Defence secretary stays coy on long-range missiles in Ukraine – and will hold talks with Kyiv tonight
John Healey, the defence secretary, is still answering questions from MPs in the House of Commons.
Unsurprisingly, the announcement overnight that the US would allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles in Russia comes up.
However, Mr Healey remained coy about what the UK’s stance was.
He told the Commons he would not comment so not to “compromise operations and security”.
“The prime minister has been clear, as I do to the House today, that we must double down on the support for Ukraine, give Ukraine the support it needs, and do so for as long as it takes,” he added.
“And in doing so we will continue our close co-operation with the US and allies in providing that support to Ukraine.”
‘A very serious development’
Mr Healey was pushed on the matter by shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, who said the Tories would support the move to allow Kyiv to fire Storm Shadow missiles into Russia.
He also described the deployment of 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia as an “escalation”.
Mr Healey replied: “The shadow secretary of state is right, the one person responsible for escalation in this conflict is President Putin. The one side that has been escalating in recent months is Russia.”
He added: “This is a very serious development that I’m discussing with the US defence secretary and will be doing so this evening with the Ukrainian defence secretary as well.”
‘Shame on Putin’: Foreign secretary attacks Russia at UN
Sir Keir Starmer isn’t the only one engaging in overseas diplomacy today, with the foreign secretary also out of the country.
While the PM is in Brazil for the G20, David Lammy is representing the UK at the United Nations in New York.
The UK holds the presidency of the security council, and held a vote calling for a ceasefire in Sudan, which is currently engulfed in a civil war.
The motion was vetoed by Russia.
In response, Mr Lammy branded Moscow an “enemy of peace”.
‘Shame on Putin’
“This Russia veto is a disgrace, and it shows the world, yet again, Russia’s true colours,” he said.
“Shame on Putin for waging a war of aggression in Ukraine.
“Shame on Putin for using his mercenaries to spread conflict and violence across the African continent.
“And shame on Putin for pretending to be a partner of the global south, while condemning black Africans to further killing, further rape, further starvation in a brutal war.”
The motion also called for the protection of civilians and the allowance of aid to enter Sudan.
In response, the Russian representative, claimed the UK and other nations were trying to “meddle in Sudanese affairs”.
The UK yesterday announced it was doubling its aid to Sudan.
Meanwhile, it’s also announced new sanctions on Iran for aiding the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
UK ‘will look to be first in NATO’ during Trump presidency
The future of NATO is somewhat more uncertain with Donald Trump heading back to the White House.
He’s been a regular critic of members who he says piggyback on US funding and has even cast doubt on the principle of an attack on one member being an attack on all.
Defence Secretary John Healey was asked about the president-elect’s stance just a short while ago.
Speaking in the House of Commons during defence questions, he said he was pleased to see spending going up, with 23 NATO nations – including the UK – spending at least the target amount of 2% of GDP on defence.
The government has vowed to increase to 2.5%, but hasn’t said when that’ll actually happen.
“We commit almost all of our armed forces to NATO so we will play a leading role,” said Mr Healey.
“We will have a NATO-first policy at the heart of our defence plans and will always look to be first in NATO as part of our leadership role.”
Starmer and Xi agree to ‘work together’ on net zero transition
We’ve had some detail from Downing Street about the prime minister’s talks with China’s President Xi Jinping.
They’ve had a meeting at the G20 summit in Rio, Brazil – the first time a British PM has met the Chinese leader since 2018.
Sir Keir Starmer is said to have spoken of the UK and China’s “shared responsibility to work together” on global stability, economic ties, and working towards clean energy.
He wants a “consistent, respectful, and pragmatic” relationship with Beijing, with climate a “particular” focus.
Both Sir Keir and President Xi said this “should be high on the agenda and there was more work to be done” to achieve net zero.
The PM said he wants to “engage honestly and frankly” on areas of disagreement like Ukraine and Hong Kong.
More talks between the two sides are set to take place next year, when the chancellor visits Beijing.
Farmers to protest over ‘completely unacceptable’ inheritance tax changes
Large demonstrations by farmers are expected in London on Tuesday as they fight to reverse “absolutely unacceptable” changes to inheritance tax.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is holding a mass lobby of MPs with 1,800 of its members – three times as many people as originally planned – to urge backbenchers to stand up to the government’s plans to impose inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m.
And thousands more are expected to join a separate rally in Whitehall as they protest against last month’s budget, which also sped up the phase out of EU-era subsidies as funding is switched to nature-friendly farming schemes.
Celebrities including TV presenter and farmer Jeremy Clarkson – who told The Times in 2021 that avoiding inheritance tax was “critical” in his decision to buy land – are expected to join the rally.
The largest show of anger yet
Organisers and farming leaders say they have no concerns over potential trouble despite speculation over far right protesters attending.
While a procession to Parliament Square will be spearheaded by children on toy tractors, organisers have told those coming they should not bring their farm machinery.
It is the largest show of anger to date over the inheritance tax changes for farming businesses, which limit the 100% relief for farms to only the first £1m of combined agricultural and business property.
For anything above that, landowners will pay a 20% tax rate, rather than the standard 40% rate of inheritance tax (IHT) applied to other land and property.
Starmer raises case of Jimmy Lai in talks with Xi
Sir Keir Starmer raised the case of Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy activist and British national imprisoned in Hong Kong, during his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping today.
Journalists were ushered out of the room at the time, PA reports.
The prime minister said: “I’m very pleased that my foreign secretary and foreign minister Wang met recently to discuss respective concerns including on human rights and parliamentary sanctions, Taiwan, the South China Sea and our shared interest in Hong Kong.
“We are concerned by reports of Jimmy Lai’s deterioration.”
Who is Jimmy Lai?
British citizen Mr Lai, one of the most prominent critics of the Chinese Communist Party, has been in prison since December 2020.
He is serving almost six years for lease fraud – normally a civil issue resulting in a fine – and is also facing trial for sedition and collusion with foreign forces.
No 10 insists chancellor ‘has been straight with public’ after questions over past career
Chancellor Rachel Reeves faced questions about her record as an economist over the weekend, as newspaper reports cast doubt on claims she’d made about her pre-politics career.
One was from a 2021 Stylish magazine interview in which she said she’d “spent a decade” working at the Bank of England, whereas her LinkedIn page described her time there as a six-year stint from 2000 to 2006.
Several media outlets also reported a change to her profile on the networking site, removing a role as a Halifax Bank of Scotland economist and changing it to “retail banking role”.
The reports came after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch referred to her as a “copy and paste chancellor” at PMQs last week, in a dig at past reports that she’d lifted sections of her book from Wikipedia.
Pressed by journalists on whether the prime minister thought she’d been entirely straight with the public about her career, or exageerated her CV, Number 10 offered Sir Keir’s definitive backing.
“He is very clear this is a chancellor that has been straight with the public about the state of the public finances and what is necessary to restore financial stability – that is most important,” said a spokeswoman.
Ms Reeves has been an MP since 2010, first elected for Leeds West.
She now represents Leeds West and Pudsey.
Her LinkedIn page stretches back to 2000.
Starmer confirms he will vote on assisted dying bill
Later this month, members of the House of Commons will debate and vote on proposals to introduce assisted dying legislation.
MPs are being given a free vote, meaning they can side with their conscience and not party lines, so the government is supposed to be staying neutral.
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the government is “neutral” on the matter, and confirmed he will vote on 29 November.
He told reporters on the way to Brazil he won’t “say or do anything that will put pressure on other people”.
Watch: What is assisted dying?
‘Getting the balance right is crucially important’
“It’s a free vote, and it’s very important it remains a free vote, because people feel very strongly about this,” he added.
“It’s a sort of individual divide. I know this first hand because obviously I looked at every single assisted suicide case for five years that was investigated.
“I also did the biggest consultation in criminal justice when we did the consultation on assisted dying. It was the biggest response, because people felt so strongly, and I could feel that, and I’ve always said getting the balance right is crucially important.”
Asked if he will be voting, Sir Keir says: “Yes, I will be voting.”
Sir Keir Starmer is on his travels again today, joining world leaders at a G20 summit in Rio, Brazil.
Here are the main things you need to know right now:
- The Labour leader has become the first British PM since Theresa May to meet with China’s President Xi;
- Sir Keir said a “strong” relationship was in the interests of London and Beijing, having vowed to be “pragmatic” after years of souring relations under the Johnson, Truss, and Sunak administrations.
- The PM is also using the summit to urge allies to “double down” on support for Ukraine after US President Joe Biden gave permission for Kyiv to fire long-range missiles into Russian territory;
- Politics At Jack And Sam’s has analysed why the US has finally made the decision after months of stalling:
While the prime minister is away, some of his cabinet ministers are coming out to play in the House of Commons.
We’re aiming to bring you updates on these statements after 3.30pm:
- Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on children’s social care
- Transport Secretary Louise Haigh on bus funding
- Treasury Secretary Tulip Siddiq on financial services
Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live from 7pm.
Stay with us for updates and analysis through the afternoon.
Lord Blunkett demands action on ‘death trap’ Tube platforms after ‘terrifying’ fall
Lord Blunkett has described the ‘terrifying moment’ when he fell into the gap between a tube train and the platform, badly bruising his legs.
It has prompted the Labour peer, who is blind, to demand action on what he is calling “death trap” platforms.
He told the Sun on Sunday about the incident when he was attempting to board a London Underground train on the District Line three weeks ago with his guide dog during rush hour.
“As I took a step to get onto the Tube train I suddenly felt both my feet disappearing down the gap. Looking back, I must have lost my footing because ‘the gap’ between the Tube and platform was so large,” he said.
He said he suffered “excruciating pain” in his legs and “was really worried.” He added: “I recently had a heart attack… any bleeding or bruising is dangerous.”