UK politics live: Starmer could make ‘pragmatic’ U-turn over £1bn tax plan, as PM warned after Trump meeting
Sir Keir Starmer and foreign secretary David Lammy spent time with former president before flying back to UK
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Sir Keir Stamer and Rachel Reeves could water down their planned raid on nom-doms amid fears the move would fail to raise any money, according to reports.
The chancellor had hoped to raise about £1bn a year by cracking down on the tax perk available to wealthy UK residents.
But government officials said Ms Reeves could overhaul the plan ahead of her 30 October Budget if the numbers did not add up, the Financial Times reported.
A government official told the newspaper: “We will be pragmatic, not ideological. We won’t press on regardless, but we are not going to abandon this completely.”
A Treasury spokesperson called the report “speculation” and pledged to remove “the outdated non-dom tax regime”.
It comes as Labour MP Emily Thornberry said the government should not “pull our punches” if they disagree with the American president.
Sir Keir met Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump for the first time as the two sat down for a two-hour dinner meeting in New York.
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Keir Starmer to promise ‘global leadership’ in UN General Assembly speech
Keir Starmer ‘not discussing individual members of staff’ including Sue Gray
‘I have to be nice’ Donald Trump ahead of New York meeting with Sir Keir
Asked by GB News what he thought of Sir Keir Starmer, Trump replied: “Well I’m going to see him in about an hour so I have to be nice.”
“I actually think he’s very nice. He ran a great race, he did very well, it’s very early he’s very popular.”
Ahead of the meeting, Sir Keir told reporters: “I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and know them personally, get to know them face to face.”
‘Gaza shames us all' Sir Keir tells world leaders
The Prime Minister used his UN address to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.
He said: “We need to see an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement, and we are working with all partners to that end.
“Further escalation serves no one. It offers nothing but more suffering of innocent people on all sides and the prospect of a wider war that no-one can control and consequences none of us can foresee.
“It shames us all the suffering in Gaza continues to grow. The answer is diplomacy, the release of all the hostages and the unfettered flow of aid to those in need - it is the only way to break the devastating cycle of violence.
He called for a two state solution as well as peace in Sudan calling it the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world today”.
He adds: “The world cannot look away”
Sir Keir will meet Trump but not Kamala Harris
Ahead of his meeting with the Republican presidential candidate at Trump Tower, Sir Keir told reporters: “I’ve said a number of times, I want to meet both candidates.
“We’ve now got the opportunity to meet Trump, which is good.
“Obviously, I still want to speak to Harris as well.
“But you know, the usual diary challenges, but it’s good that this one now has been fixed.
“I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and know them personally, get to know them face to face.”
He said the UK embassy team, led by ambassador Dame Karen Pierce, “has got good relations with both camps and has had for a long time”.
Asked whether he would be prepared to stand up to Mr Trump on issues such as support for Ukraine, Sir Keir said: “The first thing I think is important to say in relation to this is we’ve obviously had a special relationship with”
Sir Keir Starmer says UN must move fast to tackle global conflict
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, the PM told world leaders: “Conflict touches more countries now than ever in UN history.
“War is one of the main reasons that progress has stalled. That is a catastrophe made by human hands.
“We are returning the UK to responsible global leadership. I think the international system can be better, we need it to be better.
“People talk about instability and a fear of fatalism has taken hold. We won’t accept this slide into greater conflict
“This is the moment to reassert fundamental principles to recommit to the UN and rule of law.
“So we are ready to step up.”
Sir Keir Starmer looking forward to getting to know Donald Trump ‘face-to-face’
The Prime Minister is visiting the Republican presidential candidate’s Trump Tower for talks ahead of November’s US election.
Sir Keir said he wanted to meet Mr Trump face to face because “I’m a great believer in personal relationships on the world stage”.
Ahead of the meeting, Sir Keir told reporters: “I’ve said a number of times, I want to meet both candidates.
“We’ve now got the opportunity to meet Trump, which is good.
“Obviously, I still want to speak to Harris as well.
“But you know, the usual diary challenges, but it’s good that this one now has been fixed.
“It’ll be really to establish a relationship between the two of us.
“I’m a great believer in personal relations on the international stage.
“I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and know them personally, get to know them face to face.”
Baroness Warsi quits Tories claiming party attempting to gag her
Former Tory chair Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has quit the Conservatives in a furious row just as the party is preparing to gather for a crucial conference on its future in Birmingham.
The Muslim peer was brought in as chair by David Cameron in 2010 to help detoxify the party’s brand and bring it into the 21st century.
But since leaving government in 2014 Warsi has had a difficult relationship with the Tory leadership consistently calling out racism and islamophobia in the Conservative Party.
David Maddox reports:
Baroness Warsi quits Tories claiming party attempting to gag her
Baroness Warsi has quit the Conservatives on the eve of their conference in Birmingham
COMMENT | What does the future of The Spectator look like with ‘arch schemer’ Gove at the helm?
If he resists the temptation to simply preach the gospel of his friend and proprietor Sir Paul Marshall, the former Tory minister may find that he thrives in the role, writes Alan Rusbridger:
What does the future of The Spectator look like with ‘arch schemer’ Gove at the helm?
If he resists the temptation to simply preach the gospel of his friend and proprietor Sir Paul Marshall, the former Tory minister may find that he thrives in the role, writes Alan Rusbridger
£10 billion earmarked for spending on UK nuclear infrastructure
Nearly £10 billion has been earmarked for spending on UK nuclear infrastructure and the nuclear industry since the formation of the Aukus partnership with Australia and the United States in 2021, the defence secretary said.
John Healey said the agreement helped the three countries’ economies as well as their security.
He also announced that the UK has agreed to add UK-made Stingray torpedoes to the P8 submarine hunting aircraft. He said it would counter deep diving and conventional submarines.
Mr Healey said: “Our investment in this partnership helps our industries to prosper and breaks down barriers to trade. Secondly, the skills and experience that we share boosts jobs and boosts growth across our nations.
“And third the investment in our future technologies helps drive innovation and will help develop new warfighting capabilities.”
Chancellor could be willing to alter non-dom plans, report suggests
Chancellor Rachel Reeves could be willing to change the plans for Labour’s crackdown on non-doms, according to reports.
The Financial Times reported on Thursday evening that Government officials had said Ms Reeves could change the policy if the numbers are not satisfactory.
A Treasury spokesperson called the report “speculation, not Government policy” and pledged to remove “the outdated non-dom tax regime”.
It comes after a report in the Guardian suggested Treasury officials fear estimates due to be issued by the Office for Budget Responsibility will forecast that the policy will raise no money because of the risk of people who are super-rich leaving the UK.
UK unveils £5m aid package for Lebanon amid deadly air strikes and rocket fire
Development minister Anneliese Dodds has unveiled a £5 million aid package for Unicef in Lebanon.
The announcement late on Wednesday follows deadly air strikes and rocket fire which Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged since the start of the week.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed the aid will go towards medical supplies, hygiene kits, fuel for water stations, and emergency teams working in the health and nutrition fields.
The government department also confirmed that Royal Air Force aircraft and helicopters are on standby, with a UK presence at RAF Akrotiri near Limassol in Cyprus, and in the eastern Mediterranean with two ships – RFA Mounts Bay and HMS Duncan.
Border Force and Foreign Office officials, and 700 troops, were deployed to Cyprus on Tuesday.
“The situation in Lebanon is deeply concerning,” Ms Dodds said.
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