Tag: News Story

STORY

Chris Elmore has been appointed as the UK’s Special Envoy on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has announced. The role will focus on international work to tackle the use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war.

The Government said the appointment follows the launch of a UK-led international coalition to end violence against women and girls. Ministers said up to 30% of women and girls living in conflict zones face sexual violence, and that the envoy would work with international partners to strengthen action.

Elmore’s appointment places him in a diplomatic role linked to the UK’s wider human rights and foreign policy agenda. The Government said the work would include seeking accountability, supporting survivors and strengthening international commitments to prevent sexual violence in conflict.

STORY

The Government has announced a package worth almost £100 million to strengthen wildfire resilience ahead of the summer. Ministers said the funding would support specialist trained firefighters and improve fire and rescue assets as the country prepares for higher wildfire risks.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the measures would help ensure specialist wildfire capability was available to communities. The announcement follows growing concern about the impact of extreme heat, dry weather and climate-related risks on emergency services.

Fire Safety Minister Samantha Dixon said the package was intended to support fire and rescue services in responding to future threats. The Government said the investment forms part of wider work to ensure emergency services are prepared for changing risks during periods of hot weather.

STORY

A survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations has found that two-thirds of EU citizens across 15 countries would back the UK rejoining the European Union. The polling, reported by the Guardian, also found strong support in Britain for closer ties with the EU ten years after the Brexit referendum.

The survey found that 66% of EU respondents viewed UK membership as a positive or neutral idea, with support highest in the Netherlands and Denmark. In the UK, 75% of respondents backed a closer relationship with the EU and 63% said they would accept freedom of movement in return for closer trading ties.

The findings come as the Government continues to pursue a reset in UK-EU relations without reopening the question of formal membership. The survey adds to the political debate over how far Britain should go in rebuilding economic, trade and security links with the bloc.

STORY

The Conservatives have attacked Andy Burnham’s economic approach as Labour MPs consider whether to replace Keir Starmer with the newly elected MP for Makerfield. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said Burnham taking over would be bad for the country and warned that financial markets would be watching his comments on borrowing and fiscal rules.

Stride told Sky News that Burnham had made what he described as foolish remarks about bond markets and said there was a difference between winning a by-election, serving as a mayor and becoming Prime Minister. He also said Labour remained addicted to debt and borrowing.

Burnham’s supporters argue that his record in Greater Manchester shows he can connect with voters and deliver a more devolved model of Government. The exchanges suggest that opposition parties are preparing to scrutinise Burnham’s fiscal credibility if he moves formally towards a leadership campaign.

STORY

Andy Burnham is expected to return to Westminster this week after winning the Makerfield by-election, with allies seeking to build support for a possible Labour leadership bid. The Guardian reported that Burnham was expected to speak to Starmer after being sworn in and could present him with a list of MPs backing a transition.

Under Labour rules, a challenger needs support from 20% of Labour MPs to enter a leadership contest. The Guardian reported that Burnham’s supporters were trying to build a large parliamentary base, while some Labour MPs are seeking a transition that avoids a damaging public contest.

Burnham has not formally launched a leadership challenge, but he has said his return to Parliament was intended to give voters a different political offer. His victory has intensified pressure on Starmer because it gives Labour MPs an alternative candidate who has recently defeated Reform UK in a high-profile contest.

STORY

Senior cabinet ministers have reportedly told Keir Starmer that he should stand down as Prime Minister, as Labour’s internal crisis deepened after the Makerfield by-election. It is being reported that a sizeable number of cabinet ministers had told Starmer his time was up, while the Guardian reported that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was among those urging him to leave office.

Reports also named Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood and Heidi Alexander as ministers who had told the Prime Minister he should set out a timetable for departure. Other ministers were reported to be continuing to support Starmer, including Rachel Reeves, Steve Reed, Pat McFadden and David Lammy.

The reports have not been formally confirmed by Downing Street, which has maintained that Starmer is focused on the work of Government. The situation leaves Labour facing the prospect of either an agreed transition or a leadership contest if Burnham or another candidate secures sufficient parliamentary support.

STORY

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle has said Keir Starmer is reflecting on the political realities facing him, while saying he had no reason to believe the Prime Minister would announce his resignation on Monday. Kyle said Starmer was considering the political challenges after speaking to a wide range of colleagues.

Speaking to broadcasters, Kyle said it would be wrong to ignore the fact that the Prime Minister’s position was under pressure. He said Starmer had been calm and thoughtful in a conversation on Friday and had focused on what was in the country’s interest rather than his own position.

Kyle’s comments were treated at Westminster as significant because they stopped short of a direct statement that Starmer would remain in post. Ministers and Labour MPs are now waiting to see whether the Prime Minister makes a statement before a cabinet meeting expected this week.

STORY

Keir Starmer is facing renewed pressure over his position as Prime Minister after reports that he could announce a timetable for leaving Downing Street on Monday. The pressure follows Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election, which gives the former Greater Manchester mayor a route back into Parliament and the ability to launch a Labour leadership challenge.

Starmer is expected to set out plans for an orderly departure, although Downing Street has denied that he is preparing to resign and said he remains focused on governing. Reuters reported that a Government source said the Prime Minister was still getting on with the job, while senior Labour figures continued to assess whether he could survive a challenge.

Starmer had previously said he would fight any leadership contest, but the political position changed after Burnham’s win. Labour MPs who want a transition have argued that the party needs a new leader to respond to Reform UK’s rise in the polls, while Starmer’s allies have warned that a contested leadership battle would create further instability.

STORY

The Office for Product Safety and Standards and other regulators have issued a joint statement warning that consumer products containing asbestos must be removed from sale and recalled. The statement said the UK operates a zero-tolerance approach to asbestos in consumer goods, reflecting the ban on its use and importation since 1999.

The regulators said enforcement decisions are generally based on risk and proportionality, but that products found to contain asbestos must be recalled from consumers. They said the position was not an indication of the level of risk in any individual case, but reflected the legal approach to asbestos in consumer products.

The statement places responsibility on businesses to ensure they are meeting product safety obligations. It comes as ministers and regulators continue to focus on product safety, consumer protection and the removal of unsafe goods from the UK market.

STORY

The Government has launched a consultation on the framework for future decisions on a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Ministers said the consultation was intended to support a final planning decision in 2029 and would test proposals against noise, air quality, climate and economic growth requirements.

The Department for Transport said Heathrow handled a record 84 million passengers last year and argued that additional capacity would support jobs across the UK. The Government said the expansion process must demonstrate that environmental and community concerns can be addressed before any final decision is taken.

The issue has long divided political parties, environmental groups, business organisations and local communities. The launch of the consultation moves the third runway proposal into another stage of the planning process, although any final decision remains several years away.