Sir Keir Starmer is attending the 75th summit of the Nato defence alliance in the US, where he will meet president Joe Biden at the White House in their first face-to-face meeting. During the second day of the summit, the prime minister promised Ukraine long-range missiles supplied by the UK to counterattack military targets in Russia. Ahead of the meeting at the White House, he said his time with president Biden will be a chance to strengthen the “very special relationship” between the UK and US. On the other side of the Atlantic, Sir Keir has been accused by shadow minister James Cartlidge of causing “massive uncertainty” for the UK’s armed forces after failing to set a deadline for increasing defence spending. The PM said he was committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence “within our fiscal rules” but he cautioned that he needed to carry out a review before setting a timeline to reach that goal. Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said it would not be completed until next year.
Keir Starmer to hold first meeting with Joe Biden at Nato summit as PM promises new F-16s air defences to Ukraine – live – live
Starmer meets with Senate leaders and German chancellor during visit to Capitol Hill
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Sir Keir Starmer is attending the 75th summit of the Nato defence alliance in the US, where he will meet president Joe Biden at the White House in their first face-to-face meeting.
During the second day of the summit, the prime minister promised Ukraine long-range missiles supplied by the UK to counterattack military targets in Russia.
Ahead of the meeting at the White House, he said his time with president Biden will be a chance to strengthen the “very special relationship” between the UK and US.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Sir Keir has been accused by shadow minister James Cartlidge of causing “massive uncertainty” for the UK’s armed forces after failing to set a deadline for increasing defence spending.
The PM said he was committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence “within our fiscal rules” but he cautioned that he needed to carry out a review before setting a timeline to reach that goal. Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said it would not be completed until next year.
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Pictured: Starmer and world leaders attend Nato summit after meeting US senators
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pose for a photo opportunity ahead of a meeting with other NATO leaders and a bipartisan group of senators at the U.S. Capitol on July 10, 2024 in Washington DC. Nato leaders convene in Washington this week for its annual summit to discuss future strategies and commitments and mark the 75th anniversary of the alliance’s founding (Getty Images)United States Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., center left, and United States Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., center right, pose with from front row left are Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., Finnish President Alexander Stubb, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and a group of bipartisan Senators, as NATO leaders visit Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Washington (AP)
Salma Ouaguira10 July 2024 16:10
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Defence secretary vows to unveil ‘clear pathway’ to spending increase
Defence secretary John Healey has promised the government will unveil a “clear pathway” to defence spending boost amid a delay row.
Speaking to broadcasters at the Nato summit in Washington DC, he said the spending boost was a “total commitment” but refused to get into any details on a timescale.
Mr Healey said the “strategic defence review” will be launched by the prime minister next week alongside a “clear pathway to meeting that commitment of 2.5% on defence”.
This handout photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on July 7, 2024, shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) next to Secretary of State for Defence of Great Britain John Healey (R) making a selfie with a wounded Ukrainian sailor during their visit to a hospital in Odesa, treating sailors wounded in battles with Russian occupiers, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER)
Salma Ouaguira10 July 2024 16:04
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Watch: Starmer meets with Senate leaders and German chancellor during visit to Capitol Hill
Starmer meets with Senate leaders and German chancellor during visit to Capitol Hill
Sir Keir Starmer and Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, were on Capitol Hill on Wednesday 10 July, meeting with a bipartisan group of Senate leaders on the sidelines of the Nato summit. Joe Biden welcomed leaders to Washington yesterday by celebrating the bloc’s unity against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and underscoring America’s ironclad commitment to the alliance under his watch. The message seemed aimed at bucking up his own wobbly Democratic supporters as much as allies confronting the prospect of a return to the White House of Nato skeptic Donald Trump. This week’s summit will give Mr Biden his first chance to meet face-to-face with Sir Keir at the White House.
Salma Ouaguira10 July 2024 15:56
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Keir Starmer to call Nato countries to increase defence amid spending row
Sir Keir Starmer will use the 75th anniversary of the Nato summit to call countries to increase defence spending in response to rising global threats.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the prime minister is launching a major review setting out plans to boost defence to its target of 2.5 per cent of GDP.
But he is facing pressure over when he will deliver on his campaign pledge with shadow defence minister James Cartlidge urging the prime minister to come clean and stop the “massive uncertainty”.
The Tory MP told Sky News: “By not announcing at the Nato summit that we are going to 2.5 per cent Keir Starmer has created massive uncertainty and I do think that will be damaging for our armed forces at the worst possible time.”
The prime minister is set to meet Jo Biden in the White House as the US president battles against Donald Trump to stay for second term.
Salma Ouaguira10 July 2024 15:34
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Starmer denies suggesting ‘Biden should retire’
Keir Starmer has insisted that his suggestion members of the House of Lords should retire at 80 is not a comment on Joe Biden’s ability to continue as US president:
Jane Dalton10 July 2024 15:25
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The ‘Baby of the House’ has been sworn in as an MP
Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire Sam Carling is the youngest member of the new Parliament at 22 years old.
Mr Carling was directly followed by Reform UK MP Lee Anderson, who swore in for the first time under the Reform banner after previously being elected a Conservative MP.
Mr Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, was joined by Reform colleagues Richard Tice MP for Boston and Skegness, and Rupert Lowe MP for Great Yarmouth.
Earlier in the session, Labour MP Clive Lewis (Norwich South), said prior to his affirmation: “I take this oath under protest and in the hope that one day my fellow citizens will democratically decide to live in a republic.”
(BBC Parliament )
Salma Ouaguira10 July 2024 15:24
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Zelenskiy: ‘F-16s bring just and lasting peace closer’
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he is grateful to world leaders for taking steps to help his country’s air force get F-16s.
Posting on X, he said: “I anticipate that our air force capability coalition will be strengthened even further through the joining of new participants. F-16s bring just and lasting peace closer, demonstrating that terror must fail everywhere and at any time.
“Our team continues to work in Washington to reach agreements that are strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.”
Ukraine remains at the top of this year’s Nato summit agenda with world leaders all committing to support the country with its war against Russia’s invasion.
Salma Ouaguira10 July 2024 15:17
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When presidents and PMs meet – hand-holding to ‘political soulmates’
When US president Joe Biden spoke to Sir Keir Starmer on the telephone following his UK election victory, he referenced the “special relationship” between the two countries – and now the prime minister is in Washington DC to cement that bond.
It is a relationship between nations that is embodied by that between the two leaders, and getting off on the right foot can be important.
Here is how first meetings between premiers have gone in recent times.
Salma Ouaguira10 July 2024 15:15
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Why was general election turnout so low, and will it ever recover?
At just 0.5 points above 2001’s low of 59.4 per cent, this year’s election risked falling to a new record and was among the lowest turnouts in a century.
From 1924 to the year 2000, turnout didn’t dip below 70 per cent. In fact, the highest turnout in the past 100 years reached 83.9 per cent of eligible voters in 1950, when Clement Attlee’s Labour saw its majority shrink from 146 to 5.
But since the turn of the millennium, Britons in the 21st century have not been showing up to vote in such high numbers, and this may just be the new normal.
Our data correspondent Alicja Hagopian has the full analysis:
Jane Dalton10 July 2024 15:10
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Keir Starmer appoints new parliamentary whips
Downing Street has announced a list of new parliamentary appointments. The 13 Commons, who are not ministers but whips, will work with Labour MPs to ensure they are fully informed.
Mark Tami MP as Treasurer of HM Household (Commons Deputy Chief Whip);Samantha Dixon MP as Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip);Chris Elmore MP as Comptroller of HM Household (Government Whip);Nic Dakin MP as a Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip);Vicky Foxcroft MP as a Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip);Jeff Smith MP as a Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip);Anna Turley MP as a Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip);Taiwo Owatemi MP as a Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip);Christian Wakeford MP as an Assistant Whip, House of Commons;Gen Kitchen MP as an Assistant Whip, House of Commons;Keir Mather MP as an Assistant Whip, House of Commons;Gerald Jones MP as an Assistant Whip, House of Commons;Anna McMorrin MP as an Assistant Whip, House of Commons.
The prime minister has also appointed three whips in the House of Lords:
Lord Kennedy of Southwark as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentleman at Arms (Lords Chief Whip); Baroness Wheeler MBE as Captain of The King’s Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard (Lords Deputy Chief Whip).
Salma Ouaguira10 July 2024 15:06
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-labour-starmer-cabinet-nato-tory-reform-live-b2577158.html
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