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Liz Truss discussed shower heads at a Republican National Convention breakfast event.The former prime minister revealed she had recently acquired a ‘Liberty Bell’ shower head, created in the image of the famous, cracked bell in Philadelphia.Addressing crowds at the event this week, and showing her support for Donald Trump, she said: “I will proudly be installing this shower head as a symbol of liberty and democracy, and of course, Pennsylvania.You all know why you are so important, which this is a crucial state in order for President Trump to be reinstalled in the White House.” More

Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky shared a hug as the European Political Community summit met at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire on Thursday, 18 July.The British prime minister hosted European leaders at the birthplace of Winston Churchill for talks to address the illegal migration “crisis” and to stand firm in support of Ukraine as he sought to strengthen the UK’s ties with the continent.In remarks at the summit, the Ukrainian president urged his counterparts to channel Churchill’s “bravery” in the fight against Russian aggression. More

Nigel Farage has defended his decision to fly to the US just weeks after being elected in Clacton, to support Donald Trump after the former president survived an assassination attempt.When asked by Emily Maitlis on The News Agents if he was giving all his time to his new constituency, the Reform UK MP responded: “I’m allowed to come to America on a trip like this, particularly in these circumstances.”In a speech after his general election victory, Mr Farage pledged that he would “speak up” and provide a challenge in government.Mr Farage wrote in the The Telegraph that he would travel to Milwaukee to support his “friend” Mr Trump “as we head into the later stages of an era-defining election.” More

Labour MP John McDonnell urged Sir Keir Starmer to scrap the two-child benefit cap and “lift 300,000 children out of poverty”.Addressing the Commons on Wednesday (17 July), the Hayes and Harlington MP said: “I was in this House when the Tories introduced it, it was introduced as part of the stigmatising of all those on benefits. “I did a speech, I actually think I said I’d swim through vomit to vote against this piece of legislation, and some of the nauseous speeches from the Tories at the time almost meant I would have to.“It was (an) appalling form of attack on the poorest within our communities. I think we just need to lift that stigma, lift that impact, but we need to do it quickly. More

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