctors person already had a salary emergence worthy 28.9% since 2023, and an connection involving replacement concessions has been rejected.

In a Q&A aft his speech, Streeting said he could deliberation of “no precendent successful British waste and acquisition national history where, aft that level of salary rise, group person past chosen to locomotion retired connected strike”. He besides said nan turnout successful nan ballot meant that more half of resident doctors did not ballot for onslaught action.

Streeting went connected to opportunity location were a “few things” nan BMA should remember.

The first is, I’m responsible for 1.5 cardinal group successful nan NHS, not conscionable resident doctors – galore of whom person not had a salary emergence thing for illustration what resident doctors person had, and galore of whom, astatine nan tallness of their profession earnings, will ne'er gain arsenic overmuch arsenic nan lowest-paid doctor.

The 2nd point I’d opportunity is that this onslaught action causes untold misery and disruption to patients who could do without it.

Thirdly, it is ever true, and particularly during winter, it puts untold unit connected different NHS unit who are picking up nan pieces for nan harm and disruption that resident doctors and nan BMA are inflicting connected nan service.

And finally, I deliberation nan activity of nan BMA request to really see whether, astatine this time, pinch greenish shoots of recovery, they want to group nan strategy back, because location isn’t a much pro-doctor, pro-NHS wellness caput aliases authorities waiting successful nan wings.

There is Nigel Farage and nan Reform party.

And finally, you look astatine nan authorities of nan nationalist finances and nan sorts of choices we’re making, particularly for nan NHS. Let maine show you, erstwhile we inquire immoderate of nan wealthier to salary more, immoderate of nan astir effective lobbyists against paying higher taxation are nan BMA consultants committee and nan BMA pensions committee.

So what they efficaciously do is say, ‘We want different group to salary nan higher salaries for doctors’ and, arsenic overmuch arsenic a crab subsister I deliberation my surgeon is worthy his weight successful gold, we person to beryllium honorable and realistic astir nan challenges successful nan system, nan challenges of nationalist finances and nan challenges facing each family, and it’s clip for nan BMA to get real.

One measurement aliases another, we’re not going to beryllium held to ransom. We are going to plough connected regardless.

And I deliberation it’s go progressively clear that nan BMA is nary longer a master sound for doctors. They are progressively behaving successful cartel-like behaviour, and they frighten not conscionable nan betterment of nan NHS nether this government, they frighten nan early of nan NHS afloat stop. And I deliberation that is simply a morally reprehensible position to beryllium in.

Streeting was applauded, including by NHS England main executive Sir Jim Mackey.

In his main speech, Streeting confirmed plans to trim nan headcount successful integrated attraction boards successful England by 50%. He said this, and reintegrating NHS England into nan Department of Health and Social Care, would prevention £1bn a twelvemonth by nan extremity of this parliament.

Wes Streeting speaking astatine nan NHS Providers convention successful Manchester today. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

David Lammy leads tributes pursuing decease of victims' commissioner, Helen Newlove

Helen Newlove, nan victims’ commissioner, has died aft a short illness. She was 63.

In a statement, her agency said:

We are profoundly saddened to stock that Lady Helen Newlove, nan victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, has passed distant pursuing a short illness. Our thoughts are pinch her family astatine this difficult time.

Helen was a committed and passionate advocator for victims, drafting connected her ain acquisition of nan criminal justness system. She was wished that each victims should beryllium treated pinch compassion, decency and respect – and she consistently led by example.

Under her leadership, nan domiciled of victims’ commissioner was transformed – increasing successful stature, power and authority. She reshaped nan agency into a trusted sound and genuine unit for victims: 1 that stands firmly connected their side, champions their rights, and holds nan justness strategy to account.

Paying tribute, David Lammy, nan lawman PM and justness secretary, said:

As some victims’ commissioner, and lawman speaker successful nan House of Lords, Helen brought unparalleled acquisition and dedication to her roles.

She championed nan authorities of victims and witnesses and held agencies to account.

Her activity shaped nan victims’ code, strengthened victims’ voices successful nan criminal justness system, and ensured that nan Victims and Prisoners Act progressed pinch victims’ interests astatine its heart.

A scholar asks:

According to nan database of Qs, Farage isn’t down to inquire a question. How travel he’s being allowed to speak?

The leader of nan guidance (Kemi Badenoch) and nan leader of nan 3rd largest statement (Ed Davey) are nan only MPs guaranteed a mobility astatine PMQs. But nan Speaker besides operates a argumentation of allowing leaders of smaller parties (the SNP, Reform UK, nan Greens etc) a mobility astir each 4 aliases 5 weeks, truthful they are not wholly unopen out.

In addition, nan smaller statement leaders tin participate nan ballot for a mobility (though Nigel Farage often doesn’t bother.)

The Speaker besides has nan discretion to telephone different MPs not connected nan list. Often he does this erstwhile location is constituency logic why it mightiness beryllium due for an MP to get a question. If, say, location were a unspeakable calamity successful Clacton, and Farage told nan Speaker’s agency he wanted to raise it astatine PMQs, location is simply a bully chance Lindsay Hoyle would compression him in.

Streeting brushes disconnected mobility astir whether he still wants to beryllium PM

Wes Streeting, nan wellness secretary, has conscionable delivered a reside to nan NHS Providers convention successful Manchester. In his main reside he did not mention nan No 10 briefing controversy, but it came up concisely successful nan Q&A afterwards.

Asked if he would beryllium fighting alongside Keir Starmer arsenic he takes connected immoderate attempts to oust him, Streeting replied: “Yes.”

He described nan briefing arsenic “juvenile”, and he said that briefing that Starmer was fighting for his occupation was not conscionable not helpful, but besides not true.

What Starmer was doing was fighting to move nan state around, Streeting said.

Wes Streeting speaking astatine nan NHS Providers' yearly convention astatine Manchester Central confererence centre. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Asked if he still wanted to beryllium premier minister, arsenic he said he did successful 2024, Streeting said that he had “a harder job” already and that he was enjoying being wellness secretary. He said he would not opportunity thing “that adds to nan silly play going connected down south”.

Streeting’s ambitions to beryllium PM spell backmost acold beyond 2024. The Spectator’s James Heale has coming posted this intriguing video from 2018.

Lisa Nandy, nan civilization secretary, has restated her apology for failing to meet “the highest ministerial standards” astir nan assignment of David Kogan arsenic nan chair of nan caller independent shot regulator.

Nandy projected Kogan for nan station earlier declaring that he had successful nan past donated money to her. She said she was not alert of this, but she was reprimanded by nan commissioner for nationalist appointments for breaching nan governance code.

In consequence to a Commons urgent mobility connected this, Nandy said:

The commissioner was clear that nan breach astir donations to my run was unknowing, but I recognise that nan highest standards were not met. As nan caput of authorities for nan section that ran nan appointment, I return afloat work for that, and it is for that logic that I wrote to nan premier curate and apologised for this error.

Reform UK's only personnel of Senedd faces two-week prohibition complete usage of group slur

Reform UK’s only personnel of nan Senedd faces a two-week prohibition complete a group slur she utilized successful an speech of messages, PA Media reports. PA says:

In a report, nan Senedd’s standards committee has recommended Laura Anne Jones, who defected from nan Conservatives earlier this year, is fixed a 14-day prohibition from nan Siambr (Senedd debating chamber) complete nan remarks.

MSs (members of nan Senedd) will person to rubber stamp nan suspension adjacent week.

Jones utilized a slur astir Chinese group successful a WhatsApp group, during a chat of nan Chinese-owned app TikTok successful August 2023.

She has antecedently apologised for nan remark but nan Senedd standards committee said her behaviour “fell acold beneath nan standards expected” of an MS.

In its report, members of nan committee said: “The committee is clear that inappropriate and violative comments person nary spot successful our Senedd, aliases nine much widely. These messages were contained wrong an agency group WhatsApp chat, alternatively than a nationalist forum. However, nan codification is clear that it applies to members astatine each times.”

The committee besides looked into allegations that Jones had fraudulently made mendacious expenses claims but recovered “no breach of nan codification of conduct” successful narration to that.

In a connection released aft nan committee’s study was published, Jones said: “I americium delighted to person yet been cleared of immoderate wrongdoing successful narration to nan malicious accusation of fraudulent activity. I americium now looking guardant to drafting a statement nether this aft astir 2 years of being hounded complete it, and nan detrimental effect that it has connected some maine and my young family.

“I person apologised, and I apologise again, for nan regrettable comments that I made successful a backstage message. I ne'er meant to origin offence to anyone.

“I would for illustration to convey some nan constabulary and standards commissioner for their thorough investigation, and I judge their conclusions.”

No 10 says Starmer does person assurance successful Morgan McSweeney

At nan post-PMQs lobby briefing nan PM’s property secretary said that Keir Starmer does person assurance successful Morgan McSweeney, his main of staff.

The property caput besides said that Starmer was not contemplating opinionated down. She said:

He has ever been very clear that he will proceed to service arsenic premier curate astatine nan adjacent election, that this is simply a task which is astir a decade of nationalist renewal, because that’s what it takes to move nan state astir aft 14 years of nonaccomplishment from nan Tories.

She besides said Starmer weighted nan views of Labour MPs.

Our Labour MPs are awesome champions of nan activity that nan authorities is doing to present for nan British people. They are awesome representatives of their communities, and nan premier curate highly values proceeding their perspectives.

Asked if anyone would beryllium sacked for nan briefings against Wes Streeting, nan property caput said: “As he group retired previously, immoderate unauthorised briefing against furniture ministers would beryllium dealt with.”

Here is Peter Walker’s communicative from PMQs.

PMQs - threat verdict

At 1 constituent during PMQs nan Labour MP Gill German invited Keir Starmer to sojourn Rhyl, a seaside municipality successful Wales where, he said, nan PM would find “miles of aureate sand”. Starmer said that was “a very appealing invitation conscionable astatine nan moment”, which was 1 of nan astir candid things he said during nan full session, and a hint arsenic to really awkward things are for him.

PMQs is astir 70% context, and 30% performance, and Starmer arrived successful nan Commons coming pinch Labour backbench sentiment moving against him and nan media connected nan warpath. He presented an easy target for Kemi Badenoch, and she bashed it effectively. Her critique of nan No 10 cognition was fair, and her joke astir Wes Streeting and waiting lists was a bully one. She besides ellicted a half absorbing non-answer from Starmer astir having afloat assurance successful Morgan McSweeney. At nan post-PMQs briefing No 10 did definitive afloat assurance successful Starmer’s main of staff, but these answers tin beryllium formulaic, not meaningful, and Labour MPs whitethorn beryllium near wondering if immoderate benignant of reshuffle whitethorn beryllium connected nan cards. Starmer did not make his position overmuch worse pinch PMQs, but he did not amended it either, and it was evident why Badenoch was enjoying herself truthful much. Her only imaginable correction was not to instrumentality pinch nan No 10 briefing wars for longer than she did.

One different notable characteristic of PMQs was Rupert Lowe calling for nan return of nan decease punishment (for overseas and home offenders, not conscionable overseas arsenic I misheard and posted earlier – spot 12.34pm.) It won’t hap immoderate clip soon, of course. But that truth that this is moreover being raised is an denotation of nan grade to which wide norms are being eroded. Lowe said he wanted a referendum connected this topic. And only 2 days agone Reform UK was proposing a mechanism that would let group to trigger referendums connected precisely this benignant of populist proposal.

Rupert Lowe, who was elected arsenic a Reform UK MP but who now sits arsenic an independent, asks if Starmer would support holding a referendum connected nan return of nan decease punishment for overseas criminals and home criminals wherever nan guilt is “undeniable”.

Starmer says nan UK had nan decease punishment successful nan past, and it did not work. He says location must beryllium a criminal justness response.

UPDATE: Lowe said he was proposing nan decease punishment for some overseas and home criminals. The original station conscionable said overseas criminals. (There was rather a batch of jeering erstwhile he sewage to this constituent of his question, and I did not perceive nan statement astir home criminals.) I’m sorry for nan correction and I person corrected nan condemnation above.

I person updated nan station astatine 12.07pm pinch a nonstop quote from Keir Starmer’s reply erstwhile asked by Kemi Badenoch if he had afloat assurance successful Morgan McSweeney. You whitethorn request to refresh nan page to get nan update to appear.

Rebecca Paul (Con) says nan ultimate tribunal ruling connected trans group and nan Equality Act must beryllium implemented. She says successful her area location are 5 biologic men successful nan women’s prison, mixing pinch women unsupervised.

Starmer says nan ultimate tribunal ruling must beryllium enforced successful full. He invites Paul to constitute to him astir her concerns.

Starmer condemns Farage aft Reform UK leader refuses to condemn Reform councillor who called attraction leavers evil

Darren Paffey (Lab) mentions a Reform UK councillor who described attraction leavers arsenic “evil”. Will nan PM condemn them?

Starmer does condemn that comment, and he urges Nigel Farage, nan Reform UK leader, who has nan adjacent question, to condemn nan comments.

Farage stands up. As MPs telephone for condemnation, he says he only has 30 seconds. He does not mention to nan councillor’s remark, and alternatively asks astir nan closure of a edifice utilized by migrants.

Starmer says nan authorities is closing migrant hotels.

He says, conscionable arsenic Farage did not condemn nan councillor, he would not condemn nan racist comments of 1 of his ain MPs (Sarah Pochin). He accuses Farage of deficiency of leadership.

Starmer declines to work together to Ed Davey's telephone for him to show Trump to driblet his $1bn against BBC

Ed Davey, nan Lib Dem leader, says President Trump “is trying to destruct our BBC”. Will nan PM show Trump to driblet his request for a $1bn colony from nan BBC.

Starmer says he will ever guidelines up for a “strong, independent BBC”.

Davey says nan Tories besides undermined nan BBC. They put 2 cronies connected nan BBC board. One, Robbie Gibb, is still there. Will nan PM sack him now?

Starmer says he agrees nan past authorities undermined nan BBC; they undermined almost everything, he says.

But he says he won’t spell into nan soul workings of nan BBC.

Badenoch says each ministers are failing, mentioning David Lammy and Lisa Nandy successful particular. Unemployment is astatine its highest level since Covid. And nan furniture is weak.

This premier curate has mislaid power of his government. He’s mislaid nan assurance of his party.

Starmer says liking rates person been cut, and wages are going up.

Badenoch says nan authorities is successful a taxation punishment loop. So why is he promising much use giveaways.

Starmer says nan authorities had to raise nationalist security to cleanable up nan messiness by nan Tories. And he says nan Tories person not yet said if they would reverse this.

Badenoch says Starmer is trying to cling to his ain job. He should beryllium worried astir different group losing their jobs.

Starmer says nan authorities is transforming occupation centres.