Sir Keir Starmer is meeting with US president Joe Biden in Washington this evening where they will discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The prime minister and Mr Biden are believed to be on the cusp of allowing Kyiv to open up a new front in the war with Russia by using Western Storm Shadow long-range missiles.
But in a message apparently timed for when Sir Keir and his entourage were over the Atlantic on their way to the US on Thursday, President Putin warned such a move would mean Russia would be “at war with Nato”.
Speaking to reporters during a flight to Washington DC, Sir Keir said Russia started the conflict in Ukraine and that it can end the war “straight away”.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded with allies for months to allow his military to fire long-range US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles inside Russian territory.
Britain has supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of about 155 miles, three times the range of the missiles Ukraine has used up to now, but it cannot use them to fire at key targets inside Russia.
What is the Storm Shadow cruise missile? The British weapon banned from use in Russia by Ukrainian troops
Alexander Butler13 September 2024 21:12
Starmer and Biden meet in Washington for Ukraine talks
Sir Keir Starmer is meeting with US president Joe Biden in Washington this evening where they will discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The prime minister and Mr Biden are believed to be on the cusp of allowing Kyiv to open up a new front in the war with Russia by using Western Storm Shadow long-range missiles.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded with allies for months to allow his military to fire long-range US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles inside Russian territory.
Britain has supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of about 155 miles, three times the range of the missiles Ukraine has used up to now, but it cannot use them to fire at key targets inside Russia.
Alexander Butler13 September 2024 21:03
Winter fuel payments tied to council tax bands ‘not possible’, says minister
Dame Esther Rantzen has made a direct plea to the prime minister to follow through on his vow to make time in parliament for a debate and free vote on assisted dying.
The Childline founder had a telephone conversation with Sir Keir Starmer earlier this year – before he entered No 10 – in which he pledged his commitment on this issue.
Dame Esther’s latest comments come as a majority of members on a so-called citizens’ jury said assisted dying should be permitted in England.
The broadcaster has previously been praised for her role in bringing the difficult and sensitive conversation on assisted dying to the fore, having revealed in December that she has joined the Swiss Dignitas clinic as she lives with terminal cancer.
Without a change in the law, Dame Esther said she and others who are terminally ill could face “a bad death” or their families could have to endure police questioning and possible prosecution if they accompanied her to Dignitas.
Assisting someone to end their life is currently a criminal offence in England and Wales.
Dame Esther told Sky News: “What we’re hoping for is proper time to discuss the issues, have the free vote and change this cruel law.
“I call it cruel, because not only at the moment does it mean that I’ve got to have a bad death, if that’s what the cancer creates for me, but my family can’t be with me if I decide to go to Dignitas. Because otherwise they are liable to being accused of killing me and they get investigated by the police, so that’s just messy and wrong and not what we want.
“So, please Sir Keir, remember our conversation and let’s make time for this. It really is a matter of life and death.”
Salma Ouaguira13 September 2024 21:00
Starmer and Biden to meet in Washington for Ukraine talks
Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet with US president Joe Biden in Washington on Friday where they will discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The prime minister and Mr Biden are believed to be on the cusp of allowing Kyiv to open up a new front in the war with Russia by using Western Storm Shadow long-range missiles.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded with allies for months to allow his military to fire long-range US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles inside Russian territory.
Britain has supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of about 155 miles, three times the range of the missiles Ukraine has used up to now, but it cannot use them to fire at key targets inside Russia.
Alexander Butler13 September 2024 20:50
Starmer ducks Trump cats and dogs row but promises photo of new kitten
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to publish a picture of the new Siberian kitten in Downing Street as he tried to avoid commenting on the “cats and dogs” row inspired by Donald Trump during the recent presidential debate.
The prime minister is heading to the White House for a key bilateral summit with Joe Biden on Ukraine and the Middle East but his trip was already overshadowed by the fallout from the US election.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Salma Ouaguira13 September 2024 20:30
Poll shows sharp dip in public backing for Prime Minister and Chancellor
Public favourability for both Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves has fallen sharply, according to a poll.
As the government faces criticism for withdrawing winter fuel payments from all but the poorest pensioners, research this month found 32 per cent of people viewed the Prime Minister favourably, a six-percentage point drop since August.
Those who view Sir Keir unfavourably increased by eight points to 46 per cent over the same period, leaving a net score of minus 14 compared with a net score of zero last month.
The percentage who view Sir Keir unfavourably matches the highest level of negativity previously recorded for him by Ipsos following the Hartlepool by-election in 2021, which the Conservatives won from Labour with a swing of almost 16 per cent.
The chancellor, who has warned of difficult choices ahead of the Budget on 30 October, has seen her favourability fall by four points to 23 per cent, at a time her unfavourability has risen by nine points to 44 per cent.
This resulted in a net score of minus 21 in September compared with a score of minus eight in August.
The proportion of people who view the Labour Party favourably has fallen by four points to 36 per cent, while unfavourability has increased by eight points to 45 per cent.
However, despite some internal party concerns over the winter fuel allowance squeeze, positivity towards the prime minister and his party among Labour voters remains unchanged this month at 69 per cent.
Meanwhile the chancellor’s favourability has slipped by two points among Labour supporters to 46 per cent, with those viewing her as unfavourable increasing by four points to 21 per cent.
The poll found that 39 per cent of the public support the means testing of the winter fuel allowance and 42 per cent are opposed.
Salma Ouaguira13 September 2024 20:00
Labour £22bn black hole gloom ‘unhelpful’, top economist warns
Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ gloomy warnings of a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances were “unnecessary and probably economically unhelpful”, a former chief economist at the Bank of England has warned.
Labour frontbenchers have issued a series of warnings about the financial mess they inherited from their Conservative predecessors upon winning the July election, widely interpreted as paving the way for tax rises and tight public spending decisions in the upcoming Budget.
Read the full story below:
Salma Ouaguira13 September 2024 19:30
Readers divided over partial suspension of arm sales to Israel
Last week, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer suspended around 30 of the UK’s 350 arms export licenses to Israel, sparking strong reactions.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised that while the UK continues to support Israel, the decision was made due to the “clear risk” of UK-supplied weapons being used to breach international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees and aid access to Gaza.
The decision continues to fuel debate, with figures like Lord Carlile praising Starmer’s “courage” but criticizing Netanyahu for hindering peace efforts. Overall, the UK’s role in the Israel-Palestine conflict remains highly contentious, both domestically and internationally.
Here’s what The Independent readers had to say:
Salma Ouaguira13 September 2024 19:00
Government strengthens Online Safety Act to crack down on revenge porn
The sharing of revenge porn is to be classified as the most serious type of online offence under the Online Safety Act, meaning social media platforms will now have to take steps proactively to remove it, the government has said.
The change to the law will see the sharing of intimate images without consent upgraded to be made a priority offence under the new online safety rules, which are due to come into force from spring next year.
Read the full story below:
Salma Ouaguira13 September 2024 18:30
Flynn mulls Holyrood move but says he has not considered run for SNP leadership
Stephen Flynn has insisted becoming SNP leader is not something he has “actively considered” – though he added that if the top post in his party becomes vacant he will think about it.
The SNP Westminster leader is mulling over whether to make the switch from the House of Commons to Holyrood, saying he will make a decision well ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election in May 2026.
A move to Holyrood could put him in prime position to become the next leader of the party – despite John Swinney insisting he was “no caretaker” when he took on the job in May this year.
Mr Flynn said he was “genuinely just glad” Mr Swinney had taken on the role – but the current Scottish First Minister could come under pressure from within his party if the SNP loses power at Holyrood in the 2026 vote.
Asked if he is going to stand for Holyrood in that election, Mr Flynn said: “I’ve just not made up my mind.”
Briefing Scottish political journalists at the House of Commons, the Aberdeen South MP said he will “make a decision early next year”.
Salma Ouaguira13 September 2024 18:00