Braverman denies she will defect to Reform as IT outage forces Labour Cobra meeting – live

Tory party leadership hopeful Suella Braverman has denied she will defect to Reform UK if she loses the contest.

“There’s now so much antagonism towards Suella Braverman among MPs that there is now a generally held view that she will defect,” a senior Tory source told the i newspaper.

But a spokesperson for the ex-home secretary denied this, saying: “Suella has only recently been elected as a Conservative MP and has been a Conservative Party member for three decades.”

However, a Reform source said they expected her to defect after losing the Tory leadership race, perhaps in the autumn, around conference time.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government is set to resume funding to UN Palestine relief agency UNRWA for Palestinians escaping the war in Gaza.

The Conservative government stopped the money alongside the US in January following accusations from Israel that staff members were involved in the 7 October attacks.

Following the major IT outage hitting airlines, train companies and banks, government officials held a Cobra emergency meeting to address the chaos for train and GP services and television channels.

Key Points

• Suella Braverman denies she will defect to Reform UK

• Volodymyr Zelensky urges Starmer to ‘show leadership’

• Cobra emergency meeting held amid IT outage chaos

• Tories so diminished that nearly half their MPs on front bench

• UK government restores funding to UNRWA for Palestinians in Gaza

• Zelensky appeals for permission to bomb Russian targets in Cabinet address

Migrant dies in latest tragedy during English Channel crossings

21:40 , Salma Ouaguira

A migrant has died in the English Channel as “yet another life” was lost, following five other deaths of people attempting the journey in the last week.

Five people were pulled from the water after a “heavily loaded” boat got into difficulty off the coast of Calais, France, at around 1am on Friday, the French coastguard said.

Some 86 migrants were rescued and brought on board the French ship PSP Cormoran, but one unconscious person could not be saved, it added.

All the survivors were taken to Calais.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: “It is a tragedy that yet another life has been lost and the Prime Minister spoke to such an incident just yesterday.”

She said the incident “underlines the stark reality of the dangers of these crossings and the callousness of the criminal gangs who are driving this”.

The spokeswoman said the Prime Minister and Home Secretary are “working to address this and step-up enforcement”, including through “work we’ll be carrying out with European partners”.

Housing crisis is holding Britain back, says Deputy Prime Minister Rayner

21:21 , Salma Ouaguira

Britain is being held back by its “housing crisis” and the new Government has a “mountain to climb” to address it, according to Angela Rayner.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the new Labour administration has already taken the first steps in response, as she pointed to plans to reform the planning process to boost house building.

Ms Rayner, who is also Housing Secretary, added that the Government is also committed to the “biggest wave” of social and affordable housing for a generation.

In the King’s Speech, the Government said the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would reform the system to help meet the goal of building 1.5 million more homes over the course of the Parliament – deciding “how, not if” properties are built.

Opening day three of the King’s Speech debate, Ms Rayner said she pledged to “always tell it as it is” during her maiden speech in 2015 before adding in the Commons: “I think that’s one promise I have kept to.

“Now I intend to fulfil another because we promised the people of this country that we will serve their interests and not ours.

“That starts by having the honesty to say that we will not be able to put right the mess of the past 14 years immediately, but after just two weeks we have already made a difference.”

Tory architect of GCSEs welcomes Labour review of ‘outmoded’ tests

21:00 , Salma Ouaguira

A Tory former education secretary who introduced the GCSE system in the late 1980s has branded the tests “outmoded” as peers debated the King’s Speech.

Lord Baker of Dorking welcomed Labour’s curriculum and assessment review, launched on Friday, which aims to ensure a child’s background does not prevent them from receiving a high standard of education.

Lord Baker, who went on to be home secretary in the early 1990s, suggested that GCSEs should be scrapped, along with other current assessments and curriculums.

The Conservative peer told ministers in the Lords: “Could I also surprise you by saying I welcome entirely all the proposals you put today to the House? I hope it’s the beginning of a great reforming Government.

“Endorsements by me of statements from the education department for the last 14 years have been rather rare events, but I hope this is a very good start.

“In your manifesto, you said that there’s going to be an expert-led review of the curriculum and assessment. Well done, congratulations, I urged the last government to do it again and again.

“Seven committees were set up that all urged that and said you should scrap EBacc and Progress 8 and also GCSEs, which I introduced, which I think are now outmoded.”

Tory leadership hopeful Suella Braverman denies claims she will defect to Reform UK

20:41 , Andy Gregory

Tory leadership hopeful Suella Braverman has rejected suggestions she will likely defect to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK later this year if she loses the contest.

“There’s now so much antagonism towards Suella Braverman among MPs that there is now a generally held view that she will defect,” a senior Tory source told the i newspaper. “If she does, it will be a clear admission that she could not win the leadership and does not have the support of any MPs in the party.”

But a spokesperson for the ex-home secretary denied the claim, telling the outlet: “Suella has only recently been elected as a Conservative MP and has been a Conservative Party member for three decades.”

However, a Reform source was quoted as saying: “We expect her to take a tilt at the Tory leadership and then come over to us, perhaps in the autumn around conference time.

“She’ll fit in well.”

Paused asylum claims will be dealt with ‘as a priority’, High Court told

20:40 , Salma Ouaguira

The legal claims of several migrants once threatened with deportation to Rwanda could be resolved within a week after the Government pledged to process “paused” asylum applications “as a priority”, the High Court has been told.

Asylum seekers who arrived in the UK between January 1, 2022 and June 29, 2023 had been threatened with removal under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) signed with the east African country by the former Conservative government, a judge was told.

In February, the Home Office said asylum applications of those who could be removed had previously been “paused” amid legal challenges over the Rwanda scheme.

The plan was scrapped by the Labour Government shortly after it was elected earlier this month, but some migrants had already begun legal action over the so-called “pause policy”.

A preliminary hearing in London on Friday was due to hear the progress of the claims of two asylum seekers taking legal action, with the court previously told the Home Office had acted unlawfully by delaying its decision over their applications.

Whitehall crisis officials working on IT outage, Cabinet minister says

20:20 , Salma Ouaguira

Whitehall crisis officials are working to end the “inconvenience” caused by the major IT outage hitting airlines, train companies and banks, Cabinet minister Pat McFadden has said.

An emergency Cobra meeting was held at official level – rather than ministers – on Friday morning to discuss the chaos, with a further gathering expected later.

Ministers are being kept updated and are in touch with their sectors to tackle the fallout from the IT failures, with Transport Secretary Louise Haigh saying she was working “at pace with industry” after trains and flights ground to a halt.

US cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike is “actively working” to fix the flaw in a software update that sparked the outage that knocked businesses and institutions around the globe offline.

In the UK, transport networks were thrown into chaos, GP surgeries were unable to book appointments or access patient records and Sky News went off air.

Mr McFadden, who as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is in charge of the Whitehall machine, told the BBC: “We’ve had a major global IT outage today, causing huge inconvenience around the world, particularly for people travelling, for media organisations and for some parts of the health care system.”

Pressed on what the Government can do to help people, he said the “first thing we always want to identify is the cause” and then “to make sure that a fix is put in place and that the inconvenience that is being felt comes to an end as soon as possible”.

Four in 10 Tory MPs now on front bench as Sunak makes more appointments

20:00 , Salma Ouaguira

Four in 10 Conservative MPs are now on the party’s front bench after Rishi Sunak made further appointments to his interim opposition team.

The former prime minister announced a flurry of junior appointments on Friday following the unveiling of his temporary shadow cabinet last week.

Friday’s announcement means there are now 51 MPs on the Conservative front bench, amounting to 42% of the total parliamentary party and underlining how far Tory numbers have dwindled.

Around 10 of those appointed on Friday are also doing more than one job.

Andrew Bowie, the shadow veterans minister, is now also a shadow energy security and net zero minister.

Hampshire MP Paul Holmes has been given three jobs, shadowing the Foreign Office and the Northern Ireland Office while also acting as a Tory whip.

Other appointments made on Friday include Alicia Kearns, the former Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman, who has been made a shadow Foreign Office minister, and Danny Kruger, co-chair of the New Conservatives group, who has been made a shadow defence minister.

Starmer condemns ‘despicable’ sentence of US reporter Gershkovich in Russia

19:40 , Salma Ouaguira

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the “despicable” sentencing of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by a Russian court on espionage charges which were rejected by his employer and the US as a sham.

The Prime Minister said the jailing underscored Moscow’s “utter contempt for media freedom” and called for the journalist’s immediate release.

Mr Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in prison after a swift and secretive trial in Russia’s highly politicised legal system.

The 32-year-old was detained in March last year while on a reporting trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg and accused of spying for the US, which he denies.

He has been behind bars ever since, becoming the first US journalist taken into Russian custody on espionage charges since Nicholas Daniloff in 1986, at the height of the Cold War.

In a statement on Friday, Sir Keir wrote: “The sentencing of (Wall Street Journal) reporter Evan Gershkovich is despicable and only serves to underscore Russia’s utter contempt for media freedom.

“Journalism should not be a crime. Gershkovich must be released immediately.”

The Lords know who among them are dishonourable grifters

19:20 , Salma Ouaguira

Labour’s House of Lords reform is a good start, says Alan Rusbridger – now we should ask them to finish the job and start getting some of these turkeys to vote for Christmas:

The Lords know who among them are dishonourable grifters

Tory MP warns Conservatives may not yet be at its ‘lowest ebb’

19:00 , Salma Ouaguira

Robert Jenrick has warned the Tories may not be at their “lowest ebb” yet and warned things could “undoubtedly could get worse”.

The ex-immigration minister, who could be running at the Tory leadership contest, said the party needs to “repent” for the mistakes made while in power.

Speaking on the BBC”s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast, he said: “I think that’s a possibility. I don’t think that we should assume that the result that we’ve just suffered is our lowest ebb.

“If we fail to act now, with seriousness, and change the Conservative Party, then things undoubtedly could get worse.

“That’s why I think that we have to respond to this challenge by repenting for some of the mistakes we’ve made, such as on immigration, but not just on immigration.”

Tories so diminished that nearly half of its MPs on front bench

18:50 , Jane Dalton

Four in 10 Conservative MPs are now on the party’s front bench after Rishi Sunak made further appointments to his interim opposition team.

The former prime minister announced a flurry of junior appointments on Friday following the unveiling of his temporary shadow cabinet last week.

Friday’s announcement means there are now 51 MPs on the Conservative front bench, amounting to 42% of the total parliamentary party and underlining how far Tory numbers have dwindled.

Around 10 of those appointed on Friday are also doing more than one job.

Andrew Bowie, the shadow veterans minister, is now also a shadow energy security and net zero minister.

Hampshire MP Paul Holmes has been given three jobs, shadowing the Foreign Office and the Northern Ireland Office while also acting as a Tory whip.

Other appointments made on Friday include Alicia Kearns, the former Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman, who has been made a shadow Foreign Office minister, and Danny Kruger, co-chair of the New Conservatives group, who has been made a shadow defence minister.

In the Lords, Earl Howe has been made shadow deputy leader of the house, continuing a 33-year unbroken run on the Conservative front bench that started when he was made a whip under John Major in 1991.

Friday’s appointments are likely to be temporary, with Mr Sunak’s replacement making their own choices once they have been elected.

Mayor of West Yorkshire ‘absolutely apalled’ by riots in Leeds

18:40 , Salma Ouaguira

Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, said she is “absolutely appalled by the violent and thoughtless actions witnessed in Harehills last night”.

In a statement, she continued: “Such criminal behaviour will not be tolerated and I am in touch with West Yorkshire Police for regular updates on the progress of their investigation.

“I would urge everyone to refrain from speculation on social media and if members of the public believe they have footage of criminal behaviour, I would ask for this to be passed on to the police.

“I am relieved that nobody was seriously hurt in this incident – we will provide any support we can to the people of Harehills following the violence perpetrated in their community.”

Zelensky: ‘We feel this support'

18:20 , Salma Ouaguira

In a bilateral meeting with Sir Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK for its “unity” with and backing for Kyiv and said “we feel this support”.

Mr Zelensky said he wanted to discuss “strong decisions” in the war in Ukraine.

“Thank you for the invitation for the privilege for me to be here,” he said. “Thanks for this unity. We feel this support and your strong decisions helped us to defend freedom and democracy in Ukraine and helped very much Ukrainian people.”

He added: “I also want to discuss with you today also strong decisions we can have in this war (to) help us.”

Rwanda plan migrants’ cases could be resolved soon, court hears

18:10 , Jane Dalton

The legal claims of several migrants once threatened with deportation to Rwanda could be resolved within a week after the government pledged to process “paused” asylum applications as a priority, the High Court has been told.

Asylum-seekers who arrived in the UK between January 1, 2022 and June 29, 2023 had been threatened with removal under a deal called the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) signed with the east African country by the former Conservative government, a judge was told.

In February, the Home Office said asylum applications of those who could be removed had been “paused”.

The plan was scrapped by the Labour government shortly after it was elected, but some migrants had already begun legal action over the so-called “pause policy”.

A preliminary hearing in London on Friday was due to hear the progress of the claims of two asylum-seekers taking legal action.

Kate Grange KC, for the Home Office, said in written submissions that the new Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, had been giving careful consideration on how to manage the MEDP cohort since being appointed to the role and decided that all of their asylum applications will be “substantively determined in the UK”.

Conservatives take aim at Angela Rayner after Badenoch’s 'reality check’

18:00 , Salma Ouaguira

Nigel Farage condemned for ‘anti-immigrant’ rhetoric over Leeds riots comment

17:45 , Salma Ouaguira

Nigel Farage has been condemned after branding the riots in Leeds a consequence of the “politics of the subcontinent”.

The Reform UK leader took to social media to comment about the violence that broke out in the streets of Harehills yesterday night. He wrote: “The politics of the subcontinent are currently playing out on the streets of Leeds. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The remarks have been widely denounced with secretary general of the Muslim Council slamming the remarks by “far-right commentators” an “anti-immigrant rhetoric”.

Zara Mohammed said: “Dreadful and dishonest attempts by far-right commentators to smear alarming events at Harehill as Muslim riots, inciting hate and playing to anti-immigrant rhetoric. Despite bravely trying to manage the crowd and calm tension, Councillor Mothin Ali subject to fake news and abuse.”

Local MP Alex Sobel has also criticised the Reform leader accusing him of spreading misinformation on the incident.

He said: “This is a situation you know nothing about and no one has briefed you on.You are inflaming a situation with misinformation.

“Politicians have a responsibility to not exacerbate situations particularly with no knowledge of them.I expect you to issue an apology.”

Border Force returns small boat Channel migrants to France for first time

17:25 , Salma Ouaguira

The UK took migrants saved in the Channel back to France for the first time in a sign of increased Anglo-French cooperation on small boats.

A Border Force Ranger catamaran and an RNLI lifeboat were dispatched from Dover after France called for help on Wednesday.

French ship PSP Cormoran picked up 59 people in the operation, and the British vessel rescued another 13.

One migrant died when their small boat deflated near Calais and they could not be resuscitated, but the other 71 people were taken back to France in both ships.

It was the first time a British vessel picked up migrants in French waters and returned them to France.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full story:

Border Force returns Channel migrants to France for first time

Zelensky calls on UK to allow Ukrainian strikes on Russia

17:20 , Jane Dalton

Volodymyr Zelensky used his historic address to the cabinet to urge Sir Keir Starmer to “show leadership” and let Ukraine use British weapons for strikes deep inside Russia:

Zelensky calls on Starmer to ‘show leadership’ and allow Ukrainian strikes on Russia

Defence secretary reiterates UK’s ‘steadfast support’ for Ukraine

17:00 , Salma Ouaguira

The UK will provide military aid funding to Ukraine “for every year for the rest of the decade,” John Healey said.

The Defence Secretary told Times Radio: “If we take the starting point that the defence of the UK starts in Ukraine and if Putin wins in Ukraine he will not stop there, then we must stand with Ukraine, we’re determined to do that.

“And it isn’t just that. We’ve stepped up extra support in these first two weeks in Government.

“We’ve also confirmed the commitment of extra military aid funding this year and for every year for the rest of the decade. As long as it takes.”

He added: “When Keir Starmer said Britain will continue our steadfast support for Ukraine he meant it.”

Farage defends visting ‘friend’ Trump weeks after being elected as MP

16:45 , Salma Ouaguira

Nigel Farage says it was right he travelled to the US to support Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention and hit back at the suggestion the trip was a disservice to his new constituents.

After he was elected as Clacton’s MP two weeks ago, the UK Reform party leader attended the King’s Speech on Wednesday morning before quickly flying out to Milwaukee in Wisconsin for the event.

Mr Trump is set to give his acceptance speech at the convention on Thursday evening, five days after surviving an attempted assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania at the weekend.

Farage defends jetting to see ‘friend’ Trump in US weeks after being elected as MP

Council’s ‘spreadsheet’ blunder sees 6,500 election votes missed

16:25 , Salma Ouaguira

More than 6,000 votes cast in a London constituency for the general election were missed off due to a “spreadsheet issue”.

Wandsworth Council has apologised after revealing it had mistakenly failed to include 6,558 votes in the declaration of the election result in Putney.

The first published result had shown Labour’s Fleur Anderson held onto the seat with 20,952 votes, beating Conservative Lee Roberts who received 10,011.

However, almost two weeks after the 4 July general election, the council revealed it had made a mistake and published a revised list of the results on its website.

Council’s ‘spreadsheet’ blunder sees more than 6,500 general election votes missed

Starmer open to process asylum seekers offshore in return deal with the EU

16:05 , Salma Ouaguira

Sir Keir Starmer is considering plans to process asylum seekers outside the UK territory in a bid to bring a new immigration policy.

During the European Politcal Community summit on Thursday, the prime minister said he was open to the idea after holding bylateral meetings with Emmanual Macron, Edi Rama and Giorgia Meloni.

Sir Keir said: “In relation to the agreement between Albania and Italy, obviously there’s interest in how that might work, but that wasn’t actually the central discussion in the taskforce in the roundtable. That was about the practical measures that we want to discuss, which is about how we deal with taking the gangs down in the first place.

“But look, I’m a practical person. I’m a pragmatist. And I’ve always said we’ll look at what works and where cases can be processed closer to origin, then that is something which of course ought to be looked at.”

Can Keir Starmer take the brakes off Britain’s railways?

15:55 , Salma Ouaguira

Renationalising the railway fulfils Labour’s election promise. Sean O’Grady takes a closer look at how the new government plans to do it:

Can Keir Starmer take the brakes off Britain’s railways?

More than 5,000 early-career nursing staff quit profession in one year

15:48 , Salma Ouaguira

A fifth of the nursing and midwifery professionals who left the register in the last year did so within 10 years of joining, figures show.

Nursing leaders described the statistic as “deeply alarming” and called on ministers to “grasp the nettle and make nursing an attractive career”.

The latest Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) annual report on its register of nurses, midwives and nursing associates in the UK shows 27,168 staff left the profession between April 2023 and March 2024, a slight decrease on the previous 12 months.

However, 20.3% of the total – or 5,508 – did so within the first 10 years.

This is compared to 18.8% in 2020/2021 and “reflects a rise over the last three years”, according to the report.

The figures come after health secretary Wes Streeting was under pressure to launch an inquiry following a damning review into the UK’s nursing and midwifery watchdog.

A review into the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), prompted by The Independent’s reporting of whistleblower concerns, found the safety of the public, nurses and midwives was at risk.

Mr Streeting is also expected to enter formal talks with junior doctors in a bid to end the 20-month row over pay and confitions leading to strikes.

Labour peer to introduce bill to allow assisted dying

15:43 , Salma Ouaguira

A fresh bid to legalise assisted dying for people with six or fewer months left to live will be laid before Parliament next week.

The private member’s bill seeking to allow terminally ill adults to end their life will be introduced by Labour former justice secretary Lord Falconer of Thoroton to the upper chamber next Friday.

It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer doubled down on a pre-election commitment to allow a free vote on changes to assisted dying laws, but 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.

It is likely to be debated over the coming year and if it receives sufficient support, it could become law.

Assisting someone to end their life is currently a criminal offence in England and Wales.

Education charity boss to lead Government’s curriculum and assessment review

15:38 , Salma Ouaguira

The Government has appointed an education charity boss to lead its curriculum and assessment review – aimed at ensuring a child’s background does not prevent them from receiving a high standard of education.

Professor Becky Francis, chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), will be seconded from her role at the charity to lead the review as it is launched on Friday.

It will listen to the views of parents, teachers and school leaders once a call for evidence is launched in September and will undertake a national roadshow to meet and hear from frontline staff, according to the Department for Education (DfE).

It comes after Labour said in its manifesto that it would “modernise” the school curriculum and reform assessment if the party won the General Election.

The independent review will comprise five key stages and look closely at the challenges young people face to achieve their goals and the barriers which hold children back from opportunities they deserve – in particular, children who are socio-economically disadvantaged or who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

The Government set out plans in the King’s Speech to legally require all state schools – including academies – to teach the national curriculum up to age 16 to give every child a “broad and rounded education”.

It confirmed that the duty will start after its curriculum and assessment review has concluded.

Anneliese Dodds says UNRWA funding ‘will save lives' in Gaza

15:28 , Salma Ouaguira

The international development minister has met UNRWA commissioner general Phillippe Lazzarini following the government’s decision to allow aid funding to the UN Palestine relief agency.

Posting on social media, Ms Dodds said the body will deliver aid in a scale “desperately needed in Gaza”.

She wrote: “Only UNRWA can deliver aid at the scale desperately needed in Gaza. That’s why the UK is lifting the pause on UNRWA funding with immediate effect.

“Today I met @UNLazzarini to discuss this lifesaving decision and offer condolences for the 197 UNRWA staff who have been killed.”

Leader of Belarus marks 30 years in power after crushing all dissent and cozying up to Moscow

15:28 , Salma Ouaguira

For three decades, European leaders have come and gone by the dozens, but Alexander Lukashenko remains in absolute control of Belarus.

His longevity is due to a mixture of harshly silencing all dissent, reverting to Soviet-style economic controls and methods, and cozying up to Russia, even as he sometimes flirted with the West.

Lukashenko, 69, was dubbed “Europe’s last dictator” early in his tenure, and he has lived up to that nickname.

On Saturday, he marks 30 years in power — one of the world’s longest-serving and most ruthless leaders.

Leader of Belarus marks 30 years in power after crushing all dissent and cozying up to Moscow

Poll reveals popularity of Keir Starmer after first week as PM

15:18 , Salma Ouaguira

Sir Keir Starmer ended his first week as Prime Minister as popular as Boris Johnson was at the height of the vaccine rollout, a poll has found.

Some 36% of the public told pollster Ipsos they thought Sir Keir was doing a good job as Prime Minister, the highest rating for a premier since February 2021 when 37% said the same about Mr Johnson.

But conversely, just 14% of the public think the new Prime Minister is doing a bad job, well below the 41% that thought negatively of Mr Johnson in February 2021 – and the 57% that thought badly of Rishi Sunak just before he called the election.

Keiran Pedley, director of politics at Ipsos, said: “Looking at Keir Starmer’s poll ratings there are increasing signs of the new Prime Minister enjoying something of a honeymoon period during his first few days in office.”

Poll reveals popularity of Keir Starmer after first week as PM

National borrowing rose to highest levels in 60 years

15:08 , Salma Ouaguira

UK state debt remained at levels last seen in the early 1960s in June, the Office for National Statistics said.

Public sector net debt excluding public sector banks was provisionally estimated at 99.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of June 2024, 2.8 percentage points more than at the end of June 2023.

UK state debt rose to levels not witnessed for more than 60 years in May.

Meanwhile, public sector borrowing was £14.5 billion in June, £3.2 billion less than in June 2023.

The figure marks the lowest June borrowing since 2019, the statistics watchdog said.

Victoria Atkins reprimanded during the King’s speech debate

15:01 , Salma Ouaguira

Shadow health secretary Victoria Atkins has been reprimanded by the deputy speaker for behaving “abominably” during the King’s speech debate.

As the Commons discussed the greenbelt and rural economy, the shadow secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Steve Barclay said: “This King’s speech does nothing for the farming and fishing communities and the decisions we’ve seen so far are ones that take vast amounts of farmland out of food production in order to prioritise the eco-zealotry, which we’ve heard so often in this house.”

During his response Defra Secretary Steve Reed declined interventions from Mr Barclay as well as Conservative front-benchers Kemi Badenoch and Ms Atkins.

Ms Atkins stood at the despatch box as Mr Reed continued to speak and Tory members continued to call for interventions.

Deputy speaker Christopher Chope called for order, saying: “(Ms Atkins) has behaved abominably.”

Closing the debate for Friday, Mr Reed said: “After 14 years of chaos, there is once again hope for our environment, hope for our countryside and hope for our rural communities. I welcome the King’s speech, I recommend it to this House.”

Opinion: The Lords know who among them are dishonourable grifters

15:00 , Jane Dalton

The Lords know who among them are dishonourable grifters

Rishi Sunak visits indoor Bowling Club in Northallerton

14:45 , Salma Ouaguira

Watch: Zelensky becomes first foreign leader to address UK cabinet for nearly 30 years

14:45 , Jane Dalton

Nigel Farage sparks anger over Leeds riot comments

14:35 , Jane Dalton

Nigel Farage has been accused of inflaming tensions after blaming rioting in Leeds on the “politics of the subcontinent”:

Nigel Farage sparks anger over ‘inflammatory’ Leeds riot comments

In full: Government recommits to funding UNRWA as David Lammy praises ‘life-saving work’

14:22 , Salma Ouaguira

The government will overturn the suspension of UK funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA), David Lammy has said.

The foreign secretary also said Israel is in “a tough neighbourhood” and civilians in Gaza are “trapped in hell on earth” as he vowed to advance the “cause of peace” in the region.

Government recommits to funding UNRWA as David Lammy praises ‘life-saving work’

Starmer has made a good start of wiping up the toxic residue of Brexit

14:10 , Salma Ouaguira

As he hosts Europe’s leaders in Blenheim Palace, a place rich with the history of both the UK and its neighbouring continent, the PM has the chance to make history once again, writes Femi Oluwole:

Encouraging noises, Sir Keir – but what are you really going to do about Brexit?

UK government commits to two-state Palestine solution ‘when the circumstances are right’

14:00 , Salma Ouaguira

The foreign secretary said Britain is “absolutely committed” to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine “when the circumstances are right”.

David Lammy said he would back a plan but it must guarantee the security of Israel before adding the Palestinian cause is a “just cause”.

The cabinet minister also expressed frustration at the Knesset for passing a resolution rejecting the Palestinian statehood, ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the US.

Mr Lammy said: “The vote by the Knesset yesterday was hugely disappointing. We believe passionately in two states. And I say to those who reject two states, if you are a proponent of one state then you do have to explain how everyone enjoys equality under the law.

“And if you are a proponent of no state then you are effectively suggesting that occupation continues and that is unacceptable to, I would have thought, all members of this House.”

Asked to explain how the new Government will deal with the “immediate crisis” and the recognition of Palestine, he said: “We are absolutely committed to that two-state solution. The global community for too many years has talked about it and not acted, I recognise there’s almost tremendous cynicism when the phrase is used.”

He added: “There is no confusion on this party’s position on Palestinian recognition. We are committed to Palestinian recognition. We hope to work with partners to achieve that when the circumstances are right.”

Watch: Zelensky becomes first foreign leader to address cabinet for nearly 30 years

13:50 , Salma Ouaguira

Starmer puts UK front and centre of Europe as PM builds ‘closer’ ties

13:40 , Salma Ouaguira

Sir Keir Starmer declared that Britain is “back on the international stage” as he sought to put the UK at the centre of European cooperation and build closer ties with the continent.

Just 13 days into his premiership, he scored his first major success as European leaders hailed his plan for a new era in post-Brexit relations.

Starmer puts UK front and centre of Europe at summit to re-establish ‘closer’ ties

No 10: ‘Another life lost in the English Channel'

13:30 , Salma Ouaguira

Downing Street said it was a “tragedy” that “yet another life” has been lost in the English Channel.

One person died when their small boat deflated near Calais and they could not be resuscitated. French ship PSP Cormoran picked up 59 people in the operation, and the British vessel rescued another 13.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: “It is a tragedy that yet another life has been lost and the Prime Minister spoke to such an incident just yesterday.”

The official said the incident “underlines the stark reality of the dangers of these crossings and the callousness of the criminal gangs who are driving this”.

The spokeswoman said the Prime Minister and Home Secretary were “working to address this and step up enforcement” including through “the work that we’ll be carrying out with European partners on it”.

Watch: David Lammy confirms UK funding for UNRWA in Gaza will restart

13:20 , Salma Ouaguira

Lib Dems hit back at Bademoch’s ‘biggest local nimbys in the country’ attack

13:09 , Salma Ouaguira

The Liberal Democrats’ housing spokesperson has hit back at Kemi Badenoch after she claimed party members are the “biggest local nimby in the country”.

The Tory shadow minister criticised the party for opposing plannign and housing proposals, but Helen Morgan said not backing poor planning is not “being a ‘nimby’” but “common sense”.

Ms Morgan said the government must consider the need for GPs, schools, bus stops and green spaces as part of the planning process and added: “Now we will use the term Nimby today, I would imagine in this debate, and it’s already been used about the Liberal Democrats, but it’s not appropriate to approve housing in areas which are unsuitable, for example, where there’s a high risk of flooding.

“It’s not being a ‘nimby’ (‘not in my backyard’) to oppose poor planning, it is common sense.”

Ms Morgan continued: “We can’t build houses on floodplains. They won’t be able to be insured and they won’t be able to be sold, we will trap homeowners into them.”

The Lib Dem frontbencher added: “There wasn’t a mention in the King’s Speech to rural communities or priorities for the countryside, and I hope this means that the new Government will be ensuring that every policy will be rural-proofed and that the demands of delivering public services in rural areas where the population is spread out over a large area are being considered.”

David Lammy refuses to end arms sales to Israel

12:59 , Salma Ouaguira

The foreign secretary has declined to implement a blanket ban on arms sales to Israel claiming that the territory is “surrounded by people who would see its annihilation”.

Mr Lammy’s remarks came after Labour MPs tabled a King’s Speech amendment calling for the immediate suspension of export licences for arms transfers to Israel.

He also faced calls to outline when the Government will publish its assessment on whether any breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) have occurred since the October 7 Hamas attack.

When pressed on Israel’s non-compliance with international humanitarian law, Mr Lammy replied: “This is one of the toughest neighbourhoods in the world and Israel is a country surrounded by people who would see its annihilation.

“It is being attacked by the Houthis, missiles are being fired from Hezbollah, notwithstanding the desire for Hamas to wipe Israel off the map.

“For those reasons it would not be right to have a blanket ban between our country and Israel. What is right is for me to consider the issues in relation to offensive weapons in Gaza in the normal way following the quasi-judicial process that I’ve outlined.”

Keir Starmer says welcoming Zelensky to Downing Street was an ‘honour'

12:52 , Salma Ouaguira

Nigel Farage sparks anger over ‘inflammatory’ Leeds riots comments

12:47 , Salma Ouaguira

Nigel Farage has been accused of inflaming tensions after blaming rioting in Leeds on the “politics of the subcontinent”.

The Reform UK leader, who was in the US for the Republican National Convention in Minnesota, posted on social media on Thursday evening as scenes of disorder in the city emerged.

“The politics of the subcontinent are currently playing out on the streets of Leeds,” he wrote on X within hours: “Don’t say I didn’t warn you”.

People in the Harehills area of the city were urged to stay at home as officers were called to Luxor Street at about 5pm on Thursday due to an “ongoing disturbance” involving agency workers and children.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has more:

Nigel Farage sparks anger over ‘inflammatory’ Leeds riots comments

PM condemns ‘shocking and disgraceful’ riots in Leeds

12:39 , Salma Ouaguira

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the “shocking and disgraceful” disorder in the Harehills area of Leeds.

Pointing to the Yvette Cooper’s statement on the violence, a No 10 spokeswoman said: “He would echo that the scenes that we saw last night were shocking and disgraceful. And disorder of this nature has no place in our society.

“That’s why he would like to thank West Yorkshire Police and the emergency services for their swift support.

“And the police have our full support in carrying out their investigations and taking the strongest possible action against perpetrators and keep the public safe.”

Asked about fears of community tensions being inflamed, she said: “The police have also discouraged people from speculating on the cause of the disorder. And the Prime Minister would also urge people to follow this advice.

“But certainly, as the home secretary I think also outlined this morning, local partners and councillors will be working very closely with the community today to provide support and reassurance in light of the shocking scenes that we saw last night and prevent further disturbances.”

Badenoch: Labour gave ministerial positions to the ‘children of the chosen ones’

12:37 , Salma Ouaguira

During the King’s Speech debate at the Commons, Kemi Badenoch issued a fresh attack on the Labour government from the shadow cabinet.

Referring to the Labour front bench Ms Badenoch said: “I’m sad to see many of (Ms Rayner’s) shadow team not sitting beside her as ministers.

“They worked for free, grinding in opposition for years, only to watch the children of the chosen ones get the ministerial cars and salaries before their maiden speeches are written. Wow.”

Badenoch: Lib Dems are the ‘biggest local nimbys in the country’

12:32 , Salma Ouaguira

Shadow housing ministerKemi Badenoch has accused the Liberal Democrats of not delivering on their promises labelling party members the “biggest local nimbys in the country”.

The former cabinet secretary told the Commons: “Some people think opposition is about throwing mud across the chamber or calling your opponents scum. But often it’s about saying I told you so. And I want to reassure (Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner) that I will be here to say I told you so when these targets are missed.

“We of course will be a constructive opposition. We want to see homes built in the right places with the right infrastructure. We are here to help.”

But she said: “I doubt the same can be said of the biggest local nimbys in the country, the Liberal Democrats, there are many more of them now, you wouldn’t know but there are. Usually elected on promises not to build anything, anywhere in their communities.

“In the last Parliament I watched them oppose planning reforms on permitted development, reforms that allowed us to build on land that was already in use.

“It’ll be very interesting to see how they square their nimby tendencies with their manifesto promises. But then again, saying one thing and doing another has never bothered the Liberal Democrats.”

Badenoch brands Rayner the ‘fall guy’ for Labour’s housing policies

12:28 , Salma Ouaguira

Shadow housing minister Kemi Badenoch said Angela Rayner has been “stitched up” by others in her party leadership and is being made “the fall guy” for Labour’s housing promises.

In a fresh attack to the deputy Prime Minister, she told the Commons: “So I’m sorry to tell (Ms Rayner) that her colleagues, the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, and their many advisers have written a manifesto and made promises that are not deliverable and they’ve hung them around her neck and said ‘Ang, you go out there and sell it’.”

She added: “I think we know who’s in charge, and it’s not (Ms Rayner). She’s been stitched up. They’ve made her the fall guy. They’ve promised one-and-a-half million houses by the end of this Parliament. That’s over 800 houses per day and we’re already two weeks in.

“And as she goes on, day after day, she’s going to realise that the backlog is building and there’s no way out. But I want her to know that I’m here for her. I’ll be here to hold her hand and walk her through what is likely to be a very difficult time. I may even give her some tips.

“Because having worked in that department, I know what needs to be done. I know what we should have done that we didn’t do and I know that they’re going to make the same mistakes. It’s not that one-and-a-half million homes by the end of this Parliament is unachievable, it’s that it’s going to require the sort of systemic change which they are not ready for.”

Rayner: Housing crisis is holding Britain back

12:25 , Salma Ouaguira

Britain is being held back by its “housing crisis” and the new government has a “mountain to climb” to address it, according to Angela Rayner.

The deputy Prime Minister said the new Labour administration has already taken the first steps in response, as she pointed to plans to reform the planning process to boost house building.

Ms Rayner, who is also Housing Secretary, added that the government is also committed to the “biggest wave” of social and affordable housing for a generation.

During the King’s Speech, the Labour government announced a bill to meet the goal to build 1.5 million homes.

Opening day three of the King’s Speech debate, Ms Rayner said she pledged to “always tell it as it is” during her maiden speech in 2015 before adding in the Commons: “I think that’s one promise I have kept to.

“Now I intend to fulfil another because we promised the people of this country that we will serve their interests and not ours.

“That starts by having the honesty to say that we will not be able to put right the mess of the past 14 years immediately, but after just two weeks we have already made a difference.”

No 10 refuses to confirm whether Ukraine will use British Storm Shadow missiles against Russia

12:20 , Salma Ouaguira

Downing Street did not confirm whether British Storm Shadow missiles can be used by Ukraine to strike into Russian territory as part of the country’s efforts to defend itself.

Asked whether the Prime Minister was receptive to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s calls for permission to use UK weapons in Russia, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: “I think you heard from the Prime Minister when he was asked questions about this in the press conference yesterday, where he made our position very clear.

“I think what was also clear from the Cabinet meeting which you saw and yesterday, was our unwavering support for Ukraine. That will not change and we’re determined to support them for as long as it takes.”

Pressed on whether Britain has lifted restrictions on using Storm Shadow missiles on targets inside Russia, the official said: “There is no change to our position and the Prime Minister set that out yesterday.

“We have been providing military aid to support Ukraine’s clear right to self-defence against Russia’s illegal acts in accordance with international humanitarian law.

“Equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.”

Humanitarian advisers claim restoring aid funds to UNRWA ‘long overdue’

12:15 , Salma Ouaguira

The ActionAid UK charity has said the government’s decision to restore funding to UNRWA was “long overdue”.

Humanitarian advocacy adviser Julia Rosell Jackson said: “We are pleased to see the UK Government acknowledge UNRWA as a vital lifeline in Gaza and take the long overdue step of restoring funding to it.

“As the largest humanitarian actor in Gaza, it is uniquely placed to support the 2.2 million Palestinians trapped in the territory who are at high risk of famine and rely on aid to survive.”

But she also called for an immediate halt to UK arms sales to Israel.

Cobra emergency meeting held amid IT outage chaos

12:06 , Salma Ouaguira

An emergency Cobra meeting was held at official-level – rather than ministers – on Friday morning to discuss the IT chaos, Downing Street said.

A No 10 spokeswoman told reporters: “We recognise the impact this is having on services and the Government is working closely with the respective sectors and industries on this issue, which is affecting services not only across the UK but also globally.

“Officials have met in the Cobra unit on this this morning and of course are updating ministers regularly on this issue.”

She said she was not aware of plans for a Cobra gathering with ministers present.

Asked why Sir Keir Starmer did not chair the meeting of the committee, she said: “The Prime Minister’s had bilaterals with President Zelensky and Cabinet this morning, but all ministers including the Prime Minister are being kept informed with the latest.”

The spokeswoman also said she is not aware of any Government business being hit by the outage.

Ministers: Whitehall crisis officials working on IT outage

12:04 , Salma Ouaguira

Whitehall crisis officials are co-ordinating the response to the major IT outage hitting airlines, train companies and banks.

The Cobra system that deals with matters of national emergency or major disruption has been fired up, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said.

Ministers are in touch with their sectors to tackle the fallout from the IT failures, with Transport Secretary Louise Haigh saying she is working “at pace with industry” after trains and flights ground to a halt.

Businesses and institutions around the globe have been knocked offline by the outage, believed to have been caused by a faulty update to widely used cybersecurity software.

In the UK, transport networks have been thrown into chaos, GP surgeries are unable to book appointments or access patient records and Sky News went off air.

Mr McFadden, who is in charge of the Whitehall machine, said on X:

MPs welcome government’s decision to lift block on UNRWA funding

12:01 , Salma Ouaguira

Several MPs have taken to social media to welcome David Lammy’s decision to restore funding to UNRWA for Palestinians.

The foreign secretary told the Commons the UK will provide £21million to the UN agency providing aid in the Gaza Strip.

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More than 15,000 migrants arrive in UK crossing English Channel this year so far

10:50 , Salma Ouaguira

More than 15,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel this year as more people made the journey on Thursday, according to new Home Office figures.

Some 317 people travelled across the busy shipping lane in six boats, in the first recorded arrivals since Monday when 427 people made the crossing in seven boats.

This brings the provisional total of migrants arriving via the English Channel in 2024 so far to 15,076.

This is 9% higher than the number recorded this time last year (13,774) and 0.2% down on the same period in 2022 (15,106), according to PA news agency analysis of Government data.

Boats continued to cross the Channel on Friday.

It comes as one person died and 71 others were rescued in an incident off the coast of northern France on Wednesday, sparking a rescue operation involving French coastguard, Border Force and the RNLI.

Zelensky urges Starmer to ‘show leadership'

10:43 , Salma Ouaguira

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked Sir Keir Starmer to “show your leadership” and help with Ukraine’s “long-range capability”.

In his address to the Cabinet Mr Zelensky said “if the restriction on western weapons is lifted” it would help Kyiv to strengthen its defence and secure its frontline positions.

He said “it is possible to destroy” areas in Russia where weapons are being concentrated.

On long-range capability, the president said “we are still missing the main answer to this question” and told the Prime Minister “I ask you to show your leadership” on the issue.

Mr Zelensky has said the ability to use western weapons to strike into Russian territory is important to Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against Moscow.

The UK Government has suggested the deployment of British missiles is ultimately a matter for Ukraine, as long as international law is upheld.

David Lammy: ‘Britain wants an immediate ceasefire in Gaza’

10:40 , Salma Ouaguira

The foreign secretary is making a statement on the ongoing war in Gaza following his state visit of the occupied territories in Palestine last week.

Speaking on the Commons, he said: “This has been a priority from day one to the desperate situation in Gaza and the serious risk of escalation in Lebanon in particular.

“I have to be frank. Britain wants an immediate ceasefire. The fighting must stop. The hostages must be released. Much more aid must enter Gaza.”

Slamming Israel for not allowing international aid to enter the strip, he said: “Israel promised a flood of aid back in April but imposes impossible and unacceptable restrictions. There must be de-escalation on the Israeli-Lebanese border.

“I sincerely hope that parties agree a ceasefire urgently.”