Trump tanks Starmer's plan
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Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.
President Donald Trump has just pulled the plug on US military aid to Ukraine, leaving Sir Keir Starmer and European leaders scrambling to respond. Just yesterday, the prime minister was praised in the House of Commons for his diplomatic efforts. Will he now be forced to rethink his approach?
In today's episode, Sam and Anne unpack the decision, the ripple effects on European defence, and whether Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron can convince Mr Trump to reverse course.
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Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
MPs pile extra safeguards into assisted dying laws as Labour's Kim Leadbeater suffers first Commons defeat on her Bill
MPs today added fresh safeguards to assisted dying laws as they voted in favour of an advertising ban and to prohibit health staff from raising the subject with children. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill underwent a second day of report stage in the House of Commons as they debated various amendments. A majority of MPs approved a new clause, tabled by Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier, to ensure medics cannot raise the topic of assisted dying with under-18s. This saw opponents of the Bill claim Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP who is spearheading the legislation, suffer her first Commons defeat after she voted against Dame Meg's clause. Campaign group Care Not Killing welcomed 'MPs removing the ability of doctors to raise unprompted assisted suicide with children'. A ban on advertising assisted dying services should the Bill pass into law, which was proposed by Ms Leadbeater, was also approved. But an amendment by her fellow Labour MP Paul Waugh, an opponent of the Bill, to limit exceptions to an advertising ban did not pass. He said the ban as it stands had 'unspecified exceptions, which could make the ban itself worthless'. Mr Waugh warned online harms from adverts about assisted dying on TikTok 'could be a reality without the tighter safeguards in my amendment'. A number of other amendments were passed, including a provision for assisted dying deaths to not automatically be referred to a coroner and around the regulation of substances for use in assisted dying. It is expected the next major vote on the overall Bill could take place next Friday, which could see it either fall or pass through to the House of Lords. Those MPs concerned about assisted dying legislation said today's proceedings showed 'the wheels appear to be falling off' and 'confidence is slipping away' from the Bill. Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said: 'Today, over 50 MPs who had not previously voted against Kim Leadbeater broke ranks with her for the first time. 'Given 18 MPs who voted for the Bill at second reading or abstained had already publicly switched to indicating they will vote against the Bill, there must now be considerable doubt about whether the Bill will pass next week. 'Today was a big moment in the debate - to be defeated so comprehensively on a key amendment to her Bill is a massive setback for Leadbeater. The wheels appear to be falling off the Bill.' Mr Waugh and nine of his fellow Labour MPs - Jess Asato, Antonia Bance, Polly Billington, Florence Eshalomi, James Frith, Adam Jogee, Andrew Pakes, David Smith, and Melanie Ward - said today's debate showed 'confidence is slipping away' from the Bill. 'This eleventh hour rejection of the claims made about the safety of this Bill proves that confidence is slipping away from it,' they said in a joint statement. 'Today's vote was a vote of no confidence in the Bill and has shattered the claim that this bill was the safest in the world. 'It is a stark reality that those that voted against amendment NC2 today, voted against protecting children. 'The Bill's supporters now need to accept that many other clauses that sought to protect the vulnerable would also be supported by MPs. 'This was just one amendment with over 100 that have not been selected and which MPs have not had a chance to scrutinise or vote on. 'Fresh concerns were also raised in the chamber today about threats to the founding principles of the NHS and the risk that private companies stand ready to profit from the marketisation of dying. 'As things stand, next Friday MPs will not even have a copy of the Bill when they are asked to vote on this life and death issue.' Opening Friday's debate, Ms Leadbeater had proposed an amendment to impose a duty on ministers to ban adverts promoting assisted dying services. But her Mr Waugh told the Commons he had put forward a tighter amendment to 'strengthen the Bill on this issue and to better protect the vulnerable'. 'Many in this House rightly try to protect teenagers from online harms,' he said. 'But the online harm of an ad for a website about assisted dying shared on TikTok could be a reality without the tighter safeguards in my amendment.' Dame Harriett Baldwin, a Tory former minister and another opponent of the Bill, also backed an advertising ban. 'Can you imagine a situation, you're sitting watching a repeat episode of One Foot In The Grave and an advert runs for a funeral plan company,' she said. 'And then it's followed by an organisation that's offering to provide the services to make it easier for you to have an assisted death?' Dame Harriett added: 'Thinking ahead to the possibility that this Bill might go on the statute books. 'I hope everyone participating in this debate will recognise that we should not allow the services of the organisations that will arise to provide this service to advertise on television, online, on posters, on TikTok, on any platform that our constituents may be seeing.' The Bill passed its second reading stage following an historic Commons vote in November, when MPs supported the principle of assisted dying by a majority of 55. But, since then, a number of MPs have switched their stance on the Bill. According to campaigners, 18 MPs who either supported the Bill's second reading or abstained at November's vote have now moved towards opposing it, while three MPs have switched the other way. The Bill aims to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales - with less than six months to live - to legally end their lives. Earlier this week, more than 1,000 doctors wrote to MPs to demand they vote against the 'unsafe' legislation. They expressed concerns that the Bill will 'widen inequalities' and 'provide inadequate safeguards'. The proposed legislation 'does not protect against the risk of coercion, particularly for women and the elderly', the letter added. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) have also expressed concerns. RCP said there was not yet 'adequate protection of patients and professionals' in the Bill, while RCPsych said there were 'too many unanswered questions about the safeguarding of people with mental illness'. But some MPs who are doctors are among the Bill's strongest supporters. Meanwhile, seven RCPsych members - including a former president and vice president - have written to MPs to distance themselves from their college's concern. They instead described the current Bill as 'workable, safe and compassionate' with a 'clear and transparent legal framework'. As it stands, the proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. MPs are entitled to have a free vote on the Bill and any amendments, meaning they vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines. Lord Stewart Jackson, the former Tory MP and an opponent of the Bill, said: 'Kim Leadbeater has gone from a majority of 55 at second reading to losing a key vote today by 43 votes. 'It shows that more and more MPs are waking up to the problems with her Bill and the dangers it would pose to vulnerable people who would be put at risk if it passes. 'The momentum is now with opponents of the Bill. We're taking nothing for granted, but I'm increasingly confident that when MPs look at the final version of the Bill, they will conclude that it is just too risky to give it a green light.'
Powys County Times
19 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Starmer and European allies urge restraint from Israel and Iran after strikes
Sir Keir Starmer and European allies have called on Israel and Iran to refrain from further escalation, while the PM led a high-level meeting of ministers after overnight Israeli strikes targeted the country's nuclear facilities. The Prime Minister, France's President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a 'diplomatic resolution' to the stand-off between Israel and Tehran. In a Friday phone call with the European leaders, Sir Keir and his counterparts 'discussed the long-held grave concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, and called on all sides to refrain from further escalation that could further destabilise the region', according to No 10. A Downing Street spokesperson said they 'reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defence, and agreed that a diplomatic resolution, rather than military action, was the way forward'. Elsewhere, Sir Keir told Bloomberg he was planning to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday. The Prime Minister convened a Cobra meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the situation. The Israeli strikes in the early hours of Friday targeted nuclear facilities, missiles factories, and killed Hossein Salami, the leader of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The UK is prepared to take 'every diplomatic step' to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons after Israeli strikes, Downing Street said. This could include reinstating sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran by triggering the 'snap back' mechanism. The UK's priority is to prevent further escalation after the strikes and 'press for a diplomatic solution', and officials have urged Iran to keep nuclear talks going with US President Donald Trump, according to Downing Street. The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint,… — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 13, 2025 No 10 said the UK did not participate in Israeli strikes overnight and would not say whether Israel had requested help. Iran's nuclear programme is 'more advanced than ever, and it is a clear threat to international peace and security', the spokesman said. 'We've urged Iran to continue engaging with President Trump's offer of a negotiated solution and we continue to liaise closely with our partners on this.' The attack appeared to be the most significant Iran has faced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said stability in the Middle East is 'vital' for global security. 'Further escalation is a serious threat to peace & stability in the region and in no-one's interest,' he said in a post on X. Stability in the Middle East is vital for global security. I'm concerned to see reports of strikes overnight. Further escalation is a serious threat to peace & stability in the region and in no one's interest. This is a dangerous moment & I urge all parties to show restraint. — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 13, 2025 'This is a dangerous moment & I urge all parties to show restraint.' It is understood that Mr Lammy had been due to travel to the US on Friday, but is now remaining in London. Mr Netanyahu said on Friday that the 'operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat'. In a clip posted on social media, he said Israel 'struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme' and 'the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponisation programme'. Iranian state television reported that the leader of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Mr Salami, was killed, as well as chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Israel acted unilaterally. In a post on X, Mr Rubio said 'we are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region'. Mr Trump said he 'gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal' and warned that Israel has 'a lot of' US military equipment, and they 'know how to use it'. 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left … JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,' he posted on Truth Social. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, in a post on X, said: 'We must use our influence and diplomacy to work closely with all of our allies in the region and beyond to resolve conflicts, and deliver peace and stability in the Middle East.' Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said 'warm words' would not stop Iran, and that she did not see Israel's action as an escalation. 'If Israel sees Iran getting nuclear weapons, I don't think it should sit back and put its feet up and say 'Well, we're de-escalating'.
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Starmer and European allies urge restraint from Israel and Iran after strikes
The Prime Minister, France's President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a 'diplomatic resolution' to the stand-off between Israel and Tehran. In a Friday phone call with the European leaders, Sir Keir and his counterparts 'discussed the long-held grave concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, and called on all sides to refrain from further escalation that could further destabilise the region', according to No 10. A Downing Street spokesperson said they 'reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defence, and agreed that a diplomatic resolution, rather than military action, was the way forward'. Elsewhere, Sir Keir told Bloomberg he was planning to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday. The Prime Minister convened a Cobra meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the situation. The Israeli strikes in the early hours of Friday targeted nuclear facilities, missiles factories, and killed Hossein Salami, the leader of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The UK is prepared to take 'every diplomatic step' to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons after Israeli strikes, Downing Street said. This could include reinstating sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran by triggering the 'snap back' mechanism. The UK's priority is to prevent further escalation after the strikes and 'press for a diplomatic solution', and officials have urged Iran to keep nuclear talks going with US President Donald Trump, according to Downing Street. The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint,… — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 13, 2025 No 10 said the UK did not participate in Israeli strikes overnight and would not say whether Israel had requested help. Iran's nuclear programme is 'more advanced than ever, and it is a clear threat to international peace and security', the spokesman said. 'We've urged Iran to continue engaging with President Trump's offer of a negotiated solution and we continue to liaise closely with our partners on this.' The attack appeared to be the most significant Iran has faced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said stability in the Middle East is 'vital' for global security. 'Further escalation is a serious threat to peace & stability in the region and in no-one's interest,' he said in a post on X. Stability in the Middle East is vital for global security. I'm concerned to see reports of strikes overnight. Further escalation is a serious threat to peace & stability in the region and in no one's interest. This is a dangerous moment & I urge all parties to show restraint. — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 13, 2025 'This is a dangerous moment & I urge all parties to show restraint.' It is understood that Mr Lammy had been due to travel to the US on Friday, but is now remaining in London. Mr Netanyahu said on Friday that the 'operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat'. In a clip posted on social media, he said Israel 'struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme' and 'the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponisation programme'. Iranian state television reported that the leader of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Mr Salami, was killed, as well as chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Israel acted unilaterally. The aftermath of Israeli attacks on Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) In a post on X, Mr Rubio said 'we are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region'. Mr Trump said he 'gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal' and warned that Israel has 'a lot of' US military equipment, and they 'know how to use it'. 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left … JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,' he posted on Truth Social. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, in a post on X, said: 'We must use our influence and diplomacy to work closely with all of our allies in the region and beyond to resolve conflicts, and deliver peace and stability in the Middle East.' Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said 'warm words' would not stop Iran, and that she did not see Israel's action as an escalation. 'If Israel sees Iran getting nuclear weapons, I don't think it should sit back and put its feet up and say 'Well, we're de-escalating'. 'Because the person, the country, that will escalate is Iran, and that would be absolutely disastrous for the entire world,' she told journalists in Scotland.
