PMQs reside – Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch to face off amid Donald Trump threats
Keir Starmer will face Kemi Badenoch at PMQs as ministers grapple with Donald Trump’s latest threats.
The unpredictable US president has announced a massive 25% import tariff on steel, which industry chiefs say would be “devastating”. On Tuesday Trade Minister Douglas Alexander told MPs: “This is a significant moment, it’s one that we take very seriously.”
No10 has said discussions are being held with White House officials, while ministers have been holding crisis talks with steel bosses and unions.
The President’s threats have sparked fears of escalation. Labour MP Liam Byrne – who chairs the Business and Trade Committee – said: “What’s essential is this doesn’t escalate, because widespread duties on UK exports to the US would be devastating for economic growth.”
It comes in a difficult week for Mr Starmer after two MPs were suspended following remarks made in a WhatsApp group.
Trump threat looms after minister’s ‘cool heads’ warning
One of the big issues Ms Badenoch may decide to question the PM on is Donald Trump’s steel tariffs.
Yesterday Trade Minister Douglas Alexander told MPs Industry Minister Sarah Jones was meeting steel industry representatives and unions. And Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was set for crunch talks within the next 24 hours
Mr Alexander said: “Of course we want to avoid a significant escalation, we saw retaliatory measures being taken under the first Trump administration. It feels to me that this is an opportunity for the UK to exercise both cool heads and a clear-eyed sense as to where the national interest lies.”
Peter Mandelson backtracks over Trump remarks
The UK’s new ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson, says he’s changed his mind about Donald Trump.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Mandelson was challenged over a 2019 statement where he called Trump “a danger to the world.” He said: “I consider my remarks about President Trump as ill-judged and wrong,” adding, “I think that times and attitudes toward the president have changed.”
“I think that he has won fresh respect,” Mandelson continued, referring to Trump’s re-election. He added: “He certainly has from me, and that is going to be the basis of all the work I do as His Majesty’ ambassador in the United States.”
Amidst rumors that the UK-US “special relationship” might face challenges and that the White House could block his appointment.
Labour MP blasts rules that would block Paddington from getting passport
A Labour MP has lashed out at “counterproductive” Home Office rules which would deny Paddington Bear getting a British passport.
Stella Creasy has urged ministers to tear up new guidelines that mean people who reach the UK by “dangerous” routes will not be granted citizenship. The new rules, quietly brought in this week, mean that people who arrived by small boat or on the back of a lorry are unlikely to have their application approved – sparking anger around human rights groups.
Ms Creasy branded it “counterproductive”, and said it would prevent people being able to intergrate into the UK. She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This process would essentially deny, well, frankly, Paddington. Paddington did the same thing, he came here on a irregular route, but we wouldn’t give him a passport.”
The MP said it would not affect the numbers being granted asylum, stating: “This is citizenship. This is not granting people asylum, as indeed two thirds of the people who have come through regular means on small boats have come, have been granted asylum because they have a well-founded fear of persecution.
“But this change is not about that. It is about when people are here and they have come to this country and they are staying here.” She went on: “This change means it is unlikely they will ever be able to get citizenship, which is a completely different but important element of the message that we send about integration.”
11 Labour councillors and two MPs suspended over WhatsApp group
Eleven Labour councillors were suspended last night as part of the party’s probe into vile comments posted in a WhatsApp group.
Two MPs – Oliver Ryan and Andrew Gwynne – have already been suspended from Labour for messages posted in the “Trigger Me Timbers” group. Keir Starmer also sacked Mr Gwynne from his role as a health minister.
Among the list of suspended councillors are nine Tameside councillors and two from Stockport council. Mr Gwynne’s wife Alison, a Tameside councillor, is among those suspended.
Three of the Tameside councillors also dramatically quit from their roles on Monday after being caught up in the scandal. Claire Reid, Jack Naylor and George Newton decided to “step away from their executive duties”, a statement from Tameside Labour said.
Mr Gwynne was sacked on Saturday night after vile messages emerged from the WhatsApp chat. Among them, he allegedly joked that he hoped an elderly woman would die after she asked about her bins. In a mock reply to the 72-year-old woman he said “F*** your bins”.
Other messages included a racist comment about veteran MP Dianne Abbott and sharing a sexist post about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner performing a sex act. He also said someone “sounds too Jewish” and “too militaristic”. In other alleged messages that were later revealed, Mr described a constituent as “an illiterate r*****” and a fellow councillor as a “fat middle aged useless thicket”.
Mr Ryan, the Burnley MP, admitted making “unacceptable” comments in the WhatsApp chat on Sunday night. He apologised for his offensive remarks and said he regrets making them after it was reported he was a leading member of the group, having posted more than 2,000 messages.
Leaked messages showed Mr Ryan, who is openly gay, appearing to mock an MP and suggest he was gay and call a local labour leader “Colin C*mface”.
