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
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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
Tories warn raising income tax in Wales would be ‘unforgiveable’
Pictured: Keir Starmer attends breakfast meeting with US business leaders
Prisoners could cut jail time by earning points in Texas-style reforms to ease overcrowding crisis
Ministers are looking at plans for Texas-style reforms that would allow prisoners to reduce their jail sentences by earning points.
Inmates in Texas can cut down the amount of time spent behind bars by earning credit for good behaviour, as well as earning points for taking part in courses aimed at tackling the root causes of offending.
The courses include vocational workshops, education and training, as well as sessions on drug rehabilitation and behavioural change.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:
Prisoners could cut jail time by earning points in Texas-style reforms
Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood is said to be planning a visit to Texas later this year as part of an attempt to mirror their approach to reducing high prison populations
Good Friday Agreement broker Mitchell calls on leaders to fulfil its potential
Former senator George Mitchell, who helped broker the Good Friday Agreement, has challenged Northern Ireland’s current leaders to fulfil the potential of the historic peace deal.
Mr Mitchell, who returned to Belfast as plans were unveiled to build a new home for a peace institute in his name at Queen’s University, said while Northern Ireland had enjoyed 26 years of peace, there “has not been 26 years of full reconciliation and progress”.
The veteran diplomat, 91, also had an emotional meeting with Erin McArdle, one of the first babies born after the 1998 agreement which largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland.
Mr Mitchell, who chaired the Good Friday Agreement negotiations to a successful conclusion, was making his first visit to Belfast since he attended events at Queen’s last year to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace deal.
Reflecting on the challenges of negotiating the agreement, Mr Mitchell said he believed “Northern Ireland can be and will be a lesson to the world”.
He added: “The challenge you have is to take advantage of this opportunity. There have been 26 years of peace; there has not been 26 years of full reconciliation and progress.
“The restoration of the Assembly, the election of two credible, responsible women Michelle (O’Neill) and Emma (Little-Pengelly), the fact that you don’t have an election coming up right away, means that there is an enormous opportunity now for Northern Ireland to experience a period of growth, increased prosperity, opportunity, education, healthcare for children.”
Pictured: AUKUS defence leaders at the Old Royal Naval College
COMMENT | Starmer is right to grasp the nettle of benefits reform
Though Labour’s fingers were burned badly by the winter fuel row, the government must once again grapple with another controversial policy to pave the way for growth, writes Andrew Grice:
Starmer is right to grasp the nettle of benefits reform – even if it stings him
Though Labour’s fingers were burned badly by the winter fuel row, the government must once again grapple with another controversial policy to pave the way for growth, writes Andrew Grice
Labour freebies: The gifts Starmer and other MPs have accepted as PM under fire
Labour has come under renewed pressure in its ongoing ‘freebies’ row after it was revealed that Sir Keir Starmer accepted £20,000 in accommodation costs to help his son study for his GCSEs.
The donation was declared to Parliament by the prime minister somewhat cryptically as “accommodation.”
It was recently revealed that Sir Keir has accepted £107,000 in gifts since 2019, more than two and a half times more than any other MP. During the campaign trail, he was given £55,122.28 by donor Lord Waheed Alli, including work clothing, accommodation – and £2,485 for “multiple pairs of glasses.”
Here’s a guide to the gifts the prime minister and other MPs have accepted:
Labour freebies: The gifts Starmer and other MPs have accepted as PM under fire
Football matches, music concerts and wardrobe upgrades – here’s a guide to the gifts Keir Starmer and other MPs have accepted
UK had ‘very low’ intensive care capacity during Covid, Chris Whitty says
Prof Sir Chris Whitty is giving oral evidence to the Covid-19 inquiry, which is investigating the government’s decisions taken during the pandemic.
The chief medical officer for England said the UK went into the Covid crisis with “very low” intensive care capacity in comparison to other countries.
He told the inquiry: “Taking ICU [intensive care units], in particular, the UK has a very low ICU capacity compared to most of our peer nations in high income countries.
“Now that’s a choice, that’s a political choice. It’s a system configuration choice, but it is a choice. Therefore you have less reserve when a major emergency happens, even if it’s short of something of the scale of Covid.”
Treasury committed to axing non-dom status despite warnings it could cost money
The Labour government has recommitted to its crackdown on non-doms after reports emerged that it could cost the Treasury revenue.
Officials told The Guardian how wealthy foreigners could leave the country to avoid the tax raid, leaving a £1billion hole in the government’s planned spending for schools and hospitals.
Responding the claims, a HM Treasury spokesperson said: “These reports are purely speculation - the independent Office for Budget Responsibility will certify the costings of all measures announced at the Budget in the usual way.
“We are committed to addressing unfairness in the tax system, which is why we are removing the outdated non-dom tax regime so we can raise the revenue needed to rebuild our public services, and replacing it with a new internationally competitive residence-based regime focused on attracting the best talent and investment to the UK.”
Bold decisions needed to tackle Scotland’s housing emergency, says minister
Scotland needs both “bold decisions” and a “collective effort” to tackle its housing emergency, a government minister has said.
Housing minister Paul McLennan said while there was a “strong track record” on housebuilding in Scotland, public funds needed to be “used more efficiently”.
He spoke out as the Scottish government confirmed investment of £100 million will be used to support the construction of about 2,800 mid-market homes for rent across the country.
The money, announced in First Minister John Swinney’s programme for government earlier this year, will be topped up with cash from institutional investors – which should take the overall funding total to a minimum of £500 million.
The move comes as part of a commitment by the Scottish government to leverage in more private sector cash for housing, helping to make public resources go further.
It comes after the Thriving Investments scheme used an initial £47.5 million of Scottish government cash as part of a £222.5 million project to deliver 1,200 mid-market homes in Scotland.
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