Labour MP joins Tories in suggesting full reality about McSweeney’s stolen cellphone not being advised
The Conservatives are persevering with to recommend that Morgan McSweeney has been engaged in some form of conspiracy to eliminate his cell phone, and cease parliament getting maintain of his messages with Peter Mandelson. Yesterday Kemi Badenoch mentioned “it’s only proper that Morgan McSweeney testifies in Parliament and explains precisely what occurred”. And this morning Andrew Griffith, the shadow enterprise secretary, advised Sky New that “the entire thing is as smelly as a fish market on a sizzling summer time’s afternoon”.
Referring to claims that McSweeney’s account of how he had his cellphone stolen (which means the messages probably can’t be recovered) and that the police didn’t examine it propertly, Griffith went on:
double citation markIt simply doesn’t compute, does it? I labored in Quantity 10. Briefly, I had a Quantity 10 cellphone. There was a paranoia about units like that falling into different individuals’s fingers.
And so whether or not it was the Met Police, whether or not it was Morgan McSweeney, and what seems like fairly evasive set of reporting, even while you take a look at that transcript, or whether or not it was the Quantity 10 safety staff following up one thing that on the time they might not have been positive had not been taken by a state actor, a cellphone with all types of presidency secrets and techniques probably in it, that’s exactly why individuals in authorities have two separate telephones.
Griffith labored in No 10 for Boris Johnson, who reportedly advised the Covid inquiry that it couldn’t learn messages on one in every of his telephones as a result of he had forgotten his password. Maybe this explains why Griffith is sceptical about explanations from No 10 figures about why cellphone messages can’t be obtained.
Keir Starmer has mentioned that the concept McSweeney was engaged in a plot to eliminate the cellphone is “far-fetched”. Others are extra dismissive, suggesting the Tories have gone into full conspiracy principle mode. There’s precedent for this; final yr Badenoch and her staff spent a number of weeks pushing the idea that Jonathan Powell, the PM’s nationwide safety adviser, has intervened to get the CPS to drop the China spy case, earlier than they finally gave up after an inquiry by a parliamentary inquiry discovered no proof in any respect to assist the declare.
However it isn’t simply the Tories who assume there’s something fishy happening.
Final night time the Labour MP Karl Turner posted these on social media, accusing McSweeney of mendacity when he advised the police his cellphone had been stolen.
double citation markI don’t consider McSwindle had his iPhone stolen
double citation markHonest consider, Matt. It’s smacks of the liar Johnson defence of ‘misplaced all my WhatsApp messages’. We mustn’t take the general public for fools. And I’m afraid this smacks of too handy by far. I received’t do it. I’ll say what I really assume. And I don’t consider it. Finish of!
double citation markI consider the report was made. McSwindle didn’t point out that he was the chief of employees to the PM. A major omission of he’d needed the police to prioritise the offence.
Turner is an outspoken MP who’s prepared to go a lot additional than his colleagues in saying issues which can be provocative. However this morning he has obtained partial backing from Richard Burgon. He has tabled some parliamentary written questions on McSweeney’s cellphone which recommend he doesn’t assume the total reality is being advised.
I’ve submitted these formal Parliamentary Written Questions following stories that Morgan McSweeney’s cellphone was stolen.
Given the intense impression this might have on getting the reality concerning the Mandelson scandal (and even on the Labour Collectively scandal), we’d like solutions. pic.twitter.com/uUKZxCMuVC
— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) March 26, 2026
Burgon is a number one determine within the Socialist Marketing campaign group in parliament, which represents leftwingers, and he was a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn. The Labour left hate McSweeney as a result of he masterminded the Labour Collectively operation to destroy Corbynism, and a few respects Burgon’s intervention may be greatest understood as a brand new instalment of Labour inner feuding.
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Chinese language offshore wind agency MingYang blocked from supplying generators to be used in North Sea, minister confirms
The federal government has confirmed that it has blocked MingYang, China’s largest offshore wind firm, from supplying generators to be used within the North Sea.
The Chinese language agency was in talks with Inexperienced Volt, which is collectively owned by Flotation Vitality, a Scottish firm and Vårgrønn, a Norwegian one, about supplying generators for a floating offshore windfarm.
However, in a written ministerial assertion, Michael Shanks, the vitality minister, says the federal government won’t let any deal go forward.
He says:
double citation markAfter cautious consideration, authorities’s view is that we can not assist using [MingYang] in UK offshore wind tasks. We’ve got knowledgeable offshore wind builders of this.
We’ll all the time act to guard our nationwide safety, and we’re dedicated to strengthening and prioritising resilient and sustainable offshore wind provide chains.
We welcome funding from China the place it’s in our nationwide curiosity – as demonstrated via the announcement of great inward funding through the prime minister’s go to to Beijing early within the yr. We’ll proceed to take a long run and strategic strategy to managing relations with China – cooperating the place we are able to, whereas being clear-eyed to any dangers and guaranteeing safety and resilience.
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‘Give the man an opportunity’: Wes Streeting says he doesn’t need Starmer ousted
Wes Streeting, the well being secretary, has made no secret of the truth that he wish to be prime minister at some point. And, as hypothesis intensified at Westminster in direction of the tip of final yr, and once more earlier this yr, about potential challenges to Keir Starmer, Streeting’s identify was all the time at or close to the highest of the record of these cupboard ministers mentioned to be weighing up their possibilities.
However Streeting now appears to simply accept that he might have to attend. In an interview with Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey for the Guaridan’s Politics Weekly podcast, he says that he doesn’t assume there ought to be a change of management, that Keir Starmer have to be given extra time, and that, over Iran, Starmer has proven “his most interesting qualities”.
Streeting says:
double citation markI assume there’s a threat for the Labour occasion if individuals take a look at us and assume, cling on a minute, we voted for change. We thought you had been going to attract a line beneath chaos and now it appears such as you’re going to cut and alter …
There isn’t a doubt in any way that folks have seen in Keir’s management via the Iran disaster his most interesting qualities.
Judgment, level-headedness, and a capability to see the larger image and make large calls, and the calls in our nationwide curiosity in addition to the pursuits of our allies and our collective safety and world stability. And I believe that has set him other than many different prime ministers we’ve seen over time.
Everyone knows that there are many individuals on this nation who voted for change, who’re nonetheless demanding change and are discovering us wanting due to a number of the errors we’ve made and since they’re not but feeling change in their very own lives …
Everyone knows this. Keir is aware of this. However take a look at the size of the challenges we inherited once we got here in. There was by no means going to be an in a single day transformation. We’re starting to see this nation shifting in the best path. He’s solely been prime minister for 20 months. Give the man and the federal government an opportunity.
Right here is the story by Pippa and Kiran.
And right here is the podcast.
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SNP ‘able to win large’ and put Scotland on path to independence, says Swinney at marketing campaign launch
The SNP is “able to win large” within the Holyrood election, John Swinney has declared, as he insisted a majority for his occasion will ship the “contemporary begin” of independence. The Press Affiliation says:
double citation markThe first minister has set his targets firmly on successful an general majority within the 7 Could election, believing such a outcome will result in a second referendum on the way forward for the UK.
Talking initially of a “essential election marketing campaign for our nation”, he mentioned the SNP will run its “largest and greatest marketing campaign” over the subsequent six weeks.
He mentioned he’ll lead “our marketing campaign from the entrance”, and advised supporters on the marketing campaign launch in Glasgow that the SNP is “prepared not simply to struggle this election, not simply to win this election, however to win large”.
He mentioned an SNP majority at Holyrood won’t solely obtain the purpose of one other referendum, however can even lock Nigel Farage’s Reform UK out of energy in Scotland.
Polls have prompt Reform – led in Scotland by Malcolm Offord – might come second within the vote.
Swinney warned: “Relying on how the numbers stack up after the election, with out an SNP majority there may be all the time the potential for a grubby, backroom deal between Labour and Reform.”
However he mentioned it’s the prospect of utilizing the election to power a referendum that would give Scotland the “biggest prize”.
An general SNP majority – as occurred in 2011 beneath Alex Salmond – will “ship a message that the Westminster institution can not sweep beneath the carpet”, Swinney mentioned.
John Swinney talking on the launch of the SNP’s marketing campaign for the Holyrood elections. {Photograph}: Jane Barlow/PAShare
Dwelling Workplace names panel of specialists to advise inquiry into battle of Orgreave throughout miners’ strike
The Dwelling Workplace has named the panel of specialists that can help the inquiry into the violent confrontation between the police and mineworkers at Orgreave in 1984. Final yr it was introduced that an inquiry will happen, chaired by the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield.
In the present day it has been introduced he shall be assisted by 4 specialists: Mary Bousted, a former academics’ union chief; Wendy Williams, a former chief prosecutor; Joanna Gilmore, a regulation lecturer who has reseached the miners’ strike; and Angie Sutton-Vane, a historian.
In a written ministerial assertion saying the appointments, Sarah Jones, a Dwelling Workplace minister, mentioned:
double citation markThis inquiry delivers on the federal government’s manifesto dedication to uncover the reality about Orgreave and to rebuild public confidence in policing. It is going to examine the occasions of that day, ensuing within the arrest of 95 picketers and scores of accidents, which left an enduring impression on communities throughout South Yorkshire and past.
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King’s speech to happen on Wednesday 13 Could, lower than week after native elections, MPs advised
Alan Campbell, the chief of the Commons, has advised MPs that the state opening of parliament and the king’s speech will happen on Wednesday 13 Could.
The king’s speech units out the federal government’s legislative agenda for the brand new session of parliament. It is going to happen lower than per week after the Scottish parliament, Welsh Senedd and English native elections, that are anticipated to go very badly for Labour, and having the state opening so quickly afterwards might assist the federal government transfer ahead after what may very well be a extreme electoral setback.
The present parliamentary session, which began after the overall election, has lasted 22 months, which is for much longer than ordinary. Campbell advised MPs that greater than 50 payments have been handed.
He mentioned the date of prorogation, the final day of the present session, shall be introduced sooner or later.
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Up to date at 08.58 EDT
No 10 says it is ‘categorically unfaithful’ to say McSweeney’s cellphone theft linked to Mandelson humble deal with
Downing Avenue has firmed up its insistence that there was no hyperlink between Morgan McSweeney’s cellphone being stolen and the standard deal with movement handed by MPs saying messages with Peter Mandelson must be exchanged.
When requested about this this morning, Keir Starmer mentioned:
double citation markThe concept that in some way all people might have seen that someday sooner or later there’d be a request over the cellphone is, to my thoughts, just a little bit far-fetched.
However, on the Downing Avenue foyer briefing, the PM’s spokesperson mentioned that it was “categorically unfaithful” to say there was a hyperlink between the theft of the cellphone and the standard deal with requiring the disclosure of messages between Peter Mandelson and authorities ministers and officers.
The spokesperson mentioned:
double citation markThe level the prime minister was making was that the concept the theft was linked to the standard deal with is categorically unfaithful.
We’re dedicated to complying with the standard deal with in full. All authorities departments, ministers and related people been requested to supply all of the related info they maintain within the scope of the standard deal with.
This denial is unlikely to silence these alleging a conspiracy, a few of whom are alleging the cellphone was by no means stolen within the first place. (See 11.30am.)
McSweeney reported his cellphone stolen in October final yr, greater than three months earlier than the standard deal with movement was handed. However there have been stories saying that even then at that time, within the mild of the truth that Mandelson had not too long ago been sacked over his hyperlinks with Jeffrey Epstein, officers in No 10 had been beginning to fear a few humble deal with movement being desk sooner or later down the road. A humble deal with is a Commons mechanism forcing the federal government to launch info.
The spokesperson wouldn’t talk about what motion was taken by No 10 to disable McSweeney’s cellphone after it was reported lacking final yr, or what impression that may have on makes an attempt to retrieve message. He simply mentioned that Downing Avenue responded to the incident in keeping with procedures that had been “longstanding and sturdy”.
The spokesperson didn’t problem the Guardian report saying some messages between McSweeney and Mandelson have been retained.
Requested about this, the spokesperson simply mentioned that it was the federal government’s intention to adjust to the standard deal with movement (requiring the publication of those exchanges and others) “in full”. The federal government has already revealed one set of paperwork required by the standard deal with. One other tranche is anticipated comparatively quickly, however the spokesperson wouldn’t say when. And a few paperwork are being held again pending the police investigation into Mandelson.
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Jenrick claims Labour performing like ‘banana republic’ in banning political events from accepting crypto donations
Robert Jenrick, the Reform UK Treasury spokesperson, has claimed Labour is performing like a “banana republic” in banning political events from receiving donations in cryptocurrency.
Talking concerning the announcement at a media occasion this morning, Jenrick accepted that this was geared toward Reform UK, the one major occasion encouraging individuals to donate in crypto, and he accused Labour of eager to “cease its opponents from succeeding”.
He mentioned:
double citation markLook, the federal government is failing. It’s shedding the argument. So what’s it doing? It’s like a banana republic – resorting to attacking how political events elevate cash – completely legit methods for British residents to donate, as they’ve all the time completed, to political events.
He went on:
double citation markThis isn’t severe politics. It’s simply the mark of a authorities that’s failing and is having to make use of each lever at its disposal to attempt to cease its opponents from succeeding. It’s not going to work.
We’re going to see in Could that folks throughout the nation come out to vote, to ship a sign, a really clear message, to Keir Starmer that he is without doubt one of the worst prime ministers we’ve ever had, and we need to get him out of workplace as shortly as potential and have actual change, which is what Reform provide.
Jenrick was talking at a petroleum station the place he was to selling Reform UK’s name for the federal government to halve VAT on petrol for 3 months within the face of rising oil costs brought on by the Iran warfare.
Robert Jenrick on the Whitfield Service Station in Dover, Kent, serving to a driver replenish. {Photograph}: Gareth Fuller/PAShare
Up to date at 08.36 EDT
Steve Reed rejects Tory name for political events to be banned from distributing marketing campaign literature in overseas languages
Yesterday the Conservative occasion mentioned that it needed to ban political events from distributing marketing campaign literature in a overseas language. Saying a plan to suggest an amendement to the illustration of the individuals invoice to make this regulation, the shadow communities minister Paul Holmes mentioned:
double citation markCampaigning in a overseas language because the Greens did in Gorton and Denton solely fosters better division. A coherent nationwide tradition depends on shared values, and an inclusive electoral course of depends on a standard tongue.
Steve Reed, the native authorities secretary, has rejected this proposal. In an interview with GB Information, he mentioned:
double citation markI assume it’s for political events to decide on how they marketing campaign and talk with British voters. In the event that they’re utilizing British cash that’s funding their campaigns and so they’re chatting with individuals who have the best to vote, then why would you not present these voters the respect of communication?
What fuels division is Nick Timothy standing up and singling out Muslim types of worship for a ban when he’s not making use of that to types of worship that different religions are speaking about.
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Labour MP joins Tories in suggesting full reality about McSweeney’s stolen cellphone not being advised
The Conservatives are persevering with to recommend that Morgan McSweeney has been engaged in some form of conspiracy to eliminate his cell phone, and cease parliament getting maintain of his messages with Peter Mandelson. Yesterday Kemi Badenoch mentioned “it’s only proper that Morgan McSweeney testifies in Parliament and explains precisely what occurred”. And this morning Andrew Griffith, the shadow enterprise secretary, advised Sky New that “the entire thing is as smelly as a fish market on a sizzling summer time’s afternoon”.
Referring to claims that McSweeney’s account of how he had his cellphone stolen (which means the messages probably can’t be recovered) and that the police didn’t examine it propertly, Griffith went on:
double citation markIt simply doesn’t compute, does it? I labored in Quantity 10. Briefly, I had a Quantity 10 cellphone. There was a paranoia about units like that falling into different individuals’s fingers.
And so whether or not it was the Met Police, whether or not it was Morgan McSweeney, and what seems like fairly evasive set of reporting, even while you take a look at that transcript, or whether or not it was the Quantity 10 safety staff following up one thing that on the time they might not have been positive had not been taken by a state actor, a cellphone with all types of presidency secrets and techniques probably in it, that’s exactly why individuals in authorities have two separate telephones.
Griffith labored in No 10 for Boris Johnson, who reportedly advised the Covid inquiry that it couldn’t learn messages on one in every of his telephones as a result of he had forgotten his password. Maybe this explains why Griffith is sceptical about explanations from No 10 figures about why cellphone messages can’t be obtained.
Keir Starmer has mentioned that the concept McSweeney was engaged in a plot to eliminate the cellphone is “far-fetched”. Others are extra dismissive, suggesting the Tories have gone into full conspiracy principle mode. There’s precedent for this; final yr Badenoch and her staff spent a number of weeks pushing the idea that Jonathan Powell, the PM’s nationwide safety adviser, has intervened to get the CPS to drop the China spy case, earlier than they finally gave up after an inquiry by a parliamentary inquiry discovered no proof in any respect to assist the declare.
However it isn’t simply the Tories who assume there’s something fishy happening.
Final night time the Labour MP Karl Turner posted these on social media, accusing McSweeney of mendacity when he advised the police his cellphone had been stolen.
double citation markI don’t consider McSwindle had his iPhone stolen
double citation markHonest consider, Matt. It’s smacks of the liar Johnson defence of ‘misplaced all my WhatsApp messages’. We mustn’t take the general public for fools. And I’m afraid this smacks of too handy by far. I received’t do it. I’ll say what I really assume. And I don’t consider it. Finish of!
double citation markI consider the report was made. McSwindle didn’t point out that he was the chief of employees to the PM. A major omission of he’d needed the police to prioritise the offence.
Turner is an outspoken MP who’s prepared to go a lot additional than his colleagues in saying issues which can be provocative. However this morning he has obtained partial backing from Richard Burgon. He has tabled some parliamentary written questions on McSweeney’s cellphone which recommend he doesn’t assume the total reality is being advised.
I’ve submitted these formal Parliamentary Written Questions following stories that Morgan McSweeney’s cellphone was stolen.
Given the intense impression this might have on getting the reality concerning the Mandelson scandal (and even on the Labour Collectively scandal), we’d like solutions. pic.twitter.com/uUKZxCMuVC
— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) March 26, 2026
Burgon is a number one determine within the Socialist Marketing campaign group in parliament, which represents leftwingers, and he was a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn. The Labour left hate McSweeney as a result of he masterminded the Labour Collectively operation to destroy Corbynism, and a few respects Burgon’s intervention may be greatest understood as a brand new instalment of Labour inner feuding.
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Starmer says menace from Russia ‘has grown’ as he meets fellow JEF leaders in Helsinki
Keir Starmer has been talking on the JEF leaders’ summit in Helsinki. He mentioned that the warfare in Iran mustn’t distract consideration from the menace from Russia, which he mentioned “has grown”.
He mentioned:
double citation markA couple of months in the past all eyes of the world had been on the Excessive North, and now they’re on the Gulf. And, after all, we are going to proceed to defend our pursuits, there.
However the menace from Russia within the north and the east has not gone away. And due to this fact it’s necessary that we’re right here at this time.
In truth, for my part, that menace has grown, and everyone knows very nicely the impression of that menace for our safety, for our economies and the price of residing for households in every of our nations.
So it’s proper that we’re focussed, as ever, on Euro-Atlantic safety and on Ukraine, and bringing these two collectively the Joint Expeditionary Power has an important position to play right here.
Jakub Krupa has extra protection on his Europe stay weblog.
Keir Starmer (left) with the Finnish president Alexander Stubb and Iceland’s PM Kristrun Mjoll Frostadottir onboard the Finnish Border Guard vessel Turva on the JEF leaders’ summit. {Photograph}: Kimmo Brandt/EPAShare
Common family earnings rose in actual phrases by 5% in Labour’s first yr in workplace, DWP says
Keir Starmer likes to level out that, beneath Labour, actual family incomes have been going up – which didn’t occur when the final Conservative authorities first took workplace. This morning the Division of Work and Pensions has revealed its annual poverty figures and it backs this up. It says:
double citation mark-median family earnings elevated in actual phrases between FYE [financial year end] 2024 and FYE 2025, rising by 5% earlier than housing prices (BHC) and 5% after housing prices (AHC) to £719 and £623 per week respectively. The will increase for each these measures had been statistically vital
-household incomes elevated throughout nearly all the BHC distribution, with the most important will increase within the central deciles. Smaller will increase had been recorded on the high and backside ends of the distribution. For AHC, will increase had been additionally seen throughout most percentiles, besides on the very lowest finish, which skilled a slight fall
-for the extra central deciles, earnings will increase had been statistically vital, although modifications on the extremes of the distribution are extra unsure resulting from wider confidence intervals
Common family earnings figures {Photograph}: DWP
The report additionally says poverty charges had been comparatively steady.
double citation mark-relative low‑earnings charges elevated barely, rising from 15% to 16% (BHC) and 19% to twenty% (AHC). These modifications had been lower than 1 proportion level (the AHC change was lower than 0.5 proportion factors) and never statistically vital
The DWP has modified the way in which it collects poverty knowledge and which means actual comparisons with the historic knowledge are usually not potential. The DWP explains this in its report.
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UK set to endure greater GDP setback than another main nation resulting from Iran warfare, OECD says
The battle within the Center East will harm the UK’s financial system greater than another industrialised nation, in accordance with evaluation by the Organisation for Financial Cooperation and Growth (OECD), which warned over rising inflation. Phillip Inman has the story.
Inman says:
double citation markNoting a weakening of the UK jobs market and a contraction in enterprise funding in direction of the tip of 2025, the OECD attributed the downgrade to an absence of momentum going into 2026 in addition to the shock from rising oil and gasoline costs on account of the US-Israel assaults on Iran.
Illustrating the UK’s dependence on worldwide commerce and imports of gas, the OECD mentioned it had downgraded the UK’s development in 2026 as a result of it was more likely to endure greater inflation than beforehand anticipated.
The forecast 0.5 proportion level minimize in UK development compares with expectations of a way more restricted discount in development for France, Germany and Italy, which had been extra insulated from spiralling vitality costs and are all anticipated to endure a extra modest hit to development of 0.2 proportion factors.
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Up to date at 06.19 EDT
Tories declare plan to create 15 new councils includes ‘outright gerrymandering’ to profit Labour
Yesterday Steve Reed, the native authorities secretary, introduced that 15 new councils shall be created within the south and east of England as a part of the federal government’s native authorities reorganisation. Patrick Butler has the story right here.
James Cleverly, the shadow native authorities secretary, responded with an announcement saying:
double citation markThis is outright gerrymandering from a Labour authorities determined to shore up its collapsing assist.
Reorganisation ought to be bottom-up, knowledgeable by and reflecting native priorities and voices. As an alternative, Labour are imposing top-down choices on communities whereas claiming to be empowering them.
To justify the “gerrymandering” declare, the Tories say the plans will “broaden the Labour-run native authorities’ boundaries of Portsmouth and Southampton, in addition to Brighton and Hove”.
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Docs ready on asylum choices can work in NHS as Dwelling Workplace lifts ban
Docs who’ve been prevented from working within the NHS whereas they look forward to asylum choices are celebrating after the Dwelling Workplace agreed to carry the ban, Diane Taylor stories.
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Listed below are some footage from the JEF assembly in Helsinki.
Keir Starmer speaks to the media whereas in entrance of the Finnish Border Guard offshore patrol vessel ‘Turva’ on the port in Helsinki the place he’s attending the Joint Expeditionary Power (JEF) leaders’ summit in Helsinki, Finland, at this time. {Photograph}: Adrian Dennis/PAJEF leaders from left: Anders Tang Friborg, Danish overseas minister; Evika Silina, Latvia’s PM; Kristen Michal, Estonia’s PM; Kristrún Frostadóttir, Iceland’s PM: Alexander Stubb, Finland’s president; Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s PM; Keir Starmer; Jonas Gahr Støre, Norway’s PM; and Rob Jetten, prime minister of the Netherlands. They’re on the Finnish border guard ship Turva. {Photograph}: Christine Olsson/TT/ShutterstockStarmer (left) with Alexander Stubb, president of Finland. {Photograph}: Adrian Dennis/APShare
Starmer PM rejects ‘far-fetched’ scepticism about Morgan McSweeney cellphone theft
Keir Starmer has mentioned it’s “far-fetched” to recommend that the theft of his former chief of employees’s cell phone is in some way linked to a subsequent push for the discharge of paperwork regarding Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, Ben Quinn stories.
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Starmer guarantees to sort out ‘addictive’ social media platforms after friends inflict contemporary defeat on authorities over teen ban
Good morning. It’s going to be a busy political information day, however probably fairly a blended and messy one. Keir Starmer is in Helsinki for a gathering of the Joint Expeditionary Power (the northern European navy pact – the Nordics, the Baltics, the Dutch and the UK), and he has already been chatting with the media. Within the Commons it’s the final day earlier than the Easter recess, which suggests it’s “take out the trash day” – the trash, on this case, being authorities bulletins that should be reported to parliament (to allow them to’t be introduced through the recesss), however which have been held again as a result of they’re reasonably embarrassing (or typically simply too uninteresting). There are 24 written ministerial statements (full record right here). Few, if any, of those are more likely to produce large headline tales, however there ought to be rather a lot right here for individuals within the workings of presidency.
And, with the parliamentary session additionally about to finish quickly (the brand new king’s speech is anticipated to happen on Wednesday 13 Could), the federal government can be making an attempt to get all its payments onto the statute guide. And it confronted a brand new downside final night time after friends voted for a second time to insert a clause into the invoice committing the federal government to an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s.
The federal government has already launched a session on the case for a ban, and it’s together with provisions within the kids’s wellbeing and faculties invoice that may permit it to implement a ban in a short time, and so the hole between what the Lords are demanding and what the federal government is already providing is kind of slender. However Starmer doesn’t need to decide to a full social media ban for under-16s, as a result of he thinks different choices may be more practical.
Chatting with reporters in Helsinki, Starmer mentioned he was decided to do extra to sort out “addictive options in social media” and that he would announce extra on this tomorrow. Requested concerning the Los Angeles court docket case the place Meta and YouTube had been discovered answerable for intentionally designing addictive merchandise, he mentioned he thought it ought to that the general public needed to see social media firms regulated extra aggressively. He went on:
double citation markObviously we’ll examine that ruling very rigorously, however I’m completely clear that we have to go additional.
The established order isn’t ok. We have to do extra to guard kids.
That’s why we’re consulting about points resembling banning social media for under-16s.
I’m very eager that we do extra on addictive options inside social media.
We’ve already taken the powers in order that once we get to the tip of the session, we don’t have to attend years to implement this.
However I need to be actually clear, it’s not if issues are going to alter, issues are going to alter. The query is, how a lot and what are we going to do?
And that’s what we’re engaged on. I’ll be saying some extra about this tomorrow.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: The Division for Work and Pensions publishes annual poverty figures. And the Division for Vitality Safety and Internet Zero publishes gas poverty figures.
10am: Robert Jenrick, the Reform UK Treasury spokesperson, holds a media occasion at a Dover petrol station to advertise the occasion’s name for VAT on petrol to be halved for 3 months.
10am: John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, launches the SNP’s 2026 election marketing campaign. At 10.30am Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour chief, launches his occasion’s Holryood election marketing campaign, and at 1.30pm Russell Findlay, the Scottish Tory chief, launches his marketing campaign.
11.30am: Downing Avenue holds a foyer briefing.
After 11.30am: Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, is anticipated to make a Commons assertion concerning the failure of Nationwide Financial savings and Investments to pay cash owed to the households of people that have died.
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Up to date at 06.27 EDT
