‘We’ve got to move on’: Rachel Reeves rejects calls to negotiate UK-EU customs union
Ministers have rejected calls for the UK to move significantly closer to the EU in order to boost economic growth, insisting that Brexit has brought “opportunities” and some benefits for the British economy. Speaking to Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos, chancellor Rachel Reeves and business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds both suggested […]
Keir Starmer says Southport murders ‘must be a line in the sand’ — full statement
Keir Starmer has delivered a statement from Downing Street on last summer’s knife attack in Southport, which left three young girls dead Axel Rudakubana, 18, yesterday pleaded guilty to murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July. The prime minister […]
‘Government has questions to answer’ about Southport attack aftermath, says Philp
A senior Conservative frontbencher has said the government must reveal “what they knew and when” about Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, who pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July. Chris Philp was asked on Tuesday morning why Prevent, the UK’s counter-extremism programme, had failed to stop Rudakubana […]
David Lammy: It is ‘right’ that Donald Trump reviews Chagos Islands deal
The foreign secretary has said it is “right” that the new US administration under Donald Trump is able to review the Chagos Islands deal, which the US president-elect is reportedly critical of. “It’s right and proper that the new administration is able to consider it”, David Lammy told BBC Radio 4‘s Today programme. Under the […]
UK-US special relationship will ‘continue to flourish’ under Trump, says Starmer
Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration and said that the special relationship between the United States and UK “will continue to flourish for years to come”. The US president-elect will be sworn in to his second term in the White House later on Monday, eight years after he first took the […]
Negotiate UK-EU customs union to tear down ‘damaging’ Brexit barriers, Davey urges Starmer
Ed Davey will call on the government to negotiate a new customs union with the European Union (EU) to “turbocharge our economy in the medium and long term.” Delivering his first major speech of 2025, the Liberal Democrat leader will criticise the government for ruling out a customs union arrangement with the EU, arguing such […]
Badenoch to admit Conservative ‘mistakes’ on Brexit, net zero and immigration in major speech
Kemi Badenoch is set to deliver her first major speech of 2025, in which she will lay out proposals to “rebuild trust” in the Conservative Party. Badenoch was elected as Conservative leader on 2 November when she beat rival Robert Jenrick, the now-shadow justice secretary, by around 10,000 votes. The leadership contest followed the resignation […]
Treasury minister warns ‘tough decisions’ to come on spending
The chief secretary to the Treasury has hinted that “tough decisions” on spending will be required as the government grapples with high borrowing costs. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is battling to meet her fiscal rules after a surge in the cost of borrowing, fuelling speculation of more cuts and/or tax rises. Recent market moves have […]
Full exchange of letters between PM, Tulip Siddiq and ethics watchdog as minister resigns
Tulip Siddiq has resigned from the government after allegations emerged about properties linked to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the ousted former Bangladeshi prime minister. Her resignation letter, addressed to Keir Starmer, is as follows: Dear Prime Minister, Thank you for the confidence you have shown in me in recent weeks. I am grateful to your […]
Anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq resigns from government
Tulip Siddiq has resigned from the government, Downing Street has announced. In a letter to the prime minister, Siddiq, the economic secretary to the Treasury who is responsible for illicit finance and the UK’s anti-corruption efforts, said that while she had “not breached the ministerial code”, it is clear that continuing as a minister would […]
