Braverman denies she will defect to Reform as IT outage forces Labour Cobra meeting – live
Source in Nigel Farage’s party says ex-home secretary expected to switch, possibly in autumn
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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.”
A Reform source told the i the party expects 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.
What can Keir Starmer achieve in his meeting with European leaders?
Starmer’s ‘generational’ plan to rebuild UK and forge closer ties with EU
In his response to the King’s Speech, Rishi Sunak laid three clever bear traps for the Starmer government
Key policies from King’s Speech as Labour unveils promises for new Parliament
Government recommits to funding UNRWA as David Lammy praises ‘life-saving work’
Government recommits to funding UNRWA as David Lammy praises ‘life-saving work’
The government will overturn the suspension of UK funding for the UN agency for Palestine
In his response to the King’s Speech, Rishi Sunak laid three clever bear traps for the Starmer government
The temporary leader of the opposition was generous in defeat as he tried to lay the foundations of the Conservative fightback, writes John Rentoul:
In his King’s Speech response, Sunak laid three clever bear traps for Keir Starmer
The temporary leader of the opposition was generous in defeat as he tried to lay the foundations of the Conservative fightback, writes John Rentoul
Watch: David Lammy confirms UK funding for UNRWA in Gaza will restart
So who will be forced out of Starmer’s cabinet first?
Just two weeks after the general election, the whispers in Westminster about which underperforming minister will fail fastest are already rife. John Rentoul reveals where you should place your bets…
So who will be forced out of Starmer’s cabinet first?
Just two weeks after the general election, the whispers in Westminster about which underperforming minister will fail fastest are already rife. John Rentoul reveals where you should place your bets…
Editorial: Starmer has made a good start of wiping up the toxic residue of Brexit
Starmer has made a good start of wiping up the toxic residue of Brexit
Editorial: The Labour leader has been clear that the UK will not be rejoining the EU, or the single market or the customs union, in the near future. However, this must not prevent his government from renegotiating aspects of the Brexit deal, or from edging Britain back towards our nearest neighbours
Zelensky appeals for permission to strike Russian targets in Cabinet address
Volodymyr Zelensky asked Sir Keir Starmer to “show your leadership” as he appealed for permission to strike Russian targets with Western weapons in a historic address to the UK Cabinet.
The Ukrainian president urged the British Government to help with Kyiv’s “long-range capability” as he became the first foreign leader to address the meeting of senior UK ministers in person since 1997.
“We are still missing the main answer to this question,” Mr Zelensky told the meeting on Friday morning.
“I ask you to show your leadership in this and please convince other partners to remove the limits.”
Ukraine has said lifting restrictions on Western weapons – including British Storm Shadow missiles – to strike deep into Russian territory is key to strengthening its defence and securing its frontline position in the war.
The UK Government has avoided explicitly backing such a move, saying only that it is a matter for Kyiv how it chooses to deploy its resources, as long as international law is upheld.
Speaking after the visit, Downing Street said there was “no change to our position” on weapons.
A Number 10 spokeswoman said: “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.”
Foreign Secretary Lammy signals no blanket ban on arms sales to Israel
The UK will not implement a blanket ban on arms sales to Israel but will consider issues linked to offensive weapons used in Gaza, according to the Foreign Secretary.
David Lammy said Israel is “surrounded by people who would see its annihilation” as he outlined the balance he has to consider when making decisions in relation to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
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.
Green MP Ellie Chowns (North Herefordshire), a signatory of the amendment, pressed Mr Lammy in the Commons as she said: “I would like to add my voice to the call for the Foreign Secretary to commit to publishing the comprehensive review of Israel’s compliance or non-compliance with international humanitarian law as soon as it is completed by officials.
“And I would like to ask the Foreign Secretary if he will, in the meantime, apply the precautionary principle and act to stop all UK arms exports to Israel, given that there is widespread evidence of considerable breaches of international law already?”
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.
Fresh bid to change assisted dying law to come before Parliament
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.
Tom Tugendhat gets backing from two top Tories for party leadership
Two senior Tories have thrown their weight behind Tom Tugendhat to be the new Conservative Party leader.
Damian Green and Steve Baker, who lost their seats in the July 4 election but are influential figures in the party, endorsed shadow security minister Mr Tugendhat in a joint article for The Telegraph.
Mr Baker is an ardent Brexiteer, and former leader of the European Research Group, while Mr Green was chairman of the One Nation Group of Tory moderates.
Helen Corbett reports:
Tom Tugendhat gets backing from two top Tories for party leadership
Damian Green and Steve Baker, who are from different wings of the party, have endorsed Mr Tugendhat.
Election delayed plan for IT cybersecurity crisis
Cyber security plan to deal with IT outage crisis was delayed because of election
Former security minister Stephen McPartland carried out a cyber review with recommendations which would have helped deal with the IT outage crisis
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