Sir Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to recognise a Palestinian state, with 221 MPs signing a cross-party letter demanding he take the step. The letter is being organised by the Labour backbencher Sarah Champion, who also sits as the International Development Committee chair. They write: “British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful given…

There had been much talk of the possibility of a frosty reception when the US president locked eyes with Scotland’s first minister. Donald Trump and John Swinney are not natural friends. They couldn’t be further apart politically speaking and personality-wise. However, it seems Mr Trump is enjoying his foreign holiday enough for the pair to…

Parliament may have shut up shop for a six-week summer break, but MPs and the French president are turning up the heat on Sir Keir Starmer over the Middle East. More than one in three of all 650 MPs have written to the prime minister calling on the UK to recognise a Palestinian state at…

A charity has warned 25% of young children and pregnant women in Gaza are now malnourished, with Sir Keir Starmer vowing to evacuate children who need “critical medical assistance” to the UK. MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said Israel’s “deliberate use of starvation as a weapon” has reached unprecedented levels – with patients…

Sir Keir Starmer is coming under even more pressure to immediately recognise Palestine as a state,  this time from the Scottish Labour leader and all his Labour MSPs. Some 21 Scottish Labour MSPs, including deputy leader Jackie Baillie, have signed a statement urging the prime minister to recognise Palestine. Middle East latest: Pressure on Starmer…

“A wave of new cafes, bars, music venues and outdoor dining” could come to the UK – as the government unveils plans to overhaul planning rules and “breathe new life into the high street”. Under the proposals, ministers also want to reform licensing rules to make it easier for disused shops to be converted into…

The Conservatives would ban strikes for doctors, Kemi Badenoch has said. The Tory leader said she would treat doctors the same as the army and police in order to bring the walkouts to an end. Politics latest: UK ‘committed’ to recognising Palestine as a state – but govt won’t say when Under UK law, police…