UK

Frustration spilled over in the Commons on Tuesday – from Labour MPs and others – over the time it has taken for Keir Starmer’s government to step up and take action against Israel over the Gaza crisis.As the UN warned that 14,000 babies risked death from malnutrition by Thursday without urgent aid, there was a sense that, by the time foreign secretary David Lammy got to his feet, it was already too late and not enough.He announced a largely symbolic move of suspending trade talks with Israel and sanctions against some extremists in Israel connected to settlers. But there was no full suspension of arms sales nor sanctions against ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.But the question was why had it taken so long for the UK government to act even in this limited way? Why was it only now that they were tightening the screw?David Lammy addresses the Commons More

Senior government figures are in talks about whether to U-turn on the chancellor’s winter fuel cuts within weeks, it has emerged. The cuts, which will strip millions of pensioners of payments worth up to £300, could reportedly be partially reversed or scrapped altogether.Ongoing discussions have covered all options, including the government sticking with its existing policy, the BBC reported. Rachel Reeves announced the cuts in July More

The UK has slapped Israel with further sanctions and suspended trade talks with the country in response to violence against Palestinians in Gaza. David Lammy blasted Israel for a “morally unjustifiable” escalation in violence as he announced fresh measures to pile pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu, just hours after the UK, Canada and France on Monday warned they will take “concrete actions” against the Middle Eastern nation. The foreign secretary also announced that Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely has been summoned to the Foreign Office, where government minister Hamish Falconer said he would tell her “the 11-week block on aid to Gaza has been cruel and indefensible”. It came amid growing alarm over warnings that 14,000 Palestinian babies could die in the next 48 hours if action is not taken amid allegations the Israeli government is committing genocide. Already Keir Starmer had joined French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian PM Mark Carney had issued a statement warning of substantive action if the Israeli government continues to block aid getting into Gaza.But MPs from five political parties – Labour, the Tories, Lib Dems, Greens and SNP – told Mr Lammy that the government needs to go further and faster including suspending arms sales to Israel.Labour MP Melanie Ward, a parliamentary private secretary, asked the foreign secretary: “What is the red line? Gaza is out of time.”David Lammy said the Middle East is entering a ‘dark new phase in this conflict’ More

Starmer strikes UK-EU deal ahead of major summitSir Keir Starmer has defended his “win-win” UK-EU reset deal as he hit out at Reform leader Nigel Farage and the Tories in the Commons.Sir Keir said the agreement, announced during a major summit in London with EU leaders on Monday, would “cut the price of the weekly shop” and “put money back in people’s pockets.”But Conservative former minister Esther McVey argued the EU youth mobility scheme was “a bitter betrayal of British youth”, as she called for a cap on the numbers, to specifically protect “white working class boys”.The prime minister also slammed Nigel Farage, who was not at the debate, for showing that his Reform party “simply does not care” about Britain’s relationship with the European Union.The deal sparked backlash from the fishing industry and Brexiteers by striking a deal for EU fisherman to access British waters for 12 years, far longer than had been expected.Israel hits back at ‘unjustifiable’ sanctions on settlersResponding to David Lammy’s announcement suspending trade deal talks with Israel and sanctioning West Bank settlers, Israel’s Foreign Ministry hit back on X.They said: “Following the UK’s announcement that it will suspend free trade agreement negotiations with Israel and impose sanctions on settlers: Even prior to today’s announcement, the free trade agreement negotiations were not being advanced at all by the current UK government. “More than that, the agreement would serve the mutual benefit of both countries. If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy — that is its own prerogative. “The sanctions against residents of Judea and Samaria are unjustified, and regrettable, especially at a time when Israel is mourning yet another victim of Palestinian terror — Tzeela Gez, of blessed memory, who was murdered on her way to the delivery room.“Doctors continue fighting for her newborn’s life in hospital. The British Mandate ended exactly 77 years ago. External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction.”Barney Davis20 May 2025 15:50Keir Starmer vows to get Brits to the beach soonerSir Keir Starmer has hailed his agreement with the EU which gives UK tourists in Europe easier access to passport e-gates.The prime minister posted on X: “You know how it goes: all you want to do is start your holiday, but you get off the plane to never-ending queues at passport control. “My deal with the EU means more Brits will be able to sail through the e-Gates instead. Getting you to the beach sooner.”Barney Davis20 May 2025 15:44Prime Minister apologises for ‘overly rude’ comment that MP ‘talks rubbish’Sir Keir Starmer has said his comment that the Plaid Cymru Westminster leader “talks rubbish” was “overly rude”.The Prime Minister apologised to Liz Saville Roberts at the despatch box on Tuesday, as he took questions about the UK agreement with the European Union.Ms Saville Roberts told the Commons: “The Prime Minister once argued and we quote, ‘we should retain the benefits of the single market’.“Given his recent tendency to dismiss the views of others, what would he say to his younger self?”Sir Keir replied: “I think last week I was overly rude and I apologise.“I do respect the honourable member.”Responding to her question, the Prime Minister described “red lines” on the single market in Labour’s 2024 manifesto and added the Government had “kept those red lines and delivered a very good deal”.Barney Davis20 May 2025 15:22UK hits Israel with further sanctions and suspends trade talks over Gaza violenceUK hits Israel with further sanctions and suspends trade talks over Gaza violenceBarney Davis20 May 2025 15:13UK hits Israel with further sanctions and suspends trade talks over Gaza violenceThe UK has slapped Israel with further sanctions and suspended trade talks with the country in response to violence against Palestinians in Gaza.My colleague Political Correspondent Millie Cooke with the latest: Barney Davis20 May 2025 14:52Science minister hails potential of mRNA cancer vaccines amid £1bn BioNTech dealThe British government will today sign a £1billion-pound deal with Covid-vaccine maker BioNTech to advance mRNA technology which could prevent cancers from developing.BioNTech is looking to set up three “centres of excellence” in the Britain which will use AI to develop new drugs.Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle told the Mirror: “There are two totally transformative technologies coming together – mRNA as a tool for vaccines plus artificial intelligence. We as a country can be not just a leading force, but the superpower that the world needs when it comes to treating disease.”“The Holy Grail is always stopping people getting cancer in the first place and mRNA treatments are preventative. We are in the foothills of the age where we could be treated for diseases that are not currently present in our bodies and actually the technology is leading in that direction faster than people realise. This is something that this government wants to be at the forefront of so it is British people who benefit first, while we also contribute to the global good.”( More

A major investment by a Covid-19 vaccine pioneer will create hundreds of high-skilled jobs and fund new research centres, the Government has said.Biopharmaceutical company BioNTech has announced funding of up to £1 billion into the UK over the next 10 years.The planned investment would be one of the biggest in the history of UK life sciences, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said.As part of plans to increase its UK presence, the vaccine maker will create two new research and development hubs – one in Cambridge, and an AI hub at its planned UK headquarters in London.The centres could create more than 400 new jobs over the next 10 years including researchers in clinical and scientific drug development.As part of the agreement, the Government will contribute up to £129 million over the same period.German-based BioNTech developed mRNA vaccines and cancer immunotherapies, notably used to tackle Covid-19.Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the investment would boost the economy.“This investment will propel the growth-driving life sciences sector to new heights, delivering cutting-edge facilities, building careers in the future-facing jobs we want our children to have, and ultimately unlocking progress in medical science that could save lives,” he said.“This is a clear indication of how we will deliver the Government’s Plan for Change: working together with the best and brightest businesses and innovators to unlock their potential, and then reap the benefits for the economy, health and more that their drive and genius can deliver.”Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This is another testament to confidence in Britain being one of the world’s top investment destinations and a global hub for life sciences.“It will create hundreds of high-skilled, well-paid jobs, as we deliver on our promise to put more money in working people’s pockets through our Plan for Change.”The CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, Ugur Şahin, said the agreement “marks the next chapter of our successful strategic partnership with the UK Government”. More

The head of NatWest has said he sees no “direct link” between artificial intelligence and the loss of human jobs at the bank.Chief executive Paul Thwaite told MPs on Tuesday that he thinks AI can “improve the productivity of the economy” and that NatWest is deploying the technology across the bank.NatWest is using generative AI to “make colleagues more efficient”, he said, citing jobs like software engineers and relationship managers.Scores of companies, mainly in the tech sector, have already announced rounds of job cuts which are thought to be linked to the growing use of AI.Microsoft said it would lay off about 6,000 workers earlier in May, at the same time as it invests heavily in AI and uses it more for jobs such as software development.A World Economic Forum survey showed earlier this year that 41% of employers intent to downsize their workforce as the technology automates tasks.Mr Thwaite, who employs more than 60,000 people at NatWest, said: “We don’t see a direct link between deploying technology and removal of jobs.“What I would say is the profile of the workforce is changing a lot.“We’re now recruiting people who are specialists in AI, data scientists, digital experts, that’s obviously a different profile of staff from which the bank was recruiting 15, 16 years ago.“So really it’s an addition to staff rather than a replacement.”Mr Thwaite was speaking to the cross-party Treasury Committee of MPs, along with bosses from Barclays, Lloyds and HSBC.Charlie Nunn, the chief executive of Lloyds, said AI could give customers “more personalised advice” for banking services.He said this is currently always done with a “human in the loop”.Mr Nunn was separately pressed on Lloyds’ record over the car finance mis-selling scandal, which has so far seen the bank set aside more than £1.1 billion in case of a possible fallout.Mr told MPs: “At this stage we don’t have evidence of harm.“That’s not one of the things that’s been focused on, or in fact that we’ve broken the regulation retrospectively.“If those things were found to be true of course we’d then lean in fully to try to identify the customers that did experience harm as defined by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), and then support a remediation programme.”Lloyds is at the centre of a looming crisis facing the motor finance industry, with major lenders in the sector on the hook for potentially billions of pounds’ worth of compensation for motor finance deals with hidden commission payments.The Court of Appeal in London ruled last October that it was unlawful for car dealers to receive commission on motor finance from lenders without a customer’s informed consent.The court decision opened the door for a potential fresh wave of complaints from consumers who think they may have been mis-sold car finance in previous years.When it was put to Mr Nunn by MPs that constituents felt they had been “duped” on car finance deals, he said: “The specifics are in the individual cases.”He added: “When we look at the individual cases… it’s looking at that combination of factors that determines whether a customer actually got the right package or the right deal or whether there were harm.“And as I said at this stage we haven’t had evidence of harm although if it were identified of course we would lean into it.” More