Sir Keir Starmer is holding a press conference in Washington after attending the 75th Nato summit ahead of his flight back to the UK. The prime minister has previously insisted Joe Biden is not senile and has been on “good form” at the alliance’s conference, as concerns grow about the US President’s mental fitness. Meanwhile, Sir Keir has raised hopes that there will be an extra bank holiday if England wins Euro 2024. The prime minister said the country should “certainly mark the occasion” in the event of a victory in Sunday’s final between Gareth Southgate’s team and Spain. However, he did refuse to commit to an extra day off, saying he did not want to “jinx anything” by pre-empting the result. It comes as the PM is facing a backbench rebellion to scrap the two-child benefit cap after figures revealed that 1.6 million children are affected by the policy. In response to the latest figures, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall warned child poverty is a “stain on our society”, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pressuring the PM to scrap the cap.
UK politics live: Keir Starmer holds press conference in Washington after Nato summit ahead of flight back to UK
Sir Keir Starmer meets South Korean President at Nato Summit
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Sir Keir Starmer is holding a press conference in Washington after attending the 75th Nato summit ahead of his flight back to the UK.
The prime minister has previously insisted Joe Biden is not senile and has been on “good form” at the alliance’s conference, as concerns grow about the US President’s mental fitness.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir has raised hopes that there will be an extra bank holiday if England wins Euro 2024.
The prime minister said the country should “certainly mark the occasion” in the event of a victory in Sunday’s final between Gareth Southgate’s team and Spain.
However, he did refuse to commit to an extra day off, saying he did not want to “jinx anything” by pre-empting the result.
It comes as the PM is facing a backbench rebellion to scrap the two-child benefit cap after figures revealed that 1.6 million children are affected by the policy.
In response to the latest figures, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall warned child poverty is a “stain on our society”, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pressuring the PM to scrap the cap.
Key Points
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Meet the Rees-Moggs on reality TV? Don’t mind if I do…
Ryan Coogan writes: Personally, I can’t wait to get the inside scoop on the former Conservative minister, a man so old-fashioned he probably had to double-check with the producers that the TV cameras weren’t going to steal his soul…
Salma Ouaguira11 July 2024 23:00
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Biden mistakenly refers to Ukraine’s Zelenskyy as ‘President Putin’ before correcting himself
US President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy as “President Putin” before correcting himself at the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday.
“Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said, referring to Zelenskiy before correcting himself.
“Going to beat President Putin, President Zelenskiy. I am so focused on beating Putin,” Biden said while correcting himself.
The gaffe comes as concerns grow about the US President’s mental fitness.
Tara Cobham11 July 2024 22:53
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Starmer faces union backlash as PM puts mortgages before public sector pay
Comments made by the prime minister at the Nato summit in Washington DC appear to confirm that he is prioritising economic stability and bringing mortgages down over meeting demands for wage rises.
With junior doctors threatening more strikes over their demands for a 35 per cent pay rise and other pay review bodies on different sectors due to report shortly, Sir Keir was pushed on whether he is prepared to agree to above-inflation rises.
Political editor David Maddox reports:
Tara Cobham11 July 2024 22:37
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Biden tells Starmer ‘Gimme your hand pal’ in unseen White House video
Joe Biden tells Keir Starmer ‘Gimme your hand pal’ in unseen White House video
President Joe Biden told Sir Keir Starmer “Gimme your hand pal” in an unseen video of the prime minister’s visit to the White House. Downing Street today (11 July), shared a behind-the-scenes video of Sir Keir chatting with Joe Biden. At one point Mr Biden slowly extends his hand towards Sir Keir, but then has to prompt the prime minister to take it, saying “Gimme your hand pal.” The leaders also discussed their close working relationship. Sir Keir told the president: “The special relationship is so important. It’s forged in difficult circumstances, endured for so long, and stronger now than ever.”
Tara Cobham11 July 2024 22:00
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Watch: Sir Keir Starmer meets South Korean President at Nato Summit
Sir Keir Starmer meets South Korean President at Nato Summit
Tara Cobham11 July 2024 21:30
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Starmer raises hopes of bank holiday if England win Euros
The country should “certainly mark the occasion” if England win Euro 2024, Sir Keir Starmer has said, raising hopes of an extra bank holiday in the event of a victory.
The Prime Minister refused to commit to an extra day off, saying he did not want to “jinx anything” by pre-empting the result of Sunday’s final between Gareth Southgate’s team and Spain.
But he did suggest there would be some form of celebration if England wins its first major men’s football tournament since 1966.
Sir Keir, who had previously said it “looks like” football is coming home, said he would not quit as Prime Minister if the team failed at the final hurdle and deliver on his prediction.
The Liberal Democrats have led calls for an extra bank holiday after England claimed a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Sir Keir, an Arsenal supporter who regularly plays five-a-side football, previously supported calls for a bank holiday when England’s women’s football team made it to the World Cup final last year.
Asked whether he would back a bank holiday if Southgate’s team is victorious, the Prime Minister told broadcasters in Washington DC: “We should certainly mark the occasion, I don’t want to jinx it. I went to the last Euros final, I don’t want to go through that again.
“I don’t want to jinx anything but we must mark it in some way. But the most important thing is getting it over the line on Sunday.”
Tara Cobham11 July 2024 21:04
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Starmer held meetings with Erdogan and Yoon during Nato conference
Sir Keir Starmer held meetings with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol during the Nato conference in Washington.
A Downing Street spokesman said the Prime Minister discussed the importance of close cooperation on security issues with Mr Yoon, who also wished England good luck in the final of the Euros on Sunday.
With Mr Erdogan, Sir Keir discussed the contribution of Turkish communities to the UK and his desire to see an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Mr Erdogan discussed his aspiration to strengthen relations with the UK in several areas including trade, tourism and defence, the spokesperson added.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) meeting President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, for a bilateral meeting at the Nato 75th anniversary summit on Thursday (Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (right) speaks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a Working Session of the NATO Summit on Thursday (AFP via Getty Images)
Tara Cobham11 July 2024 21:00
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Move over, Eton – my old comp is the frontbenchers’ school of choice
More members of Labour’s new cabinet went to an unassuming state secondary in south Manchester than attended the public school that produced 20 prime ministers.
Here, Marina Gask remembers fondly her time at Parrs Wood – and reveals what made it such a political powerhouse:
Salma Ouaguira11 July 2024 21:00
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Starmer discusses Ukraine, Gaza and relationships with Commonwealth in Trudeau meeting
Sir Keir Starmer discussed Ukraine, Gaza and relationships with the Commonwealth during a meeting with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau at the Nato summit in Washington.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “They agreed on the importance of a strong UK-Canada relationship based on our shared values, and warmly welcomed the opportunity to deepen the partnership between our two countries.
“The Prime Minister welcomed Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership on Ukraine, including Canada’s significant financial support so far. Both leaders agreed we must continue to stand alongside Ukraine for as long as it takes.
“Discussing the situation in Israel and Gaza, they both agreed an immediate ceasefire is vital in order to get hostages out, get humanitarian aid in and make progress towards a two-state solution.”
The spokesman added that the two men agreed to keep in touch ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in October.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the NATO Summit on Thursday (AP)
Tara Cobham11 July 2024 20:55
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Incumbent on SNP to change after election defeat, says Kate Forbes
It is “incumbent” on the SNP to look at how it needs to change after suffering a significant defeat in the General Election, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has said.
Kate Forbes said she does not believe there needs to be new a leadership but change is needed to ensure the party’s policy agenda matches the priorities of the public.
A disastrous election night for the SNP saw the party fall to nine MPs, down from 48 in 2019, losing all Scotland’s central belt.
Tara Cobham11 July 2024 20:30
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-labour-cabinet-brexit-tory-reform-news-live-b2577848.html