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Sir Keir Starmer repeated President Joe Biden’s words and called for the temperature of democracy to be lowered as he paid tribute to late MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.The prime minister said he had shared his “revulsion” with Donald Trump during a phone call, after a gunman tried to assassinate the former US president.Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday (17 July) Sir Keir said: “While our thoughts at this time are of course with President Trump and the American people, we cannot think that this is something that only happens elsewhere.“We must heed the words of President Biden to lower the temperature of our democracy, work across our disagreements and find each other’s common decency.” More

Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak made a joke about how he became prime minister and lost the general election, as he responded to the King’s speech.The former prime minister, offering advice to MPs tipped with a bright future, joked in the Commons on Tuesday (17 July): “On the Government benches life comes at you fast.“Soon you might be fortunate enough to be tapped on the shoulder and be offered a junior ministerial role, then you’ll find yourself attending cabinet, then in the cabinet and then when the prime minister’s position becomes untenable you might end up being called to the highest office.“And before you know it you have a bright future behind you and you’re left wondering whether you can credibly be an elder statesman at the age of 44.” More

King Charles III’s speech marked the state opening of Parliament with the new Labour government on Wednesday, 17 July.Sir Keir Starmer’s pledges, which the party says will “take the brakes of Britain,” were announced by the monarch inside the House of Lords.The speech is written by the government and read out in a neutral tone by the monarch, allowing the winning party to outline its priorities for the next parliament.Wednesday was be the first Speech from the Throne under a Labour government for 14 years. More

Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak were seen laughing together as they walked through the Houses of Parliament together during the state opening on Wednesday, 17 July.The Speech on the Throne, delivered by King Charles III, came just weeks after Labour swept to power in the biggest landslide since Tony Blair’s first election triumph 27 years ago.On Wednesday, the prime minister and his predecessor chatted as speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle led MPs to the Lords.In his speech, the King said told MPs and peers gathered in the House of Lords: “My Government’s legislative programme will be mission led and based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all.” More

An Anti-monarchy Labour MP swore allegiance to the King in a second attempt at the oath after initially omitting part of it in protest.Clive Lewis was warned he risked possible legal action and losing his seat after he did not to mention four words while swearing allegiance to the King.The Norwich South MP, who favours living in a republic, omitted the words “his heirs and successors” during his first attempt.By law, MPs need to make an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the Crown and are not allowed to speak in debates, vote or receive their salary until they do so. More

Angela Rayner has said she “does not recognise” JD Vance’s claim that that, under a Labour government, Britain could be “the first truly Islamist country” with a nuclear weapon.Donald Trump’s now-running mate recently made the remark at the National Conservatism conference.Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, 16 July, the deputy prime minister said: “I think he said quite a lot of fruity things in the past.Ms Rayner added that she looked forward to meeting Mr Vance if the former president is re-elected. More

Sir Keir Starmer defended Joe Biden’s mental capability after a string of gaffes and a disastrous debate performance from the US president.In an interview with CNN, the new British prime minister addressed concerns over the president’s acuity after Mr Biden introduced Volodymyr Zelensky as “president Putin” and referred to his running mate Kamala Harris as “vice president Trump.”Sir Keir said Mr Biden was “in good form” when the pair spoke on the phone recently.Praising the Nato summit, he added: “President Zelensky [said] ‘this is a success’.“And so I do think [Mr Biden] deserves credit for that.” More