Patel eliminated in Tory leadership vote as Jenrick wins first ballot to replace Sunak - UK politics live

Robert Jenrick has won the first ballot in the race to take over from Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party.

Mr Jenrick has sought to centre his campaign on immigration, with a promise to introduce a binding cap on the number of legal migrants and to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.

An announcement on the result of the first round came at 3.30pm. Mr Jenrick received 28 votes and closely behind him was bookmaker’s favourite Kemi Badenoch on 22.

Dame Priti Patel has been eliminated in the first voting round of the contest.

After the first ballot MPs will carry out further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for party members to choose between, with the result announced on 2 November.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Sunak clashed over Labour’s decision to cut winter fuel payments at the first Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) since MPs returned from summer recess.

Mr Sunak said the prime minister has chosen to take “winter fuel allowance away from low-income pensioners” and offered train drivers a pay rise.

Sir Keir responded that Labour was forced “to clear up the mess left by the party opposite.”

Key Points

• Patel eliminated in Tory leadership vote as Jenrick wins first ballot to replace Sunak

• Sunak questions Starmer over cuts to winter fuel allowance

• Angela Rayner denies that she wants to ditch Thatcher’s right to buy reform

• Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 was result of decades of institutional failings, report finds

• Labour ‘set to raise state pension by £400'

Who will be the next Tory leader? All the front runners ranked from Priti Patel to Kemi Badenoch

21:00 , Jabed Ahmed

The Independent looks at the runners and riders to take the reins from Rishi Sunak:

Who will be the next Tory leader? The Tory frontrunners from Patel to Badenoch

Jenrick’s ‘segregation’ comments are straight out of Trump’s playbook

19:30 , Joe Middleton

There was always a danger that the Tory leadership election could descend into an ugly bidding war between candidates vying to look toughest on migrants – now, the former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has laid into Birmingham, says John Rentoul

Jenrick’s ‘segregation’ comments are straight out of Trump’s playbook

Priti Patel urges Tories to ‘unite around Conservative values’ after being knocked out of leadership contest

18:36 , Jabed Ahmed

Dame Priti Patel has urged fellow Tories to “unite around our Conservative values” after being knocked out in the first round of the party’s leadership contest.

On X, formerly twitter, Dame Priti wrote: “I’ve enjoyed spending the summer with thousands of so many of our dedicated and hardworking party members.

“The support and affection they have shown me over the summer has been heartwarming and truly humbling, and I am grateful to everyone who has supported, worked on or volunteered for my campaign.

“I have placed party reform at the heart of my pitch for the leadership of the Conservative and Unionist Party and did that for a reason.”

After paying tribute to Tory members, councillors and association officers as “the heart and soul of our party”, and insisting the party must grow its membership and reach a younger voter base, the senior Conservative MP said: “I wish my fellow candidates well with the rest of the leadership campaign and thank them for the good-spirited debated we have had.

“To win back the trust of the British people we must unite around our Conservative values and show how they can offer solutions to the challenges our country faces.”

VOICES: My love-in with Labour is already over after two months – here’s why

18:30 , Joe Middleton

If Angela Rayner scraps the single-person council tax discount, it will ruin millions of people like me, says Clair Woodward

My love-in with Labour is already over after two months – here’s why

COMMENT: Priti Patel’s fate proves Boris is a busted flush with the Tories

18:29 , Jabed Ahmed

The Prittster’s surprise ejection from the leadership content – and in the first round – consigns the former prime minister who appointed her home secretary to the history books, says John Rentoul

Priti Patel’s fate proves Boris is a busted flush with the Tories

Watch: Keir Starmer calls Rishi Sunak ‘prime minister’ after two months in power

18:14 , Jabed Ahmed

Sixty days of Starmer: How has the Labour leader done in his first two months in power?

18:00 , Jabed Ahmed

Sixty days of Starmer: How has the Labour leader fared in his first two months?

Full report: Robert Jenrick in pole position to be next Tory leader as Priti Patel eliminated in first round of voting

17:34 , Jabed Ahmed

The Independent’s Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:

Jenrick wins first round of voting to be next Tory leader as Patel eliminated

Odds on the next Tory leader

17:20 , Jabed Ahmed

Robert Jenrick has emerged as the frontrunner among Tory MPs to take over the leadership of the party as former home secretary Dame Priti Patel was eliminated from the contest.

He is currently the favourite to win. Here are the odds for all the candidates:

• Robert Jenrick – 5/4

• Kemi Badenoch – 13/8

• Tom Tugendhat – 15/2

• James Cleverly – 5/1

• Mel Stride – 33/1

Blair hits out at Brexit pledge to control immigration

17:15 , Kate Devlin

Sir Tony Blair has hit out at the Brexit campaign’s pledge to control immigration.

The former Labour prime minister, who opposed leaving the European Union, made the comments in an interview with the BBC.

The Leave campaign famously argued that Brexit would allow Britain to “take back control” of its borders.

But in recent years net migration soared, topping 760,000 in 2022.

Sir Tony said if he was a leader today it would be “completely dishonest” for him to say “’I can stop all migration into this country’ because I can’t. There’s no way that’s going to happen. There’s no modern developed country in which that is happening. And by the way, if you do end up trying to do this is what we’ve done with Brexit. What’s the result? We’ve now got higher levels of immigration than ever before. And we’ve swapped out usually single people coming from Europe, as I say, to work in things like the hospitality sector, for families from Asia and Africa. I mean, how is this how has this helped us?”

Labour responds to Tory leadership first ballot results

17:10 , Jabed Ahmed

Responding to the results of the first round of the Tory leadership contest, a Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Tories have successfully slimmed down the pool of contenders from six people who each played their hand in 14 years of chaos and decline, to five people who each played their hand in 14 years of chaos and decline.

“From what we have seen so far, not one of them is prepared to learn from the lessons of the past.

“It is a damning indictment of the state of the Conservative Party that these candidates are the best they have to offer.

“The Conservatives left the worst possible inheritance. Labour is getting on with the job of fixing it.”

James Cleverly says Priti Patel will be ‘integral part’ of Tories’ future

17:00 , Jabed Ahmed

James Cleverly says momentum is on his side

17:00 , Joe Middleton

James Cleverly said “momentum is on our side” after coming third in the first ballot of the Tory leadership contest.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “Great to be through to the next round and proud to have the support of my fellow MPs.

“We can only unite our party with Conservative values and I am ready to lead, and win, the next general election.

“Momentum is on our side, but the work continues.”

Rayner denies that she wants to ditch Thatcher’s right to buy reform

16:56 , Jabed Ahmed

Angela Rayner has denied that she is planning to scrap Margaret Thatcher’s right to buy policy for council tenants.

Claims had been made that she was bowing from pressure from Labour activists, councils and trade unions to protect a shortage in the social housing stock in a report in the Daily Telegraph.

But her department has issued a strong denial.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “We don’t recognise these claims and this is not something that the Government is considering.

“Right to Buy remains an important route for council housing tenants to be able to buy their own home but it’s scandalous that only a third of council homes sold under the scheme have been replaced since 2012. That is why we are working at pace to reverse the continued decline of social rent homes.

“Increasing protections on newly-built social homes will be looked at as part of our wider review but there are no plans to abolish the Right to Buy scheme.”

Tugendhat pays tribute to eliminated Patel

16:30 , Joe Middleton

Tom Tugendhat said it was a “privilege” to have made it through the first round of voting in the Tory leadership contest and paid tribute to eliminated candidate Dame Priti Patel.

The shadow security minister said: “It is a privilege to have the support of my Parliamentary colleagues and to have made it through to the next round of the leadership contest.

“To my friend Priti, you have always faithfully served this party, care deeply about its future, and I’m sure you will continue to play a key role in it.

“Mel, James, Kemi and Robert are all friends and good Conservatives. However, only I can deliver the Conservative revolution that our party and our nation need.

“I will lead in opposition as I would as prime minister, by serving the British people, leading with conviction, and acting to make our nation better. That is my promise, and I always deliver on my promises.”

Badenoch has ‘momentum’ going in second round, says shadow minister

15:50 , Joe Middleton

Kemi Badenoch has “momentum” after coming second in the first Tory leadership ballot, shadow minister Andrew Griffith has said.

Mr Griffith, who is backing Ms Badenoch for the leadership, told Sky News: “Kemi did really well in this round, second, coming through very strongly for someone who, remember, is one of the younger members of the candidate team here.”

Pointing to polls suggesting Ms Badenoch has significant support among party members, Mr Griffith added: “At this point in the cycle, you often see people come through and gather support and momentum, and it seems to me Kemi’s got that momentum.”

The results of the Tory leadership first ballot in full

15:40 , Joe Middleton

In the first round of the Conservative leadership contest, the results of the ballot of MPs were as follows: Robert Jenrick won 28 votes, Kemi Badenoch 22, James Cleverly 21, Tom Tugendhat 17, Mel Stride 16 and Dame Priti Patel 14.

Some 30 Conservative MPs gathered in a Parliamentary committee room for the result of the first ballot, a quarter of their total numbers.

BREAKING : Patel eliminated in Tory leadership vote as Jenrick wins first ballot to replace Sunak

15:36 , Joe Middleton

Robert Jenrick has won the first ballot in the race to take over from Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party.

Result of first ballot to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Tory Party expected imminently

15:12 , Joe Middleton

The result of first ballot to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Tory Party is expected in the next 20 minutes.

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 Kemi Badenoch.

An announcement on the result of the first round is expected at about 3.30pm.

After that, MPs will carry out further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for party members to choose between, with the result announced on 2 November.

The tragic stories behind the night Grenfell Tower fire claimed 72 victims

15:00 , Joe Middleton

The long-awaited report into the deadly fire claimed the lives of 72 people at Grenfell Tower has been published seven years after the blaze.

Inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, told bereaved and survivors on Wednesday the “simple truth” is that all the deaths were avoidable and that those who lived in the tower were “badly failed” by authorities.

Each of the 72 victims – ranging in age from an unborn baby to an 84-year-old woman – was somebody’s father, mother, brother, sister, relative, friend or neighbour. These are their stories from that night.

Tragic stories behind the night Grenfell Tower fire claimed 72 victims

RECAP: Fraud and scam complaints reach record high

14:30 , Joe Middleton

Scam-related complaints have reached their highest level since at least early 2018, according to a service that resolves disputes between consumers and financial firms.

In the first quarter of this financial year (April 1 to June 30), consumers lodged 8,734 gripes about fraud and scams, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said.

More than half were in relation to customer-approved online bank transfers, also known as authorised push payment (APP) scams.

By comparison, in the same period in the first quarter of the 2023-24 financial year, 6,094 scam complaints were recorded.

The service said the rise in cases is due to several factors, including cases where consumers are putting in multiple claims due to more than one firm being involved.

Abby Thomas, chief executive and chief ombudsman of the FOS, said: “Being a victim of a fraud and scam is a horrendous experience - not just financially, but emotionally too. That’s why it’s disappointing to see complaint levels rising to even higher levels.

“We often hear from people embarrassed to have fallen victim to a fraud, but these crimes can be complex and incredibly convincing, and nobody should be afraid to come forward.

“In recent years, we have investigated thousands of cases, returning more than £150 million to those who have fallen victim to these crimes.

“No matter how complex a case is, people can come with confidence to our free, independent service and we’ll investigate their complaint.”

Watch: Starmer defends Israel arms withdrawal

14:10 , Joe Middleton

Grenfell: Muslim survivors denied halal food while being rehoused, inquiry finds

13:35 , Joe Middleton

Muslim survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire were badly failed by the local council and denied their right to halal food while being temporarily rehoused at hotels, a damning inquiry has revealed.

The inquiry’s final report found the fire that killed 72 people in 2017 was the result of “decades of failure” by central government and the construction industry to act on the dangers of flammable cladding.

It concluded that Kensington and Chelsea Council should have done more to cater to people from diverse backgrounds. Many of those who lived in the tower had been observing Ramadan, but halal food was not available at all hotels, nor was it possible to observe the requirement to eat at set times.

Our race correspondent Nadine White reports

Grenfell: Muslim survivors denied halal food while being rehoused, inquiry finds

Sunak pays tribute to ‘strength and patience' of Grenfell Tower survivors

13:20 , Joe Middleton

Leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak paid tribute to the “strength and patience” of Grenfell Tower survivors, some of whom were in the House of Commons public gallery.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s statement, the Tory leader said: “It is not hyperbole to say that we would not be here today without them.

“It was their tenacity and strength that brought the truth to light and for that, they deserve our thanks.

“Their search for truth and justice is a noble one, and for that, they have our full support.”

‘Great that Oasis are back’ says Keir Starmer amid ‘depressing’ ticket price hike

13:00 , Joe Middleton

Sir Keir Starmer suggested it was “great” that Oasis are back together, but criticised the “depressing” ticket price hike for their reunion tour.

Fans were left shocked by standard tickets more than doubling from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster over the weekend, prompting the government to pledge to look into the use of dynamic pricing in its forthcoming review of the secondary gig sales market.

“It’s great that Oasis are back together, from what I’ve determined, about half of the country were queuing for tickets over the weekend,” Sir Keir said.

“But it is depressing to hear of price hikes, I’m committed to putting fans at the heart of music.”

‘Great that Oasis are back’ says Keir Starmer amid ‘depressing’ ticket price hike

Starmer apologises to Grenfell Tower victims

12:53 , Joe Middleton

Sir Keir Starmer said: “I want to start with an apology on behalf of the British State to each and every one of you and, indeed, to all of the families affected by this tragedy. It should never have happened.

“The country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty to protect you and your loved ones. The people that we are here to serve. And I am deeply sorry.”

Sir Keir also said: “Sir Martin (Moore-Bick) concluded this morning, and I’m afraid there’s no way of repeating this that won’t be painful, he said the simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable. That those who lived in the tower were badly failed over a number of years and in a number of different ways, by, as the report lays out in full, just about every institution responsible for ensuring their safety.

“In the face of an injustice so painful, so deserving of anger, words can begin to lose their meaning.

“Seven years still waiting for the justice that you deserve, I want to say very clearly, on behalf of the country, you have been let down so badly before, during and in the aftermath of this tragedy, and while Sir Martin sets out a catalogue of appalling industry failures for which there must now be full accountability, he also finds, and I quote, decades of failure by central government.”

PMQs is now over

12:45 , Joe Middleton

PMQs has now stopped and the prime minister is now delivering a statement on the final report into the Grenfell tragedy.

Labour reviewing Oasis ticket price hikes

12:31 , Joe Middleton

Labour MP Emma Foody has raised a question about Oasis tickets being sold at a significant mark up and what the government will do about it

The prime minister said he was glad the band is back together but found the stories of price hikes “depressing”. He said the government is reviewing what can be done to stop this.

Watch: Sunak accuses Starmer of putting train drivers before vulnerable pensioners

12:23 , Joe Middleton

Analysis: Rishi Sunak desperate defending his legacy

12:18 , Joe Middleton

Analysis of PMQs from our political editor David Maddox

Rishi Sunak may be about to become yesterday’s man or arguably already is but there is still something for him to fight for in PMQs today.

While the former prime minister may be tackling sir Keir Starmer on the winter fuel payments being removed from many pensioners in favour of bumper pay rises train drivers earning more than £60,000 was an obvious line, there was something more to his attack.

When Mr Sunak called an early election he did so because he believed the data proved that he had fixed the economy following the impact of the pandemic and lockdown, the war in Ukraine and the cost of living inflation crisis.

Since winning power Starmer and his chancellor Rachel Reeves have been taking this “achievement” apart with their claims of a £22 billion black hole.

For a man who has led the Tories to the worst defeat in their 346-year history, Mr Sunak has little to grasp hold of in terms of legacy especially as he failed to get any flights to Rwanda off the ground or got his party back in order.

Sunak is not just fighting for pensioners but his place in the footnotes of history books written about this extraordinary period in British history.

Starmer defends decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel

12:17 , Joe Middleton

Next, Mr Sunak brings up Labour’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel and how it would help the release of hostages in Gaza.

The prime minister said the decision was a “legal decision not a political decision” and said the UK needed to comply with international law.

Mr Sunak asks Mr Starmer to reassure Israel that we are still allies. Mr Starmer responds that Israel has his support.

Sunak points out the prime minister’s economic inheritance

12:10 , Joe Middleton

Mr Sunak retorts that his government delivered lower inflation and the quickest economic growth out of any of the G7. Mr Starmer reiterates that they’ve had to make the “tough decisions” on the economy due to the inheritance they have received.

Sunak questions Starmer over cuts to winter fuel allowance

12:07 , Joe Middleton

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his party’s decision to cut winter fuel payments as necessary to “stabilise the economy”.

Rishi Sunak said: “Government is about making choices, and the new Prime Minister has made a choice.

“(Sir Keir) has chosen to take the winter fuel allowance away from low-income pensioners and give that money to certain unionised workforces in inflation-busting pay rises.

“So can I just ask the Prime Minister, why did he choose train drivers over Britain’s vulnerable pensioners?”

Sir Keir replied: “This Government was elected to clear up the mess left by the party opposite, to bring about the change that the country desperately needs. Our first job was to audit the books, and what we found was a £22 billion black hole.”

He added: “So we’ve had to take tough decisions to stabilise the economy and repair the damage, including targeting winter fuel payments whilst protecting pensioners - 800,000 pensioners are not taking up pension credit.

“We intend to turn that around. We’re going to align housing benefit and pension credit, something the previous government deferred year after year after year.”

PMQs begins

12:05 , Joe Middleton

Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak face off in PMQs

Backlash after Nadhim Zahawi tweets picture of homeless man in Mayfair

11:50 , Joe Middleton

Nadhim Zahawi is facing a growing backlash after sharing a photograph on X of a homeless person sleeping on the pavement in Mayfair.

The former Tory chairman, who was sacked over an HMRC probe into his tax affairs, posted the picture alongside the caption: “This is now in Mayfair, just walked passed [sic]. what is going on?

“Mayor of London, this can’t be right.”

Archie Mitchell reports

Backlash after Nadhim Zahawi tweets picture of homeless man in Mayfair

Grenfell Tower residents paid a price for ‘dishonesty, corporate greed and and neglect', says London mayor Khan

11:23 , Joe Middleton

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the residents of Grenfell Tower “paid a price for systemic dishonesty, corporate greed and institutional indifference and neglect”.

He said firms held responsible by the inquiry should be banned from receiving public contracts, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) should look into bringing criminal cases.

Mr Khan said: “The Grenfell Tower fire isn’t just a heart-breaking tragedy, it’s a horrific injustice and a national disgrace. That the lives of 72 Londoners were stolen from us in such circumstances is a moral outrage.

“The inquiry makes clear in stark terms that all these deaths were entirely avoidable, and that the residents of Grenfell Tower have paid the price for systematic dishonesty, corporate greed and institutional indifference and neglect.”

He said “profit has been put before people” which “isn’t just shameful, it’s utterly indefensible”.

Mr Khan added that “more must now be done to hold those responsible to account, including banning any of the companies held responsible by the inquiry from receiving any public contracts as the police and CPS look into bringing criminal prosecutions”.

PM Keir Starmer reacts to Grenfell Tower final report

11:13 , Joe Middleton

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the report from Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s Grenfell Tower inquiry identified “substantial and widespread failings”.

He said: “My thoughts today are wholly with those bereaved by, and survivors of, the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the residents in the immediate community. This day is for them.

“I hope that Sir Martin’s report can provide the truth they have sought for so long, and that it is step towards the accountability and justice they deserve.”

In a statement to Parliament, Sir Keir said: “The Government will carefully consider the report and its recommendations, to ensure that such a tragedy cannot occur again.

“I hope that those outside Government will do the same.

“Given the detailed and extensive nature of the report, a further and more in-depth debate will be held at a later date,” he added.

BREAKING: Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 was result of decades of institutional failings, damning final report finds

11:06 , Joe Middleton

The tragic fire at Grenfell Tower that claimed the lives of 72 people was the culmination of decades of failure by successive governments and the construction industry, the damning final report has found.

The west London tower block was covered in combustible products because of the “systematic dishonesty” of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation, inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said on Wednesday.

He called out “deliberate and sustained” manipulation of fire-safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market.

Holly Evans reports

Grenfell fire that killed 72 was result of decades of failings, damning report finds

Labour set to raise state pension by £400

10:46 , Joe Middleton

Labour is set to raise the state pension by more than £400 a year, according to reports.

The Treasury’s internal working calculations show that the full state pension could increase due to the triple lock, as reported by the BBC.

The changes would mean the full state pension raises to £12,000 next year, after the £900 increase this year.

Any final decision on the increase will be made by pensions secretary Liz Kendall, prior to the Budget on 30 October.

The proposed increase comes as chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing a backlash from Labour MPs for cuts to the winter fuel allowance.

The Independent has contacted the Treasury for comment.

Nadhim Zahawi defends tweeting picture of homeless person in Mayfair

10:19 , Joe Middleton

Nadhim Zahawi has defended tweeting a picture of a homeless person on the streets of Mayfair, London.

The former chancellor appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (4 September) and was confronted about the tweet, with many describing it as “tone-deaf”.

Mr Zahawi said: “I walk all over London. It could have been on Victoria Street and had the same thing happening. I am outraged at the human tragedy.

“It doesn’t matter if it is Mayfair, I was just trying to point it out to try and get people to help that individual.”

Nadhim Zahawi defends tweeting picture of homeless person in Mayfair

Around 200 migrants tried to leave France for the UK today - the day after 12 people died trying to make the journey

10:13 , Joe Middleton

Around 200 migrants tried to leave French shores for the UK on Wednesday - the day after 12 people died trying to make the journey, according to a Calais charity worker

Angele Vettorello, co-ordinator at Utopia 56, said: “The crossings, it’s not going to stop.

“Even this morning we saw more than 200 people trying to cross and have been stopped (by police).

“We see it every month... every death at the border, the people don’t stop crossing.”

She said a lot of police were at the shore, with interventions made during the night and into the morning.

Ms Vettorello added this summer there has been a “huge increase” in people dying in the Channel, and the last week was “really busy” for crossings.

“We know a lot of people who were stopped to cross and were back to shore during those seven days.

“We received calls from people in distress in boats in the Channel, we received for example eight calls from eight different boats on Friday.”

Migrant boat seen trying to cross English Channel day after 12 people died

Fraud and scam complaints reach record high

10:02 , Joe Middleton

Scam-related complaints have reached their highest level since at least early 2018, according to a service that resolves disputes between consumers and financial firms.

In the first quarter of this financial year (April 1 to June 30), consumers lodged 8,734 gripes about fraud and scams, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said.

More than half were in relation to customer-approved online bank transfers, also known as authorised push payment (APP) scams.

By comparison, in the same period in the first quarter of the 2023-24 financial year, 6,094 scam complaints were recorded.

The service said the rise in cases is due to several factors, including cases where consumers are putting in multiple claims due to more than one firm being involved.

Abby Thomas, chief executive and chief ombudsman of the FOS, said: “Being a victim of a fraud and scam is a horrendous experience - not just financially, but emotionally too. That’s why it’s disappointing to see complaint levels rising to even higher levels.

“We often hear from people embarrassed to have fallen victim to a fraud, but these crimes can be complex and incredibly convincing, and nobody should be afraid to come forward.

“In recent years, we have investigated thousands of cases, returning more than £150 million to those who have fallen victim to these crimes.

“No matter how complex a case is, people can come with confidence to our free, independent service and we’ll investigate their complaint.”

What really lies behind the decision to restrict arms sales to Israel

09:48 , Joe Middleton

Is our government’s move to ban some arms sales just gesture politics? It depends who you think the gesture is intended for, writes Mark Almond

What really lies behind the decision to restrict arms sales to Israel

Labour MP says she cannot vote for winter fuel payment cuts

09:30 , Joe Middleton

A Labour MP has suggested she could not vote with the government on proposals to end universal winter fuel payments.

Rachael Maskell, the York Central MP, appeared to signal she was willing to disobey her party’s orders to vote for the measure, which will see the benefit restricted to those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the universal payment would come to an end when she laid out measures to tackle a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances.

There has been growing unrest in Labour ranks about the move’s impact on pensioners just above the poverty line who will not be eligible for the payment under the new criteria.

Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight, Ms Maskell appealed to the Chancellor to make concessions.

Asked if she could vote for the measure when it is put before the Commons next week, she replied: “I couldn’t vote for this, but I think what we are saying, this is bigger than a vote because this is about protecting people’s lives and ultimately that is our responsibility as MPs, to speak to truth to power.

“That is all we are doing is to say actually there are some people in danger here, that are at risk, and we need the Government to step in like Gordon Brown did when he introduced the winter fuel payment.”

Boris has sunk to a new low with his Israel intervention – even by his standards

09:00 , Joe Middleton

For Boris 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

Starmer feels heat from US over partial arms ban as Netanyahu blasts ‘shameful’ decision

08:33 , Joe Middleton

Sir Keir Starmer has found himself at the centre of an international storm over his government’s decision to restrict arms sales to Israel just as mourners were burying six hostages killed in Gaza.

The move to halt 30 of the 350 arms export licences was condemned by Benjamin Netanyahu as “shameful”, while the White House has made it clear it will not be following Britain’s lead.

Joe Biden’s national security communications adviser, John Kirby, said: “Every nation can speak for themselves, on how and to what degree that they support Israel. We’re going to continue to do what we have to do to support Israel’s defensive capabilities.”

The issue has also blown up in the Tory leadership contest, with candidates lining up to attack foreign secretary David Lammy’s announcement.

Starmer feels heat from US and Israel over partial arms ban

Starmer faces PMQs for the first time since recess

08:19 , Joe Middleton

Sir Keir Starmer will face off with Rishi Sunak for the first time since summer recess. The usual cut and thrust of PMQs in the House of Commons is likely to be tempered by the release of the long-awaited report into the deaths of 72 people in a fire at Grenfell Tower.

For the latest developments on Grenfell, follow our live blog here

Keir Starmer has come to power at a time of ‘anxiety' for the nation, says Tony Blair

08:10 , Joe Middleton

Britain’s standing in the world has diminished over the last decade and Sir Keir Starmer has come to power at a time of “anxiety” for the nation, Sir Tony Blair has said of his Labour successor as prime minister.

The ex-PM’s warning comes after Sir Keir claimed “things will get worse before they get better” in a speech ahead of what he said would be a “painful” Budget statement on October 30.

In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC’s Amol Rajan due to be broadcast on Wednesday night, Sir Tony - the last Labour leader who won a general election - was asked if he thought the new Prime Minister had a “mandate” to govern, or if his majority in this summer’s poll was due more to apathy with the Tories.

“Yeah, I think he’s got a mandate, of course. I mean, I think what you’re saying, not in these words, is that the zeitgeist is different,” Sir Tony replied.

The former prime minister claimed there was a “pretty optimistic” spirit across the country when he came to power at the turn of the millennium, as he attempted to “lead the change” on racial and sex equality, as well as devolution.

In contrast, he described the mood in the UK today facing Sir Keir’s Government as “very different”, adding: “I think it’s more anxious. But it’s still a zeitgeist. And I think in the new Government coming in and people wanting a sense of stability, wanting long-term problems solved and sorted out, you know... for sure there’s a mandate there.”

Final report into Grenfell fire published today

07:59 , Joe Middleton

A long-awaited report into the deaths of 72 people in a fire at Grenfell Tower is due to be published more than seven years after the blaze.

The lengthy document - the final report of the inquiry into the 2017 disaster - is expected to lay out in detail its findings around the actions of corporate firms in the construction industry, the local authority, London Fire Brigade and government.

Families of those killed have insisted it must be a “landmark report” which prompts widescale change after what was described as a “spider’s web of blame” was spun during inquiry hearings.

A report in 2019, from the first phase of the inquiry, concluded the tower’s cladding did not comply with building regulations and was the “principal” reason for the rapid and “profoundly shocking” spread of the blaze.

This final report, which follows further hearings on the tower’s 2016 refurbishment, will present conclusions on how the west London block of flats came to be in a condition which allowed the flames to spread so quickly.

For the latest developments on Grenfell, follow our live blog here

Tory leadership voting to get underway

07:53 , Joe Middleton

Conservative 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.

An announcement on the result of the first round is expected at about 3.30pm.

Further voting rounds will take place throughout September, aimed at thinning the ranks to four candidates who will set out their positions to Tory members at the party’s conference at the start of October.

After that, MPs will carry out further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for party members to choose between, with the result announced on November 2.

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 Kemi Badenoch.

Several of the candidates have officially launched their campaigns in recent days as MPs returned to Parliament, and many have appeared on the airwaves and made speeches and visits to Tory activists across the country over the summer.

Angela Rayner ‘to ditch Thatcher’s Right to Buy scheme’

07:50 , Joe Middleton

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, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.

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”.

Welcome

07:49 , Joe Middleton

Good morning and welcome to our blog of all the latest goings on in Westminster and beyond.