How much does Starmer know about Trump's Iran plan?
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Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.
They start by picking over what Sir Keir Starmer had to say about the potential for an American attack on Iran - which sounded rather different from the line his German counterpart was taking. So what was going on there then?
Back in Westminster, the details of benefit cuts which will impact millions get published - the government needs to convince dozens of Labour MPs to back the plan.
And HS2 slows down - we'll hear today the new line will be delayed beyond 2033.
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Telegraph
33 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Rayner stands in for Starmer at PMQs
Angela Rayner is set to stand in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. Sir Keir is flying back to Britain after attending a G7 summit in Canada, leaving the job of representing the Government at PMQs to his deputy. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, is expected to substitute for Kemi Badenoch and he will have plenty of ammunition to choose from. The latest official numbers published this morning showed inflation had fallen slightly in May from 3.5 per cent to 3.4 per cent but that figure is still way above the Bank of England's 2 per cent target. The Government is pushing back the opening of HS2 between London and Birmingham beyond the original timeline of 2033, with a likely delay of at least two years. And then there is the worsening situation in the Middle East, amid signs that Donald Trump is poised to enter the war between Israel and Iran. The Government also remains under pressure over the grooming gangs scandal. Sir Keir announced at the weekend that there will be a full national statutory inquiry having previously resisted calls for such a move and accused proponents of 'jumping on the bandwagon of the far Right.'
Telegraph
34 minutes ago
- Telegraph
These are not ‘Asian' grooming gangs, they are Kashmiri Muslim
When Baroness Casey appeared yesterday before a select committee to answer questions about her landmark report into group-based child sexual exploitation, there was something she was particularly keen to impress upon the MPs: when it comes to dealing with the nationwide scourge of grooming gangs, questions of ethnicity have been avoided for too long. Her 200-page audit on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse in England found that authorities, from the police to local councils, systematically shied away from pursuing child sex grooming gangs for fear of inflaming community tensions or being perceived as racist. Casey's passion for the subject is evident. The report's key finding, which many have known for some time, is that men of Pakistani origin are over-represented in grooming gangs which have targeted young white-British girls in towns and cities from Manchester to Rotherham. As someone who believes in strong law and order, I have found the level of institutional paralysis over tackling the grooming gangs – for fears of being accused of racism and Islamophobia – to be a grand national failure. In a particularly eye-popping passage in Casey's report, she reveals how the word 'Pakistani' was Tippexed out of one child victim's file. While there is no doubt that a diversity of ethnicities and faiths are involved in these gangs, the use of the term 'Asian' in connection to them has long masked the ever-mounting evidence that it is men of Pakistani Muslim origin specifically who are vastly overrepresented among perpetrators of these heinous sex crimes. A 2020 academic study by professors Kish Bhatti-Sinclair and Charles Sutcliffe, based on data consisting of 498 defendants across 73 prosecutions between 1997 and 2017, found that Muslims – particularly Pakistanis – dominated prosecutions for group-localised child sexual exploitation (GLCSE). Indeed, it concluded that Pakistani and Muslim proportions of the local population are 'powerful variables' in explaining the level of GLCSE prosecutions in an area. Meanwhile, the proportion of Bangladeshis and Indians in a local area had no effect. In fact, the proportion of Hindus in a local area had a negative impact on the levels of GLCSE prosecutions. Using the term 'Asian' is incredibly unhelpful in this context. Gujarati Hindus, Goan Catholics, and Punjabi Sikhs should not be conflated with the men perpetrating these crimes. It is time for us to shine a light on the poorly integrated Muslim communities originating from Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, which have formed patriarchal clans along kinship lines – known as 'biraderi'. These Mirpuri grooming gangs have shown an ugly side of family solidarity, multi-generational cohesion and tight-knit community networks: this is the dark underbelly of modern multicultural Britain. I suspect much of Britain's law-abiding population simply cannot wrap their heads around the numbers involved in the grooming-gangs scandal – which perhaps explains some of the denial. After all, some accounts of this sexual violence and brutality would not be out of place in history books on the campaign of systematic rape and torture against Bangladeshi women and girls by the Pakistani forces forces during the 1971 Liberation War. But, as it has taken root in dozens of cities and towns across England, it is something we must face up to as a society. The national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs announced by Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, must examine how cultural codes – such as so-called 'community protection' – have enabled group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse. There is no space for political correctness or mollycoddling particular minorities. If we are serious about delivering justice for the victims, no stone should be left unturned.
Daily Mirror
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Countries 'pick a side' amid conflict as Donald Trump raises war stakes
Immediately after Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion" to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme last week, most countries slammed Israel for the unprecedented attack As the Israel-Iran conflict enters its sixth day, world leaders have had enough time to cement their stance on the devastating conflict that could see the entire Middle East descending into a war. As Israeli warplanes bombard targets across the Islamic Republic, Tehran has managed to successfully penetrate Israel's Iron Dome defence system and has destroyed parts of major population hubs in Tel Aviv and Haifa. The general consensus from allies and foes is one of restraint, however most countries have indicated where their support lies. Much of the Arab world, including Iran's proxy forces and Turkey, stand resolutely behind Tehran and have blasted Israel's surprise attack. Meanwhile, the US and most of Europe have echoed Israel's own assertion that it has a right to defend itself. It has also exposed glaring hypocrisy from some countries who claim loyalty to traditional allies, but are clearly acting to protect their own self-interest. Britain Just hours after Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion", Sir Keir Starmer urged "restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy". He said that stability in the region "must be the priority" and that he was urging both countries to de-escalate. Reports say that in a later phone call, Starmer told Benjamin Netanyahu that Downing Street has "grave concerns" over Iran's nuclear programme, and that Israel has the right to defend itself. Turkey Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - who severed diplomatic ties with Israel after the break out of the war with Gaza - came out strongly in its condemnation of Israel's actions. He warned a "devastating war" between Israel and Iran could spark another major refugee crisis. Yemen Yemen's Houthi Rebels - which is funded and backed by Tehran - is the first and only group or nation that has agreed to openly strike Israel. This includes all of Iran's other powerful militias, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, who were recently fighting Israel following the outbreak of war in Gaza. On Friday, a spokesperson for the group told Newsweek: "We have been at war for some time with the Zionist enemy entity." Gaza and Lebanon Both Hamas and Hezbollah issued scathing condemnations of the Israeli attack, but neither vowed any military response. Had this war broken out at another point in time, their response would likely have been different. But their own military operations against Israel have significantly impacted their ability to support Iran. Thousands of Hezbollah members were killed or injured last year in a spectacular Mossad operation that saw their communications devices explode in their hands. With senior leadership eliminated, including their longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese militants were forced to sign a peace deal with Israel. Iraq In the event of an all-out war, Iran could call on its allied Shia Islamist militias in Iraq, including the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) and Ka'taib Hezbollah, to take up arms against Israel's aggression. However, the government itself is said to have warned the militias from getting involved in the conflict. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned Israel's attack on Iran, saying: "The recent aggression against Iran poses a direct threat to the security and stability of Iraq and the region." Baghdad has also filed a UN Security Council complaint, claiming that Israel violated its airspace to conduct its aerial bombardment. Russia Russia - who recently signed a deal with Iran on deepening military ties - was quick to issue a statement after the war began. It read: "We strongly condemn the military actions undertaken by the State of Israel." But Western nations were not spared, with the Kremlin accusing countries of creating "anti-Iran hysteria". However, rather than offering its full support, it called on both countries to reduce tensions, adding that Washington was ready to continue talks in Oman. This signalled that Tehran should back down and sit down with the US, suggesting the Kremlin will not be offering any military support to the Islamic Republic. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia backed Tehran in calling Israel's attacks "a clear violation of international laws and norms" before condeming the attack as "heinous". The country's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman expressed his "condolences and sympathy" in a call with the Iranian president, but the kind words won't extend to military support after he said Riyadh "rejects the us of force to resolve disputes". Jordan In addition to Iraq, Israel's neighbour Jordan has accused Iran of invading its airspace and says it was forced to intercept drones and missiles headed for Israel after Tehran's retaliation. But it also strongly condemned Israel's attack and warned the same would happen to Israeli air assets should they breach its airspace. "The Kingdom didn't and will not allow any violation of its airspace, and it will not be a battlefield for any conflict," government spokesman Mohammad Al-Momani said. "The safety of the homeland is a red line... The Kingdom will not allow any attempt to threaten its security and the safety of its citizens." Egypt Egypt - which signed a historic peace treaty with neighbouring following their own war in 1979 - was a co-signatory on a 21-country statement that called for an end to "Israeli hostilities against Iran". UAE The United Arab Emirates has condemned "in the strongest terms Israel's military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran". Pakistan A senior Iranian lawmaker claimed that Pakistan - a nuclear-armed nation - had warned it would deploy thermonuclear weapons against Israel if Israel did so against the people of tehran. However, Pakistani officials later dismissed the claims as untrue. Taking to Twitter, Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif said: "Our nuclear capability is for the benefit of our people and defence of our country against the hostile designs of our enemies. "We do not pursue hegemonic policies against our neighbours which are being amply demonstrated by Israel these days." China Beijing condemned Israel's attacks as they happened, but soon turned to urging both countries to de-escalate like other countries. "If the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to escalate or even spill over, the other countries in the Middle East will inevitably bear the brunt," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Monday. " China will continue to maintain communication with relevant parties and promote talks for peace, so as to prevent more turmoil in the region." United States Before the attacks, President Donald Trump had cautioned Israel against taking action against Tehran while he continued to plug away at diplomatic efforts. Talks on the nuclear programmed were planned for last Saturday, the day after Israel's unprecedented attack. However, after the attack Trump has issued a series of erratic rants, claiming that the US could assassinate the country's leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, or even involve the US in the conflict. France France's President Emmanuel Macron blamed Tehran for "destabilisation of the whole region". He even said that France could take part in "protection and defence operations" should Iran retaliate. Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: "The goal must remain that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons." India India - which is in a delicate situation as a leading buyer of Israeli military goods and a key economic partner of Iran - refused to join fellow members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in condemning the Israeli attacks.
