Friday evening news briefing: Starmer begins appointing Cabinet
Good evening. Sir Keir Starmer has started appointing his Cabinet after pledging his government will be one of “service” in his first address to the nation as Prime Minister.
Elsewhere, Nigel Farage has said that Reform UK will campaign to change the “outdated” First Past The Post electoral system.
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Starmer begins appointing Cabinet
Angela Rayner has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and housing secretary and Rachel Reeves is the new Chancellor of the Exchequer. Other appointments to Labour’s Cabinet include David Lammy, who is the new Foreign Secretary and Yvette Cooper, who has been made Home Secretary.
There had been speculation that Mr Lammy would not be given the role, despite him having served as shadow foreign secretary since November 2021 – see further appointments and follow live updates here.
Farage: I’ll campaign to change outdated First Past The Post election system
Reform UK received more than 4 million votes but Mr Farage claimed they could have gained “nearly 100 seats” if the UK had proportional representation – see the full results here.
The Reform UK leader was heckled several times while speaking at a press conference in London, with seven protesters accusing him of racism and bringing “division” to politics.
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Ashworth loses seat to pro-Palestine independent in shock defeat
Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth has lost his seat to a pro-Palestinian independent candidate as the conflict in the Middle-East helped elect at least five pro-Gaza MPs. The shadow paymaster general, who has been central to the Labour campaign, suffered the shock defeat early this morning.
Meanwhile in Birmingham, Jess Phillips was booed and jeered by pro-Palestinian supporters during her acceptance speech.
Evening Briefing: Today’s essential headlines
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US | Disney heiress withdraws donations to Democrats until Biden is replaced
Salisbury | Deliveroo rider bit off customer’s thumb in display of ‘excessive self defence’, court hears
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Comment and analysis
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Sport briefing: Today’s essential headlines
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Gary Neville | Sky makes apology after ‘mafia’ comments
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Uefa | Bellingham fined £25,000 but escapes immediate ban for crotch gesture
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