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Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorJoe Biden has backed Keir Starmer’s ambitions to take the UK back closer to the European Union.The president, who has been a critic of Brexit and the UK’s departure from the EU, made it clear he values the special relationship but only as a “knot” tying together the US and Europe.He made his comments as Sir Keir had his first audience with the president in the Oval Office since winning the election last week.President Biden said: “I kind of see you guys as the knot tying the transatlantic alliance together, the closer you are with Europe. We know where you are, you know where we are.”Sir Keir responded: “Well I think that’s absolutely right.”Biden and Starmer shake hands in the Oval Office More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer has begun to reset Britain’s relations with key allies as his plan to ensure Ukraine’s pathway to joining Nato is irreversible is set to be adopted.The new prime minister arrived in Washington with support for his aim to protect Ukraine’s entry process into the Nato alliance from any potential interference from a Trump presidency.He has spoken of his hopes that military and economic aid to Ukraine from Nato will be Donald Trump-proof should the former US president retake the White House in November.With Nato leaders making the war in Ukraine one of their main topics, Sir Keir’s long-term call – which he made as Labour opposition leader – for the “irreversible” membership strategy is expected to be a key part of discussions.Prime minister Keir Starmer meets Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the Nato summit in Washington on Wednesday More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer has said that an urgent plan is to be brought forward next week to tackle overcrowding in prisons after saying conditions are “even worse” than Labour had feared.The new prime minister said the state of Britain’s prisons was a major shock when his new government got to look at the books after winning the election last week.Sir Keir was unable to guarantee that dangerous criminals would not be released early, although he ruled out sexual offenders and child abusers.Speaking to journalists on the plane to the Nato summit in Washington DC, he was asked whether he was surprised when he opened the financial books. But he answered that prisons are the bigger issue.He said: “Some of what we’ve found is shocking, not so much about the finances but I have to say, on prisons, the situation is worse than I thought it was. “I’m pretty shocked that it’s been allowed to get into that situation. It’s reckless to allow them to get to that place. We’ll be saying more about that in short order.”New prime minister Sir Keir said he was shocked by the situation in prisons (Niall Carson/PA) More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorKeir Starmer has made a point of not pledging to “stop the boats” – considered one of the biggest mistakes of his predecessor, Rishi Sunak.Britain’s new prime minister refused to use the phrase when questioned by journalists about illegal migrant crossings of the Channel.He was speaking on his way to the Nato summit in Washington DC, where President Joe Biden faces his own “migrant crisis” on the Mexican border.One of Sir Keir’s first acts was to cancel the Rwanda deportation flights policy, which Mr Sunak had fought tooth and nail to put in place.Bringing a halt to illegal Channel crossings was one of five key pledges Mr Sunak made to voters in January 2023.He had hoped removing migrants to Rwanda would act as a deterent to those looking to make the dangerous trip to the UK, but the plan was beset by legal challenges and not a single asylum seeker was deported to the East African country.Tackling the small boats issue will be a challenge for the new Prime Minister (Gareth Fuller/PA) More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditor A former Illinois state senator and candidate for governor was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to 3 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering and tax evasion. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Lawless, who also ordered William “Sam” McCann to pay $684,000 in restitution, noted during sentencing that McCann continued to siphon campaign money for personal use even after federal authorities confronted him. And she said he fraudulently claimed that he was physically and mentally unable to stand trial during a bizarre series of delays leading up to his February bench trial. McCann, 54, who declared “God’s got this” after firing his attorneys in 2023 and announcing that he would represent himself, later capitulated and started trial with new representation before throwing in the towel on the third day of testimony. He entered a no-strings open guilty plea to seven counts of wire fraud and one count each of money laundering and tax evasion. He faced up to 20 years in prison for each count of fraud and money laundering alone. A state senator from 2011 to 2019, McCann formed the Conservative Party of Illinois in a 2018 bid for governor. His candidacy drew $3 million in contributions from a labor union which considered him a worker-friendly “lunch-pail Republican.” But even after sitting through four FBI interviews in the summer of 2018, in which he acknowledged misspending, he burned through another $340,000 in campaign funds for personal use during the following year. McCann last lived in Plainview, 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of St. Louis.Trial testimony indicated McCann tapped campaign cash to buy two pickups titled in his name and used personally. He bought a recreational vehicle and trailer which he listed with an Ohio business for online rental by Sam McCann, then used campaign money to rent them from himself under the name William McCann. He did not report the income on his federal tax return, nor did he report a $10,000 refunded campaign check which he deposited into a personal account. Campaign finances paid off a personal loan, made installments on two separate personal mortgages, and were used for more than $100,000 in credit card payments, a Colorado family vacation, store and online purchases and cash withdrawals. After his gubernatorial candidacy ended, he used a payroll service to disguise $187,000 in Conservative Party contributions he paid to himself and another $52,000 for payroll taxes. More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorKeir Starmer’s first gift to a world leader since he became prime minister last week reflects a subject close to his heart.The obsessive Arsenal fan has given Joe Biden a shirt from his favourite team as the US president hosts the Nato conference in Washington DC.Sir Keir is an Arsenal season ticket holder who still loves to play five-a-side at weekends.He made a point of visiting lower league and non-league sides during the election campaign.Joe Biden has met with Sir Keir Starmer at the Nato summit (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

Rishi Sunak’s first speech as leader of opposition in House of CommonsSupport trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer is attending the 75th summit of the Nato defence alliance in the US, where he will meet president Joe Biden at the White House in their first face-to-face meeting.The prime minister promised Ukraine long-range missiles supplied by the UK to counterattack military targets in Russia.During the second day of the summit, he said the meeting would be a chance to strengthen the “very special relationship” between the UK and US. On the other side of the Atlantic, Sir Keir has been accused by shadow minister James Cartlidge of causing “massive uncertainty” for the UK’s armed forces after failing to set a deadline for increasing defence spending. The PM said he was committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence “within our fiscal rules” but he cautioned that he needed to carry out a review before setting a timeline to reach that goal. Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said it would not be completed until next year.Show latest update 1720622078Keir Starmer to call Nato countries to increase defence amid spending rowSir Keir Starmer will use the 75th anniversary of the Nato summit to call countries to increase defence spending in response to rising global threats.On the other side of the Atlantic, the prime minister is launching a major review setting out plans to boost defence to its target of 2.5 per cent of GDP.But he is facing pressure over when he will deliver on his campaign pledge with shadow defence minister James Cartlidge urging the prime minister to come clean and stop the “massive uncertainty”.The Tory MP told Sky News: “By not announcing at the Nato summit that we are going to 2.5 per cent Keir Starmer has created massive uncertainty and I do think that will be damaging for our armed forces at the worst possible time.”The prime minister is set to meet Jo Biden in the White House as the US president battles against Donald Trump to stay for second term.Salma Ouaguira10 July 2024 15:341720621502Starmer denies suggesting ‘Biden should retire’Keir Starmer has insisted that his suggestion members of the House of Lords should retire at 80 is not a comment on Joe Biden’s ability to continue as US president:Jane Dalton10 July 2024 15:251720621494The ‘Baby of the House’ has been sworn in as an MPLabour MP for North West Cambridgeshire Sam Carling is the youngest member of the new Parliament at 22 years old.Mr Carling was directly followed by Reform UK MP Lee Anderson, who swore in for the first time under the Reform banner after previously being elected a Conservative MP.Mr Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, was joined by Reform colleagues Richard Tice MP for Boston and Skegness, and Rupert Lowe MP for Great Yarmouth.Earlier in the session, Labour MP Clive Lewis (Norwich South), said prior to his affirmation: “I take this oath under protest and in the hope that one day my fellow citizens will democratically decide to live in a republic.”( More