Minister reacts to Diane Abbott's suspension

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Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Scenes of starving people in Gaza ‘deplorable', says Reeves
Scenes of starving people in Gaza are 'deplorable', Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said. In recent days, multiple images have come from the territory of people – including children – visibly starving, along with reports of Israeli military attacks on those seeking to access aid. The UK Government has resisted calls to immediately recognise Palestinian statehood despite pressure being ramped up by France becoming the first G7 country to do so. Speaking to journalists on a visit to a Rolls Royce factory near Glasgow, Ms Reeves said the immediate priority for the UK Government would be to ensure enough aid is allowed in to Gaza. 'We believe that a two-state solution is the only way to having enduring peace in the Middle East – a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and peaceful Palestinian state,' she said. 'The immediate priority, though, is to get aid in. 'We've all seen the scenes unfolding in Gaza, it is incredibly depressing and deplorable what is happening there. 'And to avoid a further humanitarian crisis, we must get that food, those medical supplies and aid in to Gaza.' The Chancellor added that the Prime Minister was meeting European leaders about the issue on Friday. 'Prime Minister Starmer will be talking to the Chancellor of Germany and the President of France later today to see what more we can do to get that much-needed aid in to the country.' But Scottish First Minister John Swinney urged the UK Government to recognise Palestine, saying he believed it to be the only way to work towards a two-state solution in the region. 'I've been calling for the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign, independent state since the general election campaign last year because it is, for me, the only way in which there can be movement towards a two-state solution, which is the only way there can be peace in the Middle East,' he said. The First Minister said he 'very much welcomed' the move from President Emmanuel Macron, adding: 'Anyone looking at the suffering of the people of Palestine at this particular moment, the horrendous suffering, the starvation that is going on within Palestine, must come to the conclusion that an immediate solution is required, which is a ceasefire and the flow of humanitarian aid. 'But the solution also is the movement towards a two-state solution, which involves the recognition of an independent Palestinian state. 'That is the route to peace in the Middle East, that's what should be followed and that's what I encourage the United Kingdom Government to do.'


Bloomberg
10 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
UK Won't Introduce a Wealth Tax, Government Minister Says
A UK government minister said Keir Starmer's administration won't introduce a wealth tax, pouring cold water on an idea that has been promoted by some in the Labour Party. 'We're not going to do anything daft like that,' Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told GB News on Friday. 'I say to people: 'Be serious about this.''


Washington Post
12 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Seeing yellow: Massive police presence highly visible ahead of Trump's visit to Scotland
TURNBERRY, Scotland — It may not be typical golf attire, but one of the most ubiquitous outfits seen on President Donald Trump 's golf course Friday ahead of his visit was the reflective yellow vest worn by Scottish police. The standard issue garb that is far removed from the traditional Turnberry tartan was highly visible on the dunes, the beaches and the grass as thousands of officers secured the course in advance of protests planned during the president's visit to two of his Scottish golf resorts . Trump was expected to arrive Friday evening to a mix of respect and ridicule. His visit requires a major police operation that will cost Scottish taxpayers millions of pounds as protests are planned over the weekend. The union representing officers is concerned they are already overworked and will be diverted from their normal duties. Policing for Trump's four-day visit to the U.K. in 2018 cost more than 14 million pounds ($19 million), according to Freedom of Information figures. That included more than 3 million pounds ($4 million) spent for his two-day golf trip to Turnberry, the historic course and hotel in southwest Scotland that he bought in 2014. Police Scotland would not discuss how many officers were being deployed for operational reasons and only said the costs would be 'considerable.' 'The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements,' Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said. Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the visit would not be detrimental to policing. 'It's nonsensical to say it won't impact it,' said David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, the officers' union. Kennedy said he expects about 5,000 officers to take part in the operation. He said a force reduction in recent years has police working 12-hour shifts. Communities that are understaffed will be left behind with even fewer officers during Trump's visit. 'We want the president of the United States to be able to come to Scotland. That's not what this is about,' Kennedy said. 'It's the current state of the police service and the numbers we have causes great difficulty. The Stop Trump Scotland group has planned demonstrations Saturday in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumfries. The group encouraged people to 'show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.' Trump should receive a much warmer welcome from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer , who is expected to meet with him during the visit. Swinney, the left-leaning head of Scottish government and former Trump critic, also plans to meet with the president. ___ Melley reported from London.