Government to push for ‘closer’ EU links as Keir Starmer to forge Italian right-wing alliance on small boats – latest news

Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, said politicians “felt hunted” during the election and “unable to go about campaigning”.

Mr Cox told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There was a wide range of intimidation, but I do think it was another level.

“Having spoken to lots of MPs about it, there was a sense that something had changed, that they felt hunted, that they felt unable to go about campaigning – that there were men in balaclavas, there were fireworks being thrown, there were tyres being slashed.”

He added: “Let’s be clear, this isn’t just about one community. It’s not just about people that are pro-Gaza.

“Whether it was around the Scottish referendum or the Brexit referendum, I think there is something more caustic in our democratic culture which means that intimidation of MPs, and in some cases even attacks on MPs and councillors, is being seen as more legitimate by a wider range of courses.”

Electoral Commission chief executive Vijay Rangarajan said “a lot of attacks” and a “tremendous amount of online abuse” put candidates off campaigning during the General Election.

Mr Rangarajan told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We certainly saw quite a range of different activities – a lot of attacks, which did put people off campaigning, did put people off hustings.

“We also saw, in addition, a tremendous amount of online abuse of MPs, of candidates in general, and some of those were really quite disturbing – manipulated videos, misogynistic videos in particular.”

The Electoral Commission chief executive added: “There’s clearly some things which are totally unacceptable which have happened – slashing tyres, offices vandalised, campaign material being massively defaced.

“We saw obviously milkshakes and other objects thrown at Nigel Farage. We saw reports that one candidate’s son was attacked – and targeting the family of a candidate surely is absolutely, clearly unacceptable.”

Mr Rangarajan said the Electoral Commission would “come up with some recommendations in the autumn” on the problem.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has admitted families are “frustrated” at Labour’s refusal to scrap the two-child benefit fap but declined to scrap it.

Sir Keir Starmer faces a party rebellion after pressure from Labour MPs and unions grew to ditch the policy.

Asked why Labour will not scrap the cap, Ms Rayner told BBC Breakfast: “We are going to be reviewing Universal Credit and I think that is important. Secondly, we have got a child poverty strategy, which, it is not just one lever.

“I accept that people are frustrated around the two-child cap, they are frustrated over 14 years, we have had 14 years of the Tories who have put us on the highest tax burden for 70 years and the lowest growth.

“That is why growth is imperative to us so we can afford to spend on making sure we can lift children out of poverty.”

Shadow veterans minister Andrew Bowie has said Rishi Sunak should stay on as Conservative Party leader until November.

Asked if he agreed with shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell that the former prime minister should continue to act as party leader until November, Mr Bowie told Sky News: “I think it’s important that there is some stability at the top of the Conservative Party as we determine how and the length of the leadership election that we’re about to undertake.

“And Rishi gives us that certainty, gives us that continuity, and I hope he finds within himself to carry on whilst we get our house in order and select who is to succeed him and lead us into the next election in four or five years.

He added: “Yes, from my perspective, I think he should stay.”

Asked if the party should move to the right, Mr Bowie said: “Absolutely not, I mean, that’s for the party members to decide who the leader is going to be, but I think that the Conservative Party does better when it commands the centre ground.

“That’s where we have done better traditionally, and that’s where we command most support in the country when we do so. So it’s not for me to determine where the party goes, that’s for Members of Parliament in general, and indeed, the party membership.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will say a “confident, outward-looking” UK is “open for business” at the G7 trade ministers’ meeting.

He will set out the new Labour Government’s strategy to reset relations and remove barriers to trade during his first international visit as Business and Trade Secretary.

The trip comes in the same week that the new European Union relations minister heads to Brussels, and Sir Keir Starmer hosts the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace.

At the meeting in Italy on Tuesday, Mr Reynolds will address his G7 counterparts as well as businesses.

He will say: “In the UK, we now have a strong government with an even stronger mandate from the British people. One that respects, wants to partner with and is open for business.

“My message to you today is simple – Britain is back. A confident, outward-looking, future-facing UK is ready and willing to play our part on the international stage.

“We are seeking a closer, more mature, more level-headed relationship with our friends in the European Union – our nearest and largest trading partner, and we also intend to forge better trading relationships with countries around the world.”

Sir Keir Starmer will attempt to forge an alliance with Italy’s populist right-wing prime minister Giorgia Meloni this week.

In a bid to build support in Europe for the prime minister’s new migration policy on small boats, he will discuss the issue with the Italian prime minister in a bilateral meeting this week.

He is expected to hold talks with Meloni on the margins of the European Political Community (EPC) meeting at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire on Thursday.

The Times reports that despite their political differences, Starmer saw Meloni as a key ally in his approach to tackling the small boats crisis and is convinced they could have a constructive relationship.

With 35 bills set to be contained in Labour’s first legislative programme in 14 years which will be read out by King Charles on Wednesday, there are fears in the trade union movement that Sir Keir may deprioritise his pledges on workers rights.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Trades Union Congress (TUC) president Matt Wrack, who is also general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), warned that “words will not be enough” from the new Labour prime minister and rapid action is expected.

Our politics editor David Maddox has the full story:

Dubbed the “devolution revolution”, the cabinet minister said the government’s doors are open to areas which want to get in touch and take on devolution for the first time.

Ms Rayner has written to leaders of councils not currently subject to a devolution deal, to urge them to “partner with the government”.

She has announced the push in a bid to “drive growth in every part of the country” as the new Labour government begins to make headway on key pledges.

“For too long, Westminster government has tightly gripped control and held back opportunities and potential for towns, cities, and villages across the country,” Ms Rayner wrote in the letter to local leaders.

Sir Keir Starmer has launched a review of the UK’s defence to protect the country from a “more dangerous and volatile world”.

The prime minsiter said spending would be “responsibly increased” to bolster Britain’s “hollowed-out armed forces”.

It comes after Sir Keir reaffirmed his commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP (gross domestic product) at the Nato summit in Washington last week.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the review will aim to strengthen UK homeland security, bolster Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and modernise and maintain the nuclear deterrent.

It will be led by former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, and draw on military and foreign policy experts such as Dr Fiona Hill and General Sir Richard Barrons.

A defence review team will also be established to engage with serving and retired members of the armed forces, the defence industry, the general public, academics, Parliament and the UK’s allies.

Sir Keir said: “We live in a more dangerous and volatile world. My Government will forge a new clear-eyed approach to our national defences, equipping us to tackle international threats head on while keeping the British people safe and secure.

“I promised the British people I would deliver the change needed to take our country forward, and I promised action not words. That’s why one of my first acts since taking office is to launch our strategic defence review.

“We will make sure our hollowed-out armed forces are bolstered and respected, that defence spending is responsibly increased, and that our country has the capabilities needed to ensure the UK’s resilience for the long term.”

The new laws will hand greater powers to local leaders and to economic watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), with growth a key part of the prime minister’s agenda, the government has said.

The prime minister described the measures, to be announced on Wednesday, as the “down payment” on the change his government is seeking to deliver.

The strengthening of the OBR, which was outlined in Labour’s manifesto, is designed to ensure that “nobody can play fast and loose with the public finances ever again”, Downing Street said.

Read what can we expect from the full speech below: