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    Returning James Cleverly hits out at ‘one man band’ Reform: “The British people deserve better”

    Sir James Cleverly has branded Nigel Farage’s Reform UK a a “one-man band” and warned voters that the party is nowhere near ready to govern.The former foreign and home secretary, who this week returned to the shadow cabinet, complimented Mr Farage as“funny”, “interesting” and “a very good communicator”. However, Sir James said Reform UK falls short of credibility.“The challenge he’s got is that he’s the only one in his party that you can describe in those terms,” Sir James told The Times. “If you’re going to be taken seriously as a party of government, that’s nowhere near enough. As much as he’s smart and funny and talented, he’s not omnipresent.”Questioning Reform’s ability to govern, the former home secretary said: “Who are Farage’s shadow chancellor, shadow home secretary and shadow defence secretary? The fact is he hasn’t got any of them. “That’s nowhere near good enough to be taken seriously as an alternative party of government. The British people deserve better.”Sir James complimented Mr Farage as ‘funny’, ‘interesting’ and ‘a very, very good communicator’ More

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    Trump lands in Scotland to visit his golf resorts ahead of Starmer talks

    Donald Trump called UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer a “good man”, as he landed in Scotland where he will spend the weekend golfing at his two luxury resorts as part of a four-day visit.The US president was greeted by thousands of people hoping to catch a glimpse of him as he landed at Glasgow Prestwick airport in Ayrshire just before 8.30pm. Mr Trumpwas met by Scottish secretary Ian Murray as he walked off Air Force One at Prestwick.The pair could be seen shaking hands at the bottom of the aircraft stairs before Mr Trump walked across to a group of journalists to answer questions before leaving in his armoured car known as The Beast.Speaking to reporters at Prestwick airport, Mr Trump described Sir Keir as “a good man” and confirmed they will be meeting later.US president Donald Trump lands in Scotland on Friday evening More

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    UK, France and Germany demand ‘end’ to war in Gaza and aid to be allowed in immediately

    Britain, France and Germany have demanded Israel “immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid” into Gaza to ease the hunger crisis.”The humanitarian catastrophe that we are witnessing in Gaza must end now,” Sir Keir said in a joint statement with German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron. A malnourished child in Gaza More

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    Peter Mandelson ‘called Jeffrey Epstein my best pal in birthday book message’

    Peter Mandelson reportedly called Jeffrey Epstein “my best pal” in a book of messages collated for the notorious paedophile’s 50th birthday in 2003.Britain’s ambassador to Washington was reportedly included in a section titled “friends”, alongside Donald Trump and former US president Bill Clinton. A letter from Lord Mandelson included photographs of whisky and a tropical island, and called Epstein “my best pal”, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).The leather-bound album was put together before Epstein was first arrested in 2006. A spokesperson for Lord Mandelson declined to comment. Two years ago, Lord Mandelson said he “very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein”.Earlier this year, he reacted with a foul-mouthed rant when pressed about his friendship with the disgraced financier.Peter Mandelson says he regrets ever being introduced to Jeffrey Epstein More

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    Asylum seekers to lose housing and support if they refuse to move out of hotels

    Asylum seekers who refuse to move out of hotels into new accommodation will have financial and housing support removed from them, the government has warned.The new crackdown has been ordered by Keir Starmer’s government as it attempts to demonstrate it is taking action amid fears of a repeat of last year’s summer riots, with violence already seen in Epping in Essex after the far right fuelled protests at an asylum hotel.But the move also appears to be an attempt to get to grips with the continuing small boats crisis on the Channel, with fears of record crossings this summer.The issue has been seen as a key reason why Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is leading in the polls and taking votes away from Labour in their traditional heartlands.Police walk next to protesters in Epping (Lucy North/PA) More

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    Voices: Poll of the day: Is hosting Trump good diplomacy – or a diplomatic disaster waiting to happen?

    Donald Trump is making two visits to the UK this year – a private trip focused on his Scottish golf courses, and a full-blown state visit in September, complete with a welcome from King Charles III.The US president is spending time at his resorts in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire and is expected to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney. He also plans to open a new course dedicated to his Scottish-born mother.While Downing Street has hailed the trip as a “historic” opportunity to strengthen UK-US ties, the invitation has sparked backlash. Protesters have accused Trump of spreading hate, accelerating climate breakdown and undermining democratic norms. A wave of demonstrations has been planned around both visits – with activists saying the UK should not be “rolling out the red carpet” for a leader with such a controversial record.In Westminster, several MPs have spoken out against the state visit, with some calling it “inappropriate” and even urging parliament to deny Trump a platform altogether. But White House sources say no parliamentary address is expected, and insist the trip is purely diplomatic.So, is Trump’s upcoming state visit a smart move to preserve international relations – or a mistake that sends the wrong message?Vote in our poll and tell us what you think in the comments below. More

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    Reeves will have to raise taxes, charge for the NHS or ditch pensions triple lock, warns IMF

    Rachel Reeves has been given her strongest warning yet that she will have to break a key party manifesto pledge by hiking taxes, introducing charges to use the NHS or drop the triple lock guarantee on the state pension.The beleaguered chancellor raised taxes by £40bn in her first Budget last year, partly to fund record new investment in the NHS.But now the world’s most important financial watchdog has warned that she will probably have to break an election promise to raise “taxes on working people” – income tax, VAT or national insurance contributions by employees to balance the books.In a report on the UK economy – Article IV Consultation with United Kingdom – the International Monetary Fund warned: “Unless the authorities revisit their commitment not to increase taxes on ‘working people’, further spending prioritisation will be required to align better the scope of public services with available resources.”Chancellor Rachel Reeves More

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    Starmer cabinet split as PM facing ‘overwhelming pressure’ to recognise Palestinian state immediately

    Speculation is mounting that Keir Starmer is close to agreeing to officially recognise a Palestinian state, with pressure from inside Labour described as “overwhelming”.The prime minister is set to hold a call with fellow E3 leaders – French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz – today to discuss the crisis in Gaza amid growing fears of mass starvation being caused by the Israeli blockade on food and aid supplies.But it has been overshadowed by France’s decision to recognise Palestine, adding to pressure from divisions within Sir Keir’s own cabinet for the UK to follow suit.It comes as Sir Keir used his strongest language yet on the worsening crisis in the embattled enclave, describing the actions by Benjamin Netanyahu as “unspeakable and indefensible”.Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who came close to losing her seat to a pro-Gaza independent MP in last year’s general election, and several other cabinet ministers want immediate recognition of Palestine as a state.Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Sir Keir Starmer were set to have a call about Israel/ Gaza More