John Healey will deliver a scathing resignation statement before MPs this afternoon as the Prime Minister continues to refuse to budge over defence spending.
Sir Keir Starmer’s top team in the Ministry of Defence was subjected to a shake-up last week when Armed Forces minister Al Carns and parliamentary private secretary Pamela Nash quit their Government roles on the same day.
Nine hours after Mr Healey’s shock resignation, former security minister Dan Jarvis was catapulted into the top job while the UK awaits the publication of the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan.
Mr Jarvis is due to battle with No10 and the Treasury in a bid to bolster funds for the plan, while insider sources have claimed that Sir Keir is refusing to budge.
Currently, some £13.5billion has been reserved to boost Britain’s defences, which critics have slated as insufficient as the UK comes face-to-face with geopolitical tensions across the world.
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Keir Starmer’s leadership woes spark G7 fears as allies fret Labour will lurch ‘further left’
Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership woes have triggered fears among the UK’s allies ahead of the G7 summit in Evian today.
The Prime Minister will meet with US President Donald Trump today as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham plots to mount a coup of No10 following the Makerfield by-election on Thursday.
A devastating double resignation – spearheaded by ex-Defence Secretary John Healey and former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns – heaped pressure on Sir Keir ahead of the summit.
However, US officials have become increasingly concerned about Mr Burnham becoming Prime Minister.
“Starmer is seen as a reasonable choice for now, given the further-left alternatives,” one US official told Politico.
“Wherever that [relationship with Trump] stands at any given moment, it’s a lot deeper than what something with Burnham might be.”
An Eastern European diplomat added: “Weak domestically is eventually weak abroad.
“All politicians treat foreign policy as a spare lung, but it rarely works.”
A spokesman for Sir Keir said: “In these volatile times, it’s more important than ever that we’re working with our partners to keep people safe and secure at home.”
Wes Streeting gives iron-clad vow he will stand in leadership contest
Wes Streeting has given an iron-clad vow that he will stand in any upcoming leadership contest.
The Ilford North MP told GB News that could beat Andy Burnham in a race to replace Sir Keir Starmer, adding: “Firstly I’m bitterly disappointed that GB News of all outlets could question whether a plucky underdog could triumph over the tyranny of low expectations.
“Yes, for the avoidance of doubt, for the umpteenth time I’m standing. And I think change begins with an argument and the contest hasn’t really kicked off yet.”
Wes Streeting hits out at ‘tech broligarchy’ as he vows digital revolution must be “for the many, not for the privileged few’
Wes Streeting has hit out at the “tech broligarchy” as he vowed the digital revolution must be “for the many, not for the privileged few”.
Speaking this morning, the Labour leadership hopeful said: “Decline cannot be defeated by nostalgia. There is no turning back the clock.
“The next waves are already arriving, and they promise to be bigger, faster and more disruptive than ever. We need to embrace that future and reassure people that we all have a place within it.
“The technological revolution that is coming could be an exclusive one, which widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Or it could be one that spreads power, wealth and opportunity.
“The future is not yet written, and it is up to us to take the pen back from tech broligarchy to make this a revolution for the many, not just a privileged few.”
Wes Streeting: ‘We must defeat the extremism that took Jo Cox’s life and threatens our future’
Wes Streeting has declared that the UK must “defeat the extremism that took Jo Cox’s life and threatens our future”.
Mrs Cox was killed in 2016, a week before the EU referendum, by terrorist Thomas Mair.
The Ilford North MP said: “Today, we remember Jo and send our love to Brendan and the kids. But we need to do more than that.
“We need to live like Jo, love like Jo, and take up this challenge to confront and defeat the extremism that took her life and threatens our future.”
‘Make the change and get the country back on track,’ former minister Al Carns declares on leadership bid
Former Armed Forces minister Al Carns has declared that Labour has “one chance” to switch out leader and “get the country back on track”.
Last week, Mr Carns quit the frontbench after John Healey walked out over insufficient funding for the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan.
Now, he has been cited as the “dark horse” in the informal bidding to oust Sir Keir Starmer from No10.
“I don’t think we could have got this more wrong – but we’re in it now. My goodness, make the change once if you’re going to, get on with it and get the country back on track,” he told The Guardian, discussing a future party leadership contest.
Keir Starmer pays tribute to murdered MP Jo Cox 10 years after her death
Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to Jo Cox, the MP who was murdered 10 years ago.
The Prime Minister said: “It has been 10 years since our friend and colleague Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right terrorist.
“She was a dedicated mother, a fierce campaigner and a deeply committed Member of Parliament. Her conviction that we have more in common than that which divides us lives on beyond her death.
“We all wish Jo was still here with us today, and we will continue to honour her legacy by standing by her message of hope and unity in the face of hatred and division.”
Andy Burnham’s popularity nosedives with Makerfield election just TWO days away – yet Labour leadership hopeful remains top of the list
Andy Burnham’s popularity has taken a nosedive with the Makerfield by-election just two days away – yet the Labour leadership hopeful has remained the most popular politician.
The pollsters at Ipsos revealed his approval rating sat at minus seven per cent, dropping a staggering 15 per cent since May.
However, he has remained the most popular politician.
Keir Starmer set to face presidential grilling as Donald Trump prepares to confront Prime Minister on immigration
Sir Keir Starmer is set to face a presidential grilling as Donald Trump is preparing to confront the Prime Minister on immigration.
The direct confrontation will follow the violent chaos in Belfast last week, following the attempted beheading of a man in the city by a 30-year-old Sudanese man.
PICTURED: World leaders meet in Evian, France for G7 summit
Keir Starmer tells Vladimir Putin to ‘roll back tanks’ in bold invitation to G7 talks on peace in Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has told Vladimir Putin to “roll back his tanks” as he extended a bold invitation to the Russian President to join G7 talks on peace in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister said: “Russia’s aggression threatens not just Ukraine, but the security of all Europe.
“That is why the UK is stepping up – choking off the revenues that fuel Putin’s war and powering Ukraine through the winters ahead.
“We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes and this announcement reinforces that. Putin should roll back his tanks, end his barbaric strikes, and come to the negotiating table.”
Elon Musk issues chilling free speech message over Keir Starmer’s social media ban
Elon Musk has launched a scathing attack on Labour’s forthcoming prohibition on social media use for children under 16.
The tech billionaire, who recently became the world’s first trillionaire, took to his platform X to denounce the policy.
He branded the UK a “police state” in response to the measures announced by Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr Musk later added: “This censorship law is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The real goal is to enable the UK government to track everyone.”
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Ministers plead with Donald Trump not to attack Keir Starmer for ‘police state’ internet clampdown
Ministers have been pleading with Donald Trump not to attack Sir Keir Starmer over his social media ban.
Both world leaders are currently in France for the G7 summit, which is thought to follow a long-winded lobbying campaign from Labour’s top brass to avoid backlash from the White House.
Ministers said they have spent weeks trying to reassure US officials the social media ban was not specifically aimed at US tech firms.
It limits access to platforms including X, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok for under-16s.
All but X and TikTok are American-owned, and all are headquartered in the US.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
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