UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is introducing several key policy initiatives, including a defence investment plan, renewed EU ties, and social media restrictions for children, amidst speculation of his legacy as leader.
David Cameron offered Boris Johnson a "top five" cabinet position, such as defence secretary, if he supported the UK remaining in the EU during the 2016 referendum. Johnson ultimately backed the Leave campaign.
David Cameron offered Boris Johnson a "top five" cabinet position, such as defence secretary, if he agreed to campaign for the UK to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum. Johnson ultimately chose to back the Leave campaign.
An international court ruled the UK does not owe Rwanda millions for a failed migrant deportation scheme. Rwanda had sued for over £100m, but the court found the UK not liable for outstanding costs.
Carrie Johnson believes John Worboys may have assaulted up to 1,000 women. Worboys is serving a life sentence for drugging and attacking women in his taxi. The Parole Board recently refused him parole, citing his high risk of reoffending.
Reform UK leader has registered wide range of financial interests on top of his Commons salary since July 2024Cameo, speeches, pushing gold bullion: how Farage has made millions since becoming an MPNigel Farage’s income since he was elected as an MP has now reached £2m on top of his parliamentary salary, analysis of the register of MPs has shown.Farage’s earning power sets him alongside a small number of MPs who have been able to leverage their status for external income alongside their day jobs – drawing comparisons to Boris Johnson, who made about £5m on top of his MP’s salary in the six months after he resigned as prime minister. Continue reading...
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle earlier confirmed that MPs will decide whether to let inquiry into Keir Starmer’s statements over Peter Mandelson proceedDowning Street has said that the UK is “in a good position” to handle the global supply problems caused by the Iran war not being resolved.Speaking at the morning lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson said:We remain focused on a long-term, permanent solution to the crisis. As a result of the forward-planning, the government undertook over the past few months, the UK is in a good position.We’re ramping up planning for all different potential impacts on the UK economy and consumers, and that means focusing on a live monitoring of stock levels and what plans are in place for addressing supply chain disruption.Even Boris Johnson didn’t block his MPs voting for scrutiny. Labour MPs must be given a free vote on any motion to refer Starmer to the privileges committee, not forced into being accomplices to a cover-up.If Keir Starmer has misled the House and the public, he must be held to the same standard that we should expect of any prime minister. Continue reading...
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has confirmed MPs will debate a Tory motion tomorrow calling for the privileges committee to investigate whether Keir Starmer misled parliament about the Peter Mandelson vetting process. Former PM Gordon Brown has urged Labour MPs to support Starmer, with the government working to defeat the motion backed by a three-line whip. The debate follows publication of a cabinet office memo stating appropriate processes were followed in Mandelson's appointment. Meanwhile, progress is reported in the Birmingham bin strike, with a settlement now within sight.
Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle has confirmed MPs will debate and vote tomorrow on Kemi Badenoch's motion to refer Keir Starmer to the privileges committee over claims the PM misled parliament about Peter Mandelson's appointment as Washington ambassador. Hoyle received letters from various MPs including the opposition leader and, after taking advice, decided to let MPs decide. Badenoch claims the case against Starmer is 'overwhelming' and that he appointed a 'national security risk.' Downing Street called it a 'desperate political stunt' the week before local elections.
Kemi Badenoch urges Labour MPs to support an inquiry into Keir Starmer's conduct, while John Swinney states the SNP will hold an independence referendum vote if they win the Holyrood election.
Meeting could coincide with possible Commons debate on claims he lied to MPs about Mandelson’s vettingDowning Street has said that the UK is “in a good position” to handle the global supply problems caused by the Iran war not being resolved.Speaking at the morning lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson said:We remain focused on a long-term, permanent solution to the crisis. As a result of the forward-planning, the government undertook over the past few months, the UK is in a good position.We’re ramping up planning for all different potential impacts on the UK economy and consumers, and that means focusing on a live monitoring of stock levels and what plans are in place for addressing supply chain disruption.Even Boris Johnson didn’t block his MPs voting for scrutiny. Labour MPs must be given a free vote on any motion to refer Starmer to the privileges committee, not forced into being accomplices to a cover-up.If Keir Starmer has misled the House and the public, he must be held to the same standard that we should expect of any prime minister. Continue reading...
Emily Thornberry says foreign affairs committee already looking into issue and more documents are due to be publishedGood morning. Kemi Badenoch is trying to get Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, to give MPs a vote on a proposal to get the Commons privileges committee to investigate allegations that Keir Starmer lied to MPs in statements he made to them about the vetting of Peter Mandelson. Other opposition parties may be backing her, but we don’t know for sure because the process is relatively secret; MPs have to write a private letter to the speaker, who then decides whether this is a serious request that should be decided by the Commons as a whole, or a frivolous complaint that should be ignored. (We do know that Karl Turner has written to the speaker about this too, but only because he was daft enough to post his letter on social media last week.) Today we are likely to find out whether or not Hoyle is agreeing to a Commons vote.Boris Johnson was referred to the privileges committee over allegations that he lied to MPs about Partygate (allegations the committee concluded were justified). Badenoch wants to make the case that Starmer is just as dishonest as Johnson. He isn’t, by any stretch, and the claims that Starmer lied to MPs about Mandelson are spurious; they relate to contest intepretations of political language of the kind that are commonplace in parliamentary debate. But the fact that this has even become a live consideration for the speaker is a big win for the Tories.The fact that Kemi Badenoch has changed the accusations she is levelling against the PM on an almost daily basis as her claims have failed to stand up to scrutiny shows what this is really about. This is a nakedly political stunt with no substance ahead of the May elections.Any comparison with Boris Johnson is absurd. When parliament referred that matter to the privileges committee, a police investigation had directly disproved his categoric statements that he knew nothing about the breach of lockdown rules.I suppose our constituents might ask [if a privileges committee goes ahead], have we got the balance right between holding the government to account and seemingly squabbling amongst ourselves when there is so much else going on that perhaps parliament ought to be focusing on as well.I have to say, a really truthful position is, why the rush at the moment? Has it got anything to do with local elections? Continue reading...
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a "privilege motion" and accusations of misleading parliament over the controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, echoing the scandals that led to Boris Johnson's resignation.
Former Labour MP Karl Turner has urged the Commons Speaker to refer Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the privileges committee to examine whether he misled parliament over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington. The controversy stems from conflicting testimony: Starmer claimed during PMQs that no pressure was put on the Foreign Office, quoting former permanent secretary Oliver Robbins, who later told MPs that 'constant pressure' was applied. Robbins was sacked by Starmer last week after being disclosed to have overturned a vetting denial. The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and SNP are pushing for a Johnson-style motion allowing all MPs to vote on whether the committee should explore if Starmer was in contempt of parliament.
Former British PM Boris Johnson has condemned the 'delay' and 'timidity' of Western support for Ukraine after a 72-hour trip to the frontlines near Zaporizhzhia, stating that current aid efforts are failing to meet previous pledges.
