Keir Starmer UN speech - live: PM urges Middle East to ‘step back from the brink’ in address before Trump meet
Keir Starmer to meet Donald Trump after UN speech
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet Donald Trump in New York after he delivers a speech to world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, the prime minister urged Israel and Hezbollah to agree a ceasefire and for the two sides to “step back from the brink”.
In a speech to world leaders in New York, Sir Keir said: “I call on Israel and Hezbollah: Stop the violence, step back from the brink.”
The 79th UN summit comes as the Middle East teeters on the brink of all-out conflict and the bloody war in Ukraine grinds on.
It follows an intervention at the UN Security Council where he tore into Russia over its actions in Ukraine, saying Vladimir Putin was treating his own citizens as “bits of meat to fling into the grinder” in the conflict.
Sir Keir has been embroiled in a donations row after borrowing an £18m penthouse flat from Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli during the general election and to film a Covid video. But Downing Street claims he did not break the rules.
Can Keir Starmer simply ignore a vote of Labour’s annual conference?
Russia treating own citizens as ‘bits of meat to fling into grinder’, says Starmer in UN speech
Keir Starmer to promise ‘global leadership’ in UN General Assembly speech
Keir Starmer ‘not discussing individual members of staff’ including Sue Gray
Pictured: Starmer meets Pakistani prime minister Shahbaz Sharif
Tory leadership candidate Labour most fears revealed
Senior aids have revealed that Labour wants to “avoid” James Cleverly as future Tory leader.
According to the i newspaper, Downing Street officials said it was the former home secretary who they would least like to win the contest.
A Labour party figure said: “I think Cleverly could be a problem. He sounds quite reasonable,” a No 10 aide added: “James Cleverly – that’s who we want to avoid.”
Another government aide said Kemi Badenoch does not represent a threat as the party is “not sure she’d take our votes”.
Hunt warns Reeves against changing fiscal rules to increase borrowing
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt has claimed that Treasury officials told him higher borrowing could lead to high interest rates.
He was responding to claims that Rachel Reeves is considering to change fiscal rules in an effort to allow more capital spending.
But Mr Hunt warned that “more borrowing means interest rates stay higher for longer”.
EXCLUSIVE | Starmer’s top minister for social media has not spoken to snubbed Elon Musk
The minister in charge of social media and digital technology has not tried to communicate with X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk, despite the platform being linked to the summer riots.
Sources close to Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science innovation and technology, have said that the two men have not spoken and there has been no attempt by the government to reach out to the world’s richest man.
Sources close to Mr Kyle have explained that he is connected to Mr Musk through “a degree of separation of one” in that they have a number of mutual connections and when the billionaire social media platform owner “tweets something mad, they get in touch to say what he really means.”
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Starmer’s top minister for social media has not spoken to snubbed Elon Musk
Exclusive: New secretary of state for science, innovation and technology Peter Kyle is in charge of policing social media and online safety but only communicates to Elon Musk through intermediaries
Scottish government accused of having ‘head in the sand’ over homelessness
The Scottish government has been accused of having its “head in the sand” over the country’s homelessness crisis, as the First Minister was urged to sack the housing minister.
This week, homelessness applications reached a record high in new figures, with more than 10,000 children forced to live in temporary accommodation.
John Swinney was challenged on the issue at First Minister’s Questions today by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
Mr Sarwar asked if he accepted there was a housing emergency in Scotland – which had been declared by Holyrood earlier this year, to which the First Minister said he did, adding that the Government was “taking action” to fix the issue.
“I welcome that the First Minister recognises there is a housing emergency, but the broader answer demonstrates a government with its head in the sand and oblivious of the struggles of thousands of Scots facing homelessness as we speak,” Mr Sarwar said.
The Scottish Labour leader, who attacked the drop in affordable home building in Scotland, asked the First Minister if he would “change course” on housing, but Mr Swinney compared his Government’s record with the last Labour administration which led Scotland between 1997 and 2007.
The SNP-run government, Mr Swinney claimed, built an average of 7,750 affordable homes a year, compared with Labour’s 5,448 when they governed as part of a coalition with the Lib Dems, adding that the Scottish Government was “getting on with the job”.
Starmer: Top AI companies drawn to the UK because of our rule of law
Sir Keir Starmer has claimed top tech companies are attracted to the UK because the country respects the rule of law.
The prime minister has spent the morning in New York meeting US business leaders to discuss potential investment deals.
Following a meeting with investment management company Blackstone CEO, the government announced a £10 billion tech plan to build a new data centre in England by the American firm.
Speaking to the Standard, Sir Keir said: “Top AI companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI have chosen to locate their European headquarters in London for our talent, expertise and hunger for success.
“And why wouldn’t they? The UK has the world’s best graduates, respect for the rule of law, and, importantly, now has the much-needed political stability that business needs to thrive.”
Former Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow minister urges Reeves to reverse winter fuel cuts
A former shadow cabinet minister who served under Jeremy Corbyn has urged the new Labour government to reverse cuts to the winter fuel allowance.
Andy McDonald warned the measures would “conflict starkly” with the government’s opposition to austerity and “leave poor pensioners in cold homes”.
He told Politics Home: “Those who’ve done their bit and put in a full working life with a modest occupational pension shouldn’t be punished and see their payments being taken away.”
Mr McDonald served as shadow transport secretary under Mr Corbyn between 2016 and 2020.
In 2023, he was suspended for using the phrase “between the river and the sea” at a pro-Palestine protest.
Tugendhat says invading Iraq was ‘naughtiest’ thing he has ever done
Tom Tugendhat has repeated his claim that taking part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was the naughtiest thing he’s ever done.
Asked about the naughtiest thing he has ever done in an interview with the Spectator, alongside his fellow leadership rivals, Mr Tugendhat said: “I invaded a country once which was a few years ago, 2003; I was part of the invading army in Iraq”
The Tory leadership contender gave the same answer in the 2022 leadership race.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story below:
Tom Tugendhat says invading Iraq was ‘naughtiest’ thing he has ever done
Mr Tugendhat, who also served in Afghanistan, survived being shot twice in a ‘friendly fire’ incident while serving in Iraq
Tories warn raising income tax in Wales would be ‘unforgiveable’
Pictured: Keir Starmer attends breakfast meeting with US business leaders
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments