Lammy: UK missiles are vital to stop Putin
“Britain and America must give Ukraine the weapons it needs “to win” against Russia before a pivotal winter of fighting, the Foreign Secretary has said. Ahead of Washington talks on long-range missile use, David Lammy told The Telegraph the coming months were “crucial” in helping Kyiv get in a winning position. Talks between Sir Keir Starmer and Joe Biden, the US President, at the White House on Friday are expected to include discussions on whether to let Ukraine fire Storm Shadow missiles into Russia. It came as Vladimir Putin warned that Nato and Russia would be at war if Kyiv was allowed to use longer-range weapons. The Russian president told a state television reporter: “This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict. It would mean that Nato countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia.” – Daily Telegraph
- Long-range missile deal could mean war with Britain and US, Putin warns – The Times
- Putin will retaliate if Storm Shadows approved for use in Russia, Biden warned – Daily Telegraph
- Lifting missile restrictions will put Russia at war with Nato, Putin warns – Guardian
- Starmer tells Putin he can end war at any time – Guardian
- PM insists Putin started it – The Sun
- British forces shadowed Russian warships and planes in past week – Daily Telegraph
- Russia expels six British diplomats for ‘spying and sabotage’ – Daily Telegraph
- And Russia revokes accreditation of six diplomats – Guardian
Comment
NHS 1) Starmer: I’ll take on unions that block NHS reforms
“Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “take on” any health unions that block reform of the NHS, warning that he will do to them what he did to Jeremy Corbyn. In a major speech on the future of the health service, the prime minister said there would be “no more money without reform”. He promised an overhaul to prevent illness, not simply treat it, and bring care closer to home — but warned that this would “take a decade”. Starmer also pledged “controversial” measures to fight obesity, tooth decay, mental health problems and other public health threats, as he said Britain was “becoming a sicker society” and needed to change.” – The Times
- NHS reform plan puts Labour at odds with doctors’ union – The Times
- NHS to receive ’no more money without reform’ – FT
- ‘Dire’ report shows extent of NHS challenge – FT
Comment
NHS 2) Labour ban on TV junk food ads before 9pm to take effect next year
“Junk food adverts will be banned on social media and television next year in the first of a raft of tough public health measures Sir Keir Starmer says are essential to save the NHS. As the budget watchdog warned that Britain’s worsening health would blow a £100 billion hole in the public finances, the prime minister said that government had “just got to be more ambitious” in efforts to make people healthier. Ministers confirmed that a 9pm television watershed for promoting foods high in fat, salt and sugar, originally proposed by Boris Johnson in 2021, would go ahead in October next year after repeated delays. Such ads will be banned online at any time.” – The Times
- Junk food ads banned before 9pm – FT
Comment
We did not do impact assessment of winter fuel payment cut, No 10 admits…
“Ministers did not carry out a specific impact assessment on the withdrawal of the winter fuel payment from the bulk of pensioners, such as the potential effect on illness and death rates among older people, Downing Street has said. After days of No 10 refusing to comment, Keir Starmer’s deputy spokesperson said the only assessment made before the policy announcement was a standard legal one of potential equalities impacts.” – Guardian
- Starmer admits no impact assessment done on winter fuel payments cut – Daily Mail
- And Starmer makes shocking confession over decision to cut winter fuel payments – Daily Express
- Families face £40billion in tax rises or spending cuts every decade to get national debt under control – The Sun
>Yesterday:
…and Starmer unpopularity hits three-year high after winter fuel payments cut
“Sir Keir Starmer is more unpopular with the public than at any point in the past three years after his winter fuel payments cut, polling has shown. Forty-six per cent of voters now have an unfavourable view of the Prime Minister – the joint-highest figure during his time as the Labour Party leader. Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, have stripped around 10 million pensioners of their winter fuel payments. The benefit was universal but will now only go to pension credit claimants, prompting warnings that hundreds of thousands could be plunged into fuel poverty.” – Daily Telegraph
>Today:
>Yesterday:
PM ‘seeks to emulate’ Italy’s crackdown on illegal migration
“Sir Keir Starmer will meet Giorgia Meloni for talks in Rome on Monday as he seeks to use the Italian prime minister’s successful crackdown on illegal migration to inform his blueprint for tackling Britain’s small boats crisis. The prime minister and Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, are said to have been closely studying Italy’s strategy to deal with migrant crossings in the Mediterranean since entering government in July. In the past 12 months, the number of migrants arriving in Italy across the Mediterranean has fallen from 118,000 to 44,500, a 62 per cent drop.” – The Times
- Starmer hopes to learn from Italy’s success in tackling migrant crisis – Daily Telegraph
- Low-skilled migrants cost taxpayers £150,000 each – Daily Telegraph
Comment
- We must curb our reliance on migrant labour and get far more Brits off benefits and into work – Editorial, The Sun
Green backers helped Labour amass £26m in run-up to election
“Labour raised £26 million in the run-up to the general election, more than 50 per cent more than the Tories, thanks in part to big donations from green backers. The party received £4 million from Quadrature Capital, a hedge fund, which said the donation was intended to “support policies that will deliver climate action”. Quadrature Capital has pledged to give $325 million a year to combat climate change. The company’s 113 staff are paid an average of £3 million each. Labour also received £2 million from Ecotricity, the company founded by the campaigner Dale Vince. In the past has Vince funded the campaign group Just Stop Oil, but he withdrew his support last year.” – The Times
- Hester gave Tories extra £5m before election – FT
- Abbott says Tories paying ‘lip service’ to fighting racism after further Hester donation – Guardian
Trump rules out second TV debate with Harris
“Donald Trump has ruled out debating Kamala Harris for a second time before the US presidential election. The former president said he would not appear on stage with Ms Harris again, arguing that she should spend the coming months focusing on illegal migration and inflation instead. Trump and Ms Harris debated for the first time in Philadelphia on Tuesday, when she was widely considered to have won. Her campaign immediately called for a second debate to be held before polling day, but Trump suggested afterwards that he would not be willing to participate again.” – Daily Telegraph
Crime minister’s purse stolen at police conference
“The policing minister had her purse stolen while attending a conference for senior police officers. Dame Diana Johnson was giving a speech at the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) annual conference on Tuesday at a four-star hotel in Warwickshire when the incident occurred. In her speech the Home Office minister said that the UK has been “gripped by an epidemic of antisocial behaviour, theft and shoplifting, which is corroding our communities and cannot be allowed to continue”. Warwickshire police confirmed that a 56-year-old man from Coventry had been arrested in connection with a theft of a purse”. – The Times
Other political news
- Blair: I still wish I were prime minister. Power is a drug – The Times
