Government to build ‘closer’ links with EU as Keir Starmer to work with Italian right-wing on small boats – latest news

Shadow veterans minister Andrew Bowie has said Rishi Sunak should stay on as Conservative Party leader until November.

Asked if he agreed with shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell that the former prime minister should continue to act as party leader until November, Mr Bowie told Sky News: “I think it’s important that there is some stability at the top of the Conservative Party as we determine how and the length of the leadership election that we’re about to undertake.

“And Rishi gives us that certainty, gives us that continuity, and I hope he finds within himself to carry on whilst we get our house in order and select who is to succeed him and lead us into the next election in four or five years.

He added: “Yes, from my perspective, I think he should stay.”

Asked if the party should move to the right, Mr Bowie said: “Absolutely not, I mean, that’s for the party members to decide who the leader is going to be, but I think that the Conservative Party does better when it commands the centre ground.

“That’s where we have done better traditionally, and that’s where we command most support in the country when we do so. So it’s not for me to determine where the party goes, that’s for Members of Parliament in general, and indeed, the party membership.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will say a “confident, outward-looking” UK is “open for business” at the G7 trade ministers’ meeting.

He will set out the new Labour Government’s strategy to reset relations and remove barriers to trade during his first international visit as Business and Trade Secretary.

The trip comes in the same week that the new European Union relations minister heads to Brussels, and Sir Keir Starmer hosts the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace.

At the meeting in Italy on Tuesday, Mr Reynolds will address his G7 counterparts as well as businesses.

He will say: “In the UK, we now have a strong government with an even stronger mandate from the British people. One that respects, wants to partner with and is open for business.

“My message to you today is simple – Britain is back. A confident, outward-looking, future-facing UK is ready and willing to play our part on the international stage.

“We are seeking a closer, more mature, more level-headed relationship with our friends in the European Union – our nearest and largest trading partner, and we also intend to forge better trading relationships with countries around the world.”

Sir Keir Starmer will attempt to forge an alliance with Italy’s populist right-wing prime minister Giorgia Meloni this week.

In a bid to build support in Europe for the prime minister’s new migration policy on small boats, he will discuss the issue with the Italian prime minister in a bilateral meeting this week.

He is expected to hold talks with Meloni on the margins of the European Political Community (EPC) meeting at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire on Thursday.

The Times reports that despite their political differences, Starmer saw Meloni as a key ally in his approach to tackling the small boats crisis and is convinced they could have a constructive relationship.

With 35 bills set to be contained in Labour’s first legislative programme in 14 years which will be read out by King Charles on Wednesday, there are fears in the trade union movement that Sir Keir may deprioritise his pledges on workers rights.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Trades Union Congress (TUC) president Matt Wrack, who is also general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), warned that “words will not be enough” from the new Labour prime minister and rapid action is expected.

Our politics editor David Maddox has the full story:

Dubbed the “devolution revolution”, the cabinet minister said the government’s doors are open to areas which want to get in touch and take on devolution for the first time.

Ms Rayner has written to leaders of councils not currently subject to a devolution deal, to urge them to “partner with the government”.

She has announced the push in a bid to “drive growth in every part of the country” as the new Labour government begins to make headway on key pledges.

“For too long, Westminster government has tightly gripped control and held back opportunities and potential for towns, cities, and villages across the country,” Ms Rayner wrote in the letter to local leaders.

Sir Keir Starmer has launched a review of the UK’s defence to protect the country from a “more dangerous and volatile world”.

The prime minsiter said spending would be “responsibly increased” to bolster Britain’s “hollowed-out armed forces”.

It comes after Sir Keir reaffirmed his commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP (gross domestic product) at the Nato summit in Washington last week.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the review will aim to strengthen UK homeland security, bolster Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and modernise and maintain the nuclear deterrent.

It will be led by former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, and draw on military and foreign policy experts such as Dr Fiona Hill and General Sir Richard Barrons.

A defence review team will also be established to engage with serving and retired members of the armed forces, the defence industry, the general public, academics, Parliament and the UK’s allies.

Sir Keir said: “We live in a more dangerous and volatile world. My Government will forge a new clear-eyed approach to our national defences, equipping us to tackle international threats head on while keeping the British people safe and secure.

“I promised the British people I would deliver the change needed to take our country forward, and I promised action not words. That’s why one of my first acts since taking office is to launch our strategic defence review.

“We will make sure our hollowed-out armed forces are bolstered and respected, that defence spending is responsibly increased, and that our country has the capabilities needed to ensure the UK’s resilience for the long term.”

The new laws will hand greater powers to local leaders and to economic watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), with growth a key part of the prime minister’s agenda, the government has said.

The prime minister described the measures, to be announced on Wednesday, as the “down payment” on the change his government is seeking to deliver.

The strengthening of the OBR, which was outlined in Labour’s manifesto, is designed to ensure that “nobody can play fast and loose with the public finances ever again”, Downing Street said.

Read what can we expect from the full speech below:

Ahead of the King’s Speech on Wednesday, the Government said it will put economic growth at the heart of its legislative agenda.

More than 35 bills are expected to be announced as Labour seeks to maintain momentum and define its first 100 days in office as a period of positive progress.

Here is a summary of the expected legislation:

• Fiscal discipline
• Further devolution
• National wealth fund
• Clean energy boost
• Planning and infrastructure
• Revitalising Rail
• Skills push to focus on big business
• Border security
• Reform for renters
• Crime and policing
• Workers’ rights
• Help for mental health
• Eradicating smoking
• Martyn’s Law
• Constitutional reform
• Football governance
• Acting on AI

Children and young people risk becoming a forgotten generation owing to crippling waits for NHS care, health leaders have warned.

A report from NHS Providers said 82% of trusts it surveyed are unable to meet the current demand for children and young people’s services.

NHS trusts provide a variety of help for children and young people at home, in the community and in hospitals, such as health visiting, speech and language therapy, audiology, neurodevelopmental services, mental health services and autism assessment.

The report found that rising demand and long waits for services are the biggest challenges for trusts, with more and more children needing help.

For example, 5.3 million children and young people were in contact with mental health services in 2023/24 – up 8.1% on 2022/23 and 25.7% on 2021/22.

In the report, which included 134 responses from leaders at 95 trusts, almost all (97%) said the current level of demand they were experiencing for children and young people’s services had increased compared with before the Covid pandemic.