Keir Starmer refuses to apologise to pensioners over winter fuel cuts
Your support helps us tell the story
Click here for detailsClose
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona showed me how important independent journalism is in giving a voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support allows us to tell these stories and bring attention to issues that are often overlooked — without your support, these voices may go unheard.
Every dollar you donate helps us continue to shine a light on these important issues before and after the election
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to address world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly as part of his visit to New York.
In a speech this evening, he will say the UK will return to “responsible global leadership” as it is in Britain’s interests to tackle problems around the world.
The rally comes as the Middle East teeters on the brink of all-out war and the bloody war in Ukraine continues.
The Prime Minister is due to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels next week to “reset” Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU and strengthen trade and security cooperation.
This came after he spoke at the UN Security Council in which he slammed Russia’s actions in Ukraine and said President Vladimir Putin was treating his own people in the conflict like “pieces of meat to be thrown into a grinding mill”.
Sir Keir has been embroiled in a charitable donations controversy after renting a penthouse worth £18m from Labour donor Sir Waheed Ali to film a coronavirus video during the general election, but Downing Street insists he did not break any rules.
The Prime Minister defended the move, suggesting he received the donation towards accommodation costs because his son needed somewhere to study for his GCSEs.
Key Points
View latest updates 1727341479
Tugendhat: Invading Iraq was the ‘worst thing’ I’ve ever done
Tom Tugendhat has come under fire for claiming that the worst thing he ever did was invade Iraq in 2003.
When asked by The Spectator, he said: “I have invaded a country before. It was a few years ago, in 2003. I was part of the army that invaded Iraq.”
The Conservative leadership candidate served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a soldier and a Foreign Office civilian.
He gave the same answer when asked by Sky News during the 2022 Conservative leadership election, adding: “I’m actually not that mischievous. I don’t plough cornfields or anything like that. I’m not a born rebel.”
Responding to the remarks, the director of the UK Foreign Policy Group slammed the Conservative MP for his “deeply offensive” comments.
Evie Aspinall posted: “Describing invading a country as a ‘bad thing’ is deeply offensive and trivialises conflict at a time of great instability in the world.”
Salma WaghiraSeptember 26, 2024 10:04
1727340934
In a subtle way, the coronavirus lockdown has turned Boris Johnson into Oliver Cromwell
Conservative leadership candidate James Cleverley said Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s response to the pandemic was the least Conservative policy in 14 years.
Speaking to The Spectator, he said the steps taken by the then prime minister were “far, far, far too excessive”.
The former Home Secretary, who was an MP at the time, said: “I think we all have to recognise that the social restrictions we introduced in response to Covid were interventionist in nature. I think we all look back now and say they went far too far. The Conservatives cancelled Christmas. Boris Johnson and Oliver Cromwell, the two national leaders in our history who cancelled Christmas, but you would never have expected there to be so much overlap in the Venn diagram of Oliver Cromwell and Boris Johnson.”
(Getty Images)
Salma Waghira2024/09/26 09:55
1727340198
Photo: World leaders attending the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York
US President Joe Biden poses alongside European Commission President von der Leyen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during an event bringing together world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York (AFP via Getty Images)
Salma WaghiraSeptember 26, 2024 09:43
1727339134
Prime Minister tells investors: ‘Britain is open for business’
Salma WaghiraSeptember 26, 2024 09:25
1727338204
Starmer to meet EU leaders for post-Brexit ‘reset’ talks
Sir Keir Starmer is due to visit Brussels in an attempt to “reset” Britain’s relationship with the European Union.
The visit comes as part of the Prime Minister’s plans to repair post-Brexit ties to strengthen trade and security cooperation.
Trump held bilateral talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New York on Wednesday and is due to meet again next week.
After the meeting, Sir Keir said he wanted to “reset our relationship with the EU and ensure that Brexit works for the British people.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in conversation with Keir Starmer during the 79th UN General Assembly at the United Nations (via Reuters)
Salma WaghiraSeptember 26, 2024 09:10
1727337634
Pictured: Keir Starmer meets with Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN General Assembly
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer embrace before a summit at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City (via Reuters) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer attend a summit at the United Nations General Assembly (via Reuters)
Salma WaghiraSeptember 26, 2024 09:00
1727336657
Labour chairman defends Starmer for using donor’s flat during pandemic
Labour’s Tan Dhesi took to the media rounds this morning to defend Sir Keir Starmer following allegations he received a £20,000 donation from Sir Ali.
Sir Keir reportedly used the flat, rented from a donor, to accommodate his son’s GCSE exams and to film a video encouraging people to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Asked whether this was acceptable, the chairman of the Defence Select Committee told Sky News that Sir Keir was “worried about the safety of his family” and worried his son would fail his exams.
But when pressed about the Prime Minister having also stayed there during the pandemic, he said: “The important thing for me about accommodation is the fact that there were people camped out outside Downing Street.”
Dhesi added: “We need to keep in mind that the opposition leader’s home at the time was under constant attack by protesters, journalists and investigators.”
“As the prime minister said, there was no illegal activity and all rules were followed. I will take him at his word. He is a man of integrity.”
Tan Dhesi defends Sir Keir Starmer’s claim that he filmed a coronavirus video in a donor’s apartment (Sky News)
Salma Waghira2024/09/26 08:44
1727335834
POLITICAL COMMENTARY | Can Starmer ignore Labour conference defeat on fuel subsidies?
After Labour’s rank and file conference voted against the government’s decision to means-test pensioners’ winter fuel payments, John Lentoul explained why the cuts will still go ahead:
Salma Waghira2024/09/26 08:30
1727334934
Starmer and Palestinian president call for immediate ceasefire in Middle East
Sir Keir Starmer has a busy schedule ahead of today’s keynote address, including meeting world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.
He held bilateral talks last night with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as Israel’s war on Gaza continues.
The two leaders condemned the October 7 attacks and agreed that an immediate ceasefire was needed across the Middle East.
“He also noted that since then, 41,000 civilians have been killed and 100,000 injured in the Gaza Strip, and 70 percent of infrastructure has been destroyed,” No. 10 said in a readout.
“The Prime Minister agreed that the loss of civilian life was unacceptable.”
Downing Street added: “The President and Prime Minister also condemned the increase in settler violence and settlement activity in the West Bank.”
(Leon Neal/PA Wire)
Salma Waghira2024/09/26 08:15
1727334334
Starmer says £10bn data centre investment shows UK is ‘open for business’
The government has announced that a £10 billion US investment in a new artificial intelligence data centre will create 4,000 jobs in the UK.
Europe’s largest AI data centre will be built in Blyth, Northumberland, following a deal with private equity giant Blackstone.
Sir Keir Starmer, who is trying to persuade US business leaders in New York, said the investment showed the UK was “open for business”.
You can read the full article below.
Salma Waghira2024/09/26 08:05
